Track Listing
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GRATIA
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Good-bye crisis
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Dive To Future
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Natsuiro Love Song
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Sora ~Ikite Ireba~
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LIAR GIRL
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Sigh of Angel
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Dear
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Dogma
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BI-YA-KU
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Renka Tairan
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Migimawari Shinkakei
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Real☆Starter
1. GRATIA
Well, it’s interesting to see Makkun open up the album with an introductory song with GRATIA. Adding in the fact that it’s so mysterious and sounds like some kind of traditional chanting stuff (like Akiko Shikata) and you get an odd yet interesting intro to Love Axel. Pretty though and leads into our first track nicely.
2. Good-bye crisis
The first full song on the album and it’s Good-bye crisis which was a digital single that was released at the end of 2010. I never got to hear the song when it was released back then so it left me to wait until this was released on the album and the song is definitely anison at its best. I will say that I love the guitars and speed of the song alongside Makkun’s strong vocals. It’s a powerful track and a great way to kick things off!
3. Dive To Future
I gotta say that Dive To Future kind of cheeses things up by slowing things down a tad bit and gives us this acoustic guitar anime song which I guess sounds all right but there’s something rather bland about the song that I can’t seem to shake off. I don’t know Masami’s vocals aren’t as charged like the ones in “Good-bye crisis”. Oh well…
4. Natsuiro Love Song
It seemed to be the same problem with this song as well but it’s a bit more lighter than the previous track with a little more focus on the piano instead. At least Masami’s vocals sound better here which made me enjoy the song a little better but it’s still kind of bland to me.
5. Sora ~Ikite Ireba~
Things keep going with Sora which goes back to more of an acoustic guitar style but there’s something about the song that sounds a lot better than the previous two tracks at least. The chorus does feel a bit underwhelming but this is a much more eventful track IMO which isn’t saying much as well.
6. LIAR GIRL
LIAR GIRL comes next and I kind of like the pop/rock atmosphere from it because the guitar melody sounds like it gets a lot of melodies and it sounds good and upbeat as it should along with the synth lines found all over the place. It’s a good aggressive but poppy song and I enjoyed it a lot!
7. Sigh of Angel
Weird getting into Sigh of Angel because I wasn’t expecting a song that has R&B elements to be a song on this album. Sadly, once the chorus kicks in it feels like a clone of “Dive To Future” and “Sora”. In a way, I do like the song because it’s new to me from Masami, but that chorus kind of messed things up it seems.
8. Dear
With a title like Dear, I was expecting this to be a ballad of sorts and funny enough that its what we got! It’s interesting that it took this long to get to one but it sounds pretty since the first half is just Makkun with piano. It’s a pretty song with a simple arrangement but memorable at the same time…a standout track for sure!
9. Dogma
However, the best song on the album is interestingly enough Dogma because it doesn’t sound like ANYTHING else on this album. Actually, it sounds like an I’ve Sound producer had something to do with this because it sounds like a KOTOKO song, “SCREW”. It’s a really cool techno track and Masami sounds really nice under this style.
10. BI-YA-KU
I guess I said too much because our next track is also kind of techno-y in a way but not in the I’ve Sound way. It’s like a toned down “Good-bye crisis” but with equal amounts of synths and guitars. It’s a cool song as well and I like the chorus quite a bit. Good tune!
11. Renka Tairan
It’s been over two years since this A-side was released (and the only one to represent the album oddly enough) and I still enjoy listening it today! As for being on the album, for how old it is, it really does fit and sounds just as exciting if not more than “Good-bye crisis” actually. Makkun just blows the song away and a good portion of the album into the dust. One of the best tracks on the album!
12. Migimawari Shinkakei
However, I didn’t expect a happycore song to pop up (especially near the end of the album) and I must say that it’s the fastest track on the album and just hops back and forth on beats and Masami is keeping up with the song but it’s got cutesy yells in the background and just very anison all-around. I’m not too big of a fan in the song but I like that it’s very peppy and different for Masami.
13. Real☆Starter
Ending the album, Real☆Starter kind of goes back to the front of the album with the pop/rock songs but also carries the lighter side as well which is quite nice. It kind of reminds me of sphere’s music but only sung in one voice. It’s a good closing song and her voice just sounds really strong!
Tracks Recommended
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Dogma
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Renka Tairan
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Good-bye crisis
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Dear
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Real☆Starter
Song of Avoidance
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Dive To Future
I have to say, this is probably my favorite Makkun album reviewed yet! All of the songs are actually quite good this time around and she went out of her comfort zone for a couple of songs. Definitely one of the stronger albums of the year right here.
Kurayami Monogatari 