Zwei – Junjou Spectra November 21, 2012

Track Listing

1. Junjou Spectra
2. Junjou Spectra (Moonboy remix)
3. Kakuchou Place (PandaBoY remix)
4. Junjou Spectra (Anime ver.)
5. Junjou Spectra (Karaoke ver.)

1. Junjou Spectra

I love that Junjou Spectra sounds like it is Zwei-ish unlike some of their previous singles.  Once the intro is over, the song switches back to an anison style with Ayumu leading the song of course.  There’s something about the song I really like about it since everything is loud and epic and both Ayumu and Megu are just kicking so much ass in this song.  It’s definitely their best A-side since joining 5pb. for sure!

2. Junjou Spectra (Moonboy remix)

Sadly, we don’t get an actual B-side and instead we’re left with two remixes.  The first for Junjou Spectra takes out the rock elements from the song and replaces it with more of a funky electro style which is a bit oddball with some of the quirks about it.  It does retain some of its anime elements as well…it’s kind of like a stripped down version of the original essentially.

3. Kakuchou Place (PandaBoY remix)

The other remix is for their previous A-side (which both this and the lead track here are tied to the same series).  Kakuchou Place’s remix is definitely more electronic than its original!  It’s a very busy remix and sometimes the arrangement overpowers Ayumu but it’s a solid remix.

 

 

I’m wondering when Zwei will announce a new album since this is their 5th single since joining 5pb. (they’re in need of one).  Junjou Spectra luckily is their best A-side since joining the anison company with its hard arrangement and memorable lyrics and vocals from Ayumu.  The remixes are OK, nothing to really gasm over.  Good single, but like I said….album plz!!!!

DOES – Yumemiru Sekai

Track Listing

1. Yumemiru Sekai
2. S.O.S.O
3. Yumemiru Sekai (instrumental)

1. Yumemiru Sekai

I love the opening for Yumemiru Sekai with the synths and acoustic guitar.  Ujihara comes in and his vocals are slightly filtered to fit the ethereal atmosphere of the song which really does sound rather cool IMO.  He still does tend to sound more than bored in the song which is probably my biggest concern of the song.  At least the song gives him a little more room to try as time goes on…it’s actually a pretty good song overall though…not as amazing as “Bakuchi Dancer” but pretty close.

2. S.O.S.O

The B-side of the single is more along the lines of what I’m used to from the band.  Very high-energy and Ujihara is powering through with his vocals which are a bit more exciting than in the A-side.  I actually like this just as much “Yumemiru Sekai” since it’s pretty energetic and catchy and such lol.

 

 

After “KATHARSIVILIZATION”, I kind of lost interest in DOES since they were kind of becoming a bit too watered down.  With Yumemiru Sekai, they still are a bit watered but they are experimenting quite a bit and they scored pretty well with the A-side.  Even the B-side is kind of like their stuff from “MODERN AGE” and I really enjoyed the energy from it…what a very awesome single ^_^

SPYAIR – WENDY ~It’s You~

Track Listing

1. WENDY ~It’s You~
2. Blowing

1. WENDY ~It’s You~

From the art cover and title, I was kind of expecting a sappy ballad for some reason.  Luckily, WENDY is more mid-tempo but it’s also kind of rock done simple and the chorus is a bit more harder.  Call it pop/rock for what it is.  I like it for what it is, it’s not up there with their edgier songs in their collection but it’s a really good song from them ^_^

2. Blowing

The B-side though is REALLY unique for them since it has this kind of summery beach feel and has a lot of interesting instrument choices found throughout.  It’s a light-hearted song and it stands out in my mind more than “WENDY” did which is a little strange but this is a fun song to listen to.

 

 

With the announcement of ENZEL leaving the group, SPYAIR might have lost something that could’ve had potential for the group’s future, but I don’t think they were going in that direction either.  WENDY is a pretty good single though overall and I loved Blowing more than WENDY because the former had such an interesting sound and arrangement.  Overall, great single!

2PM – Masquerade

Track Listing

1. Masquerade
2. Forever
3. Masquerade (ArmySlick’s bavtronic mix)
4. Masquerade (Instrumental)
5. Forever (Instrumental)

1. Masquerade

I was pretty much at this point waiting to get through this single and it finally has come out.  I found myself really interested in Masquerade since it has the group singing smoothly and quite strongly but I also found myself questioning the need for auto-tune for such a song (especially the chorus where it really wasn’t needed).  Plus a small nitpick, I hated the way they said the title…just not good.  I don’t know but I feel like this song qould’ve been much better with no auto-tune (the guys are great singers as it is, DON’T RUIN IT).

2. Forever

From when the single was announced we were supposed to have a different B-side but since their troubles happened, the single changed and we instead got Forever which is actually a ballad.  Since I’ve learned that 2PM was more lenient on dance tracks, this song felt a bit strange and more suited for their brother group, 2AM.  It’s not bad of a ballad, but it’s one of those if you’ve heard it once you’ve heard them all kind of ballads.  Your normal, dramatic piano/strings ballad…yeah…not really interested here.

3. Masquerade (ArmySlick’s bavtronic mix)

There’s something about Masquerade’s remix seems to fit more to the group than the original mix oddly enough.  I think I really like ArmySlick’s arrangement tons more than I probably should.  Of course the vocals are messed around a bit more with filters thrown around and the auto-tune still present as well.  I actually prefer this over the original.

 

 

For a single that was supposed to come out back in August…yeah AUGUST PEOPLE, this was just not worth the wait.  You can thank Nickkhun for delaying the single as long as it needed to be (which is SOOOO unnecessary in the first place, just release the damn single anyways!).  The single itself is pretty poor IMO.  Masquerade is just a weird song to me and using auto-tune was probably not the smartest of ideas and when the remix does better…there’s something up.  Forever was just you’re normal K-pop ballad…nothing new either…ugh I hope with this small hiatus they can at least put out something better >.>