Dream5 – COME ON!/Doremifa Sorairo March 3, 2013

Track Listing

1. COME ON!
2. Doremifa Sorairo
3. Believe
4. COME ON! (Original Karaoke)
5. Doremifa Sorairo (Original Karaoke)
6. Believe (Original Karaoke)

1. COME ON!

I was kind of worried getting into Dream5’s next single because it was once again another tie-in to the Tamagotchi anime so I was expecting the song to be more cutesy like “Like & Peace!” but it’s actually not too bad for an idol song.  Plus it’s got a pretty cool dance arrangement behind giving it so it really does stand out.  They just keep getting better with every A-side and this is definitely their best one yet!

2. Doremifa Sorairo

The alternate covers that represent the second A-side is really scary but it suits the song as it’s the more cheerful and overly joyous idol track with chanting and a MUCH CUTER arrangement which is so weird to know that Akira is a part of this xD.  This track just kind of grosses me out a bit…just a little too cheesy for me.

3. Believe

The B-side to the single is different since we’re hearing some electric guitars and some really good vocals here (even though I’m not sure who’s who amongst the girls).  In Dream5 terms this is pretty aggressive and heavy which is pretty damn awesome to hear.  Minus the cutesy xylophone??, this is a great song and is the group’s best B-side to date too!

6 singles huh?  I kind of wish Dream5 would just release an album already just to complete this era because it’s starting to get single heavy.  Anyways the single at hand, COME ON! is their best one yet but kind held back a little.  COME ON! and Believe are really great tracks and shows the group’s improvement on all sides so they really surprised me with that.  HOWEVER, Doremifa Sorairo is giant step back for them…it’s like going back to their first mini-album which is mostly kiddy stuff but this song was just gross for me…if they had not made that song an A-side I’d be be better, but nope this was a bigger song than Believe was >.>

Dream5 – Shekimeki! December 29, 2012

Track Listing

1. Shekimeki!
2. CRAZY GONNA CRAZY
3. Rock n’ Roll Kenchoushozaichi
4. Shekimeki! (Original Karaoke)
5. CRAZY GONNA CRAZY (Original Karaoke)
6. Rock n’ Roll Kenchoushozaichi (Original Karaoke)

1. Shekimeki!

As the only original track on the single, Shekimeki! is seriously sounding like AAA now which is a bit of a good sign and a bad one if they keep going like this.  The song itself is reminds me of some of AAA’s earlier songs, but with a touch of that idol sound that Dream5 is known for.  I do like the upbeat tone of the song and there’s some great singers in the group to keep it above the water.  I kind of enjoyed this song even moreso than their last single!

2. CRAZY GONNA CRAZY

So the rest of the single is cover songs and my first reaction to the first one is…another TRF cover?  I guess I shouldn’t complain too much, because I kind of enjoyed this take of their song, but it’s not really any better than AAA’s take but then again they have overall better vocals.  It’s still the same cheery song though and Dream5 handled that very well.  Not bad!

3. Rock n’ Roll Kenchoushozaichi

What is up with everyone covering Chisato Moritaka’s songs?  Well actually to be fair, whenever I think of this song…I think of Minimoni’s take of the song.  What I remember, the song is an educational track for us Westerners learning the various areas of Japan!  It’s still a quirky lesson song, but nothing beats Minimoni’s cover.

 

 

How many singles is this…5?  Shekimeki! is a cute song and might be one of my favorites of the current era.  Something about this group screams innocence youth and they take it well even though it’s hard to make out the vocals (especially poor Akira (where’s puberty for you siiiir).  The cover songs were a nice incentive…not the best, but faithful enough.  With an upcoming 6th single, I wonder where this album is…

Dream5 – READY GO!!/Wake Me Up! September 7, 2012

Track Listing

1. READY GO!!
2. Wake Me Up!
3. Fushigi na Gensou no Uta
4. READY GO!! <Original Karaoke>
5. Wake Me Up! <Original Karaoke>
6. Fushigi na Gensou no Uta <Original Karaoke>

1. READY GO!!

It seems like the group is trying to be a little more danceable and it shows because READY GO!! gives me this feeling as if Dream5 is trying to be AAA mini.  I kind of think this is their best A-side since starting this era up which is pretty good for them.  There’s clearly a lead girl over the other members but I’m OK with this for now.  Not a bad track and the leader gal sounds good ^_^.

2. Wake Me Up!

As the other A-side, Wake Me Up! actually follows alongside “READY GO!!” but also has a bit more edge written in it through the guitar lines.  Still, I get some AAA vibes out of the song but I kind of like this song more than the previous track since it has a louder impact and group sounds really good!  Though Akira still sounds so girly XD….I really couldn’t tell his voice anywhere in the tune. 

3. Fushigi na Gensou no Uta

As the lone B-side, Fushigi na Gensou no Uta kind of goes back to their earlier days with a genki arrangement.  Funny that as catchy as it is, I was paying more attention to the fact that there was some rapping involved by one of the girls and possibly Akira here.  Actually I think all the members get a solo rap section which is cool, but the chorus is cheesy XD.  Not bad, but I guess it could’ve been handled better.

 

 

Funny to say all those AAA comparisons, but I could see that happening with Dream5 after this single.  Both READY GO!! and Wake Me Up! sound like songs of theirs and this young group tackled them both pretty well and I have to say this is their best releases yet.  Fushigi na Gensou no Uta was their usual fun stuff, but with rapping from all the members.  It might surprise fans, but I think they handled that well too…good single overall!!

Dream5 – I★my★me★mine/EZ DO DANCE May 3, 2012

Track Listing

1. I★my★me★mine
2. EZ DO DANCE
3.  I★my★me★mine (Daisuki Ver.)
4. Dream5 Gakuen Gakkou Seikatsu Drama~Seitokai Member to Arai Sensei
5.  I★my★me★mine <instrumental>
6. EZ DO DANCE <instrumental>

1. I★my★me★mine

Oh darn, I thought Dream5 was covering POLYSICS or 4minute…but it’s the only original track on the single.  It continues by bringing us Dream5’s idol pop to a forefront and once again, it doesn’t seem to be really all that interesting to me but I thought the chorus is kind of cute in a way.  It just kind of falls flat altogether like how “Kirakira Every day” turned out.

2. EZ DO DANCE

It’s not surprising they’d do another cover and this time one most people recognize.  EZ DO DANCE is originally a tune from TRF so it fits since they’re both avex groups and all that.  Of course I’m so used to Saori’s version that every other cover is deemed useless right from the start.  Dream5’s version of the song is a little more faithful to the original since you hear those 90’s synths being used.  I kind of enjoyed the vocals a lot more than I did in the other song for sure.  This isn’t that bad but still is a mile away from being as good as Saori@destiny’s version.

 

 

As this is Dream5’s third single for the era, I found myself enjoying this single a little bit more than I did with “Kirakira Every day” but being a little under “Like and Peace!”.  I★my★me★mine is alright, but against other idol songs out there, this was a bit fomulaic and not surprising in any way, shape, or form but it’s still average so it’s not too much of a fail.  Their EZ DO DANCE cover isn’t bad at all either and surpasses the other A-side quite nicely.  For being just a TRF cover, I thought they handled it pretty good actually.  I wonder if an album is being planned >.>

Dream5 – Kirakira Every day April 19, 2012

Track Listing

1. Kirakira Every day
2. Nichiyoubi
3. Kirakira Every day (Tamagocchi ver.)
4. Kirakira Every day (Instrumental)
5. Nichiyoubi (Instrumental)
6. Futari Dake no Nagareboshi (bonus track)

1. Kirakira Every day

I’ve gotten used to the fact that Dream5 have been always upbeat and genki but now they’re sugary cute with song which is a bit too much for me.  They sound lively though and the vocals are pretty strong even in the solos…it’s just sometimes I feel like they aren’t being original but it’s whatever…for being 4 ladies and a guy…it’s interesting haha.

2. Nichiyoubi

Whenever I hear the intro, I keep thinking of Berryz’ “Piriri to Yukou!” because it has that feel and the movement for some reason.  Plus the arrangement kind shares a bit with that song as well.  It feels like it goes on for too long though and I’m quickly forgetting it altogether.  It’s just somehow ehhh.

3. Futari Dake no Nagareboshi 

 Interesting that they’d have a bonus track on the single…Makes me wonder if this is a cover of something.  I do like how laidback it is compared to the previous two tracks since the main ladies sound quite sweet to listen to!  Now this is something I would love to hear more from Dream5 to be honest!

 

 

I still can’t really get myself into the group and I think they just don’t satisfy those idol needs like other groups do.  Kirakira Every day is cute and all but maybe a little too bland for my tastes and Nichiyoubi is just repetitive and not memorable at the least at least the bonus track seemed to try to fix things…but it wasn’t enough after the two other songs…I’m just not liking this single at all.

Dream5 – Like & Peace! July 23, 2011

Track Listing

1. Like & Peace!
2. Koi no Daiyogen
3. Open Sesame
4. Like & Peace! Anime Ver.
5. Like & Peace! (Instrumental)
6. Koi no Daiyogen (Instrumental)
7. Open Sesame (Instrumental)

1. Like & Peace!

I like the fact that Dream5 knows how to be genki and turn a song’s instrumental into their own.  Like & Peace! has a pretty groovy and funky arrangement and since it feature mostly the girls (of course) it’s not very band and find it kind of fun and actually good from an avex idol group eh?

2. Koi no Daiyogen

Jeeze, is the group trying to follow misono’s covering?  I mean their last single was a cover of “Koi no Dial 6700” from Finger 5 and now their covering the same band but a different song with Koi no Daiyogen.  Of course this is the shortest tune off the single, not even making three minutes in length.  Dream5’s cover does keep the genki sound going, but I’m hearing more than the two main singers actually have parts and I like the vibe of this cover.  I still prefer their last cover though sadly.

3. Open Sesame

As the other new track on the single, Open Sesame does change the arrangement around slightly by making it include sitar (is that what it is?) and I hear a lot more synths being used which makes this a bit more danceable.  It’s a bit more stable as a single since it doesn’t have a whole lot of random sounds going so I’d say this is pretty good.

 

 

After their mini-album, Dream5 begins a new era with quite a nice and fun tune with Like & Peace!.  The main track is like I said energetic and full of life and they brought life into the song.  Open Sesame was pretty good as well, taking it a bit more in stride than in the A-side, but still pretty good.  Their Finger 5 cover was alright, but like I said….doesn’t beat “Koi no Dial 6700”.

Dream5 – DAYS May 14, 2011

Track Listing

1. Gakuen Tengoku
2. Koi no Dial 6700
3. Bokura no Natsu!!
4. Arigatou ~Kimi ni Todoketai Melody~
5. Dandan GROW UP!
6. Shunkashuutou
7. Todoketai ~Kanon Chikyuu Orchestra Ver.~

1. Gakuen Tengoku

I do know that this song is a cover but I’m not sure where I’ve heard it last somehow.  I do think that this idol group really made it bouncy and silly with its brassy instrumental.  I do think the girls and guy (crap I have to remember there’s one in this group) sound pretty lively and gives a fun performance for sure.  It’s also pretty damn short too being under 3 minutes and all. 

2. Koi no Dial 6700

Now this cover I remember well since misono and Momosu both covered this song before.  It does start out with the telephone ringing before the whole ~rin, rin, rin, rin etc.~ comes in.  It’s a bit slower of a cover when compared the other times I’ve heard this cover but I found the members sound pretty good.  Seeing as it was the 2nd A-side of this era, it’s not bad but I prefer misono’s short version still lol.  Oh yea, so random to see Shuta and Hidaka in the PV….I was like…what’s the correlation here….HMMM.

3. Bokura no Natsu!!

Then we move to the 1st A-side of the era and Bokura no Natsu!! is a lot more of the cute idol-like summer song and it works for them since it seems the members are having an easier time singing along.  I must say, the vocals here were a lot more together than in “Koi no Dial 6700” for sure, but at the same time it feels their lower registers are a bit shaky but not that bad…I’m wondering when the guy is gonna get some solos XD

4. Arigatou ~Kimi ni Todoketai Melody~

Getting into the other new songs on the mini-album, Arigatou is a bit more calmer of a song than the previous three with a slower almost R&B vibe emanating from it.  It does feel like line distribution is a bit more equal this time around but otherwise the arrangement is kind of boring and the vocals aren’t as good sadly.  Meh figures…pass.

5. Dandan GROW UP!

Ok, after that last song this track surely makes up for it.  Once again the girls and guy take a more chiller vibe but it seems their vocals have been filtered a bit but not to the point where pitch changes are seen.  It’s got this rather interesting and edgy arrangement for it but it’s not like anything to obscure on the mini-album and fits nicely.  Good song ^_^

6. Shunkashuutou

Likewise, Shunkashuutou is a bit more mid-tempo than the other songs but it kind of has this nice flow to it that has all the member singing along and that means good tides and line distribution…but did it need the random disc scratching?  Otherwise nice tune but not the best of the mini.

7. Todoketai ~Kanon Chikyuu Orchestra Ver.~

I don’t exactly understand the outro to the album since it’s basically just Dream5 just ~la-la-la-ing~ through the song while the rest is this odd amalgation of natural sounds and woodpeckers and harpischord…It does build up to something that could’ve been set with lyrics…but meh.  It’s just very weird XD

Dream5’s 2nd mini-album is alright but nothing to really write home about since none of the songs have a long lasting feel to it.  I will say they have the chops to pull something better off and get the boy of the group to stand out a little more.