
Track Listing
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Aruite Ikou
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Warattetainda
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Itsudatte Bokura wa
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KISS KISS BANG BANG
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Ai ni Iku yo
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Chikyuu
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Sentimental Boyfriend
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Shiroi Diary
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Renshi
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NEW WORLD MUSIC
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Ai Kotoba
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Oyasumi
1. Aruite Ikou
Gotta love the fact that ikimono really wanted to get through most of the A-sides first on the album! As the second single releasedm Aruite Ikou kicks things off quite lightly and is their best selling single of the era if I’m correct but ikimono’s ballads usually have that effect so I’m happy with this. A bit long, but I loved Kiyoe’s sincerity in her voice, it just worked in her favor!
2. Warattetainda
A couple seconds longer than “Aruite Ikou”, Warattetainda is good being as long as it is because unlike the first track, this is actually upbeat and a lot more bright and fun to listen to. Of course Kiyoe still sounds as lively as ever and she pulls a great performance here even though it’s been a while since this has been out.
3. Itsudatte Bokura wa
Fitting that Itsudatte Bokura wa would follow behind “Warattetainda” since they are both quite similar to one another. Though I felt Kiyoe was being a little more daring with this song by hitting stronger notes and going a bit high there. It’s definitely a favorite of the era (though there were no misses to begin with). Fun song and loving the brass parts as well…good job here!
4. KISS KISS BANG BANG
Then we get a long stretch of new material from the trio starting with the album’s promotional song, KISS KISS BANG BANG which is even filled with more brass instruments and funky sounds that make it so exciting and lively! Reminds me of “Kimagure Romantic” from two albums ago! It’s got a bit of synths and once again you can tell Kiyoe was enjoying singing the song! An early favorite on the album!
5. Ai ni Iku yo
Then the album comes to a halt going into our next song which is definitely a ballad. I’m happy that it moves along in the song so it’s not like it suffers from the usual ballad problems. It’s kind of one of those songs that would get BIG sales had it been a single so being said Ai ni Iku yo is actually nice to listen to! Impressed even more towards the end…LOVE it!
6. Chikyuu
I was wondering when ikimono would actually pull one of their songs with a harmonica to be an album song and Chikyuu is representing that nicely. Another slow song, I didn’t feel much for this one very much since it is mostly acoustic guitar and some low-laying strings. It’s just floats on by in my ears.
7. Sentimental Boyfriend
At this point, I really wish the trio would get out of the ballad zone since it’s kind of putting me to sleep here. Oh wait! This song is a bit of tease now with that introduction. Sentimental Boyfriend kind of turns into this acoustic mid-tempo track that’s got a bit of charm for it. Kiyoe just sounds good here once again…dang I like this song too!
8. Shiroi Diary
For a title that means “White Diary”, it was surprising that it turns out that the song was going to be a ballad. I do like the dramatics about the song that’s for sure but there’s not much else I can remember it by for right now…it just seems like good old ikimono-gakari if you catch my drift.
9. Renshi
At least things start to pick up again with Renshi which is probably the biggest surprise to the album. First off, I’m surprised that the arrangement is all big band and quite bright. Next thing is hearing Kiyoe singing in a deeper tone and then hitting these notes that I didn’t think she could pull off. It’s just so out of their comfort zone but I loved this move and if they ever decide to move into a more jazzier setting and it’s like this…I’m ALL for it!!!
10. NEW WORLD MUSIC
It’s good that NEW WORLD MUSIC follows after “Renshi” since both songs are so different…though I have to say that NEW WORLD MUSIC is interesting because instead of a jazzy feel, we get a latin feel and I thought it made the song rather cute and such. Though I did think Kiyoe stress her vocals a little bit here. Still it’s my favorite A-side of the era here lol and once again a great follow-up after “Renshi”.
11. Ai Kotoba
After all that excitement and since we’re getting near the end of the album it’s obvious we were going to get more ballads. Once again this’ll be memorable to the fans of their ballads while for me it’s alright but nothing I’ll be going back to. I know it should sound amazing but that’s why “Ai ni Iku yo” is there haha. Oh and by the way, longest song on the album XD.
12. Oyasumi
As the album’s final song, Oyasumi has a little more movement than “Ai Kotoba” that’s for sure but I’m pretty much continuing to kind of glaze over the song because it’s still a ballad hahah. Though it’s charming and I like the arrangement of strings and acoustic guitar with a little keyboard here and there. Kind of like a Disney song but less dramatic hahah.
Tracks Recommended
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Renshi
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Ai ni Iku yo
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NEW WORLD MUSIC
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KISS KISS BANG BANG
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Itsudatte Bokura wa
Song of Avoidance
Wow, I was pleasantly surprised by ikimono’s 5th album. While I did like “Hajimari no Uta” it was piled with so many ballads that I felt overly tired after listening to it. With NEWTRAL, it seems they breathed new life to their music and I was impressed with majority of the songs even moreso with the A-sides and certain album tracks. It also does come with a second disc…but it’s just merely a live CD of their older tracks, This is definitely *RECOMMENDED*