Juliet – Jealousy October 1, 2012

Track Listing

1. Otoko Tomodachi
2. “Daisuki”
3. Kiss
4. Love Love Love
5. Himitsu ~Kimi no Soba ni Iru Tame ni~
6. Jealousy
7. Ai no Kotoba
8. Trauma
9. Mou Ichido Aetara
10. Jimoto
11. Kawaranai Koto

1. Otoko Tomodachi

I guess they wanted to open the album with an interesting tune and Otoko Tomodachi is kind of different and somewhat cute as well which I like.  It’s light and sparkly and has this funky guitar and bass lines and mix with the sweet vocals and I’m really enjoying what I’m hearing.  What a nice opening track.

2. “Daisuki”

Moving onto the 3rd A-side from the era, “Daisuki” is still the best single released from Jealousy.  It really isn’t hard to wonder why I liked this song so much, but just in case…it wasn’t a boring track!  I mean the verses could’ve been more intriguing, but the chorus is where this song gets its positive marks.  I though the trio sounded so great together!  Still one of the better songs!

3. Kiss

I do not know why, but I liked the intro for our next track and continued to like the beats of the song and the simplicity of the track.  Even though this isn’t a new setting for them and could be heard in many of their older tracks, Kiss is pleasant enough to leave a nice mark and the chorus is once again the highlight of the track. 

4. Love Love Love

Hmmm going a little bit pop/rock are we?  Love Love Love starts off with the group filtered out and that was pretty cool.  I’m really loving the addition of guitars to their sound since it gives the song a bit more power and energy.  It kind of does remind me of a toned down SCANDAL song, but this is really cool and something unique for Juliet.

5. Himitsu ~Kimi no Soba ni Iru Tame ni~

As the 2nd A-side from the album, Himitsu still doesn’t really impress me much since it takes all of the typical Juliet stylings and kind of just toss them into this track.  I do like the acoustic guitar and the light strings, but otherwise the song is still quite a bore for me and just does nothing. 

6. Jealousy

Which gets worse when we get to the title track, Jealousy.  It just comes as your typical Juliet ballad with piano and strings which for me is a big red flag, but at least the chorus kind of brings it out of the dead zone by being more vibrant and colorful.  Plus the ladies’ harmonizations are just dead-on and I loved that a lot.  If the verses were spruced up in the beginning and didn’t hide this nice track behind it. 

7. Ai no Kotoba

With a title like that, I was kind of expecting another ballad, but Ai no Kotoba is upbeat and synthy which like I’ve said before is one of their strengths as a trio.  I’m still pretty much impressed by it all since it’s catchy, smooth and whoever sung the first verse…Mami?  Whoever it was, I loved this hell out of her voice!

8. Trauma

For such a title, I was kind of expecting a heartbreaking ballad, but the way the ballad is played out, it kind of seems bright and not as heart-wrenching as one would expect.  The song flows nicely, but it doesn’t really register with me.  I think after being spoiled with the last couple of songs, I kind of knew one of them would be a little bit disappointing. 

9. Mou Ichido Aetara

Fitting that this would come after “Trauma” as it retains that light and uber flowing feel.  It kind of reminds me a bit of of our next track, “Jimoto” just a little too much.  I mean the same elements are found here basically and I’m kind of just frowning that this is RIGHT next to said song as well…pass…

10. Jimoto

I guess with my disappointment in the last track, Jimoto sounds slightly better, but not enough to really suprass majority of the songs.  It still kind of sounds bland and a bit too sameish for my tastes.  At least the album isn’t chock-full of these tracks this time around.

11. Kawaranai Koto

Closing the album out, Kawaranai Koto doesn’t seem like the type of song to end the album since it has this darker image that I quite enjoy and it’s something new for Juliet to work with.  I guess it’s a nice enough track, nothing too tragic about it, but nothing that screams like the other great tracks.

Tracks Recommended

• Ai no Kotoba
• Love Love Love
• “Daisuki”
• Jealousy
• Otoko Tomodachi

Song of Avoidance

• Mou Ichido Aetara

Ahhh, so here we are at Juliet’s 4th album.  I don’t think this album is a great as “Shibuya” was, it’s still a strong effort from the trio overall.  It didn’t look good for them since the singles were kind of bland (cept “Daisuki”).  It’s still a pleasant album overall at least, I just hope they make their next singles less boring >.>

Juliet – “Daisuki” August 17, 2012

Track Listing

1. “Daisuki”
2. Michishirube
3. “Daisuki” -Instrumental-

1. “Daisuki”

I’ve always said that when it came to Juliet, their synth-based songs always seem to leave a better mark on me than their ballads/R&B tracks.  “Daisuki” seems to mesh their synths with R&B to end up with this pretty good mid-tempo song.  I’ve really didn’t have any problems with any of the ladies singing this time.  This is definitely the best A-side they’ve released since “Shibuya”.

2. Michishirube

Not going to lie, but when I heard the B-side I was like this is basically “Jimoto” with finger snaps.  That really made me feel bored by the song almost immediately!  In some ways, I do think it’s better because of its upbeat nature, but when it comes down to it, Michishirube is kind of a clone.

 

 

As their 3rd and final single before releasing their 4th album, “Jealousy”…I can’t say I was pleased with the single, but considering the other singles, this was the best.  “Daisuki” is quite nice and a good change from all the R&B tracls they’ve done.  Michishirube though is just there and overall forgetful…I’m starting to wonder if I’ll even like “Jealousy” even more than “Real” at this point >.>

Juliet – Himitsu ~Kimi no Soba ni Iru Tame ni~ May 16, 2012

Track Listing

1. Himitsu ~Kimi no Soba ni Iru Tame ni~
2. Desperate
3. Himitsu ~Kimi no Soba ni Iru Tame ni~ -Instrumental-

1. Himitsu ~Kimi no Soba ni Iru Tame ni~

Sadly, with Himitsu I’m quite as bored with it as I was with “Jimoto” but at least somehow the chorus stuck out for me through this song which is kind of a dim light in this hazy fog.  I mean it sounds nice and all and could be sung by any R&B artist (true facts).  It’s nice and it’s not the worst the trio has had…but it’s too reminescent to many of their other songs TBH.

2. Desperate

It doesn’t help when the B-side is a piano/strings ballad which doesn’t seem to serve much purpose than just being fodder for the trio.  It grows into another “Himitsu” for some reason which instantly got me to zone out and forget this song altogether.  I do remember though the deepest singer impressed me once again…otherwise forgetful!

 

 

Gah, what a boring single this was IMO.  Himitsu and Desperate really didn’t do much for me and it didn’t really do much for the trio either because they’re both rather throwaways compared to stuff from the “Shibuya” era…Oh well…

Juliet – Jimoto March 13, 2012

Track Listing

1. Jimoto
2. Sayonara to Hajimari
3. Jimoto -Instrumental-

1. Jimoto

It feels like it’s been a while sicne we’ve heard Juliet last and they’ve returned with a new A-side in Jimoto.  Unlike their last couple of songs, this is more of your slower R&B song from them.  Sadly, it’s these songs that kind of make me just zzz since it’s kind of where it’s like “it’s been done” already kind of feeling.  I’m just not really feeling the song sadly.

2. Sayonara to Hajimari

The B-side sadly follows “Jimoto’s” line of work but without the dubious R&B beats.  It’s actually a straight up piano/strings ballad with little percussion and synth splotches.  It’s doing a better job at showing off the trio’s vocals which is nice and while the song takes a while before it opens into this loud chorus it has, I found myself actually enjoying it better…a little more dramatic actually. 

 

 

Juliet begins their 4th era with a poor A-side against a great B-side.  I really wish they kind of make their R&B songs a little more different to each because I was just plainly bored with Jimoto.  Sayonara to Hajimari though was pretty damn good.  I have to say they need to do more songs like the B-side now!!!! LOL

Juliet – Shibuya September 26, 2011

Track Listing

1. Here We Go!!
2. Yuki Love
3. Saku Love -Sakura, Chiru-
4. Stripe
5. Motokare
6. Motokano
7. Manneri
8. Kimi e
9. Chikai no Uta
10. Shinyuu
11. Image

1. Here We Go!!

How in the world did Juliet end up opening the album up with a B-side more or less the most recent one from “Motokano”.  I guess it’s fitting since it makes sure to tell the listener that the album won’t be like their previous two albums.  I like the summery vibes the song gives and all three members sound pretty lively for sure.  I did recall that I did say their vocals aren’t as their best here but it’s still a fun tune…though interesting choice of opening song.

2. Yuki Love

Since it’s the first A-side released in the era, Yuki Love might seem strange since it’s only the fall, but I guess the trio wanted to get their seasonal songs out of the way.  I actually had time to somewhat enjoy this because while the fact is that the next track was just a slight copy, Yuki Love felt more stronger and the gals sound pretty damn amazing.  I still do think Juliet’s ballads are mostly filter-like songs but this was nice overall.

3. Saku Love -Sakura, Chiru-

Like I said on the single review, Saku Love would’ve been a clone of “Yuki Love” if it wasn’t for the acoustic guitar and synths that were thrown in.  Being next to each other, it does sounds a little faster, but it’s still pretty basic.  It does grow on you though I will admit so after the review and listening to it again, it’s kind of nice listen…slightly better than “Yuki Love” actually.

4. Stripe

Random, a new song in between these old ones XD.  Stripe kind of reminds me of a cuter “Here We Go!!” but that’s pretty good because there’s just a bright atmosphere thrown in between these serious tunes and I found it as a smart move.  Actually it’s kind of catchy and when they get em right (like this song) it’s worth more than one listen.

5. Motokare

It’s pretty hard to actually determine whether or not if this song is my least favorite of the era since I’ve started to really enjoy “Yuki Love” and “Saku Love”.  I mean from previous reviews it would seem that I would dislike it for the genre it’s under, but it’s not as bad as I thought nor as cheap as some older songs were.  Strong vocals also helped it here though.  Hmmm…

6. Motokano

I found it kind of funny that the trio placed the last track and this one next to each since they kind of relate to each other and all that.  Unlike “Motokare”, Motokano is more of a light dance/pop song and it kind of works as well.  Still, I think this is the best of the era but I think “Saku Love” could give a run for its money. 

7. Manneri

Odd that the rest of the album is straight up new songs.  From the new songs I’ve heard (ok only “Stripe” so far) it’s upbeat as well but this one is funky as bright just like the previous mentioned song but also synthy like “Mou Hitotsu no, Aki Love”.  Another winner here just for having a party atmosphere going!

8. Kimi e

Kimi e would be the kind of song I’d normally avoid because it’s R&B and slightly cheeseworthy.  I mean it has a different sound that makes it pop amongst the songs but there’s just something that’s also holding it back from being as good as other songs.  It could be that the vocals aren’t as good as the other ones perhaps?  I don’t know but I’m not too big of a fan of this one.

9. Chikai no Uta

Why is my initial idea that the trio is adding upbeat songs in the way of album songs continuing?  I get island-y vibes out of Chikai no Uta with the overload on brass and hearing steel drums as well.  It’s a very interesting sound and I really did like this song because it’s fun (like the others) but mix in the island flavors and you get a pretty colorful tune.

10. Shinyuu

Shinyuu at least breaks my thoughts finally.  It’s actually the only new ballad off the album oddly enough.  The only thing going for this song is the typical strings/piano formula…plus the three gals.  I’m still kind of surprised that they’d stick one over here after such a line of upbeat tunes.  As simplistic and minimalistic the song comes off as, it really works with them and their pretty vocals. 

11. Image

Closing the album is strangely the album’s cutest song but I don’t think it’s bad, but it kind of just flies over my head oddly enough!  I mean it has the right things going for it, but since all of the new songs minus one were upbeat in some way, I’d say it’s the weakest of the bunch. 

Tracks Recommended

• Chikai no Uta
• Motokano
• Stripe
• Saku Love -Sakura, Chiru-
• Manneri

Song of Avoidance

• Kimi e

After I basically bombed Juliet after listening to their sophomore album, “Real”.  I was almost close to giving up on them since they just weren’t my thing.  After “Shiki Love”, I was like maybe they have something.  With Shibuya though, they struck something good in me this time and I really enjoyed this one from the trio.  I mean since the album’s mood has brighten, I think it did them well and the slower and serious tracks turned out good without going into boredom.  Sweet album here!

Juliet – Motokano September 7, 2011

Track Listing

1. Motokano
2. Here We Go!!
3. Motokano (Instrumental)

1. Motokano

Hmmm, dance beats and a lot of synths present for Motokano?  I approve since it gives a little more room for the trio to sing and hit some amazing notes together.  There’s a little filtering going on but it’s not heavy and the song can still come off as enjoyable.  I wonder if it’s connected in anyway to “Motokare” but I much prefer this upbeat track since it’s more of the style I enjoy from them to begin with xD. 

2. Here We Go!!

We couldn’t really escape the summer songs just quite yet and it seems that Juliet decided to throw on with this one.  It doesn’t feel much like one but more of a disco party XD.  I’m gonna admit as fun as the arrangement is, the vocals from the trio went down the drain as they kind of took on a “idol” feel for the song.  It’s a nice change don’t get me wrong…but they are good singers kind of wasted here.

 

 

 

I wonder if Juliet is on this “Motoka__” line now since they dried up using seasons to get by.  Motokano isn’t bad but it’s not as great as their last single simply because of Here We Go!! and it’s harsh shattering premise.  Motokano though was just what I needed from them and is one of the few favorites of this long era.

Juliet – Motokare June 30, 2011

Track Listing

1. Motokare
2. Love Game
3. Motokare (Instrumental)

1. Motokare

Moving out of the season-titled singles, Motokare might be one of the few A-sides that grab my attention and this is an R&B styled song from the trio.  I must say that the members sound really pretty in this song and even when they’re doing solo lines, it’s pretty good.  I mean it’s nothing jaw-dropping, but I actually think this is one of the more better A-sides they’ve released since their debut.

2. Love Game

Seems a lot of people enjoy putting the words together here recently.  However, most of the ones with the similar titles didn’t sound like Juliet’s which is more upbeat and fitting for the season of beaches and happy-go-lucky fun.  I must say I leaned toward this a bit more since it’s not like previous efforts. 

 

 

Juliet’s 4th single in the era is luckily a step up after the last couple of singles and that’s because both tracks are simply catchy and vocally impressive songs.  While Motokare is kind of a bit more like previous songs, there’s just something about it that caught my attention.  I will say for summer songs so far this year, Love Game has impressed me the most.  There’s just something so lighthearted and feelgood about it that pulled me into it.  When’s the next album…seems like there’s a 5th single in the works.

Juliet – Saku Love April 2, 2011

Track Listing

1. Saku Love -Sakura, Chiru-
2. Saku Love -Sakura, Saku-
3. Saku Love -Sakura, Chiru- (Instrumental)

1. Saku Love -Sakura, Chiru-

I’ll be honest, I’m slowly starting to get tired of Juliet releasing ballads ever since “Aki Love”.  While it’s great to hear whoever sang first sound pretty damn amazing, I can’t say the rest of the song does much for me otherwise.  I mean if it wasn’t for the addition of acoustic guitar to throw in the mix this time around, I would’ve just called it “Yuki Love” part deux since it reminds me a whole lot of it and the music is just right (though the tempo is a tad slower).

2. Saku Love -Sakura, Saku-

Somehow, I feel like this is somehow connected to the previous track somehow by melodic properties.  I will say however that the fact this track has a catchy beat makes it a bit more better than the main song…but couldn’t they have just made this the lead track?  Vocals are just great and while it’s still nothing to gawk about like “Mou Hitotsu ni, Aki Love.”.

I’m sorry, but please Juliet! No more ballads!!!  Saku Love might be the 2nd (or 3rd, counting “Aki Love”) single, but they really starting to lose my faith in them because once again I’m so bored of their style for their main tracks, leaving the B-side to carry the single through.  Sakura, Saku is def better than Sakura, Chiru…but only by so much.  What’s next in this ____ Love series???

Juliet – Yuki Love December 18, 2010

Track Listing

1. Yuki Love
2. “Koe ga Kikitakute”

1. Yuki Love

I kind of wish Juliet started going back to original song titles and not abuse the whole ____ Love shtick that’s been going on since they debuted.  Anyways, the trio opted for another wintry ballad and I think it’s a bit more simpler than “Fuyu Love”, but this one has better vocals and is a bit more emotionally driven than said song.  Fitting for the season and makes up for the meh last single.

2. “Koe ga Kikitakute”

As for the B-side, it definitely does surprise since it’s a bit more danceable and has a lot of cute sounding synths that make it sound slightly futuristic.  To me it’s actually new for them and they sound just as melodic as they did in “Yuki Love”.  I will say this was more of the better song since it’s upbeat and catchy as all hell.

Of course coming after that oddness that was both “Aki Love” and the unneeded “Shiki Love”, Yuki Love is so far the best single released so far.  Yuki Love is a heart-warming ballad with a nice splash of R&B thrown in, but not enough to make it bland and lame like a few of their other A-sides they released.  “Koe ga Kikitakute” is a little more of a shock since it’s so upbeat and synthy…sweeeeet single.

Juliet – Shiki Love -4 SEASONS LOVE BEST- November 13, 2010

Track Listing

1. Natsu Love
2. Fuyu Love
3. Haru Love
4. Haru Love 2
5. Aki Love
6. Mou Hitotsu no, Aki Love
7. 23:45 (Remix)
8. Motto Motto Kimi wo Oshiete yo (Studio-R Remix)
9. Natsu Love -Lovers Mix-

1. Natsu Love

Beginning the mini-album with previous released songs, I never heard this or the next song because well I never paid attention to Juliet during the “Love” era.  Givin that this mini-album is about seasons basically we start off with the debut single that started it all.  I thought with something like Natsu Love, it was going to be more summery, but it kind of falls a little, but the vocals are actually quite nice from Hami, Maiko, and Yumi.  To me though it kind of reminds me a bit too much like “Aki Love”, but fitting since it’s their debut.

2. Fuyu Love

Of course this would be their 2nd single and would be based off of the Wintery season.  I actually ended up liking Fuyu Love despite not fully changing up entirely from “Natsu Love”, but it’s slightly slower and with piano and strings present it still somehow manages to fit the Winter theme a bit more strongly as well.  This was definitely a song I wished I would’ve heard earlier.  Though the little rap section was so terrible x.x

3. Haru Love

So getting into the “Real” era seasonal songs. We get Haru Love and it’s sequel (which I’ve reviewed twice already…).  I know I’ve already said I loved the fact that Haru Love featured some accordion and has a rather interesting verse arrangement (which to me seems better fitted for Summer than Spring).  Still I did feel the song felt a little meh with one of the girls in the group sounding pretty nasally than they were in the previous two tracks.  Still a pretty moving song, but it’s starting to show the lack of ingenuity.

4. Haru Love 2

Now, I still think the 2nd Haru Love did end up as the better A-side of course in the era and it’s funny that at this point, it’s kind of the song that has the most oomph of the released A-sides.  It’s still kind of screaming generic for some reason.  It must be the fact I’ve listened to “Real” that many times and looking at the arrangements over and over.  It’s still the best A-side they released that’s seasonal-related.

5. Aki Love

And of course, we get to the A-side that’s in it’s own era (or perhaps just only here to represent this album) Aki Love never really stood out for me…but it seems it’s like a baby made from “Natsu Love” and “Haru Love”.  While it does represent Autumn well enough, it’s just that there’s still nothing much to really make it stand out in the crowd.

6. Mou Hitotsu no, Aki Love

I find it funny that as the only new song found on the mini-album, they didn’t just simply call this Aki Love 2 or anything.  However it is definitely worth having it on this mini-album since it’s the heaviest song and it actually works because while it’s still in R&B land, there’s a good beat and there’s also synths in it and that right there was enough to make it stand out.  Easily the best original song of the seasonals right now. 

7. 23:45 (Remix)

While I’ve said before that 23:45 was definitely the weakest A-side that Juliet has ever released IMHO, the remix (or so-called) kind of takes the beats out of the original and added more bass and some strings in some places to make it more majestically flowed.  To put it bluntly, it’s not so much a remix as more of a downplay…it didn’t really boost my enjoyment of the song much.

8. Motto Motto Kimi wo Oshiete yo (Studio-R Remix)

I actually like that the other remix for the non-season single actually was a remix since it’s easily danceable and has a good vibe going throughout.  I will admit that the vocals sound a bit through my earplugs like there’s some light filtering that would affect those kind of things.  Otherwise it’s a better sounding “remix” than the one for “23:45”.

9. Natsu Love -Lovers Mix-

Now this was what I was hoping Natsu Love was initially going to sound like because it has a very island-y feel to it and the vocals seem more appropriate and more fitting to this arrangement than the original blah R&B fest.  A big improvement IMO and should’ve been the original damnit!

Hmmmmm, while this is considered a conceptual best-of album, Shiki Love showcases the trio’s songs about SEASONS!  The thing is though is that most of them have the same problem and that’s the rather generic-y arrangements which only gets saved by the girls nice vocals.  Mou Hitotsu no, Aki Love though is the exception since it doesn’t fit in that category much.  For remixes 2/3 ended up actually better than said original song.  The other one well…not so good.  Otherwise, if you haven’t gotten into Juliet until now, this isn’t totally the best place to begin…albums are cooler.