Track Listing
- Introduction ~My music is designed from my DNA~
- HUSH
- Dangerous
- WATCH OUT!! ~DNA~
- ScREaM
- CHANCES ALL
- Aenaku Naru Kurai Nara
- HAIRCUT
- Guess Who Is Back
- HOT HOT
- Kokoro Kara i love you
- Work That
- PIN DROP
1. Introduction ~My music is designed from my DNA~
Interesting title for just a simple intro don’t ya think? Very futuristic vibes I get from the opening though and maybe a little tribal and I don’t know why ominous fits here too before a robotic Kuu comes in and the track turns more into a trap-like tune. Interesting way to kick the album off.
2. HUSH
As the quote-on-quote lead-in single for the album (was a bit surprised it was missing on “AND”), HUSH is the first full track and I was curious to see what it was all about (since I didn’t review those singles). I was pretty impressed though since it brings us back a cool and sexy vibe that Kuu does very well with and this song is probably the first time I feel excited to hear Kuu going back to a more simpler vibe (without feeling like she’s trying too hard). Very cool song to start the album.
3. Dangerous
The sound of a dog barking opens up our next track, Dangerous and this is more of what I was saying in the previous track where maybe she’s coming a smidge too strong, but it still isn’t as messy as some previous efforts. The tune is more funky and the beat is cool if not a smidge all over when it comes to its chorus. A little vague as well, yeah the chorus is just forgetful lol. The beat though is definitely in your face. I think overall the song is OK, but I still prefer “HUSH”.
4. WATCH OUT!! ~DNA~
Does this count as the title track? Well either way, we go into more of this aggressive bad bitch vibe for our next track and WATCH OUT!! is pretty much the tryhard style that I’m not quite too fond of and Kuu is really in your face. Unfortunately, the chorus is pretty repetitive and the track’s lack of a strong melody is kind of putting me off more and more. Plus the Engrish is just humorous to me…yeah, pass…
5. ScREaM
Why does this song remind me of both 2NE1 & Red Velvet?? Just something about the opening gives me Kpop vibes which is a bit of a surprise. I love the arrangement and the way it flows is a lot more smooth and clean like “HUSH”, the trap beats is a bit bleh, but I definitely can enjoy this song beyond that since the rest of the track is just catchy and fun to listen to.
6. CHANCES ALL
Oh the synths that open up the next track are really neat! I’m happy it stays in the song as it gives more of a EDM/R&B kind of groove. It’s like a nostalgic trip to something more of something from “Dejavu” or “UNIVERSE” and those albums had really decent tracks of the same vein. Right now, I’m definitely bopping to this track the most, impressed!
7. Aenaku Naru Kurai Nara
Not surprised that the first track that’s written out in Kanji would be the ballad. Aenaku Naru Kurai Nara is another track that kind of just goes into the ballad bin here because of the simplistic piano arrangement. There are times where more instrumentation is added like drums/strings and such and it does try to add more color to the song. It’s alright, but I mean what more can I say about Kuu ballads.
8. HAIRCUT
I mean I guess if you’re going to make a song about getting a haircut, I guess it means the song needs to hit hard and aggressive? It’s just hilarious to think about, but the song is kind of cool and whatnot…though that ~Imma get a haircut~ hook is just awkward xD. I really do love when the song chills out for the pre-choruses, that’s probably my favorite part of the song and maybe the sax inclusion…but this song arrangement-wise is a tad messy.
9. Guess Who Is Back
It’s been a while since we’ve heard Kuu tackle a rock track and here we are with Guess Who Is Back which is relentless and loud! I’m definitely getting behind this a lot more than I did when she covered “Can We Go Back” a couple years back! Kuu though does have to adopt a different vocal style, but she also manages to keep her sultry vocals too for certain parts. I would love to see Kuu perform this live, this has the ability to really get the crowd amped up!
10. HOT HOT
Not sure what I was getting into here, but I thought maybe it was going to be more of a Summer themed track like “Hashire!”. Though what we ended up is something in the realm of a sexy song, but maybe playful at that too? I kind of like the ragtime after-chorus (maybe that’s what that she was going for??), but the song is short…not quite as short as “HAIRCUT” but pretty close. I don’t know what I think about this tune…maybe somewhere in the middle.
11. Kokoro Kara i love you
Why does it seems the songs with Kanji in them are more or less the only ballads on the album? As also the longest track, this one does sound like it has a bit more going on in its arrangement moreso than “Aenaku Naru Kurai Nara”, but it still is more or less similar instrumentation, just a bit more livelier I suppose? Another song I could probably live without honestly.
12. Work That
After that, Work That comes up and it starts with a steady beat and Kuu being sensual and sexy once again. I kind of enjoyed the build-up of the song, but the payoff in the chorus felt surprisingly weak, but the melody was still kind of interesting. I’m pretty torn though to if I love it or feel like it’s just a plain song in the mix.
13. PIN DROP
As the final track, PIN DROP closes DNA off with another heavy bop with a punchy beat and Kuu being herself again haha. I definitely get similar vibes here with “HUSH” and I think that made for a good round trip on the album. I think it’s definitely worth checking out even if it didn’t make total sense as an album closer.
Tracks Recommended
- Guess Who Is Back
- CHANCES ALL
- HUSH
- Work That
- ScREaM
Song of Avoidance
- WATCH OUT!! ~DNA~
Here we are with the 2nd half of Kuu’s release, DNA! I have to say, this album wasn’t that bad and didn’t feel quite as off the wall that “AND” was earlier in the year! It just felt more cohesive and pretty much Kuu being comfortable. Though the ballads were weak and my Song of Avoidance choice was abrasive…overall, I liked this more than “AND”.