SUPER☆GiRLS – Akai Jounetsu October 23, 2012

Track Listing

1. Akai Jounetsu
2. Shiawase Wonderland
3. Joshiryoku←Paradise (Switch Vocal ver.) (CD Type A only)
4. Amita Gahaku ga Iku! (mu-mo Limited only)
5. Original CD Drama “SUPER☆GiRLS Chouzetsu Gakuen School Days Collection Ase to Namida no Taiikusai!” (Event/mu-mo only)
6. Akai Jounetsu (Instrumental)
7. Shiawase Wonderland (Instrumental)

1. Akai Jounetsu

From the last couple of singles, SUPER☆GiRLS has kind of lacked a good and fun song and with Akai Jounetsu, they kind of found their place here.  The song is slightly darker and a little more mature for them but still retaining their cuteness.  While it might strike as something a bit plain and almost AKB-like, I kind of enjoyed the song and is currently the best A-side of the era.

2. Shiawase Wonderland

As the B-side found on most editions, Shiawase Wonderland kind of goes back to their normal style of genki emotions and just bright all over the place.  The song is pretty much the typical kind of song you’d expect from SUPER☆GiRLS.  Even down to its summery tones…it’s just very plain and not very eventful.

 

 

*Will review the other 2 tracks when they pop up*.  SUPER☆GiRLS has just been riding the line of mediocrity for me ever since the era started, but luckily the light shone for Akai Jounetsu this time around.  Even though the song isn’t anything new in the idol world, it’s a lot better than what we’ve been getting from the group.  Shiawase Wonderland though was pretty bland…there’s nothing remotely interesting about it for sure…I hope this era’s album will be more exciting than what I’ve been hearing from them….>.>

SUPER☆GIRLS – Puripuri♥SUMMER Kiss July 9, 2012

Track Listing

1. Puripuri♥SUMMER Kiss
2. Minamikaze Payapaya
3. Asu e STEP! (Song by iDOL Street All Members)
4. Hatsukoi Graffiti (Yasuka Saori Special Solo Version) (Yasuka Saori edition only)
5. Puripuri♥SUMMER Kiss (Instrumental)
6. Minamikaze Payapaya (Instrumental)
7. Asu e STEP! (Song by iDOL Street All Members) (Instrumental)

1. Puripuri♥SUMMER Kiss

I guess we have another summer A-side to deal with.  Of course like most summer songs from idol there’s a clear summer sound to it which might bore people at this point of the year but it’s kind of refreshing but sounds like your typical song which is a bit disappointing as well.  I don’t even find anything remotely memorable about the song and falls off.

2. Minamikaze Payapaya

The B-side is just as beach-vibed as “Puripuri♥SUMMER Kiss” but has solo lines and the song has more of an AKB feel to it as well which left me in confusion because this doesn’t sound as fun as “MAX! Otomegokoro”.  The things I do notice is the girls saying ~payapayapaya~ over and over again during the verses but otherwise, this was pretty forgetful too.  Luckily it was short so it didn’t get annoying…

3. Asu e STEP! (Song by iDOL Street All Members)

So I don’t know what’s the full deal of iDOL Street (to me they’re trainees that aren’t in either SUPER GIRLS or Cheeky Parade).  Asu e STEP! doesn’t sound all summery like the previous tracks which is good and that the members get lines despite not knowing who’s who in this rather big group.  Not bad, not bad.

4. Hatsukoi Grafitti (Yasuka Saori Special Solo Version)

It’s weird to see one of the members from the group get a solo…and in this case it’s Saori.  She sings her own version of Hatsukoi Graffiti (which was originally a B-side from their first single, “Ganbatte Seishun”).  I guess as she’s the leader, it makes sense she’d be the one to get it.  I kind of like it even though it isn’t as filled out like the original version.   

 

 

So we are at their 2nd single for the era and I’m quite disappointed here for the most part.  Puripuri♥SUMMER Kiss and Minamikaze Payapaya are a little too bland and typical for me even though the latter is kind of pleasant sometimes.  I just couldn’t get into their summer song this time around.  Asu e STEP! on the other hand is nice though and it’s not even a SUPER☆GIRLS track lol and Saori’s solo isn’t bad actually XD.  Hope they step it up on their next single.

SUPER☆GiRLS – 1,000,000☆Smile April 18, 2012

Track Listing

1. 1,000,000☆Smile
2. Hoshikuzu Love Song
3. MAX! Otomegokoro (Switch Vocal ver.) (CD only bonus track)
4. Original CD Drama “SUPER☆GiRLS Chouzetsu Gakuen School Days Collection Seitokai no Shin Member wa Dare!?” (mu-mo edition only)
5. 1,000,000☆Smile (Instrumental)
6. Hoshikuzu Love Song (Instrumental)

1. 1,000,000☆Smile

It seems that this group never lets down on their genkiness and it makes sense with the group’s vibes in their music and how many the star in their name.  1,000,000 Smile actually kind of surprised me because of the brass that’s in the song.  Even though I can’t tell who’s who singing in the group, the solo lines were handled well and it was cute.  Even the chanting in the middle of the song was just too sweet.  I think it’s my favorite A-side from them yet!

2. Hoshikuzu Love Song

Ooooh, I liked that synth intro to the B-side of the single.  However, that’s really about it because the rest of the song kind of just goes on by for me.  Even the solo lines are kind of iffy in places because there’s some off-pitch girls.  Plus the chorus sounds boring and lifeless for some reason.  I’m surprised at my disappointment at this at the moment 0.o

3. MAX! Otomegokoro (Switch Vocal ver.)

I know I never mentioned it before but I always thought motsu (from m.o.v.e) would be ever placed in an intro for a song for idols but here he is in the introduction.  Anyways it’s the same arrangement and lyrics of MAX! Otomoegokoro but the difference is they rotated the girls singing like the deeper girls go first and the squeakier are somewhere else.  Otherwise I continue to feel the same way as I’ve heard it the two times before lol.

 

 

Starting their 3rd era, 1,000,000☆Smile is a song I can get into quite easily!  It’s fun and different from songs before and the ladies still are having fun.  I wish that kept going onto the B-side but alas it didn’t.  Hoshikuzu Love Song is pretty boring for me and doesn’t have a lot of colors (but I’m sure people will find it interesting nonetheless).  As for the alternate MAX! Otomegokoro…is it really worth it?  Not bad, but their 2nd single should be better ^^

SUPER☆GiRLS – EveryBody JUMP!! February 2, 2012

Track Listing

1. Welcome to ♥ S☆G Show!! II
2. Joshiryoku←Paradise
3. Zettai Jibun Zenshin Sengen!
4. Ganbatte Seishun
5. Mega★Twinkle
6. Shelter Nanka Iwanai
7. Yuuyake Sora ni, Mata Ashita.
8. My dream
9. MAX! Otomegokoro
10. BELIEVER
11. EveryBody JUMP!!
12. Dear ~Mirai no Chizu~
13. Egao no Hane

1. Welcome to ♥ S☆G Show!! II

Oh! I guess we’re starting off the group’s sophomore album with a similar introduction that started their debut album “Chouzetsu Shoujo” off.  That’s kind of interesting and the opening male voice is a bit deeper than that last guy which is good!  The music reminds me of music from Super Mario Galaxy as well…it’s just different but not bad of an opening.

2. Joshiryoku←Paradise

The intro leads into our first vocal track which was also the era’s third A-side and still my favorite of the three.  It might be from the slight funky feel of the song mixed with a disco sound.  I will the best I can say for the song is that most of the vocals were good but there’s places where some of the girls did sound weak!

3. Zettai Jibun Zenshin Sengen!

Moving onto our first new song on the album, Zettai Jibun Zenshin Sengen! kind of sounds like stuff on their first album but it’s not bad because it also takes from “Joshiryoku←Paradise” with the loving of the brass instruments.  Though I find myself yawning to this song since it sounds like some regular ole idol song…like something from AKB or something…just not that memorable.

4. Ganbatte Seishun

Same thing can be said about Ganbatte Seishun but it’s a tad more cuter and the vocals weren’t so meh either.  As their first single, it’s rather hard to enjoy the song since I didn’t the first time I reviewed it.  To be honest, it’s repetitive and sometimes the vocals aren’t very enthusiastic either.  At least it’s a bit better than the last track.

5. Mega★Twinkle

Oh boy did they hit the cute bar a couple hundred times for our next song.  It starts with these cute sounds and that opens the song which is actually as mid-tempo like the previous ones.  I actually liked this one but I’m not sure why but it’s not offensive and isn’t repetitive to hell like “Ganbatte Seishun”.  Still there’s one girl that just CAN’T sing…Still, this isn’t bad lol.

6. Shelter Nanka Iwanai

I’ve been noticing this album is using a WHOLE LOT more brass in their songs when compared to “Chouzetsu Shoujo”.  I will say I wasn’t expecting Shelter Nanka Iranai to have a sexy undertone to it (especially to the girl who sung the first verse)…she has a good deep voice on her!  Actually, the song really did a good job showing the vocals off more here which is a total shocker to me.  This is probably my favorite song on the album as of right now!!!

7. Yuuyake Sora ni, Mata Ashita.

Their last album had a couple of ballads but they weren’t very special but I have to admit they’ve worked a little more on this for their second album.  In the case of Yuuyake Sora ni, Mata Ashita., it was more of a case of getting those vocals working for it and I liked it.  Even the girl with the squeaky vocals didn’t sound terrible!  This wasn’t bad but it’s not really anything totally special.

8. My dream

Hmmm, R&B is an odd style to see an idol group tackle but at the same time it’s like it was bound to happen and I kind of liked the song actually.  The good vocalists once again take up majority of the song and their deeper sound really works for them!  Another great song on the album actually and maybe the biggest surprise of the bunch too.

9. MAX! Otomegokoro

It’s interesting that they didn’t include the sister A-side, “Happy GO Lucky! ~Happy☆Lucky de Go!~” but I guess it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.  Once again the brass comes back and it’s also a summer-themed song as well which adds to the atmosphere.  I will say that I’ve grown to enjoy it more but it’s still rather cute for me and that girl with the squeaky vocals bother me.  It’s definitely in the middle of the singles in favorites.

10. BELIEVER

Continuing back to the cute side of the group, BELIEVER reminds me of something like “Seishun Collection” but not so much fully.  Another one of those AKB-ish clones, BELIEVER takes on a more acoustic sound which is a nice change and there’s not really much in solos (closest is dual lines).  Not my favorite but it’s not bad.

11. EveryBody JUMP!!

Finally we get into the album’s promotional song and title track and just like the PV shows off…there’s a lot of jumping going on hahah.  Odd though that I feel the song pulling a little of TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE but in a much brighter light which is kind of odd but cool.  I will say, this song is kind of catchy and the chorus is fun and memorable too.  I think I’m really enjoying the song right now!

12. Dear ~Mirai no Chizu~

Another ballad comes up next and hmmmm…it kind of sounds exactly like “Yuuyake Sora ni, Mata Ashita.”.  I mean the big difference is that it kind of has a wintery feel to it and electric guitars to make the chorus a bit more powerful.  Otherwise it’s like dejavu with this song.  Oh and there’s little in point of solos as well.  Meh…at least the chorus is nice.

13. Egao no Hane

Closing the album is Egao no Hane which is kind of like some of the upbeat stuff in the first part of the album.  You know, a good use of brass but there’s also some guitars as well.  I found this to be actually a good closing to the album.  It’s just the right kind of upbeat and the vocals are good as well.  It did make sense though that there’s no solos though.  A good closure!

Tracks Recommended

• Shelter Nanka Iwanai
• My dream
• Mega★Twinkle
• Joshiryoku←Paradise
• EveryBody JUMP!!

Song of Avoidance

• Zettai Jibun Zenshin Sengen!

Wow if there was an album that showed better direction than a previous release, it’s definitely this album.  Since it’s SOO much better and handled better than their debut album, “Chouzetsu Shoujo”, EveryBody JUMP!! was a great sophomore release.  Sadly it’s the last we see of Eri Akita but that’s ok since I don’t really remember her very well.  Good release ^_^

SUPER☆GiRLS – Joshiryoku←Paradise October 6, 2011

Track Listing

1. Joshiryoku←Paradise
2. WAKE UP! ~Onna no Ko no Chikara~
3. Girl’s Party -my friend Jenny-
4. SUPER☆GiRLS Chouzetsu Gakuen School Days Collection Aki-Chouzetsu Sai de Dai Soudou!
5. Joshiryoku←Paradise (instrumental)
6. WAKE UP! ~Onna no Ko no Chikara~ (instrumental)

1. Joshiryoku←Paradise

Ooooh, a kind of brass-forward kind of song for the group’s 3rd A-side it seems.  I actually kind of like the sound of this one since it’s less peppy and his a stronger flow and lets the members get solo lines (or dual lines).  There’s some strong vocals but there’s a couple that are just bad (like the squeaky one at the end of the first chorus).  It’s definitely my favorite A-side the group has released so far so that’s a good thing!

2. WAKE UP! ~Onna no Ko no Chikara~

The first B-side though was definitely the best of the single because it just wasn’t drenched in the overly cute idol-shnuff that has bothered me in a couple of previous songs they’ve released and since the vocals are controlled more for this sparkly mid-tempo tune.  There’s not much to say since there is also no solo parts in this one which is a nice change I guess.

3. Girl’s Party -my friend Jenny-

I wasn’t sure what we were going to get with Girl’s Party but it turns out to be this kind of throwback the old pop days and I think it’s a sweet move to do since it shows a little more flash for the girls.  To me it feels just like an upbeat version of the previous song, but I must say this song was peppy and cute rolled up in a ball.  I must say, this was nice as well….once again no solos XD

 

 

I didn’t have a lot of faith for SUPER☆GiRLS for the longest time since their releases have been less than stellar.  Luckily, I can happily admit that Joshiryoku←Paradise is their best single yet.  The leading track had a lot of interesting things going from the peppy feel to the solos which minus one or two members sounded great!  Girl’s Party also fit in the same category minus the solos so it’s also just great.  WAKE UP! is a different kind of tune being a bit more tame and slower which does a good thing since it shows how great the girls can be.  I wonder how much longer before their second album…?

SUPER☆GiRLS – MAX! Otomegokoro/Happy GO Lucky! ~Happy☆Lucky de Go!~ June 16, 2011

Track Listing

1. MAX! Otomegokoro
2. Happy GO Lucky! ~Happy☆Lucky de Go!~
3. Kira Pure POWER! ~Cheer Up! ver.~ (Limited Event CD only)
4. Original CD Drama “SUPER☆GiRLS Chouzetsu Gakuen School Days Collection Natsu Dare ga Idol!?” (CD Radio Drama only)
5. MAX! Otomegokoro (Instrumental)
6. Happy GO Lucky! ~Happy☆Lucky de Go!~ (Instrumental)

1. MAX! Otomegokoro

I kind of was surprised that that SUPER☆GiRLS’s second single would be the typical idol summer song but honestly, this isn’t that bad to be honest since it’s catchy and so genki to listen to.  I’m still a little concerned on the vocals because they are a little off the mark most of the song and there’s a lot of note collisions during the verses and chorus.  Otherwise, it’s an interesting song and fitting for the season.

2. Happy GO Lucky! ~Happy☆Lucky de Go!~

For such a hyperactive title above, you’d think it’d be ten times genki than “MAX! Otomegokoro” but it really isn’t.  I mean it’s still upbeat and has a lot more going on in the arrangement, but the overall mood is a lot more streamlined and the girls slightly worked on getting their voices in a better melodic form.  It’s slightly better than the other A-side, but only slightly. 

 

 

As this is the group’s second single, MAX! Otomegokoro/Happy GO Lucky! was an upgrade after their first one for sure but they still have a little ways to go to become something really good because I can see the blips of awesomeness with MAX! Otomegokoro being their summer song and Happy GO Lucky is the more reserved song.  It’s alright I guess overall…but I wonder what the new version of Kira Pure POWER sounds like….

SUPER☆GiRLS – Ganbatte Seishun April 24, 2011

Track Listing

1. Ganbatte Seishun
2. Hatsukoi Graffiti
3. Original CD Drama “SUPER☆GiRLS Chouzetsu Gakuen School Days Collection Haru (New Students Side)” (CD Drama A only)
4. Original CD Drama “SUPER☆GiRLS Chouzetsu Gakuen School Days Collection Haru (Current Students Side)” (CD Drama B only)
5. Ganbatte Seishun ~Seishun ver.~ (mu-mu only)
6. Ganbatte Seishun (Instrumental)
7. Hatsukoi Graffiti (Instrumental)

1. Ganbatte Seishun

Talk about being genki for an entire song, Ganbatte Seishun is a little bit catchy and a little bit annoying at the same time.  The thing that actually caught my attention was the fact that it’s a bit like idol pop/rock kind of like some of their songs off their debut album.  However, the chorus repeats a whole lot which does get on my nerves more than anything else.  There is a few solos in the song and whoever it is, she sounds good but emotionless for the most part…It’s alright and it does make first a good first A-side.

2. Hatsukoi Graffiti

As the single’s B-side, it’s a bit of a change from poppy stuff to something softer and mid-tempo.  While there isn’t any solos throughout it sounds actually better than a good portion of their discography.  The chorus does have melodic hiccups, but it’s still passable and overall a pleasant listen.

As this is SUPER☆GiRLS first single, I think it was much easier to digest than debuting with that album, “Chouzetsu Shoujo”.  Anywho, the A-side is sugary cute and a bit repetitive but it’s not so much caked on like some of their other songs.  Hatsukoi Graffiti though was a bit better since it showed a slower and concrete sound with somewhat strong melodies from the girls….can’t wait for the next single.

SUPER☆GiRLS – Chouzetsu Shoujo December 24, 2010

Track Listing

1. Welcome to ♥ S☆G Show!!
2. NIJIIRO STAR☆ (Chouzetsu Version)
3. Kira-Pure-POWER!
4. Yume no Inryoku
5. THE Rock YOU★ ~Kimi ga Kureta Akashi~
6. Egao ga Porori
7. Tokimeki Iro no Kaze to Kimi
8. Nijiiro Dia ~Superga no Theme~
9. Renai Rule
10. NIJIIRO Namida…
11. Be with you
12. Miracle ga Tommanai!
13. Kizuna Days (Chouzetsu Version)
14. Be with you (Chouzetsu Version)

1. Welcome to ♥ S☆G Show!!

Opening the album up with a grand opening, I’m not sure what was with the weird circus-like atmosphere and that guy with the bad accent.  The music is kind of giddy and loud like old Momosu stuff and it’s kind of cool to hear it again.  At the end of the song you hear a little snippet of our next song under filters.

2. NIJIIRO Star☆ (Chouzetsu Version)

I’m not sure what’s with the new versions of some of the songs on the album since none of them actually has beem released physically or digitally for that matter.  Anyways the new song is the first to show the 12-nin group and I unfortunately have problems figuring out the members since there’s so many.  It still is pretty much a happy happy song, but the music is kind of cute and the girls sound surprisingly good together.

3. Kira-Pure-POWER!

Getting into our next song, I’m quickly finding that the album is going to be full of these happy sounding songs that relatively sound similar.  Kira-Pure-POWER! does have a bit more electric guitar involved, but otherwise the girls sound a bit less together and yet the solos sound a bit more convincing.  I’m not liking the fact that the chorus has some yelling factors thrown in, but ehhh can’t be helped.

4. Yume no Inryoku

To me, Yume no Inryoku reminds me of the opening of the album with the giddy arrangement and synth usage, but it’s actually not a bad song despite not really changing the formula around any.  The girls sound much more lively and with faster sung lyrics, the song actually is catchy and pretty darn cute.  So far I’m most impressed with the solo lines than the group togetherness.

5. THE Rock YOU★ ~Kimi ga Kureta Akashi~

I will admit that I was happy to escape the cuteness of the album with the song.  Going by the title, it’s more like garage rock by the whole messy arrangement and heavy sound.  It’s made worse that the girls sound one-dimensional and kind of way boring with the music overpowering them.  I’m sorry, but this is definitely their weakest song yet.

6. Egao ga Porori

After the rather mundance rock song, Egao ga Porori takes a more interesting route, but I’m not sure why but the sort-of ballad kind of brings back the livelier vocals from the group and while the vocals are much more higher, it’s a pleasant listen and the flute-like instrument was pretty interesting as well.  Ok, this song makes for a good listen for me.  Is it a little folkish too perhaps?

7. Tokimeki Iro no Kaze to Kimi

Knowing Tetsuya Komuro worked on this album is starting to have its effect on me, but I’m surprised with our next song because it sounds like the better vocalists of the group took the lead solos and vocals and it just sounded good with the crazy amounts of synths used throughout.  It’s just a wild dance track and it’s surprisingly one of the better songs from the album.

8. Nijiiro Dia ~Superga no Theme~

So I guess the group has to have a theme now?  So far Nijiiro Dia has a pretty interesting vibe going on with a large amount of brass and genkiness mixed with the annoying drums from “THE Rock YOU”.  It’s alright and a step up over said song, but there’s still a lot of weaknesses shown through the song’s execution.

9. Renai Rule

I guess cute’s rolling back in again and with Renai Rule it sounds like it should belong towards the front of the album with the other cutesy songs.  Once again the soloists of the songs sound pretty strong, but I’m getting tired of hearing strings in the groups music for some reason.  Nothing really stands out otherwise for this song.

10. NIJIIRO Namida…

Another one of those “NIJIIRO” tracks eh?  I will say that I loved that guitar solo opening the song, butit was definitely not needed since it turns into another ballad from the group.  As much as I like these songs, the girls didn’t sound as good together as in previous songs and at more than 6 minutes in length, it’s a bit of a hard listen for sure.

11. Be with you

Being as it’s their literal first song they sang together, Be with you has a pretty good ending theme going and the girls once again sound joyous and excited to be singing the song.  Out of all the songs though, I can clearly tell Tetsuya was all over this song clearly because of the piano-like synth beats that have been relevent to his music since his start at producing.  It’s a pretty good song and great for their first track ever done.

12. Miracle ga Tommanai!

If there was a song that could easily give me a headache, I’d think this song would definitely fit that role.  The opening was one of the messiest productions on the album but at least it disappears after a bit.  Still the overall genkiness and rather gritty vocals (chorus and vocals).  It’s loud though so it does leave its mark on the album. 

13. Kizuna Days (Chouzetsu Version)

Another song I guess that was rearranged for the album, Kizuna Days sounds interesting with new sounding synths and a rather wintry feel going on.  It’s also kind of stuck in trying to be either a ballad or a synth/pop/rock song but it’s not bad and I actually kind of like the arrangement and the togetherness of the group.  There’s not a lot of solos either which also says alot, but like “Be with you”, it’s definitely like a lot of Tetsuya’s stuff.

14. Be with you (Chouzetsu Version)

Talking about said song, the album finally ends with the new version of the song, but at least the original was placed here as well.  Unlike the original, the Chouzetsu Version is slightly arranged differently, but the most obvious was the fact that there’s no Tetsuya-ness found in the song so it makes it more original, but for me it sounds more annoying since the synths do take over and there’s a clapping rhythm that gets old quickly as well.  Not the best way to end it…but it was ok.

Tracks Recommended

• Tokimeki Iro no Kaze to Kimi
• Kizuna Days (Chouzetsu Version)
• Yume no Inryoku
• Be with you

Song of Avoidance

• THE Rock YOU★ ~Kimi ga Kureta Akashi

I’m sorry but I’m definitely surprised at how much I didn’t fully enjoy SUPER☆GiRLS’ debut album.  It might be the fact that Tetsuya might not have had a lot of individuality set for the group since they’re also an idol group in which he hasn’t fully worked with before.  Chouzetsu Shoujo might have been better if the arrangements weren’t so high strung, but there were a few shiners.  Not a good start for avex’s 2nd idol group that debuted this year.