I totally agree though, usually on Arashi albums there are a lot of songs that just seem like filler and you automatically hit the skip buttong when they start.
I'd definitely recommend Jun's solo! It's written by the same guy as Super Fresh, apparently, and it's super-poppy and fun.
...actually, this might be easier if I sort of categorise the whole album, song by song, right? I'll skip the singles and Sora Takaku.
movin' on: kind of inspirationalish and one of those Arashi about Arashi songs, it's rockish, with a fairly short rap part in the middle. I think it has the same sort of feel as "Sora Takaku". I give it 4 stars.
Mada Ue Wo: I'd put this halfway between rockish and hip-hoppy, if I had to say what other song it was like, I'd probably say "How to Fly", the B-side from One Love. I'd definitely give this one a try, it's in my top three on the whole album. 5 stars.
Refrain: Ballad. It's a bit filler-ish but other people seem to like it. It's a bit like "Still" or, you know, one of those AU CM songs. 3 stars.
T.A.B.O.O: Sho's solo. Very guitar-heavy, kind of hip-hop/rock/funk fusion, it's hard to say what's more predominant, the rock or the hip-hop but it's kind of worth it for the abundance of random English. XP Kind of a bit like "Tell me what you wanna be" only with more hip-hop. 4 stars.
Circus: Pop/disco, musically and lyrically it's a bit like "Monster" only more circus-y. It definitely reminds me of an 80s pop song, only I still can't remember what. I'd rec this one to you for sure. 5 stars.
Gift: Ballad, a lot like that "Green" song they wrote for Eco Week. Also like Blue or Sirius. Probably best you give this one a miss! 3 stars.
Come Back to Me: Jun's solo. Best song ever, definitely try!! You will be happy forever after you hear this song! It's kind of like the younger, cuter little brother of "Yabai Yabai Yabai", or maybe Yabai's love child with "Super Fresh". Very poppy, there's a patch in the middle where Jun attempts to rap but it's by no means hip-hoppy. 5 stars for sure. XD
Magical Song: Aiba's solo. Disco, it reminds me of an early 90s Madonna song, though again I can't think which one. It took me a couple of listens to like this, but it's definitely grown on me. It's hard to compare it to another Arashi song... maybe Lucky Man, only more disco-y? Lots of synthesizer. 3.5 stars.
Let Me Down: Kind of pop-funk, I don't like this song all that much, it reminds me of the filler songs on the earlier albums, maybe something like "Raise Your Hands" or "Tokyo Lovers Tune Night", that kind of thing. 2 stars.
Don't Stop: Same sort of thing, though less funky and more disco, but still a bit forgettable. Has a "Dekiru Dake" kind of feel. 2.5 stars.
Shizuka na Yoru Ni: Ohno's solo. Ballad, it's similar to Take Me Faraway only not as good, I think, and with more of an early 90s power-ballad kind of feel, like with the keyboard sound and stuff. 3.5 stars.
Mukae ni Iku yo: another ballad. Reminds me a lot of "Season". Nice enough song, but a bit whatever, I wouldn't rec it to you. 3 stars.
1992*4##111: Nino's solo. A jazz-gospel kind of feel, very up-beat. It's not really similar to any Arashi songs, at a stretch I'd say "Fight Song", but only because of the trumpets, but really it's a bit more Billy Joel or something. XP It's a cute song. 5 stars.
kagero: Pop/borderline rock, a "Tokei Jikake no Umbrella" kind of a feel, a little bit "Truth". I like this song more every time I listen to it. 4 stars.
Summer Splash: sort of disco/hip-hop, if you can imagine that. I liked it when I first heard it, but I skip it every time it comes on, it's a bit like another filler song. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it. 3 stars.
So, to sum up, I'd rec to you Mada Ue Wo, Circus, Come Back to me, 1992*4##111 and Kagero, then if you were desperate for me, go for movin' on, T.A.B.O.O. and Magical Song. Definitely don't bother with Refrain, Gift, Shizuka na Yoru ni, Mukae ni Iku Yo, and as for the other three, you're probably better off just listening to "How's It Going" or something. XP I hope that helps!!
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Date: 2010-08-13 02:20 pm (UTC)I'd definitely recommend Jun's solo! It's written by the same guy as Super Fresh, apparently, and it's super-poppy and fun.
...actually, this might be easier if I sort of categorise the whole album, song by song, right? I'll skip the singles and Sora Takaku.
movin' on: kind of inspirationalish and one of those Arashi about Arashi songs, it's rockish, with a fairly short rap part in the middle. I think it has the same sort of feel as "Sora Takaku". I give it 4 stars.
Mada Ue Wo: I'd put this halfway between rockish and hip-hoppy, if I had to say what other song it was like, I'd probably say "How to Fly", the B-side from One Love. I'd definitely give this one a try, it's in my top three on the whole album. 5 stars.
Refrain: Ballad. It's a bit filler-ish but other people seem to like it. It's a bit like "Still" or, you know, one of those AU CM songs. 3 stars.
T.A.B.O.O: Sho's solo. Very guitar-heavy, kind of hip-hop/rock/funk fusion, it's hard to say what's more predominant, the rock or the hip-hop but it's kind of worth it for the abundance of random English. XP Kind of a bit like "Tell me what you wanna be" only with more hip-hop. 4 stars.
Circus: Pop/disco, musically and lyrically it's a bit like "Monster" only more circus-y. It definitely reminds me of an 80s pop song, only I still can't remember what. I'd rec this one to you for sure. 5 stars.
Gift: Ballad, a lot like that "Green" song they wrote for Eco Week. Also like Blue or Sirius. Probably best you give this one a miss! 3 stars.
Come Back to Me: Jun's solo. Best song ever, definitely try!! You will be happy forever after you hear this song! It's kind of like the younger, cuter little brother of "Yabai Yabai Yabai", or maybe Yabai's love child with "Super Fresh". Very poppy, there's a patch in the middle where Jun attempts to rap but it's by no means hip-hoppy. 5 stars for sure. XD
Magical Song: Aiba's solo. Disco, it reminds me of an early 90s Madonna song, though again I can't think which one. It took me a couple of listens to like this, but it's definitely grown on me. It's hard to compare it to another Arashi song... maybe Lucky Man, only more disco-y? Lots of synthesizer. 3.5 stars.
Let Me Down: Kind of pop-funk, I don't like this song all that much, it reminds me of the filler songs on the earlier albums, maybe something like "Raise Your Hands" or "Tokyo Lovers Tune Night", that kind of thing. 2 stars.
Don't Stop: Same sort of thing, though less funky and more disco, but still a bit forgettable. Has a "Dekiru Dake" kind of feel. 2.5 stars.
Shizuka na Yoru Ni: Ohno's solo. Ballad, it's similar to Take Me Faraway only not as good, I think, and with more of an early 90s power-ballad kind of feel, like with the keyboard sound and stuff. 3.5 stars.
Mukae ni Iku yo: another ballad. Reminds me a lot of "Season". Nice enough song, but a bit whatever, I wouldn't rec it to you. 3 stars.
1992*4##111: Nino's solo. A jazz-gospel kind of feel, very up-beat. It's not really similar to any Arashi songs, at a stretch I'd say "Fight Song", but only because of the trumpets, but really it's a bit more Billy Joel or something. XP It's a cute song. 5 stars.
kagero: Pop/borderline rock, a "Tokei Jikake no Umbrella" kind of a feel, a little bit "Truth". I like this song more every time I listen to it. 4 stars.
Summer Splash: sort of disco/hip-hop, if you can imagine that. I liked it when I first heard it, but I skip it every time it comes on, it's a bit like another filler song. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it. 3 stars.
So, to sum up, I'd rec to you Mada Ue Wo, Circus, Come Back to me, 1992*4##111 and Kagero, then if you were desperate for me, go for movin' on, T.A.B.O.O. and Magical Song. Definitely don't bother with Refrain, Gift, Shizuka na Yoru ni, Mukae ni Iku Yo, and as for the other three, you're probably better off just listening to "How's It Going" or something. XP I hope that helps!!