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So, like everyone with a brain, I have an opinion. Because I'm slightly odd, I like posting my opinion on the internet for everyone else to post their opinions on, and therefore just about everyone gets an opinion on my opinion, and then it snowballs, and so on.
So, I'm starting off with a review of P9D. I've reviewed albums before on Metal Archives, so I do know what I'm doing. Sort of.
Anyway.
Overall
My first impression of this album was that Tsunku had been smoking straight weed and listening to five turntables playing Ska, old school hip-hop, prog, metal and ballads at the same time, and then just coagulated them all together. Generally, my impression hasn't improved in terms of the method, though my appreciation for the actual songwriting has increased slightly.
Anyway, track-by-track is easiest, so here goes:
SONGS
Okaaaaaaaaaay. This was weird to me. I disliked the hip-hop element, I disliked the digitising. I heard this before it was released, and didn't hear the end, which I still feel is the best bit. The ska-like stuff is nice, but too... annoying. The singing isn't too bad, except for them damn vocaloid effects. One should stop playing with voice changers by about the age of five. It adds nothing to the song and just serves to annoy the hell out of me.
Overall, I'd give this song about a 5/10.
Broken down, that's something like .5 of a point for the piano at the beginning, and 4.5 for the singing riff at the end.
Dakedo
I still refuse to call this by it's actual name. It's grown on me slightly since I first heard it, but its only redeeming feature is the Arab-tinged bit in the middle.
Overall, about a 6.5/10.
Ame no Furanai ga Tottemo Nagai Title wa Hontouni Urusai
Because I can't for the life of me remember the actual title
This is a nice song. The new arrangement isn't as nice as the original, and it loses a point for that. However, it's still probably the best song Tsunku's written in ages, so overall I give it a 9/10.
Take off is now!
No. Just... No. I don't like it. I have no reason. However, once again, the best bit is at the end of the song, the little twiddly bit.
Overall, 3/10.
Naichau Kamo
Not as bad as I first thought, after hearing TOIN and SONGS. My impression hasn't improved much though. Still a poor man's/woman's ONSA.
6/10.
Watashi no Something or Other
Overall, I think this is the strongest non-single song on the album. Aika's voice isn't brilliant, however, the song suits it, and it just clicks. If I were to compare it to any other "clicking instantly" track, it'd be "How Do You Like This Japan" or "Genki+". Even though it's a solo. As a song, I prefer Ame, but the album version of this works better than the album version of Ame, so it's top.
9.5/10
Guruguru JUMP
I love this. I don't know why, but it just feels like instant energy. I dislike Koharu's voice (hating would be more apt), and for some reason Junjun's voice in this song is weak as hell (peculiar, because in SONGS, Ame and her duet with Linlin on COVER YOU she was rather strong), but Linlin carries the whole damn thing, and the music is win enough to make me happy.
I'd give it an 8.5/10.
Mikan
Still one of my favourite Momusu singles.
9.5/10
Jounetsu no Kisu wo Hitotsu
Same as Take off. Just doesn't work for me. The 3 strongest voices in the group doesn't make an instant good song. And at least Take off is now was quite catchy. Worst song on the album, easily.
2/10.
It's You
This is brilliant. From Sayu's terrible ad-libs, to her rather lulzy singing (though it is much improved, her vocal chords are too oddly formed for singing decently), it's amazing. Tunewise, it's nothing much, but as with Aika's song, it fits her voice. She is very expressive, so the music doesn't have to be. Also, this pwns because it has a) a Hammond solo (prog nerd in me awards +5 marks for that) and
technical guitar solo (another point from my guitarist side).
9/10
Onna ni Sachi Are
My favourite Momusu single since 2002.
10/10.
Kataomori
Or whatever. Sounds like a reject from the 6th album, which has been constantly passed over on the albums since. Eri's voice does nothing for me either.
4/10
Kanashimi Twilight
Good song, but old.
9/10 for song, -5 points for laziness on behalf of Tsunku.
Overall, I'd give it about 6.5/10. This isn't a weighted average, just an overall.
In contrast, I'd rank C-ute's 4th album at an 8.5 and Buono's second at 7.5. Just an idea
So, I'm starting off with a review of P9D. I've reviewed albums before on Metal Archives, so I do know what I'm doing. Sort of.
Anyway.
Overall
My first impression of this album was that Tsunku had been smoking straight weed and listening to five turntables playing Ska, old school hip-hop, prog, metal and ballads at the same time, and then just coagulated them all together. Generally, my impression hasn't improved in terms of the method, though my appreciation for the actual songwriting has increased slightly.
Anyway, track-by-track is easiest, so here goes:
SONGS
Okaaaaaaaaaay. This was weird to me. I disliked the hip-hop element, I disliked the digitising. I heard this before it was released, and didn't hear the end, which I still feel is the best bit. The ska-like stuff is nice, but too... annoying. The singing isn't too bad, except for them damn vocaloid effects. One should stop playing with voice changers by about the age of five. It adds nothing to the song and just serves to annoy the hell out of me.
Overall, I'd give this song about a 5/10.
Broken down, that's something like .5 of a point for the piano at the beginning, and 4.5 for the singing riff at the end.
Dakedo
I still refuse to call this by it's actual name. It's grown on me slightly since I first heard it, but its only redeeming feature is the Arab-tinged bit in the middle.
Overall, about a 6.5/10.
Ame no Furanai ga Tottemo Nagai Title wa Hontouni Urusai
Because I can't for the life of me remember the actual title
This is a nice song. The new arrangement isn't as nice as the original, and it loses a point for that. However, it's still probably the best song Tsunku's written in ages, so overall I give it a 9/10.
Take off is now!
No. Just... No. I don't like it. I have no reason. However, once again, the best bit is at the end of the song, the little twiddly bit.
Overall, 3/10.
Naichau Kamo
Not as bad as I first thought, after hearing TOIN and SONGS. My impression hasn't improved much though. Still a poor man's/woman's ONSA.
6/10.
Watashi no Something or Other
Overall, I think this is the strongest non-single song on the album. Aika's voice isn't brilliant, however, the song suits it, and it just clicks. If I were to compare it to any other "clicking instantly" track, it'd be "How Do You Like This Japan" or "Genki+". Even though it's a solo. As a song, I prefer Ame, but the album version of this works better than the album version of Ame, so it's top.
9.5/10
Guruguru JUMP
I love this. I don't know why, but it just feels like instant energy. I dislike Koharu's voice (hating would be more apt), and for some reason Junjun's voice in this song is weak as hell (peculiar, because in SONGS, Ame and her duet with Linlin on COVER YOU she was rather strong), but Linlin carries the whole damn thing, and the music is win enough to make me happy.
I'd give it an 8.5/10.
Mikan
Still one of my favourite Momusu singles.
9.5/10
Jounetsu no Kisu wo Hitotsu
Same as Take off. Just doesn't work for me. The 3 strongest voices in the group doesn't make an instant good song. And at least Take off is now was quite catchy. Worst song on the album, easily.
2/10.
It's You
This is brilliant. From Sayu's terrible ad-libs, to her rather lulzy singing (though it is much improved, her vocal chords are too oddly formed for singing decently), it's amazing. Tunewise, it's nothing much, but as with Aika's song, it fits her voice. She is very expressive, so the music doesn't have to be. Also, this pwns because it has a) a Hammond solo (prog nerd in me awards +5 marks for that) and
technical guitar solo (another point from my guitarist side). 9/10
Onna ni Sachi Are
My favourite Momusu single since 2002.
10/10.
Kataomori
Or whatever. Sounds like a reject from the 6th album, which has been constantly passed over on the albums since. Eri's voice does nothing for me either.
4/10
Kanashimi Twilight
Good song, but old.
9/10 for song, -5 points for laziness on behalf of Tsunku.
Overall, I'd give it about 6.5/10. This isn't a weighted average, just an overall.
In contrast, I'd rank C-ute's 4th album at an 8.5 and Buono's second at 7.5. Just an idea
But it's true that half the album is good and half of it is crap.
