Sorry for this long post hehe...So I've listened to DAI's newest album, X or ten, and it's pretty alright, not amazing or awesome but it's got some surprisingly good tracks. Coz they didn't even release any singles prior to the release except two tracks on Itunes.
My first impression was:
- this album has more ballads than previously
-only 10 tracks?! Felt like it's missing something and it's short!
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After few listens, more details on each song:
Yoake wa Chikai - A good track to start off the album, get hyper with this, and I can imagine it being an opening song for their tour (8/10)
Tokyo Anettai - They don't slow down in second track, another upbeat one. I actually liked the guitar riffs here. (8/10)
Work! - upbeat track again. Kinda reminds me of their old song, Week! (although they have different sounds altogether but the feel). Chorus could've been better though. (6/10)
Renge - First ballad of their 10th album, this sounded good in the preview but after the full thing, I find it missing the oomph. Repetitive but very glad they didn't sing the chorus again at the end, if not it'd have been too much. Ban chan's voice was great though, as usual. She sounded strong yet there's the tinge of mellow. I need translations of the lyrics to this song because I'm sure it's meaningful from some sentences I caught. (7/10)
mannequin - a laid back track. I like the intro xD It reminds me of old DAI songs. A good sign. (8/10)
copernicus - this is the track that I can't find anything memorable at all. Easily forgotten and the album can even go without this. It's upbeat and got a pretty interesting intro but it's a filler. The first line of the chorus sounded a lot like Ariadne but sizzles afterwards. (5/10)
Right Now - Now this one is fun. It immediately reminds me of pop/punkish tunes especially by The Maine, trust me, if you've heard of the band's older songs, this one pretty much nails it. So similar. And because of that, I feel like this track is closest to a western track of that genre. Ban chan sounded like she's having fun singing this in the studio too hehe (8/10)
sodensen - Second ballad and this one is well-done, so much more than Renge. However, there's something very familiar with the entire song, like I've heard it somewhere before but couldn't pin point (let my friend listened to it and she said the same thing). Irritating but the song's good on its own. I like Ban chan's voice in this one. Very calm and composed. Waiting for translation for this. (9/10)
また明日も少しだけ頑張ろうとおもう - Surprise, surprise, another ballad? From DAI's past, especially older albums, they don't offer this much ballad in one album. Or maybe because this album only has 10 albums, I felt like there are a lot of ballads. This rates second from sodensen, not quite there but it's got its moments. Rock ballad. (8/10)
ROCK DAYZ - final song returns the atmosphere to hyper. The chorus is actually nice but I half-wished Ban chan could pronounce "We will rock! x2" better than the engrish. It's not obvious but I can still hear that engrish there. But I have to say, this track makes me wanna get up and let loose hehe, not to mention, Ryo has an exciting guitar riff here.
Overall, if I were to complain anything, it's the number of tracks offered. Of course, we get all 10 new tracks because they didn't even release any single and PV. But still, another one or two tracks would've been really nice. I mean, it's their 10th album! okay, so maybe that's their point, 10th album so 10 tracks. And released on 10.10.12. How obvious can they make it? LOL Another downside is how their sound has gotten very similar since the new DAI was formed. What you hear in this album is their comfort zone and you don't get to hear anything outside that. You don't get whacky tunes like you do when Dai Nagao was around. You don't get crazy or sick riffs delivered by Ryo anymore. And that's what I missed most from them. I hope they take some time off, get back in studio and look back at their past songs and try something new rather than this normal formula, coz it's getting bit old.
I'm waiting for the HK version of this album for sale on yesasia hehe
Oct 1 2012, 09:39 AM
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7 more days....
They seem to be having lots of fun making music together ever since their reformation so very little chance of it being final album. However, because they made this in such a short time, accord to a recent interview, Ban Chan mentioned that they might consider a longer time before releasing the next one. Probably a short break. Well they deserve a little break considering how quick they recorded this one, less than a year.
people pushing and etc...somehow msian crowd is really bad in general. I know they're excited and all, still no need to push. I admire the Japanese crowd, they know their seats/spaces and kinda kept their distance. but i do enjoy the whole cheering and jumping around together when it gets hyped. *i just hate rude and inconsiderate crowds*
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