Sabado, Hulyo 10, 2010
Huwebes, Hulyo 8, 2010
Lunes, Hulyo 5, 2010
Tracklist :
1) Portraits ~prologue~
2) GUILTY
3) Spirit
4) Hoshi ga Furu Yoru demo (In A Star Spangled Night)
5) Swing !
6) Chou (Butterfly)
7) will
8) Air
9) RADIO MAGIC
10) way of life
11) LIGHT IN YOUR HEART
12) Bouquet
13) Portraits
14) SILENT GALAXY (First Press CD Only Track)
READY ? is V6's 11th album . This was released last week on 31st March & this's the group's 1st album release in 2 1/2 years since 2007's Voyager .
The album debuted at #2 with 1st week sales of 67,951 . The 2 CDs only edition of READY ? includes a bonus disc featuring the solo songs from each member , and the songs from the 2 sub trio units in V6 ie. 20th Century & Coming Century but I will not review the 2nd disc in here , I just will focus in reviewing the main disc .
Portraits ~prologue~ is the 1st track to kick off READY ? & I really love this no. & if you realise in the tracklist of the album , Portraits is found as track #13 which will be reviewed by me later on .
In fact to sum up Portraits ~prologue~ , it's basically a 1:06 mins acapella version of the song which's very nice/lovely & the guys's vocals harmonise very well for that matter .
GUILTY is V6's 36th single & it was used as the theme song for the 4th season of the dorama Keishichou Sousa Ikka 9 Gakari which starred member Inohara Yoshihiko .
This's the last single included prior to the release of READY ? .
I still like GUILTY even up to now . It's a somewhat dark angsty pop driven song & I appericate the rap which happened after the 1st chorus of GUILTY which I feel members Miyake Ken & Morita Go did a really good job in rapping .
The only thing that turned me off slightly for GUILTY was the way that the guys sang like robots . I'm not sure if that was done on purpose but I'm not going to lie that this's 1 song I really like .
Spirit is the group's 35th single & it was used as the Waseda Academy ad song and also the theme song for Fuji TV's program VivaVivaV6 .
Even though Spirit is almost going to be a 1 year old + song , I still cannot get enough of it .
Somehow or another , Spirit reminds me of summer & I like that it's such a nice enpowering song too . You can't help but feel that the song gives you some really good positive vibes after you listen to it & that's a good sign I say .
Hoshi ga Furu Yoru demo (In A Star Spangled Night) is track #4 & it's the 1st album track you can find in READY ?
It's also the only album track that receives a music video for that matter & I guess I can see (hear) why .
It's a really nice ballad & after 2 uplifting songs , it's good that the guys slow down with this really nice ballad Hoshi ga Furu Yoru demo which's piano driven .
After Hoshi ga Furu Yoru demo , the next 2 songs are singles .
Swing ! is the 2nd A-side of V6's 34th single LIGHT IN YOUR HEART / Swing ! & it was used as the theme song for VivaVivaV6 .
Honestly out of the singles that made the cut in READY ? , I think this's probably my least fave . Even up to now , I still do not really like Swing ! as it's quite cheesy & sounded like some 90's dated song & the rapping going on in Swing ! , that kind of turn me off in more ways than other .
Chou (Butterfly) is V6's 33rd single & it was used as the theme song for the 3rd season of the dorama Keishichou Sousa Ikka 9 Gakari .
This's 1 hot passionate song . I love the somewhat Spanish latin influence vibes that Chou gives off & I really can see this song being blasted out loud & proud in dance clubs as it's just so dancey & seriously catchy .
The next 3 songs are album tracks .
will is a really fresh sounding pop song . I like it that it's upbeat & it's virtually fuss free for that matter & the guys's vocals are pretty good/strong in here too .
The same thing goes for the next track Air . I actually find will & Air pretty simliar as both are pop driven but somehow or another , both songs have their own unique flair attached to each other which I like .
RADIO MAGIC is also on the pop side of things but unlike will & Air , RADIO MAGIC is a lot more poppy & somewhat piano driven .
I also realised that RADIO MAGIC is a lot more fast paced than the other tracks in READY ? too . I actually had quite a hard time to try to sing along in this song but I somehow failed lol but this's nice , I really like it .
The next 2 songs are the final 2 songs which served as singles .
way of life is the group's 32nd single & it was used as the theme song for the dorama SP which starred member Okada Junichi .
In fact , way of life is the oldest single that's included in READY ? seeing that it was released some 3 years ago .
I considered way of life as like the 1st proper song I heard from V6 . I listened to their other classics songs like CHANGE THE WORLD & Darling but that time I wasn't really into jpop & I didn't even know about V6 & the other Johnny's so I suppose way of life can be counted as my V6 music ticket to their music discography .
As a result , I still have quite a lot of fond memories whenever I hear way of life . Even though the song's 3 years ago , I think this great ballad sounds awesome even up to now .
It's probably due to nostaglic feelings I guess .
LIGHT IN YOUR HEART is the 1st A-side of the band's 34th single LIGHT IN YOUR HEART / Swing ! .
This's the final single included in READY ? & it was used as the theme song for the movie Daikessen ! Chou Ultra wa 8 Kyoudai which starred Nagano Hiroshi .
I prefer LIGHT IN YOUR HEART a LOT more than Swing ! in every single aspect . It's quite a dark angsty song like GUILTY . But nevertheless , I remembered when this single was released , I was really impressed with LIGHT IN YOUR HEART more than Swing ! .
Bouquet is track #12 & like the other album tracks , it's also pop driven with shades of subtle rock thrown in for good measures .
Frankly , it took me quite a while to remember how Bouquet sounds like as I didn't find it as memorable as what I was hoping for but I'm fine with it now .
Portraits is the 2nd album ballad after Hoshi ga Furu Yoru demo & you can hear the guys doing an acapellla version of Portraits in the 1st track of READY ? aka Portraits ~prologue~ .
In here , you can finally get to hear the song in full version & I think this's probably 1 of my fave tracks in the album .
It's really beautiful & it's sorta like a wedding theme driven no. . I was really captivated when I 1st heard Portraits as it's just well really touching & emotional .
Too bad Portraits didn't get a music video as I feel it really deserves so , even though I'm not saying that Hoshi ga Furu Yoru demo doesn't deserve to get 1 .
Only found as a 1st press track in the CD only edition of the album , it's SILENT GALAXY .
Man on 1st listen , SILENT GALAXY reminded me of a cross between LIGHT IN YOUR HEART & GALAXY . Only thing's that , SILENT GALAXY has a more harder angsty sound attached to it .
Not that I mind as I think this song closed off the whole READY ? album quite well .
READY ? is the 1st full length album I listened to from V6 & I have to say that I was really surprised at the quality of the album .
All the songs are pretty solid & the guys have really strong harmonisation with regards to their vocals .
The only thing I don't like about READY ? is the way the album flows . The sound consistency's not there , especially with a ballad sandwiched in between two upbeat songs .
But other than this , I really enjoyed listening to READY ? . Then again , this year it will be 15 years since V6 was formed so they definitely have come a long way since then .
Definitely a really good solid Johnny's album to check out for 2010 .
V6 – GUILTY [36th Single]
V6′s 36th single, entitled GUILTY, was released on 09.02.09. The title track was used as the theme song to the dorama Shin Keishichou Sousa Ikka 9gakari.
GUILTY is a pretty dance song. The song starts off with a very pretty instrumental, highlighted by the sounds of the harp. Then the first veres comes in and the vocals are very smooth, staying with the atmosphere of the music perfectly. The chorus has more of energy to it and is actually quite catchy despite the way that the boys break apart the words. The rap section fits in perfectly with the vibe of the song, particularly when it’s Ken’s turn to step on. Of course the pure instrumental section has a cool feel to it that also highlights the beauty of the music. It’s a great song to dance to so V6 brings the fire yet again, this time alongside a very pretty instrumental.
逢いたくて is the B-side present on all three editions of the single. It opens with some magical sounds with a clear beat before the song’s true midtempo instrumentation comes in, opening up another world. The first verse starts and the vocals fit perfectly with the music, conveying emotion and sweetness that will definitely get to the listener. When everyone comes together on the chorus, the vocals sound amazing, particularly when they sing the title of the song. The pure instrumental section is very pretty and definitely leaves a good impression. This is a strong compliment to the A-side because it also keeps a pretty instrumental but slows down the tempo.
Available only on the regular edition is Medicine. It begins with a sort of video-game styled instrumentation and then the first verse starts. The vocals are nice as usual although the music is somewhat distracting. The second person’s vocals sound a bit off, which doesn’t leave the best impression for the chorus. And unfortunately the chorus does keep that same low energy, not really exciting the listener. The vocals are good but they’re not stellar and the music is the main problem, not really carrying anything memorable. The song isn’t one that is really strong and certainly not a great incentive to buy the regular edition of the single.
蜃気楼 is also available only on the regular edition of the single. It’s a rock flavored track, which makes it nice to see V6 switching things up but it doesn’t really grab the attention like it should. Perhaps it’s just not their style but the track isn’t really exciting so it’s not particularly worth the listen.
In order to promote the single, a PV for GUILTY was made. The video is quite simple, just featuring the boys dancing and singing in suits, looking quite sharp while doing so. The lady dancer was quite un-necessary but it did add a little more sexuality to the video, better fitting with the lyrics. Having it in black and white also suited the song nicely.
Single Ranking: B
Well V6 delivered another enjoyable A-side but the B-sides fell a little flat this time around. Usually the group has one amazing track per single but there wasn’t really a track that shined like those songs this time around. Hopefully they’ll be delivering an album soon with some great dance tracks since that’s what they do best.
V6 – スピリット [35th Single]
V6′s 35th single, entitled スピリット, was released on 06.17.09. スピリット was used as the Waseda Academy CM song and theme song for Fuji’s TV’s program VivaVivaV6. The single was released in three editions, the regular edition featuring four songs. The 2CD version features a second CD with four songs, two from Coming Century and two from 20th Century.
スピリット is a sweet and cheery pop number sure to put a smile on the listener’s face. They kick things off with the chorus after a very interesting and technological sound, which is kind of misleading. Everyone sounds happy and cute on the chorus, with the instrumentation supporting that atmosphere perfectly. First up is the duo of Masayuki and Go. Their voices compliment one another but are different enough to stand out individually. On Inohara and Ken’s duet, the music becomes slightly more twinkling and sets up the listener for the chorus again. Their vocals sound great and go with the music very well. On the second verse, they split into trios and the attention is still captured. The pure instrumental section has more of a cool feel to it so that section really stands out from the usual sweetness of the verses. It’s cute and sweet, definitely worth a listen.
CHANCE! is the B-side that appears on all editions of the single. The song starts off with a fun and cool instrumental that immediately signals a happy beach atmosphere. And then is exactly what comes with the chorus, filled with great vocals and more fantastic instrumentation. It sounds particularly strong when the guys with the lower vocals have the spotlight. On the verses, the boys sing with a rapidity that will definitely catch the listener’s ear. The pure instrumental section sounds amazing and is one of the highlights of the song just because the listener can get an appreciation of how good the music really is. It’s an amazing song and could have been the A-side.
明日の傘 is a B-side present only on the regular edition of the single. The song opens up with a soft and natural instrumental that feels like it’s going to tell a story. Then comes the first verse and the vocals are very nice, staying smooth and complimenting the emotion of the music very well. The chorus has a magical feeling with everyone’s voices coming together to fuel that magic. It’s a very pretty song and it’s nice to see the group take things slow and still stay strong.
どうかよろしく。is the other B-side only present on the regular edition of the single. The song starts off with a very pretty summery instrumental that will be sure to give the listener that feeling of warmth. Then comes the first verse and they sound so happy and sweet that the listener can’t help but smile along with them. Things continue to shine on the chorus when everyone comes together and that happy warm feeling persists. The song has a slightly jazzy feel to it which also is ear-catching. It’s such a sweet song that is perfect for the summer season and it’s a strong incentive to get the regular edition of this single.
The second CD of the limited edition A version features two songs from 20th Century and two songs from Coming Century. 20th Century, comprised of Masayuki, Hiroshi and Yoshihiko, start things off with スタートライン. Beginning the song is a cool dance instrumental with various sounds to make it more interesting. Then once the song’s true sound comes in, there is a refreshing breeze that blows through to the listener. On the first verse, the vocals are very nice and smooth, complimenting the simple instrumentation. The chorus is nice although it would have been nicer if the music was a little different to make it stand out even more.
Cmong Century, consisting of Go, Ken and Junichi, gets the spotlight with their song, Desert Eagle. The song kicks off with a nice instrumental that doesn’t exactly connect with the listener as well as it should. Then the chorus comes in and the vocals are good and the English is a nice touch although the music still doesn’t demand attention. It was surprising to hear the guys rap and it actually sounds pretty cool, still fitting with the music. It’s an okay song although not as strong as hoped.
20th Century comes back with their second song, red. It’s a nice midtempo instrumental that starts this song off and it gives the image of walking through the neighboorhood. The boys perfectly understand that coolness of the music and its reflected in their vocals, really standing out. The chorus is actually kind of cute just because of the vocals that come together. However it still fits perfectly with the other parts of the song. For nailing the cool vibe on the head, the song is pretty nice.
Finally, Coming Century closes the single with Are you ready tonight? The song begins with a really cool instrumental that will make the listener want to dance along.It has a trippy effect that definitely stands out. The first verse then follows and the vocals are so cute because they carry a really fun feeling to them and one can tell that the boys are having fun with this one. The English lines like “Do you wanna dance?” really stand out and make the chorus addictive. On the second CD, this is definitely the strongest song so Coming Century should be proud. Ken sounds particularly cute on this song.
In order to promote the single, a PV for スピリット was made. The video is extremely simple, just featuring the boys on a construction site in front of a big metal orb. There is a scene where they climb onto the ball but otherwise, they just sing and look happy. It’s not the best video but seeing them look cute and happy definitely works with the song’s atmosphere.
Single Ranking: A
As V6′s first single of the year, they definitely had to bring something worth the long wait. They were successful with that, offering a total of eight new songs for the audience. The first CD [four on the regular edition] is definitely better featuring a sweet and happy V6. CHANCE! and どうかよろしく。are perfect for summer while Spirit has a cuteness that cannot be ignored. The second CD isn’t as strong although Are you ready tonight? is a very addictive song that Coming Century deliver flawlessly. Hopefully they will be more active for the second half of the year because they have the talent to deliver great songs.
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