A new release! I'm a huge fan of ikimonogakari and their lead vocalist Kiyoe Yoshioka. Kiyoe Yoshioka has to be one of my most favorite singers in J-pop, her voice is powerful and unique (not American sounding like Yuna Ito, yet not as J-pop-y as well...Ayumi Hamasaki and Namie Amuro to name a few bigger ones). So, note for the future: Kiyoe Yoshioka is my girl. Not officially, but I got her back.
Hajimari no Uta came out about two - three months since their last single I liked a lot (YELL), so I was deprived of ikimonogakari for quite a long time. I was not a fan of theirs for a long time; in fact I only got on board earlier this year after listening to their "My Song, Your Song" album and falling in love with Kiyoe's vocals and the song 帰りたくなったよ.
Since this is my first album/single review, I will try to make a basic outline that I can maybe perfect in the others I write later.
REVIEWED LIVE (while listening to the song)
Track 1: コスモス - This song begins with a slow melody from the harmonica, but instantly becomes ikimono-gakari-fied by the time you reach the first minute. A really cute bridge occurs at around 3:00, which is followed up by a toned down chorus with pure guitar and limited background noise. It is here you can truly enjoy Kiyoe's voice and the simpleness of their sound. I don't care too much for the harmonica being used so much in their songs however, as crazy as that sounds. The harmonica is a great addition to certain songs, yet I have a feeling the fast-pace of this song loses much of its meaning and the harmonica is out of place throughout the entire course of the song save for the very beginning and end.
Rating: 8/10
Track 2: Hajimari no Uta - The namesake of this album, the beginning is quite nice with a simple guitar and piano melody. Soon the drums jump in to provide a the beat to the song; with Kiyoe's voice fitting in perfectly like the final piece of the puzzle. The rhythm of this song is pretty good, kind of jumpy yet at the same time I can really feel the power within it all (equivalent to Sakura, perhaps). The single sound before the chorus kind of reminded me of Fukai Mori by Do As Infinity. This song kind of sounds to me to be a bit repetitive of their older songs, just a tad. However, I enjoy the beginning of the lines in the verses; very nice and pleasant.
Rating: 7.5/10
Track 3: Yumemidai (Dream Stage) - Song begins of quite fast with the harmonica again; but some of the notes of it is kind of shrill (overused ftw). Kiyoe's voice is displayed from the very beginning, wow, I can't describe how strong it is. Woah, very strong drums starting from around :50. Chorus quite fast, not very catchy in my opinion. The first verse sounded much better. This song sounds quite unique unlike Hajimari...I like that aspect of it, but nevertheless it just doesn't catch me too much. Second verse same as first (sound-wise); great singing performance. This song has a mixture of percussion in the background with an acoustic and electric guitar. Now the guitar is being picked...kind of irritating (look for it at around 2:00 - 2:10). Greatly noticeable too. Last chorus it doesn't even sound like Kiyoe anymore, sounds nearly like Ai Otsuka. Let me put it this way; Kiyoe is 1000 times better than Ai Otsuka.
Rating: 4/10
Track 4: Joyful
I've heard this song before, I can basically see the entire PV in my head. I love the guitar part coming in...did not like how the guy jumped in front of the kid in the music video. This song is very hyper from the beginning. I love the chorus though. Not sure what instruments are being used. Tambourine in there somewhere with some great electric guitar riffs during the verses if you listen well enough. Chorus one is quite simple yet still catchy. Kiyoe's voice is not really suited very for quick songs like this, but still serves its purpose well. Near the middle of the song is where it gets good. I love the third verse that lasts for about...40 - 50 seconds. Kiyoe's cute sound effects are cuuuuuute. A relatively short song due to the fact it isn't a ballad, yet is still catchy to an extent (it is a part of the Double A-side with Yell). Ending with Kiyoe yelling "JOY!" is quite cute. The tambourine, after listening to it again, provides much of the unique sound of this song.
Rating: 7/10
Track 5: YELL
To start off, YELL is one of my most favorite songs by ikimonogakari in general. However, I will do my best live review of this song, devoid of personal bias from listening to it for months. The beginning kind of reminds me of kaeritaku natta yo in the sense it begins with piano and is quite...well not necessarily sad but definitely somber tone. I don't feel Kiyoe was truly challenged to sing in this song until the chorus...right now...yeah definitely not challenged. Her voice sounds so natural as if she is lecturing the children in the music video. Piano is a great addition; partially because I love the piano and the guitar. No harmonica in this song too, oddly enough. A symphony accompanies them I think, sounds like some strings in the background (violin, viola, cello, maybe bass, but definitely viola). This song is quite loud yet won't lose you. The beginning of the chorus will remind you of kaeritaku natta yo too, kind of a sharp "dum dum dum" before it with instruments. I love the part that comes right after around 3:40. I just love that part. Makes the song great. I can sing this shit. "yakusoku, shidan da. hitori hitotsu... etc. etc." Of course, the song will get softer after it, with bells providing a nice soft, precious touch to the song.
Rating: 10/10
Track 6: Nakumonka
If you can recall, I never said that I listened to nakumonka enough to not deprive me of ikimonogakari for a few months. There is nothing wrong with the song so far, just a bit pedantic to a certain degree; kind of like if you went to the same mediocre restaurant twice and ordered the same thing five days in a row. Nothing wrong with the formula they use for these A-side "fillers", but the verse is slightly boring. Chorus picks it up well, I like the chorus quite a bit now that I think about it. A sweet little violin "duhduhduh duh duhhh duh duh" really keeps you into it. The double chorus is a great addition too from the very beginning, Kiyoe's voice is showcased well during it. A short little guitar solo before 4:00 leads us to a slower part like they normally do. Not the best one though, I love the large pauses they have with the ensemble coming in strong and dying each time. Mmm...pleasant sounding closing.
Rating: 6.5/10
Track 7: Mahiru no Tsuki
Wow this song begins off with a strong piano for about 8 seconds, then leads into what sounds like a Korean drama opening with violin until Kiyoe starts to sing. These instruments, some form of strings being picked sound really great. Wow, whatever is being used sounds incredible in the non-singing parts following the intro verse. Kiyoe's voice in this song is pleasant, but doesn't fit the instruments in my opinion. A deeper voice, something like Ayaka Hirahara's or Ayaka's would fit it better. The lead up to the first chorus kind of sounds like Yell's, but I'll ignore that for now unless the chorus does come right now...okay it does. The chorus is excellent...just so mesmerizing. Her voice kind of fits it nicely. These short little intstrumentals sound so awesome I must say. Wow, another electric guitar solo surrounded and emphasized by a whole medley of other instruments sounds so wonderful. Then...here the slow part. Hmm, brings back the strings. Wow...just sounds slightly Meiji-era-ish (historical) to me due to these strings. Ending is instrumental. WOW.
Rating: 8.5/10
Track 8: Hotaru no Hikari
Not the greatest single ever, but I love the music video. Kiyoe started to look beautiful as hell starting from this song. The beginning, pretty good. The verses I love because they just don't try to do too much with it. It isn't a major drop-off from the chorus. Chorus is so catchy I can sing it off the top of my head and it is easy to dance too. Sha la la. This song was never really high up on my list, but it's fast paced rhythm kind of reminds me a bit of Kimagure. Oh look, harmonica solo. Helped out by the electric guitar thankful. Wow...Kiyoe's voice coming in nearly solo a bit before the 3:00 mark. Slightly short song by their standards but ripe with a catchy tune and I love the choruses. It just is so fast-paced...but doesn't try to do too much. Like SMILY. I do not like SMILY.
Rating: 7/10
Track 9: Futari (Album Version)
Beginning guitar riff sounds like shit, not even sure why the hell they added that in. Kiyoe's lone vocals could carry the song in, like it was from the single with her just singing "Dakishimete mo" without any aid whatsoever. I love this ballad though; maybe one of my all time favorite Japanese ballads. Kiyoe's voice is so spot on excellent in this song. It features a guitar, piano, and what sounds like a drummer just hugging the cymbals with his foot down on it the entire time. Hmm...the verses are very long and vocalized so you can kind of lose interest in it. However, the 30 seconds that lead in to the chorus keep me around, and the chorus just showcase Kiyoe and her talents well. As the song continues, you sort of feel like Kiyoe is trying harder and harder to push her voice to the limits to emphasize each and every single chorus and "Hanasanaide" over and over. Interesting sounding "thing" at around 4:38. Then, at the end of the song....we of course hear her and her lone vocals with a piano and guitar. Perfect. Wait for it...wait for it...and here it comes back. It's just so strong at the end. I don't think I could finish the song any better.
Rating: 9.5/10
Track 10: Tenohira no Ono
Wow, got some guy vocals in this song. Sounds like shit. I don't really care for guy vocals that sound like shit. He kind of sounds like EXILE crossed with Arashi crossed with shit. Here's Kiyoe again coming back in. Shame, the tune to the song isn't too bad...probably has to grow on me a bit before I like it. The guys harmonizing with Kiyoe doesn't sound to bad in the chorus. Great sounding song though besides the lone guy singing. Sounds like Arashi but shitty. Yeah, I mean it's not too bad but if the first and second verses are filled with crap this song runs the chance of me just ignoring it. Kiyoe harmonizing before the chorus with the "ahh ahhh ahhhh" is soooo sweet sounding. Worth listening to this song? Maybe not. But still, glad Kiyoe is in the song. She makes the band what it is. Not shitty sounding Arashi wannabes.
Rating: 5/10
Track 11: How to make it
Hmm, I sense some harmony-making in the beginning of this song. Reminds me of some gospel stuff playing in modern day churches. Okay, got some horns in it about :18 or :20 around there. I'm interested to here Kiyoe come in. Whoa weird lead-in into the first verse. Sounds like this song is evolving in front of me. Not really good...I'm not even sure what it's supposed to sound like. I'm kind of over listening to it but I'll wait for the chorus that sound be coming up soon. Hmm...sounds flat a bit. Kind of sounds like a fail at copying one of their older songs. Chorus. Idk...sounds too Miley Cyrus. Kiyoe can't really sing English for shit either. Sounds like crap.
Rating: 2/10
Track 12: Tooi Sora Sunde
Sounds quite intriguing from the beginning, great use of the electric guitar. Sounds kind of unique coming from them, we'll see what happens at the first verse. Hmm...calm...against what I expected. Very pleasant feel to it, Kiyoe's voice is strangely calming in these circumstances. Weird beeping-boomping sound actually is pretty well done. Chorus excites me...wow...chorus sounds weird. Too much stopping and weird electric guitar use. Oh shit that was just the lead-in. Chorus...wow...great vocals. I can see myself in the crowd of their concert next year waving my phone in the air to it. Or clapping along. Very good chorus, may have saved the song there. Wow, great violin leading into electric guitar; kind of innovative. Lovely chorus once more. Kiyoe's vocals fit this song like Cinderella fit her glass slipper until that fat servant guy got tripped and dropped it. The ending...wow...great lead up...this is great...oooh, beautifully ended. I love ikimonogakari's endings.
Rating: 6.5/10
Track 13: Ashita e Mukau Kaerimichi
Beautiful beginning...makes me quite nervous of this song...hmm...Kiyoe + guitar = song or so it seems for the beginning minute or so. Kiyoe's vocals aren't overwhelming yet aren't underwhelming, just neutrally standing by it for now...WOW great orchestra arriving to save the song at around :55. I'm waiting for the chorus or the lead up. Here's the lead up now...the violin and strings just combine to give the song a very...idk...concluding feel. almost 1:45 into the song and the chorus comes up...WOW this chorus is awesome. Kiyoe is just so magnificent in her voice, she goes up quite high in it. Oh now a shitty sounding harmonica. DRUMS come in at around 2:26. Gives it a more homely feel in my opinion, if that makes sense. Ending is just with the original orchestra and guitar...great ending. Let's see...ohh...Kiyoe just finishes it up with her voice and a traditional ending riff of the guitar..
Rating: 7.5/10
Overall, a great album. I think I liked their last one more, but this one features some of my most favorite songs.
Until next time,
-19.
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