I want to spaz so I’m posting a review instead. It’s more productive and I really want to discuss the album. This review is entirely my opinion and it is in no way tampered by any outside sources (haha).
The album starts things off with an upbeat song titled “Trick” which is a compilation of the members’ single which are going to be released at different dates in the months of February and March. I would have to say that Trick is one of my favorite upbeat song of theirs from this album. It gives you a refreshing feel. Although it might get a bit confusing at first, you will then realize that the song is indeed a mixture of 5 different songs which is ingenious if I may add. This really tells you that Tohoshinki have really matured as musicians. The group releases one great song after another, and I’m so proud to admit that I became a fan after I heard their first song Rising Sun.
Next is the song NO? which is apparantly Jaejoong’s favorite out of the album (I know this because I watch random youtube videos). This is one of the slow ones, its a good song but not my favorite. So that’s all I’m going to say for that.
Purple line is the first single of the album. The first time I heard it the first thing that came to my mind was R&B. They’ve moved from pop to R&B because this song had the strong base in the background. Which is present in most Usher songs (? don’t you think so) Overall this song is really catchy, even though at first I didn’t pay much attention to it.
Forever love, another slow ballad song. I like how the boys support each other’s vocals so well, they all compliment each other so well. I think its because they know each other’s abilities after singing with each other for so long. Jaejoong’s vocal is really strong in this one once you get to the chorus. I also like the melody which very “drama-like”…you would serously expect to hear this song in a love story for a drama. Hence the name of the title…
I’m going to skip 2 tracks forward to DARKNESS EYES which is a somewhat upbeat song. Its got the complex beat in the background and Xiah as a background vocal. I love it! This song is really great no what how you listen to it. Xiah Junsu’s voice make will really make you appreciate this song. *as a side note, Xiah’s vocals really is showcased in this album, You will hear it everywhere*
They added another song from their previous performances which is Loving you. This song was great before, its even greater now. I really do like the fact that all they boys sing in a chorus because it just boosts up their performance to skyrocketing level . The Chorus of the song is awsome, and instrumental wise…its perfect.
Ahh, and we finally arrive at Rainbow this is one of my favorite song in the album. They have the standard western rhythm (like a melody you would hear from a West life song) without losing the asian quality of it. I haven’t read the english translation of the song but I really want to. lalala~ This sing is awsome.
Skipping forward yet again, Last Angel which is Tohoshinki’s own versio of the song without Koda Kumi is also a good song. However, I much prefer Koda Kumi’s version because this song was made to showcase her voice. I like the other version better because of the contrast in the female and the male vocals. I think you would agree with me on this one. This song is still great regardless, so there’s nothing really negative to say about it.
Finally I bring you to the bonus track Love in the ice. Now this song is perfect. When I say perfect…well you’re just going to have to listen to it for yourself. I suggest you watch the actual live performace of this song with the lyrics because it was superb. I can say this with confidence that IF they had released this song as their single they would have been in the Oricon charts for 1 year (yes, I’m exagerating a little bit). This song is really that good. Let me tell you what that is: The intro begins with a chorus of vocals. You will hear the piano and the orchestra which also adds to the whole magic of the song. The fact that the boys come in and out with ease is amazing because it sounds great. Like I’ve said before the boys really support each other vocally and the performance is strong! The recorded version is awsome but the LIVE performance was infinity times better. So you can imagine how much I cried when I watched it. In most parts of the song, you’ll hear two part harmonies. And then Xiah sings the Refrain parts and the other members sing adlib. I have to say that Xiah Junsu never fails to capture my attention. His vocals were so STRONG in this song and you would melt to water puddle once you hear him sing. OVERALL I give this song 100 thumbs up..if I had that much I would seriously give it that much thumbs up.
Another really good song is in the 2nd CD its called KISS (and a bunch of japanese characters I cannot read) We hear Mickey in the beginning saying “Open your eyes” in the most beautiful way a man can say it. But you can also hear the sorrow in his voice which is awsome. This song is really sad, but its also very good. The instrumentals are a major plus in this song which is why I decided to comment on it. This song is very how do you say this….sorrowful. That’s the feeling I got from listening to it.
Overall impression: At first, when I listened to the songs Rainbow was my first favorite song from the album. As I started listening to the whole album including the 2nd CD I began to appreciate it a whole lot more. It grows on you…haha. I would say that after watching the Live performance of Love in the ice it immidiately became my favorite song. This album is full of surprises, when you think you’ve had enough, they give you something you don’t expect. I honestly did not think this album was going to be this good! But it is. They really showcased their vocals in this album and it shows you how much they’ve matured from their previous albums. I would really love to hear Love in the ice in Korean though and I would also love to hear it without the instrumental in the back. I strongly recommend this album to those who haven’t heard it yet. I strongly recommend Tohoshinki for those who have never heard their songs. I REALLY DO.
I give this Album and A++
as a bonus I post the lyrics for love in the ice
Hero:
Tsumetai sono te kimi so seijanai
Osanaki hibi hotta kizukakae
Max:
Dareka wo aiseru koto osoruteru no
Kotoba no uragawa se wo mukete
Micky:
Dakishimeta kokoro ga koori no you ni
Sotto tokedasu
All:
Daremo ga dare ka ni aisereru tameni
Kono you ni inochi wa kiramekaseru no sa
Xiah:
Sore ga moshimo boku nara
Mou ichido kimi no kokoro wo
Towa no yashashisa de atatameruyo
Micky:
Unmei no itazura
Hero:
Kokoro wo itametemo
Micky n Hero:
Sono namida no saki ni wa
U-Know:
Hitosuji no hikari ga
Max:
Yami no naka maiorite
U-Know n Max:
Bokura wa kizukusa
Hero:
Kurushii hodo ni tsuyoku kanji ya eru
Hito no nukumori
All:
Daremo ga motteru kanashimi ya kodoku
Iyashite moraeru basho saqashiteiru
Sou kimini wa sono basho ga koko ni arusa osorenaide
Mou mayowanaide
Boku ya mamoru
Xiah:
Setsuani hodo
(Hero: My Heart)
Utsukushii ai dakara
(U-Know: Don’t be afraid)
Hakanai hodo
(Max: Let u know my mind)
Uruwa shii
(Micky: U know …)
Kono toki wo
(Micky: Let you know my love)
All:
Daremo ga dare ka ni aisereru tameni
Kono you ni inochi wa kiramekaseru no sa
Sore ga moshimo boku nara
Mou ichido kimi no kokoro wo
Towa no yashashisa de atatameruyo
