 |
 |
Tracklist:
1. MAGIC |
Back after her BEAM album, STEP brings all the TechnoPop goodness you come to expect of MEG and Nakata-san. On the blm cuteness scale, she’s a few notches under Perfume. Her voice still delivers that “I-don’t-know-what-it-is” factor and is suited perfectly with her on-stage persona. This might sound a little off base but she reminds me of Ogura Yuko’s on-stage persona: they both look a little lost and/or confused and cute while singing except that MEG isn’t actually one or the other, only looks it, but still cute. This album definitely delivers in that it contains more songs of the style I prefer over Perfume’s GAME album and I fear it might just be a notch of two higher on my personal favourite album list. I just wish that the last two tracks were more than just a remix and extended mix. That’s fine for singles but on an album? *sigh* And because of that, the remix tracks won’t be part of the countdown. I won’t bother making PV comments in this one either.
The track-by-track in regular blm style after the jump!
8. NATALIE
First of all, I’ll say that I don’t not like any of the songs on this album. Unfortunately, this is how things get reviewed around here and it’s a format that I’ve grown to love. I hope you do too! Anyway, NATALIE is the brick wall at the end of a totally awesome joy ride that is STEP. It’s the last track of the original content on the album and has a similar feel to Perfume’s Macaroni. It’s a cute little song (I wish I had translations to) that really showcases MEG’s mellower side. If there was one remix track that were to be included in this album, I wish it would’ve been the of this song from the HEART single. It’s less acoustic and more technopop and would’ve been the perfect little ender to this joy ride. Again, it’s not a bad song, it definitely showcases MEG’s talents but the technopop version would’ve of been better for the album.
7. MAKE LOVE
It feels like something they’d play at a fashion show or high profile party – Models with attitude walking down a catwalk, mingling with members of high society with a glass of bubbly in your hand in a modern and clean white loft in the middle of downtown overlooking the nightlife below. Nakata’s music does a number on my mental imagery. Musically, nothing really sticks out but it all blends together well to make a nice musical package to be enjoyed with some champagne and a hot cocktail dress.
6. SUPERSONIC
This is STEP’s MODEL though MODEL sounds a bit more sinister. This one sounds like a wilder MAKE LOVE, taking place at a technopop club with glowsticks and candykids everywhere you turn. The chorus bass line gives such an impact and the fun carries through the rest of the song. It must be the fuzz. This is practically guaranteed to be on TechnoPopLove 2.
5. KITTENISH
This track has the elements and all the potential of being a high-energy track but the party feel isn’t there. Not saying that it’s lacking in something but it gets put in a different class than the two tracks previous. Think more Suzuki Ami – ONE. It’s got more of that epic feel but with the cuteness still intact. The is quieter yet maintains all of the epic and cute. In this case, I prefer the original.
4. SEARCHLIGHT
This is STEP’s ROMANTIKA. It oozes Nakata and capsule but for some reason, MEG just turns it into something completely her own. Paradox? Slightly. The piano definitely adds that classic, jazzy, capsule-y feel while being able to provide a new and fresh flavor to technopop in general. The arpy spherical synth that lingers throughout the song does something magical to the track. You wouldn’t really hear it if you weren’t paying attention but if it wasn’t there, it just wouldn’t sound complete.
3. HEART
This is the second of the two singles released from this album. It’s cute and has everything I enjoy in a cute technopop song but didn’t have the staying power of MAGIC. The vocal delivery, however, is one of my favourites in a MEG song. There isn’t too much to comment on about this song since cute technopop doesn’t get too complex but that’s probably one of its more attractive features. You can just listen to it without having to think or pay much attention and enjoy it.
2. MAGIC
I don’t quite know what it is about this song that makes it #2 on the track-by-track but is one of my favorite cute technopop songs probably my favourite cute technopop song by MEG. Did it overtake OK? Probably. I haven’t gotten sick of it yet. MEG really delivers in this chorus and is the reason why I love this song so much. Its melody is infectious and just splendid. It’s not quite love the world level but super-cute and well-performed regardless.
1. PRISM BOY
I like this song so much, I’ve been thinking about changing one of my online aliases to prismboy (my current gaming alias on Steam is soundboy so it wouldn’t be too far of a jump). From the opening delayed synth to the strong vocals and solidly held notes from MEG to the beat dropping in the chorus, this song is a powerhouse and contains elements from all high-energy technopop styles that I adore, It is my new MEG image song. I just wish that she release singles like this. All of her single tracks, like the two previous, showcase her technopop cute and not enough of her technopop epic which Suzuki Ami seems to dominate in. I wonder what kind of sales she’d produce with a shift in focus of singles. Then again, Suzuki Ami didn’t do too well with FREE FREE / SUPER MUSIC MAKER and ONE. Hopefully, that’ll change.
So, I just re-read my review of BEAM and a lot has changed about my opinion of MEG since then. Her voice has really grown on me in the half a year I’ve been enjoying her music. She still has that mysterious vocal quality that intrigues me so. I don’t know what exactly happened between BEAM and STEP but something in me changed.
This album is still coming in the mail so I’ll probably have an unboxing post up soon, along with another purchase… stay tuned :D
| Buy from CDJapan: | |
|---|---|
