Apr 28 2009
KAT-TUN Break the Records- New Album Review
KAT-TUN`s new album came out today! Here`s my non-expert opinion in the form of a track by track review.
Don`t U Ever Stop- Should be no secret that I`m been a big fan of this song right from the first listen. 5/5
Sadistic Love- Intro is great, verses are good, bridge is good, chorus really really needs more punch. Still, certainly a solid album track in proper KAT-TUN style. 0.1 in bonus points awarded for amusing Engrish. 4.1/5
Rescue- Much like DUES, I`ve already written up my thoughts on this single. In short, this one definetly finds its way into my top 5 favorite KAT-TUN songs of all time. 5/5
Water Dance- Odd beginning. Piano mixed with weird little synthesizer popping noises. I think I don`t quite get this song. It can`t decide if it wants to be a ballad or not, the rap feels terribly out of place, and the chorus is a bit annoying to me. It has its moments, but feels like it`s trying to go in too many different directions at once. 2/5
One Drop- Unfortunately, this is one of those songs that I`ve started to like less the more I listen to it. I mean, it`s not bad by any means, but it`s not one of KT`s best. 3/5
White World- Maru solo. Pretty straight forward pop ballad, but much better than his last solo, which bored the crap out of me. Nothing special or particularly memorable, but I do like Nakamaru`s voice a lot. 2.5/5
Care- Yes, I am among the fan girls who completaly freaked out when it was announced that we would be getting a studio recording of Jin`s solo, Care. Looooove this song! Also, it`s certainly a change to have Jin`s solo be something so sweet. There`s such vulnerability in his voice. 5/5
1582- Strawberry underpants! Lololol. But in all seriousness, a great, dark, sexy solo from Kame. Thank God, because his last solo seriously sucked. Nice use of distorted vocals, `church bell` sounds, violin, and sexy sighing. Catchy chorus too. Might be my favorite new song from the album, in fact. I`m really looking forward to seeing this one live. 5/5
Pierrot- There is a real trend here of improved solos. Koki`s is no exception. I don`t love it, but “Parasite” is one of my least favorite KT songs ever. Still a bit too screamy for my tastes, but at least this one has something resembling a melody. 1.5/5
Hana no Mau Machi- When you hear the opening you think it`s going to be yet another slow Ueda ballad about flowers… and then it turns out to be a somewhat faster than usual Ueda ballad about flowers. Nice, but rather bland. 2/5
Wind- This is Junno`s first solo that he wrote his own lyrics for, right? Starts out like a ballad and then transitions into some sort of lounge number? The jazz piano is interesting, but other than that, the song doesn`t really stand out to me. 2.5/5
Kimi Michi- This song really reminds me of [un] from the last album. Happy pop certainly isn`t KAT-TUN`s usual territory, so it`s good that they put tracks like this on the album. I like it, even though it`s a bit difficult to convince myself that it`s really KAT-TUN that I`m listening to here, and it sufferes a bit from generic-itis. 3.5/5
Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu- Another unfortunate sufferer of generic-itis. This mid-tempo track feels like filler to me, but maybe I just don`t care for this particular style. 1/5
White X-mas- Lalala lovely. 4.5/5
Neiro- 100% ballad, but with a positive and hopeful feel to it. Feels like a “last song before the encore” candidate. Very pretty. 4/5
Moon- Starts with traditional Japanese instrumentation, and then moves into a tense rock sound, still mixed with shamisen (koto? can`t tell the difference). Now, this is the kind of intense song I want from KAT-TUN. It feels like the theme song for an action thriller set in historical Japan or something. 4.5/5
Overall, I`m having a hard time choosing between this and Queen of Pirates. I`d definetly put it above the second album, but still below the first. I have some issues with the track order though. It seems like they put all the powerful songs first and all the ballady songs last (except for Moon). This makes it so there`s just a big downhill slide in energy level as you listen to the album. Also, all the solos mean that there are far less group songs, so the group songs should all be great. There`s great stuff there, but also the not-so-great. So overall, lots of really good and enjoyable individual tracks, but a bit lacking as a cohesive “album”.
~Celestia~
Thank you for sharing your opinion!
I pretty much agree with your points and for me this is their worst album. Too soft for me, too “not suited” for them. Obviously there is trend to change the style, I see it in the new TVXQ album also. But I really wanted more rock-ish album…
aww my favorite is WATER DANCE hands down
LOL @ your comment about ueda’s solos. gave me a good laugh
it’s strange, some of the songs you rated lower was the ones i liked more =D
hey, great review!
i did one at my website too; i had a few differing viewpoints, but it’ll probably be interesting to compare!
I agree alot on your comments, though I’m wondering why Akanishi went with an old solo? Nothing bad about that, I love that solo.. and all of his other solos ofcourse aswell x]
For the first time I think Kamenashi’s solo is, FINALLY, something else than those typical W/O notice?? and 0′00′16. They both have the same sound to them. I like this song alot (but what is that beeping sound in the like what, last 20 seconds?).
Unfortunately, I couldn’t stand Junnosuke’s solo >: It felt like something from The Sims.
Ueda and Koki’s solos.. They sound the same as their old ones aswell :/
To me, this album was way too slow and isn’t strong enough. I love all the song on the Queen of Pirates album. Everytime I’m off to party, 12 o’clock is my GET READY TO PARTY, BECAUSE HERE I COME!-song.
Rescue had to grow on me alittle, but now I totally love it. DUES, just perfect.
Awwww,
Water dance was my favourite song from the album.
I loved it when I first heard it, it’s so addictive.
And I really think koki’s rap in it is nice.
Guess everyone have their different views?
I did a review on my blog too, but a very short, not detailed one.
Hahahaha,
But your right,
Jin’s care was kkyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~!!!.
:D:D:D
Hi. I’m not very knowledgeable about songs, but I love Sadistic Love. It makes me stop whatever I’m doing because I seriously want to keep track of the ebb and flow of the music. I liked Neiro, Ueda’s solo, and Junno’s solo as well. Maybe Junno’s solo wasn’t really remarkable, but I liked the opening, and it’s just light and airy enough to keep me company through the day. As for Jin’s Care…well, I’m still drooling hahaha. This is not a song to play when I’m driving though, I’d seriously be a danger to other drivers…systems go haywire…i love all the albums though, even the 2nd one, mainly because this album made me realize the potential and talent of all of the members, instead of keeping me fixated on Akame only…Since then I’ve learned to appreciate all their voices and all the different singing and dancing styles. Go Go KAT-TUN!!!
I haven’t heard all the songs yet, but…
MOON HELL YEAH
I can’t help it, I just love these types of songs so much more than the ARASHI stuff.
OMG~!!! i didn’t really liked this album at first but i’m starting to fall in love with it. hehe. WATER DANCE is sooo goooood~~~ jin’s voice so sexxayyy~~halfway listening to all his “touch me”, “hold me”, “kiss me”, “shake me”, it i was thinking, “heck if you want it so much i’ll do it all to you!!”. sigh. keeps beckoning to me. argh!
i was really satisfied with kame’s solo too. really… sexy~
heck this album is pretty much too sexy for me to handle. *nose bleeds*
Darn lol
nakamaru’s, koki’s, and taguchi’solos were my favourite. white world was so sweet and I love maru’s voice in it :3 koki’s sound was amazing. i’m really into that kind of genre so im a bit biased. plus his raspy voice is really hot *_* taguchi’s solo was so catchy and cute. it just screamed taguchi. its one of the best ive heard from him but thats my opinion
i really dislike care (i dont know what it is about it but then again i am 80% anti-jin. sorry all u jin fangirls). doesnt really scream out to me
the other songs i havent really listened to yet, but i keep skipping them because they just can’t catch my attention. one day i will force myself to listen to them XD
i thought that i would like ueda’s and kame’s solo the best i dont…..
anyway~those were my first impressions anyway cuz i just downloaded the album yesterday
nice review btw. XD
Haha I am one of the fangirl that freak out knowing I will get a solo version of care. I love that solo but it is my third favorite of Jin. I long for the day that I will get a studio version of Hestitate which is my all time favorite solo of Jin.
Maru’s solo is just awesome. I dont really like his other solo but I do love Maru in general. I was just excited to hear that he has such a good solo. It is very sweet and gentle like Maru hehe complete bias of course =P