SPEED
Regardless of how many times we've heard the same songs over and over again, SPEED's "new" album is still a great buy (see : here). The vocals are positively polished, the arrangements just dollied up enough to give the songs new life and the girls' new look (see : Hitoe's teeth lolz) fab. Unlike other self covers, the tracks still maintain all of their original charm with a few bells and whistles to carry everything over to 2009. (I can't believe how old some of these songs are.) I also appreciate the backup vocals being completely revamped with the girls themselves workin' it. I've always loved Melodie Saxton but there is absolutely nothing worse than background vocalists singing circles around the main attraction. Plus much of the random, out of tune screaming is replaced with.. actual singing. Awesome! Even though yet another best album was totally disappointing after only two new singles, in a way I'm kinda happy this was released. The inclusion of あしたの空 but not S.P.D. leaves me with the hope that this was a profitable ploy to say good-bye to their old style. Like, the end of an era. I love you SPEED but I am so ready to move on to a different music style for the girls.
I gotta say though.. this one winds the award for most fustrating packaging, ever. Basically, the limited ed. pressing is in a tidy little bundle with a lovely plastic slip cover (with the green design of the girls). Simple formula but leave it to Avex to make something easy into a complete complex dud. The friggin CD case itself is smaller than the slip cover. The box for the cell phone charm is stuck directly between the case and cover sandwiching everything together. A flimsy, disposable, cardboard box. Yeah. So what the hell do I do when I toss the stupid box?? Essentially the pretty cover is a total waste. And no, the cardboard box does not have any type of design. And no, the cardboard box isn't meant to last. (It already ripped through when I went to open it.) What a blast.
I love this CD. Ultimately while I was so, so sick and tired of the same songs over and over, it's nice to hear them updated. After this though, I'm really hoping we'll be seeing totally different material.
I gotta say though.. this one winds the award for most fustrating packaging, ever. Basically, the limited ed. pressing is in a tidy little bundle with a lovely plastic slip cover (with the green design of the girls). Simple formula but leave it to Avex to make something easy into a complete complex dud. The friggin CD case itself is smaller than the slip cover. The box for the cell phone charm is stuck directly between the case and cover sandwiching everything together. A flimsy, disposable, cardboard box. Yeah. So what the hell do I do when I toss the stupid box?? Essentially the pretty cover is a total waste. And no, the cardboard box does not have any type of design. And no, the cardboard box isn't meant to last. (It already ripped through when I went to open it.) What a blast.
I love this CD. Ultimately while I was so, so sick and tired of the same songs over and over, it's nice to hear them updated. After this though, I'm really hoping we'll be seeing totally different material.