NEWS-Color review

NEWS's 3rd full length album Color was released on November 19th. So here's my review of the CD. This is my first CD review so I hope it's good. >_< color="#006600">

Track 1: Weeek
I'm sure just about every NEWS /Jpop fan has heard this song before, since it was the first single of the album. This is actually the first song I heard by NEWS so it remains one of my favorite songs by them. Aside from that, this song is very upbeat and happy. The lyrics don't really go deeper than surviving each day. But the song is really catchy and really fun. And it was number one on the Oricon for 3 weeks or so.

Final rating: 8/10


Track 2: Stardust
At first listen this song doesn't immediately blow me away. The song is a little generic and forgettable. But the lyrics are pretty, but no one's voice really stands out. The singing seems bland and boring. Only in the upbeat chorus does it sound like they really tried. This song is good but you shouldn't go out of your way to listen to it. This song lies somewhere in the middle.

Final rating: 6/10


Track 3: Summertime
NEWS's 2nd single from on this album. I was defiantly in love with this when this single came out. Mostly because it put me in that fun loving summer mood. But now that it's no longer summer the song kinda lost the spark that made it appealing. I'm sure I'll listen to it nonstop in the summer, but the rest of the year not so much. And the lyrics are cute. Who doesn't want a summer love? And the KoyaShige rap is the best part.

Final rating: 7/10


Track 4: Snow Express
I have been waiting for what seems like forever for this to have an official release. Snow Express is defiantly a fan favorite song, and unlike Summertime the song is listen able in all seasons. Because the song is just that good. And Tegoshi's and Yamapi's voices are heart melting in this song.

Final rating: 9/10


Track 5: Forever
This song is very soft and sweet. I can see fangirls going crazy over this song in concert. It's so cute, wanting to be with someone forever. Because a future without them has no meaning at all. I always fall for New's love songs cause they are usually so sweet. Also a good chunk of this song is in English. And no surprise TegoMass's English is the best. It looks like the English version of Miso Soup paid off. As for Yamapi let's just say he's needs to brush up on his English skills.

Final rating: 9/10


Track 6: MOLA
Yamapi's solo song! *faints and dies* This song is sung ENTIRELY in English and all I can say is wow. The lyrics are a bit much. Here are some of the lyrics. "Taste me like you used to I'm ready now" "We're gettin' deeper & deeper I'm outta control" "I'll make you wanna shout just like oh ooo oh ooo" The also used some techno effect over his voice so you can hear how bad his English is. Much like how Kyo, from Dir en grey, would scream every song or line that was in English. And I laughed a bit when Yamapi said shorty and booty. XD

Fangirl Rating: 10/10


Track 7: Kesenai
Tegoshi solo song? Or Tegoshi featuring Ryo and Shige. I can't really tell if this song is truly a solo song with Ryo and Shige randomly stuck in for backup/harmonies. Or it's legitimately supposed to be all 3 of their song but Tegoshi just gets to sing practically the whole song. Like it was in Ai Nante. Either way this song is boring and far too slow for my taste. I can't stand ballads for the most part. Tegoshi always picks terrible solo songs, if this is even a solo song. XD Even the lyrics are boring. And it's kinda creepy to keep someone's message on your answering machine.

Final rating: 4/10


Track 8:Ordinary
Ryo solo song! Words can't describe how much I love Ryo. >_< His voice sounds great in this song. But I'm afraid this song is a bit ordinary. I love the background music to it, it's very danceable. But the song it's self falls a little flat. Though the lyrics are so sweet. The lyrics vaguely remind me of Alice Nine's White Prayer. "Adding color to this boring today" reminds me of "That the world which was dyed grey isn't real" that's kind of similar. Just a little bit. But because it's Ryo he gets extra point. :]
Final rating: 8/10 if someone else sang it 5/10


Track 9:Minna ga Iru Sekai wo Hitotsu Ai wo Motto Give & Take Shimashou
This is the upbeat kinda NEWS song I love. The background music makes it sound like it could be the opening theme to an anime. And at first listen the vocal effects to the chorus surprised me a little, coming off as weird. And Keii's vocals sounds weird as a whole in this song. I really love how Massu sounds in it. And the first time in a NEWS song Yamapi's vocals in this song are completely over looked as being the best. The lyrics are mediocre but I still love this song.

Final rating: 8/10


Track 10:Mura Risuto
Another KoyaShige song! I love how their songs are always perverted. First it was looking up a skirt and now it's looking down a shirt. This song is so perverted and hilarious. And in some odd way I love it! Just like I couldn't stop listening to Chirarizumu when I first heard it. Haha. But I wonder what could be the follow up to this song?

Final rating: 9/10

Track 11:Taiyou no Namida
NEWS 's 3rd single on this album. I always really liked this song because it was slow but still upbeat. And the lyrics were meaningful and trying to be deep. Overall there's not much else to say about this song. The vocals are good and the songs good. But of course it was, it was a single after all.

Final rating: 7/10


Track 12:Smile Maker
I always love when Yamapi raps because he sounds cute and is the best member at rapping. I'm not sure if I like that the whole song is like rap singing. But I am also pleasantly surprised at how ever one else's rapping sounds. Because at their Tokyo Dome concert some of them sounded terrible rapping. As for this song Shige actually sounds the best. I think the song is very inspiring. Keep a smile on your face in tough times.

Final rating: 7/10


Track 13:Happy Birthday
NEWS 's 4th and most recent single off this album. I've been addicted to this song since it came out. I just love the way the song is sung. And the chorus is amazing. The lyrics are very cute. I love how in News song they sing it as if they are singing just to you. And it feels that way in this song. And Ryo starts and ends the song that alone is awesome enough.

Final rating: 8/10


Track 14:Fly Again The final track on the regular edition album. This song is too boring again. Shouldn't they have tried to go out with a bang? This time it has nothing to do with the fact that it's kinda slow. The music just sounds flat. And the singing is mediocre. But the lyrics of this song are inspiring too. But this song just doesn't do anything for more. This song too is forgettable.

Final rating: 5/10


Track 15: The final track on the limited edition album. How bittersweet. And yet this song is slow too. I don't understand ending an album with a slow song. Ballads don't keep my attention for long. And aside from the chorus I honesty only half paid attention to it. This song is sugary sweet though. Just as expected. "A love of eternal colors" It's cute I guess.

Final rating: 6/10



I guess I didn't expect writing an album review would take so long. All in all, I think this a defiant buy if your a NEWS fan. Even if you're not a NEWS fan I'm sure you'd enjoy this album too. I don't think the bonus song along is good enough to really make you want the limited edition. But I'm sure the 32 page book is.