....actually, i consider "Step & Go" Arashi's "Koi no ABO" if were thinking that NEWS song is by all means "bad/horrible/etc" (i personally think "Koi no ABO" is aiiight, but not horrible).
and it's been up & down since then for me in terms of Arashi's music.
but yeah, i think their popularity increased because of a directional change in music, just like how KANJANI8 doesn't make enka music now, but crazy crack songs for singles. not only that, but people seemed to realize they were funny last year as well. LOL. and i've been a fan since "Sakura Sake" (before that, even)...so yeah, it's been really weird as fan to witness them struggling to hit 150k overall to like 500k first week & see changes in their music too. i don't mind change, but i guess i'll forever be an old-school Arashi fan.
i've had the exact same thing with Koda Kumi. i mean, i still listen to her music as a very very casual fan, but like....with each future release i don't get that spark of excitement. she was freaking amazingly awesome during secret/Best ~First Things~, imo. it just sucks that it's happening to me with Arashi.
i had Arashi sets all the time, along with KT ones back then, but that was before i met y'all.