[Corvina]

After two weeks time I now want to share my opinion about the albums a bit more elaborately.

Starting with inside:

01 BRIDGET SONG - One of my favourites! A happy song and with the clapping and whistling at the end also something quite new for Kuu.

02 Bring It On - Really like the instrumental for this song, especially in HiRes. Maybe I'm biased as I've seen it live already at WOML Tour, but it's a fun song.

03 喜びのかけら - Didn't like it at first, but just soon after I grew to like it so much! Love the progression of the melody. The lyrics are quite poetic. Such a nice spring song.

04 Stand by you - Here's the not so good part of the album starting. Stand by you is sweet, but such a typical and boring love song. The lyrics are pretty direct, especially unsual for a Japanese (that's a plus point for the song!). Though I will never listen to it, just like e.g. to Stay.

05 好きでして - As a stand alone track, I quite like this song. I catch myself nodding to it while listening. But in combination with Stand by you before and Kimi Omoi after it's sooooo dragging.

06 君想い - I can see why people like it, but it's such an unintresting song for me. Just like Koishikute. It's too long, just like Stand by you, and I never listen to it.

07 On my way - A really mature ballad for Kuu. I indeed feel like Kuu is constantly smiling while singing the song and in contrast the lyrics are so doubtful. Love the surprising guitar break - something new for Kuu's ballads.

08 What's Up - That's my kind of pop-rock song! On par for me with Poppin' love cocktail and Hashire!, which I both love. And so much better than e.g. LALALALALA.

09 Promise you - Such a strong pop song! Lyrics are awesome and the structure of the song so powerful. Both BRIDGET SONG and Promise you are by Hi-yunk. I seriously hope she keeps working with him on songs similar like those in the future as they're both my favourites. He already did All For You and Life So God!! and those were alright as well. I also do feel like he could produce a hit for her.

10 My fun - It did grew on me a bit, but I still think it sounds a bit strange. Lyrics are like a continuation of Promise you, that's nice. Works really well as the ending song of the album.


And outside:

01 W FACE - A great theme song and a good opener for setting the mood of the album. Lyrics are nice and I love how in trend it is right now. Full hitting urban and therefor something fresh for her disco.

02 Ultraviolet - A high energy song! Also the messiest and most reminiscent song of her past on the album. Can see this becoming a concert staple as hyping up the audience like POP DIVA, theme and energy are about the same. I really like the positive lyrics.

03 Insane - It's just surprising how well this song works as a whole, even after some time! Instrumental is nice, really love when the violin kicks in e.g. She tried something here and it worked!

04 Damn real - It's a love song, but with a different twist than usual. Lyrics are awesome and I love her use of the colour blue here. Musicwise the verses are heavenly, the chorus is a bit weaker. Still nice to listen to.

05 Heartless - The weakest song on the album. I don't have a problem with it being a ballad and placed here, that fits. Her vocals being so raw and rough works in the verses, but not that well in the chorus. That powerful screaming worked better in songs like Dance In The Rain. Lyrics are actually awesome (being too harsh to yourself, I can relate so much), but her use of English isn't that good here sadly.

06 Bassline - I don't love the song as much anymore as in the beginning. I love the use of her voice in the song and the progression in the chorus. It's jzst it doesn't always grab me like before. Still a good song though.

07 Shhh! - Prefer the live version since she performed it, but it fits very well in the album here.

08 Bangerang - The biggest surprise after some time now. I love it so much now, can listen to it anywhere and anytime! It's similar to Bassline in theme and music, but it's my favoured song now.

09 Wicked Girls - Two words - pure fun! Interesting note is Kuu's use of words from the urban dictionary - first Lippy, now bridget and wicked. But always fitting till now.

10 Cupcake feat. AKLO - As I already said once, a guilty pleasure for me. It's shortness is working to its favour. The whole last part of the album (Bangerang - Wicked Girls - Cupcake) is so much fun to listen to! I can't find something here I don't like, it just flows so well. Just leaning back and enjoying!

Overall a great project!
Outside is the better album of both, but take those three songs in the middle out and it's strong as well.
It's better than I thought it would be for sure. Expected it to content more songs like Stand by you or Your Love and Joyful from Trick.
Outside is a really trendy urban album in western terms (evolving around trap and funk elements) and pretty outstanding for the J-Pop mainstream market right now.
For me it feels like they really took their time to produce the songs this time. They all sound so - well, unexciting in a positive way, if you know what I mean. Less loud than the albums before?
They're almost all interesting to listen to. The focus on her voice works in most of the songs imo. She at least really tried to vary her use of it.
Bon Voyage keeps being the weakest album in recent years.
Really stoked for the upcoming Live Tour and so happy I can attend it!