1) Kibou ~Yell~ (Hope ~Yell~) 2) Kirameki no Kanata he (Far Away Over The Glitter) 3) Akaku Moyuru Taiyou (Red Burning Sun) 4) I・ZA・NA・I・ZU・KI 5) LOVE SONG (Yamashita Tomohisa's Solo) 6) Zutto (Much) 7) High TEN ! 8) Koi Yake (Burning Love) 9) Shissou ! (Dash !) Friday Night 10) Say Hello 11) Cherish 12) Yawaraka na Mama de (Stay Soft) 13) NEWS Nippon 14) Yume no Kazu Dake Ai ga Umareru (A capella version) [Many Dream Of Love Is Born] 15) Stand Up (Rock version) [CD Only Track] 16) Cherish (Ryoji Remix) [CD Only Track]
touch's NEWS's debut album . This was released 3 years on 27th April in 2 formats in which the CD only comes with 2 bonus tracks while the other version comes with a DVD .
3 singles are included in touch inclusive of their pre debut song NEWS NIPPON . touch's also the last album to feature former NEWS members Uchi Hiroki & Kusano Hironori onboard .
The 1st song to start things off is Kibou ~Yell~ (Hope ~Yell~) which's the group's debut single & just like NEWS NIPPON & fellow other Johnny & Associates bands , you can hear references of the group's name in Kibou ~Yell~ .
The next song after Kibou ~Yell~ is 1 of my fave non singles on the album . Titled Kirameki no Kanata he (Far Away Over The Glitter) , it's an uplifting soaring no. in that the melody's backed up with a guitar & the little rapping that was done in the midst of the song , adds a nice touch to the song .
Track 3's the group's 2nd single Akaku Moyuru Taiyou (Red Burning Sun) . It was used as the theme song to Fuji TV's coverage of the Women's Volleyball World Grand Prix 2004 & it's 1 of NEWS's singles that heavily emphasised on the synth factor . This's 1 single that I like .
I・ZA・NA・I・ZU・KI is up next & it's an interesting song title . It's quite a typical pop song coming from NEWS but there's just something about I・ZA・NA・I・ZU・KI that I like & I like the fact that it's not as complicated sounding as some of the other songs found on touch .
The only solo song on the album's called LOVE SONG which's done by the NEWS leader , Yamapi & I enjoyed his solo songs like Daite Senorita , the B side Colorful & now this although I think the only part that's redundant for LOVE SONG is the melody . If he were to tone down a bit on that aspect , LOVE SONG will sound even better .
The next song after LOVE SONG is the only non single ballad of sorts called Zutto (Much) . This's a really nice no. to unwind to & it's a lot more slower paced than the other songs on touch .
After that you get 4 upbeat non singles no.s back to back . 1st up in line's a song called High TEN ! which's sorta like a baby version of their 4th single TEPPEN (Top) since both songs tread in the same vein , lyrics wise .
Koi Yake (Burning Love) is track 8 & it's 1 of the more harder sounding songs on touch . The song could be better only if the whole 'yeah yeah yeah' will be toned down .
Shissou ! (Dash !) Friday Night is after Koi Yake & this's such a fun song to listen to especially since Fri's right around the corner .
I somehow find Say Hello to be quite cheesy on 1st listen but I actually find it a-ok now . There was a pause of sorts in the middle of Say Hello which surprised me .
Track 11's the band's 3rd single Cherish which as compared to their 1st 2 singles , it's a mid tempo no. & the melody's more simple & less complex . I also tend to find Cherish more soothing as each listen goes by .
Yawaraka na Mama de (Stay Soft) is the next song after Cherish & the melody's quite interesting because when I 1st heard it , I thought is Christmas around the corner just as yet ?
The sound transition from Cherish to Yawaraka na Mama de is not there & not to mention I kinda find Yawaraka na Mama a bit un-memorable for my liking at 1st .
Track 13's the group's 1st single that they released although techincally it's not counted as their debut single . Called NEWS Nippon , the lyrics in the song also made references to the group's name just like its official debut single Kibou ~Yell~ .
NEWS Nippon is also the last single to feature former NEWS member Moriuchi Takahiro who left the band & eventually Johnny Entertainment 5 years ago .
Track 14's the shortest song on touch clocking in at 1:35 mins . Called Yume no Kazu Dake Ai ga Umareru (A capella version) [Many Dream Of Love Is Born] , as the name suggest , it's delivered acapella style by the band & I enjoyed this song a lot despite the duration of the tune .
The next 2 tracks are only available in the CD only edition of the album . 1st up in line's the Rock version of Stand Up . I never heard how the original sounded like but this's 1 rearrangement that I like . Kinda reminded me of ARASHI's Fight Song but a more tamer version for that matter .
The last track on the album's the Ryoji Remix of NEWS's 3rd single Cherish . While the original's more laid back & soothing , the Ryoji Remix takes on a more poppier sound .
Anyway regardless of which , both the original & remix sounds good in their own right .
NEWS's debut album is certainly more tight than their 2nd album pacific in which I feel the sound consistency in pacific's not there although musically , the sound in pacific's more stronger & grown up than touch .
At 1st , I preferred pacific more than touch but right now it seems to be on par as both albums has its own strengths/weaknesses .
I thought it will be a challenge for me to listen to touch but I'm surprised as time goes by , things just got easier & I managed to recall how most of the songs , be it non singles or singles wise , sounds like .
touch's quite a well recommended album , give it a try if you want to .
Blog Personnel
Karen Pang
# 10th Jan
# #1 BREAKERZ fan in Singapore since 2008 debut single ♥
# My music blog consists of JPop/Rock singles & albums reviews that I put my heart , efforts & soul into writing them as I'm disgusted with the way that JPop/Rock music is being treated/written/reviewed in Singapore so to the local media (yes you TEENS , Teenage Magazine & The Strait Times) , screw you all . I basically can write better JPop/Rock reviews , period
