2 CDs
2 CDs + DVD A & 2 CDs + Blu-ray A
2 CDs + DVD B & 2 CDs + Blu-ray B
Disc 1 (JAPANEWS)
1) Konnichiwa -Interlude-
2) JAPANEWS
3) FIREWORKS
4) Tabi no Tebiki Dai 1 Sho『Nihon no Miryoku』
5) O Mochidesu ka ！
6) origami
7) Cherry Blossom Girl
8) Tabi no Tebiki Dai 2 Sho『Nihon no Ongaku』
9) JANGARA
10) Gifted
11) Urameshi ya
12) Tabi no Tebiki Dai 3 Sho『Nihon no Hitobito』
13) Hiji Dzuru Sho
2 CDs version
14) Clang Clang (Koyama Keiichiro)
15) almond ; written , composed & arranged by Shige himself
16) kawaii (Masuda Takahisa)
Disc 2 (NEWS C/W BEST Edition)
1) Full Swing
2) Butterfly
3) Snow Dance
4) Yoru yo Odore
5) Sweet Martini
6) BEACH ANGEL
7) SHOCK ME
8) DREAMS
9) Distance
10) madoromi
11) 36℃
12) Bambina
13) (0,0,0)
14) ROOOTS
15) Strawberry
NEWS' last studio album release was last Aug's NEWS EXPO . JAPANEWS originally was supposed to be released on 24th July .
Only 1 single is included in JAPANEWS ie. 30th single Gifted which was used to promote the Tokai TV x WOWOW co-produced drama Gifted starring member Masuda Takahisa .
Same with NEWS EXPO , JAPANEWS includes 2 CDs with different audio contents .
Album track wise , only a video was made for JAPANEWS (the song) .
Track 7 Cherry Blossom Girl is a self-homage song to NEWS' 12th single Sakura Girl while track 9 JANGARA was used as Tokyo Joypolis tie up song .
The 2nd CD in JAPANEWS is titled NEWS C/W BEST Edition . In it , the included tracks were chosen by fans in an online coupling song voting poll that was conducted this year .
NEWS presents a 2 disc musical work that's like a Japanese guidebook in the form of their 14th album JAPANEWS . Disc 1 JAPANEWS has new songs & a new story while disc 2 NEWS C/W BEST Edition is a coupling best album of re-recorded B-sides that were selected from the NEWS Coupling Song Vote 2024 .
Album format wise , JAPANEWS does feel like NEWS EXPO 2.0 but in terms of the music style and songs included in both discs , that's where the simliarity ends .
For the 1st CD JAPANEWS it does feel & sound like an audio Japan 101 guidebook which's very interesting . The opening of JAPANEWS (the song) has English narration done by each NEWS member which's commendable .
Even before listening to JAPANEWS , the 1 song that I was looking forward to hear the most was Cherry Blossom Girl because not only Sakura Girl is still to me 1 of NEWS' best single songs , they don't often do something like this which's doing self homage to their old material .
Another album track that I also like is FIREWORKS which I felt a video should have been made for it as I'm sure it could have been visually entertaining .
For the 2nd CD NEWS C/W BEST Edition , just like the 2nd CD in NEWS EXPO ie. NEWS BEST , the old songs that made the cut in NEWS C/W BEST Edition prior to the release of Beautiful / Chincha Umakka / Kanariya they were all re-recorded .
Being a NEWS fan for a long time the songs in NEWS C/W BEST Edition that I was ecastic that got re-recorded were Bambina , BEACH ANGEL , DREAMS & SHOCK ME . The fact that some of the no.s are so old but were re-recorded , that says a lot .
Overall on whole I enjoyed NEWS' latest album release . I personally hope that for their next album release , they would remove the introduction & interludes as they've done this aspect since their 2017 / 8th album's NEVERLAND .
In addition I also hope for their next album release , they would revert back to a single solo CD release as well .
Promo wise , FEEL SO GOOD is the official theme song to promote SPYAIR's annual JUST LIKE THIS 2024 outdoor concert that will take place tomorrow at Tokyo's Hibiya Yagai Ongakudo .
Same with previous songs that promoted JUST LIKE THIS , the physical CD containing FEEL SO GOOD will be sold tomorrow when JUST LIKE THIS 2024 takes place .
While FEEL SO GOOD is not the best song that promoted SPYAIR's JUST LIKE THIS annual outdoor concert series (that to me is still THE WORLD IS MINE) , it's nonetheless a fun upbeat song that I'm quite sure the band would open JUST LIKE THIS 2024 tomorrow with as it sets the mood of how the concert would be like .
It reminds to be seen if SPYAIR would release a new album before year end but even if that might or might not happen hopefully FEEL SO GOOD would make the cut in it .
This's Aqua Timez's 1st new release after they have reformed back temporarily in July after disbanding in 2018 .
The temporary regrouping takes place just before Aqua Timez celebrates their milestone 20th anniversary next year .
Promo wise , Hitoshizuku was used to promote Suntory's The Premium Malt's Japanese Ale .
It's so wonderful to have Aqua Timez briefly reformed after they went their separate ways in 2018 because I've supported them for a long time & it was saddening when they disbanded as up to now they still have some really great songs in their discography .
Now that Aqua Timez is briefly back , they have showed everyone what they do best ie. releasing great uplifting songs which Hitoshizuku most certainly delivers .
While it's bittersweet that Aqua Timez's reunion will not be permanent , it's best to enjoy whatever new music Aqua Timez plans to release in time to come & I hope Hitoshizuku will not be the only new song they release during this time span .
For now I say Okaeri Aqua Timez !
