CD
CD + DVD
1) WITH YOU
2) LOVE STAGE
3) Blue Moon
4) I lost
5) Yamiyo ni Mau Aoi Tori
6) BARABARA
7) Judgement
8) UNDER THE MASK
9) I love my daughter
10) End Roll
The guys' last studio album release was 2015's Ø-ZERO- & the new album's title derives from the guys never forgeting to connect with fans , even in the midst of the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .
WITH YOU is described as an ambitious work that the guys want to deliver to fans (= YOU) .
In WITH YOU , it includes 3 singles ; 1 double A-side & 2 standalone singles (their 18th single D×D×D / GREAT AMBITIOUS -Single Version- is not included) & 6 new album tracks .
Kicking off the album is the 1st album track that shares the same name as the album . Written & composed by vocalist DAIGO , WITH YOU (the song) is their most mellow album opening no. to date .
LOVE STAGE is the 2nd A-side of BREAKERZ's 21st single BARABARA / LOVE STAGE & the song was used to promote the live action movie of the same name .
The 2nd album track Blue Moon was written & composed by guitarist AKIHIDE and this song bears musical resemblances of FIGHTERZ's SECRET GIRL & Ø-ZERO-'s My Sweet Rose .
The next new no. I lost was also written & composed by DAIGO and for I lost , it features Kuraki Mai , making this their 1st studio album to feature a guest vocalist & the 2nd time Kuraki collaborated with the guys after 2017's Hirari Mai Chiru Hana no Youni .
Even though I lost is the only collaboration in WITH YOU , Kuraki's vocals amplifies the sadness of the song & just like Hirari Mai Chiru Hana no Youni , her vocals compliment DAIGO's really well .
The next 2 no.s are single songs the guys released prior to WITH YOU .
Yamiyo ni Mau Aoi Tori is BREAKERZ's 20th single & it was used as the ending theme for TV Tokyo's Takeshi no Nippon no Mikata! while for BARABARA , it's the 1st A-side of the guys' 21st single BARABARA / LOVE STAGE which was used to promote the Youkai Ningen Bela movie .
Judgement & UNDER THE MASK are 2 of my favourite WITH YOU album tracks and they couldn't be any different from each other .
Written by DAIGO & composed by AKIHIDE , the melody of Judgement is a fusion of Arabic & Rock and the song was created based on the excitement of a live house concert & twin guitars are present in the melody , just like CLIMBER x CLIMBER .
For UNDER THE MASK , it's the 3rd WITH YOU album track that DAIGO wrote & composed . This song sees DAIGO singing it in the highest vocal range ever & he was inspired by Mötley Crüe after he watched Netflix's The Dirt last year .
I love my daughter is BREAKERZ's 22nd single & it was used to promote the ABC TV drama Miyako ga Kyoto ni Yattekita! .
Concluding WITH YOU is the album's last new no. End Roll .
Written by DAIGO & composed by guitarist SHINPEI , the guys 1st performed End Roll during BREAKERZ Fan Club Live 2018 & at its coare , it's a simple & nostalgic sounding song .
The saying less is more can definitely used to summarise BREAKERZ's latest album offering WITH YOU . Even though it's their shortest sounding studio album to date , most if not the whole album is really good .
I personally do not really like Ø-ZERO- as I felt quite disconnected from it but luckily I do not have the same feeling towards WITH YOU and in it , the old & new musical elements of the guys can be felt and there's frankly something for everyone to enjoy in their latest new album .
The 1 thing I'm surprised about WITH YOU is the exclusion of both D×D×D & GREAT AMBITIOUS -Single Version- . I can understand why the guys chose to exclude GREAT AMBITIOUS -Single Version- since there's not much musical difference between GREAT AMBITIOUS & GREAT AMBITIOUS -Single Version- but for them not to include DxDxD , it's a real pity as it's 1 of their most recent but fun catchy single songs to date .
BREAKERZ wanted to release a new studio album last year but they decided to hold off until this year as they felt the timing then wasn't right & I think they did the correct thing and it's evident with what they bring in WITH YOU .
And I'm already looking forward to see what they have in store for their impending 15th anniversary debut when next year rolls by .