I'm liking Happy Birthday more as I listen to it more. Really warm.

Tokai no Alice is really fun too. With these new releases instead of focusing on what they're like in my ears, I jump to thinking what they'd be like live. Seems like they're settling for this type of sound.

Quarter to me was the most meh of them all. I'm not a fan of slower songs in general, so I'm pretty sure that's just me. It's pleasant listening though. It picked up the end and kept me from being bored. I'd like to fall asleep to this.

Hype for the album~

Sawao said in the book "Hybrid Rainbow" that the last several albums have specifically been written with a focus on creating a great set for the live performance, as he began to think more about how the fans are what allow the pillows to keep going, and as such he wanted to give them a great performance for every tour.

I think that the structure of recent pillows albums reflects this very well: the tracklist reflects a setlist, starting with a rocking track, moving through some upbeat singles and swinging into a few slower feelsy songs towards the end before kicking it back up and then finally ending with a "fun" song. Remember how they used to end shows with Calvero and such? That's what Doggie Howl's purpose is. It can get a bit formulaic, but the content and sound of the songs ends up varying enough to keep me hooked.

I really love the title track, it has a great solo. Tokai no Alice reminds me of Degeneration a bit, kind of a neat little track (but I dunno that I'd throw that on the album). Quarter Bakugeki no Tomo is a good chill track, really great vocal melodies.

Probably doesn't need saying, but I'm also looking forward to the next album.

I like Quarter bakugeki no tomo. Sawao sounds really good when he sings all mellow/chill-like.

Decent single. I think the guitar work in Alice was a little lazy. Some cool ideas that should've been developed a bit more. Also, the tone... not quite there. As usual.

Quarter Century suffers from pacing issues. I don't like the transition from the verse to the chorus. A bit too abrupt for a song that feels so careful and delicate. And the riffage is a bit too indistinct as well, which makes the song less memorable from an instrumental point of view (and thus overall).

But other than that, pretty good. Happy Birthday, the song, is pretty great. Only issue I have with it is the chorus: it feels a bit too boilerplate, even though it is pleasant on the ears. And yeah, that solo is ace.

Overall, TA12 approves.

Tokai No Alice is the best thing ever

You should buy this single

I rather like the song "energia' that's included in the single I assume?

Not too bad.

As for the others that were mentioned?

They were okay.
I liked the one after Alice than Alice itself. mellowy stuff is good from sawao.
A different take for sure.

[quote="MrkJulio"]I rather like the song "energia' that's included in the single I assume?
[/quote]

Err...no, that was on the TRIAL album, along with Comic Sonic and TRIAL.

Happy 916 busters.

Happy busday.

Just found the Happy Birthday single in 320 kbps on some Mexican anime forum... so yea, awesome! Re-uploaded it to Mediafire for you guys to download.

Happy Birthday- [url]http://www.mediafire.com/?jina0bunc0o0vpf[/url]
Urban Alice- [url]http://www.mediafire.com/?o8g28iftn11q9q8[/url]
Bakugyaku quarter- [url]http://www.mediafire.com/?n6oig731urrpyn4[/url]

Happy Birthday!

Also, after a couple listens, I'm really diggin the single as a whole. The title track is already pretty awesome, and Urban Alice is definitely growing on me. Solid single from the guys, I must say.

Thanks for sharing, Goshin! I'm really diggin "Quarter bakugyaku no tomo." I'm pretty sure I'm gonna cry if/when they sing this live, possibly for next year's big 25th anniversary. Happy 916 guys!

"Quarter bakugyaku no tomo."
Thanks for sharing Goshin

[quote="Bebop56210"]There's a live release stream for the single on nico nico now. http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv151310406[/quote]

Also, just got the single, the music video for Tokai no Alice... LOL...

Google translate gives me "Friends of the quarter Bakugyaku" for the last track, can anyone clarify this?

[quote="MyFoot"]Google translate gives me "Friends of the quarter Bakugyaku" for the last track, can anyone clarify this?[/quote]

"Bakugyaku no tomo" means something like best/extremely good friends... so I guess we could say it means "Quarter best friends" ?