OOPARTS - From Music to Anal Sex.
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When previews came out, my first impression was: this album is going to sucks!!! I consider myself a huge fan, and I was trying to be objective about this album. Then, the album came out, and I have to say: I really like it. Nobody can't argue that this isn't their best album (there will not be another Please Mr. Lostman) but still it's good. I can't stop singing in my head MORE LEMON DROPS!!!.

Maybe the pillows are not unique lately, but they still have something. Maybe because I'm a fan I'm more forgiving, but COME ON!! they have 20 years rocking... 20!!!!

Late in the game, I know, but nonetheless...

OOPARTS:
Dance with God: the first time that I ran through this cd I saw this as one of the premier songs, but the more i hear it the more i think that the chorus is what keeps it afloat. Like others have posted, it does remind me a bit of frontiers in the verses.

YOUR ORDER: Wow, what can I say? I wasn't impressed by this song the first time I saw the PV. It has become one of my favorite songs on the cd since. The "ah ah ah's" simplify the chorus, but there is still enough substance to keep it interesting. The song has great energy. Its fun. Maybe this albums Youngster in that respect, but more intricate.

Melody: I didnt mind the slowing down of the song, as others have talked about. I do agree that the chorus is meh. Sub in a more thrilling chorus, and this song has potential to be a mid-grade song.

LEMON DROPS: Yes. This song is full of win. I think that shin did a good job on the drums. Sawao's voice sounded saccharine the first time i listened to the song, but later I came to the conclusion that it isnt. In this song, sawao doesnt seem to be forcing the "innocent" or "playful" emotion in the song. It seems genuine. Lots of energy!

FOXES: Like most everyone else, I am not a fan of this track. I like the xylaphone sounding instrument that comes in after the first chorus, but thats about it. Everything else deemed "creative" in this song just adds for the sake of adding. Also, worst vocals on the album. Constipated Sawao much?

Beyond the moon: I really dig this song. The pillows have some out of place intros in their discography, but this one really hits it off with that bass. This song reminds me of a mix between sayonara unibasu and my girl. That bit that GR talked about at the end of manabe's solo I think is the wrong pitch, but I like the idea of extending a small part of the solo into the beginning of the last verse to "spice" it up. The song has some great emotion at the end with the "I love youuuu". Reminded me of TYMT and Shiroi natsu.. great vocals Sawao! edit: also noticed that as the song fades out shin goes nuts.. that was great.

Johnny Strobe? : I dont see how some of you dont enjoy this guy. It does remind me a bit of 1989, but I came to see it as the little brother to 1989. A little more cheery, but the chorus contrasts that with some good rockin out action! Verdict: short but sweet. P.s. Im glad that this is on here and not 1989 because you know that some of you would have complained if a single came out on the album and it takes up the space where there could of been a new release. I was there with you when this happened on PP.

Ameagari ni Mita Maboroshi: After hearing some of the songs on this album, this one has come down from the pedestal, yet has held true to a good pillows song. Once again... the emotion that sounds true makes it what it is. (no, not a bad song, smartasses)

LIFE SIZE LIFE: hmmm...seems like a filler that sounds throwback to the lame stuff from PP or WUX3

Primer Beat: I could see this as the possible new sound for the pillows. Obviously the bass here is great.. and I think that after 10 years with the band, that jun should FINALLY be considered the bassist, and not a guest. Jazzy flair tone, sawao's songwriting, jun's creative bass... I forsee a modern take on jazzy rock. Fun, quirky, but thats what the pillows are.


I give the album a /10 based on the songs that I liked, but that doesnt necessarily mean it was bad. In fact, I think it was a good album. I may enjoy this more than WUX3, and PP. Not gold, but a possible silver with a step in the right direction.

7/10 is a pretty fair rating in my eyes (and ears). I know that a lot of people are hating hardcore, and a lot of others are fapping like fucking morons over it, but I'm enjoying the album decently.

[quote="Marekenshin"]7/10 is a pretty fair rating in my eyes (and ears). I know that a lot of people are hating hardcore, and a lot of others are fapping like fucking morons over it, but I'm enjoying the album decently.[/quote]

Seconded x1000

Really, the main thing is this:

Great songs: Beyond the Moon, Ameagari
Damn good songs: Lemon Drops, Johnny Strobe, Primer Beat
Good songs: Dance With God, Melody
Decent Songs: Your Order
Meh: Foxes, Life Size Life

to me, at least. I love the hell out of Mikadzuki and Ameagari, they just really strike a note with me, and I think that overall this album is pretty darn good. It's not mind-blowing, but you can bet I'm going to listen the shit out of it.

EDIT: *NEVERMIND

Now that's a few days after I got the album and all of the hating/fapping has settled down a bit... I find that this album is pretty good. My feelings on the songs haven't cemented yet, but it's looking a little better everyday.

lol good thing you edited right before I quoted asking what you meant. XD

I hadn't posted here in a while, mainly because i forget my password every time, but im glad to see that im in the norm with you two raid and mare. The little boy in me for some reason wants either jomei or sheer to come in and call me wrong, and for GR to give a contrasting write-up to mine.

[quote="Planobuster"]I hadn't posted here in a while, mainly because i forget my password every time, but im glad to see that im in the norm with you two raid and mare. The little boy in me for some reason wants either jomei or sheer to come in and call me wrong, and for GR to give a contrasting write-up to mine.[/quote]
IM in a nutshell

You're wrong (now your inner boy can rest happily). This album is way below 7/10. It's gotten worse for me every day. I don't even find Lemon Drops very listenable anymore. Nothing other than Primer Beat rises above mediocre.

So now, rather than try to teach my ears to accept lesser music, I am listening to the fan club CD. There is exactly 300% the win of Ooparts in this three track release.

I'm not going crazy fap mode on this new album, I was just the first one to really dig it.
I was happy with the turn out and I enjoyed almost every song. Heck, I don't even skip Foxes.
I'm pretty sure that for most of IM (except Jomei, GR, and maybe Sheer) will sooner or later enjoy this album as much as the next member.

I'm gonna be honest. I find FOXES and Life Size Life nauseating and I probably won't listen to them again in a long time. Melody isn't sitting well with me either.

I'm going get that CD Jomei is talking about and compare its quality to OOParts.

EDIT: GOD DAMMIT HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE PILLOWS FAN CLUB CD (Which is 300% more awesome than OOParts ).

[quote="sheerheartattack"]Every band is unique. You can't point out something and say, "I would have never thought to do that! Therefore, it's Japanese! Fucking Q.E.D., bitches!" Furthermore, anyone who thinks that the pillows are reminiscent of Michael Schenker or Paul Gilbert is either mildly retarded, or perhaps possesses borderline intellectual functioning. I'm not making fun of them, I'm just saying - there are governmental agencies that they should seek help from. That said, I don't think that intelligence has ever been a primary factor in music school admissions.

Now, TJ, I'm not saying that you're necessarily wrong about your assertion that the pillows have a Japanese sound, I'm just saying that your argument is shit-fucking-terrible. If you want to make even a halfway decent argument, you should consider the following elements:

1) Unless your music school friends are majoring in "International Music Styles," then they are no better an authority on this than Jomei. It's like getting a cancer diagnosis from a podiatrist.

2) The most important element that you must prove is an evolution of this "Japanese style" that you are speaking of, and you must connect that evolution to the pillows. That is, you must point out the progression of Band A > Band B > Band C > the pillows, and draw connections between them.

3) Not only must you establish a pattern, but you must prove it to be unique, and particularly unique to Japan.

If you can do this, go ahead. But if you can't, then you're wrong - plain and simple.[/quote]

I only first showed my school teachers the pillows instrumental songs. They noticed the actual overall sound is different from American, or English and asked me if this band is from some other country. Then I told them they are from Japan, they personally liked the pillows. My school mates never were the ones to tell me it sounds Japanese. My girlfriend & friends from Japan were the ones who told me this. I had shown them the music I write and they told me the melodies have a Japanese flavor to them. I never thought of it before much like you guys haven't. Then after showing them the pillows they saw what influenced my music. The pillows were the first band I ever got into and other Japanese bands, from these Japanese bands I found some music that I like from around the world.

This Japanese sound I have been talking about isn't 400 year old style, but modern day Japanese music. I am really surprised none of you have noticed this. I have noticed it since I stated with Japanese bands, and I notice alot of differences between rock of any country. To me its the ways the melodies are played out, the way you use the notes of a key. Rock is Rock, but ethnicity can effect its feel.

Well Sheer. I was never making an argument about this, but your post is so asinine I'll tell you a few things.

1. My school has many classes on world music. Unless your telling me you have a degree in "International Music Styles" and have been playing, studying music theory, gigging for 10-60 years like my school teachers have. You don't know what the fuck your talking about.

2. I have already wasted enough time going off-topic, and I have a life. If you want that information find it yourself, you guys are so stagnant that anything I would tell you guys would be dismissed. So why bother.

3. If you claim to know about Japanese culture more-so than Japanese citizens. And you think they are wrong about their own culture, than you are just an arrogant moronic fool.

Really I don't care what you guys think so I won't be discussing this mater anymore.
Lets get back to the album.

I am sorry to go so off-topic.

You've never heard the Pillows fan club CD? ;O

Here: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8JLN6K4G

edit: oh u have it?