[quote="Crescent"]Century Keepers[/quote]

I finally gaved this album a listen to the other day. Honestly, I wasn't really that impressed. The first couple of songs were meh. I'll admit. Comic Sonic was actually pretty good. I didn't much care for the pv or the single. But this time around, it was okay. That and energia. Steady Go! Was actually pretty good. Other than those 3 songs, I was disppointed. Here hoping they don't disappoint next album.

I know what this album needed more of: Sawao yelling.

No, seriously. A lot of my favorite songs involve Sawao yelling his heart and/or brains out. I think Smile had a lot of that, and Good Dreams the song sounds kinda like he's gonna lose his voice any minute.

[quote="MrkJulio"]Here hoping they don't disappoint next album.[/quote]
Lol. I'd say this has pretty much been the typical response to everything the pillows have released in the last decade or so. "Welp, I hope the next one is better."

I think this album is an improvement. Like others have said, it has its share of good songs and decent songs, but lacks the "[i]God, what were they thinking?" [/i]type songs that have doomed past releases.

Revival was actually a pretty solid opener. Rescue was generic. Comic Sonic has grown a lot on me recently-- especially the chorus. Flashback Story was pretty cool and the vocal effects reminded me of older pillows songs. Energia is still pretty great. Polaris hasn't left much of an impression yet. Minority Whisper is awesome. Mochinushi, like Polaris, hasn't left much of an impression, and Trial is potentially my favorite on the album. Ready Steady Go! is kind of fun, but I don't foresee myself listening to it too often.

There are six songs on this album that I'll certainly be listening to in the future. There are two that are somewhat forgettable, and another two that might grow on me. Overall, these are pretty good numbers. Gone are the days when the pillows would put out albums I could listen to in their entirety. Accepting this reality, I have to admit I'm quite pleased with this release. 6-8/10 ain't bad.

Oh man this album was a step up from that piece of shit album Horn, Again. The only songs that are lacking is Comic Sonic and Flackback Story. My favorite song would have to be that "Polaris" song. Minority Whisper's chorus got Beat Crusaders feel to it which I really enjoy. Overall it's a great album. I'm so freaking glad they released a good album this time round.

[quote="Spike"][quote="Crescent"]Century Keepers[/quote]

[/quote]

>_> That was right before I left work. Guess I didn't proofread.

In this thread: Hipsters. Hipsters and trolls.
But seriously, even not having heard the album yet, if you're expecting something like your favourite pillows album(s) then listen to those. They'd just be wasting time trying something they've already done.
No offense intended.

Okay you whippersnappers. After 5-6 serious listening sessions and letting the "new album" glee subside this is my take on TRIAL:

1. Revival - As an engrish song I can live with it. However I don't think it'll be a regular in the pillows' live repertoire outside of this tour. 5/10
2. Rescue - This one flip-flops for me. I love the chorus and the solo is nice but other than that it doesn't seem that remarkable as a whole. 5/10
3. Comic Sonic - I loved this song when it first came out and it still hasn't worn out it's welcome ever since then (and believe me I've listened to it MANY TIMES.) This song is a major step up from Movement as far as lead singles go. Definitely my 2nd favorite since New Animal. 8/10
4. Flashback Story - I don't really see much charm in this song. Nothing in this song really does it for me. Once again this is another song I don't see lasting that long in their live repertoire outside of the tour promoting TRIAL. 3/10
5. Enerugia - I'm not going to lie, I honestly think this is probably one of their best singles if not the best single since Scarecrow. And I'm wondering if it's just me but I think this song is the closest Sawao has come to singing like he did during the PML to Runner's High days. After accidentally skipping past Flashback Story I noticed that in comparison to Comic Sonic there is a bit of a noticeable deepness and roundness to Sawao's voice during Enerugia's verses that feels very similar to his old singing voice. Anyways it's a brilliant tune I think to say the least even though it lacks a solo. 9/10
6. Polaris - This song is rather nice, not bad but not extraordinary, just nice. I can appreciate the laid-back nature of the song for what it is and it's a nice change of pace going from Enerugia and into Minority Whisper. 6/10
7. Minority Whisper - I think this is probably my favorite engrish song on the album. In a way it feels like a less-intense version of Last Dinosaur, if Sawao put a bit more emotion into his singing on this song it really could've been something so much more than how it ended up. Nonetheless it's still a solid song, it just could've been even better than how it ended up. Perhaps (and most likely) it'll be a fantastic live song. 7/10
8. Mochinushi - I actually liked this song quite a lot and had a feeling I'd be a big fan of it when I heard the preview clip. I don't think the length of the song is an issue either. Yeah it meanders on and on but I think that simply adds to the charm, it's a song to get lost in and trance out to. I do agree though that the song's climax could've been better though, Sawao simply singing "ah..." just doesn't do the song justice especially when they did a brilliant job with Enerugia. But nonetheless it's a great song I think and deserves more praise. I'm definitely curious to see how it plays out live as well (along with getting a better context of the song once the lyrics are translated.) 8/10
9. TRIAL - Once again another great song. I'm also in the camp in favor of the song's riff, I think that's just trademark pillows. As overrated and overplayed as Ride on Shooting Star is you instantly recognize it because of it's quirky opening riff. Nothing else to really say about it at the moment, simply another solid standalone song. 8/10
10. Ready Steady Go - I think this song was a decent way to end the album. It's not bad by any means but it really wouldn't have fit anywhere else on the album (otherwise I think Enerugia or TRIAL would've been great songs to close the album with following Mochinushi.) After reading the lyrics while listening to the song I also have to admit it was actually a pretty decent performance on Sawao's part as far as singing in engrish is concerned. It's quirky and fun without being cloying, it could've been worse as far as past closing songs go. 6/10

Overall (so far) - 7/10

This album isn't really better than horn again or ooparts, its still the same crap.

There were two singles for this album, so I'm not going to bother counting energiya or comic sonic when reviewing this album. bottom line is, you're paying for the other songs, since you already have those from the singles.

so, in that sense, the only keepers on here are mochi nushi no nai guitar, and trial.

the rest consists entirely of throwaway tracks.

also I really wanted to like minority whisper but the english is terrible. so much missed potential.


trial should have been a single with mochinushi as the b-side lolololololololololololol

[b]1. Revival:[/b]
++ Energetic , nice build-up (especially when he says ‘loooong tiiiimmeee’ at the end)
+ Sawao made the English sound Japanese, thus bearable
+ Chorus (the spelling out of words)
+ Badass sounding solo
+ Nice outro R-E-V-I-V-A-L
- Too repetitive guitar at beginning and middle of song

2. Rescue:
++ Chorus (Yoko’s na-na’s)
- I felt like the intro and outro were too abruptly/messy.
- Verses

3. Comic Sonic
+ fun sounding song
-- “Baby, baby” (really is a song-breaker for me)
- It’s just so short and and a bit futile.

4. Flashback Story
+ groovy solo
+ outro “oooh”
- Too short and nothing really original to have an impact. Even more than Comic Sonic,
I’ll say it’s a goofy-groovy filler.

[b]5. Energia:[/b]
+ Energetic, lol
+ I like the building-up intro, simple but effective
+ dynamics of the song
+ verses, chorus and bridge all work well together
++ Outro, good climax (to which I mooooovee)
+ Keeps English to a minimum, in a good way.

[b]6 . Polaris. . .[/b]
+ laid-back, cheerful vibe
+ not pretentious
++ nice use of different guitar tones (distortion etc.)

It’s simple, yes, in a good way. Let’s say there’s enough breathing-room. Contrasting this to the quircky Flashback Story, I prefer this mellow Polaris.
I don’t really find this song boring at second listen.
At first listen, I didn’t really notice the song. Good thing I gave it another listen.
It sounds like a song Sawao could have made as a solo artist.
Reminds me of ‘Do you like a walk?’
I’ll go with The little buster and say it’s a nice song, not a remarkable song. It’s pleasant to the ears.
It’s definitely a stayer though. This would be a nice song when biking.

[b]7. Minority Whisper[/b]
++ Upbeat like hell
+ “I took an airplane today. And I drank apple juice.”
+ Make of the lyrics what you want (I hear in the chorus “Aaaaaaaaah prettyyy soooooongk. pretty actiooon – pretty place. “Whaaaaaai pretty soooooonck. “Friiiiidaay actiooooon – Friiiday plaaace”
+ It’s got the Engrish that I like, haha
+ Fuzzy sounding bass
++ Chorus (build up from verse)
++ Solo (yes!, yes!, yes!)
+ Would do great live

At first I didn’t really like the beeping sounding lead guitar, but it works out eventually.
On third listen, this song is actually quite cool. (also on fourth, fifth and sixth listen, lol)
It’s got the catchiness-factor. 8/10

[quote="Lesser_Hamster"]Minority Whisper is awesome.[/quote]IM listen to this.


8. Mochinushi. . .
?
I don’t know. If Energia is the equivalent of Movement, then this is ofcourse the equivalent to Brilliant Crown. As for Brilliant Crown, I put it on my portable music player to see if it would grow on me. It hasn’t really grown on me. I’m afraid the same will apply to Mochinushi.
It reminds me of ‘The Scar Whispers, Nobody Is In Paradise’. Actually, I listened to it after Mochinushi.
Let’s say The Scar Whispers. . . is very effective. And Mochinushi. . .is not very effective.

[b]9. Trial:[/b]
+ Sounds like a pillows song like we expect it to be, haha
+ Atmosphere: wintery vibe, up-beat, memorable chorus

10. Ready Steady Go!:
+ Super song when you’re in a jumpy, cheerful mode.
- Waaaay too jumpy-jumpy-funny when you’re in a not-all-too-cheerful-mode.


So about 5 of the 10 songs are here to stay.
That’s actually quite the average for all their albums, for me.
I’m content.

If Revival is trash, I'm totally jumping in that dumpster. I think Revival would be great live. I have the Born Again dvd coming in the mail but I really want some of this album's songs to be on it! XD

I put The Devil's Pub after Rescue and Hiking at the end. I kinda like the album going out on a more peaceful note than Ready Steady Go! lol.

[quote="Cloudy_One"]I think Revival would be great live. [/quote]
I second this. Do you know if the Born Again DVD has Emerald City? I really wanna see that one live too.

Yup, after Brilliant Crown.

Just my first impressions, but I'm actually enjoying this a lot. A huge step up from... actually, a huge step up from Wake Up! x3 and on. I'm kind of feeling the vibe they've settled on, and songs like Flashback Story are just a bit reminiscent of their old stuff. Minority Whisper and ENTER LUGIA are my favorites currently.

The album sounds pretty decent overall. As usual, some people are over-hyping things perhaps out of loyalty to the band, perhaps out of excitement for a new album, but regardless, I think, as Mafu says, with time we'll see this one settle in pretty close to the rest of the Avex pack.

Though there are no real stinker tracks, the one thing I feel is dragging the album down is its mournful (dare I say mopey?) tone. Otherwise there's a fair amount of good stuff going on. Standout tracks after a first listen include Flashback Story, Polaris long title, and Minority Whisper.