I've been listening to Penalty Life a lot lately, and I have to say, it's a lot better than I had made it out to be. It transitions very smoothly, and all of its songs are appropriate to the album. For those of you who don't want to read [i]my[/i] LONG REVIEW (it's a very positive review by the way), I recommend scrolling down and reading the TL;DR version, OR, just leaving the thread completely, xD.

The first few tracks are kind of laid back and cool (Lonesome Diamond in cool). After that we get some that have a bit more energy (Freebee Honey, and Terminal Heaven's Rock), and yet they maintain that cool sound that we heard in the first two tracks (especially THR, good placing). After THR, we get into The Sun that Will Not Rise; let me tell you folks, this song is just awesomeness. The drums are so relaxing in this one that when the guitars and then Sawao comes in... I just want to stop everything and listening as hard as I can. I always get lost in the music when I here this one; this is the track that got me set on listening to the rest of the album fully. It is such a beautiful song that when I first heard it I had to wonder what would go next...

Phantom Pain came next. Boy, the first time I heard this song I thought it was complete crap, but overtime it grew on me and now it's my fourth favorite track on the album. When the chorus comes in you can hear all the band members chanting "No Rescue, No Rescue!" In the background, and Sawao is singing this awesome merry-go-round (musically) melody, and it's just fun and energetic. It's actually a really entertaining song if you just sit back and listen. When it was over, I had to wonder even more what would come next...

I Know You. Yeah, when I first heard this I fell in instant love. The introduction with Sawao slowing coming in and then Manabe bringing the rest of the band... just epic. This is one of the pillows' songs that are just awesome, and that's all there is to say about it. Not only that, but I really don't feel like it was randomly placed. The album flowed so well to get us to this point... and I just love the song so much. The awesome little jumps at the end of each measure between the tritone and the dominant by Manabe are just to die for... Awesome song.

Moon Marguerite. MOON MARGUERITE. This song wins the award for the most awesome song on Penalty Life, and also one of the pillows' most awesome tracks itself (IMO). From the beginning its full of energy, opening with this introduction that's kinda' spooky but awesome from the beginning. You kinda' wander what the song is going to sound like when you first hear it, because the introduction is kinda' scary, but then it lapses into the Major key, and Sawao let's us know everything is OK with a relieving melody. The thing about Moon Marguerite is that you never get a chance to rest; the bridge is very provocative and let's you know the chorus is on its way. The chorus itself explodes in after a brief (BRIEF) silence from Sawao following the bridge (which just makes the energy more apparent to listeners), and wow... you can just wallow in it. The chorus is to the point and large, and the affect is just awesome. Really, Moon Marguerite has a Penalty Life ring to it, but it is really reminiscent of Runner's High to me.

Super Trampoline School Kid is the funnest track, and is an instrumental. It's pretty innocent and I like to follow up the epicness that is Moon Marguerite with this track. What follows this piece is another energetic (though a bit smaller than the others, like STSK) song, Mole Town Prisoner. Mole Town sets you up good for the final track, The Scar that Whispers, No One is in Paradise. The Scar is a good song. I like the harmonies achieved in the song, and it isn't similar to The Sun that Will Not Rise at all; which makes it much more easy to enjoy. Finishes the album off nicely.

OVERALL (tl;dr version), I think PL is a very solid album, and I'm glad I took the time to sit and listen to it a few times. It's not much compared to its predecessor Thank You, My Twilight (my favorite album of ALL TIME), but nonetheless, I think blows Good Dreams AND My Foot out of the water in terms of solidity. Good Dreams is pretty good for the first half, and My Foot has a solid register as well, but PL - if you can dig it - is a very solid and good album. It transitions very smoothly, and it has a very mature, cool air too it. I think that's why I found it boring at first, I was expecting the crazy youth that the Little Busters, Runner's High, and Happy Bivouac, and I got something else.

I also think that the pillows should've released Thank You My Twilight in the USA first BEFORE Penalty Life; it would of done the album more justice. We were all expecting FLCL-esque music and got Phantom Pain... LOL I can see why PL has left a bad taste. Still, I recommend that anyone who hasn't really given the album much chance go back and try again. It really is a gem; I'd place in my top ten albums at the moment.

I never understood all the criticism that Penalty Life got to begin with. The album is great. Now, it did take me a few listens to get that opinion, but that's what everyone should do.

I agree with almost everything you said here, especially with Moon Marguerite and I Know You, two of my favorite songs off that album. This was the first full-length pillows album I ever listened to, and that's probably why I like it so much.

[quote="A.Fish"]I never understood all the criticism that Penalty Life got to begin with. The album is great. Now, it did take me a few listens to get that opinion, but that's what everyone should do. [/quote]

I think the reason PL got such a negative reaction here in America is because it was the first pillows release stateside after FLCL's OSTs. People who were expecting a FLCL sound didn't exactly get what they wanted, probably. That in turn damaged PL's reputation, and a lot of people got turned off from it before they even obtained the album (if they ever did).

I'm not trying to say it was a bad decision, but I think the pillows maybe should've released some of their older albums here first. I mean releasing Thank You, My Twilight would've been a good plan, IMO, since that album is really freakin' perfect. Even FLCL fans would've enjoyed it.

Still, a lot of people don't like the first two tracks I've noticed, and then they just say the whole album is crap. Once you get into the album though, you'll see that it is actually one of the pillows' more stronger albums. I think PL beats Smile, Good Dreams, AND My Foot because it is so well put together. I admit, it took about three or four full listens, but I like this album a lot now, and it really is one of the best post-FLCL albums (post-Happy Bivouac).

I like Penalty Life a lot! In fact, the only song I didn't like on Penalty Life was The Sun That Will Not Rise.

I've been saying it all along.

Moon Marguerite is definitely the best song on PL, and one of the better pillows songs overall. The quirky opening definitely presents an air of mystery over the song in the beginning. The lead for the song is also great.
My second favorite would have to be The Scar Whispers, Nobody is in Paradise. It's really relaxed and slow moving.

I've said recently that "Bokura no Hare Suisei" was one of my favorite songs by the pillows. However, I am quite certain that "Moon Marguerite" [i]is[/i] my favorite song by the pillows. [i]Penalty Life[/i] wins pretty hard.

I've never liked Dead Stock, Lonesome Diamond, Super Trampoline, and Mole Town Prisoner, but the rest of the album is quite good, I think it gets way too much crap from people. It's far better than Good Dreams and Wake Up!x3, and at least even with My Foot. I think it gets dissed a lot because it seems worse in comparison to its much-beloved predecessor, TYMT... but honestly I like more of the songs on PL. TYMT only has two I can't do without.

Noboranai Taiyou is underrated, big time. I love the more mellow sound they hit in that and Kizuyaki Sasayako etc. Wish we'd hear more of that.

I don't really like Penalty Life.
I just felt that there were no really memorable songs on the album[aside from I Know you, that songs is really good].

I had no idea there was so much adoration for Moon Marguerite on IM. I guess this is the place for the MM-lovers to come out of the closet. Good shit.

Here's the problem: To my knowledge, there is no footage of the pillows playing this song. I'm sure they've played it in the past in Japan (while touring for PL), but 1) I doubt if it was broadcast, 2) I do not have this recording.

3) someone fix this.

seconded

[quote="GoldenRhino"]

Here's the problem: To my knowledge, there is no footage of the pillows playing this song. I'm sure they've played it in the past in Japan (while touring for PL), but 1) I doubt if it was broadcast, 2) I do not have this recording.

3) someone fix this.[/quote]

I lol'd.

Oh yeah, and, thirded.

[quote="ThinlineTele"]I've never liked Dead Stock, [b]Lonesome Diamond, Super Trampoline, and Mole Town Prisoner[/b], but the rest of the album is quite good, [/quote]



Those songs are one of my favorites in PL I can't beleive you don't like them

You don't deserve to be a pillows fan

[quote="Metal2Hedgehog"][quote="ThinlineTele"]I've never liked Dead Stock, [b]Lonesome Diamond, Super Trampoline, and Mole Town Prisoner[/b], but the rest of the album is quite good, [/quote]



Those songs are one of my favorites in PL I can't beleive you don't like them

You don't deserve to be a pillows fan [/quote]

I agree with him except for Lonesome Diamond.

[quote="[Mr. Lostman]"][quote="Metal2Hedgehog"][quote="ThinlineTele"]I've never liked Dead Stock, [b]Lonesome Diamond, Super Trampoline, and Mole Town Prisoner[/b], but the rest of the album is quite good, [/quote]



Those songs are one of my favorites in PL I can't beleive you don't like them

You don't deserve to be a pillows fan [/quote]

I agree with him except for Lonesome Diamond.[/quote]


Lonesome diamond is the best song off all those 3.

You phail again.

And i've compered lonesome diamond to plastic flower >.>