[quote="ShwahnStuff"]How do we know it's from that time period? Did they play it on tour or something? If this had been on Penalty Life, the album would be a LOT better, I think. Also, was this really a recording from then? It sounds a lot more like they (re-)recorded it for this compilation to me.

Either way, good song. I may just like this better than 1989.[/quote]

No way. The singing is much more nasally and the overall production is similar to that around Penalty Life or Good Dreams.

FLAG STAR is really lackluster in my opinion. Sawao's vocals are the best part, but I'm not into the chorus melody at all. Verse is okay, but could have been better. It definitely stands out on the album as a weak track. pillows ought to take note from GO!GO!7188 and release only [i]really good[/i] extra material on a best-of collection (see: kami-sama no himatsubushi).

Gotta disagree. I'd say that Sawao's vocals and Manabe's lead guitar combine in a way that we don't necessarily hear on a lot of their stuff.

Yeah, usually the combination is good. ;D

I was feeling it for the first 20 seconds, but then it degenerated into sub par back burner material that should have stayed unreleased.

I'm glad someone enjoys it, though.

Give it another shot, listen to it openly and carefully.

I don't know Jomei, it seems like it has everything well in place. It feels like a big, triumphant, kind of "liberation!" anthem for me.

I think My Foot would have made a nice home for it. Swap out Degeneration for it, lol. I have nothing against that song, but it kinda feels like it was just dropped in the middle of the album...

[quote="Cloudy_One"]I don't know Jomei, it seems like it has everything well in place. It feels like a big, triumphant, kind of "liberation!" anthem for me.

I think My Foot would have made a nice home for it. Swap out Degeneration for it, lol. I have nothing against that song, but it kinda feels like it was just dropped in the middle of the album... [/quote]

Swapping out Degeneration is a good idea, but what you suggest here would just be substituting one bad song for another.

I feel bad for the Japanese fans who bought this best-of just for this shoddy throw-away of a bonus track. The only triumph is that of Sawao, who will make an extra buck selling this collection to the pillows' new, less-discerning fan base. Oh, and Avex, of course.

>Mare
I tried, man.

My Foot is amazing.

Flag Star was like that for me at first. But with a careful listen it really
grew on me and I really like it

I think the Degeneration switch should have been the best choice

I don't really have a problem with anything on My Foot. It was the first non-FLCL album I got, and I loved everything on it, including Degeneration.

And yeah, Flag Star is definately good. It's grown pretty well on me. At first I thought it was too... non-pillows like, but after taking a couple of thorough listens, I see that's not the case. It certainly isn't the style they usually handle things, but I think it comes out pretty darn good. My favorite part is when the chorus leads to the guitar solo, and then Sawao harmonizes with Manabe's solo (by shouting magnificently, of course ).

It sounds very 'Good Dreams'-sy to me, I love the song.
Makes you wonder what other songs like this have ended up being unreleased

[quote="Tidusauron12"][i]I don't really have a problem with anything on My Foot[/i]. It was the [b]first non-FLCL album[/b] I got, and [u]I loved everything on it, including Degeneration[/u]. [/quote]

Well, if your standards are [i]this low[/i] then I can totally see how you'd get to:

[quote]And yeah, Flag Star is definately good. [/quote]

edit: Shit, sorry Tidus, I was trying to quote you but I accidentally hit the edit button. As apology, I'll refrain from posting my cruel attack on your taste. - Jolmes

Let's just be honest here - Flag Star is the best pillows track since BOYS BE LOCKSMITH

I hope that's a joke...

I guess technically unreleased = b-side, but IMO I'd say it's better than most b-sides, I'd put Flag Star with Scent of Sweet and Curly Rudy in terms of uniqueness. It's not like Beautiful Picture or Skeleton Liar or Sleepy Head are ever going to lose their thrones as "best pillows b-sides ever", but put down that broom; Flag Star doesn't deserve to be swept under a rug here.

If we're going to kick each other in the balls here with the "You have low standards because you like this" lines, then I could easily pan Last Holiday, because IIRC, Jomei really liked that one.

Ultimately I really like the song, but it really doesn't belong on a greatest hits album for the obvious reason that [i]we've never heard it before[/i]. Rock Stock had Tokyo Bambi and Ladybird Girl on it... WHY. Flag Star could have gone there, it would have freed up a space for something cool on Once upon a time.