I always loved the TRIAL PV

[b]04 The Sun and Rock 'N' Roll[/b]

After my first listen I really felt like the song could have gone on for another verse or so. It just felt so short to me, and then I looked at the duration. Don't get me wrong, I love EVERY - I mean it - single pillows song, I've grown up with the pillows and they've genuinely changed my life, the random things I say sometimes and the way I look at the world we live in, but dear lord it would be awesome to have a ~ 45 minute album from the pillows, especially if tracks aren't super long.

You know how there's usually that one short / randomly fun song on the album? Looks like this is the one. Seems to be in an odd spot as well I think.

Update - Given I wrote this a week ago, the track has grown on me a little but it's still a tad short!!

Hah, and here I was thinking it was just the perfect length. I'd actually like to see more shorter songs on pillows albums.

Such contrast!

Yeah it's rad at that length. It makes me [color=#FF8000][b]SUMAIRU![/b][/color]

Thanks for the upload

Lmao, Mafu. I got into the second track of your version before I questioned anything because this is the first time I've listened to a new album since, I think, Wake Up. Thanks for the up, sittingduck.

Listened to it only once all the way through so far and it's pretty decent. Might grow on me some more. I'm liking I RIOT a good amount, as well as the Eliot one and Subtropical Fantasy. Also, is it just me or does the intro to One Flew Under the Cuckoo's Nest (which I also dig) sound sort of reminiscent of Maladroit era Weezer?

[b]Subtropical Fantasy[/b]

Hearing this made my day. That's pretty rare. No, not a 'pillows song making my day', just my day 'being made'.
Such a perfect pillows track. Full of notes of 'Snoozer' (its a little more relaxed than the previous two tracks on the album) and hints of 'Happy Birthday' (first bit of the pre-chorus) in it (which by the way is one of my fave pillows song as it is)
Took me a little while to understand this one, if you know what I mean. In a way its a pretty simpl song in terms of the rhythm and lead guitar. Nothing super special for a track as a whole, but then again, some of the best pillows songs ARE that simple, sonically speaking.
Even the solo is just 'Oh hey there, yeah, here's another pillows solo, where are your expectations? Right, they were just met, very well met. Cool? Back to the bridge I guess.' That last little run / sound that the solo ends on is so comforting to me for some reason. It's new to my ears from the plows and I love it.

Absolutely a new favourite track for me. The pillows often have this rough 'song structure' as follows. Something I've noticed across a lot of their songs. This one is no different.

Intro
Verse 1 + hint of chorus / pre-chorus
Verse 2 + pre-chorus
Chorus.
Verse 3 + pre-chorus
Chorus.
SOLO
Altered 'Hint of chorus / pre-chorus'
Chorus
Outro / Tid bit

It's frickin' beautiful. First noticed this when I heard Blues Drive Monster back in the day.

I love this new album.

Speaks a lot for The Pillows' broad tastes without venturing too far into new horizons and too close to home with their power pop, ticklish signatures.

A lot of new comers to The Pillows who are only familiar with their work post 2000s might find this too paced, but this actually sounds like The Pillows right at home. They've found a good place to start again: back with King Records.


On another note, I couldn't stomach MOONDUST at all. I liked Horn Again and Trial, but MOONDUST was not their best work. The production might have been the cause on that track though.

Also, I'm glad there is a lack of an English Track on this album.

I'd suggest trying out the Moonlight Dust for You tour DVD instead of the album if you didn't like what you heard; the songs have a much more favorable tone on there, imo.

Edit: oh, lol, typos. Whatevars.

LOL Mare

Can't wait to get my copy of MoonLIGHT dust for you - the alternate take on MoonDUST light for you Tour, 1 show only, where Sawoh plays the drums

wuuuuut when did that happen???? (i have seen it done with the predators)

LOL will. No - Mare said 'MoonLIGHT dust for you' when its actually titled 'MoonDUST light for you' hehe
I've made the same mistake myself.

I've only listened to this album once--but it seemed pretty good, which was a pleasant surprise. As everyone's saying, Subtropical Fantasy is just lovely. Feels so reminiscent of Lostman era sounds, to me.

Even with what the album sounds like aside, I'm just enjoying all the excitement that has bubbled up surrounding its release. It seems like a few older posters have returned, as well as newer posters appearing, and everyone seems so enthusiastic. It really reminds me of how I used to feel in middle school (and, I think, how everyone felt) when the pillows had something new. It's kind of a nice feeling--thanks guys, for unknowingly making me feel a small bit of happiness

I'll post some impressions I guess. First, thanks for sharing, sittingduck! I had decided not to buy this after hearing samples, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to give it a full listen nonetheless. Unfortunately, I didn't really like the album, and there's not much to say because very little here can be called outright bad or offensive--only bland, tired, forgettable rehashes of things they've done better in the past. Individual song remarks:

Debris - Decent up until the chorus, which I find hard to listen to. The melody is just bad, and Sawao struggles to deliver it. Unremarkable solo.

Kookoo for Cocoa Puffs - Sorry, hate this song. The chorus is at least mildly catchy, I guess, but I don't enjoy it catching, if you follow.

I RIOT - The chorus is fun but not fun enough to make listening to the whole song worth it.

Rock and Roll to Taiyou - Nice little guitar leads, pleasant but forgettable (the modern pillows mantra!) Anyway, I can always dig a track like this now and then. Top three tier.

Subtropical Fantasy - This track got a lot of buzz, and it's not bad. Maybe worthy of being a B-Side in early 2000s era. The solo manages to stand out, too. A highlight on the album.

The Tragedy of Eliot - I think this might be my favorite track on the album. Surprisingly good on every level. The guitars, the vocal melody and performance, and the style all stick out and draw me in. Reminds me of the very earliest pillows work.

Blagodarnost - Very nice lead guitar work. Fails to distinguish itself in any other way, landing on the pile of average pillows slow numbers of the past decade.

Radiotelegraphy - I feel like I've heard this song a hundred times already. I suspect it might actually be assembled from pieces of old pillows songs we've already forgotten.

Stroll and Roll - Another for the fun and forgettable bin. This one at least manages to maintain its energy throughout and is a quite pleasant listen. Actually love the backing vocals.

Locomotion, more! more! - Diet Predators

I get very excited every time another person joins in the Eliot circlejerk. I know Subtropicana Fanta is a contender for most-loved on the album, but Eliot really swept me away and continues to remain my favorite on the album.

I feel like one of the things that makes the title track work so well is Shin's drumming. Maybe it's my imagination, but I feel as though he put a lot more nuance into his.hi hat work on this track than a lot of recent pillows work punctuated by dead-steady, even hi hat hits across an entire section of the song (see: Enerugia, etc etc etc). Makes the whole somg's delivery a lot better imo.