MAGIC album discussion

[B2]

hey guys, it's nice to see this place is still alive and well! I just wanted to pop out of the blue and pay my respects to MAGIC.

ACTION was definitely my favorite B'z album since BIG MACHINE, and it has a few really exceptional songs on it. I'm kind of concerned with B'z at this stage, as they could easily start pumping out completely mediocre material and still make a killing. so it's quite a pleasure to learn that MAGIC is a pretty good follow-up to ACTION.

after a few listens, I feel that MAGIC is like ACTION after doing some exercise and losing a few pounds. B'z definitely did themselves a favor by shortening the tracklist, and avoiding the potential for too many filler tracks. nearly all of the songs on MAGIC are hard-rocking and energetic, which is really cool considering these guys aren't getting any younger. kind of a shame that they STILL can't avoid that pesky piano ballad, this time going by the name TINY DROPS. oh well, gotta have one for the ladies, right?

the use of horns in a couple of songs gives things a bit of a LOOSE flavor; not that horns haven't been present in B'z songs since LOOSE, but the way they're used or mixed is a bit different than in, say, Gin no Tsubasa de Tobe or Seventh Heaven. or maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.

I can tell Tak is trying to play some more interesting solos than in recent years, but I can't say he's meeting the standards set by BROTHERHOOD and ELEVEN. on the flipside, MAGIC features some pretty beefy rhythm guitar playing, and the bass is nice and prominent. check out track 11, 1:02 - 1:09. NICE!

not much has changed on the production side of things, and that's definitely a good thing. considering B'z has been such a successful band for so long, I don't know why so many of their previous works were marred by weak (pre-LOOSE) or just plain bad (GREEN, ELEVEN) production. nice, chunky guitar, clearly audible bass, and drums that aren't overpowering = very listenable album.

as for Koshi, I wasn't particularly impressed by his performance on MAGIC; no goosebump-inducing harmonies or breathtaking Kosh-screams. but I'll probably pick out a few choice vocal bits as I get more familiar with the album. however, his voice is still in great shape, and that alone makes MAGIC worth listening to.

only time will tell whether or not I end up revering MAGIC as one of B'z better albums, but as of now I am totally satisfied with the work they've done. I don't know if it's fair to expect any more utterly mindblowing work from Tak and Koshi (don't be afraid to prove me wrong, guys!), but for a band to be so consistent at this point in their career is something to be respected.

[outlaws0020]

Just got the album and I'm listening to it right now!
I've only heard the singles, Pray and Magic, so all the other songs are new to me!

It's such an extremely awesome album! Time Flies almost gave me goosebumbs and Long time no see is a great song too!
I'm at number 6 now. That's Ichibu to Zenbu.

Haven't read your review yet B2, but I will once I've heard all the songs.

[haru27]

I think the overall album is good.  The songs are really catchy and yes there are no fillers at all.

However I still prefer Action over it because some of the songs from it are just great and different.  B'z are playing it a little safe with this album and I guess that can come off as being mediocre. 

I also wish that Inaba had better vocal performance too like in Koubou.  I hope his vocals in his upcoming solo, if the rumors are true, will be more experimental like his past works.

With that said, I'm still very satisfy with this album and I hope they will continue to make great music.

[soccernbz]

Can anyone tell me sth about the content of the DVD? Any live songs there?

[outlaws0020]

Can anyone tell me sth about the content of the DVD? Any live songs there?

Yea, there's Dive, My Lonely Town, Ichibu to Zenbu and there's a couple of clips from the showcase where they play Vampire voman and Crazy Rendezvous.
I think that's all...
Tak's really hilarious in it and the supporting member are in it quite a lot - they talk a lot about B'z and how they feel about playing with them.

[Anka]

Well... I listen to Magic since yesterday. My first impression was like every song is similar, but, with every next time I find something new in them (I hope for lyrics romanizations, that helps a lot with memorazing the song line etc, etc...). And I must say - I like Magic more and more. That's a really good piece of music. Time Flies - first part of beginning sound little bit like Burn's one, and the second reminds me of Nightwish, but, in fact, that sound very good for me. And that IMHO gothic-like "time flies" line is so great!  Freedom train is cool too, but, again, title line reminds me of part of melody from song "Paralyzer" by Finger Eleven (which is similar to LEd Zeppelin's Trampled Underfoot, to which also Bad Communication is similar, and is a homage, I suppose). Introduction is just so... electric and kinda strange. Great! My lonely town is so in my mind it's hard to stop repeating it in thoughts Very good composition.  long time no seetempo et caetera is little bit too monotony for me, but choruses vocal line endings and solo guitar parts are cool! And I'm pretty sure the very ending of song has something to do with the Risky era! Pray is beautifull. Nothing more to say. Mayday! is IMHO in such style like Theme of travelling man or Biri Biri, but the older ones were better... but the "SOS" line is cool. Tiny drops is not bad, but I think it could be better - I hope some day Koshi will make a song again like f.ex. Itsuka no merry Xmas where he's singing more loosely (what often means in his case just with lower voice - also like in Amadare blues at osaka namba hatch. Tak's guitar in this track reminds me about Friends' albums style, and about some song from Action, but I can't remember which one exactly. Dare ni mo ... (sorry, I don't remember exact romanization) is damn good! Little bit Warui Yume/Action style, which I love! And Koshi's shouting at the end! Yeah! ... no naka de ...imashou (again, I can't read kanjijs ) sounds somehow familiar for me, but that's maybe beacause I've heard album's demo on B'z website about 2 weeks before and now I just recognize all the accords   To ichibu to zenbu and dive I'm already kinda used to, and that's the time when they just sound gooood for me.
Don't get me wrong - very often I need some time to become accustomed to new songs (rarely somethings catches my mind immediately). And all this comparings between new and old songs are also normal for me - for example, I think that Beatle's Yesterday and Red Hot Chilli Pepper's By the way have the same accords at the beggining and I just can stop thinking about it, when I hear one of those songs I don't know if it's true, but... my ear says so

Greetings

[outlaws0020]

And doesn't Time Flies (love that song) resemble Michael Jackson's "Beat It" a little bit?

I've listened to all the songs now and I still have the same opinion. It's an AWESOME album!
I think it's better than Action - but only a little bit. Action is a great album too.

[haru27]

And doesn't Time Flies (love that song) resemble Michael Jackson's "Beat It" a little bit?

I thought so too when i first listen to it.  I think it's mostly because of the beat and some of the guitar part in the beginning

[outlaws0020]

And doesn't Time Flies (love that song) resemble Michael Jackson's "Beat It" a little bit?

I thought so too when i first listen to it.  I think it's mostly because of the beat and some of the guitar part in the beginning

Yea, exactly:P
If you listen to the first 3-4 chords Tak strikes in the beginning then it could easily run into the same melody as Beat It.

[Anka]

And doesn't Time Flies (love that song) resemble Michael Jackson's "Beat It" a little bit?

I thought so too when i first listen to it.  I think it's mostly because of the beat and some of the guitar part in the beginning

Yea, exactly:P
If you listen to the first 3-4 chords Tak strikes in the beginning then it could easily run into the same melody as Beat It.

Yeah, right, there's something in that... In Beat it Van Halen played the guitar And I don't know why but "soko kara" about 0:50 of Koshi's sounds to me like something from Mika Nakashimas song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEXYROnzSCo  XD  ("onaji kutsu de"? about 0:44? XD)

[Nat.ty]

I love it all, the songs are great! Want to see the translations now

[Arthuro]

#03 Time Flies: http://www.offthelock.com/2009/11/21/time-flies-lyrics-translation/
#13 Freedom Train: http://www.offthelock.com/2009/11/20/freedom-train-lyrics-translation/

MAGIC is next on my list.

If you find any mistakes, let me know.

Cheers,
Art

[Lebon14]

-Review Introduction-
Having received my album today, I quickly did my usual stuff with the CD.  After doing a scan of the cover with the platic wrap on, I finally removed the plastic wrap and I was shocked how the packaging was!  There is a cardboard protection sleeve that has the usual cover and back-cover ( la Best Pleasure/II & Best Treasure).  Then, if we remove what's inside to reveal the special jacket.  There's the cover again and if we turn it back, there's the back cover that opens up in two.  It gives on a picture of a door in the middle of nowhere.  If we open this one up, it gives the same door but opened with a path leading to the horizon.  There's also the credits and the lyric booklet in the "first door".  And, then, finally, if we open the last one, it gives both CD & DVD.  The booklet is very simple (see my scans).

Here is a little video about me opening it up... : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8an4Ec7ppI

In all, the packaging is exceptional.  We can only see this from the Japanese.  I've never seen that kind of packaging anywhere else...

-Album review-

1. Introduction -0:36- -Style : Rock Intro-
Exactly in the style I was waiting for.  Very short but it will be an excellent opening for the Live-gym.  Because of it is SO short and only a guitar track, I don't give any score for this track.

2. Dive -3:00- -Style : Hard Rock-
Dive has always been my favorite from the Ichibu/Dive single.  It has an excellent rhythm and is very catchy.  Excellent song from B'z.  Note that the songs cuts into the next (mixed).  Btw, they ditched the intro lol...

Rating : 9.5

3. Time Flies -3:22- -Style : Hard Rock-
Yet another Hard Rock song.  It follows the style of Dive and B'z goes with another catchy and fast hard rock song.  Koshi's vocal are pretty good as always.  Tak's guitar is awesome as always.  I really have nothing to say!  This song's great!

Rating : 10

4. My Lonely Town -3:37- -Style : Hard Rock-

Fantastic rock number.  I really like the effect we hear in the background at the beginning and during the hard part.  The solo could have been harder but... you know, we can't have everything right?

Rating : 9.5

5. Long Time No See -3:12- -Style : Rock 'N' Roll-
Fast paced rock 'n' roll styled rock number.  Pretty exciting except the first part of the guitar solo.  Very good song in all.

Rating : 9

6. Ichibu To Zenbu -4:11- -Style : Hard Rock-
Ichibu is my less favorite of the Ichibu/Dive single.  I can't seem to have a reason for it.  I mean, it's not bad but I just can't get around and like it.  Like I said in my MLT review, though, the ballad version version of the song seem to be better fitting for it...  But, like I just said, it's not bad, it's just... well, I can't get to listen to it.

Rating : 7.75

7. Pray -4:45- -Style : Rock ballad-
The first ballad of the album, also the longest song of the album.  It's a ballad... makes sense.  As you all know, ballads are usually not my things.  Pray isn't too much of an exception.  Having listened to it, it's an above-average ballad.  In fact, I may grow to like it in the future.

Rating : 7.5

8. Magic -4:07- -Style : Hard Rock-
The song starts with some guitar riffs and some "effets" then goes to some heavier guitar riff with another instrument that scream The 7th Blues/Loose era.  For that, I haven't really like the album title track.  It's OK but not a favorite.  Sub-par B'z Hard Rock.

Rating : 7

9. Mayday! -4:04- -Style : Rock 'N' Roll-
This song also has elements from The 7th Blues/Loose.  Pretty much in the riff like the one at the beginning.  But, I like this one better than Magic (song).  It seems a little more catchier.  I also like how Koshi sings into the chorus.  It adds a bit of "catchy-ness".  Very good song.

Rating : 9

10. Tiny Drops -4:06- -Style : Ballad-
I'll go straight to the goal : I don't like it.  That was to be expected, desho?

Rating : 4

11. Dare Ni Mo Ienee -3:22- -Style : Tribal/Hard Rock-
Straight to goal : the verses reminds me of Native Dance!  Thing is that the verse has only bass, drums/percussion that screams Native Dance inspiration.  And the song is very exciting.  The break down gives the impression that the song is finished... but in fact... WHAM! No it isn't yet!

Rating : 9.5

12. Yume No Naka De Aimashou -3:18- -Style : Pop Rock-
I fell asleep when the song started... The song isn't a ballad but it isn't musch hard rock either.  It's nothing special... it's sub-par B'z.

Rating : 5.75

13. Freedom Train -4:07- -Style : Hard Rock-
Now, that's what I call "catchy"!  Beside the verse, we really feel we ride the "Freedom Train".  If it's not my favorite song on the album, it's pretty close to!  I've already listened to it a lot more than the other songs!  Gives you a good idea how much I like this song.

Rating : 10

Top 3 :
* (10) Freedom Train
* (10) Time Flies
* (9) Dare ni Mo Ienee

Honorable Mentions :
* (9) Dive
* (9) My Lonely Town

Bottom 3 :
* (7) Magic
* (5) Yume No Naka De Aimashou
* (4) Tiny Drops

Total running time : 45:48

-Other remarks-
There is a lot of silnce in the recording between tracks and at the beginning of the tracks starting from Long Time No See.  It makes one feel "what's happening?".  Also, a shame that B'z is also a victim of the Loudness War...

-Conclusion-
I really enjoyed this album.  B'z made a lot of Hard Rock tunes this time and it's a pleasure.  I thought that was a big disappointment in Action but they corrected that and went all-out (Attack) and give us more Hard Rock tracks.  That was a nice surprise after a (almost) 2 years wait between Action and Magic.  All songs were thought off and had their place on the album even though I can't like them all.  Koshi offered his usual vocal performance while Tak always offers his talented guitar work and composition.  That was really nice to hear!

Final Rating : 8.25


I hope you guys remember that "seal of approval" lol.
Btw, I haven't watched the DVD yet... it's still encoding :\  It's done now... I will be watching it.

[Anka]

-Other remarks-
(...) Also, a shame that B'z is also a victim of the Loudness War...

Good point! I think exactly about the same, just forget to write about it - but I mentioned about monotony - like there's no dynamics, and that's making my ears feel tired... Too bad =/

[ontto]

No bad songs at all. My favourite is Mayday.