Freelance review.
During a short stay in Tokyo, posters for MYV☆POPS were seemingly everywhere. "What the heck? Isn't miyavi rock?", I thought. Picking up the album anyway, I discovered that miyavi's risky change had paid off in an album full of a wide range of styles, originating from around the world.
Are you ready to Rock? This opening track expresses all of miyavi's energy and talent as the rhythm draws the listener in, who will soon find themselves swaying with the music. The mixing of techno, rough guitar, and loud vocals works very well for this song. Kekkonshi no uta definitely gives the feeling of a wedding, especially considering the lyrics which suggest that the singer is in love with the bride... who is marrying someone else.
The next track is Senor, senora, senorita which carries a strong tango influence. Listening to this song makes one want to stand up and dance along as miyavi sings "one, two, step by step." Gigpig boogie is another song that'll make you want to move, combining both a jazz swing and a 1950s sort of rock feel.
The following two tracks are Dear my friend -tegami o kaku yo-, and itoshii hito ( beta de suman. ) -2006 ver.-, which is a beautiful song with guitar, piano, percussion, and strings. The soft vocal work is a complete surprise and contrast to miyavi's previous work, showing his growth as a musician.
Kimi ni Negai wo is a song that will keep you on your toes as it builds into the explosion of emotions before softening into a sweet lullaby. The listener will definitely be feeling the love with We love you ~sekai wa kimi wo aishiteru~, which is sure to summon a smile with its upbeat tempo and background vocals. The similarly cheerful Peace Sign is next, which makes you feel like you're walking on the beach or surfing the waves.
The final track is Ore Tachi Dake no Fighting. This last song ties the entire album together with the skillful guitar work and slightly more polished vocals of miyavi coming together, along with his usual style of giving encouragement to his listeners, telling them to never give up and always push forward.
Overall, the new styles that miyavi used in each of these songs was really enjoyable. One should respect the risk he took to make something completely different from his previous works, while at the same time still holding onto his personal energetic style.
