AAA - ALL

Released on the 1st January 2007, ALL is the third album of the interesting unisex Avex group, AAA. That said, this album could be mostly defined as a collection of past singles and only three previously unreleased tracks.

ALL starts with Hallelujah, the group's 5th single, a very upbeat pop tune that quickly gets in your head. This was definitely a good choice for opening track, being as this was one of the most memorable songs by the group at the time it was released. Following it we have the 7th single Hurricane Lili, Boston Mary in its original long version. This is a middle-tempo pop song that quickly becomes very energetic, but compared to most of the other tracks this is one of the most bland tunes of the album. Although not bad, this long version doesn't add much more than some extra seconds of singing.

Let it beat!, the band's ninth single, was used as theme for the movie akihabara@DEEP. It's a typical AAA dance song, but this time with a eletronic twist. Nevertheless, it's a very interesting song. Next it's Samurai Heart, hands down the most refreshing track of this album. This song combines a rock-driven tune with Japanese intruments, creating an enchanting atmosphere. Taking a break from the upbeat songs, the fifth track of ALL is Chewing Gum, a pretty ballad sung by two of the main AAA singers, Takahiro Nishijima and Naoya Urata.

Tracks 6 and 7 are Soul Edge Boy and Kimono Jet Girl, respectively. Both tracks have been released as a single before, featuring the two songs as A-side tracks. Whereas Soul Edge Boy is a more laid-back rock song with really nice vocals by the boys of the group, the latter is a sugary pop song, sung only by the girls. It also sets the mood for the upbeat tune that follows, Q. This song was used as theme for a quiz show in Japan, hence the title. The track itself is very catchy and also has a summery feel to it.

Champagne Gold, one of the new songs on the album, is a danceable eurobeat tune that even includes a parapara routine in its perfomances. The follow-up song is a wintery track titled Winter lander!!. Another song that doesn't exactly stand out, although it features a fun rap by Hidaka Mitsuhiro. Next is their sixth single, Shalala Kibou no Uta, a cheerful and calmer pop song. Finally we have the other two unreleased tracks. Us and Mikansei, which are both slower songs that give the balance needed to the album, finishing it perfectly.

AAA has always been good at pop with a touch of other styles, and this album is not an exception. While it may not be the best buy if you already bought all the previous singles, since this only features 3 new songs out of its 13 tracks, this album is a great option for everyone that likes pop and may be new to the group or hasn't had the chance to hear all the songs. Listeners will surely enjoy the great diversity that AAA have to offer.