REVIEW: the Studs ~ Niji no Iro
Well, after the Studs exploded onto the scene last year with their self-titled mini and an awful lot of touring, fans have had roughly six months to argue about whether they sound like Kagerou or Deadman. With this single, it’s becoming increasingly clear that they will sound however Aie would like them to sound, i.e. closer to Deadman. However, there are differences from the mini; notably Daisuke’s improved vocals in places, he doesn’t sound as rough, and Yukino, the bassist, is responsible for the music in one of the tracks.
The Studs
Niji no iro
Genre: Nagoya, rock, grunge
Release Date: 01-16-08
Price: 1,575 ¥
Released By: Einustar Records
Tracks: 3
01.Niji no iro
02.Nageku akairo
03.Shakunetsu wa reido
Niji no iro begins with a few bass notes before the drums and guitar jump in. There are too many cymbal crashes for my liking, something I’m noticing with Hibiki, that I am not fond of. However, the chorus is nice from Daisuke’s standpoint, even if he is a little flat on the last note. I’ve always loved Aie’s strategic use of rests, even when it’s not him resting, and this song is no exception. The fade in the last chorus is good too, as is the abrupt ending.
Nageku akairo starts almost the exact same way, with bass.
But this time, Aie’s funky little riff quickly takes over the song.
Daisuke switches off between singing in a soft, near-falsetto, before
going back to rather harsh yelling for the chorus. The highlight
however, is really Aie’s riff and the counterpoint one being played by
Yukino. When those two cooperate in a song like that, the result is
sublime. A little trademark Aie, squealing feedback marks the
solo/bridge section, before heading into the last chorus. This is my
favorite Studs song since Thursday.
Shakunetsu wa reido would be Yukino’s first entry into
the Studs discography, and it’s probably the closest thing to a ballad
they’ve done thus far. Fortunately the vocals aren’t half-bad on it,
though there are definitely back-ups for the chorus, making it sound
fuller. They’re subtle, but they’re there. It’s not a particularly
complex song compared to Aie’s, but it is nice, especially if you’ve
been pining for smoother vocals from Daisuke.
So how did this one compare? Well, I was suitably impressed by it. The first two tracks especially. I will admit that I am not particularly hung up over Daisuke’s often less-than-stellar vocals, and as such, generally paying more attention to the composition and Aie’s always-impressive guitar work. I’ll also say that I’m liking more and more how much smoother Aie and Yukino are sounding together. On the other hand, I’m not liking Hibiki’s tendency to overdo it on the cymbals. Essentially, in spite of Aie’s incredible talent, and everyone’s experience, they’re still, in a lot of ways, a new band and I think their meshing together is still a work in progress and will only get better. ★★★★☆
Key:
★★★★★ = Excellent, flawless, perfecto
★★★★☆ = Very good, has some minor flaws
★★★☆☆ = Good, maybe a few boring moments, but overall enjoyable
★★☆☆☆ = Fair, bad outweighs the good
★☆☆☆☆ = Poor, possibly offensive to your ears
