Album review: Tegomass no Seishun

Because I was inspired by this. Ah, no, it's because I've been wanting to post album reviews of my favorite artists' songs, and for a scatterbrain like me it was nearly impossible to do that... But now I have inspirationsssss (Yes, emphasis on the s), and I've formulated a draft nights ago~ So here we go! ♪♫

Album: Tegomass no Seishun
Artist: テゴマス
Release date: January 22, 2014
Tracks: 12 (+2 in the limited edition)

 
► L-R: regular and limited edition jacket covers ◄

General comments:

Tegomass' youth... These two are adults already, not just literally, but by the experience they have as singers, and it somehow showed in this album. Why 'somehow'? Because as the title implies, it is about Tegomass' youth. The tracks, analyze it or not, gives this 'childhood' feeling, like Tegomass is going back to the basics all over again. I'm not saying they hadn't matured enough; in fact, I could not imagine the songs from this album sung/released in earlier years. In other words Tegomass no Seishun (TMnS) is a perfect merge of maturity and youthful vigor in one.

Compared to the previous albums, TMnS is like Tegomass no Mahou who strictly adheres to its theme. Tegomass no Uta is a mix of different styles that you wouldn't really know what is the prevailing theme (if there is any, as uta means 'song' and they must've really experimented a lot in this one). Tegomass no Ai is a mini-album, which means only a few songs to analyze, and so it give a slight impression of what the theme is supposedly about. Meanwhile, Tegomass no Mahou is relevant. You can really hear the 'magic' the album wants you to hear. And TMnS is basically the same. To stick to the theme, I think it's a good thing!

So... How were the songs arranged and executed? How is the 'youth' factor shown?



• Vast use of acoustic guitars and/or electric guitars. Have you notice this by now? Given that JPop is complicated, almost all JPop songs have touches of guitars here and there... But swear, in TMnS, the guitars are heard a lot. Even the tracks that don't need the instrument you can still hear guitars slamming somewhere. Again, good thing. It's the added spice for the songs.

They have intended to overly use guitars in this album presumably because the guitar is one of the most basic instruments--easy to listen to, easy to learn, easy to play. (How ironic 'coz I can't play this instrument! orz). To make a song sound easy, a guitar accompaniment would be the first thing in mind.

Still on the 'easy' context, a guitar is a symbolism of youth, or so I analyze. Even as young kids we have known, we have seen, we have already touched a guitar. Really, It's one of the easiest objects to remember! In this album, we hear lots of guitar and we easily feel close not just to the music, but to the message the album conveys. Tegomass no Seishun is a "looking-back" kind of album, so let the simplest instrument lead the way.

• Simple, cliché melodies... With a twist. I did not expect this. I thought the album will be much more complicated than the previous but it turned out to be simpler. Hikari resembled Hanabi, Harumeki has a vibe like Yuuyake to Koi to Jitensha, Fantajia sounds like coming from TMnM and not from TMnS, etc. As I said, they're going back to the basics (to their youth), maybe that's why. The exciting thing about this though is the way the composers, arrangers, and Tegomass themselves worked on the songs. In my first hear I cannot follow the 'simple' melodies because there were alterations here and there. For example, Time Machine is a plain-sounding ballad yet there are parts that aren't easy to catch. Don't underestimate the power of stereotype because good musicians always find ways to pinch in complications.

• Harmonization level-up! In short, more blending goodness. If the melody is the same old thing, the harmony has clearly stepped out from the usual. The blending isn't perfect; I hear some notes (especially Tegoshi's) that go slightly off-tune. I almost pouted at that. But when I tried to sing his harmonic lines, oh my they're not easy! Even Massu who practically sings the lower harmony, I applaud him for not getting lost in the complexity of his notes. It's not about the range because they have already established how high or low they can go... It's about staying on track with the tones, especially with simple melodies--how to make it sound better, combined with the subtle to heavy embellishments--how to make it sound right. In this one, they did a wonderful job.

• Falsetto haven. Again, have you noticed? In almost every track, there's plenty of falsettos for them two! The belting lessens, Tegoshi and Massu share an almost equal quantity of same melodic lines. For me, this is probably the most important improvement of Tegomass in terms of their singing style. We know that these two can execute head tones so well and this album showed more of that without exaggerations.

• Inclining to fast tempo. Most of the tracks in TMnS have a walking pace, if not faster. The only song that you probably won't sway to is Kireigoto. Time Machine, Sayonara ni Sayonara, Itsuka no Machi and Hikari tend to lean on the slow side, however, they still have strong beats and restricted rhythms. This is okay; medium-paced songs are the most comfortable to listen to.

• Forgettable verses. I'm sorry! Even a good album has its flaws. Tegomass no Seishun, while giving an impression of nostalgia, has this forgettable atmosphere snooping in its corners:

- The simplicity, or what-I-am-pointing-out-throughout-the-whole-review. "Simple is boring" for some, so if you're into intense songs, this album is worth a try but you might just put it in your lullaby playlist.
- Lacks hook, lacks catch. If not for my eagerness probably I still can't recognize the songs one by one. The chorus of the tracks are fairly easy to remember, but the verses are not. At some point they sounded identical.


**The above is my general comment for Tegomass no Seishun album, so some of the statements might be applied to certain tracks only.**

Song by song comments:

01 Aoiro Juvenile (Soshoku Juvenile)
The first song in the album is a feel-good song that obviously pertains to youth; thus the light melody. It starts with an acoustic guitar solo and then the bass and other instruments throwing in good measures. The melody was like a faster bossa nova (percussion is a winner!) with a touch of festivity. I can imagine banners or flaglets swayed by the wind~ children running~ and well, Tegomass (LOL). After a trumpet blow came in Tegoshi's voice. Massu wasn't there until the second stanza, and the usual harmonization happened, essentially throughout the song. No falsettos nor belting, as it really is light. At some part in the chorus I remembered Marui Chikara but that's just because of the first few notes in that part. Otherwise, Aoiro Juvenile is simply feel-good.

02 Harumeki
This I think has resemblance to TMnM's Yuuyake to Koi to Jitensha. But this has prominent strings (violins, etc) while Yuuyake has prominent electric guitar sound. Don't get me wrong, Harumeki has guitars too but comparing to Yuuyake, the guitar's prominence is relatively low. They have same key signatures (E♭ major), piano ornaments, and aggressive attack by Tegomass in every line. This is an upbeat, energetic song, telling the signs of spring. Oh, so the perfect song for Aries zodiac sign!

03 Itsuka no Machi
A mid tempo pop-rock song, it's the first 'slow' song in the album. Guitar is the primary accompaniment. I first noted Massu's falsetto here, though he has some falsettos in Harumeki he has better delivery in this one. Actually I think this is Massu's best song in the album. His voice just fits in right in this track.

04 DONUTS
One may think this comes from a musical. I can't even distinguish what genre it belongs to. Jazz? Or not? But obviously it isn't the same with everything else in the album. First, no guitars. Second, the dominance of back-up singers. Third, the 50's/60's sound. I don't know how to analyze this song technically, but the song is definitely beautiful, a sanguine, 'mature love song'. Read the lyric translation and you'll get what I mean.

05 Fantajia
TMnM-style melody, no doubt! Now I'm wondering if this is a left-over from the previous album. Nevertheless, I love this song. It has a strong rhythm balanced by the rippling melodic flow. From a dramatic piano intro to a slightly subdued vocal inset, to a dramatic chorus again. This song speaks of a lost love after a 'magical' encounter, so you can hear melancholy and the fantasia aspect present at full length. Their blending here is a personal favorite.

06 Time Machine
Mid tempo pop-rock just like Itsuka no Machi but this one's slower. What's notable in this song is the whole solo parts of Tegoshi and Massu in the verses--they only harmonize at the chorus. That way we get to hear them 'solo' here. In addition, prominent is the thing Tegoshi rarely does: sing the lower harmony (in the second chorus). Simply put, we get to hear Tegomass changing positions, which is also as flawless as their usual positions in their songs! Many people who had listened to this album love Time Machine because of all the tracks this is the most nostalgic--not only in terms of the lyrics, but also the music. Hence the perfect title.

07 Sayonara ni Sayonara
A catchy pop-RnB song. I said catchy and I mean it. Despite being medium-paced just like most of the songs, Sayonra ni Sayonara is a good hook, attributing to the RnB genre. It's a melodious song that doesn't go much to high or low notes, it keeps its range in the middle C octave. Not to mention its key signature is indeed C major!

08 Shounen ~Re:Story~
A slow prelude by Tegoshi along soft strums of acoustic guitar, and when his voice mellowed a bit a percussion roll took over and the song instantly boosts up speed. The acoustic sound was replaced by electric guitar riffs. Then Massu started with light energy and it continues to Tegoshi's part again to a falsetto-filled chorus catch (though Massu tends to use his chest voice). It has an abrupt ending but also has a surprise acoustic sound as a conclusion. In fact it's too much of a surprise that I thought what I heard wasn't in the song! It's totally random, but no worries, no big deal.

09 innocence
Another odd one out of the tracks. Doesn't sound nostalgic at all, has lots of funk and playful, danceable synths. But what amazed me here are the guitar parts that aren't necessary in the song but they're in anyway; amazingly it's a plus edge to the song. Some people find innocence as their instant favorite in the album. If it's to compare to a previous TM song, I find it similar to Highway or What's Going On?. This song fulfills the needed variety in the album.

10 Neko Chuudoku
A Japanese adaptation of De Wereld Wordt Gered by Dutch duo Speelman & Speelman, a song about cat addiction and is awesomely released on my birthday. I have a theory that this song was the way for Tegomass to think of the 'youth' concept for their next album. Music-wise, I won't say much because the music isn't originally theirs. What do I think of the adaptation though... It's fresh, very neat, smooth, and they sound like boys. Not men; boys. (This is a positive remark! Neko Chuudoku is something not adult men usually sing, right?)

11 Iro Ayazakana Kimi ga Egaku Asu no e (Iro Azayakana Kimi ga Kaku Ashita no e)
One word: rodeo. Yes I think of ranches, cowboys and hay. A fast-tempo country song sung in pure Tegomass style, complimenting the violins gracefully sliding its tune. I totally enjoyed the "Hiroku hikaru" part in the chorus, also the part where they were singing in unison then branching out only in the last syllable. The guitars are present again, particularly in the prelude before the last chorus. An enjoyable song, and if you're into the sound of collaborating strings and electric guitars this is absolutely a listen.

12 Hikari
This track's got the PV! The first time I heard this song I wasn't impressed enough. I find it similar to not just one Tegomass track, but many (and I conclude that TM's favorite key signature is D major. LOL). In spite of its typicality, Hikari is an amazing track to include in the album; it's serenity and simplicity fits the seishun theme anew.

13 Kireigoto
I love this song although it's not my favorite. This is where Tegomass breaks out from the standard restriction in terms of vocal range in the album. In contrast to its acoustic base the melodic and harmonic lines were experimented, elaborated and expanded. Also evident in this song are the frequent shifts from chest voice to head voice. This song is a great proof of Tegomass' musicality.

14 Tsuki no Tomodachi
Are you sure this is a Tegomass song? From the intro up to the end it sounds not Tegomass at all. It actually reminds me of Koyashige songs, especially Murarisuto, and even a little of Kanjani8. Like Hikari, I did not approve of this song at first (not because it sounds like Koyashige or Eito or something but because I can't associate the genre with TM). Yet, I grew to like it because of it's quirkiness. Besides, it's written by Tegomass themselves.

Songs ranking:

After a week of non-stop listening to these songs I've come up with a ranking!
Except for Sayonara ni Sayonara and Neko Chuudoku, here is my ranking, in ascending order (12 to 1)

#12 Shounen ~Re:Story~
#11 Tsuki no Tomodachi
#10 Itsuka no Machi
#9 innocence
#8 Aoiro Juvenile
#7 Hikari
#6 Time Machine
#5 Harumeki
#4 Iro Azayakana Kimi ga Egaku Asu no e
#3 Kireigoto
#2 Fantajia
#1 DONUTS

It's no surprise that two of the tracks that sound like coming from Tegomass no Mahou (Fantajia and Harumeki) are included in my top 5. I love the mahou feel, fyi. ♪ As for DONUTS and Iro Azayakana Kimi ga Egaku Asu no e, they both make me high and even happily delusional! With DONUTS, I'm in a musical. In Iro Azayakana, I'm at a farm. Kireigoto is just fantastic, it's just ♥!! and Tegoshi's voice is so heavenly~

Album rating: ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ / four lovely eighth notes out of 5!

Download the album (including the PV and the making in one) go to rockthecliche, track-by-track download is at finay, and if you just want to listen go here @ addictdesu. For the lyrics and translations, go to aitamashii :)