Japan's major label avex is also a player, but in a unique way. As a label they represent some of the biggest names in J-Pop, including several groups from the agencies mentioned above, but they are also an agency of their own, fostering groups such as top co-ed act AAA. Male dance and vocal group Da-iCE is one of their latest additions to their a-nation, and a personal favorite of mine. The group follows a format similar to EXILE's where only a few of the members are actually vocalists-- in Da-iCE's case, Sota and Yudai-- while the other members-- Taiki, Toru, and Hayate-- lead dance performance. Their style is also very strong for both the Japanese and international markets. Unlike many Japanese performers, they do have videos available on Youtube, including dance practice shots and live previews, and they sing in a broader style meant to appeal to various audiences. They also have some pretty neat English versions of some of their singles, which you can check out if you invest in the hard copies of their music.
I've been a fan of this group since their pre-debut EP, and I've been eagerly awaiting a full-length album ever since. How did these talented rookies do? Let's take a look:
Fight Back: The album starts off with the title track, which in my opinion, is probably the catchiest new track off the album. Yudai's traditionally smooth delivery pairs perfectly with Sota's high and unique vocal tone, so no matter how different they are in nature, their vocals still sound like they belong in the same group together. One of my favorite aspects of Da-iCE's music is how energizing it is, so this song kicks off their first album perfectly and is well-worthy of being the title track.
Shout it Out: As this was released as the group's first official single, most listeners are probably already familiar with it, but it's still worth plenty more listens when you pick up the album. It's a fun and enjoyable dance single that's catchy and incredibly hooky, so even if you aren't a native speaker, there's still plenty of parts to sing along with, especially the infectious background "oh-oh-oh-oh-oh." Yudai and Sota are both fantastic at hitting high notes, too, so even in their more poppy singles, there are still plenty of moments to be impressed by their skills as singers.
BOMB: BOMB is another dance number, one that I could actually imagine playing in an actual club, if clubs in America actually played Asian music (I can dream, can't I?) The slight dubstep and pulsing electro beats make it very simply to groove to, and though I have a greater fondness for their more lyrically meaningful songs like "FIVE" and "TOKI," this one is still a personal favorite from the album given how well they pull of the club style in their performance. It's a talent AAA also shares, so it makes perfect sense the Da-iCE got their start touring as performers with their sempai labelmates.
Noise: Noise immediately starts off on a different note with some smooth funk-style elements, already making it a fresh stretch from the earlier tracks. Yudai and Sota accordingly get to showcase different styles as singers in this track, with a smoother and cleaner delivery (and some delicious falsetto). I really enjoyed the chill instrumentation of this track as well, which made it an overall relaxing number to listen to.
TOKI: This is the song that took me from a casual listener of Da-iCE to a dedicated fan, so I honestly don't feel like I can say enough about the track. Lyrically, it's one of Da-iCE's best, and it perfectly blends ballad-like sensibilities to showcase the vocal line's talents while at the same time sneaking in dance beats for Taiki, Toru, and Hayate to perform to (and how!). Whenever Yudai or Sota hits their "stand up" lines in the pre-chorus, I get shivers all over. Their level of control is fantastic, and I enjoy the way they divide their lines so the songs is almost perfectly shared between the two and they both have plenty of high notes of their own. The English version of this song is also well done, and though I prefer the Japanese version, they arguably have a good grasp on pronunciation, which may very well come in handy if they work to become global performers.
Hush Hush: As "TOKI" was what fueled my obsession for this group, I had very high expectations when "Hush Hush" came out as their next single, and it quickly sealed the deal regarding my love for this group (other than when they said the artist they most wanted to work with was Tohoshinki, my everlasting love). Like "Shout it Out," "Hush Hush" is incredibly infectious, plus it has a lot of fun moments-- the pre-chorus, the "Hush Hush" part of the chorus, and of course the "dan-di-dan-dan-di-dan" which is hard not to sing along to. There's also a very nice dance break for the performance line, so be sure to watch the video so you can remind yourself of the visuals when listening to the track.
Did you know: From here, Da-iCE shifts into a more R&B style song. Vocally, it's a great listen, but it isn't quite as memorable as their other tracks (perhaps because the "did you know, did you know" part calls to mind "Digital digital get down" by NSYNC, and that gets stuck in my head instead... which is probably a stretch, I know, but that's how my brain works). It's a pretty song and I like the lyrics, but it's not one of the top songs from the album.
Stay: For a slower paced number, I much prefer "Stay," which is a memorable listen and also does very well vocally. I would argue that they don't really need as many back-beats as the song has, and that the piano instrumentation with minimal support could have carried the song, but at the same time I understand that the number is choreographed for their live stages, and the dance beats give Taiki, Toru, and Hayate room to showcase their own abilities. All the same, it's a beautiful song and very flattering to Yudai and Sota's style.
I still love you: This song moves onto full-fledged ballad territory by factoring out the dance back beats we've been hearing thus far, and it falls around right where it should on the album, before things pump back up for the finale. If I have any complaint, I would have preferred there to be more moments when Yudai and Sota are actually harmonizing with each other, but other than that, it's a strong ballad track for a largely dance album.
Startin' Up: Here we have another familiar track with one of the B-Sides from "Hush Hush," which I was initially a bit miffed to see since B-Sides to me are the main incentive to buy singles instead of only purchasing albums, but since "Hush Hush" also had the vocally flawless "You & I," I suppose that still remains incentive enough. "You & I" was the song I technically preferred of the two, but "Startin' Up" is also a strong dance number. Compared to many of their other dance tracks, the dance beats are understated during the verses, making this song a fair blend of vocals and get-you-pumped-up elements that will have you dancing.
LOST LOVE: Talk about a great closer! "LOST LOVE" pumps up the vocals for a track that it diverse and shows just how much this group has to offer. You've got power vocals, instrumentation that opens up for a short guitar break (which I love), and passionate message that will touch your heart. It's a beautiful piece, and a great way to end the album on the right note.
Given that this was a debut album, I'm going to put this in the A range. It's a fun listen with both stand out dance tracks and beautiful ballad, and Yudai and Sota's voices are simply a joy to listen. Of course, you can't get much out of the remaining members on the album because they take purely performance roles, so I can only hope that avex is serious about using Da-iCE to branch out to a broad audience. Thus far, their live DVD is region locked, so I'm eager for there to be an alternate version so listeners can better familiarize themselves with Hayate, Toru, and Taiki as well. Overall? A great album and a must-buy for fans of male Japanese pop.
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