Post by molotov889 on Aug 14, 2005 15:39:07 GMT -5
As promised, my extensive (and possibly too much so) review of Globe 2. I really do encourage everyone to give this album a try, as it is not only a great album, but in some sense represents a significant moment in the history of JPop.
Love Goes On:[/u]
This is a very up-beat song with lots of great drumwork, pushing the feeling of the song. This is that song at a concert that everyone will be standing up, jumping with the beat as they sing along. Also, from this song, you realize that Marc is back to being more lyrical with his rap for the entirety of this album. First off, I love the chorus for this song. What I really like about this song, though, is the way even the instruments seem like they’re expressing the hope of the idea “love goes on.” I did keep expecting this song to explode a lot more than it did, but it still has plenty of excitement for what Globe seemed to be trying to express.
Expectation:[/u]
This song sort of reminds me of the more experimental rock songs from Outernet, and I think that was sort of their aim. This song, however, is extremely more dynamic than any song on Outernet. It transitions between a slightly punk beat (with Keiko and Marc even screaming at points), a harder rock beat, and a more introspective and quiet pop/trance song, and back without any glitches. I love the part towards the middle where Marc is rapping ridiculously fast in the background and Keiko is sort of going through the chorus in the foreground. Overall, this song is very funky and fun.
Back 2 Be:[/u]
By this point in the album, you start realizing something about the concept that was achieved. More than simply being an album with songs similar to their old style and songs similar to their new style, every song in itself gives this dynamic. This song is a perfect example as it oscillates between background guitars and background synths, sometimes having both at the same time. This is one of the slower songs on the album, which really isn’t that slow at all. Really, it’s just the feeling that the plodding beat gives.
Here I Am:[/u]
What starts off sounding like it will be a slow ballad really turns into a great upbeat song. However, from reading the translated lyrics, I’ve found that the message of this song isn’t quite as happy as the sound would seem to indicate. More like a song of hope for the future, despite the solace of the current situation, which it still holds onto. But I find that to be true in a lot of Jpop. The ending of this song is beautiful, with a synth/guitar sound almost like a bagpipe that sounds like it’s a memoir to someone or something.
Lost:[/u]
Like Love Goes On, this song expresses its emotions through more than the lyrics. The halting nature of the rhythm in this song really goes well with the idea of being lost. Keiko’s singing of the bridges in this song thus turns out to sound almost like she’s rapping. Again, the combination of rock-style guitars and synth in this track is just incredible. This is one song that I would love to have the instrumental version of.
Asian Night:[/u]
Every time I hear this song, I can’t help but think of The Box and Biting Her Nails. Especially from Keiko’s rapping in this song. The feeling of this song to me is pretty dark, almost a feeling of exploring the more questionable sides of a city’s nightlife. Almost like you shouldn’t be listening to the song. Which I think they’re trying to do, as the chorus seems to be discussing a foreigner’s (to them) unsure need to explore Asian culture.
Goodbye Now:[/u]
This song is an interesting mix of heavy trance rhythms and a predominant acoustic guitar and keyboard. It is also the only song on the album where Marc raps in French. As most of the songs on this album, parts of the chorus are pretty catchy and will stick in your head. This song sort of has an unfinished feel to it, though. More like it’s just an interlude song than a song to stand on its own.
Feel Like The Wind:[/u]
The chorus for this song really is very pretty, and blends trance rhythms with a piano in the foreground, which it actually does for much of the song. Like the rest of the songs on this album, I wouldn’t exactly place it among the songs of Level 4 as far as level of trance, but rather, it represents a step forward from that album.
Judgement:[/u]
I love this song. Even though it is spelled incorrectly. =P It starts off with a chorus just chanting very melodically, and moves into the rock beat, with Marc providing a somewhat eerie background vocal. Keiko reaches particularly high notes in this song, and rather successfully. And she sings at these high notes for parts of the song that continue for quite a long time. They are further reinforced during the chorus by a driving beat and TK’s high trance melodies. Like Expectation, this song is extremely dynamic, moving through styles, rhythms, and overall feelings smoothly. In particular I love Marc’s bridge as he raps to an electric guitar rhythm. This may be my favorite song on the album.
Shift:[/u]
First off, this song surprised me, because Keiko actually says mother f***er at the opening, although it’s bleeped out. Beyond that though, this song also starts with an acoustic guitar rhythm that sounds sort of like a medieval song. After the opening verse, though, it moves to the chorus with an electric guitar leading Keiko through melodies. The medieval sound returns though, and guides Marc through his rapping. It’s sort of got a back-and-forth feeling to it, overall, especially in Keiko’s chorus.
See The Next Page:[/u]
This is an instrumental track by TK. This is the only pure trance track on the album, and is very good. It gives a sense of flying, really, in my opinion. I really like it, but I wish it was longer. Maybe an extended version will be available in the future.
Overall, I like this album a lot. I think my favorites are Love Goes On, Expectation, Lost, Asian Night, and Judgement; Judgement is my favorite overall. I don’t think that this album is better than my favorite Globe album (Lights 2), but it will probably become one of my favorites as I listen to it more and more. As described before, this album is much more than a collection of songs that, taken together, represent Globe’s past influences. Every song on this album does that in its own right. And every song really is so incredibly dynamic that you will continuously be surprised with their progressions as you listen for the first time. It really does show how Globe has mastered, and are leaders in, their art.
Love Goes On:[/u]
This is a very up-beat song with lots of great drumwork, pushing the feeling of the song. This is that song at a concert that everyone will be standing up, jumping with the beat as they sing along. Also, from this song, you realize that Marc is back to being more lyrical with his rap for the entirety of this album. First off, I love the chorus for this song. What I really like about this song, though, is the way even the instruments seem like they’re expressing the hope of the idea “love goes on.” I did keep expecting this song to explode a lot more than it did, but it still has plenty of excitement for what Globe seemed to be trying to express.
Expectation:[/u]
This song sort of reminds me of the more experimental rock songs from Outernet, and I think that was sort of their aim. This song, however, is extremely more dynamic than any song on Outernet. It transitions between a slightly punk beat (with Keiko and Marc even screaming at points), a harder rock beat, and a more introspective and quiet pop/trance song, and back without any glitches. I love the part towards the middle where Marc is rapping ridiculously fast in the background and Keiko is sort of going through the chorus in the foreground. Overall, this song is very funky and fun.
Back 2 Be:[/u]
By this point in the album, you start realizing something about the concept that was achieved. More than simply being an album with songs similar to their old style and songs similar to their new style, every song in itself gives this dynamic. This song is a perfect example as it oscillates between background guitars and background synths, sometimes having both at the same time. This is one of the slower songs on the album, which really isn’t that slow at all. Really, it’s just the feeling that the plodding beat gives.
Here I Am:[/u]
What starts off sounding like it will be a slow ballad really turns into a great upbeat song. However, from reading the translated lyrics, I’ve found that the message of this song isn’t quite as happy as the sound would seem to indicate. More like a song of hope for the future, despite the solace of the current situation, which it still holds onto. But I find that to be true in a lot of Jpop. The ending of this song is beautiful, with a synth/guitar sound almost like a bagpipe that sounds like it’s a memoir to someone or something.
Lost:[/u]
Like Love Goes On, this song expresses its emotions through more than the lyrics. The halting nature of the rhythm in this song really goes well with the idea of being lost. Keiko’s singing of the bridges in this song thus turns out to sound almost like she’s rapping. Again, the combination of rock-style guitars and synth in this track is just incredible. This is one song that I would love to have the instrumental version of.
Asian Night:[/u]
Every time I hear this song, I can’t help but think of The Box and Biting Her Nails. Especially from Keiko’s rapping in this song. The feeling of this song to me is pretty dark, almost a feeling of exploring the more questionable sides of a city’s nightlife. Almost like you shouldn’t be listening to the song. Which I think they’re trying to do, as the chorus seems to be discussing a foreigner’s (to them) unsure need to explore Asian culture.
Goodbye Now:[/u]
This song is an interesting mix of heavy trance rhythms and a predominant acoustic guitar and keyboard. It is also the only song on the album where Marc raps in French. As most of the songs on this album, parts of the chorus are pretty catchy and will stick in your head. This song sort of has an unfinished feel to it, though. More like it’s just an interlude song than a song to stand on its own.
Feel Like The Wind:[/u]
The chorus for this song really is very pretty, and blends trance rhythms with a piano in the foreground, which it actually does for much of the song. Like the rest of the songs on this album, I wouldn’t exactly place it among the songs of Level 4 as far as level of trance, but rather, it represents a step forward from that album.
Judgement:[/u]
I love this song. Even though it is spelled incorrectly. =P It starts off with a chorus just chanting very melodically, and moves into the rock beat, with Marc providing a somewhat eerie background vocal. Keiko reaches particularly high notes in this song, and rather successfully. And she sings at these high notes for parts of the song that continue for quite a long time. They are further reinforced during the chorus by a driving beat and TK’s high trance melodies. Like Expectation, this song is extremely dynamic, moving through styles, rhythms, and overall feelings smoothly. In particular I love Marc’s bridge as he raps to an electric guitar rhythm. This may be my favorite song on the album.
Shift:[/u]
First off, this song surprised me, because Keiko actually says mother f***er at the opening, although it’s bleeped out. Beyond that though, this song also starts with an acoustic guitar rhythm that sounds sort of like a medieval song. After the opening verse, though, it moves to the chorus with an electric guitar leading Keiko through melodies. The medieval sound returns though, and guides Marc through his rapping. It’s sort of got a back-and-forth feeling to it, overall, especially in Keiko’s chorus.
See The Next Page:[/u]
This is an instrumental track by TK. This is the only pure trance track on the album, and is very good. It gives a sense of flying, really, in my opinion. I really like it, but I wish it was longer. Maybe an extended version will be available in the future.
Overall, I like this album a lot. I think my favorites are Love Goes On, Expectation, Lost, Asian Night, and Judgement; Judgement is my favorite overall. I don’t think that this album is better than my favorite Globe album (Lights 2), but it will probably become one of my favorites as I listen to it more and more. As described before, this album is much more than a collection of songs that, taken together, represent Globe’s past influences. Every song on this album does that in its own right. And every song really is so incredibly dynamic that you will continuously be surprised with their progressions as you listen for the first time. It really does show how Globe has mastered, and are leaders in, their art.
