T is Tohoshinki’s third Japanese album released on 2008.01.23. It came in three different versions, a limited CD and DVD version, a limited 2CD and DVD version (which also came with a photobook) and a regular CD only.
Skip to: Main Tracklist | CD Version Only Bonus Tracks | 2CD+2DVD Version Bonus Tracks
The first track, Trick, is totally weird- yet for some strange reason has become one of my favourite tracks on the album. It starts with some talking and someone gasping (lol) then has some weird brass before breaking out into the catchy “break a trick” chorus, followed by some off-key and odd sounding rap (the strange sounding rap is repeated a lot). Then a Michael Jackson sounding bit with annoying whiny background… really this is one strange track. HOWEVER I love how the main chorus is sung. That’s the one normal bit and one of the reasons I love the song. Other reasons to love it are that it’s a catchy dance track, which isn’t half bad when you get past how strange it is. Blending synth and electric guitars, it has a lot of attitude and a darker feeling to it. The boys sound beautiful as usual, lending all the emotion to the song and driving the song forward. It’s a fast paced and catchy opening that grabs the listeners’ attention well.
Moving on to the next track, No?. Something in me wants to hate “No?” yet, I really like it. It’s a laid back RnB number with a smooth and sexy feel. DBSK showcase their really nice vocals here, adding emotion and a romantic feeling to it and sounding very mature and sexy. The chorus is very light and the English lyrics are suggestive, backing the sensual feel of the instrumentation. I do find it gets a little boring though; it’s more easy listening in the background than anything more.
No is followed by Purple line. I LOVE this song (although I blame it for getting me into the boy band scene in a way that not even rising sun could do). The song opens with a heavy beat and synth, and at first the first verse annoyed me, but it’s grown on me. What still makes me laugh is the lyrics “I really want to touch myself” among others. However, this is a very (insanely) catchy dance track with a very heavy beat and a darker feeling to it. Once again, there are gorgeous and sexy vocals too. I think they were aiming for a sexier, more RnB influenced rising sun here: and they achieved it. This is an edgy, synth filled dance track driven by good vocals and a heavy beat. It is one of the best tracks on the album.
After “Purple line” the album tones down for a pretty RnB influenced ballad, Forever love. It opens with soft and tender vocals, backed by simple piano chords building up slowly in instrumentation and emotion. The chorus is very sudden, but comes in perfectly adding just the right amount of power to the song. It is absolutely stunning. Tohoshinki have gorgeous vocals, and they always put a lot of emotion into it- really bringing out the emotion of the song. The song still has the RnB beat but also some strings, piano and synth. The instrumentation is really lovely and compliments the vocals. I love the different dynamics too and the way the song varies throughout. The song is a mature and romantic ballad combining pretty instrumentation and stunning vocals.
Next up is Summer dream- which is a upbeat, sugary summer tune. Of course, it’s catchy and the vocals are good. And, there are again sexual undertones like in purple line. It’s OK; a very fun and relaxing pop song. I like the use of the electric guitar. Another upbeat RnB track with sensual feeling, Ride on, follows. The song has a very heavy beat, and a very sexy feeling. I love the breathy vocals and the ad-libbing. It’s so extremely sexy.
Then it’s DARKNESS EYES. It got me with that opening the first time I heard it and it still moves me. It’s so beautiful, touching and emotional. The combination of the familiar laid back RnB beat, and various synth is really beautiful and compliments Tohoshinki’s vocals, which carry a lot of the emotion as per usual (the rap also fits in perfectly and sounds just right). The instrumentation is gorgeous too: the synth strings especially add a rather dramatic feel to it like it’s from some kind of movie OST. I also love the effects, like the background vocals. Overall it’s a soft and laid-back RnB number that manages to be mature, dark and sad. It’s a beautiful and relaxing song to listen to and there is something almost comforting about it.
After DARKNESS EYES we go back to the Ballads with Lovin’ you . Compared to Forever Love it’s pretty upbeat, with some very odd and twinkling synth and a good beat. I love the strings and guitar instrumental break before the bridge. The vocals are lovely, quite breathy and very soft and sincere. The song builds up nicely to a lovely, light-hearted and airy chorus with some rather ethereal vocals. The backing vocals really compliment the main singer too. It’s a very pretty, soft and light ballad. I love how it’s not a typical, boring ballad but goes through a lot of variation, and has so much emotion to make it very interesting. It’s strange though how it starts so upbeat, but the ending it pretty bittersweet.
Next is Rainbow and it’s oh so cheesy- but one listen and it’s stuck. Man, the chorus… It’s so catchy. The song has a bit of an RnB beat, and has a lot of synth. It has quite a sexy and laid-back feeling to it. I love how they sing it- there’s a great tone and emotion to their voices. This is a lovely, easy to listen to type of track. It’s like the opposite of Darkness eyes, with a more hopeful feel. It’s so good and light hearted- it really makes me smile : )
After Rainbow we’re back to the upbeat pop numbers. First is Last angel. I have not heard the original duet, so I cannot compare but I quite like this version. It has a very heavy RnB beat, and a rather sexy feeling to it. It’s an edgy dance track with a lot of attitude. The composition is very dark and gritty with frantic synth strings and even a grungy guitar part as well as a heavy beat. There’s a bit of strange synth in there though. This is a strange song, that is listenable… but there’s something wrong about it that can’t be placed. Not something I would really listen to- although I do like the dark and sexy feeling to it.
So, on to CLAP which I detest. Such a weird opening, that repeats too frequently. Ugh.
Back to ballads with Love in the ice- and this one is really pretty. This follows the formula for a ballad, but yet it manages to sound totally unique. It has a very beautiful piano part, as well as some very atmospheric strings. I think the vocals are gorgeous and the emotion put in really makes this ballad shine. Right from the “ahs” to the soft and tender verses, to the wonderful and sincere chorus. It breaks my heart. The ending is where the song shines, building up to that wonderful bridge where the two parts are overlaid. It’s stunning, emotional with gorgeous vocals and instrumentation- especially that piano part. The sheer emotion and power of this one ballad is outstanding. It’s so sweet and romantic, with the most beautiful lyrics. I cried listening to this (well, watching them perform it). I still do sometimes.
Lastly it’s the bonus track- Together. This is an RnB dance number reliant on a lot of synth and some interesting use of backing vocals. It’s has a very happy and hopeful feeling to it, and smooth vocals from Tohoshinki. So a very relaxing track to listen to with nice feeling. I really like the happy upbeat feeling, and the chorus with the English “let’s get together” really makes it. This really is a nice track and a good note to end the album on.
Overall Rating: 9/10 (Great. Recommended)
Favourite Tracks: Purple Line, DARKNESS EYES, Love in the Ice
Overall there are some really good tracks, some average tracks and some very odd yet good ones. It’s not a bad album really. It presents some wonderful tracks, which balance out those that aren’t as good. I also think with such a variety of tracks there is something in it to appeal to everyone. There are hot dance numbers, a variety of ballads, some more pop tunes etc. Tohoshinki sing really well too, and their voices blend beautifully. This album has a very mature feeling to it, totally not what I was expecting the first time I listened. One noticeable flaw is that there is no real flow to this album, it starts and flicks around genres and whatnot. But regardless of these flaws, this is a good album well worth listening to.
The bonus CD is mainly centred on Ballads, both upbeat and slow. The bonus disk opens with the upbeat ballad Song for You. Song for you features beautiful, heartfelt vocals and brilliant arrangement. It’s really beautiful. The next track is Day Moon ～ハルダル～. This track has a strange opening with thunder that soon goes to the main arrangement. This ballad is a little slower, with RnB influence. I love the blend of the strings and the strong RnB beat. Once again, there are gorgeous and emotional vocals too. Much like the track before it the song has good instrumentation and vocals which combine for a beautiful feeling, and make the tracks beautiful and relaxing to listen to.
Beautiful life is the exception for it is not a ballad. This song was originally the second track on Rising Sun but this is the Japanese version. It is still much the same though: a very smooth and laid-back RnB ballad which drags on a little at some point, and doesn’t quite stand out as anything special compared to the tracks before it.
The 4th ballad You’re my miracle is the Japanese version of the same track features on their third album O. It’s upbeat, sparkly and romantic. Once again, there is excellent use of strings and brilliant vocals. The last track Kissしたまま、さよなら is the painful, heartbreaking sort of ballad. Starting extremely quietly with simple piano chords, it builds up and becomes more complex with strings coming in to add to the sorrowful mood of the song. Yet the strings fade away, leaving just vocals and piano. In this way it is almost like one of their accapela tracks. Tohoshinki really do shine here, their beautiful and sincere vocals just completing the sad and hopeless feel to the song. My favourite part would be the haunting chorus, just the beautiful higher vocals gloating over piano chords. There are many other parts where they show off their powerful vocals to great effect though. Overall it’s a painful song…but beautiful and haunting.
Overall Rating: 8/8 (Great. Recommended)
Favourite Tracks: Song for You, You’re my miracle, Kissしたまま、さよなら
This CD is a nice listen and I’m sad that even though I ordered the 2CD version they ran out before I could get one. There are a variety of different styled ballads here and apart from Beautiful life, which is a bit “meh” they are all rather lovely. The instrumentation, the arrangement, and the vocals are all wonderful- so there are some quality ballads and pop oriented tunes here.
There are also a few accapella tracks stuck in as CD only bonus’. The first is Forever Love, and the accapella version is very soft and really emotional. It’s quite beautiful and Tohoshinki really show off their beautiful voices, and just how well they blend their vocals together. It’s a very relaxing version of an originally beautiful ballad. The Deep water mix of Lovin’ you is like an acoustic version almost. It has a heavy beat blended with a beautiful acoustic guitar part. Again, the vocals are beautiful and emotional. This remix is let down by a very weird synth sound, in the background which is really distracting and takes away a lot of the beauty of this remix. 
rating: 2/3
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