This is Dong Bang Shin Ki’s second album released in Korea on 14.09.2005.

Opening with Tonight which sounds like a live version with the spoken opening, along with some beautiful adlibbing. It’s a pretty romantic ballad with that slight RnB beat that can be expected by now. The song has a lovely feeling to it too. It features some very pretty instrumentation that mainly stays in the background, allowing DBSK’s stunning vocals to shine. DBSK really show off their vocals in this song, with some beautiful long notes, adlibbing and whatnot (I also love the spoken parts in the song- it’s incredibly sexy). Overall it’s a lovely relaxing song to start the album off- and definitely worth a listen just to see how powerful and absolutely beautiful DBSK’s voices are.

Next up is Beautiful Life which would later feature on their Japanese album T. This opens with some rather sleazy instrumental and an RnB beat. Again the spoken introduction to the song before the song really gets going, the instrumental toning down a bit and the song developing to be a rather smooth RnB number where once again DBSK’s beautiful vocals really bring out the best in the song. It’s a very smooth and laid-back RnB ballad and although it doesn’t stand out as anything special, and especially drags towards the end, it’s still quite lovely to listen to. DBSKs’ vocals are stunning…

The album picks up after two ballads for the hot dance number Rising Sun. It’s so catchy yet at the same time filled with so much emotion. This really is a gorgeous song with a brilliant darker, angstier edge to it. The electronic instrumentation and the distorted screams along with the heavy beat is pure genius, and the vocals continue to be impressive. The rapping, those screams and the singing build a fantastic, dark and angry atmosphere. All the electronic effects only add to the effect. I love all the variations the song goes through, constantly shifting in mood and sound. The lyrics are great too: “Be like me. My heart is filled with a growing Innocence. Like a flame burning brightly, Like the last radiant sunset (I’m) waiting for Rising Sun” This is a signature DBSK tune, and definitely one of their best. I really do love this song (Check out the PV too!! ^^)

After such a hot dance number the album goes back to ballads with 바보 Unforgettable. On saying that it is a lot more melancholic than what has been presented so far. It is a beautiful song with sincere and beautiful vocals and simple but good instrumentation. The song doesn’t really stand out, but it’s pretty and calming to listen to. Again, the song is saved from total boredom by DBSK’s stunning vocals.

Track 5 내거 허락할 테니(Love is never gone) has a very interesting opening, starting very quietly. It builds up and yeah….it’s a ballad with nice instrumentation and gorgeous vocals. This ballad in particular has a lovely feel to it- pretty hopeful and upbeat. The beat gets really repetitive for this though and it really does feel kind of boring.

Following is Love after Love which is a slightly more up-tempo RnB number with that darker edge to it. The song really shines by the time it gets the chorus; I really like the sound and the feeling of the song. It’s a lot more interesting than any of the songs since Rising Sun. The rapping is really sexy too. I think this song definitely has a kind of sexy feeling to it and I like it.

Then comes another hot dance number with that dark angry edge much like Rising Sun- Dangerous Mind. I love the electronic effects and the heavy beat as well as the beautiful vocals from DBSK. The rapping and the way they exaggerate at points is really cool. Also love the distortion on their voices at points. There’s slight attack of engrish in there- but it’s not too noticeable. The guitar part is pretty damn cool and really adds to the gritty darker feel of the song. It’s very strong, attitude filled dance number with some very interesting effects and an overall darker, mature feel.

Next is One which is a bittersweet ballad with very beautiful instrumentation and vocals. Ok, it’s another ballad but it’s got some really interesting instrumentation, lots of different variations and a great deal of power and emotion that makes it all very dramatic and lovely to listen to (not to mention, actually interesting). I love the piano and the strings. The chorus borders on cheesy but it’s not too cheesy- just a little sudden at first. I adore the bridge, especially those strings and the vocals. The ending with the adlibbing is gorgeous too. The song feels all dramatic and emotional and overall it’s just really beautiful. Once more, DBSK’s powerful and emotional vocals contribute to its awesomeness.

After such a bittersweet song comes Love is… which is an upbeat, hopeful love song. I do like the beat, and the vocals are beautiful too. It’s beautiful and relaxing to listen to, but is another track that doesn’t really stand out much.

Track 10 is Free your mind…remember TRI-ANGLE? Well, we have an even preachier one here. OK, the actual song isn’t too bad. It’s got some awesome rock instrumentation and a real gritty, angry feeling to it. All the shouting at the beginning can get annoying, but the actual singing is stunning. The rap is hot too. It’s a pretty dark and powerful song, with really nice instrumentation and vocals. “A new world, utopia If we don’t start it, it won’t ever happen Let’s create it together Take on me Just Free your mind ” though? *cue sceptical “Yeah….of course”*

Back to ballads AGAIN with 작은 고백(Your love is all I need). This one has some beautiful instrumentation and a lovely upbeat feel to it. The vocals are beautiful and sincere of course. Then the album ends with the pretty accapella love song 약속했던 그때에(Always There…)…although I’m tired of this album by now it is quite pretty and gives DBSK a chance to showcase their beautiful vocals once more. It’s suitable to end the album like this, when the opening was a similar sort of style with an emphasis on their vocals more than the instrumentation.

Overall rating: 8/10 (Good but let down by weaker tracks)
Favourite Tracks: Tonight, Rising Sun, Love after Love, Dangerous Mind

There are far too many ballads on this album. Most present different feels and emotions, but at the same time they do blend together a lot with but a few ones that stand out. The ballads for the most part are beautiful- but lumping them all together like this is cruelty. Stand out track would be the title track, Rising Sun which is perfection. It manages to be a hot dance number, yet still be mature with a darker, deeper meaning to it. I prefer this over the rather preachy Free your mind. I really hate when groups sing about all this we need to save the world crap. But I won’t go into it. Another stand out was Dangerous Mind, because it was similar to Rising Sun with a darker, mature feel and interesting instrumentation. It’s not a bad album but I can’t help but feel I preferred their debut album, there are certain tracks here and an overall lack of variety that lets this album down.

This is Dong Bang Shin Ki (also known as TVXQ, Dong Bang Shin Gi and their Japanese name Tohoshinki) debut album released on 2004-10-21 in Korea.

I believe starts the album off. It is an OK opening song: a slow ballad with a slight RnB beat. The whole idea of “I believe” is fine (the lyrics are pretty romantic), but sometimes those lines sung sound annoying. The vocals are lovely though, and the song has a good beat and a nice relaxed, romantic feeling to it. Overall the song sounds pretty bland- It isn’t the most unique or stand out track. Although it is definitely saved by the beautiful and sincere vocals which add some good emotion to the song that combined with the decent instrumentation, helps to make it pleasant to listen to.

Next is Thanks to which another ballad but with a slightly more prominent RnB sound. It’s got quite nice instrumentation and the vocals are pretty lovely in the chorus and yeah, they sing sincere. But the song still annoys me. There’s something about this song that really annoys me, I think it’s the chorus where all 5 sing in heavy accents sounding a little whiny and annoying. For me personally, I’m not a fan of this song at all.

Track 3 is performed by DBSK, Boa, and Trax and is definitely interesting. At first I laughed and totally wrote it off but…somehow it grew on me…and grew on me…I began to like it…and finally I kind of love it. TRI-ANGLE is a gritty pop-rock song, leaning heavily towards the heavier rock sound and filled with angry attitude. The lyrics are sometimes preachy and annoying, but other times OK. The instrumentation is interesting, starting with a rather catchy dramatic synth string and other synth sounds (very dark and kind of post-apocalypse sounding) before it switches and introduces the heavy rock part and finally the powerful vocals of DBSK. The song goes through many other changes and variations, all with a prominent darker sound to it. Boa and the TRAX fit in real good to the song and in a way make it. They definitely add something cool to the mix. It really is a cool song, with brilliant instrumentation, vocals and it’s very catchy. There are some weird bits, such as a bit of over-exaggerated singing and the screamo bit which sounds a tiny bit out of place and OTT. Otherwise, it’s a cool song. I love the darker feeling to it. Really, it’s hard not to like it…

An uptempo ballad Will you be my Girlfriend? follows the rather heavy TRI-ANGLE. The instrumentation is very pretty, with a lovely piano part and a good beat. It’s not slow and sad, but rather upbeat and hopeful. The vocals are soft and sincere and totally beautiful. The bridge especially showcases DBSK’s powerful and emotional vocals. I just love how they overlay all the different vocals parts too. Overall this is a very pretty song with gorgeous vocals and instrumentation. Not to mention a wonderful hopeful and romantic feeling to it.

Next is Whatever they say(Acapella version). I’ve never heard the original but this is a nice rendition. As I always mention, DBSK have beautiful vocals and work together well- which really helps in this sort of track. They also keep time very well too. It’s a beautiful and calming accapella track.

Time for a laid-back, sexy RnB track with Million Men which has good instrumentation and brilliant vocals. DBSK make use of their powerful voices, and they present a smoother sexier side of their vocals for this track too. The track is a lot different from anything the album has presented so far- with a much heavier beat, great use of synth and a more prominent “sexy” feel. It’s still pretty catchy with a great feeling to it.

At first track 7 Like Now sounds like it will be a ballad, but it builds up to have a heavy RnB beat yet still retain that sad kind of ballad feel to it. It’s got a lot of emotion and powerful vocals but it feels boring and drags in the middle. It’s not bad at all, but overall it lacks anything interesting about it and quickly gets boring. Even the build up at the end barely saves it from being a rather boring, so-so track. Wait, the ending really is quite pretty ^^.

A lovely piano part starts the next song I never Let Go off, introducing the strings then a soft laidback RnB beat. It’s pretty similar to Like Now, and feels just as boring despite the fact it’s not annoying, not really bad or anything. Just feels like it’s already been done- and I’m bored of it. However the following song Ggomaya is much better. It immediately hooks you with a very nice synth opening, leading to rather smooth vocals from DBSK. The chorus compared to the captivating opening kind of ruins the mood, as it somehow sounds out of place. Ignore the chorus though, or get used to it, and it’s a calming mid-tempo ballad with rather smooth heartfelt vocals and relaxing instrumentation. For the most part DBSK work well together. The one speaking bit is very sexy too.

Track 10 You Always has great instrumentation, which although a little odd maybe is pretty interesting and definitely grabs my attention. The song is pretty upbeat after many ballads, but has a bittersweet feeling to it. The vocals are lovely throughout, very powerful at points and I like the subtle use of adlibbing and I think there’s even a soft rapping part. The chorus compared to certain others, fits in nicely and sounds rather beautiful. It’s a gorgeous song with a wonderful feeling. I love all the interesting variation, and the subtle little effects that totally add to the song.

A rather odd sort of heartbeat song opens number 11, Hug, combined with that RnB beat and some very nice vocals. This is a very well known DBSK song, which I’ve never really properly listened to…woops. It’s a rather nice, laid-back RnB song with a very smooth, romantic feeling and is very interesting how it changes at points. DBSK’s vocals are truly sincere and so powerful at points. Their vocals really make the song, although the instrumentation isn’t bad it sort of fades into the background allowing DBSK to drive the track forward with power and emotion. I really should have listened to this before, cause’ it’s a great track.

Following it is My Little Princess which opens with a smooth RnB beat, synth and some very sexy speaking. It’s a laid-back RnB track with that ballad feeling to it. I don’t find anything real interesting about it, although it’s very relaxing to listen to and of course, it’s DBSK so the vocals are stunning.

Another sexy RnB piece The Way U Are is next. The Sexy RnB beat and vocals and a bit more upbeat sound make this a hot dance track. There’s great use of synth and it has that sexy feeling and catchy beat to it typical to boyband pop/RnB. This is boyband pop/RnB done pretty well though. The vocals are wonderful, changing to suit the RnB sound and sounding pretty damn sexy. The instrumentation is great too. Overall it’s just a really hot RnB dance track.

Lastly is the DBSK version of Tri-Angle. However compared to the original it isn’t quite as good. Boa and TRAX really helped make TRI-ANGLE. This version isn’t bad. It still has that heavy rock sound and all that synth. Just now it’s DBSK on their own. Their voices are powerful enough on their own, although a part of me does miss Boa and TRAX. Overall it’s not much different really…

Overall Rating: 9/10 (Great. Recommended)
Favourite Tracks: TRI-ANGLE, Will you be my Girlfriend?, You Always, Hug, The Way U Are

I’m becoming a huge fan of Dong Bang Shin Ki’s- and their debut album wasn’t bad! Not the best thing ever and definitely had some weaker tracks: but had some real good tracks on it too. Overall it really showed their potential as a rather unique and talented group even though in ways it was far from the polished and mature sound today. Still, this album is promising. The album presents a wide variety of songs, from sexy RnB numbers like “Million Men” and the hotter dance number “The Way U Are”. There’s also soothing ballads, which bore me for the most part but also some rather uptempo and beautiful ballads like “Will you Be my Girlfriend?”. “TRI-ANGLE” has to be the most unique thing on here, being a very heavy rock number. It’s a great title track though. All these genres just prove how versatile DBSK are as a group. On this album none of the tracks are annoying, even if a track isn’t stand out it’s still pleasant to listen to. For sure, it helps the vocals are stunning and always sincere- pretty powerful too. DBSK have shown just how talented they are, and honestly with this sort of album I can say they were off to a good start to their career.

This is the last of the 5 singles involved in the TRICK project released on 2008.03.12. The single features a solo by Hero.

Keyword starts with very weird instrumentation, and this unfortunately lingers however one the beat comes in it’s not bad. The song reveals itself to be a pretty laid-back RnB number sort of a ballad. I love the adlibbing in the beginning and throughout the vocals are really nice. The song feels pretty romantic, sometimes quite sexy. Overall it’s pretty relaxing. However it drags a bit. The instrumentation is OK, got a nice beat and of course the vocals are wonderful but that’s about all it’s got going for it. It’s a pretty average song really. And omg- this is where the gasp from TRICK comes from! lol. So random..

Maze is an amazing soft rock song. The song starts with slow and melancholic synth string before the fast paced, gritty rock instrumentation comes in. Jaejoong comes in and he sounds perfect, his vocals are rich and emotional. I love how raspy he gets sometime. It’s really sexy…umm no it really adds something cool to the song. ^_- The instrumentation really compliments his voice too. It’s a fast and bitter song. I love the lyrics too. My only complaint is they could have given slightly more interesting instrumentation/rhythms, after a while it does sound pretty much the same: however JaeJoong’s vocals are stunning and really suit the genre which saves it from being too boring. He really drives the song forward with his beautiful and emotional vocals. This is one of my favourite songs from the TRICK project.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 (Nice A-side, Awesome B-side)
Favourite Tracks: Maze

This is a pretty good way to end the TRICK project. Keyword was a laid-back RnB number with beautiful vocals and a nice feeling. Maze gets repetitive, but I love the rock instrumentation and the darker feeling to it. Hero’s vocals are gorgeous too. I’d say that overall the TRICK project was pretty cool. All the singles were nicely packaged, and the member solo’s were a good idea. I really liked the covers and how they were panoramic. Tohoshinki looked very sexy for this photo shoot *_* The actual songs were a mixture of the bad, the okay and the awesome. The singles have been pretty inconsistent in quality but overall there have been enough decent or amazing songs to make this a successful project. It’s a shame about the worse songs, because all the members have rather beautiful voices that could have really shone on their own.

Tohoshinki’s 20th single, the 4th in the trick series and was released on 2008.03.05. This one features a solo by YUNHO.

Close to you is a little strange. It opens with the Tohoshinki being spelt up, over acoustic guitar chords building up to a fun pop/RnB number. The acoustic guitar fades out completely, drowned in synth and a heavy beat. The rap sounds a little bad, and the instrumentation is messy. Vocals are pretty good, and I like how they sing it. It’s quite cute actually, becoming sexier at times. At certain points the vocals really make the song, despite everything Tohoshinki have wonderful vocals. It’s a pretty sweet song however overall it sounds a little flat. Tohoshinki can do a lot better than this. This is pretty catchy though! Especially the chorus : )

Crazy Life is a sexy RnB number. YUNHO has pretty good vocals and that’s the highlight of the song. The song has a good feeling to it, and I think it suits YUNHO but there’s not much you can think that’s interesting. Nothing about this song grabs my attention.

Overall Rating: 3/5 (Decent)
Favourite Tracks: N/A

After two pretty good TRICK singles it all goes downhill for this one. Both tracks are mediocre. Close to you is messy and dull, with moments of perhaps being a little better thanks to the excellent vocals of Tohoshinki. It’s a pretty cute and catchy pop/RnB tune but nothing more than average and decent listening. Crazy Life has a good beat and vocals but lacks anything truly interesting. This is rather disappointing compared to some of the other great songs that come out of the TRICK project.

This is Tohoshinki’s 19th single released on 2008.02.27 and is the third in the TRICK series. This single features a solo from JUNSU.

If…!? is a messy mix of synth. I love the attitude of the song. This song is reminiscent of Runaway- an edgy synth piece. Fast with a heavy beat and a lots of synth and effects. I love the member who sings the falsetto, and the voice distortion. The ad-libbing is also rather nice too, especially how it’s layered into the background. It’s a cool piece- nothing that stands out but not terrible.

The B side Rainy night is a ballad from Junsu. It starts with incredibly cheesy string instrumental part, but once the actual song starts it pretty much is heartbreaking. It’s got that RnB touch to it, but blended with a lot of strings and a soft piano part. The verses are beautiful and soft with a sad feel to them. Junsu’s voice is brilliant. His English is not so good when he sings “I miss you” as it comes out “I mish you” however ignoring that, the chorus is lovely and emotional with Junsu putting a lot of power into it. His voice really suits the song and brings out the best of it. He may not have the best English, but his is the most emotional sounding of the member solo’s and his voice is gorgeous. There’s nothing annoying about this track, and the only flaw I could think of is the “I mish you”. Funny, he sings “baby I miss you” and “i love you” OK. The “mish you” really really does let the song down if you think about it too much ^_^ However, Well done to Junsu for presenting the strongest member solo so far. This is a very deep and moving ballad.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 (Rainy Night is just too beautiful to pass up)
Favourite Tracks: Rainy Night

With this single the TRICK series continues to improve. If…?! was a very average track but Rainy night is gorgeous. Putting If…?! alongside something like Rainy night really does make it seem really bad. I would have preferred if Runaway was paired with this- and that way it could have been a single with both a great A-side and an amazing B-side. Anyway. If…?! is bit weird but catchy. Rainy night is a beautiful, emotional ballad and the best song the TRICK series has presented so far. I loved it so much that I bought this single just for that song.

Continuing with the TRICK singles. This is the second TRICK series single, released on 2008.02.13.  It is Tohoshinki’s 18th single overall and features the solo from YUCHUN.

Runaway is a very good song, and really addictive. Runaway, like WILD SOUL opens with fast paced guitar, blended with synth. This song is not trying to be “rock” though and instead presents itself as a catchy pop-rock tune influenced by their dance numbers to create an edgy dance number. The boys sounds really good and they put a lot of attitude in their voices- really bringing the song alive. The chorus is the highlight of the song with the repetition of “try again” really carving itself in a persons memory. I love the voice distortion at one point too. The transition from rap, to voice, to English, to synth- all these elements come together well, blending together perfectly, to make the song really interesting and keep me listening. It has a dark and rebellious feel, but hopeful meaning. Overall, it’s an awesome and attitude filled dance number overlaid with pop-rock and gritty synth.

My Girlfriend is a RnB influenced ballad by YUCHUN, with elements of pop to it. It features a similar synth line to Two Hearts, again lending a rather sensual and romantic feeling. There’s also a rather nice guitar solo in there. YUCHUN’s vocals are playful and romantic. He really does suit the genre and his voice sounds rather good with a lot of emotion. It is a little strange how in this song Yoochun’s voice is very quiet in the verses, and he doesn’t feature much in the chorus. His voice kind of blends away into the instrumentation a lot. The rap/talking part is completely unnecessary too and sounds a bit awkward and out of place. However, the ending makes this song as Yoochun adds a lot more power to his voice. Overall, if we ignore the rap/talking part the song comes across as a mature RnB ballad. Certainly a better listen than WILD SOUL.

Overall Rating: 3/5 (Average, pleasant to listen to)
Favourite Tracks: Runaway

The first in the trick series had good and bad points, but was disappointing overall. This one like the first has a stronger A-side with a weaker B-side. The A-side to this however is pretty damn awesome. I’d say as a whole Runway/My Girlfriend is much better overall than two hearts/WILD SOUL was. Runaway is a good dance/rock/pop song that is insanely addictive, whilst My girlfriend presents a mature ballad from Yoochun. I do feel that My girlfriend could have been a little stronger vocally, and that the talking/rap part should have been taken out, however it is nice and laid back and overall is decent to listen to (unlike the painful WILD SOUL). This single features a strong A-side and a decent B-side. The TRICK series steps up a notch with this single and I hope that the TRICK series continues to get better!

In order to promote the group rhythm zone created a package strategy for TVXQ. The label came up with the plan to release five singles in February and March 2008 for TVXQ. Each single contained a member’s solo. All five solos are included in the Mash-Up song TRICK, the intro to their T album, and the main song on the “Trick” singles. Two hearts / WILD SOUL is Tohoshinki’s 17th single (released on 2008.02.06) and the first from the TRICK series.

Two Hearts has a laid-back RnB feeling to it. The song starts with a beautiful English line “I love you” and the vocals are really smooth. The group really sings it very well, lending a lot of emotion and a romantic feel to the song. The song is a little bittersweet overall though. The random English lines continue to appear throughout the song, and I think they add a nice element to the song. There is a lot of strange synth which makes it sounds a little weird, albit adds to the rather sensual and romantic feel, but is slightly off-putting- especially in the beginning. However the song is pretty relaxing with a good vocal performance and a good feeling to it. Two hearts is a nice listen now and again even if nothing special or stand-out. It is slightly disappointing knowing that Tohoshinki can do better than this.

WILD SOUL opens with some pretty furious guitars and it’s a little surprising. This is Changmins solo, and it’s a venture into pop-rock: much like Runaway would be. I know Changmin has a good voice, but he pushes it when trying to sound “rock”. He sounds screechy in the chorus, and I think he’s singing totally out of his range. The chorus is frankly, painful, and ruins what could have been a decent song. This song is obviously working against CHANGMIN’s voice; seeing so it’s his solo I would have hoped they would have given him something more appropriate. The guitar is really good though, creates a good fast paced pop rock song. The pre-chorus is pretty good too. However, if you think about it overall: this song doesn’t show changmin’s talent well- at all.

Overall Rating: 2.5/5 (Great. Decent, Bad B-side)
Favourite Tracks: N/A

As the first of the TRICK series, I’m a bit disappointed with this single. Both songs felt like they had something lacking from them, and WILD SOUL just totally destroyed Changmins voice. The guitars were awesome, but they should have allowed Changmin to slow his part down and also allowed him to sing in a more comfortable range. Also told him not to try and be “rock” and just sing pop. Definitely. This single is not something I decided to buy, because it is definitely weak compared to what Tohoshinki can do. Two Hearts is decent RnB ballad though.

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

Main Tracklist

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.

2CD+2DVD Version Bonus Disk

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.

CD Version Only Bonus Tracks

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