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OK FINALLY, i have time to digest both albums as wholes and its time to share my opinion:
Im going to give an overview first. I REALLY appreciate the step up this album is from WOML and Bon Voyage. I could never find something proper and conceptual in those two. I felt like, Kuu was trying to change it up but also got lost. But in W FACE, she finally had the time to put it all together. I like how experimental OUTSIDE is and how safe INSIDE is. It really comes full circle and there's 20 songs to go around so I had an enjoyable time.
Thing about OUTSIDE is, she seems to be doing this very very minimal background music style like from Shh! I always felt Shh! was kinda...hollow in production. Just a few layers of sounds, with Kuu's voice topped on them. I didn't tihnk this would be a defining style for OUTSIDE as a whole. Many times, I felt that the song could have been fuller and richer. That said, I guess its cohesive that way, and truth to be told, I didn't feel terribly overwhelmed by the music. Sometimes dance/r&b are really draining to me but this isnt.
INSIDE is so typical-Koda Kumi i cant even. So to hear that some people dislike BOTH albums is shocking. Nonetheless, the only issue I have with this is...THIS LACKS A BIG BALLAD LIKE YUME NO UTA!!! And i don't appreciate midtempo happy pop songs so songs like Sukideshite is definitely out. Stand by you and On my way are very midtempo ballads too but are alright.
INSIDE:
01 BRIDGET SONG - 9/10 - Loved it already when I saw the PV preview. So lighthearted and such a throwback to her IN THE AIR days which I adore.
02 Bring It On - 4/10 - Really didn't care for this lol.
03 喜びのかけら (Yorokobi no Kakera) - 10/10 - why doesn't this have a PV? This is, to me, the best song on the album! I love the chorus and how it all gels. This is a song with very full production. If you compare it with many tracks with OUTSIDE.
04 Stand by you - 7/10 - It's pretty sweet. This gave me K-OST vibes especially the piano. I may not be listening it in the long run but it's nice.
05 好きでして (Suki deshite) - 6/10 - Gave it one full listen, well it's not bad but not my style of song.
06 君想い (Kimi Omoi) - 9.5/10 - Loved it. Love it. But time has gone by, so its a 9.5.
07 On my way - 7/10 - This is one song I thought would bore me to death and depending on my mood, it could still do that. But I took a proper listen and its well, pretty alright. Mood-dependent.
08 What's Up - 8.5/10 - I'm such a sucker for such Summery rock tracks of Kuu. I'm glad she threw one in here. Very catchy WHAT'S UP in the chorus. I can imagine everyone jumping to it.
09 Promise you - 10/10 - The next walk. LOVE IT so much and the live probably made me feel, this is a very powerful track.
10 My fun - 6/10 - I'll give her points of the collaboration and inclusion of her son. But I didn't really listen to it with much attention because I just zoned off.
OUTSIDE:
01 W FACE - 9/10 - Though I would dislike this because it sounded so...lifeless in the preview but hey, NOT BAD. I like the additional sounds that came in halfway in the second chorus. And the TWO FACE dude is malicious and awesome.
02 Ultraviolet - 9.5/10 - I also thought this was a tad too repetitive when I heard it at first but I didn't know a bridge with a different tempo existed?! That really makes the song so much better (and it deserves a better PV LOL). Very K-Pop style imo.
03 Insane - 8.5/10 - Annoying preview but overall, very strong song. I dislike the synth voice they used on her in the bridge but other than that, there's some groove and attitude which I really like.
04 Damn real - 5/10 - Very modern piece I felt. Classic kinda genre in today's music but it didn't go anywhere for me. Reminded me a bit of K.A.R.D's style (which is also the style of many artistes). But yea..too flat.
05 Heartless - 9/10 - SURPRISED! Love the emotions captured here and how raw everything sounds. I do agree, that the chorus could be toned down a bit. Nonetheless, I like her insertion of this song here.
06 Bassline - 9/10 - Ooooo I love this! So different and unique but this is where the hollow songs begin.
07 Shhh! - 7/10 - I didn't really like it when it first came out so it's just okay for me. Definitely not a bad song but just didn't catch my attention.
08 Bangerang - 10/10 - DOPE TRACK! I love it. I loved it from the instrumental preview. This song actually has a sick melody and the trumpet sounds omg, I dig it so much. I love the bass when it hits the BANGerang part.
09 Wicked Girls - 8/10 - Honestly, didn't like it until the 2nd and 3rd listen. It's so fun and I like the verse and style. I could listen to this for a while.
10 Cupcake feat. AKLO - 3/10 - Hmm? What?
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