Mukashibanashi
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| - | " | + | "Mukashibanashi" (directly translated as: Folktales) is the second album by the Japanese pop idol group [[8th & Beyond]], released on September 25, 2016. The album was preceded by the release of the singles, including the chart-topping "夏季神話" (Myth of the Summer) and "ユートピア" (Utopia) which were actively promoted by the group on national music shows and at various events. Two further singles were subsequently released from the album, "フィールドでのタンゴ" (A Tango in the Fields) and "黒潔白" (Black Innocence). |
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| + | The album peaked at the first position on the Japan Albums Chart with sales of more than 600,000 in its first week. It also charted in the top twenty in twelve other major charts, including the US, South Korea and China. The album has been certified platinum in the Japan and has sold over 800,000 copies when figures were released in December, making it their best-selling album to date. | ||
== Development == | == Development == | ||
| - | Songs for this album first began recording in March 2013, with some originally intended for release with the group's first studio album "[[Beyond]]" (2013) but failed to pass the | + | Songs for this album first began recording in March 2013, with some originally intended for release with the group's first studio album "[[Beyond]]" (2013) but failed to pass the initial selection round. The new writing process for the album happened "mid-October during the stressful promotion period," as described by member [[Chun Takahashi]], "after each schedule we gathered around each other and talked about the potential results for our next full release, and eventually new materials emerged." In an interview with Billboard, [[Sumire Kimura]] was quoted as saying, "We're about to start recording [in the studio] for our new album the day after tomorrow." The interview was uploaded on September 21, 2014 when the group was still conducting promotions for their first album. In an interview with Spin Japan, [[Jun Sessue]] said that the album will feature "a side of 8th & Beyond that no one’s really seen. In the beginning, we were super happy. Our first album was very much a freshman effort, because we didn't have any control and it was almost a stereotypical release of new idol pop groups. This time, we're showing who we really are behind closed doors." |
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| + | Recording sessions for the album took place at the Clumsy Studios located at the headquarters of Clumsy Media in Tokyo, Japan. Award winning producer [[Mini Bus]] took over the overall creative control of the album, acting as the producer after being asked by group leader Kimura. Member [[Rie Kotobiki]] also actively contributed to the music direction, writing the lyrics to several tracks as well as ultimately the acting co-producer. The group worked with several song-writers on the album, including previous collaborators such as School Sounds, Johnny Suimako and DJ Karma. Back in early October 2015, [[Isabella Ino]] told TeenPop that Kimura is "heavily involved" in the production of the group's second full-length album and revealed she had produced five songs for their album since the interview took place, but also confirmed there is no set release date. | ||
| - | + | On April 22, 2016 it was rumoured that the group would postpone the album's release indefinitely due to internal member disputes and the ongoing hiatus of member [[Rin Takanashi]]. The following day, the agency updated the group's website homepage and clarified the issue, confirming that the album is due for release in the second half of the year and the members are not experiencing discords. | |
=== Lyrics === | === Lyrics === | ||
| - | According to the members themselves in a post-album-release interview, the album's lyrics explore themes of "social anxiety, stress, detachment, friendship and feelings of lost and nostalgia" but within "the perceptions of the minds of a teenager and young adult". | + | According to the members themselves in a post-album-release interview, the album's lyrics explore themes of "social anxiety, stress, detachment, friendship and feelings of lost and nostalgia" but within "the perceptions of the minds of a teenager and young adult". Kotobiki, who wrote most of the lyrics, confessed that they were mostly influenced by "the sights the group experienced as a whole after debut". |
== Reception == | == Reception == | ||
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=== Critical response === | === Critical response === | ||
| + | At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 69, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 7 reviews.[11] Matt Collar of AllMusic was positive, calling it "a sophisticated production that finds the all-female outfit nicely transitioning from the brash ingenues who finished third on the second season of The X Factor into reliably mature pop divas." He noted that "while 7/27 isn't quite as loose or as fun as one might hope, Fifth Harmony prove they can balance youthful swagger with grown-up sophistication."[12] Praising the mature environment, Nolan Feeney of Entertainment Weekly named it "deep, vulnerable, personal--these were some of the quintet’s stated goals for 7/27. It’s not a bad look by any means."[15] Maura Johnston of Boston Globe stated: "The group’s power has always come from its Spice Girls-like ability to form a massive unit of self-actualization, and the peppy 7/27 has no shortage of that, both lyrically and musically."[13] Lewis Corner of Digital Spy noticed that "while the debut album 'Reflection' was a mixed bag in terms of styles, '7/27' is a cleverly structured collection. The uptempo numbers pop off with confidence, while the slower tracks barely detract from the overall energy of the record. There's sass, there's vulnerability, there's sexiness; it draws upon all the emotions a great pop album craves.[14] Christopher R. Weingarten of Rolling Stone opined that the album "isn't a massive step forward, but with a constant bombardment of hooks, high energy and incredible harmony there's not much time to catch your breath to compare."[17] | ||
== Tracklisting == | == Tracklisting == | ||
Current revision as of 07:41, 25 June 2016
"Mukashibanashi" (directly translated as: Folktales) is the second album by the Japanese pop idol group 8th & Beyond, released on September 25, 2016. The album was preceded by the release of the singles, including the chart-topping "夏季神話" (Myth of the Summer) and "ユートピア" (Utopia) which were actively promoted by the group on national music shows and at various events. Two further singles were subsequently released from the album, "フィールドでのタンゴ" (A Tango in the Fields) and "黒潔白" (Black Innocence).
The album peaked at the first position on the Japan Albums Chart with sales of more than 600,000 in its first week. It also charted in the top twenty in twelve other major charts, including the US, South Korea and China. The album has been certified platinum in the Japan and has sold over 800,000 copies when figures were released in December, making it their best-selling album to date.
Contents |
Development
Songs for this album first began recording in March 2013, with some originally intended for release with the group's first studio album "Beyond" (2013) but failed to pass the initial selection round. The new writing process for the album happened "mid-October during the stressful promotion period," as described by member Chun Takahashi, "after each schedule we gathered around each other and talked about the potential results for our next full release, and eventually new materials emerged." In an interview with Billboard, Sumire Kimura was quoted as saying, "We're about to start recording [in the studio] for our new album the day after tomorrow." The interview was uploaded on September 21, 2014 when the group was still conducting promotions for their first album. In an interview with Spin Japan, Jun Sessue said that the album will feature "a side of 8th & Beyond that no one’s really seen. In the beginning, we were super happy. Our first album was very much a freshman effort, because we didn't have any control and it was almost a stereotypical release of new idol pop groups. This time, we're showing who we really are behind closed doors."
Recording sessions for the album took place at the Clumsy Studios located at the headquarters of Clumsy Media in Tokyo, Japan. Award winning producer Mini Bus took over the overall creative control of the album, acting as the producer after being asked by group leader Kimura. Member Rie Kotobiki also actively contributed to the music direction, writing the lyrics to several tracks as well as ultimately the acting co-producer. The group worked with several song-writers on the album, including previous collaborators such as School Sounds, Johnny Suimako and DJ Karma. Back in early October 2015, Isabella Ino told TeenPop that Kimura is "heavily involved" in the production of the group's second full-length album and revealed she had produced five songs for their album since the interview took place, but also confirmed there is no set release date.
On April 22, 2016 it was rumoured that the group would postpone the album's release indefinitely due to internal member disputes and the ongoing hiatus of member Rin Takanashi. The following day, the agency updated the group's website homepage and clarified the issue, confirming that the album is due for release in the second half of the year and the members are not experiencing discords.
Lyrics
According to the members themselves in a post-album-release interview, the album's lyrics explore themes of "social anxiety, stress, detachment, friendship and feelings of lost and nostalgia" but within "the perceptions of the minds of a teenager and young adult". Kotobiki, who wrote most of the lyrics, confessed that they were mostly influenced by "the sights the group experienced as a whole after debut".
Reception
Commercial performance
Critical response
At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 69, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 7 reviews.[11] Matt Collar of AllMusic was positive, calling it "a sophisticated production that finds the all-female outfit nicely transitioning from the brash ingenues who finished third on the second season of The X Factor into reliably mature pop divas." He noted that "while 7/27 isn't quite as loose or as fun as one might hope, Fifth Harmony prove they can balance youthful swagger with grown-up sophistication."[12] Praising the mature environment, Nolan Feeney of Entertainment Weekly named it "deep, vulnerable, personal--these were some of the quintet’s stated goals for 7/27. It’s not a bad look by any means."[15] Maura Johnston of Boston Globe stated: "The group’s power has always come from its Spice Girls-like ability to form a massive unit of self-actualization, and the peppy 7/27 has no shortage of that, both lyrically and musically."[13] Lewis Corner of Digital Spy noticed that "while the debut album 'Reflection' was a mixed bag in terms of styles, '7/27' is a cleverly structured collection. The uptempo numbers pop off with confidence, while the slower tracks barely detract from the overall energy of the record. There's sass, there's vulnerability, there's sexiness; it draws upon all the emotions a great pop album craves.[14] Christopher R. Weingarten of Rolling Stone opined that the album "isn't a massive step forward, but with a constant bombardment of hooks, high energy and incredible harmony there's not much time to catch your breath to compare."[17]
Tracklisting
1. 序章 (Prologue)
2. 若者 夢想家 (Youth Dreamers)
3. 夏季神話 (Myth of the Summer)
4. ヴィンテージカメラ (Vintage Camera)
5. ユートピア (Utopia)
6. 恋人の激怒 (A Lover's Fury)
7. ラブポーション (Love Potion)
8. フィールドでのタンゴ (A Tango in the Fields)
9. 黒潔白 (Black Innocence)
10. エンディング： 満月 (Ending: Full Moon)
Deluxe Edition
11. Please Hold My Hand (Bonus Track)
13. Recording Message from 8th & Beyond (Audio Recording)
12. 移動＆ビヨンド (Moving&BEYOND) (Instrumental Ver.)
12. 移動＆ビヨンド (Moving&BEYOND) (Music Video)
