Release Date: June 17, 2015
Track Listing
- The Best Years of Our Lives
- Usotsuki SOMEDAY
- Just My Life
- Harezora Hallelujah Koigokoro
- To Be With You
- Kurt
Review
3 years ago, I reviewed a 3-piece rock band in the mould of SCANDAL called dolls. At the time, they were middle school age with what can be described as a rough derivative sound of their musical influences. At the time, I called them SCANDAL-lite.
Fast forward to modern times and how things have changed for this group. They are signed to Universal Music Japan and have matured not only into some fine-looking young women but also musically.
Sure there’s still a tiny bit of that SCANDAL-like sound in their songs, but perhaps that can’t be helped.
Yet, what songs are contained in Rock ‘n’ doll are light years ahead of what I reviewed in 2012. The lead single, The Best Years of Our Lives, is a great example of how much this group has evolved into a finely tuned band who are making an identity for themselves away from their musical influences.
You can also look at Harezora Hallelujah Koigokoro with its combination of light Japanese traditional sounds, the Middle Eastern-sounding guitar riffs and up-tempo stadium rocking type of music.
Included on this album is a cover of Mr. Big’s To Be With You. An early 1990’s hit that was a catchy sing-a-long type of ballad. In dolls’ hands, it’s cranked up to a high-energy song. Surprisingly the song is sung entirely in English, and doesn’t worry, it’s completely decipherable if you have difficulty understanding Japanese-accented English.
Much like their self-titled indie release, this album isn’t easily available. Well, perhaps that’s incorrect to say. It’s not available where a foreign fan would most likely look like YesAsia or CD Japan. You must go to Amazon Japan or Tower Records Japan to get this album. And it’s very much worth it if you are one who has an affinity for female bands or rock music with a bit of a pop twist.
dolls Links
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dolls Blog
