Release Date: December 7, 2011
Track Listing
- I Can Do It
- New World
- Fighters
- Deep Inside
- Refrain
- Southside
- Snow Dome
- On The Road ～夢の途中～
- Feel The Soul
- Tabidatsu Mae ni
- Best Friend’s Girl (Tribal Soul Version)
Review
Sandaime J-Soul Brother’s 2nd album is Tribal Soul, which features the singles Fighters, New World and Refrain. For those who are not familiar with them, they are part of the EXILE family with several members doing double duty with the parent group.
With that said, they share a similar look and sound so if you don’t mind the EXILE template, you’ll probably find this album perfect for your listening needs. There is a bit of deviation with this album as there are more uptempo songs than one would expect from a group with this lineage.
That’s not a bad thing as the EXILE family already has the whole lover man, Chemistry-type vibe covered with another male group called DEEP. (formerly known as COLOR) There’s no need to repeat all that with this group. Although they do sing a mean ballad, as exemplified by Refrain, Southside, Snow Dome and the Tribal Soul version of their 2010 single Best Friend’s Girl.
The main content of this album is meant to get you moving out of the bedroom with tracks like I Can Do It, New World, Fighters and On The Road. Nothing wrong with some dance floor fare to break the monotony.
What is most interesting about Tribal Soul is that it’s paced fairly evenly throughout. It doesn’t get bogged down with similar-sounding songs getting all bunched together, nor is top loaded with all the good songs right away. I like a bit of extra effort to keep the listener’s attention.
If you’re expecting mega runs and notes that only dogs can hear, you’re barking up the wrong tree with this album. But if you want some solid Japanese R&B, give this a go. It’s worth the listen.
