Kanjani8’s Kyuu jyou Show – A hit or a miss? Or maybe both?

Two days marked the release of Kyu*Jyou*Show (A pun on Kyujyoushou, meaning a sudden rise) and much like the release for Musekinin Hero last year (I can’t believe Musekinin Hero was last year) we had a three version release; a regular edition and two limited edition releases that feature a DVD. The packaging for the LE’s are similar to the ones for Musekinin Hero last year, except we don’t get a snazzy little plastic cover case for the CDs. Those were traded off for actual CD booklets.

I might as well get the gripe off of my chest now and save the praise for later.

Am I like the only person who feel’s slightly ripped off that none of the LEs came with anything worth buying? Besides the DVD, I feel as if they should have just shoved it all on one double release – A LE and a RE – and spare us the triple release. I didn’t really pay attention to the track listing; I just bought all three versions at once and was kind of disappointed to find out that the track listings for both LEs are exactly the same.

Unlike Musekinin Hero last year that featured different B-sides including the choice of option for LEs, KJS just leaves us with DVD options and a piss poor music selection to pick between the two. Instead, they shoved all the B-sides on the RE. It’s like Teichiku/J&A was basically telling us that if you care about K8’s music then you have the RE to pick from, but if you really don’t give a shit about K8 then here have these DVDs that come with a CD.

As for what the LEs feature, one only comes with the PV for KJS – which is like a treat in a way since K8 has never released their PVs officially (if I recall correctly) – and the second one comes with a “director’s cut” of Hitotsu no Uta which is 15 minutes long, much along the lines of the “Documentary” version of the Puzzle concert DVD.

The PV for KJS is pretty glits and glam. It’s like they took Osaka Obachan Rock, gave it a huge make over by  giving them a custom built soundstage that wasn’t reused for another Teichiku talent and dipping it in a tank of silver glitter.  Also, adding some crazy weird rockabilly haircuts to add a bit of “crack” to the mix. The PV entertaining fun, alluding much to the 50s Rock n Roll while throwing in a splash of 40s big band to spice it up a notch.

I don’t know if this is now becoming an occurring running gag, but ever since Its My Soul, a member in K8 assumes an alter ego for the single. Subaru played the woman that the boys would die for in Its my Soul, Maru played the politician candidate in Musekinin Hero, and Yoko plays the strange afro wearing video director in Kyu*Jyou*Show . It’s a nice touch and a nice gag to run with and it kind of makes me wonder who’s next in line for the next “ mystery character “.

The Hitotsu no Uta Director’s Cut wasn’t all too spectacular. If you watched the version from the Puzzle concert DVD, then it’s pretty much no different on this version. We do get a five minute “birth” of the song, the 7.29 talk and introduction of the song which lasts for 5 minutes, and then the actual studio version of the song itself that features a clip show of the various fan events K8 did for the DVD and from the DVD itself as a “PV” of sorts. Not something I’ll watch over and over again, but, was nice to see. I guess… I think I wanted more “ creation of “ rather than a different version of what we saw on the Puzzle DVD.

Now, for the songs itself. KJS didn’t jump out at me like MH did last year or Its my Soul. It kind of has that same feel like Wahaha did – It’s good, but it could be better. It just sounds too generic for me to truly appreciate the song. Its all good fun, but after a year of Puzzle and how much K8 had evolved for that album (Even if they did pick out the songs and recorded it within a 3 month span) it feels as if they just went back to the old “ Let’s be wacky and fun and comical “. Which is nice but… Eh…  I was expecting a bit more.

The coupling tracks didn’t grab me either. The piano in Brilliant Blue drives me insane. If they didn’t make the piano in that song so predominant, I probably would actually enjoy the song. I only listened to cinematic once and I totally forgot what the song was like… but I’m pretty sure it was better than Brilliant Blue.

I’m starting to realize that K8 will probably never have the musical freedom or opportunities their seniors in J&A have over them. I don’t think J&A feels safe with K8 taking full creative control over their sound like their kansai counterparts Kinki Kids and their closest to a comparison you can get (bandwise), TOKIO. Yeah, they get it with their solos, but I do appreciate that their talent not be wasted to play along to songs not written or composed by them.

But its funny, I fell in love with K8 through a ridiculous song titled Zukkoke Otoko Michi and now I want more than that from them than the crackpot melodies and cliché lyrics.  Funny how time works.

If you have to buy KJS, buy the RE and think about the LEs. I’m an avid collector and despite the fact I’m not 100% satisfied with this release, I’m still glad I was able to buy all three versions. But for you guys out their cost weary or those who just want to have one over the other, choose what you want, but definitely go for the RE. You get all the songs and karaoke with nice album art.

Scans coming soon. Hopefully.