Artist: MEJIBRAY
Album: The "420" THEATRICAL ROSES
Score:
A step-up but still not quite there yet!
Finally, it's here. MEJIBRAY's 2nd full-length after 2.5 years, which might sound like a long time in 'J-rock years' but Tsuzuku & co are not ones to slack off. After releasing countless singles and a mini album, they've kept plowing on with varying degrees of success. That's one thing about MEJIBRAY: they have an air of uncertainty about them. The problem is, this atmosphere is generated not by their image but the inconsistency of their songwriting – something that should be expected if you churn out song after song like a reverse-Yoshiki on crack. Accordingly, I was looking forward to their 2nd album with a mixture of hope and anxiety. The fact that their 1st album (after my initial excitement died down) turned out to be mediocre and lackluster at best when counting the actual new tracks didn't bode well for the hilariously titled THE"420"THEATRICAL ROSES either.
I must say, however, that I'm truly impressed this time around! I really feel that they managed to construct a better vision of what an ideal MEJIBRAY album should sound and feel like. Gone are the stilted, almost demo-like compositions that so often plagued their previous full-length. Instead, these songs are clearly fleshed-out and arranged rather well. The band adds lots of small details that make the tracks much more interesting and enjoyable to listen to – a flourish of synth, piano or even an exotic instrument here and there. MiA once said in an interview how, at one time, he wanted to give up playing guitar and just be a producer/arranger for bands. This shows here wonderfully, and proves to be an effective 'secret weapon' in the MEJI' repertoire.
The expansion of sound also opens up new doors for experimentation, as evidenced by tracks like the light, poppy "瞬間のアイディアル" or the extremely powerful and dramatic closing monolith that is "鳥は泳ぎ方を知らず溺れ亡骸" (complete with haunting traditional flute melodies). Those who like their MEJIBRAY a bit more direct and fast as a cannonball will be glad to know that the 2nd half of the album packs some strong numbers, such as the infectiously driving "BOWWOW" or the ominously titled "SUICIDAL WORD GAME" that features the cheekiest punky riff of the band's career. It's interesting to hear how they managed to spice up these compositions despite their apparent simplicity, with unexpected acoustic rhythm guitar in the former and some wicked death growls in the latter one. Also, just before we get to the dramatic finale we're treated to the excellent "Cristate" that competes for the title of catchiest song on here. A nice way to lead the listener into the grand closing track.
That said, the album is not all moonlight and roses (see what I did there?). While most of the tracks manage to capture the listener's attention, some of them are just too long-winded and fall into the trap of being a bit too makeshift. A good example for the yawn-inducing type is "Echo", the song they curiously chose as the music video to represent the album. Honestly, who wants to hear another 6.5 minute-long fluffy ballad when such songs often miss the mark even in the hands of the most skilled craftsmen? I believe that if the band had weeded out a track or two this would almost be a 5-star release but instead they went with including everything they could, so that there would be a better chance for everyone to find something to their own liking. Which doesn't sound like an inherently bad thing, but brings me to my final gripe: the album is just too damn long. It could've been tighter with 10 minutes or so chopped off.
All in all, I think MEJIBRAY were able to convey their vision and sound a lot better with this album, compared to Emotional【KARMA】. There is a great variety present here and most of the slight experimentation they implemented into their tunes comes across effectively. As someone who has been following the band from their very first releases, even I was surprised at some of the decisions they made with a couple of songs on THE"420"THEATRICAL ROSES. It's a commendable effort that is well worth listening to if you are a fan of the band – and especially a fan of their releases from the past year or so. I'd gladly recommend the album to those, too, who haven't had their taste of MEJI' before, since it showcases some impressive tracks despite the obvious flaws and shortcomings. However, if you haven't found enjoyment in MEJIBRAY's work so far (or you just liked their first few records) then you can gladly skip this one.
