Buono!’s Departure

We all know Buono! as that loveable, 3-nin group whose music tends to be on the rockier sound and is overall really good. However the group’s music has been a bit stale lately and has yet to release anything truly interesting, in my opinion anyway, since their “are they coming back?/did they disband?” stunt when their best album was released. Just for the heck of it, I blame them changing record labels.

Their latest releasse and first ever mini-album “partenza” was a really shocker for all of us, especially to me. I wasn’t expecting much out of it(that cover art didn’t help) and at first listen, I was grossed out by it. What had happened to my adorable Buono! that released cutesy rock-pop songs with lots of attitude?

Well we can say that the old Buono! is gone, but now we can say hello to electro-Buono!

The most shocking track out of all would have to be the “title” song of the album(or the first track, the one with the same name as the album, etc). partenza ~Let’s Go!!!~ is all kinds of a hot mess. I love the song now, but I still think it’s a hot mess. Initially I was intrigued by the dub-step direction the song had at the beginning but then the “B-U-O-N-O REZ GO!” chanting kicked in, followed by that exaggerated auto-tune. That’s when I threw in the towel and skipped ahead a few songs.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Eventually I had to give the song another listen, since this is after all an H!P release and I simply must love, even if by force, everything H!P releases(if not life would have no meaning). partenza ~Let’s Go!!!~ is a messy track, no doubt and will scare of any original Buono! fan accustomed to their old style of music. Despite all that, the song is quite catchy and quite the needle in the hay-stack that is Buono!’s discography.

Don’t think that’s where it ends though, that wasn’t enough electro for Miyabi so she asked for more! Thus FrankencenseΨ was born. All I could say is delicious. I’m a huge Miyabi stan as you all know, so when you mix up her flawless “nothing” voice with some electro beats, electric guitar and some voice modification, I gasm all over. The song in a way is a bit dark and rough but with that Buono! spark.

Miyabi wasn’t the only one with a solo song though. Momoko got a fun, genki, positive song which is a lot more Buono! than anything else in the album. Kia Ora Gracis Arigatou is cute, but it isn’t my cup of tea, neither is Momoko’s nasally voice.

Line-hog Airi gets My alright sky which is totally out-of-place since it isn’t neither rock nor electro. It’s one of these cheesy R&B-ballad songs! You know, like Nishino Kana’s entire discography. Her vocals are nice and soft and the song is relaxing but sorry, I could care less for an Airi solo. That’s what SHOCK! is for.

Our last new song is 1/3 no Junjou na Kanjou, which is sung by all three girls. This is the rock style we know Buono! for but with a laid-back sound and honestly good vocals. It’s the safest new song on the album and pretty darn good.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The rest of the mini is filled with previously released material which I honestly don’t really care much for. All of their recent singles haven’t really called my attention. How about we get a Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! ver. 2?!

Buono! is a completely new group from what it used to be 2 years ago. Is this a bad thing? Not entirely. If your unable to accept that groups do indeed change their sound as they grow older, then I’d imagine you don’t stick to certain groups for too long. Buono! was going through puberty and right now are in that awkward “teenager” stage. They’ll eventually figure out their sound and be as strong as ever. Kudos for being different Buono!~