Band Maid - "World Domination"

Band Maid - World Domination
2018, JPUD40

1. I Can't Live Without You
2. Play
3. One and Only
4. Domination
5. Fate
6. Spirit!!
7. Rock in Me
8. Clang
9. Turn Me On
10. Carry On Living
11. Daydreaming
12. Anemone
13. Alive-Or-Dead
14. Dice
15. (Title is in Japanese. I don't know what it is.)

After loving Just Bring It I had to get their newest, World Domination. For some reason this one was kind of a grower. I just wasn't as much into it at first. I don't really know why as the instrumentation and songs are just as good if not better than the previous album. I did get more into it after several listens. "Anemone" is one of my favorite tracks and it's one of the quieter ones. I don't have too much more to say. It's good. If you like the band, you'll like this one - hopefully it will take less listens than you to get into it.

Useless Fact: Not really a fact...but...the liner notes fold out into one of those giant welcome mat sized posters. I really hate that. Give me a book. They are easier for me to deal with.

BAND-MAID - "Just Bring It"

BAND-MAID - Just Bring It
2017, JPU

1. Don't you tell ME
2. Puzzle
3. Memoria
4. Yolo
5. Cross
6. Ooparts
7. Take Me Higher!!
8. So, What?
9. TIME
10. you.
11. Awkward
12. decided by myself
13. secret My lips

So I've known about Band Maid for a long time. Saw some You Tube videos about them around the time I was getting into Baby Metal. They were good and I always meant to check them out but never got around to it. I guess it took The Rock Critic to kind of kick me in the pants and get me to give them a closer look. Dude... they rock! Like... dang these women have chops. Insane leads, pounding bass, great drum work, and plenty of hooks. Just check out the opening lick in "Memoria" if you want an idea of what I'm talking about. Like I said about Baby Metal, I don't usually like foreign language music but this is too good for it to matter. I even like some of the more pop/rock tracks like "Ooparts" and "Awkward." The latter being one of my favorite tracks on the album, period. They've got a new album coming out this year as well and you bet I'm going to be getting that one too.

Useless Fact: The liner notes come with both the Japanese lyrics and an English translation. Very cool. Though, I ain't gonna lie - I'd give up the English lyrics for some pictures of the band.