SPYAIR - BEST

Pop-rock band SPYAIR's greatest hits compilation BEST was released in Japan on November 26th, 2014. On January 12th this year, it became SPYAIR's first record to be released throughout Europe.

BEST contains fourteen of the band's best-known songs, plus two brand new tracks. This includes the band's debut single, LIAR, from August 2010, which was the theme of TBS drama series "Hammer Session". Many of their songs have been heard since then as theme songs for anime series and movies, such as "The Amazing Spider Man", "Bleach" and "Gintama".

The first song of BEST album is GLORY. With its catchy melody and fast rhythm, it makes for am appropriately lively start to the album. Next song Imagination starts out calmer, but the pace begins to accelerate towards the chorus. Singer IKE's voice is as powerful as Satoshi of girugamesh, and his high notes remind one of DELUHI's Juri.

The third track starts with the lead of drums and guitar. This song's chorus will make you sing along, "JUST ONE LIFE!" Genjyou Destruction has a speedy start and sustains this tempo throughout. After this, the rather sedate Niji provides listeners a small respite, although in the chorus, IKE's voice and the guitar make the song grow. Sakura Mitsutsuki features some marvelous guitar parts by Uz.

WENDY -Its You- offers a different start. The song contains sudden style changes and playful rhythms which shift freely from fast to slow. The eighth track Naked defies the expectations is title may create, and is an innocent pop-rock number with outstanding drumming by Kenta. The rousing intro to 0 GAME is a real attention-grabber. The keyboards and Momikan's pulsating bassline create a sinister melody that gains more power when first the guitar and then drums enter. IKE's vocals lighten the atmosphere a little, but the flamboyant chorus and climax make this an outstanding rock song.

My World returns to the positive mood familiar from the earlier songs on the album. This reviewer actually confused it with a couple of previous songs. BEAUTIFUL DAYS offers grandiose vocal parts, even though the melody in the song is comparatively calm. The inclusion of several instruments, especially violins, gives the song a special texture.

(Samurai Heart) Some Like It Hot!! is another energetic track that is very similar to previous fast-paced songs. Placing this song further down the running order might have helped it stand out more. A further three upbeat tracks follow, and then comes Anokoro bokurawa onajimiraiwo, the second new song on BEST. Opening with a lovely piano melody, this soothing ballad provides a soft and tranquil ending to the album.

Overall, SPYAIR's BEST is a very easy listen. Some songs can sound very similar to one another when first you hear them, but with repeat listens, each song's unique features start to reveal themselves. All in all, this album offers a pleasing overview of SPYAIR's impressive musical talents.