Osaka pop-rock quartet SCANDAL deliver an interesting mix of flavour as they experiment with different styles in Take Me Out, their 23rd single released since their formation ten years ago.
Take Me Out, the title track of SCANDAL’s summer single, definitely has a very summery and feel-good vibe to it. This opening song is designed to charm and entice you with its bright, bouncy and spirited pop-rock melodies and vocals. The rhythms from bassist TOMOMI and drummer RINA offer just the right amount of backing, soft yet noticeably uplifting, for the guitars and vocals provided by HARUNA and MAMI that add a layer of pretty, bubbly melody to the song.
On the other hand, I want you transforms the single with its slower tempo, club mix kind of feel instead of your pin-up rock girl song that we heard for the opening of the single. This one is a chirpy, 90’s disco, and almost fully computer-generated sounding song that you would either play for that slow dance at a party or be a great song to sing to in a karaoke.
The latter part of this new single also showcases new tracks from subunit Dobondobondo. Sekapero and Dobonodobondo Dungeon gives fans a totally separate sound and you could argue that this subunit, consisting of TOMOMI and MAMI performing a sort of cute-girl rapping duet, should really have a release of their own. However, it is all in good humour and it is great that they are shown support from the rest of the band, label and their fans globally.
All in all, Take Me Out, is a bit of a peculiar mix of genres, but as each member of the group has had a lead in some way or other in each track, you can certainly say that you are getting individual qualities and tastes from each person coming through in these totally different pieces of music.
The digital version of Take Me Out was released exclusively outside of Japan as a five-track package via JPU Records on July 29th across Europe and can be purchased online from Amazon and iTunes.
