misono - Pochi

The sixth single from misono since her solo debut last year consists of two light-hearted, upbeat songs in the form of Pochi and 11 -eleven-.

The title track, Pochi starts out simple, with an addictive guitar riff and clear vocals. As far as first impressions go, the song has a promising start - there's a clear beat behind the easy melody, and gradually the layers of the song build up to something more involved. However, the change of pace from the verse to the chorus is startling. The vocals become a little lost in the cacophony of instruments, and it can feel like there's a little too much going on. While Pochi may not be instantly addictive, there's a definite appeal in the emotion of the song, and fans of misono won't be disappointed.

11 -eleven- starts out with a slightly different feel. It opens with a slightly more subdued mood, allowing the vocals to shine through in their own right. The main body of the song feels like a much better blend of vocals and backing track than we've seen before, and altogether the song is much more cohesive than the chopping and changing of Pochi. The chorus is enjoyable, and the pacing of the song keeps you tapping your foot from the beginning to the end.

As a whole, Pochi is no divergence from misono's well-established pop-punk sound. Both songs are strong enough to carry the single through, whether you're already a fan or a casual listener.