12012 - Taiyou

12012's latest release, Taiyou, comes in three different editions: the regular edition with two new tracks and a live track; Limited Edition A with two new tracks and Taiyou's PV; and Limited Edition B - which is what is going to be reviewed - with not two, but three new songs. As the first part of their three-part consecutive release campaign, one would expect Taiyou to be a strong and powerful single.

The single gets off to an average start with its title track Taiyou. If Taiyou were in a race, it would be in the middle: it’s not horribly bad, but it’s not wonderfully spectacular either. Taiyou is a sunny, mid-tempo tune with a very pop feel. It’s fun to listen to and a nice pick up if you’ve had bad day. If you’re looking for a song with some real substance, however, look elsewhere; Taiyou is disappointingly unoriginal and forgettable, and feels too much like an alice nine. rip-off for it to have any major cred.

Fortunately, the single gets much better with the other two tracks. KALEIDOSCOPE and Hello, seventeen both remind listeners that 12012 still knows how to rock and create the terrific kinds of compositions that they’ve produced in the past. KALEIDOSCOPE makes you want to jump out of your seat and pump your fists. It’s very catchy, while possessing the dark edge that 12012 worked so well in their older songs. Miyawaki's vocals are expertly layered with Suga's and Sakai's guitar work, taking listeners on a musical ride. The range travels from aggressive verses, where the lyrics sound almost rapped, to softer but nonetheless slightly dark moments, to very well-sung, emotional passages. However, KALEIDOSCOPE ends somewhat abruptly; the ending sounds like the rushed last bars of a live, making it feel like an afterthought.

Hello, seventeen is arguably the best of the three tracks on Taiyou. Kawauchi provides a strong base with a subtle, rhythmic beat that blends well with the dominating guitars. The result is a groovy melody very much like the ones that fans fell in love with on 12012’s wana single. Together with Miyawaki's vocals, the instrumentals alternate between questioning verses and the more determined, defiant chorus. It leads into a guitar solo that helps bring the song steadily to its strong conclusion.

What we have with 12012’s Taiyou is not the strongest lead to their consecutive release campaign, but a lead nonetheless. If fans - both old and new - are looking to purchase this single, they should purchase Limited Edition B for more bang for their buck. Listeners might get bored with Taiyou, but KALEIDOSCOPE and Hello, seventeen make up for a weak start. Despite the miss in the single, 12012 shows obvious effort and progress: the band has expanded its repertoire of the kinds of songs that it can compose, and the compositions themselves feel much more polished, while maintaining the hard, dark edge that makes 12012.