SMILE - darlin'

Although SMILE disbanded in 2009 after just three years in the music scene, the band produced a surprisingly large amount of original, professional songs. Being a visual kei band, SMILE showed a lot of variety in their music, but even more so than most bands in the same genre. Even though SMILE is now inactive, bands today can still learn a lot from this daring but unassuming band. The band’s first full album shows listeners why SMILE is thought of as such an unusual band by mixing playful innocence with power that is not usually found in such young bands.

For people who are unfamiliar with SMILE, the title song darlin’ may come as a bit of a surprise. The song starts with rich, full music but is soon accompanied by an incredibly high-pitched, melodic voice. This match of deep bass, drums and guitar is perfectly juxtaposed with Kasumi’s child-like vocals. After a short introduction with more calming music, the listener is immediately thrown into the energetic, fast-paced rhythms that are SMILE’s signature. During breaks between choruses, Yuugi’s drumming keeps one's heart beating fast, while Kasumi’s vocals tend to do the opposite, keeping a constant opposition between the two aspects of the band’s nature. darlin’ continues in this spellbinding manner until the song reaches its finale and calmly fades away.

Thoroughbred shows the more forceful side of SMILE, beginning with some heavy guitar work and growling. As the verse starts, the pace slows down and the guitar eases off; Yuugi’s drumming becomes more ordered. After a period of interchanging rhythms, the song changes slightly to have a more soulful, pop feel. Kasumi constantly switches between heavy, powerful growls to childlike pop melodies. An emotional guitar solo shows yet more variety in this track. Thoroughbred shows a very original take on the pressures of everyday life that are so often the subject of lyrics these days.

Bushidou brings a more haunting quality to the album, and SMILE’s joyful qualities return with the fourth song. Zettai Summer is a perfect summer song that is carried along by delicate music and equally delicate vocals. There are some keyboard effects that make this song sound older than it is by giving it a 90's or even 80's feel, along with a very classic guitar solo. All through Zettai Summer, there is a definite sense of a summer breeze, and one can feel the emotion in each one of the instruments, which helps make this a song that could challenge even the most well known summer hits.

Sayonara, watashi no aishita hito slows the tone of the album right down and allows the members of SMILE to show their softer side. This song is essentially a ballad, but it is done in such a way that it is not overwhelming; there are no over-the-top notes or overly tragic lyrics, instead it is very understated. Nana’s guitar work seems nostalgic and Kasumi’s vocals blend in very well, but they also stand out at the right times. Anyone who is not convinced of Kasumi’s talent certainly will be after listening to this song.

The sixth song, Namida Iro, greets the listener with a wave of dance-pop music, piercing sound effects and high-pitched vocals. There is not much of a break from this fast-paced electronic track, and it seems slightly reminiscent of music found in Japanese video games or anime. Although Namida Iro may not be suitable for all moods, it is a good thing to have a track inspired by such a different genre of music.

Arguably one of the best songs on the album, LG begins with a sweet, innocent tone with the romantic lyrics of a classic love song. LG’s pace builds up very quickly and will cheer the listener up easily; each of the instruments work extremely well together. Yuugi’s drumming keeps the beat of the song going while the bass and guitar switch to a totally different level musically and become much more pleasant to listen to. Kasumi’s vocals do not overpower the song, and so become even more enjoyable to listen to. The song takes a more calming turn and each of the members introduces themselves one at a time. The next step may surprise the listener as for a minute or so, LG becomes a completely different song. The sweet vocals are replaced by violent growls and screams; the soft bass is replaced by heavy, raw notes trying to show the dark side of love. Although it may be alarming to have such an innocent song turn so forceful, it gives a new, interesting approach to the stereotypical ‘love song’ and SMILE makes it work. After Kasumi’s growling fades out, the original rhythm returns as if nothing happened, and the song finishes as normal. LG is definitely an amazing song with lyrics that can be thought of as a modern fairy tale.

The ninth song, NEW TYPE, brings a slightly electronic feel to the album, starting with plenty of sound effects. The instruments aren’t that apparent to begin with, but a balance is soon reached. NEW TYPE has a very strong melody, and each member of SMILE has a turn to shine.

SMILExSMILE is a perfect example of the qualities that SMILE possesses. Starting with some sound effects which set the mood, the listener is then given a taste of what the band does best. Kasumi sings in a pitch that most singers wouldn’t dare sing in, and the rest of the instruments accompany him in a joyous, playful pop-rock song. SMILExSMILE continues with a catchy, fresh rhythm that will easily have the listener humming along. The song becomes more and more cheerful and is then balanced by Nana’s guitar solo. Kasumi gets the chance to show off his talents once again. Even without understanding the lyrics, SMILE’s sense of joyousness will be felt by the listener. By the end of the song, the listener will certainly be smiling and convinced that SMILE is a truly unique and talented band.

Each of the songs on darlin’ show a different side to this original, talented band with surprising depth. From playful, romantic songs to forceful, energetic ones - it is difficult to find something that SMILE has not tried. What is great about this album is that the listener will be able to experience many different genres of music, but from SMILE’s approachable, innocent viewpoint. One will without a doubt be left feeling happy and with a smile on one’s face.