pop*eye...moumoon (ムー・ムーン) —15 Doors (2011)

POP*EYE
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— Japan*Series —







moumoon
(ムー・ムーン)
15 Doors (2011)

*I proud to highly
Recommended!*

Track Listing

1. We Go (intro)
2. 15 Doors
3. One Step
4. Sunshine Girl
5. moonlight
6. Blue Rain
7. Aoi Tsuki to Ambivalence na Ai
8. Hallelujah
9. YAY
10. EVERGREEN
11. Destiny
12. Tengoku ni Ichiban Tooi Basho
13. On the right
14. HAPPY UNBIRTHDAY (Bonus Track)
15. Farewell (outro)
16. PINKY RING (Live ver.) (CD only Edition)

1. We Go (intro)

Opening the album up, We Go starts with counting with some of them includes the word ~door~. As soon as YUKA gets to 15 the music becomes more filled out and the counting begins again while YUKA sings something entirely different. It’s really pretty and I must say the ethereal feel of the song made the intro sound pretty damn good.

2. 15 Doors

Entering the title track and promotional as well, 15 Doors doesn’t exactly continue the sound we had in “We Go”, but what can you do. It does continue to utilize their more recent peppyness, but with actual instruments this time and I did enjoy this quite a bit. Kind of the summer song, but it’s still nothing like a certain song that’s coming up.

3. One Step

One Step feels like the last few A-sides the duo has had but once again filled with instruments and background vocals which made it sound so different and yet like familiar at the same time. Though I guess it must be a little under the weather for being one of two digital singles featured on the album xD.

4. Sunshine Girl

Do we really need to review Sunshine Girl a third time?!? *sigh*. Either way, I can’t complain because this song was just so happy and summery and just full of life. YUKA’s airy and girly vocals sound like she was having so much fun and I can’t blame her. It’s one of my favorite songs from moumoon period so this is standing high on the album.

5. moonlight

As the last single that’s represented in the era, moonlight carries the cute side from the last few songs and I still think it’s supposed to parallel “Sunshine Girl” since both songs kind of have this smooth flow and cuteness. Even YUKA’s airy vocals are just giving me the same feelings. Masaki’s arrangement however stands out a little more since there’s different melodies in different parts of the song. Still, “Sunshine Girl” came first LOL.

6. Blue Rain

We’re already on new track No. 2? Well, unlike the previous songs of this album, this one isn’t overbearingly happy and with the more acoustic-like atmosphere and crying strings. It kind of has this sad glow to it, but I like it quite a bit. I mean ~blue rain, true pain~ is quite a sinister outlook. It’s interesting a change from all these positive happy-go-lucky songs.

7. Aoi Tsuki to Ambivalence na Ai

After “Blue Rain”, we get a barrage of old songs (which most of them I missed reviewing since I didn’t expect to see most of these songs on here *cough* “Refrain”). Given this would be the 3rd A-side released in the era, I have to say I was blown away by this ballad. YUKA’s vocals actually sound entirely different than it did in songs like “moonlight”. I feel like this is one of the duo’s most powerful songs right now and I loved every minute of this song.

8. Hallelujah

Wait…it was a B-side on both “On the right” and “Aoi Tsuki to Ambivalence na Ai”??? I can’t believe that haha, anyway Hallelujah turns the mood up quite a bit and I will say it’s another strong song since YUKA’s vocals are once again deeper than earlier songs. I like that it’s upbeat and full of energy…but it feels like I’ve heard this somewhere else though….

9. YAY

Turning on the cuteness factor up again, YAY still stands as the most dance-friendly track on the album with this kind of disco hook mixed in with YUKA’s cute-side vocals. I can’t deny that the song is indeed catchy and the use of auto-tune was daring. I kind of like it…almost like a fairy land hahaha.

10. EVERGREEN

As the era’s first A-side, comparing EVERGREEN to later singles like well…”YAY” really tells a thousand stories since they’re overall sound has quite changed since then. Trading in the synths and such for a more natural sound here. I kind of like this song though since it’s catchy and YUKA sounds powerful once again. Good song ^_^

11. Destiny

As the duo’s other digital single on the album, I wasn’t sure what I was going to hear out of Destiny. but it kind of feels like R&B almost with the way the arrangement flows around. It’s not that bad to be honest and it runs circles around “One Step” quite a bit. However, it’s the shortest vocal track on the album, but it’s good that it’s short.

12. Tengoku ni Ichiban Tooi Basho

As the only song that’s from the “Refrain” mini-album, Tengoku ni Ichiban Tooi Basho really sounds romantic in a way with some of the English YUKA syas in the track. As sweet and lyrically adorable the song is, the song actually feels boring otherwise. Unlike other songs, I would definitely need time to actually enjoy it.

13. On the right

The only reason I remember this song was because of the fact it was a part of the medley found on the “Sunshine Girl” single. I actually love the song in its original form as well since it’s got a nice beat and has many hooks that give it that boost of energy. Include YUKA’s cute vocals and I found myself loving it the song all over again and without a different song changing up the mood YES!

14. HAPPY UNBIRTHDAY

As a bonus track before the end, we get the third and final new song on the album, HAPPY UNBIRTHDAY is quite upbeat for something that is rather absurd and silly sounding. Just like the more recent upbeat songs off 15 Doors, this one fits the more recent sound of course. Nothing that’s new here, but it’s nice for another happy happy song right?

15. Farewell (outro)

Yep, we’re at the outro of the album finally and while it’s not like the intro really, Farewell is just YUKA ab-libbing with an ethereal background. Not really too exciting…nor does much of anything, but I guess it’s better than anything right?

16. PINKY RING (Live ver.)

As another bonus track to the album, there’s a live version of PINKY RING (which the original is off their self-titled debut album). Of course the song is more natural sounding and even better live with YUKA singing and I loved her voice here. It’s a nice change to things but…iono something felt off.

Tracks Recommended

• Aoi Tsuki to Ambivalence na Ai
• Sunshine Girl
• On the right
• moonlight
• YAY

Song of Avoidance

• One Step

Five singles (7 including the Ichigo singles), two mini-albums and various digital releases, we get moumoon’s sophomore album. I do think that it is a bit more like a glorified best-of because of only having three new vocal songs. However, 15 Doors does have quite a lot of epic songs from them so it sort of makes the blow softer overall. I think they should go back to YUKA singing normal and not in a cutesy tone, but that’s just me…still a good album ^_^

“Beautiful LP.”

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*Porta's favourite!*

moumoon (ムー・ムーン) is a Japanese pop-rock duet consisting of YUKA (lead vocalist) and Kousuke Masaki (guitar/synths). Previously signed onto the TRUE SONG label of ex-Do as Infinity founder Nagao Dai, moumoon progressed to avex trax in 2007. The band's name consists of the French word mou (tender) and the English word moon. Their debut mini album "Flowers" was released in 2006. Before the album, they had released a pre-debut single which featured two of the tracks included on their upcoming single. These songs were "Flowers" and "pride".

In 2007, moumoon was signed to Avex Trax, and the second mini,"love me?" album was released. The band performed their first tv live for the song "SWEET HEART". As a result moumoon began to steadily gathering interests and fans.

Moumoon

"My personal favorite
Fresh new artist!"

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*Special thanks recommended by



Fong Beer

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“so happy and summery!,
it's perfectly fine.”



the portastylistic