My apologies for forgetting my article last week. I was completely intent on posting it, but when I went to post it, I couldn’t find it anywhere on my computer or my thumb drive (which is my computer).

But fret not, lads and ladies, I bring you Melon Kinenbi!

This time around, I’m finally reviewing Melon Kinenbi’s “MELON’S NOT DEAD.” Melon Kinenbi was the longest running Hello! Project group to keep the same line up, and remain the holders of this record even after their graduation alongside the rest of Hello! Project’s Elder Club, which housed some of H!P’s best known members and groups, such as Mari “Sexy Bean” Yaguchi, v-u-den, and super group Ongaku Gatas, in 2009. And even after their graduation, they continued to release music through the Zetima label.
Unfortunately, it was announced the day of the release of MKB’s long anticipated album, they would be breaking up.
I just started discovering their music, so this was a huge disappointment to me.
However, I do believe “MELON’S NOT DEAD” (which now that I look at it, is a horrid name for this album) is a fine last album for a group to finish on.
Most of the songs on the album were collaborations, with bands such as GOING UNDER GROUND, Midori, and one of my new favourite bands, BEAT CRUSADERS.

The album starts off with a rock version Melon Kinenbi no Theme, the original version being featured on their album “1st Anniversary.” The song is just straight up rock. I know a lot of people say they do “rock” music and it’s more alternative, but this song is rock. Like, you can headbang to it.
TL;DR: it is one minute and thirty-seven seconds of awesome.

Next comes one of the three singles featured on the album (four if you include Pinch wa Chance…, even if it is an album version), “Don’t Say Good-Bye.” I really like this song, and you gotta love the guitar solo. I also really like the PV for this song. It’s like…live, but not.
I’m not big on the bridge though. It just doesn’t seem like it goes with the rest of the song.

The third track starts on an odd note. It starts with the members of NEW ROTEKA shouting and the girls of MKB responding with “YES!” (“HAI!”). It’s also one of the few songs where different vocalists other than the girls are featured.
I like the beginning of this song, but it loses me shortly after. I don’t know what it is, but after the beginning, I’m just turned off.
And thus, we move on.

“sweet suicide summer story” is…chaotic. But in a good way.
I think.
It, to a degree, sounds like the keyboardist has no idea what song they’re playing. They just decided to smash their head against the keys and if it sounds somewhat decent, go with it. It does redeem itself on the chorus though, but it goes right back to the way it is in the next verse. They should’ve gone with either the keyboard’s tune, or the drum’s beat. Not both of them together.
I adore the vocals, however. They all sound great, especially in harmony.

The next song is with THE COLLECTORS, “Seishun on the Road.” (Hint, girls. It’s been a long time since you’ve been “seishun” [Japanese for youth])
I really like the ballad-y feel of this song. It kind of takes me back to the seventies. Like, I could tune into the local classic rock station and hear this song playing. I’m pretty sure this is one of my favourite songs on the album.

Next is my favourite of the singles featured, “Melon Tea.” This was the first of Melon Kinenbi’s post-H!P songs I heard and I really loved it. I love the music, I love the vocals, I love it all.

And please, do enlighten me how you can’t resist four girls singing “MERON TEA! MERON TEA!”?

If I could track down English lyrics, it might make a bit more sense why they’re wanting to make a beverage out of cantaloupes…but the lyrics are so simplistic and sweet. Even if I can’t understand them.

That is the only part I can pull out, hush.
Also, because I can, I’m shoving the PV in here.

“Romantic wo Tsukinukero! ~Break it now~” comes next, and it eerily reminds me of “We Are Buono! ~Buono! no Theme~” (a song I covered in my previous review) in the first few seconds. Then it takes on a life all it’s own.
This is another of my favourite songs on the album. The hook of the chorus is just great, and I love the instrumental bit. And again, I love the girls’ voices together.

Next is “ALL AROUND ROCK,” which is indeed all around rock. Mixed with a few hits of the synthesizer. In actuality, I think this song is mostly instrumental. But I like the mix of the electric guitar with the synth, so it’s okay that I’m not hearing everyone’s voices.

AI AI AI DA IMA SUGU ROCK ON!
That’s the next song. This is another song that I love everything about. The instrumental, the vocals, the lyrics. I’d love to see a PV for this video with the girls jumping on the “AI AI AI!” part.
You hear me, girls?
Make one final PV before you leave us.
And I don’t mean the one for “Seishun on the Road.”
:c

The album finishes with the most perfect of songs to finish with, the girls’ second collaboration with BEAT CRUSADERS, “ALWAYS LOVE YOU.”
This is by far my favourite of the entire album (that sounds wrong to say the last song on an album is your favourite, but whatever). It’s got just enough rock to be considered J-rock, but reminisces on Melon Kinenbi’s past music under the Hello! Project. It’s the longest song on the album (five minutes and nineteen seconds), but definitely in my opinion the best.

MELON’S NOT DEAD – Melon Kinenbi
1 – Melon Kinenbi no Theme (Rock Ver.)
2 – Don’t Say Good-Bye (with BEAT CRUSADERS)
3 – Pinch wa Chance, Baka ni Narouze! (Album Ver.) (with NEW ROTEKA)
4 – sweet suicide summer story (with Midori)
5 – Seishun on the Road (with THE COLLECTORS)
6 – Melon Tea (with GOING UNDER GROUND)
7 – Romantic wo Tsukinukero! ~Break it now~
8 – ALL AROUND ROCK
9 – Ai Da! Ima Sugu ROCK ON!
10 – ALWAYS LOVE YOU (with BEAT CRUSADERS)

DM’S GRADE; A-

Overall, this album is a perfect end mark to Melon Kinenbi’s career. I’d like to wish the Melons the best of luck in whatever they do; and if musically, definitely expect me to follow their solo careers.

.

The opinions reflected in this post are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of LW and/or its staff members.