ミドリ - shinsekai [2010]

So, let's see what type of note they go out on. Extremely kawaii first track with some interesting amounts of atmospheric keys. As I was expecting, "凡庸VS茫洋" kicks in like a sledge-hammer and the chaos continues all the way through the track. It isn't as groove-oriented as the first album, but it's got a shitload of forward momentum. "さよなら、パーフェクトワールド。" jumps between calm/catchy and completely over the edge screaming with a slightly more down-beat tempo. This album manages to be fairly different from the rest of their stuff with lovely surprises sprinkled throughout the album (listen to "メカ" for the best example of this). There's still very little of the original punk influence on this album; it's mostly jazz with some screamy vox. However, "あたし、ギターになっちゃった!!!!!" really feels like a return to the form of the first album. Overall, it's the little things that make this a good album. The songwriting has changed quite a bit, but it hasn't moved forward all that much. However, the changes and "surprises" (for a long-time fan, anyway) are wonderful to behold. As always, I just wish there was more Punk in the mix.

Rating: 8

http://midori072.com/

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ミドリ - swing [2009]

Fairly KAWAIIIIII first track. Not all that catchy, but it's smooth, jazzy, and easy-going. "あかん!!" is much more chaotic, but it's a bit let down by an extremely repetitive section of screaming in the middle of the song. Overall, it's much more cute than the previous album. I like the jazz as well. It's pretty catchy, too. However, I really miss the larger punk influence of the first album. That's where most of the crazy energy came from, and most of it is noticeably gone now.

Rating: 7.5

http://midori072.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

ミドリ - あらためまして、はじめまして、ミドリです。 [2008]

Great news after listening to track 2: this may be the breakthrough that I have been looking for from these guys. Track 4 is a re-recording from the first album, but it actually feels better than most re-recordings. This is, indeed, a large step up from the previous material. The production is great. The songwriting has much more of the punky and screamy feel, but the cute parts are still adorable and the jazz is just as prevalent as ever. There isn't one song that falls flat on this album and there is quite a bit of variation between the songs so that boredom is impossible.

Rating: 8.5

http://midori072.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

ミドリ - 清水 [2007]

First up is a fairly adorable and entertaining intro track. Track 2 comes in poised and strong. I like the fact that the piano isn't relegated to the right speaker like it was in the previous album. The production is louder and more forward with noticeable distortion during the more chaotic sections (especially noticeable with the drum toms). Track 3 shows off the newer production quality of the guitars... they are audible and fairly clean, if a tiny bit buried in the mix. Track 4 takes the noise element to a new level with a few massively distorted and lasting explosions followed closely by a very catchy chorus section. Track 5 is the same as track 5 on the first album but with a few slight differences and dirtier playing... and it isn't as compelling as the original. Track 6 is a nice, cute, and calmer changeup from the rest of the chaos. I'm happy about the production and the songwriting isn't bad, either. Even so, it's only marginally better than their previous material. I'm still left waiting for the album that will break through their established writing and take everything to the next level.

Rating: 7.75

http://midori072.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

ミドリ - セカンド♥ [2007]

Production quality has taken a bit of a hit for everything except the piano. The guitar is especially woefully produced with it often times being completely buried and inaudible. First track introduces the new style and sports much more mature songwriting, but it's not as energetic as the beginning of the first album. Second track is more energetic. Overall, this isn't the most compelling songwriting I've heard. There is certainly more good tracks on this one than the first album, and the jazz punk fusion works even better here. The repetition on this album isn't nearly as annoying as it was on the first one as well. And while the more biting punky sections are more evenly spread out on this album, there isn't enough to be satisfying. The production is really lacking and impenetrable at times (especially with the guitars).

Rating: 7.5

http://midori072.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

ミドリ - ファースト [2005]

YAAAAAAY!!! First track and I love it!!! Cool piano combined with punky guitars, thrashy beat, and the most out of place and kawaii vocals I've ever heard! The jazzy piano is here throughout most of the album. The appeal of the amelodic vocals is starting to wear thin by the third track. The longer piano interludes in "A.N.A" help, but the song is hurt by the repetition of the same phrase to the point that I get a bit angry. Track 5 brings back the spastic punk feel. Overall, I like the idea, but wish that they had used some more normal vocals to break things up a bit. Even so, I don't mind much because this album is so short that it doesn't wear me out. Props for something fresh and different.

Rating:7.5

http://midori072.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.