Masaki Suda(菅田将暉) - PLAY Album Thoughts(J-rock)

1さよならエレジー
2いいんだよ、きっと
3見たこともない景色
4ピンクのアフロにカザールかけて
5風になってゆく
6台詞
7スプリンター
8ゆらゆら
9呼吸
10浅草キッド
11茜色の夕日
12さよならエレジー(Acoustic ver.)
13ばかになっちゃったのかな
14雨が上がる頃に




     Masaki Suda is a pretty well known actor in Japan. He is know for being able to act out different roles that are nothing like each other. He's biggest break out role was playing in a season of the show Kamen Rider. He's never hid the facts that he sings and plays guitar as he has performed for his roles but he never tried to be an official singer until the end of last year. His debut album is called Play. Japanese singers need to start thinking of another english word to use for their album titles. Sakura Fujiwara's last album was also called Play……

   Lets cut to the chase. I normally say what I like about the album first then say what I didn't like but I need to get my thoughts off my chest now. Play as an album that tried pulled a fast one on the people that bought it. Singer; Kenshi Yonezu did a duet with Suda that was on his album called Bootleg. I'm sure I mentioned the track in my post about that album(It's a good song.). So, can someone tell me why the duet appeared on Play? Bootleg got number one spot on the charts making it painfully obvious that most Japanese listeners have purchased this song and have heard it multiple times already. Suda could have gone back into the studio and redid the song with only his vocals. That didn't happen though causing me to think that his label wasn't trying to add another new track on Play for fear that they wouldn't get their money back. The end result is that fans are forced to pay for a song they have already heard. Please keep in mind that Play isn't a bad album. The compilation starts off strong with Suda bringing into reality the wild free rocker you sometimes see him portray in his roles. The use of the acoustic guitar and electric guitar playing together forms this rugged edge to the band's instrumental support of Suda. Producers try to keep Suda's debut Pop rock by adding softer elements of piano for some tracks then a bit of violin later on. Suda doesn't stop rocking even in his mainstream pop bubble created by his label however. He seem to have had an opinion in what tracks he wanted to be included in Play since a few tracks are just him screaming in the microphone. I was a little bit afraid of Suda releasing a full album because he doesn't seem like an artist that could keep a strong momentum going for ten to twelve tracks. My worries were confirmed somewhat. Tracks toward the end of Play were either sounding too similar or sounding tired out. All the singles for the album are good though. As well as a couple of the new tracks. Oh! I almost forgot to add that if Suda is the one playing the guitar on this album, then HE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THAT BAD BOY SING!!!!!

   Masaki Suda isn't the best singer nor is he the worst. I feel like his voice is what the sons of the members of the legendary Japanese band The Blue Hearts would sound like. He doesn't really challenge himself when he sings. Most of his vocals don't vocalize higher than what he's comfortable with. Makes sense considering his vocals have a deep husky quality which I love when he uses his vocal tonality correctly.

  I'm sure without a doubt that this album will sell well in Japan just because it's Masaki Suda. I was a bit disappointed in this album honestly. He has some good tracks on there if you liked the singles he released prior.