Cover for CD only , CD + DVD , LIVE-GYM 2015 Edition (includes live goods) & Analog Edition (includes download card)
1) Las Vegas
2) Uchouten
3) Exit To The Sun
4) NO EXCUSE
5) Amarinimo
6) EPIC DAY
7) Classmate
8) Black Coffee
9) Kimi wo Kinishinai Hi Nado
10) Man Of The Match
The duo's last album release was 2011's C'mon . Only 1 single Uchouten is included in EPIC DAY . Their 50th single GO FOR IT , BABY - Kioku no Sanmyaku- is excluded from the tracklist .
There're a total of 9 new album tracks in EPIC DAY such as Rock tunes (Las Vegas , EPIC DAY) , Pop numbers (NO EXCUSE , Amarinimo) & medium-tempo ballads (Exit To The Sun , Classmate , Kimi wo Kinishinai Hi Nado) .
In EPIC DAY , the 1st 5 songs are classified as Side A while the 2nd 1/2 of the album are classified as Side B .
All songs in the album were written by vocalist Inaba Koshi while guitarist Tak Matsumoto handled the compositions for all tracks in EPIC DAY .
Served as the album's opening track is Las Vegas . This was picked to be used as the theme song for the motor sports event Red Bull Air Race Chiba 2015 & it's 1 of 3 album tracks that has a short video .
There's nothing like an energetic number to kick off the album & Las Vegas sets the tone in what to expect next in EPIC DAY .
Las Vegas is a very entertaining no. that leaves a strong memorable impression on me & it definitely deserves to get a short video .
Uchouten is B'z's 51st single & as mentioned before , it's the only single included in EPIC DAY .
Described as a motivational Rock tune , Uchouten was picked to be used as the theme song for NTV drama Gakkou Kaidan .
The next album track Exit To The Sun was used as the theme song for NHK's drama Dark Suit in which this mid tempo orchestra driven track was specially written for the drama .
Regarding Exit To The Sun , the drama's chief producer Yaguchi Takayuki commented , "While 'Dark Suit' is a tough & profound business suspense drama , what underlies the story is the mental theme of believing in hope & holding onto dreams . Exit To The Sun is a wonderful song that provides a physical form for that mental part . "
NO EXCUSE was picked to be used in the ads of Kirin's beer Smirnoff . Just like Las Vegas , it's a fun energetic number except in this case , NO EXCUSE has a more Summer influence flair attached to the song .
On the other hand , Amarinimo was used in the ads of travel agency H.I.S. . I've already heard a slight preview of it & the full version of Amarinimo does not disappoint .
Sharing the same title as the album , EPIC DAY (the song) is a highly charged up rock driven number . Surprisingly , to me this's 1 of the weaker tracks & it's probably because it doesn't have any promo tie's in to help it stand out from the rest but still it's a track worth checking out .
Classmate is the 2nd of 3 new album tracks that has a short video . 1 of the more slow down numbers in EPIC DAY , Classmate itself presents a more vulnerable emotional side to B'z & the song is a class of its own right , no pun intended .
Black Coffee follows after Classmate & just like EPIC DAY (the song) , Black Coffee is 1 of the slightly weaker songs in the album but after a few listens , it's a track that has attitude & spunk .
The 2nd last track in the album , Kimi wo Kinishinai Hi Nado is the 3rd new album tracks that has a short video . Similar to Classmate , Kimi wo Kinishinai Hi Nado is 1 of the more slow down no.s in the album except in this case , Classmate is more simplified while Kimi wo Kinishinai Hi Nado has a rather grand sweeping Orchestra sound .
Man Of The Match is the final track in EPIC DAY & on 1st listen , I thought it sounded awkward as the beginning + ending were quite strange but the main body of the song is a heart thumping no. which's the perfect no. to wrap things up in the album .
The beginning & ending of Man Of The Match are my least fave parts of the song but I suppose they were meant to sound like that but generally it's a good no. that I like .
After a brief detour into solo activities , Japan's best selling artiste of all time B'z is back together with a new album ! EPIC DAY is the duo's 1st album in over 3 1/2 years & it features a total of 10 tracks – including hit single Uchouten .
It has been almost 4 years since B'z last released C'mon & honestly when it was announced that there'll be only 10 tracks in EPIC DAY , I was a bit disappointed as on 1st look , 10 songs seemed very little & let alone they excluded GO FOR IT , BABY - Kioku no Sanmyaku- .
Thankfully , the songs themselves in EPIC DAY are overall top notch & credits has to go to guitarist Tak Matsumoto for composing the entire album . And in this case , they subscribe to the quality over quantity mantra .
Having 10 songs with only 1 single preceding the album on paper might seems like a recipe for disaster but that's not the case for B'z & after being in business since 1988 , they're still able to draw in people to like their music which's testimony to their everlasting longevity .
Overall , EPIC DAY is a really enjoyable album & if you fancy old school Rock 'n' Roll music then this album might be something you'll enjoy .
On that note , welcome back B'z !