Well, my favorite J-pop group has finally dropped their entire catalog on streaming today. I’ve already reviewed every Kis-My-Ft2 single in-depth on the blog, but I think I need to finally do an overview of their discography now that it’s available worldwide.
Just like my News feature last year, I’m going to start with the singles and make a separate post for the albums later. Though I haven’t cared for any of Kisumai’s post-Kitayama work, they have released some of my all-time favorite music before that. Do yourself a favor and take a deep dive. Anyone missing big, bombastic pop music with massive melodies will surely find something to love.
Everybody Go (2011)
9+ rated songs: The single itself is a certified legendary song. I absolutely adore it.
Other highlights: I’d honestly recommend the whole EP. Kiss For U and Wakamonotachi (若者たち) are surging dance/rock highlights, while S.O.KISS has a fun mid-2000’s R&B sound.
We Never Give Up (2011)
9+ rated songs: We Never Give Up is another certified legendary song. One of my favorite J-pop songs ever, really.
Other highlights: Despite its weird name, Kis-My-Venus is a silly bit of bombast that always goes off in concerts.
SHE! HER! HER! (2012)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: This single is a classic Kisumai track and one of their more iconic songs. B-side Deep Your Heart is an energetic 2012-era EDM banger.
WANNA BEEEE!!! / Shake It Up (2012)
9+ rated songs: I consider both a-side tracks to be 9+ rated. WANNA BEEEE!! is punky and incredibly energetic, while Shake It Up is perfect recession-era EDM with a great hook.
Other highlights: Though not as strong as either of the a-sides, Summer Lover still packs a wallop.
Ai No Beat (アイノビート) (2012)
9+ rated songs: Ai No Beat comes in two versions on the single. The rock version is fine, but the dance version gets the 9+ rating from me.
Other highlights: Never End Love is the kind of pump-your-fist rock track I love from the group, while Winter Lover is a nice holiday song.
My Resistance (Tashika na Mono)/Unmei Girl (2013)
9+ rated songs: This is another double a-side with two 9+ rated tracks. My Resistance has one of my favorite melodies in the group’s catalog. Unmei Girl is just pure singalong fun with tons of energy.
Other highlights: Forever With U is pure dancefloor cheese with a great europop sound.
Kiss U Mai (Kiss Your Mind) / S.O.S. (Smile on Smile) (2013)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: I like both the a-sides, but they’re far from my favorite. Kiss U Mai is a bit frantic and S.O.S a bit generic. I actually prefer the blazing Eurobeat energy of b-side Keep On Smile to both of them.
Kimi to no Kiseki (キミとのキセキ) (2013)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: Kimi to no Kiseki (キミとのキセキ) is really fun and bright. It’s just not essential. Diamond Honey (タナゴコロ) is a shot of upbeat energy.
Snow Dome no Yakusoku / Luv Sick (2013)
9+ rated songs: Luv Sick is an excellent single with a very theatrical melody and production.
Other highlights: Snow Dome no Yakusoku (SNOW DOMEの約束) is a nice ballad but mostly relegated to the holidays. Motetai ze Tonight (モテたいぜ トゥナイト) and Lucky Seven! are both fun singalong anthems.
Hikari no Signal (光のシグナル) (2014)
9+ rated songs: Zutto (You Are My Everything) is a massive EDM banger. I love the chorus.
Other highlights: Hikari no Signal (光のシグナル) is a nice, typical anime theme. Crush! Crush! Crush! is a chugging rock/dance track with tons of energy.
Another Future (2014)
9+ rated songs: Perfect World was one of the first songs that made me a fan. Its cascading melodies are so, so satisfying.
Other highlights: Another Future is a super solid Kisumai single. It’s not quite a “9” for me, but it’s very close. Kanjiruma mani kagayaite (感じるままに輝いて) is another standout. I love its anthemic melodies.
Thank You Jyan! (Thank youじゃん!) (2014)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: Thank You Jyan! is a beloved song that’s always performed at concerts. I appreciate it more for what it is than the song itself. The rest of this single is holiday-themed.
Kiss Damashii (Kiss魂) (2015)
9+ rated songs: Kiss Damashii (Kiss魂) is an incredibly catchy power-pop song with great guitar riffs. It’s one of my favorites.
Other highlights: Shake Body!! is another super sturdy, glistening EDM track.
AAO (2015)
9+ rated songs: Let It Burn! is absolutely massive. What a sledgehammer of a track. The chorus is EPIC.
Other highlights: AAO is funky and a ton of fun. The rap is also really good. Makenaide (負けないで) is a nice classic idol track.
Saigo mo Yappari Kimi (最後もやっぱり君) (2015)
9+ rated songs: This one is all about the b-sides. I adore On Your Mark — especially how the chorus ends on such a high. Last Lover is also incredibly energetic dance pop with a thrilling chorus.
Other highlights: Saigo mo Yappari Kimi (最後もやっぱり君) is a very nice ballad, but you know I’ll always prefer the upbeat stuff.
Gravity (2016)
9+ rated songs: Well, Gravity is one of my favorite songs of all time, as I’ve stated many times on the blog. 100/10, really. I could go on about it forever.
Other highlights: MU-CHU-DE 恋してる is an ultra-energetic dance track that’s a lot of cheesy fun.
Sha la la☆Summer Time (2016)
9+ rated songs: Sha la la☆Summer Time is a summer staple in my house. It’s just so breezy and fun. Touch is one of the group’s best unit tracks with a brilliant early-2010’s dance energy.
Other highlights: Dream Stage is an example of Kisumai’s penchant for arena rock. They’re so good in this setting.
Inter (2017)
9+ rated songs: Tonight is a certified legendary song. It’s just epic and everything I love about this group. It’s like a dance rock opera. Zenryoku Fighter (全力ファイター) is one of their strongest rock bangers. What a great chorus!
Other highlights: Seven Wishes‘ upbeat sound feels like an adventure in the making. Kimi no Iro Sekai (君のいる世界) is a nice sentimental ballad.
Pick It Up (2017)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: Every song on this EP is very solid. Pick It Up is a great upbeat single. Zukkyuun (ズッキューン) is a fun rocker. Up&Down and Up&Down, Yo Dance! is as infectiously catchy and energetic as the title sounds. However, the singalong Around The World is the real hidden gem.
Akai Kajitsu (赤い果実) (2017)
9+ rated songs: Akai Kajitsu (赤い果実) is the group in their full-on rock-opera phase. It’s just brilliant bombast. B-side Ima wa Mada Toku hateshinai Yume mo (今はまだ遠く 果てしない夢も) is even better. It’s one of my favorite Kisumai songs. The melodies are just perfection and the energy makes you feel like you could conquer the world.
Other highlights: Hot!x2 has an incredibly uplifting dance sound. It’s so fun to sing along to. Future Train is a bit more sentimental but no less upbeat. This whole EP is absolutely brilliant.
You & Me (2018)
9+ rated songs: Zero is the kind of nonstop energy only J-pop can provide. It just never lets up.
Other highlights: Home is a fantastic rock ballad with a ton of heft.
LOVE (2018)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: Love is fun but inessential. Because I Love You has a nice ballad-with-a-beat sound. ConneXion is a trendy unit track that works well.
Kimi, Boku. (君、僕。) (2018)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: Kimi, Boku. (君、僕。) has a wonderful, uplifting melody. Your Life is pure optimism in a pop song. Still Song For You is moodier and more mature but has a fantastic chorus. Rainy Days tries Chainsmokers-style EDM on for size and vastly improves upon it.
Kimi wo Daisuki da (君を大好きだ) (2019)
9+ rated songs: Liar World is the kind of bombastic Kisumai song I live for. It’s pretty much perfect.
Other highlights: Kimi wo Daisuki da (君を大好きだ) is one of their stronger ballads with a great music video. Hurray! Hurray! is as much a bottle of joy as its title suggests. Boukensyae (冒険者へ) has a slightly more acoustic sound that works well with great hooks.
Hands Up (2019)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: Hands Up is a fun EDM banger. Manatsu To Taiyou (真夏と太陽) is probably my favorite track. It just reminds me of summer. Go For It! is a bounding disco-dance highlight.
Edge Of Days (2019)
9+ rated songs: Edge Of Days has slowly crept up to be one of my favorite Kisumai songs. The chorus (and especially post-chorus) is just thrilling.
Other highlights: Mr. Fresh is such a fun funk-dance track with a great riff. Koakuma Lip (小悪魔Lip) adds to their ultra-strong series of rock anthems.
Endless Summer (2020)
9+ rated songs: Sailing is the best track here. I love its surging energy.
Other highlights: Endless Summer is fun pop fluff. Cannonball is similarly enjoyable.
Luv Bias (2021)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: Luv Bias has one of their strongest choruses of the past few years. Naked is a cool new take on their rock side. Big Wave is solid bubblegum pop with a tropical tinge. Original Color has strong melodies and an uplifting sound.
Fear / So Blue (2021)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: Fear is an exciting new sound for them. Very haunting and mature. So Blue is more classically J-pop, while Shining Ace is yet another super-strong rock anthem to add to their ranks.
Two As One (2021)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: Two As One is an incredibly catchy ballad that matures their sound. Smokin’ Hot is a fun upbeat track and Akumu dabbles in synthwave for the first time in their career.
Omoibana (想花) (2022)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: This is where things start getting dicey for me. Omoibana is a fine ballad, but I find Rebirth Stage grating You Know What? is the strongest song here because it’s simple and upbeat funk.
Tomoni (ともに) (2023)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: Yeah, I got nothing here.
HEARTBREAKER / C’monova (2024)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: Heartbreaker and C’monova are okay singles, but nothing as strong as the group’s best work.
Curtain Call (2025)
9+ rated songs: none
Other highlights: I suppose MeraMera is okay. It just sounds nothing like Kis-My-Ft2. Unit track Shindo is much better and points a possible way forward for the guys.