When a group has a handful of 10-out-of-10 Legendary Songs in their discography, it can be hard to temper expectations for new music. I probably hold Kis-My-Ft2 to a higher standard than many other groups because their 2016-18 era is among my favorite discographies in all of J-pop. They’re unlikely to replicate that again, making any new music feel like icing on an already delicious cake.
With that in mind, C’monova is more successful than their recently released Heartbreaker. It gives the guys a rollicking rock energy to play with, hearkening back to many of their best songs. The main guitar riff sounds instantly familiar, but that’s probably more of a stylistic thing than a total rip-off. More importantly, this element sets the stage for a sprightly tempo that supports a series of fun, punchy verses. The guys sound great, bringing plenty of character and verve to the performance.
C’monova‘s chorus is suitably huge, providing an effective centerpiece that grows more bombastic as we reach the song’s barreling finale. I’d love to see more of this from the group, keeping their boisterous personality intact as they enter this new stage of their career.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
9
Bias
9
RATING
8.5