BILLIE IDLE Goes Out (Allegedly) With a Bang on "Last Album"

I don't really consider myself to be an idol fan. The groups I like are few and far between, and don't really fit in with the mainstream criteria of what "idol" music is. If I had to pick a favorite "idol" group, though, I'd be hard-pressed to find a group I appreciate and respect more than BILLIE IDLE. Formed out of the flaming wreckage of BiS a few years back, BILLIE IDLE's whole conceit is that they're "not idols" and "not kawaii". Across their three studio albums thus far, they've punctuated that image with a slew of hyperactive electro-pop and retro throwback punk rock which often stands out as some of the most vibrant music in the scene. All good things must come to an end, though. BILLIE IDLE's fourth album is called Last Album, and is to be supported by the Last Tour. Is this really goodbye for BILLIE IDLE? I sure hope not*.

The largely synth-driven POLYSICS-inspired work of BILLIE IDLE's first couple albums is essentially dead and buried by now. With their previous album bi bi bi bi bi the group began to indulge more in 90s-flavored pop punk and lean a little heavier on their ska influences. Though it admittedly is my least favorite album of theirs, it's not a bad one by any stretch - it's packed with gems, and who could ever forget the lead single Nakisou Sunday? Last Album continues the stylistic trends from bi bi bi bi bi and takes them in an even more lo-fi direction (and yes, I know lo-fi isn't the proper term and audiophiles everywhere are screaming into oblivion, but everybody knows what you really mean when you say "lo-fi").

Like bi bi bi bi bi, Last Album isn't an instant click for me. It really took a few listens to begin to appreciate the songwriting present underneath the retro textures and tones. Of course we've got the single MY WAY opening the thing up, and the more recent digital single Sayonara Romantic - both of these are fantastic songs. The stuff we haven't heard yet is where the real fun begins. While the initially nondescript Tokyo Mariru didn't leave much of an impression on me at first, I'd be lying if I wasn't listening to that song exclusively on repeat while writing this. The sparkling but minimal synths set the perfect mood for what grows into an unforgettable chorus. It's very 80s, like something out of a magical girl anime.

The production on this album is probably some of the weakest BILLIE IDLE has had to date, unfortunately. I love the general aesthetic, but the problem lies with the fact that BILLIE IDLE is still an idol group (despite their claims to the contrary). In an industry where the vocalists are the stars and the musicians behind the instrumentation take a back seat, the vocals can get so high in the mix it gives me vertigo. There's some genuinely great instrumental performances here which get buried deep under the otherwise unstoppable force of First Summer Uika's powerful voice. This isn't a BILLIE IDLE problem, it's an idol problem. It isn't always a hindrance though, luckily - the endlessly charming vocals on Lesson Time certainly deserve to be front and center, for example. The lovely late-album cut Ai SUNSUN is one track in particular which doesn't suffer from this, and stands out as a result. The singles, like MY WAY, also manage to dodge this issue for the most part. BILLIE IDLE, of course, is a group that really shines live far more than in the studio.

Last Album is not BILLIE IDLE's best work. It's full of color and character, but it's hard to beat something like IDLE GOSSIP or ROCK'N'ROLL IDLE. With that said, though, it still manages to beat out so many other groups active in the idol scene, or even pop music in general. Even now, at what may very well be the end of this group, they're still branching out into new territory. The power ballad STAY is grittier and clumsier than anything Kenta Matsukuma has put out, and certainly isn't backed by those luscious strings he's so fond of these days, but it has an undeniable sense of emotion the likes of which we've never really heard from BILLIE IDLE. The album's closer, fittingly titled Last Song, is as perfect a swan song as any. These last two tracks showcase the absolute best of the four talented singers which make up BILLIE IDLE. BiS veterans First Summer Uika and Nozomi Hirano are at their peak, and sisters Momose Momo and Akira have finally been given the chance to really prove themselves. Akira in particular hadn't really had her moment yet, being absent for the 4-in-1 EP that saw the girls each take on their own solo(ish) endeavor.

I do so love BILLIE IDLE. None of their albums have been perfect, but they're always packed with passion, joy, and love. They have an insurmountable amount of talent, a driving force unlike any other. We can only hope that Last Album isn't the end of their journey, but if it is? I, for one, think it's a fitting statement for such a special group. Over the coming days and weeks I know Last Album will continue to grow on me, and I feel confident in saying that it will be among my favorite pop albums of 2017.

-Justin

*From what I've heard (hearsay and rumors, really) this isn't actually BILLIE IDLE's last album. We'll just have to wait and see!

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