Uta no Prince-sama - Maji Love 1000% - Idol Song Jinguji Ren CD review

Title: Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000% Idol Song Jinguji Ren
Artist: Jinguji Ren (Suwabe Junichi)
Release date: 10 August, 2011
Version: n/a

Packaging: Like the rest in this series of single releases it comes in the standard jewel case so it has a front and back cover. Both are rather plain with the only original artwork used being what is on the front cover. Jinguji Ren's image color of orange is used throughout the packaging.

Tracks:

1. 世界の果てまでBelieve Heart (Sekai no Hate made Believe Heart)
Like the character songs in this series of releases this one features the instrument that Ren is associated with, the saxophone. Unfortunately it makes the song sound really cheesy, which sure most idol music is, but this is a whole different level of it. Most of it I would place with the fact that the song is an upbeat pop tune and while horns would sound good in parts the sax does not make for the best replacement instrument for them. Especially as it is made rather prominent throughout the song. It would have probably done better just to keep the sax solo in the middle and at the end then use it lightly through the rest. Other than that it is not a bad song but not as strong as it could have been.

2. Dear... Burning my Lady!
I prefer this song to the first but both do well in having the kind of sound to them that a listener can easily associate with Ren. It is a latin inspired piece that has that shows how a sax should be used in a pop song. Which is lightly until there is a space where it can be front and center for a bit. Everything just seems to work with this song and it comes off as the stronger of the two.

3. 世界の果てまでBelieve Heart (Sekai no Hate made Believe Heart) (off vocal)
4. Dear... Burning my Lady! (off vocal)

Overall: Not going to bother rehashing my thoughts on the packaging at this point. Instead focusing on the songs this is a solid release.

Really the use of the sax is the make it or break it for me with them. The second song comes together nicely with it just being another added flavor to the latin inspired pop. The first though suffers because it sounds distracting and at times overpowering because of how often it is used.

Suwabe's voice is another that has a rather pleasant tone to it so he does sound good in both. But the songs are similar with both being uptempo pop, but get to stand out from each other because of the mix of elements used.