Natsuzora Graffiti / Seishun Line (single)
Artist: Ikimono Gakari
Released: 2007.08.08
1. Natsuzora Graffiti
2. Seishun Line
3. Aoi Fune
4. Natsuzora Graffiti -instrumental-
5. Seishun Line -instrumental-

Natsuzora Graffiti / Seishun Line is Ikimono Gakari’s sixth single and first since Sakura Saku Machi Monogatari. Seishun Line was used as the second opening theme for the anime Ōkiku Furikabutte (which is a great SPORTS anime). The single reached #10 on the weekly Oricon charts and sold 16,471 in it’s first week (I’m unsure of current sales).

Ah btw this review has been sitting in draft for like a month now ==, I know it’s not hard to do a three track review but… orz.

My thoughts
Natsuzora Graffiti is a fast paced and straight forward pop-rock song. It opens strongly with Kiyoes vocals followed by guitar riffs leading to the verse, the chorus is catchy like most of Ikimono Gakari’s works, I really like the fun BGM in the song. Even though the PV is pretty plain it makes me want to go to some far away beach place.

Seishun Line is slower than Natsuzora Graffiti but it’s still pretty pop-rocky, I think I like this A-Side best because of its use in Ookiku Furikabutte. The strong cymbal beats backing the vocals during the chorus make the song really catchy as well, harmonica annoys me sometimes but it’s bearable in this song (as like most other Ikimono Gakari songs).

Aoi Fune is the B-Side and it follows the other songs I guess, it’s a pop-rock song but I do like this song more than the A-Sides because I like the overall composition more. It wasn’t very predictable first time listening and the second half of the chorus is my favourite part.

Final Judgment
3.5 out of 5, I have to say that this single wasn’t as enjoyable as their previous ones because tracks on this single are all too similar, they’re good songs in their own right but clump them together and it gets a little tiring. Also, the A-Side material isn’t as good as their previous ones but overall it’s a good single.