Scandal’s latest, ‘Nanka Buttobase’, has a PV out and I recently gave it a listen.
SCANDAL’s been on and off my radar since I’ve heard about them. I was captivated by songs like ‘Space Ranger’ and ‘Doll’, but also felt bored or unsure about some of their other singles. Their image also felt like it was in a constant flux, feeling down to earth and gritty initially, and then sporting a sterilized corporate look with their more recent PVs.
I’m not sure how I feel about ‘Nanka Buttobase’. The rock attitude seems to be there, and the technical ability is there; but like many of their other songs, I don’t find myself loving their sound. Many of their singles sound safe and restrained, like a baby-proofed room. I found myself loving some parts of the song, but turning completely off at the rest.
This PV shows something I haven’t seen from SCANDAL; synchronized dancing with their guitars. I don’t recall them doing this before, and the result is something that almost feels more ‘idol-ish’ than a rock group. The video shows SCANDAL performing in what looks like a vacant warehouse with a large group of men in the background engaging in some sort of face-off for the entire PV. Like the song, the entire video shows a lot of shaking and movement while feeling completely static.
Are they a band meant to be heard live? Am I missing something? I’m just not feeling it.
