Get in readers, we’re going to HOTEL ALL SUITE and Snow Man is going to give all of us a private tour with all the bells and whistles that comes with the VIP treatment from the biggest group in J-pop.

For their sixth studio album, 『AMENITY』, the boys have traded their usual fashion for the uniforms of a band of hotel bellhops. Each member plays a personal concierge, serving up a little touch of that Snow Man musical magic to their fans. Room service has never looked this good.

But first, I must mention the elephant in the lobby.

『AMENITY』 is the first Snow Man album where not all nine members are featured on every song as the album was mostly recorded while my oshi–the one and only Meguro Ren–was in Canada filming his first international role in Shōgun Season 2. Do I miss that velvet baritone? Obviously.  But, it was an incredible opportunity and the remaining eight members are more than capable of keeping this tight ship of sound in tip-top shape.

The lead single ｢グッタイム｣ (English: Good Time) came with a music video filmed in one near-continuous take on an open set in Paris. France. 100 local extras, incredible dancers, a brass band… it was my first taste of the group without Ren, and so (to be honest) I was prepared to be incredibly critical. But I loved it.

Then the album’s second lead track, ｢show time…｣, allowed the boys to glam it up in white on a theatrical stage. Raul, the group’s centre (and youngest member), who was only 16 when Snow Man debuted, has not only grown into an incredible talent but also into one of the most handsome young men in the entertainment industry.

An impressive tracklist, the album isn’t completely sans Meguro. 「オドロウゼ！」(English: Let’s Dance!) – the theme to Sakuma’s feature film 『スペシャルズ』(English: The Specials).

｢BANG!!｣, the theme for Meguro’s feature film adaptation of the popular anime Sakamoto Days.

｢SAVE YOUR HEART｣ the theme from Miyadate’s dramedy My Dear Robot, also featuring Travis Japan member Machu.

The unit tracks are also a lot of fun.

  • Koji, Abe & Sakuma with ｢あいがとう。｣
  • Iwamoto, Raul & Miyadate with ｢夜明けのララバイ｣
  • Fukazawa & Watabe with ｢Be mine｣

Limited A includes a MV for ｢マドラー｣ plus behind-the-scenes footage. It also has a new variety special called Who’s Faking Their Wake-Up Prank?! Fake-Sleep Werewolf in Paris, which is chaos in the best way. And the freebies are very on theme: a hair comb (Limited A), a cork coaster (Limited B), and a boxed toothbrush (regular edition). Collect all three and you’ve basically stocked the bathroom.

AMENITY is a hit. It debuted at #1 on Oricon’s daily chart with 766,000 copies sold on day one.

There will be plenty more Snow Man soon so…

Stay Tuned… and don’t forget to tip your bellhops!