Covering a surprising amount of time for a Japanese greatest-hits compilation (most are released after a band has issued only two or three albums),
Orange Range's 2010 collection indeed includes all of their singles released between 2002 and 2009. Early hits such as "Kirikiri Mai" (which flopped, but then gained a foothold with the public) show off a more directly rock-oriented version of the band, while later pieces (after the 2005 departure of founding member Kitao Kazuhito) display a more direct hip-hop influence. The sound is always a bit formulaic with
Orange Range, keeping fans happy and gaining plenty of exposure for mainstream anime theme music. At the same time, critics sometimes push for greater creativity on the part of the band, and the pieces' similarity to one another on this collection can make a strong case for either side. One notable omission from the album, given that even minor hits are included, is the single "Locolotion," removed from some of the band's records after plagiarism complaints and licensing workarounds. ~ Adam Greenberg