Every Little Thing – “Time to Destination” review

Final verdict: 10/10 ★★★★★

One thing Every Little Thing always did throughout their entire run was deliver good music, consistently. While their discography did have its ups and downs – as is natural for a group that’s been active for almost 30 years – none of it is bad, and therefore it can’t be said that they “fell off”, as far as quality goes – at least not in the same way that many of their contemporaries did.

However, they arguably peaked with their sophomore album, 1998’s “Time to Destination”. A monster seller, this record went on to become the 11th best selling album of all time in its home country of Japan, and it’s clear to see why.

Apart from the fact this served as the follow up to Every Little Thing’s successful debut full-length, entitled “everlasting”, this is just an excellent pop album, no matter what way you look at it.

Sonically, it’s AOR-adjacent pop rock, that appears hesitant to deviate from the commercial J-pop sound popular at the time. However, “Time to Destination” is aided by the fact it’s a remarkably well-crafted and focused collection of tunes, everything an album of its kind should be. Straight to the point, neatly produced, and most of all, jam-packed with catchy hooks and fabulous songs. Backed by Ito’s cool guitar and Igarashi’s tasty-sounding synths, Mochida delivers some incredible melodies, making the most of her good – albeit not stellar – voice, at the height of her vocal ability.

Each song is masterfully crafted by Mitsuru Igarashi, a songwriter I’d rely on to pump out a great pop tune. His songwriting prowess is evident in songs like “今でも… あなたが好きだから” (a Megumi Okina cover!) and “Shapes of Love”, though it’s hard to dismiss the rest of the album as inferior to the two aforementioned tracks.

What can I say, I love ELT – and “Time to Destination” I love even more. I’ve been looking for a J-pop record that rivals it for a long time, but 2 years into searching, I haven’t been able to find anything nearly as great. And trust me, I’ve tried. Without a doubt, this is a true 10/10 album.