Growing requires adapting to the times but also knowing when to lean into personal strengths. By 2013, all five members of J-pop outfit ARASHI turned 30. They had spent their twenties working to establish themselves as the 21st century’s most successful Japanese group thanks to the wild commercial success of singles like 2007’s “Love so Sweet” and albums like 2010’s Boku No Miteiru Fuukei and 2012’s Popcorn. Now, the quintet was entering a new era, and its 12th full-length, LOVE, reflected this with fresh musical ideas while reminding listeners of its strong suit—singing emotionally about the album’s namesake feeling. ARASHI’s previous two albums leaned on uptempo pop. The group kept up the pace on LOVE, but explored how it could play with the sound and genre. ARASHI flirted with dance music (“Breathless” and “Sayonara No Atode”) while also engaging in a wide range of rock sounds, from swift horn-accented takes to heavier interpretations. This album also gives the members a chance to reconnect with R&B and break new ground with rap. The special touch, though, is right there in the title. ARASHI digs into love: the melancholy for what was, the thrill of a new spark, the lust of an intimate encounter, and the joy that a long-lasting bond can foster. Even if it changed some elements of its music, ARASHI knew exactly what timeless emotion to spotlight.