Frank Kogan

The very good "Rambling Girls" is an exception to my generalization "Smooth vocals with forceful accompaniment," though less of an exception than my memory had told me; feels loud all the way round, but actually most of the volume and hard rock comes from the instruments; the vocals are fairly unembellished. I do think the precision that the singers give to each word and note produces force. In general, even when After School are the smoothest of the smooth, the words get a precise delivery, rather than a lotta legato. At least that's what my memory is telling me (I'll have to check more thoroughly when I get the chance). The precision may be what makes the mist full of sharpness on "Shh."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr1tLZV36nY

And of course, there was toughness and roughness in the olden days — though checking back, I discover that the singing wasn't what was delivering the roughness, and wasn't what delivered this track:

[EDIT: Video deleted, and I can't remember which of their old rough ones I put here, but "Play Girlz," prod. by rough fellow Brave Brothers, would've been a good choice so I'm linking it.]

So maybe they and their producers have a better sense now of what to do with After School's nonpowerhouse lungs.