Tsukiko Amano – ZERO September 8, 2008

Track Listing

1. ZERO
2. SPY
3. Primal Scream
4. Howling
5. HANDS
6. Itodenwa
7. HEAVEN’S GATE
8. KITCHEN
9. Polar Bear
10. Hello
11. Jam Tomorrow
12. NOISE (bonus track)

1. ZERO

 Starting out the album with the English version of “Zero no Chouritsu” and both songs are Fatal Frame tracks also.  This is a very powerful rock track, but they still kept the fear going.  With organ played with a guitar solo was a nice touch.  Tsukiko’s English is a bit bad, but it’s a very honorable way to start her final album.  Awesome rock track.

2. SPY

SPY reminds me of last album’s “JOKER JOE” with it’s speedy rock senses and strong vocals provided from Tsukiko.  I instantly fell in love with the song right at the bridge where there other vocals.  I love how she ended the chorus with ~Yes, I am a spy~ that was quirky and to the point.  Definitly another positively good track.

3. Primal Scream

Taking the rock and slowing it down a little bit, we get an almost funky track.  I hear her using English once again, but not fully.  That’s probably where it’s downfall lies.  It’s not really anything special, nor it doesn’t particularly shot my interest.  For a title such as this, you’re left why isn’t it fast and angry.

4. Howling

Howling is a somber track and was the first single for the era.  Howling is a nice rock ballad and sounds kind of emotional too.  How she says ~Howling~ really sounded like she was lonesome.  I do like how acoustic and together the song is all-around.  It’s smooth and very sweet. 

5. HANDS

HANDS is like “Howling” which means bad news since they have a familiar feeling to it.  It’s actually quite boring, but I do enjoy the strings.  ~There’s nothing in my hands~ is said so many times, I’m like damnit I know that.  This song just was disappointing and very bland for a Tsukiko track.

6. Itodenwa

When we change tracks we get another rock-ballad like track.  Though I did like there was less of a rock track and more closer to a ballad.  Tsukiko really sounds calm singing this and it doesn’t bother me at all.  Funny that this is the only track whose title is in Japanese.  Very odd.

7. HEAVEN’S GATE

We pump the noise back in with 2nd single HEAVEN’S GATE.  The song has a sense of tension and it gets really shocking with the flurry of synths and guitar while Tsukiko gets stronger in vocal power.  Then the chorus comes out and she’s sounds so strong and very in your face.  I felt the song was a little messy, but it did its job well. 

8. KITCHEN

Well, we finally get our taste of fun with the oddly titled Kitchen.  There’s always something good when it comes to Tsukiko’s fun tracks.  She captures it well.  She also once again to my ears use English again which I’m figuring she’s not so good at yet.  It sounds so good though, one of the better songs from this album.

9. Polar Bear

We calm down again for the odd Polar Bear.  The melody reminds me off-handedly of John Lennon’s “Imagine”.  I’ll prolly be the only one who’ll notice this though 0.o  The song has her voice layered which was a bad idea.  It just sounded messy and not in tune.  Though it does have its “cute” moments, it was just a bad idea for a good song.

10. Hello

Hello was a much better track next up.  Lack of layering and use of synths + strings make this another great track.  It’s has some offerings and is a great sad rock ballad.  It stands from the other tracks.  Tsukiko once again sounds strong and really puts forth an exciting performance to a beautifully track.

11. Jam Tomorrow

Another upbeat song, this time it sounds almost too cute.  It’s bouncy factor and happy and free sound just really turns this entire album for a 180.  Damn, Tsukiko’s vocals sounds weird this time, I can’t put a finger on it, but she sounds nasally for some reason to me.  Not my favorite happy track.

12. NOISE

NOISE is the ending of the same Fatal Frame, but I can’t tell if it’s any better than “ZERO”.  It seems a bit more fitting to the series, but it doesn’t sound anymore special than any of the other FF tracks.  I suppose it did its job but I really was disappointed that it wasn’t more epic and such.  The orchestration did help out though yay!

Tracks Recommended

• Howling
• ZERO
• Hello
• KITCHEN
• SPY

Tsk, tsk, tsk.  This final album from Tsukiko Amano was disappointing.  There was good tracks don’t get me wrong, but she was lacking originality here.  Tenryuu and Moon Child were awesome and epic but this was just not up to standards, I wish she had more of a valiant ending to her solo career.

Ai Otsuka – Kurage, Nagareboshi September 8, 2008

Track Listing

1. Kurage, Nagareboshi
2. H20
3. Ame no Tsubu, Waltz ~LOVE MUSiC~
4. Kurage, Nagareboshi (Instrumental)
5. H20 (Instrumental)

1. Kurage, Nagareboshi

This era has been full of not so great tracks, we finally get the “Planetarium” of the era.  Ai sounds so much stronger than she was than any of the other ballads throughout out the era.  There’s some very nice piano playing which I think Ai played.  It’s captures too the beauty of a ballad and the emotions within it.  I was waiting for a great ballad and she brings it fully and I’m so happy.  This has to be her best A-side of the era.  Way to go Ai-chan.

2. H20

H20 being a more upbeat track was a little disappointing to me.  She sounds kind of strange acting more loud than anything else.  The instrumentation is pretty cool and sounds complete, but I think Ai is trying too hard here.  If it was me I’d say this was a little less liked than “Rocket Sneaker”.  It’s an alright try though.

3. Ame no Tsubu, Waltz ~LOVE MUSiC~

“LOVE MUSiC” got remade???  Oh yea, like in the title it’s put in a waltz kind of mood, but it doesn’t sound so forced.  I kind of liked the arrangement here more than the original.  It just made much more sense to me.  Ai sounds just as strong as in “Kurage, Nagareboshi” if not more.  The strings and piano really does give a nice classical tone as well which is so smart to do.  Beautiful track indeed.

 

 

So far this era has been full of disappointments, but this single really gave hope to it.  Kurage, Nagareboshi was so epic and beautifully written, it’s up there with her other powerhouse ballads she has.  H20 was a bit much for her, but I did enjoy the rock instrumentation.  The remake of LOVE MUSiC was so good…another classic single for Ai’s discography.