Ai Otsuka – Rocket Sneaker/One×Time July 23, 2009

Track Listing

1. Rocket Sneaker
2. One×Time
3. Sora to Kujira
4. Rocket Sneaker (Instrumental)
5. One×Time (Instrumental)

1. Rocket Sneaker

I thought it was nice to finally get something upbeat from Ai-chin and Rocket Sneaker definitely served some in this era.  I’m also noticing that she’s getting more serious with her upbeat stuff and not going crazy like she usually does in her previous eras.  I also love the fact piano is prominent in the song .  People did bag on the PV for this track, but c’mon without that we wouldn’t have gotten GND’s “Be your wings” PV which is the same (but with a storyline). 

2. One×Time

I actually liked the other A-side just as much.  I mean it’s a bit more of a slower track than “Rocket Sneaker”, but she has gotten so much better in the vocal department since the last era.  Ai in the verses sounding like she’s speaking/whispering is so nice and worked for me.  Then she starts to sing out in the chorus.  It might not be her cleanest slow pop song, but it’s good nonetheless.

3. Sora to Kujira

Hmmmm, this name does sound familiar doesn’t it?  <3 Jin.  Anyways the lone B-side of the single, Sora to Kujira is a nice surprise since it’s more of an acoustic track which we don’t have many from Ai-chin.  So the lack of any other instrumentation is a bit meh and Ai’s vocal aren’t too suited for stuff like this, but when things start to come in after the first chorus it does get better.  Bout halfway is when the song gets good a whole lot better since everything comes together and sounds just as good as “Rocket Sneaker” if not better.

 

 

Ok, I did say “Kurage, Nagareboshi” was the best single….well, not anymore.  It might have the epic ballad and a waltz in it, but this single altogether felt more complete than both “Kurage” and “Pocket”.  Rocket Sneaker and Sora to Kujira were nice, upbeat and both and good feelings written through it.  One×Time was soft, but Ai always gets the softer song right and she did it again here. 

Ai Otsuka – Pocket June 23, 2009

Track Listing

1. Pocket
2. Ticket
3. LIFE – LOVE CiRCLE
4. Pocket (Instrumental)
5. Ticket (Instrumental)

1. Pocket

Ai finally does something about holidays and Pocket was the answer.  Kickstarting the era off with a wintry ballad, is pretty risky.  I don’t think it’s one of her best ballads since it is just piano and acoustic for majority of it.  It’s pretty, but when the guitars and drums come in, it does seem to get better, but I don’t really enjoy the song much…Don’t know why, but it’s not just that good to me.

2. Ticket

Ticket luckily makes things upbeat for us which is pretty awesome.  At the same time I’m gettin that retro feeling that I got with last single “PEACH/HEART” mainly on the secondary A-side.  It easily is a better track overall than “Pocket” since it took the strings and made it’s own.  I wish Ai did put this track on “LOVE LETTER”, but then again it’s pretty rare to see a B-side making to an album.

3. LIFE – LOVE CiRCLE

Another risk Ai chose was to do a full-on English track and LIFE – LOVE CiRCLE came to be.  Her accent is pretty obvious and it’s quite obvious she hasn’t had much of learning, but it’s enough to get her by.  Like, “Ticket” it’s pretty catchy and upbeat for her which is good.  There’s a little bit of Japanese which is where the chorus ends.  For her first try in a different language, it’s actually quite good. 

 

 

Ai’s first single for the “LOVE LETTER” era was surprisngly a little safe for her (then again the whole era was just too safe).  Pocket was just a typical winter track, nothing more, nothing less.  Ticket and LIFE – LOVE CiRCLE were pretty upbeat, but it doesn’t stand out in her discography, at least IMO it doesn’t.  Still it is my least favorite single of the era.

LOVE – White Choco April 24, 2009

Track Listing

1. White Choco
2. White Choco -instrumental-

1. White Choco

This song has a little bit of a backstory interestingly.  White Choco was originally a promo track for her debut, “Momo no Hanabira” but with a different name “White Chocolate” (chocolate was in kanji BTW).  Now when this was released it was after “Pocket” (time flies huh?)  Strange when I start it I question myself because, I say *What’s this…Sonic the Hedgehog music?!?*  There’s guitars and a synths, but not as important as “LOVE no Theme’s”.  Ai’s under vocoder again and she still sounds good.  Hmmmm…maybe she needs to go under this style for an album.

 

 

White Choco is quite catchy and cute which was the way she wanted it to be.  It’s a bit faster than “LOVE no Theme” but it still carried a lot of fun within it…WHERE’S OUR NEXT LOVE SINGLE!!!! I’m in too much love with it!!!

LOVE – LOVE no Theme April 24, 2009

 

Track Listing

1. LOVE no Theme
2. LOVE no Theme (instrumental)
3. NEXT SINGLE PREVIEW (White Choco)

1. LOVE no Theme

I was surprised that Ai under a pen name would release a J-tek pop song.  Now I know it’s her bunny name, but this was just downright surprising for me since I’ve never heard this song.  I love the arpeggios going on in the song and it’s actually her 2nd time going through J-tek, first being “Mousou Chop”.  Ai’s voice is so cute and even the use of vocoder worked for her as well.  I gotta say this was surprising in a great way.

2. NEXT SINGLE PREVIEW (White Choco)

Ok, so there’s a preview of the next single under the moniker of LOVE which I’ll talk about on the single.  Anyways, there’s only 40 seconds to go through this little preview.  There’s a little entrance and giving the song’s shortness it sounds more upbeat and cutesy as well.  It’s just weird that it ends as fast as it starts.

 

 

I really think LOVE no Theme is one of her best upbeat tracks.  I mean it’s got a nice beat and sound and with Ai under the vocoder, it was crazy and actually she should strive to work with one of these again.  As well as use her “Shachihata” voice as well…OH THE WONDERS!

Ai Otsuka – LOVE PiECE March 10, 2009

Track Listing

1. Mirai Taxi
2. Yumekui
3. Mackerel’s canned food
4. PEACH
5. Kumuriuta
6. Hoshi no Tango
7. Katorisenkou
8. Frienger
9. CHU-LIP
10. HEART
11. Ren’ai Shashin

1. Mirai Taxi

Out of the previous opening tracks, Mirai Taxi is my favorite hands down.  Starting off with Ai shutting the taxi door and then a cool guitar/synth riff pops in and things just get better from there.  I love how she justs sounds so right with the whole yelling in the chorus and settling down through the verses.  Definitly a great song to start off on.

2. Yumekui

Yumekui pops up after and it does kind of sounds like a more chill version of “Mirai Taxi” which is cool because I still like the track since the single review.  The whole dreamy take is so nice and peaceful especially since nothing sounds like it in her discography. 

3. Mackerel’s canned food

Our next new track’s name is based off of a band she used to play in which is a nice tribute of sorts.  Still the title is still very Ai and for people who wouldn’t know the fact is it strange.  I like the whole rock thing, but it probably would’ve fit more in her next album, “LOVE LETTER” moreso than on here IMO…

4. PEACH

One of the two last A-side released for the era, PEACH is our token summer song and Ai’s always had one on each album.  So from that standpoint, PEACH is a bit like “U-Boat” in arrangement, but I really like PEACH because Ai’s obviously having a lot of fun here and even though it’s not the best of the era, the PV makes up for it.  Dancing peaches FTW

5. Kumuriuta

Would you be surprised that Kumuriuta is basically a ballad?  Thought so, Kumuriuta is a pretty nice ballad (but when is one of her ballads aren’t?).  Ok, let me take that back.  Ai’s vocals kind of seem off by a little bit because she is singing almost by herself in the first verses.  After that though, it’s smooth sailing with Ai, piano, acoustics, and strings and drums. 

6. Hoshi no Tango

Hoshi no Tango to me is one of her most pleasant songs of recent.  Like the whole accordion with the nightlife music is just so done wonderfully.  Ai even sounds so good here.  Musically, the song doesn’t seem to have any direction, but given the mood, it doesn’t exactly seem that important.  Everyone has said this about it and yea, it’s too short.  Give it another minute and it could’ve been the best song off the album.

7. Katorisenkou

Kind of like how Mika’s MICA 3 CHU stuff sounded out of place, Katorisenkou is that song on this album.  It begins with a mosquito flying around the speakers and then crazy Ai just appears and wow was this the mood twister.  “Hoshi no Tango” was sweet and cute…Katorisenkou is just erratic and one of the most random songs that she’s created.  Another thing she does each album.  Ai definitly took the punk rock and made it her own and the whole ~ka ka ka~ thing is just 0.o and her screaming as well.  Would you believe it’s even shorter than the previous as well?

8. Frienger

The rest of the tracks are old ones from here on out and we start with the A-side to start off the era, Frienger.  Now from the single review I said that this wasn’t that good to me.  Well that decision is still concrete.  I’m not sure why I don’t enjoy it as much as the songs that are similar.  I think her voice is probably the thing that made me dislike it.  Maybe it’s just cuz she’s done songs like this already and I just wasn’t impressed perhaps. 

9. CHU-LIP

I’m still giggling over the fact that CHU-LIP’s PV was so strange and funny at the same time.  I love the fact the she incorporated some brass in the song and the whole meaning of (I don’t wanna be my parents) going on throughout was just silly and cute.  It’s my favorite A-side this era has put out for sure.

10. HEART

HEART to me is like retro music.  Like the strings and the guitar melody is just so 70’s pop ballad for some reason.  Her voice sounds so right and doesn’t force her to make high notes that she would usually squeak through, so I have to say this was a great addition to the album.

11. Ren’ai Shashin

I kind of figured Ren’ai Shashin would’ve been the track to finish the album because it is a ballad which her albums are also known for of course.  I would’ve preferred the version found on “PEACH/HEART” but since this was an A-side I guess it was more important.  It’s so dramatic and Ai once again proves that she’s the ballad queen.

Tracks Recommended

• CHU-LIP
• Mirai Taxi
• Ren’ai Shashin
• Hoshi no Tango
• Katorisenkou

I have to say, this is her best album so far.  LOVE PiECE has so many good tracks (even though it’s lacking in new material).  I do think the new tracks were better than most of the A-sides on the album so it was saying that she’s going in the right direction…(yea…).  If I was blogging in 2007, I would’ve said either this or abingdon boys school’s debut album would’ve been the best that year.

Ai Otsuka – PEACH/HEART February 8, 2009

Track Listing

1. PEACH
2. HEART
3. Ren’ai Shashin -Haru-
4. PEACH (Instrumental)
5. HEART (Instrumental)

1. PEACH

If “CHU-LIP” was suppose to represent Spring, then PEACH is the epitome of Summer.  By the start you can already feel the whole summery vibe with the guitars and such.  Sadly, Ai does lose some points because her vocals are just a little bad, but not terrible.  Think “Happy Days” and it’s what it sounds like.  I still love her ad-libbing before the chorus though.  Loved that part. 

2. HEART

HEART is definitly more laidback than “PEACH” and actually I like it more than said track.  There’s a calm atmosphere backed up by guitar and Ai’s soft vocals.  I don’t know why but I keep thinking of oldies with this one and I love it.  Nice compliment the each other.

3. Ren’ai Shashin -Haru-

Ren’ai Shashin returns again, but in a different arrangement that is meant to represent Spring, hence the “Haru” part.  I’m not sure if Ai resang this, but there’s a new line that was implemented in as well.  Put with more strings than the original, I thought this was better. 

 

 

Ai’s final single before her 4th album was well….Iono…PEACH was alright for a summer song, but Ai’s vocals took a hit for it.  HEART was a nice reminder of the past and she saved herself with it.  The rearranged version of past A-side, Ren’ai Shashin was really nice and sounds so much better than the original. 

Ai Otsuka – Bye Bye January 29, 2009

Track Listing

1. Bye Bye
2. Bye Bye (Instrumental)

1. Bye Bye

I’m still pretty unsure if I really enjoy Bye Bye that much.  It seems better when it was on “LOVE LETTER” and the whole acoustic pop/rock sound generates memories of past works that are similar to this.  Her vocals are all right, but they aren’t as good as her other tracks.  It’s alright at best.

 

 

Let me explain why I’m reviewing this super early.  February 25th is a very busy day for me as I have a lot of things to review.  Bye Bye being a recut single with no new tracks pretty much let me review it without the need to wait for it and is one single I can do early.  Now, I think Ai could’ve used a better track to have been recut, but this’ll be OK since it does finish the era off.

Ai Otsuka – CHU-LIP January 23, 2009

Track Listing

1. CHU-LIP
2. Kimi ni Kaeru.
3. CHU-LIP (Instrumental)
4. Kimi ni Kaeru (Instrumental)

1. CHU-LIP

What an amazing brass track.  There’s a whole bunch of brass moments in here and we haven’t had a fun track in a while which is probably why many people love this song.  To me, this is a less sugar-coated “SMILY” and this song just always puts me in a good mood.  I think everyone will agree that they can’t listen to the song without thinking of the crazy ass PV that went with it, right?

2. Kimi ni Kaeru.

I alway think the tranistion from “CHU-LIP” to the dreamy Kimi ni Kaeru. is so offputting.  Either way the song reminds me of later song, “Hoshi no Tango” which I bet I’m not the only one that thinks it.  It’s got one of the night moods going and even though Ai’s higher range is questionable, this song just give good vibes.  Another good B-side.

 

 

This was about the time I was starting to get into J-pop pretty regularly.  At first I was like jeeze, you’re crazy to be doing choreography in a bathroom as well.  Still CHU-LIP just has a fun charm to it that’ll probably never go away.  Kimi ni Kaeru. came way after and its dreamy state of mind.  Even though the two are wildly different, they did make a nice single overall.

Ai Otsuka – Ren’ai Shashin December 23, 2008

Track Listing

1. Ren’ai Shashin
2. Hanikami Jane
3. Haneari Tamago (Live Version)
4. Ren’ai Shashin (Instrumental)
5. Hanikami Jane (Instrumental)

1. Ren’ai Shashin

Ai hits it off once again with the very sweet ballad.  Ren’ai Shashin is another blowout A-side and it’s so nice and calm.  After the chorus, the song gains a small beat to it, but keeps it simple.  The chorus is mostly ~Kimi wo Aishiteru~ and how she goes through is so pretty.  Maybe it’s me, but the song is another great ballad on the likes of her best. 

2. Hanikami Jane

Then switching moods on us is this pop track.  There’s a lot of snare drum found here being the beat of it all.  Ai does take a lighter route with her voice and almost seems airy at points mainly throughout the verses.  The sad thing is that the song is definitly B-side material and pretty forgettable IMO. 

3. Haneari Tamago (Live Version)

They took this from the LOVE COOK tour, but somehow took out the applausing at the beginning.  For being another ballad, I thought the live version was amazing and hearing Ai live is really nice.  I’m not sure why there’s crickets and other nature-like sounds in the BKGD, but I guess it worked.  At least the ending has the applause.  Nice rendition.

 

 

Ren’ai Shashin is such a pretty A-side for Ai that’s for sure and even the live performance of Haneari Tamago was just as pretty if not more.  The only downside came from the actual B-side, Hanikami Jane where it just went by without any positive atrractions to it.  It was alright, but you really only need the single for Haneari Tamago.

 

Ai Otsuka – LOVE LETTER December 16, 2008

Track Listing

1. LOVE LETTER
2. Rocket Sneaker
3. Bye Bye
4. Kurage, Nagareboshi
5. Ningyou
6. Kimi Fetch
7. Creamy & Spicy
8. Do☆Positive
9. 360°
10. Shachihata
11. OnexTime
12. Pocket
13. Ai

1. LOVE LETTER

Ai has never had a title track prior to this album and once again here we have a ballad.  It seems the song is asking too much because she’s hitting the higher notes and we all know she’s not exactly the best at that.  I actually didn’t find anything to memorable about it, which kind of sucks.  Talk about depressing.

2. Rocket Sneaker

At least Rocket Sneaker was my favorite, the energy building the song is so great here and even though the PV was low-budget….I think, Rocket Sneaker definitly was the surprising A-side.  Love the guitar riffs and Ai’s powerful vocals here.  She needs more of these kind of tracks IMO.

3. Bye Bye

What is up with artists thinking doing songs that sound like country is good?  It isn’t as bad as some others I’ve heard but it isn’t that good either.  It reminds me of “CHU-LIP” just a litte bit as well, still I didn’t really feel for this song much either.  It’s a nice listen once in a while.

4. Kurage, Nagareboshi

Well, Kurage, Nagareboshi finished the era off with a great note as this is one of her better ballads.  Starting with a beautiful piano entry then turning into what I liked to call the badass zone.  Ai really pulled this song off very well and is can be considered the “Planetarium” of the era.  When the album first leaked, Kurage did sound a bit different and a little faster, but when it officially came out it retained the normal sound of the single version.

5. Ningyou

Well, Ningyou is pretty much a ballad, but I think this is as strong as “Kurage, Nagareboshi with super strong vocals from Ai.  What surprised me was that the rest of the album leaked like a month earlier and this was the song that wasn’t on it.  WHAT THE HELL!  Anyways, Ai really did well and it’s my favorite new track, very pretty.

6. Kimi Fetch

Kimi Fetch is such a nice laidback kind of track.  Though I’m not finding anything really interesting with this track…I’m not sure why myself, but the depressing mood this song shows is putting me in that mood.  Luckily, the chorus is a little brighter. 

7. Creamy & Spicy

We get the oddly titled upbeat Creamy&Spicy next.  Hahahaha she really knows how to be strange because this song is downright silly.  How she sings really high for the title and even then she totally fails at English ~Creamy Spishy~ Yeah, I have to say though, I’m happy to have such a funny track here.

8. Do☆Positive

I’m usually loving the crazier rocker tracks, but this is too safe for Ai.  I guess it shows her maturity and it shows, but her vocals here are a little too nasally for me here.  Is it me, or her voice seem different?  Anyway, I really like the riffs and the energy, but it isn’t like anything that’s too spectacular.

9. 360°

A very nice piano opens the song up.  As more piano chords come in the song sounds pretty dark for some reason and I love the hollow sounds of Ai’s vocals throughout.  It’s definitly ethereal to me and is also another first for her, then the song gets a little more upbeat and somehow reminences from “Mirai Taxi”.  Definitly an awesome new track.

10. Shachihata

Definitly a surprising song.  Ai steps her game up in this jazzy track.  I love the total jazz style of the song and Ai sounds so mature here for some reason.  She’s also scatting through much of the beginning, but as she doing this her voice sounds more deeper and woman-like.  Definitly new and fresh for her.  The only recognizable lyric is ~Shachihata~  which is hilarious.  Shachihata is the best new track.  Doesn’t it sound like something you’d hear in the Katamari series?

11. Pocket

I usually confuse the piano opening to another track “Kurage, Nagareboshi”.  Anyways, the song is a nice ballad, but it isn’t as strong and memorable as others in the past.  I wished there was a little more substance to the song though…I just kind of felt bored and it’s possibly my least favorite of the era.

12. OnexTime

Stylistic OnexTime pops up and it made such a nice compliment to “Rocket Sneaker”.  Her choice of vocals here is a little weird at first because it’s like a cross between singing and whispering.  It isn’t really bad or anything, it actually made her sound more mature. 

13. Ai

The longest and last track appears next and not a shocker, it’s a ballad, clocking over 6 minutes in length, I was quite surprised.  It’s kind of a cute ballad as one and I’m also hearing some nice things from Ai as well.  To make itself stand out, it is an acoustic/strings ballad which is pretty good to hear from her.  Still the time limit on this track is a little too long-winded and can drag in the later parts of the song.

Tracks Recommended

•  Rocket Sneaker
• Ningyou
• Kurage, Nagareboshi
• Shachihata
• 360°

LOVE LETTER to me was a disappointment because of all of the ballads on here…I mean they covered a good portion of the album.  Though some of them were really good like Ningyou and Kurage, Nagareboshi, the rest were kind of draggy and didn’t hold any true charm to it.  As for the upbeat tracks, I think she won me over on the side.  Songs like the freaky Creamy & Spicy and 360° to the more abstract Shachihata, I’m sure you’ll find something to love.  Comparing to her previous album “LOVE PiECE”, this was a bit of a letdown.