Anna Tsuchiya – Brave vibration July 4, 2009

Track Listing

1. Brave vibration
2. Sweet Rishi Boy (Anna Tsuchiya mush up ☆Taku Takahashi)
3. Loser!

1. Brave vibration

Anna finally returns with well, her summer track, Brave vibration.  Now if you’ve been following her since the end of the “NUDY SHOW!” era, you’ll know that she’s been doing some experimental stuff with ravex and released “GUILTY” even before that.  So it wasn’t hard to guess her next track would be back into the whole feel-good rock side.  It’s true, it’s calming and still has some funky stylings going on, mainly with whoever is playing the guitar.  (BTW the guy in the PV playing the guitar is hot).  I actually think this was a good song overall. 

2. Sweet Rishi Boy (Anna Tsuchiya mush up ☆Taku Takahashi)

Yep she actually returns back with Taku from m-flo for the first B-side of the single.  When Taku is mentioned in the track, you know it’s going to be dance and quite experimental on both ends and it’s true.  Sweet Rishi Boy starts with a bhangra-like sound to it and leads to a mid-tempo dance track.  I have to agree with a few people that it does suffer from an awkward slow tempo and honestly would’ve worked better with a faster one.  Not bad, just drags too much.

3. Loser!

Thank god, Loser! finishes off the single in a cool and dark way.  Actually it does kind of remind me of “u”from her “cocoon” single as they both have darker tones and strong vocals.  There’s not a lot to really say about it, but if you’ve heard “u”…then you basically get the message outta this song too.

 

 

So Anna begins the era with a summer single as evident by the leading track.  It’s a feel-good track and should make ya happy whenever you need to listen to it.  Sweet Rishi Boy was something I didn’t expect, which was a disappointing Taku track…maybe it needs a re-edit or something.  Loser! was good in the way that it was rock hard, but felt similar to one of her past tracks.

Anna Tsuchiya – Virgin Cat June 27, 2009

Track Listing

1. Virgin Cat
2. Imitation night
3. Virgin Cat (LAVA Remix)

1. Virgin Cat

I can only fathom to question why Anna did a single especially since she already has one senseless track, “BUBBLE TRIP”.  Though this song is heavily drenched in pervy thoughts hence the title VIRGIN Cat.  Now the song has a jazzy kind of feel to it which fits how cats are usually portrayed, you know sneaky and such….it’s oddly fitting.  Still the thing that makes me laugh hardcore is both the lyrics ~let’s get the rat~ and the end where she meows….that was a little disturbing.

2. Imitation night

To throw the single off, Imitation night is a very dark rock track even for Anna since it’s all about the heavy guitar riffs and being loud.  She does let up on the bridge which is cool as hell.  I’m not sure if she’s singing in full English, but the song is definitely something else and I love it.

3. Virgin Cat (LAVA Remix)

Yep, there’s a remix of Virgin Cat and somehow manages to take the jazzy side out of it and give it a Caribbean feel which kind of deteriorates the original feel to the song, but it does sound soothing because it’s very laidback and nice.  They even throw in a trumpet solo midway and that was a nice touch.  Pretty good remix, even though it lost the initial feeling.

 

 

So ending off the NUDY SHOW! era, Virgin Cat really did split the fans out as to whether if the song was good or just really really ridiculous.  I’m gonna say that musically it’s something different from Anna, but lyrically it’s naughty and a bit of tease when it comes down to it.  I mean at least the lyrics made sense unlike “BUBBLE TRIP”.  Imitation night….why wasn’t this on the album?  It was so hardcore and well it does kind of reminds me of album track, “BLOOD ON BLOOD”.  Remix was a good treat, doesn’t beat the original though…OK single.

Anna Tsuchiya feat. AI – CRAZY WORLD March 18, 2009

Track Listing

1. Crazy World feat. AI
2. What you gonna do?
3. Crazy World (FPM Hyper Society mix)

1. Crazy World feat. AI

Even from the start the song has a bleak overlook with it’s mix of urban touches and rock vibe.  I have to say she’s sounding so good and very aggressive in this song.  There’s just something fierce about Anna and AI together for this song.  About AI, her rapping was even cool and had some cool swagger and complimented Anna’s angsty sound.  Another awesome song.

2. What you gonna do?

What you gonna do? is an Anna-only song so obviously AI doesn’t appear in the song.  After the amazing B-sides of the last single, this comes as a bit of a letdown.  It’s more acoustically driven than the songs of the entire era which makes this a pretty special song, but I never really connected to it but I like the lyrics in the song. 

3. Crazy World (FPM Hyper Society mix)

I really am thinking that Crazy World didn’t need a remix, but whatever…especially when the remix is hella longer.  It’s almost 7 minutes length, that’s like listening to “JUMPER”.  I didn’t really enjoy the strange instrumentation and the odd offbeats that tried to add spice.  The only thing I liked was the chorus parts, that was cool, but everything else was meh.

 

 

Anna’s collab single was a little disappointing especially put after the grand “cocoon”.  I did really like Crazy World alot and it one of my favorite Anna songs ever and AI was just perfect in the song as well.  The other tracks though weren’t really what I’d call favorites but there OK, nothing that good about em.

Anna Tsuchiya – cocoon January 20, 2009

Track Listing

1. cocoon
2. u
3. Guys (CD Only)

1. cocoon

After that strange single, “BUBBLE TRIP/sweet sweet song”.  We finally go back to Anna’s rock roots with an amazing track to back it up.  Anna’s actually is making a lot more sense in English and well, seems pretty personal to her.  I can’t remember if this was the single after her husband’s passing, but it’s full of angst and you can actually feel for her.  Love this track as it’s my favorite Anna track right now.

2. u

Dang this single is just too good.  u is also switching between lyrics of the JPN and the USA languages which she’s got a pretty good grasp at.  What really got me was how raw and catchy u altogether is.  The riffs are just crazy good as well.  This would be my 2nd favorite track from her as of now.  It’s still the best from “NUDY SHOW!” since cocoon got stepped on on the album.

3. Guys

Guys is only available on the CD only version and I have to agree, this has a more things going on here as well.  So the song is entirely in English, but Anna’s husky voice kind of creates some odd pronunciation issues, but the other two songs as well had that issue, but this was more apparant because it’s only in English.  Yeah, the song is a cool listen, but just didn’t catch with me because of the other two tracks.

 

 

cocoon is by far her best single altogether.  All of the singles had a pretty catchy riff in it and the lyrics were awesomely good as well.  My only real problem was that only u was truely featured on the album while cocoon was being altered and Guys just didn’t appear…weird…Still what a great single *RECOMMENDED*

Anna Tsuchiya – BUBBLE TRIP/sweet sweet song December 27, 2008

Track Listing

1. BUBBLE TRIP
2. sweet sweet song
3. BUBBLE TRIP -STUDIO APARTMENT Remix-

1. BUBBLE TRIP

I guess since reviewing the album BUBBLE TRIP has caught on finally, but I still think it’s one of her weird tracks.  Not only does it strip from the rock, it’s amazingly poppy.  Even the lyrics are a bit questionable and uber strange like…how do bubbles trip?  Seriously…it’s not right.  Anna does sound alright, but doesn’t have the edge like “LUCY” had.

2. sweet sweet song

We do get a little more better with the other A-side, sweet sweet song.  t’s a more acoustically based and it quite calm and nice actually.  It does sound heavily Westernized, but it’s that reason why I like it because it sounds different from the usual punk rock stuff we get.  Awesome track.

3. BUBBLE TRIP -STUDIO APARTMENT Remix-

Wait this is the same group who did Ami Suzuki’s “Bitter…”?  Adding dance beats and 3 extra minutes, the remix I guess does sound cooler once you get int it.  You can really hear the similarities between this and the other track they did.  There more piano presents as well as synths, but the opening is just too long.  If they shaved the instrumental parts, this would’ve been a way better track.

 

 

After the NANA persona wore off we get back to just Anna with this very odd single.  Both A-side were a dropoff and were basically pop tracks which is a little unusual for an artist like Anna.  sweet sweet song is the better one because well, it doesn’t have farfetched lyrics.  BUBBLE TRIP is alright though.  The remix albeit too long IMO was OK.

Anna Tsuchiya – GUILTY December 17, 2008

Track Listing

1. Guilty

1. Guilty

Resident Evil, definitly one of the more popular series in the states has finally gone to release a movie that isn’t live-action and so who did they choose to sing the final song?  Yep, you guessed it Anna finally returns to some dark rock which we haven’t had single-wise since “cocoon”.  Even when it is a fully English song, it’s definitly something hard and cool to listen to.  I hope it’s on her next album

 

 

Anna’s internet single totally was something surprising, because we didn’t think she’d go back to the harder rock even though “BLOOD ON BLOOD” was that song off her latest album, I think it’s one of her coolest songs IMO.

ANNA TSUCHIYA inspi’ NANA (BLACK STONES) – ANNA TSUCHIYA inspi’ NANA (BLACK STONES) November 20, 2008

Track Listing

1. rose
2. Without You
3. zero
4. scream
5. Take me out
6. Kuroi Namida
7. I’m addicted to you
8. LUCY
9. rose -Street Live Edition-
10. Kuroi Namida -TV Live Edition-

1. rose

rose sounds so friggin hardcore starting this otherwise “concept album”.  Even though the song sounds pretty much like “LUCY” this song sounds a lot less wild and more controlled.  Anna sounds pretty cool and husky and rose is becoming a quick favorite.  Love the rawness of the song.

2. Without You

Continuing on, Without You is definitly more or less what the previous track showed off.  I did think the song was a little dark as well mostly because of the lyrical content of the song.  The 2nd verse did become messy with the added bass…Luckily, it goes away once the bridge starts.  Borderline metal, if you ask me XD.

3. zero

I’m really starting to tell this album is very sameish already as with zero is still practically hard rock.  Even though the song is a bit shorter than normal the song shows off Anna’s sexyness and it sort of works but the music seems to cover it sadly. 

4. scream

Well, the song does start with a little music until the scream is heard.  What seperates this from the other tracks is that Anna is singing through a megaphone which is pretty interesting.  The scream does hurt my ears though so that really isn’t a good thing.  It seems to drag to the chorus and even then it isn’t anything super special. 

5. Take me out

We slow things down a bit for our next track.  ~I was waiting for someone to take me out~.  That’s does sound pretty depressing and knowing Anna this does come as a surprise to listen to.  I actually really like the song, it’s pretty catchy and when it gets into the instrumental parts the song gets a little dark and then pops back to just being rock.  Also, noting it’s the last new track.

6. Kuroi Namida

As being the only japanese-titled track, it’s also the only song with full-on Japanese.  Kuroi Namida is actually slower and could be considered a rock ballad.  Anna does hit some interesting sour notes and I think she is trying hard, but the song is definitly a nice listen.  IMO I like the “Deep Sadness” version more.

7. I’m addicted to you

I guess we needed to amp up the adrenaline rush, because I’m addicted to you flys in through and kicks so much ass.  The riff is so good to me and how Anna brings her energy into the song definitly worked for me.  To think this was a B-side was totally not a smart move because this was better than “Kuroi Namida” on the single. 

8. LUCY

Damn, after the great B-side, we get the great A-side.  LUCY defines hard rock and crazy riffs and sound all in one tune.  After hearing that the song was musically created by American artists, I was surprised what came out of it.  Anna is definitly showing off her version of “girl power” and it’s so good.  Definitly something I miss as of recent.

9. rose -Street Live Edition-

In other words, it’s a live version of said track.  rose still sounds great and hearing the audience in nd out of the song is great for Anna.  I think she had so much fun singing this live.  She actually sounds good live as well.

10. Kuroi Namida -TV Live Edition-

In other words, practically the same thing…Maybe it was off NANA, like taken straight out of.  She sounds oddly quiet through the verses and there’s still those sour notes that I don’t exactly enjoy.  There’s more presence from the electric guitar which is cool.  I guess these two track to good finishing this off.

Tracks Recommended

•  LUCY
• I’m addicted to you
• rose
• Take me out

If your looking for rock, this is your album.  Anna does this genre very well, and going to the next single…it’s quite strange why she didn’t stick with this.  Even though there was only 4 new tracks, they were hard hitters as well…a few weren’t that good, but listenable.  Oh yea, LUCY reviewed 3 times?  How ridiculous XD

Anna Tsuchiya – NUDY SHOW! October 28, 2008

Track Listing

1. overture
2. Cockroach
3. Crazy World feat. AI
4. Virgin Cat
5. GINGER feat. MONKEY MAJIK
6. u
7. Dirty Game
8. Style
9. masquerade
10. BUBBLE TRIP
11. Serenade
12. Shape of your love
13. cocoon ~NUDY SHOW! version~
14. LUCY
15. RIDE ON!
16. BLOOD ON BLOOD
17. Kuroi Namida ~deep sadness version~

1. overture

This long album starts with the television changing channels before ending up on the NUDY SHOW! channel where Anna ad-libs through the rest.  The music is quite cool and the warping synths made it cool.

2. Cockroach

Cockroach reminds me of a grungy version of “Virgin Cat” and to be honest I really like this track.  Somehow the songs is under 3 minutes which is pretty disappointing, but in between this song is hardcore and I’m loving every second of it.  Anna’s sounds pretty fierce as well…Awesome new track.

3. Crazy World feat. AI

I love this song a lot.  It’s got such a mysterious vibe through the verses and the chorus is pretty catchy as well.  The pulses of the synths and strikes of the guitar really created such a tense atmosphere.  AI’s performance sounds like she’s English and her Japanese is just as fluent.  Her rapping complimented Anna pretty well if you ask me.

4. Virgin Cat

Rounding out the era was last single, Virgin Cat.  There’s something quite off with it.  Lyrically it’s pretty strange and quite kinky as it is about sex right?  The music has a cool jazzy feeling, but Anna quite killed the song with her outlandish view on it.  OH yea, the meow at the end was so WTF for me.

5. GINGER feat. MONKEY MAJIK

The main promotional track for the album appears and surprisingly it’s pretty good.  MONKEY MAJIK is quite the cool band and them playing with the song is awesome.  Anna kind of just is there for the song, but the bridge is awesome.  Another short track indeed, which disappoints me because this song should have been more drawn out.

6. u

My favorite B-side is on here THANK FRIGGIN GOD!  It’s definitly god a sexual rock feel to it and I love it like crazy.  The verses shows Anna singing in a more subdued kind of way that’s quite hot.  Then her power through the chorus really surprised me.  Still one of my favorites of the album.

7. Dirty Game

Our next new track actually disappoints me.  Like the music is kind of messy and Anna’s voice takes a hit mostly in the verses and how she tackled the chorus was quite painful.  Let’s just move on from this.

8. Style

I like Anna’s swagger in this song a lot.  It’s like slick and she does it so good.  The song isn’t too groundbreaking but it’s great to hear a song that shows Anna’s sexyness right unlike another song *cough* “Virgin Cat”.  One of the better new tracks.

9. masquerade

Oh man, she’s on a roll.  masquerade has a fantastic start and it sounds like a cross of rock and techno for some reason it’s quite the listen.  I love when she says ~Welcome to the masquerade, ladies~. There’s some darkness in this tune and c’mon it works so well with Anna.  All right, this has to be the best new track.

10. BUBBLE TRIP

I do like the the rhythms and all, but this song really screams terrible.  I mean she sounds a little congested through the verses and the lyrics are once again off and doesn’t make much sense to me when I hear something about Romeo & Juliet and Bubble’s tripping…That last statement doesn’t even make sense at all….I’m sorry but this was a pretty bad A-Side….wished she chose “sweet sweet song” over this.

11. Serenade

Staccatoed string playing starts up this soft track.  This is her ballad on the album and I thought it was a nice change-up from all the rock tracks.  Anna with the music is pretty soothing to the ears and I thought it’s one of her more valiant songs of the album as well. 

12. Shape of your love

So in retrospect we get another ballad, but it’s a rock ballad.  So does it mean that she excels in this as well.  The answer is yes, she sounds even more beautifully than she did in “Serenade”.  Another great song that shows off her powerful vocals.

13. cocoon ~NUDY SHOW! version~

I think the biggest disappointment is the fact that this track was on here.  They took the best single of the era and hacked it and gave it an acoustic touch-up.  It’s weird that she didn’t resing the verses, but drastically resung the chorus to where she doesn’t hit the highest not.  I wanted my awesome “cocoon” not this crappy rendition.

14. LUCY

Now I don’t know what made them decide to put both her NANA A-sides on the album.  I’m not totally against it but I just found it interesting to see LUCY this late on the album.  I love how rock-hard this song is and it still beats out a good majority of the songs off the album.  LUCY is amazing.

15. RIDE ON!

At first I was wondering what it’ll be since the title sounded like it’d be upbeat, but what we got was this funky rock track where Anna can show some attitude.  Sadly, it came off as boring and didn’t really have any life into it but I love the lyrics though.

16. BLOOD ON BLOOD

The song that caught my attention the most was this one and was I surprised.  It’s got some dark sounds and even eviler lyrics.  Anna does so good through these kind of songs and should do more.  This is like “cocoon” so it made up for the fact that the original wasn’t on it.

17. Kuroi Namida ~deep sadness version~

Ending off this long album is actually the oldest song off the album.  Apparantly it is the more appropriate version of the song and with it’s harder rock twinges and piano and the strings also being in it.  It did a fine job ending the album on a good note, albeit a sad one.

Tracks Recommended

• u
• masquerade
• GINGER
• Crazy World
•  BLOOD ON BLOOD

Anna’s 2nd full album was definitly a long one.  There were some tracks I probably could live without (Virgin Cat and BUBBLE TRIP).  Also, I hated that they went and changed cocoon up and some of the new tracks were shorter than I’d expected, but then those new tracks were all mostly good.  Pretty good album overall.

 

ANNA TSUCHIYA inspi’ NANA (Black Stones) – LUCY October 21, 2008

Track Listing

1. LUCY
2. better day
3. Dance with me

1. LUCY

What?  A kickass rock song from Anna?  Yes, it’s furious and there’s some pretty gritty stuff going on.  I like how that she’s making it sounds so American, even though she’s frequently using Japanese as well.  I do think the music overpowers her sometimes, but it’s very nice and awesome for an A-side.

2. better day

I don’t know what to say for this track.  It’s less rock than “LUCY” and seems more a pretty eclectic rock track.  Anna sounds a lot better and more easier to understand.  I think it sounds totally different from anything I’ve heard from her so far and I quite like this kind of rock from her.

3. Dance with me

Dance with me is pretty slick and pretty funky for an Anna track.  I definitly love the smooth bridge and the pretty quirky chorus as well.  The consistent beat and the driving guitar riff really made the song sound even more outlandish than the other two tracks.  Definitly another enjoyable track.

 

 

Anna’s last track in this moniker was IMO so much better than “Kuroi Namida”.  Even though they are all rock tracks, they have qualities that make them each unique.  LUCY’s all pure crazy rock, better day’s soft rock sound and Dance with me’s sex appeal.  They all make the NANA album, but only LUCY makes it to “NUDY SHOW!” 

ANNA TSUCHIYA inspi’NANA (BLACK STONES) – Kuroi Namida October 5, 2008

Track Listing

1. Kuroi Namida
2. JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH
3. I’m addicted to you
4. Kuroi Namida ~deep sadness version~

1. Kuroi Namida

I’m actually quite surprised at Anna Tsuchiya since I know her from songs like “rose” and “zero”.  So to hear a strong NANA track like this is pretty epic.  The song seems depressing and quite the sad rock track that she needed.  Her vocals aren’t like the ones I’n used to from “cocoon” so it’s surprisin hearing her in a new light.  Even if this was released before.  Still, one of her awesome tracks.

2. JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH

Remember Depeche Mode with that one really poppy tune?  Well Anna decides, “Hey, let’s remake this track!”  Though I think it’s very strange because it’s all rock n’ roll instead of the synth pop that was the original.  Anna’s English sounds pretty great with a few minor flaws, but I think she’s doing that on purpose.  Sadly, what killed the original was how repetitive it got just from saying the title.  So I won’t fault Anna for that.

3. I’m addicted to you

Another NANA track comes as a B-side and this was the most loudest traack of the single.  It’s quite interesting to hear this and it’s one of my favorite tracks from her whole NANA persona era.  It’s pretty furious with its riff and the catchiness of it all won me over for sure.  Anna is fierce bitches!

4. Kuroi Namida ~deep sadness version~

I guess Kuroi Namida wasn’t sad enough so they decided to add some piano and less guitars in it.  I think this song worked more like this because it conveyed it’s feelings more evidently than the previous.  In other words, yes I do rather prefer this than the original

 

 

Anna’s sort-of 1st single for the NUDY SHOW era is a very dark single.  I mean have you heard something that’s either this powerful or/and this sad in a rock song?  Both versions of Kuroi Namida are on her album which is awesome.  Can’t wait to hear more from her.