Aya Hirano – Speed☆Star November 16, 2009

Track Listing

1. stereotype ~inst~
2. Super Driver
3. Sing a Song!
4. OH! My Darlin’
5. Kiss Me
6. Mizu Tamari
7. Ano Hana no You ni
8. Aishite!
9. VOXX
10. Set me free
11. LocK-oN
12. Speed☆Star
13. Unnamed world

1. stereotype ~inst~

We begin the album off with the opening track stereotype.  At first, I was actually quite surprised with the electro-based arrangement, but Aya is actually not even in the song which is difficult to understand, but the countdown reminds me of how Perfume opened up there album.  Strange, but you know it’s true.

2. Super Driver

Super Driver ended off this era on a very rockish note and I’m still loving the song after all that time passed.  While the electro opening kind of creates friction between this song, I love the highly energetic rock sound coming from Aya.  Also coming from her, is a pretty strong vocal performance and she pulls off this very well.  Awesome song.

3. Sing a Song!

Coming from the first single of the era (I guess Namida NAMIDA Namida doesn’t count), Sing a Song! comes blaring in just as “Super Driver” did.  While her vocals here are very reminescent to misono’s in a very disturbing way, I thought this was purely messy.  I mean the melody to me just doesn’t seem to fit with all the chaos going on with the rock arrangement.  I’m sorry but this was a pretty bad track.

4. OH! My Darlin’

Taking things down quite a bit, OH! My Darlin’ is a bit more laced with a pop/rock sound and Aya goes into her more girly voice.  While I’m happy to not see this in every song that was mashed up in the front of her debut album.  It’s relaxing and has a fun atmosphere to it so in other words I like it alot.

5. Kiss Me

Besides the opening, Kiss Me is the shortest song off the album and oddly enough it’s rock like the first two vocal tracks.  The song seems to have been rushed and not finetuned like it should’ve been.  For that, I’m not too big on this track. 

6. Mizu Tamari

I like how quiet the opening for Mizu Tamari was with just quietly-played guitar and Aya singing the opening lines.  It’s still relaxed, but it’s a tad more energetic then our last track so that’s good.  I’m also hearing some synth usage as well in between choruses and such.  Other than that there’s not too much that really sticks out, but it’s an alright listen.

7. Ano Hana no You ni

Hmmm, I wonder why so far this album has been on the rock side of things for the entire album so far.  At the same time, Ano Hana no You ni is all about pop/rock and once again I’m liking what I’m hearing from both the producers and Aya’s vocals.  They mesh nicely on this track and makes up for that last track quite nicely.

8. Aishite!

As the B-side from “Super Driver” Aishite! brings its joyous and exciting arrangement to the album and I thought it was perfect to have been put right here.  It’s also exciting, but not messy which is another point added to this song.  What seperates this from the other tracks was the addition of brass and some sparse English to make it more fun. 

9. VOXX

One of the more edgier songs from the album, I loved VOXX’s more serious tone and Aya’s vocals are also sung more deeper than usual which surprised because she barely uses this voice.  This is a different kind of rock and seriously stands from the album, even moreso being after “Aishite!” of all songs.  Talk about wild differences huh?

10. Set me free

What started out this era, Set me free is probably the closest thing to have the most synths used.  At this point of the album, this song just feels like filler material since everything before it were really great and this tune doesn’t bring much to the table except for its synths.

11. LocK-oN

Hmmm…we get another “VOXX” eh?  LocK-oN shares the same angsty arrangement as said song, but this is the first time I’ve actually heard Aya under auto-tune and it works quite well enough since there’s a lot going for the song.  I just wished the chorus was a little bit stronger since it’s a little repetitive to me.  Still, this is another interesting song that surprised me after all that she’s released beforehand.  Great track overall.

12. Speed☆Star

Just like the title track off her debut, the titular track here is actually quite bad.  Aya seems a little too excited for this track and her voice doesn’t sound right IMO.  Question is is why does Aya make her title tracks almost impossible to enjoy?  I can see the energy she put in here, but it just isn’t that memorable.

13. Unnamed world

I guess, Unnamed world was the “official” first A-side of the era…  I have to admit, I was so sad to not see this track on her first album, but thx to her label, they decided to throw this song on this album and I’m happy for it, but like I said before, If you haven’t heard this before you’ll probably be tired of the rock arrangement.  For me, I already liked the song since listening to it on its single and I have to admit it’s placing to really help it, but makes for a good album finisher.

Tracks Recommended

• LocK-oN
• Aishite!
• Unnamed world
• Super Driver
• VOXX

Aya’s sophomore effort was definitely more appreciated by me than “RIOT GIRL”.  Though the lack of diversity between the songs arrangements can make this album a rather difficult listen.  About that, the new songs were good, but rather sameish but there were a few songs that got me for sure.  I still think stereotype doesn’t fit with the album’s sound but w/e what could I do.  Good album though.

Aya Hirano – Super Driver July 19, 2009

Track Listing

1. Super Driver
2. Aishite!
3. Super Driver (off vocal)
4. Aishite! (off vocal)

1. Super Driver

So unlike the last single, Super Driver is more rock-oriented which is definitely a positive thing.  I don’t know why, but this song is a energetic as the title suggests.  Even though the song doesn’t do anything good for Aya vocal-wise, she does sound so much more into the song than she did for either of the previous A-sides.  The only problem though is that Super Driver might come off as a mirror to “Set me free”.  For me though, it’s a pretty good A-side, just as worthy as “Set me free”.

2. Aishite!

Thank god Aishite! comes in.  It’s still rock, which is starting to run dry for her.  At least she featured brass in the song and vocally she isn’t yelling her heart out until the chorus.  I do like the energy as well here, but sometimes she’s going into idol mode.  The interlude of the song was a bit weird, but otherwise another fun song from Aya.

 

 

As a package, Super Driver was a good pickup after “Set me free/Sing a Song!” as both songs were different from each other.  As for the songs themselves, I thought Super Driver was more or less sameish to the stuff on her last single while Aishite! took a more brass-forward approach with the rock song.  Maybe she’s getting a little stale now, but the single is keeping her afloat.

Aya Hirano – Set me free/Sing a Song! April 26, 2009

Track Listing

1. Set me free
2. Sing a Song!
3. Set me free (Off Vocal)
4. Sing a Song! (Off Vocal)

1. Set me free

Set me free reminds me of Shokotan’s “Sorairo Days”.  When I mean that it’s because both songs are definitly rock songs and shows off the artists wild side.  I gotta say, Aya sounds pretty hardcore with the song and hearing the weird 2nd verse…this song sounds so much more memorable than “Namida NAMIDA Namida”.  Pretty nifty!

2. Sing a Song!

And no, It’s not a cover of Eri’s great dance track.  The song continues the rock sound, but it’s a bit more controlled, except for Aya’s singing she’s definitly singing out and until the chorus, the music gets as wild as the singing.  Sadly, since it’s an A-side and after “Set me free” this comes as a bit disappointing as it doesn’t seperate itself as an A-side

 

 

Set me free/Sing a Song! is actually a smidge of a downgrade when compared to last single “Namida NAMIDA Namida”  Both songs just sound similar to one another and I found myself missing Aya working with Tsunku surprisingly.  I think this single would’ve been better with an B-side added on as well…I don’t know it’s just not that good.

Aya Hirano – Namida NAMIDA Namida October 6, 2008

Track Listing

1. Namida NAMIDA Namida
2. WIN
3. Namida NAMIDA Namida (Off Vocal)
4. WIN (Off Vocal)

1. Namida NAMIDA Namida

Reading that Tsunku had a part of this track, I was pleasantly surprised at how the song worked.  It’s a pop track with a lot of synth in it.  Definitly reminds me of Nami Tamaki’s stuff.  Aya sounds pretty good and as a step up from her debut album, this track chose a good direction to go and not be stuck in the Seiyuu crap.  So I praise on her energy and her vocals.

2. WIN

WIN is like the previous track almost, but it leans more on the rock territory.  Somehow, this whole dance pop/rock hybrid actually works.  The guitar solo totally rules the song and Aya being really great with her vocals actually made this song WIN LOL….I hope she continues with tracks, but you can obviously tell this is Tsunku’s work.

 

 

Aya’s 1st single of the era, is awesome at most.  I mean even though both songs are Tsunku’s work, she really fits in with the whole pop/rock perspective.  I mean the A-Side is actually very catchy as well as the B-side, I hope both do make the album cut. 

Aya Hirano – RIOT GIRL July 16, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. LOVE★GUN
2. HERO
3. MonStAR
4. Ashita no Prism
5. Breakthrough (Album Ver.)
6. Bouken Desho Desho?
7. Aimai Scream
8. Yorokobi no Uta
9. Maybe i can’t good-bye
10. NEOPHILIA
11. Harmonia Vita
12. For you
13. Hoshi no Kakera
14. RIOT GIRL

1. LOVE★GUN

We kickstart this awesome album with this rock track.  Aya goes through many different voices and this is her uncontrolled voice.  It fits with the wild track.  Some of it reminds me of like Final Fantasy battle themes for some odd reason.  I think she’s putting punk princess down as things she can do right.

2. HERO

Continuing with the pop/punk rock sound, HERO is definitly calmer than the previous track.  I kind of dislike this track because it’s just lifeless musically, like it’s stuff we’ve heard before so it’s pretty much a filler track.  Dang, already we have our filler track *sigh*

3. MonStAR

A piano intro starts off with this punk/synth track.  I found myself really enjoying the synth of the song.  The chorus really kills Aya’s voice talent in this song. Why?  She’s so nasally in it, it’s almost terrible.  Though the verses were very good.  Depends on your mood to which if you like the song or not.

4. Ashita no Prism

OMG, I thought of Nami Tamaki from that guitar solo in the beginning.  This pop/rock song was a single also and it was a good choice to do that.  Aya’s voice still seems off, however but it’s more like Nana Kitade’s voice in this song.  So I wasn’t too bothered with her this time.

5. Breakthrough (Album Ver.)

Ska?  That’s the feeling I’m getting from the song.  The whole carefree sound with brass adding excitement, surprised me alot.  I haven’t heard the single version, but I don’t think it can surpass this.  It’s fun, poppy, full of life and just cute.  Aya doesn’t sound quite as bad either!

6. Bouken Desho Desho?

I kinda thought it as gonna be a dark track hence the church bell.  I was surprised it turned into this pop tune that’s sugary cute.  The chorus is so catchy, I’d just sing along with it.  Another single right here.  Still it’s a bit too sugary and Aya is in her “cute” sound.  Which I like sorta XD

7. Aimai Scream

Ick, she’s combined her cute vocals with the synth stuff and they don’t mix well together.  Not my kind of tune either, it sounds like something you’d hear in “Doraemon” or something like that.  I wished it was better performed.

8. Yorokobi no Uta

A rock ballad?  Hey, it also introduces to a new sound from Aya, her deep voice sounds real good, like almost better than Ayumi good.  This is where the album steps up and gets good too.  Yorokobi no Uta is a good track with the instrumentation.  Aya thank you!

9. Maybe i can’t good-bye

Hard rock is pulsing in this track.  Aya sounds really creepy with her steady vibrato and strong vocals.  The beginning guitar sounds sounded like Blur’s “Song 2″ which is one of my favorite rock tracks to begin with.  I think Aya should go in this direction and not the poppy side.  The chorus is so hard and so cool.  Kudos to the drummer too, those was some good beats right there.

10. NEOPHILIA

Strange opening, though she gets more darker entering this track.  I’m starting to notice that there’s two different Aya’s pop princess & rock queen…sound familiar, how about Tommy February6 and Tommy Heavenly6?  Yeah this is how it’s changing to.  Aya still sounds very awesome, holding her ground.

11. Harmonia Vita

Ok, this is like Ayu’s “Marionette”.  It’s the darkest, evilest track on this album.  This has some of the hardest sounding guitars and bass it’s awesome.  Aya, going through both her lower and higher register creates a dark theme, just like “Marionette” they might be sister songs, I swear.  Best song on this album.

12. For you

As we lighten the mood up, For you goes back to the pop/rock sounds from earlier.  I think the drums in the chorus was a bit overbearing, however Aya still manages to overcome that factor and doesn’t overkill her voice.  However, I’m reminded of misono’s work as well…they overall song just sounds one on the same.

13. Hoshi no Kakera

The main ballad of the album, is kinda of a cute song.  with Aya using her normal tone.  She sounds so beautiful in this song and can be easily be a tie-in to an ending of a anime easily.  There is power to the song mostly in the chorus which prevented it from getting to boring.  The twinkling sounds also made this song worthwhile.

14. RIOT GIRL

The title track is the final track as well?  The beginning was so catchy then it’s led to this crazy rock song.  Aya ruins this song as well by using her “Uncontrollable” voice.  The bridge was pretty awesome and had a good pace to it.  The chorus is a little too weird for me.  I think she should’ve put this song somewhere in the middle of the album, rather than the end.

Tracks Recommended

• Harmonia Vita
• Maybe i can’t good-bye
• LOVE★GUN
• Yorokobi no Uta
• Hoshi no Kakera

Aya Hirano’s debut album was definitly split in the middle, half being reminescent of Tommy February6 and the other half being the Tommy Heavenly6 side.  Still, Aya Hirano has made this album her own, and it’s not that bad.  Most of the cute songs needed some work on.  The 2nd half was almost pure awesomeness.  Recommended to everyone!