capsule – Sugarless GiRL June 29, 2009

Track Listing

1. Welcome to my World
2. Starry Sky
3. REALiTY
4. Sugarless GiRL
5. Catch my breath
6. Spider
7. MUZiC
8. melting point
9. Sound of Silence
10. Secret Paradise
11. Star Sniper (iTunes exclusive)

1. Welcome to my World

All that’s going on here is just a talking opener to the album.  That’s just because we love our stock vocals right?  It’s kind of freaky actually since it’s a female robotic voice….shocker right?

2. Starry Sky

That voice actually reappears into our first track off the album which was also the lone A-side released single for the album.  Starry Sky does drag itself at the start since it has a long instrumental before Toshiko comes in and sings off.  Now right from the start, you can tell this is a evolution of capsule because of the harder synth style and J-tek style that has taken over.  Now all of the vocoder also works here as well giving Toshiko something to make her off vocals work and this is a good way to begin the album.

3. REALiTY

I’ll be honest, the first B-side off the album, REALiTY is another surprise, especially to the more Shibuya-kei fans because not only does it not feature Toshiko it’s got a male vocalist going on here and I kind of like the songs where Nakata uses a male voice for a song (like “Phantom”).  After a while it does become a little too formulaic and maybe a bit repetitive, but y’know how J-tek works.

4. Sugarless GiRL

The next three tracks, are like the trinity to capsule on this album.  Starting off with Sugarless GiRL which was a B-side to “Starry Sky” (WTF, why is this a B-side?????).  Clearly Nakata didn’t have high hopes, but this song would be the epitome to what capsule new sound was like and was further driven for other acoustically driven J-tek songs like Perfume’s “Computer City”.  To be quite honest, it is their best song they’ve had so far.  I mean it isn’t as heavy like the last two tracks, but it’s enough to dance too and Toshiko returns as well.  Toshiko also added some emotion to the song which made it even better….ahhhh this song is a legend.

5. Catch my breath

I kind of consider this to be a long interlude rather than a full on track…I mean well it’s two parts repeated and Toshiko isn’t even it (at least I don’t think so).  Why I consider it part of the trinity?  Well it bridges “Sugarless GiRL” and “Spider”.  Now this has a heavier beat and it sounds dark but the thing that gets me, is that the lyrics are hard to decipher.  It’s those damn stock vocals, but in my mind, I think not knowing what they are saying is actually quite different.  ~It’s nice to know that you were there.  Thanks for acting like you care, I can hardly catch my breath~  Sweet ass line.

6. Spider

Then we get to Spider, Damn…this was one mindfuck of a song going around IMO.  Toshiko returns and she brought freaky in a new way.  The arrangement does have electric guitar which is pretty cool and the heavy dance beats continue.  Seriously though, Toshiko’s lack of emotion in the song worked especially when the topic is about how she’s stuck in love and this person is like a spider.  The chorus though kind of draggy, it pretty dark-like and eerie especially when Toshiko is all like ~spidaaaaaaaah~

7. MUZiC

Enough of that fangasm xD.  MUZiC kind of bores me actually.  I mean there’s a bit of a lulz factor to it, since the song sounds like something from some gay porno.  There’s some moans here and there and the beats is jumpy which is nice.  I just found this song to just fly by me, but it’s funny to hear it once in a while, just for those moans.  After a while stock vocals return too….hmmm lack of Toshiko FTL.

8. melting point

Strange to have a piano interlude on an electro capsule album….It just doesn’t seem to fit at all on here (then again, it wouldn’t really fit on any of their other albums).  So it’s longer than the opener and I guess it gives us a break from the album.

9. Sound of Silence

~I’ve never felt this sound of silence!~  Oh wow, this would be under something different on the album as it is more pop-laced than the other tracks, but once again no Toshiko in sight.  It’s more around the club/house sound and I quite like it actually since the music sounds easily like a Perfume tune, but with stock vocals.  It’s quite interesting and I like it, though throw in some Perfume though….xD

10. Secret Paradise

Ending off the main album, Secret Paradise is quite the odd track IMO.  I don’t know why but it seems ethereal as a J-tek track, then again it actually sounds like something off their last album so it’s nice to see something on here that’s like that.  Still the whole sound of it is quite nice actually. 

11. Star Sniper

So if you bought the album via iTunes, you get another track…hmmm Star Sniper is different from the other tracks in the way it sounds a little tribal almost or maybe that’s me.  I love the heavy synths playing around here.  There’s some whispering going around which bothers me, since iono what language it’s in….French?  Who knows, I guess after all that the song just doesn’t make me like it much…where’s my Toshiko?

Tracks Recommended

• Sugarless GiRL
• Spider
• Catch my breath
• Sound of Silence

capsule really made their fans turn their heads in two directions with this album.  Some like the new fresh sound Nakata was using on the album while others were basically shunning them because they lost their original sound altogether.  For me, I actually love this album and shows Nakata can do a lot more than pico-pop and thrust himself into the J-tek field.  Sugarless GiRL is one of their best if not their best album.

capsule – FRUITS CLiPPER January 21, 2009

Track Listing

1. CS Entrance6
2. FRUITS CLiPPER
3. jelly (album-edit)
4. CrazEEE Skyhopper
5. 5iVE STAR
6. Endor
7. Robot Disco
8. super speeder Judy Jedy
9. megalopolis
10. dreamin dreamin

1. CS Entrance6

You know, this opening actually has quite the potential to have become a great track.  I love the synth here and the whole melody itself was aggressive but not too much.  There’s also some heavily vocodered male speech going on.  Should be a full fledged song IMO.

2. FRUITS CLiPPER

We enter our actual first track and you’ll obviously tell that this is a different capsule than of the past.  They have a more disco-theme going on here and add with the almost nod to Daft Punk’s style of music, I actually love this song a lot.  There’s two voices one’s Toshiko mostly in the chorus or whatever and some other girl being the stock vocals.  It’s pretty damn catchy and hell, it’s an awesome song.

3. jelly (album-edit)

jelly was actually on the previous album, but as an iTunes special.  So it turns out there’s a shorter version of it on their next album.  It starts off pretty aggressive.  Toshiko actually sings fully in the song and it kind of sounds like “Spider” off the next album sort of.  Sadly, Toshiko doesn’t really add any punch with the almost stale notes shes hitting, I think the music saved it.

4. CrazEEE Skyhopper

Stock vocals open into our next track, which honestly is pretty freaky.  The whole dark 8-bit sound definitly will pull you in this one.  Then there’s this terrible vocal sound that just turned me off that instant like it was a bad sour note.  I guess basically this is an instrumental track as it features little vocal snippets but the music is tight.

5. 5iVE STAR

Maybe it’s me, but this was definitly something different.  It had a nice latin touch to the normal capsule stuff.  Toshiko finally returns and sounds way better and there’s also some male sounds as well.  Iono, it just didn’t connect with me as much as the previous tracks had, but it’s a good listen.

6. Endor

31 seconds of nature sounds?  Maybe its me, but that doesn’t exactly make sense on an album like this and that’s all it is….nature sounds….WTF Nakata?

7. Robot Disco

Wow, I love how this song depends on the crazy frenetic beat to keep itself going.  I have to say this is one of my favorites off the album because it just screams Daft Punk to me.  There’s not a lot going on in the lyrical sense, but there’s bits and pieces found throughout and well, it’s just great.

8. super speeder Judy Jedy

It’s just so awkward to hear such a calm track after the freaky experience of “Robot Disco” but then the song just kicks my initial thoughts in the ass as this guitar riff enters the song.  It actually reminds me of “Electro World” which in a sense makes sense obviously, but the verses are way lighter than said song.  Then there’s those male vocoder vocals that actually mesh into Toshiko’s singing which was totally great.  Iono, this is just a cool song overall.

9. megalopolis

OH GOD the beginning was just totally out of left field and then this crazy beat and synth melody starts up and you just wondering how the hell did Nakata think of it.  It’s spacey, which I do love about the song, but the thing that’s missing is Toshiko, she could’ve made this song so much more epic.  Just knowing there’s only stock vocals just disappointed me…

10. dreamin dreamin

Hey, I know this song…MEG covered this.  If I remember correctly her version was a lot more lighter than the original which doesn’t make a lot of sense.  Toshiko’s vocals also made the song that much more enjoyable.  I mean it’s not as mind-blowing as other tracks, but this was a great song to end the album

Tracks Recommended

•  Robot Disco
• FRUITS CLiPPER
• super speeder Judy Jedy
• jelly (album-edit)

FRUITS CLiPPER is actually quite a good album.  Though it is the first to feature stock vocals which eventually becomes a mainstay with capsule’s later releases, they were pretty good.  I think the only issue that came with the album was how Nakata was treating Toshiko with less tracks than normal.  Oh and that useless interlude as well lol

 

 

capsule – More! More! More! November 18, 2008

Track Listing

1. runway
2. more more more
3. the Time is Now
4. JUMPER
5. Phantom
6. gateway
7. Pleasure ground
8. the mutations of love
9. e.d.i.t.
10. Adventure

1. runway

We introduce to this really funky synth opener.  I’m actually not liking the urban groove the song has to offer and it’s just there to open the album…the title runway sounds like a song COLTEMONIKHA would use but I guess not.

2. more more more

I know something but the song is a little different than the one I have which I think it’s because it’s the iTunes edition.  It’s like the song sounds pretty 80’s which is probably the theme of the album, it might not be but it’s a guess.  Toshiko sounds pretty strange pronouncing ~More, More, More~ it’s like she’s pronouncing Mwah, or Mois….I’d like to have her work on her English please.  Other than that the music is pretty exciting and full of life.

2. the Time is Now

We get the B-side next which I already said was a little disappointing and there’s something different about it.  The stock audio sounds way more clearer to me and less fluffy.  Anyways, there’s some rapping in it which I think is a first for a capsule song.  I’m actually starting to like the synths and the rapping mixing together, it made the song better IMO.  It’s a warm-up-to song for me.

4. JUMPER

OMG, they actually didn’t change the song for the album.  So you don’t have to worry about the pitch shifts and the beginning being changed.  Still the underside of the song is the fact the songs consists of well, one really looong phrase.  I still don’t even understand it.  What the song does right was the music.  It’s one of their bests in their career and with the synth love and that awesome bass synth + guitar moment.  Definitly is the best song on the album.

5. Phantom

Phantom was the first song from the album to have a preview.  The synths do remind me of XTina’s “Keeps Gettin’ Better”.  Anyway the song has a male voice under major vocoder, which also reminds me of Daft Punk’s stuff as well.  The music though is pretty wavy and cool.  If you must know, it is the shortest track off the album.  The male voice is so freaky during the middle.

6. gateway

gateway begins with some menacing stringwork and then there’s some synth that goes loud to soft and that’s pretty much it.  At least it leads into the next track…unnoticeably.

7. Pleasure ground

I didn’t even notice the song starting until Toshiko started in.  I love the synths here, it’s kind of like a combination of “Polyrhythm” and “Sugarless GiRL”.  It’s actually leaning more towards Polyrhythm, luckily it doesn’t seem so repetitive luckily.  I love Toshiko’s singing here, it actually wins here.  Perfume-related but at least it works right?

8. the mutations of love

See, now this is a song Ami could do and prolly be one of my favorites.  The song is pretty different for me as it is a lot more 80’s inspired.  The song does come off a little monotone after a while but the thumping beat and the chorus really does make the song fun and cool.  Definitly something really cool here.

9. e.d.i.t.

I really think this song WTF for me especially the video-game like synths that open the song up and then this voice says ~edit!~  and then the song becomes something really frantic and loud.  There’s a synth that raises pitch and it will annoy you.  I’m not sure if Toshiko sings in the song but there’s a presence of stock vocals.  It does seem messy to me, but the energy with this track is great.  One of the more aggressive tracks on the album.

10. Adventure

Ending off the album is Adventure which actually lives up to the title actually.  The music really does sound like an adventurous kind of song which is nice.  There’s a piano-like melody and with the synths backing it up, it’s nice.  About 1:30, Toshiko finally sings in the song and once proves that she’s good for Nakata.  What a nice finishing track.

Tracks Recommended

•  JUMPER
• Pleasure ground
• Adventure
• the Time is Now
• e.d.i.t.

Wow, this is another great Nakata album for sure.  Though this time I wasn’t totally hating on the tracks.  I’m pretty this’ll be on my TOP albums of the year.  Most of the new tracks posed different sounds and wasn’t based off one idea.  The only thing I wished he worked on are the interlude/opening.  Those two weren’t really needed but damn this album was a great listen *RECOMMENDED* 

capsule – JUMPER November 7, 2008

Track Listing

1. JUMPER
2. the Time is Now

1. JUMPER

I’m going to find this strange because it doesn’t start up like it does in the PV,  Sadly, there’s other things I’m noticing quite obviously because of the raise of the song’s pitch.  It’s still basically JUMPER that we know and love, it’s just the song has some minor tweaks.  I also did feel that the song sped up a little bit, but that’s all in good fun and it still has the major parts.  JUMPER is lyrically dry as it comes as it’s practically a long phrase repeated over and over and over.  Nakata and Toshiko knew this and took this phrase 3 different ways, slow, mechanically, and melodically.  I still love the guitar+synth part where things get sinister and epic.  To be honest, I rather have the PV version or the fanmade extended mix.

2. the Time is Now

When I heard the song, I thought it sounded 8-bit perhaps a little bit.  Though it’s a very synthy track and has some rapping done by someone that isn’t Toshiko.  Luckily the rapping is in English but this girl is shooting them so fast.  Then another gal comes in for what I like to call the chorus and it wasn’t too special.  I guess it makes sense the song wouldn’t be as good as “JUMPER”

 

 

JUMPER didn’t really need any changes IMO and the tweaks given to it was a little on the stranger side of things.  the Time is Now is what really brought the single down, but the synths are pretty awesome at least right? 

capsule – L.D.K. Lounge Designers Killer October 28, 2008

Track Listing

1. Soratobu Toshikeikaku
2. Teleportation
3. Lounge Designers Killer (ft. ether22)
4. twinkle twinkle poppp!
5. tiC taC
6. Antenna
7. Glider
8. Jinrui no Shinpo to Chouwa
9. do do pi do
10. fin.

1. Soratobu Toshikeikaku

Beautiful strings are played in the beginning and then it quiets down and turns into a dance track.  The vocals keep going in and out and then we get into a nice mash of the strings and the beats.  Toshiko doesn’t come until a minute passes by and even then she’s ad-libbing AGAIN!….Though I already liked the track with its great combination of musicality.

2. Teleportation

A lot of bleeping coincides within the song which is oddly futuristic and yet really loud.  I blame the drummer for this one.  I think the bleeping is very reminescent of Perfume’s “Vitamin Drop” and probably was made during this era.  Toshiko to me sounds very airy for some reason but oh well.  Once again Toshiko fails to learn any English because she fails at saying ~Teleportation~

3. Lounge Designers Killer (ft. ether22)

This is very interesting.  Like it doesn’t sound like anything heard so far.  It’s mildly aggressive but not too much and Toshiko sounds great.  There’s a male voice in the song as well.  Though I’ve noticed during that part that the low synths sound exactly like access’s “EDGE”  which threw me for a loop.  I love how Toshiko says the title sounds pretty hot.  Best title track so far.

4. twinkle twinkle poppp!

We reenter the bossa nova side of things, but the song is cute and pretty bouncy.  Though I dispise how they started the song off because they sounded pretty high or something.  Once again, I feel as if she’s too airy for the song.  At the end of the song I felt it was an alright track, nothing too spectacular.

5. tiC taC

Something we haven’t heard in a while is this toned down and smooth jazz track.  I still think this new style of vocals Toshiko is trying here is pretty great and she sounds comfortable, unlike a few other tracks.  Only supporting the song is guitar, drums, and someone on the xylophone.  It ends pretty quickly, but it’s awesome.

6. Antenna

The only interlude of the album and it just a line of falling notes that only last about a few seconds.  Useless if you ask me.

7. Glider

Glider is surprisingly good.  It’s pretty dreamy as capsule songs go and Toshiko sounds great here.  I’m starting to see Nakata using the synths and vocoder good here and I think it was a great start with this track.  It’s also devoid of any of that jazzy style that’s been there since their debut.  It’s one of the stanout tracks from the album.

8. Jinrui no Shinpo to Chouwa

This oddly sounds like “Teleportation” for one thing.  It sounds even more cosmic that said song which is great.  Once again, I thought the percussion was a little too much for the song but Toshiko sounds great here.  Though I totally forget what it sounds like after a while.

9. do do pi do

Strange title for a strange song indeed.  It sounds like someone was on pot *cough* (nakata).  I didn’t find much interest in the song really but the bouncy piano line and Toshiko’s singing is alright.  The song lacked interest this time because Toshiko really sounded boring actually. Definitly the worst new track. 

10. fin.

 All the ending is is just a bouncy piano solo.  Kind of fun if you ask me, and did end the album quite nicely.  It’s also exactly one minute long isn’t that quite funny.

Tracks Recommended

• Glider
• Soratobu Toshikeikaku
• tiC taC
• Lounge Designers Killer

I’m seeing the transformation that capsule’s taking and the tracks that showed it came out really well, but for others it was more or less of the same I’ve been hearing for a few albums now.  I got to say this album beats out NEXUS-2060 by a landslide.

capsule – NEXUS-2060 October 28, 2008

Track Listing

1. NEXUS-2060
2. space station No.9
3. A.I. automatic infection
4. Q&A
5. Lucky Love (ft. ether22)
6. happy life generator
7. beautiful hour
8. urban complex
9. world fabrication
10. tokyo smiling

1. NEXUS-2060

 Kind of strange opening with a talking introduction.  I notice Toshiko saying ~Space Station No.9~  So it’s just a pretty strange start overall.

2. space station No.9

I’m pretty surprised at the music here.  It sounds like bossa nova with the twinge of spacey sounds.  It really kick in until like a minute in and even then it has Toshiko yelling some phrase over and over.  What’s with the ~pa pa pa pa pa~.  That got really annoying very quickly.

3. A.I. automatic infection

Now I’m really sensing that this album is going to be stranger than the previous album.  Now it actually makes more sense and Toshiko is actually singing this time.  It does vividly remind me of a more cosmic version of “idol fancy”.  Though the random space-like sounds and the sound of electricity does make an impact within the song.  I kind of liked that.

4. Q&A

Already an interlude?  It’s definitly nothing special.  All it really is is someone announcing capsule by spelling it out.  Totally random and not needed really.

5. Lucky Love (ft. ether22)

Continuing on, we have the only collaboration found on the album and it’s quite interesting.  I cringe at Toshiko’s vocals in the song because they were terrible.  It’s still in the style of bossa-nova and truthfully I didn’t find much anything to praise about until bout midway through the song where synths popped in.  Still Toshiko was pretty bad.

6.  happy life generator

Then we get the Toshiko who fails at English.  Terrible pronunciation at the title especially ~generator~.  It’s more upbeat than the last few songs and it’s another good track.  Even though the brass has appeared before on this album I can actually enjoy it here.  She repeats the title so much though and c’mon it sucks XD

7. beautiful hour

Finally!  Something that doesn’t sound like every other track on the album.  It starts off quietly with a lot of drums and then it gets louder and more things are added before Toshiko comes in.  Even though she’s mostly ad-libbing and that’s all the song really is is that.  Another track that could’ve been something more.

8. urban complex

Hey the beginning sounded like that thing from Aya Hirano’s debut album.  Anyway, the song features voice clippings from various areas.  Like, I noticed Tweety’s voice.  I do agree the song sounds definitly different and is urban, but there’s still an equal amount of synths present.  Only at 2 minutes it’s pretty short.

9. world fabrication

Ugh….I think I’m already tired of this album.  Luckily Toshiko is singing and while the music is very lively, it’s another one of those tracks that just passes you by.  Toshiko is singing better this time I’ll say that, but the music has already been overused.

10. tokyo smiling

Yes, something that’s pretty catchy from the start and the music isn’t all that.  Use of plucked strings and the nice synths carried to whole track through and I quite liked it alot.  After listening through the whole album, I was grateful to hear this.  Possibly the best track off the album.

Tracks Recommended

•  tokyo smiling
• A.I. automatic infection

Alright, this has to be their worst album to date.  Everything except like one or two songs sounded very similar to one another.  Bossa Nova combined with Space does not create such a nice combination as it was pretty awkward.  blech….

capsule – S.F. sound furniture September 27, 2008

Track Listing

1. S.F. sound furniture
2. GO! GO! Fine Day
3. Portable Kuukou
4. Uchuu Elevator
5. Future TV
6. Mirai Seikatsu
7. Kabe ni Tsuiteru Switch
8. Super Scooter Happy
9. Milk Tea no Jikan
10. Ocean Blue Sky Orange
11. Retro Memory

1. S.F. sound furniture

I love their opening sequences and this is no different.  Except that oddly this is a bubbly opening starting with some typing then it just opens to this crazy happy video game sound…It’s definitly one of their best openings.

2. GO! GO! Fine Day

Then it’s led smoothly into this funny track.  The brass sounds sound so good and the music is very lively and filled to the brim with happiness.  Somehow though the lyrics don’t stand out for me and are possibly pretty monotone with Koshi.  The only thing that really keeps this song afloat is the music which is so good.

3. Portable Kuukou

I think this track is definitly a step in the right direction.  The song is less loud and the song has a futuristic sound with laser shooting sounds I think.  For a song that musically sounds good comes with it’s downfall which is there’s barely any singing.  There’s just some ahhhh-ings going on and that’s about it.  Still the music is so addictive.

4. Uchuu Elevator

Really, we’re back to the happy crap?  Yes, though it has some video game quality-like sounds in it that keeps this song sounding fresh.  I just didn’t like how the vocals worked for me.  It sounded very airy and filled with some flat sounding notes.  The descending notes really sounded cool but other than that, I was bored with this song.

5. Future TV

A somewhat of a interlude.  It’s obviously some one watchin TV and I know that first switch was a capsule though I don’t know what it was then they switched to some robotic dude who blabs for the rest of the interlude….nuff said.

6. Mirai Seikatsu

Do we really need mathematics going around in the song?  I’m not sure why but this song is very lounge-like and has accordion in it ^_^.   Koshi actually sounds pretty nice, even with the random synth line and random other sounds.  I liked the simplicity in this song mixed with the futurisitc stuff…including the telephone ringing.  Fun song!

7. Kabe ni Tsuiteru Switch

I love how that guy says the title.  Though the song is just basically him speaking robotically.  Musically it’s a bit urban and somewhat jazzy also which at this point is a new genre Nakata has taken up and it doesn’t sound right for me.  There’s some female vocals that sound muddled in the music but the sounds ends there with a fanfare….

8. Super Scooter Happy

Alright!  Frickin Seseme Street music.  I mean it’s lighthearted and playful, but the song is just overly cute for me.  I mean I don’t know what exactly turns me off from this song, but damn….there’s a lot of these happy tracks on this album and this one had to be the worst.

9. Milk Tea no Jikan

Another interlude with the sound of making tea against a xylophone solo.  It’s nothing spectacular, but it’s funny that they would do such a thing.  Oh Nakata you weirdo. 

10. Ocean Blue Sky Orange

The best song off the album is this islandy track.  I would have expected to hear this on a Katamari Damacy album but it’s not there.  Koshi doesn’t sound half bad here.  Her voice seems to have this dreamy feeling to it where it works to her advantage.  It did put the image of a beach instantly in my head.  LOVE IT!

11. Retro Memory

Hey, finally a normal song!  It’s a bit quicker in the instrumentation and still has that lounge feeling and with accordion playing also it’s awesome.  What’s with that start-up before the 1st verse?  That was so wrong!.  Other than that this track is oddly catchy, but doesn’t really make me wanna scream I wanna hear this again.

Tracks Recommended

• Ocean Blue Sky Orange
• Mirai Seikatsu
• Portable Kuukou

Musically this is a fantastic album, but vocally this has to their worst as of right now.  I mean the music had some great music that looked back to previous albums, sadly Koshi just sounded dead to listen to through most of the tracks and there were few instrumentals was pretty bad. 

capsule – phony phonic July 28, 2008

Track Listing

1. phony phonic
2. RGB
3. cosmic tone cooking
4. Ice Cream
5. weekend in my ROOM
6. life style music
7. swing 54321
8. end of summer
9. idol fancy
10. Hanjuuryoku Ryokou

1. phony phonic

Hehehe, what a cute opening track, with piano and some xylophones.  Reminds me of Mister Rogers ^_^;  Too much, but it was a short intro.

2. RGB

What can I say about this colurful track?  I mean it’s got such a nice vibe with it.  The beepy synths also create a fun sound and c’mon, it’s just so crazy.  It has a bossa nova sound to it, which is Nakata’s new view on this album, so I’ll just leave it as it is.  I’m surprised that this track is so catchy and Koshi added more to it.

3. cosmic tone cooking

Maybe it’s me but this song was so random with its space sounds and phones ringing, this song sounds like something Perfume could cover.  The artist singing sounds a bit off though kind of ruining the mood.  It’s got a nice traveling vibe but still I wasn’t falling in love.

4. Ice Cream

This album is scaring me to death, with all this randomness.  The beginning has this ice cream truck tune and I was like I’m hungry.  Then the main music comes in and omg, it sounds like a videogame…Dahlia returns for this track and she’s airy in her vocals.  Then again, she says ~Ice Cream~ right.  The timpanis are added for more silliness and I’m not complaining.  Cutest track.

5. weekend in my ROOM

Sounds of a baseball game begins with this very odd track.  Nakata uses the vocoder right here and it’s obvious.  Then a nice piano line plays before the lead singer from Hazel Nuts Chocolate sings.  I always liked her voice since it’s not straining or anything.  Though she ad-libs a lot through the song.  It’s also got a bit of an island-like sound, what a nice track.

6. life style music

a short track, the percussion is leading the track mostly with Koshi singing along.  I kind of found this track to be the predecessor for the next album, with synths being totally different from everything else.  Though it’s very repetitious and gets annoying after a while. 

7. swing 54321

Yep, its obviously a swing tune with its shuffling percussion and wacky piano lines.  What gets me is that baby laugh in the beginning, that was so not needed.  I think it’s an instrumental however, the only vocals in ~5, 4, 3, 2, 1~  I guess it make a pretty cool dance tune.

8. end of summer

Another instrumental?  Well, this one’s a lot shorter and has accordion playing on a record sound.  It plays for a while then kinda stops midway, hmmmmph.  Then again it leads to best song

9. idol fancy

OMG, I love this track, its got such playfulness and some great instrumentation.  Yuppa’s nice vocals easily carried the cuteness of the track and it has accordion also!  It maybe silly but I think it’s one of Nakata’s masterpieces. The middle of the song changes the sound altogether into a dark moment but livens up after, what a nice transition.  I was also entranced with the PV also, so much ORANGE.  A very lively song too.

10. Hanjuuryoku Ryokou

An applause leads to our final track, which is definitly a bossa nova song with blaring string bass and some cute xylophone and piano parts.  It sounds like it’s live but it isn’t XD  I can’t help but enjoy the free feeling from the album.

Tracks Recommended

• idol fancy
• weekend in my ROOM
• Ice Cream
• RGB
• Hanjuuryoku Ryokou

capsule’s finest works can be found on this album.  It’s so different from so many other works, I was surprised from this album since I only really listened to one song, idol fancy.  So far this is my favorite capsule album reviewed.

capsule – CUTIE CINEMA REPLAY June 15, 2008

Track Listing

1. open
2. sweet time replay
3. Candy Cutie
4. Plastic Girl
5. french lesson
6. music controller (piconova-mix)
7. Odekake Go!Go!
8. fashion fashion
9. Udagawa Friday
10. close

1. open

A horn intro with Nakata speaking to the end, it’s very short so it’s just an introduction.

2. sweet time replay

A very odd synth starts and is fueled by piano, I can’t really tell you how carefree this song is….hmmm….Ok!, it’s something you’d expect to hear in Katamari Damacy or one of it’s sequels.  Dahlia though sounds very airy….I guess it fits but whatever.  After the chorus, she’s whispering and the music gets awkward…like some odd sounds appear.  Well, it’s an alright song

3. Candy Cutie

Piano starts us off and then does a mind twist and shoots us into this odd cute song.  This song is very lively and almost sounds like Kirby music with lyrics!  Sonic Coaster Pop is featured in this track, I guess that’s why this song is so sugar coated, it’s almost a guilty pleasure.  I actually found myself jamming to this.  It’s just that cute.  The interlude in the song even goes further with the video game sounds and it just is so good.

4. Plastic Girl

~Wicked Plastic~ is said right when the tune starts up.  EeL is featured in this song, though I don’t think they are a major role…because I hear Koshi, I could be wrong be ehhh.  She sounds actually quite good in the song.  It’s not as lively as “Candy Cutie” but it’s got its flair and actually is a great song to listen to while bike riding. 

5. french lesson

Uhm, okay…..this has to be the oddest song on the album.  It’s definitly French-affialiated with the accordion being the main instrument.  There’s no singing just a voice in japanese speaking.  Whenever I hear this I think of “Delfino Plaza” from Super Mario Sunshine.  I guess it’s an interlude of sorts, but a really long one.  I love the swooping whistle XD

6. music controller (piconova-mix)

A remix of the original music controller and the only “capsule-only” tune on here.  It’s a very weird tune.  Koshi sounds a tad dark sounding in this song that kind of reminds me of fiestas.  It’s got a nice share of synths and maracas and keyboardto color the song.  It’s definitly something if you like laidback synth tunes.

7. Odekake Go!Go!

Oh snap, a car honks to tell us that there’s a new song starting.  It’s very lively also.  Various percussion is heard throughout.  I like the sudden urgency before the second verse.  You can hear the honking car work for the song too, which is interesting.  Sylvia55 is actually the artist in this track, and wow I was surprised that they came to make this song.  It’s one of the catchiest songs on the album.

8. fashion fashion

I’m a little scared of this song.  Why?  That girl who says ~Tokyo Chocolate* and *Fashion Fashion* is definitly on pot or something.  The song is minimalistic when compared to the other songs, but it’s got this whole happy feeling in it which fits the song.  The girl does get annoying because she keeps repeating the title over and over.  Eventually more sounds do come in like flutes, more percussion and guitars.  Still, it gets really repetitive and boring.

9. Udagawa Friday

Using a xylophone and a electric guitar we get our final track Udagawa Friday.  The song is so goofy, it’s downright hilarious.  It kind of mashes all of the songs on the album and shoves them together.  Not seriously, but there’s traces of sounds like the accordion.  I think Koshi is also singing in this track, I cant tell but she sounds good here.  Definitly a peppy, happy track.

10. close

Auld Lang Syne is the closing of the album??? WTF…it’s played on Xylophone…then a guy’s voice appears…and is he speaking French???  Alright, this is the strangest ending ever!

 Tracks Recommended

• Odekake Go!Go!
• Candy Cutie

capsule’s 2nd album featured many artists and not capsule themselves.  This was a different album than “Haikara Girl” adding more pop and light stuff across.  Majority of the album was cute stuff and not so much serious stuff, it does get the job done, it made me happy listening to it.  oh yea….Auld Lang Syne WTF

capsule – Haikara Girl June 6, 2008

Track Listing

1. Samurai Logic
2. Konayuki
3. Koi no Hana
4. Mayonaka no Denwa
5. Hanabi
6. Kowareta Tokei
7. Aishiteru Aishitenai
8. Utsutsu
9. Kamisama no Utogoe
10. Kakurenbo
11. Denki Soroban
12. Tokyo Kissa
13. Shashin
14. Sakura
15. Haikara Girl (Hidden Track)

1. Samurai Logic

So we start off this album with an introduction to the album, which pretty much sound like some Nintendo game which is totally unusual.  The album doesn’t sound like this so don’t worry about it.

2. Konayuki

First song is this brass-affiliated song. Koshi sounding really sweet and smooth in this track.  It’s very laid-back sounding and sort of Jazzy if you listen to it.  Though it can be too slow for the listener but truthfully Konayuki is a definite strong jazz song.

3. Koi no Hana

Continuing with the nice steady beat, Koi no Hana does have a different sound.  It has much more of a Lounge kind of style.  The use of the synths and percussion really makes this song good for listening.  Though against the other songs this was a filler.  Still, a good listen for lounge lovers.

4. Mayonaka no Denwa

Starts off with some acoustic guitars and then you hear a phone ring?  Haha, still in the lounge sound, it’s actually got more going on in it, which is a plus.  Koshi is definitly is more sophisticated in this song.  Her voice is just great to hear in this kind of setting.  I like the accordion playing in this song, it really did add more fun to this song.

5. Hanabi

It sounded epic in the beginning, but it turns into a lively pop song.  There’s definitly some fun in this song.  It’s definitly not like the beginning songs at all.  Then again it is called “Fireworks” so it’s gotta be spontaneous.  Koshi also shows off more of her fun side.  The piano is so catchy in the song….Great song!

6. Kowareta Tokei

Uhm, well we go to a ballad of some sorts?  Well, Koshi is made for ballads too.  It reminds me of some of Ami Suzuki’s songs for some reason, there’s very little synths and guitars and percussion mostly.  It’s a surprise because of Yasutaka Nakata’s known ability to use synths like crazy!  So it’s a nice song for what it’s worth. LOL

7. Aishiteru Aishitenai

Welcome to strange lounge music 101.  Well, it’s not that strange, but the beginning was unusual, this song is very mysterious in the chorus which took my by surprise.  It sounds a bit jazzy too albeit a mysterious Halloween like feeling to it. I can’t help but tap my feet to it.  Darn you Yasutaka!

8. Utsutsu

Uhm, well all I have to say is that this is one long interlude.  4 minutes and 30 seconds to be exact.  All it is, is just Yasutaka playing piano the whole time.  I guess it’s on this album to be the interlude.  It was used in a film of the same name also.  I like the piano playing but where is Koshi?

9. Kamisama no Utagoe

Unusual percussion starts this song off.  Hear some Japanese instruments in the background also before the song starts off.  Koshi returns and sings like she actually cares for this song.  It really gets the Japanese flavor out with this tune.  It’s got some rock roots in it, but doesn’t go into it fully.  Very surprising song indeed. 

10. Kakurenbo

Haha, I love how ~Kakurenbo~ is said by Koshi and the guitar it was definitly cool.  Koshi is trying to sound cute in this song.  Does it work?  Uhm, nope lol.  Who cares though, Nakata has a way with songs and he made this to be oddly fun and yet be serious at the same time.  Still, a good song hahaha ~Kakurenbo~

11. Denki Soroban

We return to lounge music with Denki Soroban.  ~Computer~ jeeze, most random moment in the song and it was very Nakata-like.  Though, thats the only word that’s said in the song.  There’s brass introduced here which sound very much like “Konayuki” which is definitly not good on his part.  Then some cool keyboarding comes in and then the brass come in again.  No vocals again, so I’m guessing “Utsutsu” and this aren’t interludes if they are this long.  Maybe they are focusing on Nakata. I like this way more than “Utsutsu”. BTW over 6 minutes.

12. Tokyo Kissa

We start out hearing glass clinking, and fun beats come in, though it makes me think of Puffy a bit.  Anyway, Koshi starts singing again and she sounds inferior to the music, I have no idea.  The bridge gets her louder which is cool.  OMG but the best part is the chorus which is hella catchy!.  Anyway it’s a good pop song.

13. Shashin

Starts out with some synths playing the melody, when Koshi comes in the song takes a turn and goes acoustic.  It’s a ballad of sorts, well as much as it is, I guess.  I found Koshi to be a bit bored in this song.  I kinda find myself feeling the same.  Even Nakata’s lack of synths didn’t help.  Ahhh….

14. Sakura

And he we are at their debut song!  Clocking a little after 7 minutes.  Now this is very poppy and yet carries that Japanese sound in it.  It’s very, very catchy.  I like the kind of synths he uses for this song.  Actually listening to the synths it made me think of “Samurai Logic”.  Koshi sounds awesome in this song.  The main song ends at 4:30 but there’s an stretch of silence before the bonus track.

15. Haikara Girl

So, after Sakura ends a record starts playing and Koshi sings with piano backing her up.  Now, it’s got that old, muffled sound to it like a record would.  It sounds good but it’s like all the other catchy songs, and it ends kinda quickly.  A pretty good ending to an album.

 Tracks Recommended

• Aishiteru Aishitenai
• Sakura
• Kamisama no Utagoe
• Hanabi

If you think that just Yasutaka Nakata is part of this duo and think this’ll be dance-heavy music ala Ami Suzuki, Perfume, or MEG you are horribly wrong.  capsule’s music didn’t get that way til recently.  This album not only shows Nakata’s versatility with synths, it shows that him working with the right people really make things great as with this album.  Koshi is a great singer.