chatmonchy – Kokuhaku March 4, 2009

Track Listing

1. 8cm no PINWHEEL
2. Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira (Album Mix)
3. Umi Karade ta Sakana
4. Somaru Yo
5. CAT WALK
6. Yodan
7. Hibiscus wa Fuyu ni Saku
8. Aimai na Kanjou
9. Negai Metemite
10. LOVE is SOUP
11. Kaze Fukeba Koi
12. Last Love Letter (Album Mix)
13. Yasashisa

1. 8cm no PINWHEEL

Finally, an album not starting with an introduction.  I love the setting for this track and Eriko isn’t as grating as normal.  Then again the chorus could be a little more controlled because her squeaking just rubs me the wrong way, especially from her voice.  It’s an ok track though.

2. Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira (Album Mix)

I have no idea the main reason for the album mix being hooked on at the end because I don’t hear any difference from the single and here.  The track that began the era off, I think it’s grown on me since back then.  I love how lively Eriko sounds and doesn’t really seem horrible in the vocal factor, but I think she’s stressing herself because of the one-breath rule in the chorus.  That was interesting to see.

3. Umi Karade ta Sakana

The opening is pretty sweet with a strong opening from Kumiko and Akiko.  Even though her yelling is kind of hurting my ears, it’s basically nothing really special, but I love Eriko’s guitar playing.  One of the coolest solos so far on the album.

4. Somaru Yo

Somaru Yo is definitly the worst A-side of the era because they shouldn’t have done a ballad especially with how odd Eriko’s vocals are.  I remember that this song had a very depressing topic, but it just doesn’t help that this song was a big no-no for them.

5. CAT WALK

Again with the ballad?  CAT WALK was something I wasn’t expected to be one of those tracks, but yet here it is.  It is a smidge better than “Somaru Yo” but that’s not saying much, that is until the rest of the group comes in.  I can link the fact this song sounds a little like something Nichika would do.  It’s a pretty cool track after that boring start.

6. Yodan

Yodan was the first track to really make me think (WTF).  It just sounds like one hot mess that was conjured up in like 10 minutes.  It just lacks and direction for me and even though the bridge was awesome, the chorus was terrible.  At least Eriko isn’t covered up by the mess in BKGD. 

7. Hibiscus wa Fuyu ni Saku

They an acoustic route for our next track on the album and it’s a bit more cohesive than the last track for sure.  I did find the transition from the bridge in the chorus way messy and I had to stop and find my place to get back into the beat.  I do like this track however.

8. Aimai na Kanjou

I love this bass opening a lot.  Aimai na Kanjou just has this longing feeling and the groups slow pacing interestingly works here.  Eriko’s vocals has definitly gotten a bit stronger here as well so I praise her on that.  One of my favorite new tracks.

9. Negai Metemite

We get back into the normal pop/rock sound starting with Negai Metemite and I swear it feels like someone else is singing at first, but it’s Eriko using a more deeper tone than usual which is a nice change.  It seems to song doesn’t really have much going for it’s lyrics until the bridge, but once again I fell in love with this track pretty quickly. 

10. LOVE is SOUP

Hahahah, I love the whole diner sound LOVE is SOUP has.  The beginning lines are damn strange and yet really catchy at the same time.  Maybe simplicity is better than being so complex because this track is so cute and simple.

11. Kaze Fukeba Koi

The 2nd single to represent this era was just so energetic and actually was a more complex track than “LOVE is SOUP”.  There was a lot of cool and the chorus is catchy as well.  I’d call this the more frantic single release, but I love it all the way.

12. Last Love Letter (Album Mix)

What this song is amazing.  Ending the era was a smart choice for them because it was what they were all about.  Once again, I find myself not knowing what the difference between the single and album, but seriously this track couldn’t have been done better and I really enjoyed the PV that went with it as well.

13. Yasashisa

Rounding out the album is our final track, Yasashisa.  With it’s marching drum sound and how Eriko was singing, it was like “Edelweiss pt. 2″.  Sadly, it doesn’t exactly go anywhere besides staying on the cold, marching style.  I guess it was OK at the end, but I was hoping for more.

Tracks Recommended

•  Last Love Letter (Album Mix)
• LOVE is SOUP
• Aimai no Kanjou
• Kaze Fukeba Koi
• Negai Metemite

chatmonchy’s 4th album and the first album for me was kind of weird.  Like the half was really strange and not really up to snuff.  The latter half really showed their true colors and brought out the big guns.  So it’s kind of an album that depends on your interest in them.

chatmonchy – Last Love Letter February 3, 2009

Track Listing

1. Last Love Letter
2. Katamichi Kippu
3. Good luck my sister!!

1. Last Love Letter

Well, I have to say I’m more fond of their rock sounds than their ballad-like tracks and actually this one of my favorite A-sides of the “Kokuhaku” era.  They seemed to get it right with vocals and musicality even though Eriko’s high notes are still piercing.  The track is lively and just full of life.  Even the PV was hilarious to watch.  Great song.

2. Katamichi Kippu

Eriko actually gets better with this track.  Our first B-side sounds pretty serious and a little somber as well.  Right from the start, I can tell that Eriko is actually playing safe and not blowing her high notes at all.  Katamichi Kippu is still upbeat, but not “Last Love Letter” upbeat.  Another great track!

3. Good luck my sister!!

The other B-side is actually the fastest of the 3 and wow was this a very energetic one as well.  Even though those 3 tracks can seem pretty similar to one another, this was the happiest of them.  Even Eriko has a great solo which is amazing IMO.  Wow, this wasn’t as bad as I initially thought, since my initials were that this would’ve been the ballad.

 

 

I am definitly happy with this single.  Not only was it devoid of a ballad track, all 3 songs were consistent and energetic songs that can make you appreciate chatmonchy.  Last Love Letter and Good luck my sister were the happier of the 3 while Katamichi Kippu was more on the sadder side but still upbeat.  Early favorite single for me.

chatmonchy – Somaru Yo November 5, 2008

Track Listing

1. Somaru Yo
2. Ai Sute Ta
3. RPG

1. Somaru Yo

Their actual 1st slow A-side for the era and it sounds pretty melancholic for a chatmonchy.  Why am I still annoyed at the lead’s vocals?  I mean she squeaks them in a most unfortunate of ways.  Luckily the songs pace is slower and is dreamy, but c’mon vocals = death.

2. Ai Sute Ta

A little more upbeat, our first B-side starts with a guitar entrance and I actually like Eriko singing this time.  It’s not too uncontrollable and I love how each member stuck out for me in various parts of it.  I’m not sure there fluidity going through the parts, but it’s got a cool flair about it.

3. RPG

Right, this song is the most upbeat of the single and it’s also pretty catchy.  I really love how the guitar in the bridge plays a beat while everything else is doing something else then the chorus pops by and it becomes a very chant-like track yelling ~R P G~  I know it may not be original, but are they talking bout Role-playing games or the weapon?

 

 

So, I was basically content with the single.  It wasn’t all on Eriko’s shoulders this time and even though the A-side was disappointing the B-sides were both pretty cool in their way.  Definitly one of the better singles.

chatmonchy – Kaze Fukeba Koi October 31, 2008

Track Listing

1. Kaze Fukeba Koi
2. Suishin Ryoku
3. three sheep

1. Kaze Fukeba Koi

I do find myself loving this track with it’s hard beat and rawness of the band.  I’m still not enjoying the vocalist much, but I guess shes does the song justice through the verses.  The chorus was also pretty cool, but still not enjoying the vocals too much.

2. Suishin Ryoku

A little more calmer for the first B-side, but it still has the raw sound of a band.  Sadly this song gets overkilled because of Eriko’s vocals.  The chorus really made me cringe as she tried to reach for those high notes at which she’s failing at profusely.  I guess this was the worst of the single.

3. three sheep

The slowest track shows up and is probably even worse than “Suishin Ryoku” I mean the verses are alright and with a pretty quiet sound except the drums.  It’s until she goes into the chorus where things start to go bad because Eriko is mostly in the high range and she’s very thin in sound and off pitch in the worst sense.  Ugh….

 

 

So chatmonchy’s 2nd offering in the era is definitly nothing to write home about.  Each song does get gradually slower and also worse in some respects.  So in honesty Kaze Fukeba Koi is a cool song to listen to, but they other two really makes me cringe in not such a good manner.

chatmonchy – Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira September 26, 2008

Track Listing

1. Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira
2. Doppelganger
3. Ikuji Ari

1. Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira

We start the single with a powerhouse of a rock tune.  For being a all-girls band, I’m pretty surprised that their pretty catchy.  Lead singer, Eriki has a pretty distinct voice and does have some power, but I thought it was a little too nasally.  I do love the energetic performance and it’s a pretty fun song.  How she does the chorus without taking a breath for a while is impressive.  Otherwise, I do like this song.

2. Doppelganger

Doppelganger has an interesting rhythm but what really happened was that Eriko’s voice comes off even stranger than normal.  Tempo-wise it’s slower than the A-side which I guess made sense, but I just didn’t like how it flowed aimlessly.  The chorus though seemed to be more better.  I was kind left scratching my head as the song progressed and finished.

3. Ikuji Ari

The happiest and shortest track at a little over 2 minutes is actually the best song off the single.  It just flowed more precise and Eriko doesn’t bother me as much.  I can see why people like her because of her vitality in each track.  I still think her voice is odd but this wasn’t that apparant here.  I love the drummer here as well.  Very impressed.

 

 

Y’know, I knew what I was getting myself into and to be honest it’s a little inder my expectation but they seem to be a very energetic group altogether.  If I had to compare them, I’d say a female Orange Range perhaps.  This single was alright, I won’t give them a higher mark but they seem to know where they are going.  Hope, they release better things.