Track Listing

1. A WHITE WHALE IN MY QUIET DREAM
2. Kagerou
3. X
4. Storyteller
5. STEAL THIS HEART
6. I Pass By
7. Kaerimichi wo Nakushite
8. Losing a distance
9. Last Melody
10. Hotaru
11. VENUS

1. A WHITE WHALE IN MY QUIET DREAM

I love the tribal opening to this album.  It seems like one of those Native American chants or at least the closest I could compare it to.  The only thing accompanying Chihiro is a pounding drum that has this punch.  Chihiro’s English is pretty hard to understand at intervals of the song, but it’s like a poem and has a nice meaning to it.  I was impressed with this opening actually.

2. Kagerou

As the last A-side released in the era, Kagerou was probably my least favorite for some reason.  I mean it’s a bit like a few other tracks on the album to begin with and it also sounds like a bit of her “INSOMNIA” works that weren’t ballads.  Not to say it’s not horrible or anything because I like the relaxed nature and Chihiro’s vocals are also really nice to listen to.  Still not the best of the era (even I thought “Ai no Serifu” would’ve been a better choice as an A-side.)

3. X

Ahhh, X…It’s Chihiro’s angry tune and I was so damn happy to see her get out of her comfort zone with this track.  At first, it does seem like another sad ballad, but right as you cement the idea, the angry guitar riffs pop up and Chihiro’s vocals get stronger and gain that angst that I enjoyed.  It’s rather one of the odd tracks off the album, but still one of her strongest A-sides in a while.

4. Storyteller

I’m not sure what’s with the flow of the album entirely, but Storyteller is a little bit folkish and also a little bit pop as well.  I love the harmonica solos in the song and I’m noticing that Chihiro is sounding a whole lot fuller here than she was in “X”.  Though the way she says ~storyteller~ is too cute for words hahaha.  This is by far my favorite new track off the album.

5. STEAL THIS HEART

The album’s promotional song, STEAL THIS HEART would be the album’s ultimate weird song.  There’s a whole lot more synth featured in the song and Chihiro is filtered in the song like crazy.  People have complained this song is like the crap that Tommy Heavenly6 did with her last album release…I honestly don’t see the comparison because Chihiro is way into it and her vocals are different to the other songs and it sounds quite refreshing to hear, especially with how Chihiro does songs for her albums.

6. I Pass By

Well, this is a new version of the craptastic track from “Kaerimichi wo Nakushite”.  The Darksmoke Version was basically an acoustic version of the album track we have here.  Instead of acoustic guitar, we get a more broader sound and oddly enough it sounds like a country song.  I’m still not liking the fact I can’t understand what the hell she’s saying since it’s all English.  At least the energy is good and the chorus is so much more catchy.

7. Kaerimichi wo Nakushite

I’m not sure why Kaerimichi wo Nakushite had an extended strings opening on the album, but one the familiar opening comes in we get back into one of Chihiro’s strongest ballads since recent.  I love how the entire song builds itself upon the volume of the strings and Chihiro getting more profound and stronger.  Once it does hit its highest point, it’s just amazing sung and I was stunned by the sheer awesomeness of the person who produced this.  AMAZING BALLAD.

8. Losing a distance

I’m guessing we’re getting into the ballads of the album because Losing a distance is also a ballad.  I’m actually enjoying the piano lines in the song and while it’s not as epic as “Kaerimichi wo Nakushite” it’s got its own thing going on in the song and Chihiro’s calmer vocals make the song flow nicely.  It’s a bit forgetful on the album, but alone it’s a nice track.

9. Last Melody

I’m not why, but Last Melody never really crossed my mind as a song that I’d fully enjoy.  Then again since it’s a bit like later released “Kagerou” it’s quite difficult to really not bag on both of them because of their similarities.  Obviously, there’s differences, but I just can’t help but compare the two like crazy…So I guess it’s not too good for me.

10. Hotaru

Being the oldest A-side on the album (released last year in early August), Hotaru fits in this quite snuggly.  Then again it is in the middle of the ballad section of the album.  I do love how it’s different from the previous ballads because of its lullaby-like arrangement.  Chihiro’s vocals are soft and with the piano backing her up for most of the song.  It’s the most basic ballad, but it’s nice either way.

11. VENUS

Ending the album is a whopper of a track.  VENUS is shockingly over 7 minutes of balladness.  That being said, you know I was moaning and not really wanting to spend time listening to this long song, but honestly it’s like VENUS is wondrous a interesting altogether.  It makes the fantasy-like picture in my head and oddly feels like it’s pertaining to the cover because it’s like when she walked through the door she just sung what she say and/or felt and I loved it.  I think giving it the award of longest track was a smart idea.  One of the best on the album.

Tracks Recommended

• Kaerimichi wo Nakushite
• VENUS
• STEAL THIS HEART
• Storyteller
• X

Seriously, I think DOROTHY is Chihiro’s most vivid album she’s released ever since her debut.  There was a lot of different styles played around on the album, but as a whole you could tell the album was split between her more energetic songs and heartwarming/wrenching ballads.  There were a few songs that kind of lacked the more refreshing sounds.  To be honest this is Chihiro’s best album. 

Track Listing

1. Hotaru
2. HIDE AND SCREAM

1. Hotaru

I think Chihiro by now knows what to do with ballads of course and Hotaru continues this trend pretty nicely with Hotaru.  After “LAS VEGAS”, Hotaru is pretty fresh to me and having a more piano-friendly melody works for her.  Her vocals are feeling so much stronger than it was on “infection/LITTLE BEAT RIFLE”.  It could be said that Hotaru could be a lullaby and it does come off as that as it’s free-flowing and very pretty.

2. HIDE AND SCREAM

HIDE AND SCREAM is such a pretty track as well.  Being an acoustic track, HIDE AND SCREAM feels natural to Chihiro and sounds like she’s just singing along and playing guitar (even though I don’t think she does).  After the first chorus, percussion comes in and fills the song out more and seriously, soothing tune. 

I actually just wanted to get this single outta the way before “DOROTHY’s” release.  It’s saddening that HIDE AND SCREAN isn’t going to make the album as I think it would’ve benefitted the album moreso than “I Pass By” from the “Kaerimichi wo Nakushite” single.  However, I am pleased that Hotaru made it since it fits with the other ballads she released in the era so I’m happy with that.  Altogether, very pretty single…though would’ve appreciated an instrumental

Track Listing

1. infection
2. LITTLE BEAT RIFLE

1. infection

I’m so surprised at Chihiro for making infection.  It could be on of those heartwrenching ballads that’ll blow your mind.  Chihiro’s vocals are really pretty in this song and they also emit this sadness that made it so much more memorable.  It’s just a beautiful ballad and is up there with “Gekkou” as epic ballad status.  Though there was an issue about it…

2. LITTLE BEAT RIFLE

On the other side of the coin, LITTLE BEAT RIFLE was a bit more upbeat and on a positive note when compared to “infection”.  The arrangement isn’t terribly new to Chihiro as it reminds me of “BACK DOOR” and some of her upbeat songs off of the “INSOMNIA” album.  I did enjoy the feel-good presence and Chihiro’s vocal suited nicely despite sounding familiar.

The reason the single has problems was because this release came 5 days before 9/11 happened and that kind of backfired on Chihiro.  infection became somewhat less likened because it rather foretold, with some of the lyrical content.  Still, I have to say, infection is one of Chihiro’s best ballads in her career (so far).  LITTLE BEAT RIFLE was an alright upbeat pop/rock tune that does show consistency with her works.  I do hope she does change up a little bit on her next singles.

Track Listing

1. Kagerou
2. Ai no Serifu

1. Kagerou

Well, we do have to have another ballad since this is Chihiro we’re talking about.  Being the 3rd A-side as a ballad, Kagerou does fall up short to both “Hotaru” & “Kaerimichi wo Nakushite”.  It is a bit more uptempo and Chihiro is sounding nice as usual.  It does oddly sound familiar to “Last Melody” which was released earlier in the year, so I have to say it is the weakest A-side of the four.

2. Ai no Serifu

However, Ai no Serifu is rather upbeat which is a nice contrast on the single (then again it’s been like this the whole era).  I actually love her attitude in the song and how she starts off is pretty sexy if you ask me.  It might not be totally original as it sounds like “BACK DOOR” from her debut single and I’m sitting here and enjoying her more raspier vocals here.  Fitting B-side.

Chihiro’s final single of the “DOROTHY” era, Kagerou oddly disappointed me this time around.  After three great A-sides, Kagerou just doesn’t compare with any of those songs.  It’s just a normal Chihiro ballad.  Ai no Serifu was a great song to hear since we haven’t had an happier upbeat song from her in a while. 

Track Listing

1. Kaerimichi wo Nakushite
2. I Pass By ~Darksmoke Version~

1. Kaerimichi wo Nakushite

After her last single “X/Last Melody”, we needed to get back into the mainstay with her songs and clearly, Kaerimichi wo Nakushite is another ballad to but in Chihiro’s collection of really nice ballads.  Her voice sounds so nice with the song.  I know it’s not at the same caliber as it was in “Gekkou”, but that’s simply because she had surgery so her voice is a bit different now compared to then.  The arrangement is a bit simple with strings and piano, and then adding percussion in the 2nd verse.  I didn’t think there’d be a punch to it, but the final run through the chorus blew me away and really showed that Chihiro is one of the best balladeers…so much force from Chihiro is a good thing. 

2. I Pass By ~Darksmoke Version~

Oddly enough, our B-side is an acoustic version of an upcoming track.  Also nice to note that it’s all in English and even Chihiro’s more raw vocals are interesting at first, this isn’t a sound that I’d like her to follow with her next single, “Kagerou”.  To me, it shows more problems than it did in “Kaerimichi wo Nakushite”.  Less sound equals to my faults in my opinion and this song is one to really show that idea off.  Chihiro’s English is pretty meh here as well…not the best B-side she’s released as of recent.

Chihiro’s 3rd single of the era (I’m counting “Hotaru”) is a step down from her last release simply because of the B-side.  Kaerimichi wo Nakushite was a nice A-side, even though “Hotaru” is still the better ballad of the current era, but I do like her voice here….That is until the B-side started up.  If it wasn’t her awkward vocals that threw the song off, the dry arrangement and badly spoken English partook in the fail of the track….I’m sorry, but just get the A-side.

Track Listing

1. Gekkou
2. Innocence
3. BACK DOOR (Album Version)
4. edge
5. We can go
6. call
7. Shine (Album Version)
8. Cage
9. Rasen
10. Memai
11. Gekkou (Album Version)

1. Gekkou

I guess it was appropriate to begin the album with Chihiro’s biggest song.  Gekkou is still definitly one of the best ballads she’s done and it shows with how soothing Chihiro’s vocals and the lone piano playing along.  How she tackled the chorus was so soulful and c’mon this is one song not to pass up!  Great track.

2. Innocence

We get into our first new track, I’m starting to sense a little bit og emotional pain with Chihiro because this song is very melancholic in sound and Chihiro’s vocals are a bit more vulnerable sounding.  I love how things get more energetic in the chorus where a band appears and plays along.  It’s definitely a dark song and I praise it.

3. BACK DOOR (Album Version)

There’s a few songs that have been rearranged on “INSOMNIA” starting with BACK DOOR which was originally a B-side from “Shine”.  I clearly noticed the change that went around with the song and I kind of wished they didn’t do it because BACK DOOR was an alright pop track and they just stripped that off and made it into a simple ballad.  I do like how Chihiro asks ~Where is the back door?~  Maybe she’s blind or something?

4.  edge

Representing part of the double A-side that ended the era, edge makes the jump onto the album and it still kind of feels like a filler track more or less.  We do get to hear Chihiro in the higher register, so I really enjoyed her there, but otherwise there’s still nothing that really makes it stand out.

5. We can go

I guess I’m starting to get somewhat bored of the album here because of how calm and yet nothing is standing out from the album yet.  We can go kind of sticks out with it’s more upbeat nature and sounds like something you’d hear on the beach.  At the same time, she sounds like a country singer with everything going on.  That was smart planning to do a song like this and I quite like it alot.

6. call

After the minor boost of energy, call pops in and brought me back down to boredom.  I mean it’s nice enough that it’s calm and stuff, but this is just too calm for me.  Chihiro just drags the song the entire way and doesn’t make anything stand out.  Talk about boring.

7. Shine (Album Version)

Once again, I’m slightly disappointed at the change made with her debut as well.  She stripped whatever made Shine listenable and turned it into a straight-up ballad, which once again fails to make me pay enough attention.  I do love the fact her vocals are amazingly better, but still c’mon….another ballad?!?

8. Cage

3rd single, Cage pops up next and I was so elated that it wasn’t tagged by (Album Version).  We needed another upbeat tune to fill up the album and Cage does it very well.  I mean it’s still pretty calm as Chihiro tracks go, but seriously?  Can we spice things up, you know go electro? xD JUST KIDDING!  Cage is still a great track on the album.

9. Rasen

The final new track, Rasen is a lot like “Innocence” in a way that it’s very melancholic and sad to listen to.  I actually enjoyed this track more because in some places it’s like a gospel track and at other points it just sounds like a hopeful song.  It’s definitly soothing despite the rest of the album is similar.

10. Memai

Memai ended off the era on a good note, but on the album it just doesn’t sound orgasmic as the new tracks have been.  I don’t know why this doesn’t sound as good as the others, but I guess it’s still alright despite the unoriginality hitting this track.  I’ll say the chorus is still the best part though.

11. Gekkou (Album Version)

Can you really make a ballad even more ballady?  I guess so, because Gekkou got this tagged and interestingly took out some important stuff and just left some BKGD vocalists and piano….It’s definitely a lot more simpler and Chihiro resung it as well.  I still enjoyed the original a lot more than this version though. 

Tracks Recommended

• Gekkou
• We can go
• Rasen
• Cage

Chihiro’s debut album isn’t one of the best albums out there, but it does solidify her as a great ballad singer.  I think what made me not enjoy the album fully was in that all but 2 songs were ballads which is a hard listen for me.  Having some of the tracks rearranged was mainly not the smartest idea as well.  Still Chihiro’s vocals are great and I love a few of them, so it’s not an entirely bad album, just a little stale.

Track Listing

1. X
2. Last Melody

1. X

It’s been a long while since we’ve had a Chihiro single and she comes back strong with our first A-side.  X starts off as pretty cold ballad with Chihiro’s vocals being messed with to make it sound muffled and when you thought that was it, it turns into a pretty cool rock song.  I haven’t heard much from her, but this was the darkest I’ve heard her and this was a nice surprise.  In this song though her vocals remind me of MELL’s for a bit and it was odd and yet cool.  I gotta say this dramatic song is really good.

2. Last Melody

Our other A-side, Last Melody is just like her previous songs if not more easier to listen to and enjoy.  It doesn’t have the punch that “X” did, but she did the song right and I can listen to this over and over because of it’s more mainstream sound.  Pretty sweet 2nd A-side.

I’m so happy to see Chihiro back because, I know her fans were definitly missing her music alot.  X shocked me because it’s so dark and fierce while Last Melody is her past stuff, just more easily to listen to and connect with.  I think she’s going to be on a roll from here on out.  *RECOMMENDED*

Track Listing

1. Memai
2. edge
3. Memal (instrumental)
4. edge (instrumental)

1. Memai

Memai brings us the ballads again and this time it isn’t as horrible as I thought it would be.  Chihiro sounds pretty good even if the production sounds a little fuzzy.  It’s a pretty simple track though not adding to much of anything beyond pianos, acoustic guitars, strings and BKGD vocals.  It’s simple and I love how she works the song to a more epic part.  Great A-side.

2. edge

edge though is kind of like the last track with the same instruments being featured.  I can’t say that the originality was spilling out of the song at this point.  There just wasn’t enough to make it stand out away from “Memai” so in that respect this song was jusst a bad idea.

Chihiro’s final single before “INSOMNIA”, Memai/edge was alright.  Memai was pretty good givin the fact you give it time to warm up and reach its high point tes it was pretty good.  edge is a track I could enjoy, but given that it was put after a similar arranged song kind of messed things up.  Luckily both are apart from each other on the album

Track Listing

1. Cage
2. Ash on this road
3. Cage (Instrumental)

1. Cage

After the sad fest that was “Gekkou”, we needed another upbeat track from Chihiro and Cage fits that bit pretty well.  It’s still just mostly piano, but it’s nice to see stuff like synths and strings.  I love the piano here though and Chihiro’s vocals aren’t as hard to listen to as it was in her last A-side.  It’s like got a hopeful sound to it and I really enjoyed this track a lot.

2. Ash on this road

Ash on this road at first sounded really playful with the synths.  Sadly, I feel like we’re getting “BACK DOOR” pt. 2 which is a little disappoining, but once again her vocals have gotten better which was a good thing for sure.  The whole song sounds like something you’d hear on mainstream radio which makes it pleasant, but is it that memorable?  It might be if I listen to it enough times.

Vocally, Cage is a better single as she’s improving really well.  I love how laidback she is through these songs and both Cage and Ash on this road she this improvement.  I consider Cage over Aotr because it was a bit more lively and fits the mood right.  Good single overall.

Track Listing

1. Gekkou
2. Arrow of Pain
3. Gekkou (Instrumental)

1. Gekkou

Wow, Gekkou is a pretty ballad from Chihiro.  There’s a gorgeous piano melody aligned with some strings in the background.  I think this showed more of what Chihiro can do as a singer and it’s a great 2nd A-side.  How she sings the chorus is great even though her English is kind of bad, but she’s good with what she has in the song.

2. Arrow of Pain

I didn’t expect Arrow of Pain to be a ballad either, but it’s just as emotional as “Gekkou”.  Even though it isn’t as extravagant as the A-side, Arrow of Pain kind of has a mainstream sound with the minor synth inclusion during the song, creating a spacey sound, but it isn’t too tacked on.  Alright B-side.

Chihiro’s 2nd single was ballad heavy for sure.  Gekkou was the better because of how flowing it all was.  Arrow of Pain was still good, just a little less memorable because of less sounds, but it gets an album version on “INSOMNIA” wonder if it’ll be better.