Nana Kitade/Loveless – Ai to Hate August 11, 2011

Track Listing

1. Swallowtail
2. Ai to Hate
3. Gensoumamire
4. Jabberwocky
5. Snow Hell

1. Swallowtail

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Nana Kitade last and she returns with a new band and kicks things off with Swallowtail which sounds kind of like a gothic jazz tune (strange right?).  Since it’s been a while since we’ve heard Nana last her vocals haven’t really phased since the hiatus so that’s good or bad (depending on if you like her or not).  She sounds mysterious under the arrangement and it gives a pretty good performance and the guitars add a little more creepy than normal.  Good start!

2. Ai to Hate

The title track of the mini comes up next and gets even more sinister and freakier (especially in the arrangement).  It’s got a strange tempo going for it and Nana starts singing with filters but lets up on it but slowly goes back into it again before the chorus.  I remember the chorus the most since Nana repeats ~I hate you~ over and over.  It does come off as slightly messy, but still not too bad but oddly short at three minutes

3. Gensoumamire

We go from the shortest song on the mini to the longest at 6 minutes with Gensoumamire which could be best described as a ballad.  I actually liked her vocals in the song oddly enough and she sounds light and lonely with the arrangement at the beginning and gets stronger when more instruments enter the tune.  I like how dramatic it gets actually and it doesn’t sound half bad tbh!

4. Jabberwocky

No, it’s not an homage to that group of dancers that we Americans know XD.  I think of all the songs on the mini, Jabberwocky is the strangest sounding of the five.  The beginning sounds so odd and foreboding with distant guitar chords and some other small blips of sounds.  Nana seems to be using more of a cute voice for this one, but she’s also yelling a lot of the song as well which surprised me.  I’m not really sure how to feel for the song, but it’s definitely original lol.

5. Snow Hell

Closing things out is Snow Hell and I’d say it’s fitting to do that since it’s slow and even slower to move through it.  Nana is also changing her vocal style to more of a whisper which is alright and after a while her and the song builds a little but cools down quickly after.  I kind of got bored midway through the song unfortunately since it didn’t really move anywhere else.

 

 

It’s been over two years since we’ve heard Nana last and I actually enjoyed “Bondage” for the most part.  Since then she quit going solo and started a band called Loveless through it.  Even though it took them a while to finally release this mini-album they sound kind of experimental but there’s slivers of rock still in their music.  It’s an interesting taste from this band and I can see them working the kinks from this and gettin better.  Nana and her vocals are a bit more solid though I will say and that’s good!

Nana Kitade – Bondage March 14, 2009

Track Listing

1. Kaihou
2. Femme Fatale
3. tsukihana
4. Antoinette Blue
5. DEATH SHOWCASE
6. Ether
7. Under Babydoll
8. Lamia ~VIVACE ver.~
9. PUNK&BABY’s
10. She Bop ~Bondage ver.~
11. SUICIDES LOVE STORY
12. My Dear Maria.

1. Kaihou

Kicking the album off is Kaihou which probably wasn’t the smartest track to begin because Nana isn’t really singing for the good portion of it.  She like making all these typical seiyuu noises and sometimes I find her voice too similar to Kana…That might be pushing it right?  Anyways, it’s very messy all over and could be the worst track she’s done in her discography sorry to say.

2. Femme Fatale

The album really begins with leftovers from Kaihou, like the random shouting, but then Nana actually sings here.  Her vocals are whispery and the guiyar is very gritty.  That doesn’t sound really good.  The chorus even sounds dry and forgetful.  At least this wasn’t terrible like “Kaihou”.

3. tsukihana

The last single to represent “Bondage”, tsukihana actually quiets things down which is a little surprising giving that the next track is also a softer track.  I think so far, her vocals are the best here because she doesn’t try to sound all over the place as she normally does.  Good song and A-side.

4. Antoinette Blue

To be quite honest, I didn’t expect Antoinette Blue to make an appearance on the album, since it was on her best-of album “BERRY BERRY Singles”.  It’s probably her most recognizable A-side of the era because of its tie-in with D.Gray-man.  This and “tsukihana” are rock ballads and yet they sound so different from each other and I love em.

5. DEATH SHOWCASE

DEATH SHOWCASE starts up with that heavy gritty guitar which annoys me, but lucky it’s not long-lasting and the song goes into a good direction.  It’s very speedy and Nana is like fierce singing along.  It’s wild, raw, and just so Nana, but not terrible.  This one song I can handle even including her crazy ass seizure screams at the end.  Surprisingly good!

6. Ether

Well obviously it’s pretty “ether”eal…Nana’s vocals seem to calm down a lot for this track and sometimes the guitar covers her, but I love the whole airy feel to it and the song seems that it wants to breakout and go all hard rock and yet it really doesn’t.  It’s one of Nana’s original styled tracks, so I’m glad she tried a song out this way.  Even the dark interlude in the middle didn’t stop me from enjoying this fully.

7. Under Babydoll

At first I thought Under Babydoll was going to end just like “Ether” because this started out ethereal, but luckily it turns to just be the opening and we’re led into a pretty cool rock track.  I love the band here and Nana fits the right so it’s basically another one of my favorites from the album.

8. Lamia ~VIVACE ver.~

Lamia was originally a B-side from the single, “PUNK&BABY’s” so it was nice that they managed to bring the best B-side outta the era, unfortunetly it was changed when they added it into the album.  It originally started out quietly before the organ section.  This time around they immediatly start Lamia with the organ part.  You know what, listening between the two, it seems this version was worked on a little more to make it spooky so this actually works.  It’s still basically the same song just with some arrangement changes.

9. PUNK&BABY’s

PUNK&BABY’s got lucky to not be the worst track off the album, but it’s definitly lost some credit points from me after I reviewed the single last year.  It’s so chaotic and it does make some sense with an actual melody, but the rest of the song seems a bit weird.  I do like the chorus though, but everything else is just not right.

10. She Bop ~Bondage ver.~

Just like Sowelu, Nana also did a track for the tribute album to Cyndi Lauper and her track was the song that was about masturbation of course…I haven’t heard the one from that album, so I can’t say what the difference between the two are, but I can honestly say I hate this cover track.  I wonder sometimes about her, if shes having a vocal seizure or having a very good orgasm…Seriously this song was just fail, but it’s not as bad as “Kaihou”

11. SUICIDES LOVE STORY

I’m starting to think that Nana excels at the more rock ballad track because all the ones on here are just done so wonderfully.  I do think that her voice does cross annoying in the chorus, but she gave a good emotional performance.  This made a great A-side and the video is so sad to watch.  It’s based off of JPN mythology.  Basically, if you kill yourself your turned into a tree and crows would be the only animal standing on it…Confusing, but it’s a pretty cool backstory to the PV.

12. My Dear Maria.

Synths start up out last track and even though the last time I’ve seen synths before the album was back on “I scream”.  It also brought back the Nana voice that I really enjoyed so this is a pretty good song.  Then the keyboarded stuff was so cool though.  Awesome way to end the album.

Tracks Recommended

•  Ether
• Antoinette Blue
• DEATH SHOWCASE
• tsukihana
• SUICIDES LOVE STORY

Song of Avoidance

• Kaihou

I’ll admit it, this album was SOOOO much better than other two albums.  It wasn’t overflowed with A-sides like how “18 -Eighteen-” was and it didn’t have any filler tracks “I scream” to really bring things down.  There were songs that were probably the worst of the career “Kaihou and She Bop” being those songs.  Still, I was so happy to have new material, but was saddened that “Siren” wasn’t on it….anyway, good album!

Nana Kitade – tsukihana February 6, 2009

Track Listing

1. tsukihana
2. Kagami no Kuni no Aria
3. Manon
4. tsukihana ~Jigoku Shoujo Mitsuganae opening ver.~
5. tsukihana ~Instrumental~

1. tsukihana

I think the “Bondage” era has been putting amazing songs out for her except for “PUNK&BABYs”, but this is the best of the era hands down.  It has an epic kind of sound to it and while Nana doesn’t have a great voice, she seemed to be more refined and isn’t all out here.  The thing that prolly made me get tired was that the PV for this song was released back in October….Talk bout being bad in SONY’S part.  Still one of the best tracks as of recent.

2. Kagami no Kuni no Aria

I was surprised at how crazy fast this song is.  I mean the drums are banging and the guitar is wailing at the start.  Then it just lets up into this quiet area where Nana starts singing as it was a ballad.  It’s funny when that fast loud sound returns and she’s still singing slowly.  She does use her high notes, but they don’t seem cringe-worthy, luckily.  It’s just a wild song for sure.  There’s piano even in there midway through the track.

3. Manon

Manon seems to return to a punk-like sound that I originally loved from the first album.  There’s a great guitar riff through the verses and the explosive chorus appears.  I have to say, I missed this version of Nana most definite. 

 

 

Finishing off the era strongly, tsukihana was long awaited by many of her fans.  I have to say this was just a great single all-around and even returned to her past style.  I have to say, this is the best single she’s put out as of recent. 

Nana Kitade (Ruby Gloom) – Siren February 5, 2009

Track Listing

1. Siren
2. My treasure
3. Siren ~Instrumental~
4. My treasure ~Instrumental~

1. Siren

You can say this was a collaboration…with Marty Friedman from Megadeth.  By that you should obviously correspond this with rock because that’s what Siren is.  Initially, I did find it hard to listen because Nana was yelling all over the song and that bothered me.  Luckily the guitar solo and everything else Nana was doing besides the chorus, this was alright. 

2. My treasure

I’m not sure why, but this was way better than Siren, because it wasn’t just wild rock.  It was controlled and actually had some depth to it.  Nana’s vocals are also a bit softer than normal which is also a plus.  Is she returning to her early days?  I just thought this was great!

 

 

Nana Kitade went under the moniker, Ruby Gloom which is a Canadian anime…..ok…..Anyway, Siren was an OK song, but at least it was better than next single “PUNK&BABYs” so right there should tell you something.  My treasure was the treasure of the single as it just seems loud and just together.  Funny to note is that Siren is NOT on “Bondage” which is mildly surprising because “Antoinette Blue” is….hmmm weird.

Nana Kitade – SUICIDES LOVE STORY January 20, 2009

Track Listing

1. SUICIDES LOVE STORY
2. Setsuna no Kizuna
3. Tsuiraku
4. SUICIDES LOVE STORY ~Instrumental~

1. SUICIDES LOVE STORY

Nana’s on a roll with her next A-side.  It’s also pretty depressing to listen to and has the same feeling that “Antoinette Blue” had as well.  Her vocals are a little grating mostly in the chorus, but the whole song is pretty nice.  Maybe she’s findin her niche now after the craptastic “I scream” album.

2. Setsuna no Kizuna

Well, that was until this song started up.  If her vocals weren’t the issues here, this could’ve been something off her debut album.  Her wailing is just off the wall and bothered me to no end.  I do like the rock sound of it luckily, so it isn’t terrible just needs some refinining.

3. Tsuiraku

I think we can say that Tsuiraku is the most aggressive track on the single and actually is the best as well.  The guitar riffs worked so well and Nana didn’t use her odd wailing as much in the song.  There’s something about the song that screams Halloween here as well.  Seriously, it’s something new and fresh from her.

 

 

You know, I actually found a single I was comtempt with in this era.   SUICIDES LOVE STORY though not as cool as the previous A-side did sound overall pretty good, but Tsuiraku totally took as the single’s best track.  As for Setsuna no Kizuna….well, you might as well pass it up.

Nana Kitade – Antoinette Blue December 16, 2008

Track Listing

1. Antoinette Blue
2. Wish in the blood
3. Kami-sama Hitotsu Dake
4. Antoinette Blue ~D. Gray-man Ending Ver.
5. Antoinette Blue (Instrumental)

1. Antoinette Blue

Who wasn’t surprised to know that Nana actually tried for a ballad this time around for an A-side?  Well pleasantly this has been her best A-side since “pureness”.  There’s still tints of rock and could be classified as a rock ballad, but it’s truly something great.  The songs tie-in to D. Gray-man also helped push it up in popularity and continues with great songs from the era. 

2. Wish in the blood

Wish in the blood rages in and well, it’s a little rock track and reminds me of her stuff from her “Cutie Bunny” album.  Sadly, the song doesn’t really has an impact on me, which is disappointing.  I do like the song’s hardcore sound and is pretty cool with the many riffs.  It isn’t the worst song of the era though, I’ll give it that.

3. Kami-sama Hitotsu Dake

Kami-sama Hitotsu Dake is such a strange track.  Like it brings out the worst of Nana because her vocals are so strained.  After verses it goes into this ballad-like area and really made me scratch my head in confusion.  The weirder part is that she tries for the high notes and chaos ensues after it.  The major surprise near the end was oh so awkward because she gets really emotional doing the final chorus and sounds like she’s bawling going for the high notes.

 

 

Antoinette Blue, is her best A-side in awhile for sure.  The B-sides however did kind of kill the single just a little bit.  Wish in the blood can be so forgetful at points of the song and Kami-sama Hitotsu Dake was just strange with it’s two clashing styles.  I don’t know if the single starts the next era because Antoinette Blue was featured in “BERRY BERRY Singles” so it’s up in the air.

Nana Kitade – I scream November 3, 2008

Track Listing

1. Star Killer
2. Watashi wa Jigenbakudan
3. Lum no Love Song
4. Ron yori Shouko.
5. 13nichi no Kinyoubi
6. dark snow angel
7. sweet frozen kiss
8. Akai Kami no Onna no ko
9. m’aider
10. Kibou no Kakera
11. Innocent world
12. Fujiyuu no Asa
13. BASKET CASE

1. Star Killer

So beginning the album is the slow rock track.  Sadly, this has to be the most boring song she’s had so far.  Nana’s vocals are quite painful to listen to most of the time in the song and how the song is presented just didn’t add any interest at all.  Listen to the chorus and you’ll want to press next immediatly.

2. Watashi wa Jigenbakudan

A lot more energetic than the previous, I actually like the song’s force and Nana’s vocals.  It seems like she went back to her early punk days with the song and it work fortunatly.  The chorus does come off a little harsh on her vocals, but I can forgive her for that.  It’s one of my favs from the album.

3. Lum no Love Song

One of two tracks that are covers.  Lum no Love Song really does sound quite strange on the album.  I mean it’s quite obvious right?  Instead of the punk rock that’s been heard so far, this is more like pop/rock and seems to be quite cute for a Nana song.  It’s still a pretty cool track but how it’s on the album is strange.  As for her vocals, it’s alright, but not too much that I love it.

4. Ron yori Shouko.

I can’t reall describe what this song is classified as.  The closest thing I can relate to is her past A-side tracks “Nanairo”.  At least this time I hear strings being used and the song sounds a lot better than it as well.  I’m starting to catch on to the fact that she’s got a lot more variation this time, which is great.

5. 13nichi no Kinyoubi

Already I can tell this was going to be a dark song.  The screechy guitar sound totally sounded awesome.  Nana’s vocals put her in a zombie-like state until the 2nd verse which totally worked in this song.  Sadly, the chorus annoys me pretty badly.  I did not like her vocals there but the rest of the song is great.

6. dark snow angel

Yea, I just wanna pass this song up.  The beginning was so terrible to my ears.  Music was loud and Nana really killed the song with her suckish singing here.  The verses didn’t help her out here either as it was still Nana striking those awkward notes.  Worse new song so far.

7. sweet frozen kiss

Still vocally incapable of giving a good performance but this time the song is like a ballad.  In other words, if you can’t sing right for a rock song, then you obviously can’t do ballads.  Nana fails at this song and I rather would have seen “KISS” appear instead of this ear-piercing track.

8. Akai Kami no Onna no ko

So she goes for cute again?  I think the odd timing and rhythms created an awkward song.  The use of what I think is an accordion and/or keyboard is also a little bit on the weird, but I find the song a nice listen after those two last tracks.  Nana seems to be utilizing a more childish voice and it didn’t sounds grating this time.  Standout track for sure.

9. m’aider

Just like “Star Killer” this song is a bit on the slower side of rock tracks, but at least it isn’t too boring.  I still flinch during the chorus because of the bad vocals put on here.  Though I really liked how she tackled the verses, her voice suits her very well in a lower range. 

10. Kibou no Kakera

It’s a tie between worse A-side on the album.  “sweet frozen kiss” or this track.  I mean the song has the want to be very energetic and fun but it’s ruined by yep, you guessed it, the vocals.  Sadly, it’s the entire song that fails and not just in the chorus.  I wished someone else sang the song truthfully.

11. Innocent world

Hearing strings come back for another song definitely interested me.  I didn’t think Nana’s vocals bothered me too much this time which is a good thing, but the music is what kept me in the song the most.  It is something nice to hear on the album and wait the strings is the best thing about the song.

12. Fujiyuu no Asa

Talk about an ethereal beginning.  I actually really liked this track as well, since it didn’t overblow Nana’s vocal capabilities well until the chorus, but it showed angst and I quite liked how that it came out.  This would be the only time I’d like her screechy vocals but it was necessary. 

13. BASKET CASE

No, just no!…The final track is also the 2nd remake and it’s the only track in full English and god it’s horrible.  Green Day did the original and it was a simple, anthem-like punk track…What Nana did was unexcusable and just horrible in every way.  Her English and singing was at a peak of crappy vocals.  Not only that the band was also in a mess of unevenness.  Like you can actually hear some off notes from them and c’mon worst way to end this album.

Tracks Recommended

• Watashi wa Jigenbakudan
• Innocent world
• Fujiyuu no Asa
• Lum no Love Song
• Akai Kami no Onna no ko

Song of Avoidance

• BASKET CASE

Comparing between this and her debut, I’m not sure what I liked more.  18 -eighteen- was heavy on the single releases and for the most part the new tracks weren’t that good, but this album was like the opposite where the new tracks were better than the singles released.  Vocally, this album did so much worse and it was a hard album to go through, some of the tracks, I wanted to skip some of the tracks.  Those 5 I recommended are the only good tracks on the album. 

 

 

Nana Kitade – Kibou no Kakera October 23, 2008

Track Listing

1. Kibou no Kakera
2. This is a GIRL
3. Kibou no Kakera (Instrumental)

1. Kibou no Kakera

I don’t know what she did at the beginning, but that was cool.  Then Nana starts to start to sing and it’s pretty bad…like she’s squeaky even moreso than before.  Musically it’s your typical rock track, with Nana’s bad vocals.  Please don’t get me started on the chorus.  That was the worst part of the song.  I wish she’d go back to her lower vocals.

2. This is a GIRL

More along the lines of punk rock, I actually think Nana did a better job and she did go into her lower register for this one.  I actually quite like the chorus a lot and it sounded pretty smooth and there isn’t many problems with Nana’s vocals this time which is such a great change after that horrific A-side.  Why can’t she sound like this all the time?

 

 

Nana’s final single for the era was A-side crap.  I mean I know it was a tie-in for the Powerpuff Girls in Japan, but c’mon why did you have to screw it up with your terrible singing choice?  I mean if you sounded like in This is a GIRL then you’d be fine.  BUUUUT NOOOOOOOO…

Nana Kitade – SLAVE of KISS October 7, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. KISS
2. Kiss wo Kudasai
3. KISS or KISS (English Version)
4. sweet frozen kiss

1. KISS

To be honest, this song was one of her better tracks.  It’s got a nice steady beat to it, and even though Nana’s voice has tanked pretty badly she gives a nice performance.  The music is a little too happy, but I’m actually quite content with KISS.

2. Kiss wo Kudasai

I think Kiss wo Kudasai was a little more punk rock than “KISS” and actually she goes back to her regular voice for this which made me happy.  The music was even more peppy and maybe a little more happier, but it makes up with it’s catchiness and to be honest it’s my favorite off this single. 

3. KISS or KISS (English Version)

Why am I not surprised that this was going to be on the single.  I was taken aback when they decide to make it an English version.  I guess she isn’t that bad at it, but she needs work to make more sense.  Her accent is so apparant and sometimes I don’t catch what she says, still KISS or KISS was probably a good idea to make English with it’s simple music and such.

4. sweet frozen kiss

So wait, all the rock songs and then this ballad finishes the single?  I mean the beginning was kind of cute, until Nana hits those sour notes and that’s where the song took it’s first of many bad turns.  I do like how she wanted to do a ballad, but this was ridiculous and just wrong.  Even on here it sounds out of place with the other 3 tracks.

 

 

Alright, so much kissing…..and she says it so many times…..Anyway, the songs are obviously all related in some way other than the title.  KISS and KIss wo Kudasai are totally opposite of each in vocals but were all perspective the same track, not exactly but musically were close to each other.  KISS or KISS being an English remake of an A-Side was a little weird to hear in English from here, but not a bad try.  sweet frozen kiss though was so awful and in my own disgust is the only song that makes it to “I scream”.  Worst idea. lol

Nana Kitade – Cutie Bunny ~Nana-teki Rock Daisakusen – Codename: C.B.R~ September 25, 2008

Track Listing

1. Lum no Love Song
2. Moonlight Densetsu
3. Arashi no Sugao
4. YOU MAY DREAM
5. Roppongi Shinjuu
6. Bara wa Utsukushiku Chiru

1. Lum no Love Song

I wasn’t sure what to expect coming into this mini-album.  Oddly it was definitly something new.  I actually enjoyed this track but once she started singing I knew that punk rock Nana was gone and we got out lolita Nana.  I don’t really like where her sound is going at all as in her vocals I meant.  It’s just to weak and squeaky.

2. Moonlight Densetsu

The only track I know because it’s from Sailor Moon.  I do like how this song is, it’s like very Scooby-Doo like.  You know its like 70′s rock with a twinge of mysteriousness edged into it.  I always thought this song was the best here.  Talk about an awesome track to behold here.

3. Arashi no Sugao

Returning into a more punk style, Arashi no Sugao is a bit on the safe style and it really didn’t impress me much.  Nana’s vocally tried to be like her past but with how she’s sounding now it doesn’t really work in a rock track like this.  The guitar sos did save the song from being so damn boring. 

4. YOU MAY DREAM

Another great track that made its way onto this album.  Though it’s more punk than any of the others.  At least she’s not trying to be damn cute.  There’s a part where she speaks English and to be honest it sucks and she needs lessons bad!!!  How she sings through the verses though is kind of boring but at least she’s keeping everything else up to speed.

5. Roppongi Shinjuu

Way darker than all of the tracks, Roppongi Shinjuu stay true to its title.  Also the longest trackat more than 5 minutes.  This dark rock song actually is pretty cool with its addictive guitar and bass riffs.  Sadly, for us though this is where Nana totally goes into her lolita voice in a pretty uncomfortable way.  I do like her take of the song though.  So I praise Nana for this track.

6. Bara wa Utsukushiku Chiru

You’ve seen me review Momoi Haruko’s version and this was a more better cover than hers.  Though I do think her voice is irritating at some points of the songs but other than that this song actually is probably her most known track from this album which is kinda strange.  I definitly adore how she ends the chorus by sounding all sexy and mysterious.

 

 

Nana’s cover mini-album is the bridge between her style so seeing this was a pretty good mix of old and new.  Sadly, the choices of songs to cover could ahve been better perhaps since some of them were on the boring side.  Interestingly, Lum no Love Song goes to be on “I scream” which I think was a good choice.