Rie fu & the fu – BIGGER PICTURE

Track Listing

1. OMG
2. BIGGER PICTURE
3. LUCKY DAY
4. UNTOLD
5. PRE-LOVE SONG
6. FREE MONEY
7. THE LOOK
8. GOMI
9. JUST LIKE THE MOON
10. SILENCE

1. OMG

When I start up the album, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into and it seems with OMG it’s light stuff and almost too simple in a way since it feels like it’s done as a live recording in a studio.  I am also surprised to hear Rie fu singing in English for most of it since I’m more used to Japanese from her.  It has a certain oldies sound going which is cool too..there’s just something missing…like a heavier bass…and lord cowbells?

2. BIGGER PICTURE

Being a little bit more funky, the title track BIGGER PICTURE is more of the same of what I said in “OMG” but more of it.  The way Rie sings is kind of cool and uncertain at the same time.  Then this kind of in your face blast of sound takes over…I suppose its guitar right?  It’s unique on the album, I can’t deny that but once again needs a bit more power behind it.

3. LUCKY DAY

LUCKY DAY kind of sounds like old Rie fu slightly with majority of the arrangement done by the acoustic guitar which is a pleasant change from the previous tracks.  Plus it’s nice hearing Rie fu singing in Japanese…this actually was a pretty good track and reminds me of the old Rie.

4. UNTOLD

I liked the opening line Rie fu sings at the intro for UNTOLD.  I’m liking her vocals in this song since she’s more confident and actually kind of belting some of the notes as well as hitting some high notes that are just so pretty.  For as simple as the song is, I really paid a lot of attention on Rie fu who shined a lot here!

5. PRE-LOVE SONG

With how well I enjoyed “UNTOLD”, PRE-LOVE SONG also kind of says a lot since Rie fu tells a pretty story with such a minimal arrangement which is a bit of a shocker.  I just love the vocals here, but some of the weird instrumentation like the shaker is a bit unnecessary to me.  I just wanna hear Rie plz.

6. FREE MONEY

Moving to the second half of the album, FREE MONEY opens with a strings intro before a edgier and gritty sound moves in giving this kind of Western showdown feel (at least that’s what I thought).  Rie fu then joins in and her vocals are pretty much filtered for most (if not all) for the tune.  It’s a bit unusual on the album, but not bad.

7. THE LOOK

Why do I feel like when I listen to this song, I think of Kill Bill?  It must that longing feel of the song and the kind of dated feel.  I don’t remember much of the song besides the guitar arrangement and Rie fu in the chorus doing that ~so don’t give me the look~ that’s about it >.>  Then again it’s a pretty short song too.

8. GOMI

I think this is the first time I heard synths in a song on the album.  GOMI sounds like it could’ve fit on “URBAN ROMANTIC” for some reason.  I think it’s the piano and the mood of the song as well.  The chorus though kind of gets weird and a bit TOO fuzzy plus during those parts, Rie is once again filtered.  It’s just not working out.

9. JUST LIKE THE MOON

I feel like simplistic suits Rie a lot more than trying to be something else.  JUST LIKE THE MOON fits into my thoughts since it’s slower and Rie isn’t too filtered but layered here which works somewhat better here.  Like the first two tracks off the album, the tune sounds like oldies (50’s).  Not a bad song actually ^_^

10. SILENCE

Ending the album, SILENCE like the other ballads on the album is a really nice and quiet track from Rie.  It also shares the whole story-telling in the lyrics like “PRE-LOVE SONG”.  It does build-up more at the halfway point which is great.  Not a bad way to close the album, but I’m happy we’re finished lol.

Tracks Recommended

• LUCKY DAY
• UNTOLD
• JUST LIKE THE MOON

Song of Avoidance

• GOMI

I really wished I could be more happier about this album, but good lord was this album boring as hell.  The fact that Rie fu went for such an unplugged setting for BIGGER PICTURE really didn’t work to her favor despite her vocals are still lovely!  This album just lacked effort IMO…blech…