Aki Toyosaki – Orion to Spangle December 26, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Track Listing

1. Orion to Spangle
2. Tadaima, Okaeri
3. Orion to Spangle (Instrumental)

1. Orion to Spangle

I know I’ve constantly ragged on Aki’s voice but c’mon you got to admit that Aki did somewhat better with Orion to Spangle because this song is adorable and her voice actually fits the arrangement which is a bit more vibrant and upbeat when compared to her older songs.  I was pretty pleased with this song and made up for how meh “Shirotsumekusa” was.

2. Tadaima, Okaeri

The B-side though reminds me exactly of how I felt about her last A-side.  It has that same exact homely feel to it and once again Aki’s voice seems out of place in such a setting as she’s trying to be squeaky cute and all that.  Yeah, suffice to say, I really didn’t enjoy the song very much lol.

 

 

Aki seemed to at least found her pacing with Orion to Spangle after her last one.  I will say that the A-side is pretty nice and really suited her overall weak vocals (which I didn’t even notice).  Though Tadaima, Okaeri tries to be compelling, but her voice and overall sound is at this point bland for me…

Aki Toyosaki – Shirotsumekusa May 24, 2012

Track Listing

1. Shirotsumekusa
2. Ringo no Sei
3. Shirotsumekusa (Instrumental)

1. Shirotsumekusa

Poor Aki, still getting the cute songs of the sphere girls that do solo work.  Shirotsumekusa sounds like something that belong in her debut era because it’s kind of homely and cute at the same time.  It’s soft and has a bit of charm going for it, but I rather listen to “music” because it was more fun and a lot more memorable to be honest.

2. Ringo no Sei

At least the fun side comes out in Ringo no Sei and I love that intro to the song.  I’m rather perplexed at why Aki is singing in such a cutesy and pitchy tone for this song because it feels like she’s just trying to be a seiyuu more than ever!  Yes, her voice is quite the reason that I can’t listen to this much either.

 

 

After “music” I had hoped she found her style and she still has because the arrangements for both tracks are really nice.  HOWEVER, her voice is just a little underwhelming because she’s taking it to an overly cute place even though she shouldn’t.  I wish she didn’t sing the way she does but whatever…maybe she’ll do something in the future.

Aki Toyosaki – music January 24, 2012

Track Listing

1. music
2. anniversary
3. music (Instrumental)

1. music

I thought it was rather interesting to see that Aki would begin her sophomore era with more of the same cutesy yet upbeat song once again.  To be honest, I didn’t think her vocals were unusually bad like I did in the last era either which is a good thing for her.  I’m loving the strings and piano though, it gives the song a jovial and bouncy feel and that made me bob my head to the music.  Good A-side!

2. anniversary

The B-side is kind of more cuter than “music” funny enough!  Sadly, I’m not into the song as much despite the joyous atmosphere.  The music actually sounds like it’s from a game (Mario Sunshine anyone?).  The thing I didn’t like though was Aki’s vocals which were super airy and high which makes just a tad bit too cute for my tastes. 

 

 

As this starts her second era, music was surprisingly a good A-side for sure.  I mean the song was good and her voice actually suited it better than her A-sides before.  anniversary though is just a tad bit cute and annoying for me.  Yeah, the A-side is good, the B-side not-so good LOL.

Aki Toyosaki – love your life, love my life June 2, 2011

Track Listing

1. Hello Allo
2. SHUN PU
3. Alright
4. Nanika ga Sora wo Tondekeru
5. march
6. Magical Circle
7. Patissiere
8. Boku wo Sagashite
9. Kaleidoscope
10. Kataomoi no Theme
11. Dill
12. Kimi ni Arigatou
13. love your life

1. Hello Allo

I guess it’s fitting that Aki would begin the album with something mid-tempo and pretty cute (kind of like ALL of her other songs).  There’s something about this song that kind of is adorable and pretty catchy and I’m not sure why because Aki’s vocals are still kind of meh.  Sweet song and a pleasant start to the album.

2. SHUN PU

The first of the old songs played on the album is the 4th and final A-side of the era.  I do like the fact that it’s a bit more serious than a bunch of her other songs for sure and the fact that it’s one of the ballads makes it easier to swallow, but there’s something that’s kind of too basic going on.  It’s ok I guess…but there’s other songs I like.

3. Alright

I’m not sure why but I ended up like this song quite a bit as well because it’s more of a calm song mixed in with a light pop/rock setting.  I was also surprised with the amount of English used as well which wasn’t too bad whenever Aki was singing it.  It’s not a broad change in settings, but it’s pretty good though.

4. Nanika ga Sora wo Tondekeru

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Aki added all but two B-sides to the album huh?  Starting with the one off her debut single, Nanika ga Sora wo Tondekeru is slightly more cuter than “Hello Allo”, but it’s also a bit slower than said song as well.  I like the deeper piano chords used here and it does sound more fit for an anime for some reason.  It’s not bad as I first remembered it and her vocals are easy to take in unlike other songs.

5. march

I was expecting more of a march style with this song but I was wrong XD.  I like the kind of odd arrangement this track has and hearing some deep synths mixed with piano and acoustic guitar sounds quite intriguing.  Aki also sounds a little different as well taking a more airy sound in her vocals.  Marching drums to come in later in the song which is a good move for sure.  It’s a strange little tune and the arrangement sounds like a Sara Barellies tune…but it’s a good one.

6. Magical Circle

B-side from “Dill” makes another appearance and it fits quite well after “march”, but I still don’t like this song very much.  It’s a bit borderline of too cutesy because of the arrangement and the fact that Aki is singing in seiyuu mode is just a bit disheartening.  I will say, prolly my least favorite of the B-sides.

7. Patissiere

We go from my least fav to my favorite of the B-sides and Patissiere was something I wasn’t expecting from Aki to tackle and she did it quite well.  The music is light and fluffy like something you’d hear in shopping malls.  I mean it’s classy and it has a flute solo in it…you can’t go wrong with that.  It just might be my favorite song off the album!!!!

8. Boku wo Sagashite

I always seem to forget that Boku wo Sagashite was an A-side more or less her second one at that too.  I was surprised that this was a little more of slight not to slow R&B songs because of the whole beat and such.  She once again utilizes a more airy vocal style and it kind of bothers me this time around but she tried singing her heart out here and that’s good.  Oddly enough it’s one of the better A-sides to have been released.

9. Kaleidoscope

Back to new tracks, Kaleidoscope feels like a lot lighter version of “Alright” but that’s OK because this sounds as good too.  I thought the guitar riffs were a bit weird playing like that under Aki’s slower vocals but I guess it worked for the song.  The thing that bothered me was that Aki didn’t really sound like she was having very much fun.

10. Kataomoi no Theme

Aki doesn’t have many exciting songs on her album and it seems this one really would have to be that one.  I like the beat of the song and while I kind of roll my eyes at Aki using her cute tone for this song it’s not that bad.  Add in the brass, it’s just interesting all over.  I’m not sure what to really think of it XD

11. Dill

As the era’s 3rd A-side, Dill sounds really pretty to listen to still.  It’s like a cute ballad but it grows away from that which is pretty awesome to hear.  It’s an interesting song because there’s some arrangement hiccups on things (especially that chorus and pre-chorus) because the notes and rhythm feels weird, but I think that’s why I liked it because it wasn’t normal for Aki to go outside of the box for a song like this. 

12. Kimi ni Arigatou

Wow the last new song of the album is a 6 minute ballad x.x  I guess it was gonna happen sooner or later from Aki.  She doesn’t really have the vocals to pull something like this, but she tried and while I thought it was too long of a song…it was alright for a piano-only ballad if you catch my drift.

13. love your life

Closing the album is Aki’s debut A-side and title track oddly enough.  It’s a little strange that it comes after “Kimi ni Arigatou” since this song is more along the lines of her cute and bouncy songs.  I don’t think much has changed on my views since reviewing it…but it feels weird that this song ends the album x.x

Tracks Recommended

• Patissiere
• march
• Nanika ga Sora wo Tondekeru
• Hello Allo

Song of Avoidance

• Magical Circle

I didn’t really have high hopes for Aki’s debut album, but with love your life, love my life she kind of made it a slightly good album.  Not the stuff I’d be listening to over and over again, but if you like happy, fluffy songs this would be a nice album for that.  Otherwise, it’s alright, Aki still is the weakest singer out of the sphere girls though, just saying.

Aki Toyosaki – SHUN PU April 13, 2011

Track Listing

1. SHUN PU
2. KARA-KURI DOLL
3. SHUN PU (Instrumental)

1. SHUN PU

I really don’t know what to really say about SHUN PU but it really is tough to say it stands out from the rest of her A-sides so far simply because it doesn’t, it’s more of the same ole stuff that was there.  I’m kind of getting a little tired of Aki’s bland arrangements and her vocals are still kind of meh compared to her fellow seiyuus in sphere. 

2. KARA-KURI DOLL

Starting out with a music box melody and someone twisting the key back into the main piano melody, KARA-KURI DOLL is kind of an interesting song because of the simplistic piano and weird wooden block/whatever it is section.  Aki’s vocals are somewhat toned even more along her cutesy seiyuu voice which oddly enough fits this tune.  Even accordion lightly enters the song to give it more oomph…it kind of does here…still I feel a slight bit bored anyways.

Aki’s 4th and final single of the era, SHUN PU really falls with the other three singles as it’s kind of poor musically and vocally, but I can imagine people enjoying Aki for her seiyuu status.  KARA-KURI DOLL is the better of the two, but it was a bit more sugary than some of her other songs…if her album “love your life, love my life” is gonna be like this, I don’t think I’ll pay attention much to her…

Aki Toyosaki – Dill November 9, 2010

Track Listing

1. Dill
2. Magical Circle
3. Dill (Instrumental)

1. Dill

Could there be something about Aki’s songs that I really enjoy?  Dill has a pretty slow start with just piano and her singing and she still rings YUKI tones from me, but fortunately it gets better the longer it’s played and quickly becomes probably the most exciting song she’s had so far in the realm of A-sides.  It’s surprisingly got an equal amount of cute and suspense.  Though now I know that Aki’s the one with a little bit of a weaker voice.

2. Magical Circle

Heh, I actually like the slight marching start for the B-side, but right at first moment, Magical Circle is definitely a bit more cutesy seiyuu-ish stuff since there’s the typical things like cute piano playing and some other cute-typed instruments and while I don’t mind this, Aki’s vocals just layers it a bit too much and it kind of just bores me a little bit.

While the whole Dill single really didn’t improve anything really and kind of faulted with Aki kind of sounding a little too sugary at some points, Dill is still her best A-side yet even though I’m sure people will have to grow to like it.  Magicial Circle however is just a little but too sugary for me and it’s just not for me, but I can imagine other people enjoying it.

Aki Toyosaki – Boku wo Sagashite October 26, 2010

Track Listing

1. Boku wo Sagashite
2. Patissiere
3. Sora Sora☆Aozora
4. Boku wo Sagashite (Off Vocal)

1. Boku wo Sagashite

I was starting to think we were going to get an R&B song from Aki with Boku wo Sagashite, but it’s actually more of a light pop song with maybe light tendencies to R&B.  I really don’t like her whispering vocals in this one since it seems maybe a little bit like YUKI’s vocals just a bit.  However, I do think it flowed better and easier to listen to than “love your life” for sure.  I think I just need time to get used to this.

2. Patissiere

I really think this song is definitely something I would’ve expect Vanilla Beans to have released since it’s very much their sound.  It’s kind of slow and yet a little peppy and cute at the same time.  Aki’s vocals also sound quite cute as well, but at least it’s better than “Boku wo Sagashite’s” whisper fest.  It’s hard to really describe the song, but it’s refreshing and nice to listen to.

3. Sora Sora☆Aozora

Then again I was afraid to come to something like this because this is definitely the uber, peppy, genki cute song of the single and Aki goes into seiyuu mode for the song.  At least it’s not terrible like when Haruka or Shoko does it, but the music is however something I didn’t fully enjoy (what’s with the disc scratching?).  That chorus too is something icky for me…oh well.

Since this is Aki’s 2nd single, I’d say she’s slowly going in the right direction with Boku wo Sagashite.  While the music was better than “love your life” the vocals were of poor choice and kind of bothered me.  Patissiere was the best of the single since it had no problems and was cute but not overbearing like Sora Sora☆Aozora was and that was what made it the worst of the single.  Hope “Dill” does better.

Aki Toyosaki – love your life

Track Listing

1. love your life
2. Nanika ga Sora wo Tondekeru
3. love your life (Instrumental)
4. Nanika ga Sora wo Tondekeru (Instrumental)

1. love your life

I guess I was asking for too much getting into Aki’s debut single right?  While her voice does kind of sound a bit like Haruka Tomatsu’s cutesy vocals, Aki’s music is at least tolerable, but still rather cute for her.  It reminds me of Megumi Hayashibara’s “It’s happy life” which might be pulling too many strings, but still it’s light pop sound is sweet.  Ok, so it’s a bit catchy I’ll give it that lol.

2. Nanika ga Sora wo Tondekeru

Ooooooh, the beginning of Nanika ga Sora wo Tondekeru is definitely one of the cutest openings I’ve heard in a while and I approve.  However, Aki’s vocals are higher than they were in the A-side and it does somewhat turn me off, but being as the mid-tempo cute song it is, it’s tolerable moreso than in other songs. 

Ok, I know it’s a bit too early to be making assumptions, but if Aki sounds like this, then her music will easily become very boring for me for some reason.  It’s just this light pop sound doesn’t work for me, even moreso for a seiyuu and all.  Ehhh, hope “Boku wo Sagashite” changes my mind.