2018.2.12 Recent CD Pickups

I’ve gotten through most of the CDs I bought recently, so it’s about time I wrote down some thoughts.

ななひら - Confetti-Box

This is the one I need to spend some time on, because it’s a weird one.

The album is by Nanahira, a singer who started out as a utaite. The label people slap on her is “master of the little-sister moe voice”—basically the Japanese equivalent of someone like Chen Yin Nana. Very moe voice, which of course also means her actual singing chops are so-so, and mostly she can only carry denpa songs.

Right, and that’s exactly what this album is: a compilation of denpa songs Nanahira has sung.

All I can say is it’s way too hardcore.

Most of the tracks are nonstop heavy bass, electronic noise, violent rhythms and synth textures, plus insanely fast vocals. It’s genuinely hard for a normal person to sit through. The thumping “dong-ci-da-ci” beat is a bit different from agricultural black metal, so your mileage may vary.

That said, I’m pretty tolerant of different genres, so even with the noisier denpa tracks I can muddle through—and there are quite a few that are actually decent.

Like the tooth-cleaning one, Saikyou Mushiba Koushishi Kussaku Chu☆, and the loli-god one, Loli Kamisama wa Totsuzen ni.. Strong rhythm, dialogue bits slipped in between, fast-talking vocals—that’s pretty much the ACG denpa formula, and the arrangement throws in a lot of trendy elements too, so it’s got character.

There are also tracks that have nothing to do with denpa at all: the otaku-girl one Hiratana Nanami no Jitaku Taikigata Ren’ai Kan, and the one I’d recommend most, Kakinchu no Uta. That one isn’t even denpa anymore, just an ordinary doujin song—the lyrics are just hilarious.

I’d suggest checking out the MV with the lyrics: 【Chinese translation】Kakinchu no Uta More Charin Ver 【Nanahira】

“Producer-san, I finally became an idol!” “I get to wear such a cute costume… it’s all thanks to you, Producer-san!” “Please keep whaling for me from now on too!”

If you like moe-voice denpa songs, Nanahira is worth a rec, though her moe-denpa is only so good. A lot of people say moe-voice denpa singers are their own school and regular singers can’t be compared to them, that the standards are different. To that I say:

Bullshit. Someone summon the all-rounder, Yakushi Ruri!

Sample: https://music.163.com/#/album?id=37085213

7uta - Longing for…

A collab album between nayuta and Chata. I don’t know why so many people like nayuta—last time I bought her album I was torn. The composition was good, but the vocals were bad, lots of runs going off-pitch. And people still say nayuta’s voice is close to Hirano Aya’s…

Anyway, this album has both duets and solos. I think the duets sound better, like the lead track Ocha Girl.

The other songs are fine style-wise too, but for vocals I still prefer Chata. Maybe I just haven’t heard nayuta at her peak?

Sample: https://music.163.com/#/album?id=37099671

SUITE LIFE Original Sound Track

Suite Life’s OST. I haven’t finished the game yet, and so far it feels pretty middling…

What’s listenable is the same as with past More games: just the OP and ED. The rest is, well… meh. Maybe I’ll feel differently once I clear the game.

Game OP sample: https://music.163.com/#/program/1367353944/130573753/

Making*Lovers Original Soundtrack

OST for Making*Lovers. I’ve already talked about the game; buying this was mostly a way to pay them back.

The OP is the best part, but it was handed out as a pre-order bonus when the game came out. Buying this is mostly for the sentiment. Also, there’s no tracklist, so I had to type all the metadata in by hand before I could rip it…

佃煮のりお - TWINS

I will always love Tsukudani Norio.jpg

As a female manga artist who can sing and is an idol type, Tsukudani Norio is absolutely taking off. She released a first album, and then somehow a second one too.

Her singing is above average, can’t call it pro, but acceptable. I bought her album purely to express my love, not at all because she sent me a signed photo of herself in a JK uniform when I bought the first album. Really. I just like her music.

Of course, the second album doesn’t come with a JK photo. Ugh, the pain!

Sample: https://music.163.com/#/album?id=37099247

forest - Lament

Everyone’s favorite Matsumoto Fuminori + Hana, except this album is a total scam.

Why? Because it’s one song.

Just one. What am I supposed to review? The style is the same style it always is. Go listen yourself.

Sample:

Nacollection!! 2

Every time I see Aizuki Nacuru’s name now, I think of Tanwan Lanyue…

Aizuki Nacuru feels like a singer with “no particular positioning,” like “wherever there’s money, that’s where I’ll sing.” That’s not sustainable, you know. She’s not going to improve this way.

Though maybe it’s just hard to make it in Japan. Money’s not easy to come by.

This album is way better than the collab album she put out last time. Not that it has much to do with her—it’s mostly the arrangement style.

Nothing especially bright, but nothing especially bad either. Kind of like a Shoujo Byou CD: consistent style, passes overall.

Sample: https://soundcloud.com/aituki-nakuru/c93nacollection-2xfd

Odd￫Ai - Odd￫Eye’S

I got completely baited by this cover.

I figured it was moe songs. Then I listened and collapsed.

I’d forgotten that while the cover does have a loli on it, she’s got evil eyes, and I’d also forgotten the album’s extremely chuuni title.

How to describe it? It’s a very grand, very chuuni, hard rock-leaning album, even a bit retro. In short, it doesn’t match the cover at all…

Personally I recommend the track “automata”—automaton…

Sample:

All in all, I’ve bought a bit fewer CDs recently. The next batch will probably be the Imouto Tengoku 3 OST and the OST for some 3P game. Wonder what new discs there’ll be to dig up this spring.

Finally, I’ve noticed my blog gets quoted by Japanese singers a lot… now I can’t even badmouth people. Thank god they can’t read Chinese…