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Keep Calm And Listen To Anisong

I did a pretty neat job, if you ask me. Animelo should of enrolled these as their official concert goods a long time ago - as an exclusivity to western fans.

On another topic, when already talking about this... remember that post I did about Animelo FLAG NINE a while ago? Well, it seems that a certain miss Sumire Kamisaka is now called Sumire Uesaka. That means two things could of happened:

1. She changed her name

or

2. Google Translate (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻

 ┬─┬ノ( º _ ºノ) 

GRANRODEO - Henai no Rondo

Karneval OP

Tracklist:

1. Henai no Rondo

2. Y.W.F

3. Sakura Shoku Dai 2 Button

4. Henai no Rondo (OFF VOCAL)

5. Y.W.F (OFF VOCAL)

6. Sakura Shoku Dai 2 Button (OFF VOCAL)

Ah, the same situation is going on as when I was reviewing Mamoru Miyano's Canon. You get a pretty typical, shoujo anime, but the producers decide to surprise you with such a great theme song. Henai no Rondo opens with a mysterious and foreboding accordion solo, setting up a circus-like ambient, but only a guitar riff is needed to remind what GRANRODEO is really about. A upbeat, dark track rich in arrangement quirks like bells and synths follows, ensuring that the infectious melody is stuck in your head. Kishow's voice falls back in some bits of the song where the accordions are actually the main feature, but his training in voice acting has really blessed him with a fantastic, deep colour. It seems that Ani-rock as a genre is really picking up, and Henai no Rondo is a great example of it, which is why it deserves a 9.

Following in a similar matter, Y.W.F retains the rocky guitars, but it's tempo and rhythm make it more of a dance song. The vocals here are almost unrecognizable, as they are both vocoded, and used at unusual heights, but along with the synthy arrangement and the occasional dubstep sequences, the track sounds very mainstream and pop. Nevertheless, it is enjoyable as much as Henai no Rondo is, although it can get repetitive, seeing as it is longer by a minute. Also, it shows that GRANRODEO can move into other genres sometimes without decreasing the quality in the music itself. Its rating is 9 as well.

With a slower intro and a happier atmosphere, Sakura Shoku Dai 2 Button is the single's ballad. Of course, with the single being released in April, the verses, even though somewhat generic in the group of sakura-related songs, reflect the feelings of spring, being uplifting and optimistic. The choruses, on the other hand, for some reason are completely contrasting and are actually the better part of the song, as they are melancholic, sad and very touching, making for a great anime ED. Just when you thought the track has been rounded up by the slowly disappearing bells in the background, a choir of children and Kishow's random ad-libbing needlessly elongate the great finish, making this a 6-minute song of which half is not really that good. The mark it gets is 7.

Disregarding the random, generic ballad which can be found in almost every release from the beginning of March to the end of spring, the single is a great start for GRANRODEO this year, making way for more great anime OPs like Henai no Rondo was. My overall rating is: 8

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On another topic, this is the 50th post on Japanese Melodia. Yay!

Yoko Takahashi - Shibashi Sora ni Inorite

EVANGELION IN

Tracklist:

1. Shibashi Sora ni Inorite

2. Uchuu no Uta: Circle Mind

3. Shibashi Sora ni Inorite (Off Vocal Version)

4. Uchuu no Uta: Circle Mind (Off Vocal Version)

1. Shibashi Sora ni Inorite

I think I've never heard a song that is truly frightening, except for this one. The bizarre, deep chants in German (I think) make for all the fun, and achieve about the same effect as an Internet joke with a click and a sudden shock; especially the sequences where you get the feeling that those voices are speaking directly to you. Apart from them, unfortunately, most of the song is just awkward and boring, with Yoko's voice being very stale, and the gooey, headache giving arrangement which fails in being a rip-off from Kotoko's techno tracks. Maybe I should give bonus points because the song successfully invoked emotions, which is exactly why music was created, but the rest just doesn't make up for it.

Rating: 6

2. Uchuu no Uta: Circle Mind

With a complete contrast in the theme, the following tracks reminds of an unusual merge of classical music and enka (Japanese traditional music). The arrangement here is quite relaxing and serene, featuring both the violins and the harp, and it goes along perfectly with the voice Yoko is now using, which is much calmer and better. At certain moments, the track can even sound religious, with the vocal solos and the choir accompanying her, but in a minute or so, the rhythm picks up and after going through various phases and experimentations, it gains an anisong feel to it with an unusual Disney-like ending. It was definitely a great decision to merge genres like this, and it makes the song very unique.
Rating: 10

Mecha anime have never been lacking in good music, and even though Shibashi Sora ni Inorite was kind of a mixed bag with good and bad elements, Uchuu no Uta makes everything worth listening to. My overall rating is: 8.

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Nagi Yanagi - Yuki Toki

Yahari Ore no Seishun Lovekome wa Machigatteiru OP

Tracklist:

1. Yuki Toki

2. Oto no Nai Yume

3. Surrealisme

4. Yuki Toki (Instrumental)

5. Oto no Nai Yume (Instrumental)

6. Surrealisme (Instrumental)

1. Yuki Toki

Every singer has stepped out of their usual style at least once, and Nagi's time has come now. Unlike Zoetrope or Laterality, the track represents an overused, generic anisong style dominated by the piano and the guitars. Strangely, though the atmosphere of the song is happy and cute, she doesn't try make her vocals nasal even once, which I'm thankful for, because her warm colour is very hard to achieve. Summing up, this is not bad, but at the same time nothing which hasn't been heard before.

Rating: 7

2. Oto no Nai Yume

The follow up is a dreamy, slow ballad unlike the cheeriness found in Yuki Toki. Finally, the B-side isn't a filler, like in few recent reviews I've done, and the arrangement is quite interesting with the standard acoustics, piano, and an occasional flute as well. Nagi's voice is a bit too weak to hold longer but calmer tones, unlike the power she can sometimes show, but it doesn't really ruin the relaxing experience.

Rating: 9

3. Surrealisme

I'm not sure if I can go that far and call Surrealisme a proper song... it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey... stuff. No matter how long you listen to it, foot tapping is impossible, because the rhythm goes just from being as regular as a ticking clock to a state in which there almost isn't any. The same weirdness applies to the instruments, where the better question is what isn't used... and Nagi doesn't even sing - more like rap extremely fast or hold elongated tones in the only bit of sanity that is the chorus. My love of strange songs kicks in again, and I will probably grow to like this even more than Zoetrope, my current favourite song from her, seeing as this should of definitely been the A-side.
Rating: 10

This single is definitely quite different that what she has released before, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a bad thing - except the very A-side, which turned out to be the worst song in the single. I don't really see why it couldn't of been done better, since Nagi is no stranger to mind-blowing songs, like my new favourite, Surrealisme. My overall rating is: 9

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ClariS - Reunion

Oreimo 2 OP

Tracklist:

1. reunion

2. Tik Tak

3. Mint Gum

4. reunion -Instrumental-

1. reunion

Considering that the ClariS girls were found through Nico Nico, it is not at all strange that their songs are very similar to that of the usual electro Vocaloid style. This song is light and whispy, and can even incorporates dubstep in its chorus - making it very fun to listen to with the colourful arrangement. Both Clara and Alice's vocals are very expressive and gentle, although they are filtered, and quite young (in other words, they are much better than idols who get years of training), and such music fits perfectly with the theme of Oreimo.
Rating: 8

2. Tik Tak

The next track starts off with a mysterious intro, and is darker and more touching than the previous. Although it is strikingly similar to some K-pop ballads, the laid-back tempo and synths are still present, and ClariS sounds almost like one singer here, because the two's voices are almost indiscernible.
Rating: 9

3. Mint Gum

With the employment of violins and numerous acoustics, this is more like usual anisong we get to see, like YuiKaori or Sphere. This song retains the light, but natural arrangement even though it's much slower and ballad like. I suppose that after upbeat, synthy songs this one is not as original or interesting, but it can still show an other side of ClariS, which is enjoyable and uplifting as well.

Rating: 7

Whether or not you believe these two girls are really 14 year old and in high school, their vocal ability is certainly excellent, and the single would definitely be one of their good releases. The only thing that may hinder them in the future is the unoriginality which sometimes appears. My overall rating is: 8.

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Yukari Tamura - Fantastic Future

Hentai Ouji to Warawanai OP

Tracklist:

1. Fantastic future

2. Kizutsuku Houseki

3. Datte x2 UkiUki

4. Mou Chotto Fall in Love

1. Fantastic future

Without any first introduction, we are immediately thrown into Yukarin's fast, happy reciting. Usually, upbeat, romance-oriented songs like this quickly become boring to me, but this one has a great thing in it; it's extremely catchy. Infectious, almost. Aside from that, the arrangement is a pretty standard mix of synths, march-like drums but also quirky, uplifting violins which definitely add to the track's enjoyability over longer periods of time. Although this is one cute song, with her being the professional she is, it's not overdone and diabetes-causing, like some of them can be.
Oh, and do watch the PV. It's hilarious.

Rating: 9

2. Kizutsuku Houseki

"Is this Yukari?" was my first thought - her voice was just so deep and contrasting to the previous track (and most of her discography, as well), fitting to the overall jazz style. Her vocals in this song show the maturity she really has as a singer, with stunning but still subtle passages and vibratos, and it turns out to be a song that reminds of older anisong classics with an unexpected mix of saxophones from jazz and hard guitars from rock, especially at the middle eight section. Being all laid-back and clubby it's a great experiment she should definitely do more often.

Rating: 10

3. Datte x2 UkiUki

Even by the funny title you would guess this is a joke-ish track, but it is really overdone and is a complete childrens' song that one would expect to hear in Doraemon or something like that. It's more cute than Fantastic future, and it's amusing to hear her voice go from one colour to another (and pronounce the words like a child) but it's definitely something I shouldn't take for a serious listen. Forever 17?
More like forever 7.

Rating: 6

4. Mou Chotto Fall in Love

Maybe named after her tour of the same title (Fall in Love)?  Anyways, this is a bit more rocky and nostalgic track, featuring the saxophones as well, but it's still just one comic filler, being perhaps just a bit more serious Datte UkiUki. There's nothing especially memorable about it, except maybe the turbo-speed ultra cute "Ah Ah Ah Ah" which could be featured in a character song.

Rating: 5

And this is why Yukarin shouldn't really do longer releases other than real full-lenght albums, because the ideas are going to run out very quickly if she sticks to the cute style for all of the tracks. Fortunately, the A-side was great, and so was Kizutsuku Houseki, giving us a different view on her as a musician. My overall rating is: 7 ½

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Maon Kurosaki - VERTICAL HORIZON

 

Jormungand PERFECT ORDER OP (Track no. 1)

Jyukki no Kizuna Sekigahara Titan IN (Track no. 4)

Kamigari Daemon Trigger OP (Track no. 8)

Real Oni Gokko 3 OP (Track no. 9)

Hakuouki Reimeroku OP (Track no. 12)

Tracklist:

1. Umare Iduru Monogatari
2. UNDER/SHAFT
3. [Dreamed Wolf]
4. Juu Oni no Kizuna
5. VERTICAL HORIZON
6. starry x ray
7. Dresser girl...
8. Distrigger
9. Nari Hibiita Kodou no Naka de, Boku wa Seijaku wo Kiku
10. FRIDAY MIDNIGHT PARTY!!
11. Just believe
12. reimei
13. Story ~Kimi e no Tegami~


1. Umare Iduru Monogatari

Opening the album, we get something a lot like the prelude from the previous album... except that the one-minute track is kind of split into three parts, or themes. Firstly, as I mentioned, the whispy, nature-inspired image of the so-called Butterfly Effect ; something small that can trigger a big event. Leading on, the volume suddenly goes down, and then revives itself, but in a much darker fashion. The arrangement becomes deeper as well, and perfectly transitions into the final part, which is like tranquility and peace before the big storm. Of course, every time you see me writing so many words to describe mere 60 seconds means that I have been very impressed. The transition itself gave me shivers down the spine.
Rating: 10 (why isn't there a 15 in my scale yet?!)

2. UNDER/SHAFT

A complete opposite of the somewhat calm introduction. UNDER/SHAFT has an extremely grim, industrial arrangement with guitars and synths being very hard and just flying all over the place, which deepens the overall impression of chaos and hell. Maon's vocals don't fall back behind either, as they were filtered and filtered and filtered until the same harshness was achieved with her voice as well (creating even more creepiness in the screeching and whispering parts). This is just one big (good) shock, both for the song itself, and the fact that this was actually an anime tie-in. I would definitely avoid watching Jormungand if I were you.
Rating: 10

3. [Dreamed Wolf]

One of the harder jobs when making an album is composing a worthy follow-up to the first song, but Maon definitely has no problem with that. This song would be a worthy best one in her discography, being even darker than UNDER/SHAFT. It consists of many opposites colliding in one track, opening with a short section of vampire-castle like gothic bells, but proceeding into a haunting mix of dubstep and rock on the highest level quality possible. Moving from one spectre of awesome to another, it can turn from decadence to metal with just Maon's command. This new track is probably my new favourite song from her.
I was actually going to write "OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD", so it's good I came up with something else.
Rating: 10

4. Juu Oni no Kizuna

Not resting even for a mid-tempo song, more rock is presented but in a more visual-kei style. The arrangement in this one is a bit more anisong-y with the violins and the piano, but they were used quite uniquely, as the piano was jazzy, while the violins just played some random disharmonic tones. The vocals are very strong and rule the song, with an almost lamenting tone to them, which is also her territory besides the grittiness we get otherwise. Although the song is not as staggeringly original, considering it's a tie-in, it is good that Maon retained her signature style. 
Rating: 9

5. VERTICAL HORIZON

It's weird for the very title song of an album like this to appear so late, and to be so out of the style of the previous songs. But, I guess that after so much energy it needed something that calms down and relaxes. This song is a hybrid of dubstep and sad ballads, with some guitars after all, because, you know, it's Maon-san. Her voice is under filters, which is good because she can sound whispy and gentle, perfectly suiting the arrangement, but she tends to sound like a Vocaloid at higher tones, which is not the case with her usual voice. With an another successful genre mix, things are looking good for the title song, even if it's not as upbeat or rocky.
Rating: 9

6. starry x ray

Vertical Horizon was just a slight rest, because we are thrown in a mix of western-like guitars solos and more techno-rock cadences. The song is very upbeat and synthy, at some moments even trance-like while the dubstep percussions take the back seat, even though the basic alternating rhythm and tempo still remain. On the other hand, her voice and the chorus itself is more pop-like, which differs from the dark songs, and lowers the grade a bit.
Rating: 8

7. Dresser girl...

With this being the usual dance-like electro fare, it becomes American pop to its fullest - but here, it's not a drawback, it becomes a plus. The composition isn't anything we haven't already seen before, but Maon's high-pitched, happy voice with no sign of straining at all, and the catchy chorus make it original. Even though she rarely does something like this outside her albums, and it's not her main genre by a long shot, this song can do justice to many respectable J-pop and American pop stars.
Rating: 9

8. Distrigger

Returning to the rocky stuff after some experimentation, we get something much like stuff from her first album (namely, Vanishing Point), except it's even more upbeat and explosive, even though it starts with a lone piano intro. Guitars here are softer than the industrial rock variants we've been able to hear, but are perfectly capable to pair to Maon's voice. She achieved her maximum and her best possible colour in this song, as it is clear and undisturbed by filters or grittiness but still very powerful.
Summing up the song is the same piano solo from the beginning, which makes for a compelling listen.
Rating: 10

9. Nari Hibiita Kodou no Naka de, Boku wa Seijaku wo Kiku

Wow, my favourite single from the era made it to the album - the one I listened to until I almost got sick of it (it's that good). No synthy stuff or dubstep this time around - there's nothing in the arrangement besides guitars and drums, and it sounds absolutely fantastic, moving more into metal even, not rock. This song is a great showcase for her vocal ability as well as Distrigger, because now we get to hear the not-so-clear deeper tone, which sounds like out of the horror movie it is tied to.
I'm not sure if this song got a remix, or it's just my headphones, but it's a pure 10 anyways.
Rating: 10

10. FRIDAY MIDNIGHT PARTY!!

A quirky, disharmonic sound, like one from a broken old GameBoy opens this track, but all hopes of another dark listen fall when the song sounds something like a homage to Katy Perry's "Friday Night". It's in the summer spirit, being all cheery and happy, but it's the complete opposite of some of the eargasmic things in this album. Perhaps the only good thing here is the returning dubstep sequences, which are more expressive and electronic than in any other song.
... At least she had the decency not to steal from Japanese singers.
Rating: 7

11. Just believe

Finally, a real ballad. No electronics, it's a real ballad with cellos and a very sad one with the touching piano. Maon shows that she doesn't do only fast and upbeat songs, as her dry voice colour and vibrato, somewhat like Aimer's, works great in these kind of arrangements. Ultimately it turns into a power-ballad with some guitars thrown in as well, but the dramatic and urgent usage of violins still manages to rip your heart out and smash it into pieces.
Rating: 10

12. reimei

Now, many people look on reimei as the outcast in her discography, with it being much more anisong than anything else, but I, on the other hand, actually enjoyed this pretty much. The vocals and the arrangement with the usually used violins and piano mold into one epic piece, and even though I rarely listened to it before, I'll definitely return to it more in the future. Of course, some link to her rock songs must be made, especially in the middle eight section, but it can still challenge the best of anime songs.
Rating: 10

13. Story ~Kimi e no Tegami~

Almost all albums end with slower, heartbreaking songs, but since we've already had that one, this track is instead uplifting and bright; perfect for a closure, though. From the happy, swift intro it becomes a rockier song, but shows the triumphant, even cute feeling. Maon doesn't miss the chance to show her happiness, and it even gets some "la la la" chants on her side, and it much reminds of Magic world by its energy.
Rating: 9

Ever since the last album, it seems she has been experimenting with many different combinations, and that obviously lead to some great styles to appear. My hopes are that she continues to mix rock with dubstep (I'm being biased here, I know), because that was what stood out most on this album.
Favourite songs: Umare Iduru Monogatari, [Dreamed Wolf], Distrigger, reimei
My overall rating is: 9

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A Small Guide To Anime Music Expressions

This guide here will contain most of the expressions or abbreviations I am likely to use when describing and reviewing a music piece, or in the music and anime industry in general. In the future, I will probably turn this into a page in its own right, and will get updated oftenly, as it is not nearly complete.

                                                        It took me two hours to organize this alphabetically...
                                                        You better like it.

• Anisong - A portmanteau of the words anime and song (sometimes also spelled as anison). Usually used to represent any song in an anime or the style itself.
• A-side - The first or main song in the given single release. Most certainly the one to get a MV.
• Acoustics - Usage of acoustic instruments in a song, such as the guitar, or the acoustic-only version of a song.
• Album - The main release of an artist. Usually features 12 - 15 songs, including most singles that came before it.
• Animax - A renowned anime and anisong related TV in Japan. Also refers to an annual anisong concert called Animax Musix.
• Animelo - The biggest anime music festival in Japan. Held anually each year in Saitama Super Arena, and it features most of the currently active anisong artists.
• Arrangement - Everything in a song except a musician's voice; instruments, tempo and rhythm.
• B-side - All the other songs in a single besides the A-side. Usually of a different structure than the A-side.
• Ballad - A song of a slow tempo. Its most oftenly used theme is love, and it can refer to either a sad or a happy song.
• Best-of album - The compilation of an artist's most renowned and famous songs. Contains popular A-sides from singles, but album tracks can be found on it as well. Some musicians tend to release a new song in the best-of album as well.
• Bridge - A transition between two sections of a song, usually only instrumental.
• Cadence - The sequence of tones that serves as the base to a song.
• CD - Easily transportable media carrier. Most oftenly used form of music releases.
• Character song - A song tied to an anime which is sung in the spirit of a certain character's voice, and its theme usually revolves around the character's personality traits.
• Chorus - The section that represents the main theme in a song. Most songs will have three repetitions of it.
• Classical style - A style of composition in which the song features the most common instruments from a symphonic orchestra, such as the violin, piano, harp etc.
• CM - Abbreviation for commercial. Some songs featured in commercials when released in singles will be indexed as CM songs.
• Concert - A live musical performance in front of an audience, in a suitable venue. It can either feature a single musician, or a group.
• Cover - Can either refer to: 1. A cover of a single, album or any other music release. 2. A version of a song released beforehand sung by another artist.
• Crescendo - Gradual increase in the volume or intensity of a musical piece.
• Dance - Genre of music which was originally intended only to be danced to, but has found its place in today's pop music. Usually fast and catchy.
• Debut - The start of work and subsequent releases for a musician.
• Debut single - The first music released by an artist commercially. Can also be in album, or more recently in mini-album form.
• Discography - The entire musical opus of a certain artist.
• Double A-side - A single in which both songs are treated as A-side songs, and as such, both can get a musical video.
• Doujin music - Self-published works, or works not signed under any recording label. Such products are sold either online, or at popular conventions like Comiket.
• Digital single - A single released only through means of the Internet. They are commonly distributed through downloads, and feature only one song.
• Drama CD  - Sequels or side stories of popular manga, anime and light novels in audio form.
• Dubstep - A genre of electronic dance music, very popular in today's mainstream media. Usually features bass lines and sub-bass frequencies.
• ED  - Abbreviation of ending. A song labelled this way was used as an anime, drama or game ending theme.
• Enka - A popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically.
• Filters - Effects added to a musician's voice for achieving more impact.
• Game music - A genre of music similar to anisong, except it features more techno and trance styles.
• Glissando - A glide from one tone to another on an instrument.
• Glowstick - Also referred to as a penlight or a cyalume. It is a short-term translucent plastic tube made in different colours. Very commonly used at concerts of anisong and K-pop artists.
• Gothic - An intense, dark style of music. Usually mixes with rock.
• Hiatus - A pause in a musician's release cycle. In some cases it lasts a few months, while at others it can last several years, resulting in a recording label change.
• Idol - An image of an artist best suited to the general public for their enjoyment.
• IN - Abbreviation for insert. A song labelled by this was inserted in an anime during a certain situation, or for ambiental usage.
• Instrumental - A version of a song featuring only the arrangement, without the artist's voice or with only the filters that were applied on it.
• Interlude - A song in album or at a concert that sums up the music heard beforehand and prepares the audience for songs to follow.
• Jazz - A style of music which often consists of improvisation, but also instruments such as the saxophone and the piano.
• J-pop - Japanese pop music.
• J-rock - Japanese rock music.
• Key - The tonic note and chord of a song that gives a subjective impression of either happy (major keys) or sad (minor keys).
• Live version - Refers to a version of a song that was recorded live at a concert.
• Maxi-single - Sometimes called EP or Extended Play. It is a single that has more songs than a normal single, but less songs that a mini-album. It usually has 3-4 songs.
• Metal - A type of rock music that is harder and more intense than its origin. Usually intertwined with Gothic styles.
• Middle 8 - The sequence of music that comes after the second chorus (or verse) in a standard structure of a song. It usually has a different melody from the rest of the song, and is used to achieve intensity and to lead in into the final chorus.
• OP - Abbreviation for opening. A song labelled this way was used as an opening theme to an anime, game or drama.
• Operatic - A style of voice similar to opera singers. Sometimes associated with Gothic styles of music.
• OST - Abbreviation for original soundtrack. It is a release that contains all the musical pieces featured in an anime.
• Otagei - Referred to as wotagei as well. A type of dancing and cheering gestures usually using glowsticks. Performed mostly at anisong and idol concerts.
• OVA - Abbreviation for official video animation. Used to get the viewers acquainted with the characters before the anime airs, or features a side-story to the already released one.
• Prelude - A piece of music featured in an album or at a concert which reveals the concept and the overall theme, as well as leading into the first song.
• PV - Abbreviation for promotional video, but more known to Western fans as music video or MV. It is a video featuring the song it promotes, as well as the artist, a dance choreography, a theme, or a story.
• Re-cut single - A single that was released previously in an album, and afterwards released on a CD alone, or with a B-side, and usually getting its own PV.
• Recording label - A company that forms a contract with a musician, distributing his/hers music and promoting the music itself in change for the copyright on the songs. Some of the most popular labels with anisong musicians are Lantis, King Records and Geneon Universal.
• Remastered song - An older song released with newly played instrumentals and resung vocals.
• Remix - A version of a song with different tempo and arrangement than the original, but still featuring the same melody
• Rock - A genre of music most famous by its intensity and usage of electric and acoustic guitars.
• Release era - The series of singles which begins after the last album and leads up to the next one.
• Seiyuu - A voice actor in television anime. Some seiyuus also take on a singing career and become seiyuu-singers or idols.
• Short version - The version of a song which is commonly shortened to the first verse and first chorus as to fit with the opening or ending sequence of an anime.
• Strings - Usually refers to all of the string instruments in an arrangement, notably the violin, the viola and the cello.
• Synths - Refers to the artificially created sounds in an arrangement, either in electronic music or when they are mixed with different genres.
• Talent agency - An agency which takes care of an idol's image, or manages the voice acting work of a seiyuu.
• Techno - A form of electronic music commonly used in mainstream pop.
• Tour - A series of concerts of a certain artists, all of which are in a different place in a country or in the world. Usually contained to a certain time schedule.
• Trance - A form of electronic music that is based on repetition as to induce a "trance".
• Tie-in - The media (most commonly anime, drama or game) to which a single or a song is related to and used in.
• V.A. - Abbreviation for Various Artists.
• Verse - The section of the song that features a secondary theme and leads into the chorus.
• Vocaloid - A popular singing voice synthetizer.
• Vibrato - A musical effect consisting of regular, pulsating change in pitch. Usually used in the vocals for more effect.
• Vocoding - The process of artificially pitching the musician's voice.

Today Was A Great Day For Anisong

I'm pretty sure hardcore fans of the two already knew, but the biggest names in anime industry announced a collaboration. Nana Mizuki x T.M. Revolution

I'm fangirling so hard now.

Doesn't Nana-san look pretty darn awesome in the clothes?

The single is due to be released on May 15th, and the collaboration Youtube channel posted a preview of the single... which is limited for viewing only in Japan.

BUT, the anime it is tied to aired today here, and the song is featured at the end. The episode itself is epic as well.

Oh, and they are going to perform together on Music Japan.

This day just keeps getting better.

Mamoru Miyano - Canon

                                                            Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 2000% OP

Tracklist:

1. Canon

2. Thank You

3. Forever Lullaby

1. Canon

... I was not expecting this. Judging by the name and the theme of the anime this single is tied to, I'd expect a happy, candy song. But in reality, we get something completely opposite of that; a hard, upbeat techno-rock track. The arrangement itself is much more exotic than just mere synths and guitars though, because there are some great jazz-like piano glissandos, and all the different instrumental stunts will not leave you bored. Mamoru's voice is very warm and deep, much like most of the J-Rock vocalists, and also brings to the enjoyability of the song. The only thing I am somewhat concerned about is that the melody is quite catchy by the usual western formula, so it may not be listenable over a long period of time.

Rating: 9

2. Thank You

This is definitely what a shoujo anime OP usually sounds like, being much like <insert American teen star>, but the track was again taken to another level with musical experimentation, even if it's a mix of upbeat pop, R&B and dance. With a very different concept in mind, this is a completely opposite listen to the A-side, and the vocals also got the feature of softness and gentleness that is usually expected in ballads. A certain note of sadness is present throughout the whole song, making it very touching, and distinguishing it from the sea of generic clones of sugar-coated "ballads".

Rating: 9

3. Forever Lullaby

Traditionally, the third track of the single is a very slow song, so I thought this would be filler-ish as most are, but Mamoru is just on a great roll here. The arrangement plays on my weaknesses, my favourite instruments, the violins. They go from dramatic and strong to very soft, and the piano does the opposite, so even if only melody-wise this would still be a great song. His voice is suited to ballads as well - but that's no wonder, since Mamoru Miyano is a pretty famous voice actor too. The song doesn't bring anything especially new, but it's still a great one.

Rating: 8

I learned a lesson by listening to this single, which may be familiar to you: Don't judge a CD by its cover (both literally, and metaphorically). There are few successful male anisong artists, and the anime is oriented around very typical shoujo-like themes, so I immediately supposed this would be a flop, but my impression was turned around 180 degrees as I was listening to the songs. My overall rating is: 9

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Anime Instrumentality switches to Western music

I'm sure that many of my readers (though, there's probably not many of them yet) already know of the site called "Anime Instrumentality", as it is (was) the best, and probably the only anime music review and editorial site. Also, it was my model for starting Japanese Melodia after all.

Now, that Anime Instrumentality is abandoning Japanese music, I feel I have the duty to take on the task of writing editorials, and even more soundtrack reviews. I am aware I don't quite yet have the masterful writing skills of their authors, nor the massive amount of experience, but seeing as the popularization of anisong should go on, and there are few true anime music blogs out there, I will try my best in achieving instrumentality though Eastern means.

In case this was just an extension of their April 1st joke, I would certainly be happy, because we wouldn't have to lose some of the best reviews on Japanese music in general ; but this is just a faint hope.

Anime Instrumentality  (2008 - April 1st 2013)

Western Instrumentality (April 2013 - )

I wish them luck in exploring the world of Disney's soundtracks.

Kawano Marina - Kieru daydream

                                                                        Nekomonogatari (Kuro) ED

Tracklist:

1. Kieru daydream
2. Kieru daydream -instrumental-
3. あとがたり   (Note: Not an actual song, just an hour-long commentary from the artist)

1. Kieru daydream

Opening with a soft piano and underlying deep synths, the song is boring for someone who doesn't watch the ending credits, but for those who stick with it, it turns into a much more upbeat, rock-ish song. The guitars are constantly in pair and tied with the piano, which makes for an excellent arrangement, even if this song were an OP. Marina is a bit lackluster in the chorus though, but her voice does retain the gritty tone throughout the song, even though she's pretty young and very new in the industry. This song is the cream of what anisong offers, so definitely check it out!
Rating: 9

2. Kieru daydream -instrumental-

I never review instrumental songs. Ever. Often considering them a waste of time, but this one was something of a different experience than the vocal version (plus, I actually had to review more than one song). The piano here sounds more powerful and you can notice that there was careful composition going on in the process, not just some catchy chorus slapped on a simple melody.
Rating: 9

Animax's Grand Prix popularizes great anisong musicians each time it is held, and Kawano Marina is no exception. Like any other new artist, she needs time to develop her own style, and misses that last bit of uniqueness needed to get to the mark 10, but I am still very impressed. My overall rating is: 9.
To the Youtube!

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Yumi Hara - HOTARU-BI

                                                                             Corpse Party: Tortured Souls ED

Tracklist:

1. HOTARU-BI
2. Afureru Omoi
3. Spiral Moment
4. HOTARU-BI (off vocal)
5. Afureru Omoi (off vocal)
6. Spiral Moment (off vocal)


1. HOTARU-BI

Given that this is an anime ED, the fact that this is a ballad is not surprising at all. The arrangement begins with a mixture of bells and piano, but leads into the pair of very hard, deep strings and guitars in pair, making it more of an power-ballad. It's a shame, though, that Yumi's voice doesn't follow up with the great arrangement, being very thin and frail; an obvious telltale sign of a voice actress without much singing talent (rare are the ones who are able to both act and truly sing). Bringing nothing new to the table, the song isn't very original but at least it does its job satisfyingly well.
Rating: 7

2. Afureru Omoi

I don't seem to gravitate particularly towards cute-ish songs because there is a big risk of overdoing it,but this one I could enjoy very much, as its pretty much right on spot. The composition is an upbeat, happy piece of usual idol music featuring acoustic guitars, but that is exactly what is more suited to Yumi's colour of voice, as it is cute and sweet by default. Also, it is alike to character songs, not only because of the style, but because of the adorable little voice-acted "Arigato" at the end
Rating: 7

3. Spiral Moment

As we get more into the single, every next song is more upbeat, with this one being a rockier track than others. Unlike the previous song, where the guitars were just used as a support, here they are very engaged. With Yumi's voice taking a strange, yawning colour, she sounds almost exactly like Aya Hirano from her older days o__o, which is supported by the fact that it does sound like her main slice-of-life light rock stuff.
Rating: 8

Well, that was nice. As expected, the single was pretty much average in every aspect, both the vocals and instrumentals, and it really makes a difference in music quality depending on whether the main career of the seiyuu is singing or acting. My overall rating is: 7

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LiSA - best day, best way

Tracklist:

1. best day, best way
2. I'm a Rock star
3. Shiroi Toiki
4. best day, best way (Instrumental)

1. best day, best way

Opening with a vocal solo of LiSA, we get a very upbeat, happy song that may as well be tied to an anime, because it's got the distinctive feel to it. Although it's one of her more usual rock stuff, alike to her first album, the arrangement can still be interesting, with the merge of acoustic and electric guitars which screams "SPRING!" during the whole track. As for her vocals, I'll just quote Kurayami Monogatari on it:

"This powerful voice that kind of reminds me of Nana Mizuki, just without the crazy vibrato."

We all know how amazing Nana's voice is.
Rating: 9

2. I'm a Rock star

It's nice that you are a rock star, but you could, you know, show it? The next song in the single is not nearly as upbeat as best day, best way, seeing as it's somewhat calmer and more of an uplifting, rock-y mid-tempo composition (which kind of reminds me of the Happy Birthday song >__>). Some of the guitars are replaced with a piano, which also becomes the driving tune in the song, along with her always amazing voice. This is a nice follow up to the great A-side though, and I always seem to stick around to hear this as well.
Rating: 8


3. Shiroi Toiki

I predicted this would be a ballad when I initially saw the tracklist. I also predicted this was going to be the scapegoat filler track in her single, and I was right in both cases. After the previous two tracks, this one just seems spiritless, unoriginal and needlessly prolonged. The only points I can give to it are maybe for the unusual instrumentation, especially after the first chorus, but it still fails to catch my attention. Just one big stuffing into the disc to make it seem like LiSA's composer tried harder.
Rating: 6


I look forward to LiSA releasing a new single every time, because she is always this eternal genki-ultra-kawaii bomb. She's still a pretty new artist though, so I guess I can forgive her for the fail "C-Side" on this single. My overall rating for this release is: 8

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PHANTASM (CV. Yui Sakakibara) - Hagane no Yoroi Matou, Sanbyaku no Daishisai

                                                                                Robotics;Notes Game ED

Tracklist:

1. Hagane no Yoroi Matou, Sanbyaku no Daishisai
2. Gunjou Valensia
3. Hagane no Yoroi Matou, Sanbyaku no Daishisai (Off Vocal)
4. Gunjou Valensia (Off Vocal)


1. Hagane no Yoroi Matou, Sanbyaku no Daishisai

I love the sad piano solo which opens the song, but it just doesn't prepare you enough for the extremely hard and dramatic gothic rock arrangement which ensues. Almost trance inducing, there are only a few places from which we get to rest from the constant earthquake of guitars and deep strings, and it completely suits the cover, because it's almost hell-like (in a good way .__.). Yui's voice, of course, doesn't disappoint either; even though it's somewhat weaker because of the heaviness of the composition, it's quite powerful and lamenting. And, this is supposed to be an ending theme... Aren't endings supposed to be less heart-attack inducing?
Rating: 9

2. Gunjou Valensia

Showing more of it's subtle ability to frighten, this track is instead built more around the haunting organs - happy haunting organs. Happiness, is of course, good, but used with this instruments it's just plain morbid. As the track builds up, it gets a sound a bit similar to the previous one, but words are too weak to describe the immense guitar acrobatic stunts which imitate the human voice perfectly. Now,  Yui's voice is much more expressive in this slower, lighter track and it shines in it's full glory and range. The last few disharmonic notes just left me staring blankly, overwhelmed by the sheer emotional effect, so if you care about music at all, you need to listen to this song.
Rating: <3 (just kidding, it's 10.)


When I am doing reviews, I really don't want people do get me wrong: when I write something like morbid, or scary, or frightening, it's actually a good thing, because the songs have done their mission well. This single earned pretty much all of the attributes above, so my overall rating is: 10 - RECOMMENDED.

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Lantis recording label announces its closing

Today, on a special purpose site, the famous anisong recording label Lantis announced its shutting down because of severe financial problems. Several artists have already left the label a few days prior, including Minori Chihara and GRANRODEO.
Among the musicians that haven't confirmed their status yet, or are leaving the music business are Masami Okui, Faylan, nano.RIPE, CooRie, Minami Kuribayashi, Ceui and more.

You can find the full report, as well the list of artists transferring to King Records here.

BOYFRIEND - Hitomi no Melody

                                                              Detective Conan ED 44

Tracklist:

1. Hitomi no Melody
2. TO MOON


1. Hitomi no Melody

At first I thought there was a Japanese band called Boyfriend... but it seems that Korean artists are slowly making it into every pore of Japanese music, as this is the well-known Korean boyband.
Anyways, their new song is one of the usual happy, love songs, which is are becoming somewhat boring. Though, it is spring, and the arrangement fits that with a heavier use of piano and some whispy synths. Their voices are, of course, unnimpresive as most other factory-made boybands, but at least the raps are mostly enjoyable. For a high profile anime like Detective Conan (I mean, it is its fourthy-fourth ending song), I am not very pleased.
Rating: 5

2. TO MOON

 The B-side is a bit more interesting, with a mix of an electronic composition with the dance beat of K-pop. The synths are used in a cuteish and funny way, but then again, this track is almost the exact same as Hitomi no Melody, boring and average, that is. I guess some people like music like this, but I can't bring myself to listen to this for more then 2 minutes and not get sleepy.
Rating: 6


Wow, such a fail after an awesome song like Janus. I don't mind when groups like this do this in Korea, because I know most everything there is alike to it. But, I do mind when someone begins to ruin an unique genre anisong is. My overall rating for this release is: 6.