Sumire Uesaka - Genshi, Jyoshi wa, Taiyo Datta

Genshiken Nidaime OP

Tracklist:

1. Genshi, Jyoshi wa, Taiyo Datta

2. Tetori Ashitori

3. SUMIRE #propaganda

4. Genshi, Jyoshi wa, Taiyo Datta (off vocal ver.)

1. Genshi, Jyoshi wa, Taiyo Datta

An off-key violin opens the first track with a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere, but quickly switches to its opposite with Sumire's chubby singing. After last time's fiasco, the arrangement was a bit toned down, but still varies greatly with the toy instruments returning, and paired with real synths and a subdued guitar. Generally, the vocals aren't improved, even with the light usage of vocoding, since her talent is probably more useful and achieved in voice acting, rather than singing. Like her previous single was, it's somewhat fun but nothing memorable and original, no matter how hard it tries to convince us in its craziness.

Rating: 5

2. Tetori Ashitori

Electronic and strangely melancholic melodies continue on, with Sumire repeating "tetori" while the tempo builds up in a trance-like song. Unlike Genshi, Jyoshi wa, Taiyo Datta, the vocals aren't as chubby anymore and transform in a higher pitch and nasal usage, but sound even worse in an overall unpleasant and poorly performed 80s ambient. We actually get to hear some sugary voice acting in several lines, reminding of character songs, but she can't really pull of kawaii when compared to professionals like Yukari Tamura or Yui Horie. With nothing to back up the poor singing, lack of transitions and a reason to listen to this song, it again becomes repetitive and easily forgettable.

Rating: 4

3. SUMIRE #propaganda

The only song which actually seems interesting in this single starts off quiet, but unravels into the gliding of 8-bit chipping sounds, disharmonic synths and the robotic singing from Sumire which is much more emphasized, alike to a Perfume song. Melody-wise, the same catch from Tetori Ashitori is unfortunately used, significantly dropping the final mark. The ever-so-slight hint of Russia is recognized, though, as we do hear even some Russian being inserted, which is quite rare for mostly English-filled Japanese songs, but at least they're on Sumire's familiar ground, since she does Russian studies aside her seiyuu career. 

Rating: 7

After a relatively average debut, Sumire Uesaka digs herself even deeper in the ground of amateurism, as she has done nothing to improve on any segment of the songs she performs. I was sincerely hoping that we'd get to hear something more like the B-side from her debut single, but the chance of that happening seems faint. My overall rating is: 5.

Sumire Uesaka - Nanatsu no Umi Yori Kimi no Umi

Namiuchigiwa no Muromi-san OP

Tracklist:

1. Nanatsu no Umi Yori Kimi no Umi

2. Waga Ki no Moto e Tsudoi Tamae

3. Nanatsu no Umi Yori Kimi no Umi (off vocal ver.)

1. Nanatsu no Umi Yori Kimi no Umi

This year has been nothing short on weirdness, and I find myself again confused and deeply disturbed by the chaos we get to hear here. Funny rubber-like, cartoonish drums open the song, and they just keep building up, as if this were a trance song, until it unravels into Sumire's chubby vocals. Even with the overall cute-ish atmosphere, this track suffers from genre identity crisis, as we get to hear happy pop, usual anison, and all the way to hard metal with full-blown screams (of course, not by Sumire herself). Following the genre changes, the arrangement can vary greatly as well, and the better question is what isn't thrown in - we have harps, metal guitars, toy drums, strings, etc. I'm a big fan of strange and unique songs, except this one pushes it a bit too far with the confusion, but is at the same time missing the surreal elements which make me fall in love in a song.
Rating: 6

2. Waga Ki no Moto e Tsudoi Tamae

After all the randomness, Sumire again threw me completely out of tact, because here she sounds almost... serious. The song is actually somewhat comprehensible, and instead of being completely ridiculous, it is actually quite normal by the standards of anime music. Her voice is deeper, and since it is probably not her natural tone, she sounds weak and sometimes gets lost in all the instrumentation with a piano, guitars and violins. Although the track is not really original and is easily forgettable, it would make a better A-side than Nanatsu no Umi was. I wonder why she didn't stick to this from the start.
Rating: 7

Considering that this the debut single for her, I was unpleasantly surprised. Along with the songs, it seems that Sumire and her label is confused as to whether to make a new Kyaru Pamyu Pamyu in the anison world, or to just stick to the familiar formula. As for my opinion, if she plans to borrow from someone else in her songs, it must be worthwhile to listen, not sound like her composers were hallucinating while torturing a saxophone. My overall rating for this single is: 6 ½