Contact
Shijin no Tabi
Futari no Reflection
Junpaku Sanctuary
Dears ~Yuruyakana Kiseki~
Cynthia
sleeping terror
too late not late…
Natsu wo Wasuretara
mezzo forte
Kimi ga Kureta Ano Hi
truth gift
The album starts off with the title track Contact. This is a pretty interesting song and has a bit of variety. The synth, bass and lighter sound instruments really worked well to give off this ethereal type of feeling, the backing vocals were also nice and did give me this ‘contact’ type of vibe. I’m talking extraterrestrial. Minori’s vocals were a bit strong in this and it gave me that opening to a popular an serious anime like Gundam feeling, since her voice carried a lot of attitude and force. This was a pretty good start to the album.
The next track on the album is the airy Shijin no Tabi. This is the type of song that I have heard so many times that it honestly holds no interest for me. The arrangement is decent, but it sounds a bit stiff and typically sparkly. Minori gave a rather good vocal performance, but she sounds so familiar that I just stopped listening after a while. This is pretty uninteresting, despite the fact that its not a bad song.
The next track on the album is Futari no Reflection. I’m nearly sick of the sparkle-like melodies at this point, but it still sounded nice and whimsical on the ears. I’m wondering how I’m going to get through the rest of this album, what with all the songs seeming to sound the same and I’m only on the third track. I liked Minori’s vocal performance though, this is a decent song.
The next track on the album seems to be part two of the previous track. Junpaku Sanctuary plays no differently, only there seems to be a bit more edge, more of a serious vibe. Its so anime, but the vocals are nice. This song is fine, but its just so average, so I’ve heard it before… so many times.
The next track on the album is the somewhat mid-tempo Dears ~Yuruyakana Kiseki~. Ah, finally a song that stands out. This song is long, close to seven minutes and though I’m aware of that, it never really felt long, because the arrangement was very soothing and made this song quite charming and refreshing. Minori’s vocal performance is rather good, the high light being the chorus.
The next track is the slightly mid-tempo Cynthia. Minori is very difficult to review and at this point its beginning to irk me. This isn’t a bad song per say, I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy it as it sounds like the opening to a mecha anime, me on the other hand, I got bored with it. The arrangement should be exciting, but its quite bland and only does what it should. Minori’s vocals were decent, but her voice just sounds so recycled. This song does nothing for me and I was honestly just waiting for it to end already.
The next track on the album is the atmospheric sleeping terror. I was unsure of this song at first, but as it played I got a bit into it. The best part about this song is the arrangement, it gives off a dark and very surreal feeling, that is not original but very different from anything I’ve heard so far. Minori’s vocals are pretty good in this, she seemed to really be into the song, especially during the rather dramatic chorus, but I couldn’t help but feel detached from her. The backing vocals were pretty good as well.
The next track on the album returns to what we’ve been hearing with too late not late…. I like this song though, its so adrenaline rush, the arrangement and Minori’s really good vocal performance. Its so mecha anime opening though, its not a problem however, if this isn’t it would have made a really good opening to whatever anime.
The next track on the album is the cute-sy Natsu wo Wasuretara. Well, not so much cute-sy but I certainly got that vibe. This song isn’t really bad, but I don’t really like Minori’s vocals in this, they’re almost nauseating. I did like the laid-back Islandy-esque arrangement though.
The next track bumps the interest factor up a bit with mezzo forte. I can hardly believe she sounded so child-like in the previous track after listening to her mature vocals in this. The arrangement sounds very winter-y, nothing too different but its nice, though typically sparkly.
The second to last track on the album is the up-tempo Kimi ga Kureta Ano Hi. This isn’t a bad song, but I really can’t see myself listening to this, even on a good day and enjoying it. The arrangement is a bit edgy, I loved the guitar solo and Minori’s vocals were good and it was interesting how quick she was singing, but the combination together made this track a bit annoying, plus this sounds so anime opening.
The last track on the album is the whimsical truth gift. I really like this song and I’m not really sure why. I mean it has the typical sparkly arrangement, but it sounds so pure and makes me think of a white all consuming light. Minori’s vocals were a bit childish, but they suited this song and didn’t sound out of place. This is nice and a rather warm ending to the album.
-GRADE: B
Rating: ** stars
Minori’s Chihara’s second album Contact is all right, but I wasn’t very into it. I don’t know, I’m just not the type of person to get into music like this, I mean, you can’t like everyone and though she’s a seiyuu singer, she’s no Megumi or Maaya or even Masami. I mean I thought it was strange how every song on here sounded like an opening to an anime, not an ending, but an opening. I know she’s a seiyuu singer but even the three I named above have songs that stand alone and don’t sound so anime-ish. Its not a problem, but it is when every song seems to carry the same formula and that makes even good songs sound average. I liked a few tracks on here though and Minori has some good vocals when she’s not sounding so child-like or seiyuu-ey. Contact is a nice album for those into anime songs moreso than JPop, me? I like both, but my taste have always been rather eccentric.
Ame Agari no Hana yo Sake