Olivia [The Lost Lolli] (Second Album)

Alone in our Castle
Fake Flowers
Blind Unicorn
Devil’s in me
Celestial Delinquent
Space Halo
SpidERSpins (Lost Lolli Mix)
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Under Your Waves
Dreamcamp
Denial
Sea Me (English Version)
Into The Stars (Live Arrangement)

The album starts off with the rather wistful Alone in our Castle. I admit when this song first started up I thought I wasn’t going to like it, because I wasn’t too much feeling Olivia’s vocal performance (or the arrangement), somewhere along the way it evened itself out and became a pretty good song. I love how desolate the arrangement sounds, its rather eery in a sense and gives you such a feeling of isolation an loneliness. Olivia’s vocal performance I really adored, she put so much emotion and feeling into this track to make it so felt. This was an intriguing and depressing start to the album.

The next track on the album is Fake Flowers. I don’t like rock, not really, but its such a guilty pleasure of mine and Olivia can be pretty darn good at it, when she wants to be. This is a perfect example, well maybe not so perfect, but close enough. The arrangement consists mainly of the drums, but it also has this static quality to it that makes Olivia’s vocals sound muffled, I’m wondering if that was intentional? This is a nice song to bang your head and rebel to.

The next track on the album is the trainwreck Blind Unicorn. (sigh) Where to start? I actually thought I was going to like this song, I really did. The arrangement is really the only good thing about this track, the rock element of it was very suitable, but Olivia somehow managed to fuck it up by adding some carnival music that seemed to pop up out of nowhere and then if that wasn’t enough the song ends with that sound you hear when you’re testing a microphone–I mean what’s the fastest way to make someone’s ears ring? Olivia’s vocal performance wouldn’t have been so bad had she tried to make some aorta of sense, it sounded like some sort of fan recording, it was so immature in its delivery. Then if that wasn’t enough there’s this random part where Olivia starts going off for no apparent reason like she’s possessed, it was just weird. This song is fail.

The next track on the album is the rockin’ Devil’s in me. This has to be the most rock oriented track so far and that’s not a bad thing, but like I said I just don’t get into rock. The arrangement is pretty chaotic, I heard the drums more than anything, but there was some electric guitar thrown in there as well and it all just sounded insane. Olivia’s vocal performance was a bit spastic as well, I can’t even remember whether she was singing or having a fit, I kind a stopped caring after a while. This song is all over the place and I honestly can’t be bothered to care about it.

The next track on the album is the out there Celestial Delinquent. I really like this title, very creative. The arrangement seems to reflect it, as if sounds very space-y and empty. I don’t know, I kind of hardly noticed it and the looped sound didn’t really help. Its effective though, I guess. I liked Olivia’s vocal performance though, the high sort of echo-y use of tones was very fitting and made this song stand out a bit. The one thing I didn’t like was the random bit of English thrown in there, it just seemed to come out of nowhere and sounded like a whole bunch of pointless nonsense. Why does Olivia insist on doing this? It really irritates me and turns me off potentially good songs.

The next track on the album is the thoughtful Space Halo. I’m trying really hard not to think of BeYonce’s stupid Halo song. Anyways, this is a pretty nice track. The arrangement consists of sound, I know, but it does to me, it also sounds like a cacophony of fireflies at night, or maybe that’s just the impression I got from it. Olivia’s vocal performance was similar to the previous’, only more clear. I really like how this song seems to be conveying wanting to be that special someone, someone else needs.

The next track on the album is the quirky SpidERSpins (Lost Lolli Mix). I really like the title. I kind a like this song and I kind a don’t. I mean for such a creative title I was actually expecting the song to be more than what it was. The drum arrangement was pretty weak and played rather hollowly. Olivia’s vocals weren’t bad, I really liked how she seemed to get into it during the chorus, but I kind a wish she would have sounded less reasonable and more edgy. This is a decent track though.

The next track on the album is the edgy 026unconscious333. This is what ’spiderspins’ should have been. The arrangement is primarily the drums, but they’re consistent and brings a lot of mood to the track with its rock flare. Olivia’s vocals were good in this, I also liked the random guy which was featured as well. The angry edge to their vocals really made this song stand out and I enjoyed the random bits of English thrown in there, they sounded just right as oppose to sounding, ‘wtf?’

The next track on the album is the misleading Under Your Waves. I actually expected this song to be down-tempo and more fluid, so I was definitely disappointed when it turned out to be a semi mid-tempo rock tune. Luckily the song is pretty all right. The arrangement is your typical fare of the drums, but I like the drums and it keeps the frenzied flow of the song going. Olivia’s vocal performance was different, even though it sounded like she was wailing most of the time, it was appropriate. I still wish it had been down-tempo, but its fine the way it is.

The next track on the album is the surreal Dreamcamp. This is how I wish ‘under your waves’ would have been. The arrangement is very soft and flowing, giving off a dream-like atmosphere reflective of the title. Olivia’s whisper-y and rather tranquil vocal performance was also good. There isn’t much to say about this song, because the quiet nature of it makes it one of those fade into the background tracks. Its a nice listen overall though.

The next track on the album is the chaotic Denial. This song reminds me a bit of her song ‘dekinai’ as the whole atmosphere of the song, including her vocals sound so conflicted and tortured. The difference is ‘dekinai’ was a dreary song I could get into, I can’t really get into this despite somewhat liking it. It just seems to drag on and on and on for no apparent reason and after awhile you get tired of hearing Olivia scream because it stops being endearing and becomes a wangst-fest.

The second to last track on the album is the surprising Sea Me (English Version). I really like the play on words and the fact that this song isn’t half bad. I honestly thought I wasn’t going to like it. The arrangement is typical, but I like how it sounds like the waves crashing against the shore or splashing against the side of a rocky cliff. Olivia’s vocal performance was nice to, I really loved her voice during the chorus and the, ‘kiss me forever’ parts. I think Olivia and her odd take at music is growing on me.

The last track on the album is the wangst-fest Into The Stars (Live Arrangement). This song doesn’t sound live to me, its sounds like a regular track. The arrangement is pretty quiet, subtle. Its not terribly interesting, but its not bad either. Olivia’s vocal performance was also pretty good, but I honestly didn’t care for the overdone angst. I can’t recall the verses, but the chorus certainly stood out. This isn’t a bad track, its pretty listenable and I really like the title; its just not a song I care for. A decent end to the album though.

-GRADE: B+
Rating: ** stars

Olivia’s second album The Lost Lolli was a pretty decent album and I’ll say its the best full length album I’ve heard from her so far. It felt a bit good to hear her give her rock songs some justice with good arrangements and somewhat strong vocal performances. I was a bit let down by the fact that she didn’t really have any down-tempo’s on here, the closest I got to a down-tempo was ‘alone in our castle’, but either way I thought this was a nice album from her, not all that memorable at the end of the day, but like I said she has some good tracks on here. I always love her song titles: Celestial Delinquent, SpidERSpins, Under Your Waves, Sea Me…

Olivia [synchronicity] (First Album)

solarhalfbreed
walk on by
Dear Angel
Color of your Spoon
Escape the Flames
Dress me Up (English Version)
soulmate
Dekinai (できない; I Can’t)
Grapefruit Tea
crystalline
liquid skies
re-ACT (album mix)
I.L.Y. ~Yokubou~ (album mix)
Mint (Bonus Track)

The album starts off with the grunge-sounding solarhalfbreed. I don’t know when I first listened to this song I didn’t like it, second time I found that it was a pretty decent listen, now I’m wondering what I was listening to the second time, because this song is so forgettable its almost amazing. The arrangement is very strange, it just sounded like it was confused. I made out the drums, though. Olivia’s vocals were just as confused and it seemed like she was singing the same thing over and over: ‘illuminate me’ or ‘illuminate you’ or whatever. I just don’t get this song and its a very weak start to the album.

The next track on the album is the messy walk on by. Olivia I know you’re an eccentric person, but there has to be a better way to showcase it, because this is not it. The arrangement in the beginning is very garage band, rebel, bad girl with the drums, can’t forget the drums. Then we get some sort of haunting Kanon Wakeshima still doll type music and I just shut my ears off, because it just made no sense. Olivia’s vocals were painful and what the hell is she going on about? In the beginning she’s talking about some guy I guess doing her wrong and then she starts saying: ‘i’m a little good girl’ and its just all so creepy an strange and not in a good way, but in a: ‘are you on something?’ type way. This song is a chaotic mess of fail. Pass.

The next track on the album is the loud Dear Angel. Rock is a guilty pleasure of mine, kind a like how country is a guilty pleasure, but like with both there are just some things that don’t sit right with me. Olivia’s vocals for instance, why does she insist on butchering her voice in such a way and making it sound like she has no vocal talent to speak of? Also, what is with the amateur arrangements? They are so bad. The only thing I really liked about this song was the: ‘dear angel’ part of the chorus, because Olivia’s voice sounded nice, but other than that this is just one forgettable track.

The next track on the album is the melancholy Color of your Spoon. Finally, a song I actually like. I never would have thought I would have been so engrossed in a song entitled, ‘color of your spoon’ but it is such a good song. The arrangement is so rainy day, depressing, but it sounds so touching and it just fits. Olivia’s vocal performance finally showed that she has a nice voice and she sung this song with such emotion, especially when her voice gets high during the, ‘color of your spoon’ parts. I love how her voice seems to fade out at the end. This is a good and touching track and my second favorite song by her.

The next track on the album is the grating Escape the Flames. This song I guess gives you that feeling, but most of all it annoys. The arrangement is pretty irritating and sounds like heavy metal, only a tame sort of heavy metal. Olivia’s vocals were painful. I’m not sure why she chose to sing the song in such a high and uninspiring way, but she did. This song accomplishes nothing but leaving you with a headache, and anger at not pushing the next button sooner.

The next track on the album is the semi-decent Dress me Up (English Version). I just can’t get over the fact that she sounds like she’s suffering or being choked to death. The arrangement is typical, I didn’t really care for it because it was a bit annoying. Olivia’s vocals are pitched and awful, it sounds like she’s struggling to get the words out and though the chorus makes this song stand out a bit, its still crushed under the bad and plain arrangement and Olivia’s even badder vocal performance.

The next track on the album is the whisper-y soulmate. Hmm? I really liked this and its about time I’ve liked a song. The arrangement is pretty nice, its very consistent and I like the bird sounds, it gives this song a lot of atmosphere and almost makes it sound religious in a sense. Olivia’s vocals were nice in this, though it could be because she chose to sort of whisper-hum sing the verses and chorus–I think that was the right move, because it really made this song stand-out. It seems haunting, but the message is a positive one.

The next track on the album is the mid-tempo Dekinai (できない; I Can’t). I’m so glad this album has finally started to pick up. This is a pretty good song and the whole desperate atmosphere is definitely relate able. The arrangement is a steady rhythm of the drums, but its very fitting. Olivia’s vocal performance was good, I loved how she shouts: ‘Dekinai!!’ during the chorus, its actually quite powerful, considering what it translates to.

The next track on the album is the pointless Grapefruit Tea. This is like a interlude track, that plays very weirdly, with seemingly no purpose but to waste my time. I think I want my money back for this tea, its bitter.

The next track on the album is the down-tempo crystalline. I was a little worried about this song for a second, but as I listened it seemed to even itself out. The arrangement is very windy, ‘I mean bleak, its freezing outside but no snow it falling and its raining a little’ windy. It was nice, atmospheric and haunting in a sense. I liked how Olivia went with low tones and basically whispered her way through the song, it was a nice touch.

The next track on the album is the bland liquid skies. This song is so long-winded and boring I can’t stand it. It clocks in a little after six minutes and that is entirely too long to be listening to Olivia whisper moan all sad and tragic like. Its like a more duller version of crystalline and I find that I can’t be bothered with it.

The next track on the album is the mid-tempo re-ACT (album mix). Finally, a rock song I can get with. I loved the arrangement, not too loud not too soft but just right, and it definitely kept me engaged. Olivia’s vocals were pretty good in this song as well, I had no problem with it for once. I can for sure see myself getting into this song and ultimately enjoying it, especially the chorus which basically made the whole thing.

The second to last track on the album is I.L.Y. ~Yokubou~ (album mix). I had to listen to this song twice, because it is just one of those songs that you like, but you still find that you can’t really focus on it. The arrangement reminded me of fun house mirrors, so it was kind of neat. Olivia’s vocals were really good in this and I found that I really enjoyed this song, its a pretty interesting track.

The last track on the album is an added quirk, Mint (Bonus Track). I’m really upset that this song is just a bit over two minutes long, because it had a bit going for it. The arrangement was desperate and it made the song pretty engaging. Olivia’s vocals as well were pretty good and I was kind a into the whole: ’she’s coming to get me!’ of thee I guess chorus. But then the song ends, it just ends and you’re like: wait, what?’ Boo, Olivia.

-GRADE: C-
Rating: * star

Olivia’s first album synchronicity is a bit too forgettable and disappointing, even for a debut album. I only liked six of the songs and if all the songs had played like those six songs did, than this album would have surely gotten an A but as it stands this album just isn’t good enough. Olivia does nothing new and she delivers nothing that we haven’t heard already, but I definitely love her solid approach to her music and how most of her songs sound very broken. Also, she really does have some great album/song titles. The one thing that kills this album the most–because in all truth the arrangements weren’t all that bad–is Olivia’s vocals. I mean, they’re really painful and glaringly awful at times and it just ruins some potentially good songs and I really hate when that happens. The stand-out track on this album is of course Color of your Spoon, the rest are decent. synchronicity honestly could have been so much better than this.

Olivia [OLIVIA inspi' REIRA (TRAPNEST)] (Third Album)

a little pain
Wish
Starless Night
Shadow of Love
Tell me
Rock you
Winter sleep
Recorded Butterflies -Studio Live-
Wish -Live-
a little pain -Studio Live-

The first track is my favorite song by Olivia, a little pain. I heard this song back when I was debating on whether I was going to get into the anime NANA, it was the series’ first ending theme and I fell instantly in love. The arrangement is so dark and painful but it offers you some sort of light. Olivia’s vocals were gorgeous in this especially when she utters, ‘no need to cry’ I love the background vocals towards the end as well. This is just a really great and stand-out song and a perfect one to start off the album, It really makes you anxious to hear the rest.

The next track on the album is the rock-laced Wish. This song has some positive things going for it such as its a pretty interesting song. Though it all falls to the wayside when you realize how chaotic and off-balance the song really is. The drums and electric guitar I heard in the arrangement did not mesh well at all and made the song a bit grating. Then Olivia’s vocals were way off, it seemed like she was trying too hard and a lot of the time she was off-key. This song is not really bad, but its all over the place and I can’t be bothered with it.

The next track on the album is the rock-ish Starless Night. I had to listen to this song twice and I still don’t really know what I want to say about it. I mean the arrangement is pretty uninteresting, a lot of the time it sounded like background noise and then it just got overwhelming especially towards the very end when it starts sounding like straight static. Olivia’s vocal performance was nice, I didn’t care for the verses, but the chorus was pretty good and made this song a lot more interesting than it would have been otherwise. I’d have to say I’m on the fence with this song, but the chorus is good so I’ll cut it some slack.

The next track is the lukewarm Shadow of Love. It started off promising enough and then Olivia starts singing. Olivia’s voice isn’t bad, but it does tend to become impossible and that in turn ruins some pretty good songs in my opinion. I’m sure this was suppose to be some sort of heart-wrenching tale of lost love–what with how dark and moody the arrangement was–but Olivia puts way too much emotion in her voice and not in a good way but in a: ‘can’t you tell I’m trying entirely too hard to tug at your heart-strings?’ kind of way. It was all very annoying and the song after a while became just noise to me.

The next track is the grating Tell me. It gets worse than Shadow of Love with this poor excuse for a rock track, everything about this song from the chaotically bad arrangement to Olivia’s poor vocal performance was lank and mediocre; nothing about this song stood out and I was just waiting for it to end–this song is just bad.

The next track is the mid-tempo Rock you. After the last two disappointing tracks I went into this one with absolutely no expectations and came out pleasantly surprised. This track is rock-oriented just like the previous tracks have been, but its a good one and that’s a welcome relief because I was just beginning to lose hope in this album. The arrangement is nothing special, but it has enough going for it to keep it interesting and keep you engaged. Olivia’s vocals were also quite good in this, she went more for a slow approach bringing her tone up only slightly during the chorus. I liked how she didn’t try to do too much and that made this an enjoyable listen.

The next track on the album is the sorrowful Winter sleep. I knew I was going to like this song and not because I think the title is so beautiful. The arrangement is very slow, the mournful playing of the piano, very heart-wrenching. I thought Olivia’s vocal performance was gorgeous, she put the right amount of emotion an depth into her voice to make this a wonderful listen; despite the fact that the song can come across as very depressing and emo, it’s still a good song and in the same league as a little pain.

The next track is the live version of Recorded Butterflies. After listening to this I’m wondering why Olivia didn’t decide to do studio lives of all of her songs on here, I’m sure she could have done them a lot more justice that way. I really like the title of this song and not only that but the arrangement really pounds into you, and her voice live is much better an that’s a plus.

The second to last song on the album is the live version of Wish. I think I spoke to soon, because the studio version of this is even worse than the original version. I don’t know how Olivia managed to make an already bad song even worse, but this version is even more unintelligible. I couldn’t understand anything she was saying and the arrangement played like a bunch of noise. Then at the end for some reason I heard clapping–if I had been there I would have most likely just been standing there giving Olivia the ’straight face’.

The last track on the album is the live version of a little pain. I still like the original more, but the studio version of this song is pretty good as well.

-GRADE: C
Rating: *1/2 stars

Olivia’s third album OLIVIA inspi’ REIRA (TRAPNEST) is sadly very brief and very boring. I’m not sure how the album went from great with a little pain and then lukewarm with the studio version of the same song. Olivia’s vocals throughout this album were not strong or even very good–it only shun in four songs, those being: a little pain, Rock you, Winter sleep and Recorded Butterflies. The rest were just abysmal. The arrangements with the exclusion of the four songs mentioned were very static and played like a bunch of noise. I know that this album leaned more towards rock than anything else, but it sounded like the sounds were made in a garage because they sounded very amateurish. I’m not an Olivia fan, but I do appreciate and like some of her music. This album does not do her justice.