Album Rating: 3.6

Can't necessarily say this is her worst (Sanmon and Reimport 1 are easily inferior) although this is a lot more scattershot with what she was trying to do, ignoring the fact a lot of these songs had been out for years (not that I had heard them before now to begin with). I'd reckon the cover is by far the worst thing about this. It's a bit awkward at points but that's been the case with her albums ever since she came back. As mentioned earlier, I really do think her flirtation with jazz has reached its limit - what more can she even do with that sound that she hasn't already done? There's still some bits where it definitely show she's stil got it, although it's very far and between - 神様、仏様 and Tokyo feels like an update on the Mayonaka wa Junketsu single's sound, which was infinitely more interesting than any jazz undertaking she did afterward, personally speaking. Hopefully, she doesn't take ages to put out her next album.

Don't dunk Sanmon like this :[

Album Rating: 3.6

shaq attac

Album Rating: 3.0

Yeah Sanmon is her next best after Shouso and Kalk, and definitely takes her jazz-pop in the most creative directions. I'm just ready for her to have a solid artistic direction in her music again. She would be the perfect artist to do an accessibile album that merges classical and noise music in interesting ways (in the same direction as the closing track from reimport 2). Or maybe she needs to add another style/genre to her bag of tricks.

Album Rating: 2.0

"Sanmon is her next best after Shouso and Kalk, and definitely takes her jazz-pop in the most creative directions."



Agreed 100%.



Her solo album run in the 00s was insane. Contender for favorite musical artist of that decade, actually. Even Heisei Fuzoku rules.



I sorta hope she makes some dark, mystical stuff some day. Bookends of this album are an interesting insight into what that might sound like. They're not particularly convincing as they are, but that direction is one of the few new routes I could imagine her to excel at.

Happy someone agrees. The genuine swagger of the opener, the spy movie worthy Togatta Teguchi flowing perfectly to Irokoizata, the intensity of Bonsai Hada, the alluring vocal melodies of Zero Chiten Kara...loved it back in the day. I can see why it isn't held in the same regard as Strip/Kalk since it isn't as original of those but I enjoy it more than Kalk that's for sure.

Album Rating: 3.0

Heisei Fuzoku has my fav Shiina track, Hatsukoi Shoji. Not a lot of people like that album since its mostly jazz remakes of tracks from Kalk, but honestly its one of my favourites of hers. Its such a relaxing listen, plus her vocals are particularly great.

Album Rating: 2.0

Yeah, calling it a remakes album is selling it short. The new tracks (which amount to half of the album) are magnificent for the most part, and the re-recordings are adequately different from the originals while still doing them justice. I'd count it among her best releases any day.

^Agreed. "Gamble" is one of her best songs too.

Album Rating: 3.0

Yes! Gamble is fantastic

Nice Gibson RD though.

Album Rating: 2.0

"Can't necessarily say this is her worst (Sanmon and Reimport 1 are easily inferior)"

crai :'[

Album Rating: 3.6

☺️

Album Rating: 3.0

I definitely like Sanmon more than this, but Reimport vol. 1 doesn't have many redeeming qualities other than a few songs.

Album Rating: 2.5

I still miss the wild and visceral Shiina on Kalk and Shoso Strip. Nowadays i think her songs are plain textbook - even Kamisama Hotokesama which was dubbed wild was nothing imo - while Utada Hikaru's Fantome and Hatsukoi are fresh compared to Hikki's old works.



I guess taking a long break from solo work cancels their old musicality.

"I still miss the wild and visceral Shiina on Kalk and Shoso Strip"

She's not coming back. I wanted to say Shiina was too old now, but I didn't realize she's only 40. I thought she was closer to 50. Man, she still has so much potential left in her! Why is she wasting it. She needs some huge life event to happen to ignite the fire in her. She's too comfortable now.

Album Rating: 3.0

I feel like her transition from Kalk to Sanmon makes more sense if you listen to everything by Tokyo Jihen. You can see her gradually form her modern sound as the albums progress

Album Rating: 2.5

I guess Sanmon is why Shiina wanted to do Tokyo Jihen. Still, the effort in Tokyo Jihen seems to waver in the last albums. Seeing how much thought she had put into her first few album (Symmetrical setlist in kanji/katakana, symmetrical track length, and complementing lyrics) compared to her recent works speaks volume that Shiina might be bored in making music.

If she's bored, then why do it? She's loaded enough that she'd never have to work again. I'm sure it's something she enjoys, but maybe has her hands full in a bunch of things at once and not giving her personal projects the attention they deserve. Maybe this album was contractually obligated for her? Who knows.

Album Rating: 3.0

Yea, I feel this album is more of a compilation than an actual album. The songs often don't feel like they were meant to be together on the same CD