Album Rating: 2.0

"And there's people that think this chick is better than Utada Hikaru"

Utada has never been as musically remarkable as Shiina, but she's got an incredible voice and is very good at what she does. I don't think it's that worthwhile to compare them outside of the shape of their careers tbh - they're complementary but not all that similar artists

@zach I speak some, but not enough to follow - if you want to post any translation links, I'll have a read and maybe make a few tweaks to recognise good lyrics

that album cover tho lol

hell of a review johnny. good work

Album Rating: 2.5

I don't think there are any translations up yet? I'm just speaking from what I've heard

Album Rating: 2.0

Cool, what's the overall gist then? And how well does it carry from song to song?

yikes this score.


https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4opi2f
here is some japanese post-hardcore to replenish your weeb meters.

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

Is this as bad as the cover hints it is ? I'm genuinely worried

Album Rating: 2.0

The album cover is insane. I'll never get over it.



How is she supposed to play that guitar with an iron glove?



Anyway, mediocre album is mediocre. Probably her worst solo release and definitely her worst solo full-length.

Say it isn't so I didn't even know this came out. I have to listen to it, but I feel like it's going to break my heart. Can't someone in her immediate circle be like "yo Shiina, you gotta get your shit together." I trust Johnny on these matters, so I feel like this score is sadly going to be accurate.

that artwork, lmao

I feel like it has to a joke. It's so hilariously bad.

Iv seen everyone on twitter losing their minds about this but from what iv heard this one is pretty samey. I also like Utada more cuz she hits emotional peaks more for me even if less creative overall. BUt yeah not really a good comparison. At least Utadas latest album is amazing and not a let down though haah

It's kind of funny. Utada had a huge creative comeback, while Shiina seems to be having creative downfall. However, the circumstances of Utada's comeback were certainly more emotional, and that's often the basis for great albums.

Album Rating: 3.0

Yea, Ive generally been enjoying Hikki's recent work more than Shiina's. Anata and Chikai were some of my favourite pop tracks from 2018

Album Rating: 3.0

This one is definitely not as bad as her first self-covers album, which remains her worst... but I don't yet know how I feel about this album. I hardly care about the middle 5 songs on this album. My favourites are the opener, closer, and Kakeochisha. Jiyuudom is very fun and the song with Hiroji Miyamoto is probably the best of the show tunes here, but Queen Shiina's maximalist compositions aren't always finding the right balance of quality and density here.

Damn this was a brutal putdown, enjoyed reading.

Jiyu-dom is a bop but I didn't really care for the other songs released, that song with Sakurai was pretty horrid though. Usually, I am not one to embrace the sentiment of "this artist is useless now let's just keep to the old stuff" but this is a systematic thing which has been happening for years.

Album Rating: 3.0

I really enjoyed Reimport vol.2 though, so I feel like Shiina still has it in her to release good music. What she is lacking nowadays is experimentation and creativity, which is why her more recent albums have felt sort of 'samey'.

Album Rating: 3.6

She really needs to just write an album instead of just making another glorified compilation of singles.

Album Rating: 2.0

Vol. 2 is definitely my favorite post-Gossip Shiina. Has some absolutely amazing tracks. Agreed with Vol. 1 being one of her weakest efforts though.



As for this one, its greatest flaw is just the amount of weak tracks. Kakeochisha, Kamisama and Isogaba are all just obscenely subpar, especially for her standards. The lack of cohesiveness doesn't help it, but it could easily be forgiven if the songs delivered (Sanmon Gossip, after all, wasn't very cohesive either).

Album Rating: 2.0

Sanmon did have a fair amount of stylistic cohesion imo, defo more than this or Hi Izuru

"Usually, I am not one to embrace the sentiment of "this artist is useless now let's just keep to the old stuff" but this is a systematic thing which has been happening for years."

This is my exact feeling, and it's a really awkward one to deal with :/