Aesthetic Rhapsody

Artist: Hitomi Shimatani
Release Date: March 15, 2006
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 4.5/5

1. Haru Machibito
2. Camellia
3. Sky High
4. Haru Machibito (Instrumental)
5. Camellia (Instrumental)
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It’s been a while since I last reviewed a Hitomi Shimatani release! (Even though this release is a bit old) After seeing my personally written to do list, I was surprised to see how far behind I was on reviewing releases by Hitomi Shimatani. Oh well, time to get to work!

Shimatani delivers Haru Machibito very nicely as her vocals sounded very confident and up there. Really a great listen. Now that she has been sticking to her pop-style, it seems as if she had ever sung a different genre, it would be for sure that it wouldn’t be as good as this song!

Now Camellia takes this single to the next level by starting out to be a synched dance song! Just like the first track, listeners could hear that confidence in her vocals and how all of the elements played in the background are really memorable. Definitely a jewel to my playlist!

Finally Sky High, a recut song from the past studio album, “Heart & Symphony,” has a very refreshing sound to it. Beginning very strong vocals then quickly transitioning into dance elements.

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Artist: Hitomi Shimatani
Release Date: March 19, 2008
Label :Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 3.5/5

1. Nakitai Nara
2. Kuchizuke Shiyou
3. Nakitai Nara (Instrumental)
4. Kuchizuke Shiyou (Instrumental)
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I happened to have heard about Hitomi Shimatani since I watched Inuyasha in which one of her songs were used for the sixth opening theme. (I reviewed the single with “Angelus” a while back but reviewing another Hitomi Shimatani single bring back memories for some reason.) I also heard that another one of her songs were used for an anime called “Law of Ueki” so after watching the episode when it was first used, I decided to get myself to review more Hitomi Shimatani singles!

Judging from the title, I thought that Nakitai Nara was a ballad and I guess was right! But I was certainly not expecting a melonchonly ballad from Hitomi Shimatani!So the song begins with a light and slow introduction of instrumentals and vocals but goes a little bit faster throughout the song. However, this ballad actually sounded too sad, I guess that’s why it was called “Nakitai Nara,” which means “If I want to Cry” in english. But thing about this song is that it didn’t really sound like the kind of ballad that someone would listen to more than at least five times. It’s okay but it sounds a little bit too….simple or something along those lines. I wonder what inspired her to write the song because she’s usually upbeat and positive.

Somehow, I thought Kuchizuke Shiyou sounded more of a happier ballad. Not that I only listen to happy songs, it just that after listening to “Nakitai Nara,” I thought that this was less gloomy. I’ve heard from other people that Hitomi’s ballads are usually bland and plain but I’ll bluntly state that “Kuchizuke Shiyou” was an exception. I thought that this was much more well written than the first track.

I think Shimatani tried a new style for her music but it turns out that the way she wrote the ballads made people want to cry. If anyone was down in the dumps and listened to the songs featured in the single, I think it would leave them feeling a bit more gloomy. Personally, I think she should stick with her uplifting and positive style.

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Artist: Hitomi Shimatani
Release Date: August 11, 2004
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 4.5/5

1. Angelus
2. Zzz…Zap…Zipangu
3. Angelus (Instrumental)
4. Zzz…Zap…Zipangu (Instrumental)
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Although this was the third single that was used to promote the album, “Tsuiokou+LOVE” which was released in 2004, it sold around 53,000 copies and peaked at 8th place on the Oricon charts. The first track, “Angelus,” was also used as the sixth and final opening theme of the popular anime, “Inuyasha.”

Angelus is probably one of the most confident j-pop song that I have ever heard! If I were to sing a song with a Jazz-like introduction, I would most likely not sing! Shimatani fans would love the upbeat and the melody of this rather “awesome” song. (Even the PV is pretty cool!) I guess the first track is already giving a great impression of the single already!

Z!Z!Z! Zzz…Zap…Zipangu was also another great upbeat song despite the complicated title! It pretty much shares the same title of one of her other songs called, “Garnet Moon.” (Which was released in the following year after “Tsuiokou+LOVE”)

After listening to the single itself, there’s only one word that would describe this modern sounding single: “Electrifying!”

Personal Rating: 4.5/5