Anna Tsuchiya delivers girl rock with a new twist.
Anna Tsuchiya released a full album entitled Black Stones, a compilation of a handful of her singles, many of which had been featured in the hit anime series "NANA." Several of the songs are entirely in English, which is certainly a plus for Western fans. However, there are still just as many tracks in Japanese for those who favor the traditional native sound, giving the CD a well rounded mix.
Kicking the CD off is the popular single Rose, which was the first opening theme for season one of "NANA". Anna Tsuchiya brings us back to good old girl rock in it's truest form - feminine, flirty, and bad ass. Rose has a strong guitar opener before throwing you into a catchy tune that will be sure to get you tapping your toes to the beat. When you add in Anna's beautiful but edgy voice and the rough rock beat, Rose gives you a perfect medium that makes the song likeable. It also fits perfectly into the theme of "NANA," making the song believable.
Featured as the third ending theme for "NANA," Kuroi Namida is an utterly gorgeous ballad. Kuroi Namida starts out with a slow guitar opening and soft vocals that hints at a boring piece, but this is most certainly not the case, and in less than a minute the composition moves from bland to solid and boisterous, which is a pleasant surprise. The chorus is particularly resonant with haunting background vocals, and you can truly feel the despair as Anna belts out the lyrics, radiating the pain behind every word and the darkness hidden in the the effects of the guitar.
The first song entirely in English is Without You, and it features fantastic pronunciation and a great lyrical message. The song starts with a screeching guitar and a hard drum beat that practically begs for a listener to headbang, and it continues on and off through the entire song, making it the roughest sound on the album. Combine the edgy arrangement with Anna Tsuchiya's raspy vocals, and you are left with a track that truly exemplifies what everyone forgets about girl rock: Girls can rock out just as hard, if not harder!
I'm Addicted to You is the second track released on the Kuroi Namida single and is another hit that throws us right into a energetic rock rhythm. Anna Tsuchiya is particularly firm in the vocals of this song, her voice transitioning gorgeously between breathing and crooning the lyrics in a way that borders on sexy. Roughly a minute before the ending, Anna fakes us out with an abrupt closing, only to jump right back into another round of the chorus before the song tapers off with a strong guitar finish.
One of the more unique songs off the album is Scream, but it's also one of the few that is harder on the ears. The song begins with shrill screams and a basic rhythm before launching into muffled lyrics that are followed with many more sharp screams. Headphone listeners beware: the screams are only filtered through the right speaker and can be a little painful if unexpected. The song is saved, however, by a strong chorus with throaty vocals and a heavy drum line.
Fictional "NANA" band Black Stones performed Zero during their concert, and it is an extremely catchy song that you can't help but want to dance around to. The song lurches into a noisy instrumental opening predominantly with the guitar and bass, but Anna Tsuchiya isn't far behind with gruff vocals that emphasize the real rock in the composition. The bass in this song is especially noteworthy and can be heard clearly outside of the chorus, making Zero another remarkable track on this album.
Take Me Out and Lucy are neatly placed in the middle and at the end of the album, becoming nice breather tracks to break up the solid rock tunes. Although they aren't as hard, they still deliver pleasant and upbeat tunes that can be listened to repeatedly without growing old.
The album also includes a live version of Rose that is of flawless quality. Between Anna's breathless vocals and the vociferous guitar and bass combination, you can't help but close your eyes and see the concert right before you, leaving this track a must hear. The TV edition of Kuroi Namida is included as well.
While this album is inspired after the anime, it's refreshing to see a compilation with such talent. Anna Tsuchiya's work with "NANA" has most certainly helped her singing career, and this album is perfect for fans of her earlier works.
