album of the week: 6.2

チリヌルヲワカ
Analog
(2013)

why you'll love it:  Strong vocals, fun riffs, lots of range for a basic rock band
why you'll hate it:  Not a lot done to create a standout sound.

Of all the random stuff from Japan I review here, only one has ever been my album of the year.  That was GO!GO!7188's 2010 swan song, Go!!GO!GO!Go!!.  In the wake of their departure, Yumi Nakashima (guitar) has kicked her side project band into full gear.

As happy I am to hear Yuu's powerful voice sour over guitar rock some more, チリヌルヲワカ has much less character than the surf-punk inspired GO!GO!.  The band's sound stays in a nebulous place, never truly planting a firm step into surf, punk, or garage rock.  If anything, what shapes the band's personality is a traditional Japanese influence in a few of their riffs, and general aesthetic.  Even that aspect isn't leaned into heavily enough to solely define them.

Lack of a truly unique approach is the one thing really holding this band back.  As with their other releases, most of the songs on this EP rock.  Speedy riff driven songs, like the first two tracks are exciting and fun.  Yuu has the kind of range in her voice to bring sincerity and legitimacy to a melody, and switch right along with the beat into a bubbly bouncy chorus.  She does her best to carry the 2 or 3 ballad style tracks on here as well, but these songs tend to struggle the most without the kind of swing and swagger her cohorts in GO!GO! had.

チリヌルヲワカ seems like it's here to stay, and I'm ok with that.  I just wish they did more to justify my reputation driven praise.