[Chihiro Onitsuka] Hotel Murderess of Arizona My Gun Thread -2nd Thread-

[Kacku]

Chihiro will perform on Fuji TV's FNS Kayousai on December 2nd!

(Credit for the image to KarenPang!)

[Yoake]

Thanks for the preview. Damn, the previews of SUBURBIA are really too short >.<

The album seems nice but nothing really caught my attention. Like something that could sound differently from her past releases.
I'm waiting the full thing to have a proper view.

[Kacku]

A little news round-up:

Interviews Chihiro and HYSTERIA producer Shuu Kanematsu did to promote the album: Natalie, Flying Postman, Mikiki (Interviews with Oni and Kanematsu)

WOWOW is doing a Chihiro special on January 10th! They are airing her three most recent concerts: Syndrome at 5:30 PM JST, BEEKEEPER at 7 PM, and UNHESITATE at 8:30 PM. I hope someone will record and share these, especially UNHESITATE!

Speaking of UNHESITATE, a concert report with some lovely photos was posted on Chihiro's official site! And here's the setlist:

Spoiler:

1. BORDERLINE
2. End of the world
3. Tiger in my Love
4. Beautiful Fighter
5. イノセンス (Innocence)
6. 私とワルツを (Watashi to Waltz wo)
7. 流星群 (Ryuuseigun)
8. ダイニングチキン (Dining Chicken)
9. EVER AFTER
10. 悲しみの気球 (Kanashimi no Kikyuu)
11. 火の鳥 (Hi no Tori)
12. MAGICAL WORLD
13. CROW
14. 蛍 (Hotaru)
15. 書きかけの手紙 (Kakikake no Tegami)
16. 月光 (Gekkou)
17. 嵐ヶ丘 (Arashigaoka)

And finally, HYSTERIA hasn't been out for three days and Chihiro already has a new song coming up! スロウダンス (Slow Dance), produced by Masayuki Sakamoto (of DOROTHY and Hinagiku fame), is the theme song for Pornographer ~Playback~, a movie entry in the Pornographer franchise to which Chihiro has contributed the songs Twilight Dreams and End of the world. The movie will be coming out on February 26th 2021, no release date for Slow Dance so far.

-----

With all that out of the way: how are we liking HYSTERIA?

I've been playing the album a lot for the past few days and I'm happy to say it met my expectations! I think these songs turned out more distinct and memorable than a lot of Syndrome (which, in hindsight, had a few too many songs that sounded overworked and too similar). The production and mixing on this album is fantastic and I feel like the whole album flows really well.

My highlights are Yakeru Kawa (still amazing), Dawn of my faith (so delicate and beautiful), swallow the ocean (softly sorrowful), UNCRIMINAL (chilling, perfect), End of the world (still nostalgic, melancholic, and lovely) and my new big favorite, Boys don't cry (so warm and inviting, perfectly crafted, I just found it so touching, I was close to tears listening to it for the first time). I don't think any of the songs are really weak links, the rest just have some aspects that I think could be better: Fairytale and Neon Tetra no Hashikatachi sound great but I think both have their more interesting melodies in the verses rather than the chorus, which is a bit of a problem for me; Aoi Haru also sounds fantastic but I think I'd like a little more energy, fierceness, rock attitude in Chihiro's delivery. Overall, I think this album is really solid and great, I think I'd put it in my top 3 Chihiro albums (along with Insomnia and TRICKY SISTERS MAGIC BURGER).

[axmish87]

I have been listening to the album religiously since its release and I have to admit that I really liked it. The first two songs she used as digital singles 憂鬱な太陽 退屈な月 and 焼ける川 (Yakeru Kawa) were a good choice , I loved them both, but in all honesty I tend to lean more towards 焼ける川 it just sounds more grandiose.

swallow the ocean , UNCRIMINAL grabbed my attention immediately while also reducing me to tears, those two titles are pure catharsis.
I agree with the opinions Kacku stated in the post above , although I have no issues with her delivery of verses and choruses in Aoi Haru, because the mood it sets is not like the one in "X" for example , but , more subtle and nuanced.

End of the World is a good song but having it for a second time on an album is a bit much. I get why it is there, because of the flow and concept and maybe because they want to remind people of it since it's relatively recent and the TV series where the song was featured in is now getting a movie... this is like a small gripe that I have towards it nothing major.

In other words , I am really enjoying this album

As for the tour setlist it seems that it is a usual fare for Chihiro.
None are the songs from the album on the setlist, but hey Arashigaoka is there so I am glad. Hopefully , they will include the video footage from the concert on a subsequent release.

[Kacku]

I'm glad you're also enjoying the album, axmish!

I don't have major issues with Aoi Haru either and, having read a translation of the lyrics, I feel like her singing style fits well with the song's message. It's still not my favourite song, but maybe it'll grow on me!

I don't have issues with End of the world being on the album either, but that's easy for me to say since I haven't gotten the best-of it was also on lol. I like that it's on HYSTERIA, it fits so well in the album's flow, it's a perfect bridge between UNCRIMINAL and Boys Don't Cry. I feel like the major reason it's on the album is that it was the first Oni song produced by Shuu Kanematsu and they felt like it would be appropriate to also include it on this album.

(By the way, having mentioned the lyrics, someone has already translated the full album! I listened to the album while reading the lyrics today, it was a good experience, the lyrics deepened my appreciation for pretty much every song. Yuu'utsu na Taiyou Taikutsu na Tsuki, Fairytale, Dawn of my faith and Boys Don't Cry were particular standouts for me.)

I just paid my custom taxes for a CD shipment including this album (collector's edition) today, can't wait to get it in my hands, I hope it gets here by the end of the week.

I'm not surprised that no HYSTERIA songs are on the setlist as both concerts were held before the album was released. I hope they pop up in future concerts! But agreed, otherwise it seems pretty standard fare. Dining Chicken is one song I was surprised and very happy to see, it's such a beautiful song. I was also happy to see Hi no Tori, it's truly one of my all-time favourites from Chihiro, I hope she keeps performing it often.

[Ashen Twilight]

Really enjoyed this album as well as Syndrome, but can someone explain to me why TRICKY SISTERS MAGUC BURGRR seems popular around here? I don’t understand why.

[Toniayu123]

Originally Posted by Ashen Twilight

can someone explain to me why TRICKY SISTERS MAGUC BURGRR seems popular around here? I don’t understand why.

Because it is one of the best albums ever made. Period. Lol I don’t know, different people different tastes I guess. I’m a casual Chihiro’s listener but that album is just one of my all time favorites. Musically sounds old school and fresh at the same time, kinda 80s which I love. Lyrically just hit for me somehow. And well I love the way she sounds on it, kinda robotic kinda dramatic, idk it’s just awesome.

I’ll give the new one a try when I have time.

[Kacku]

Originally Posted by Ashen Twilight

Really enjoyed this album as well as Syndrome, but can someone explain to me why TRICKY SISTERS MAGUC BURGRR seems popular around here? I don’t understand why.

Because it's a great album...? For all that Chihiro's voice was rough during that period, as a performer she is good, sometimes great, on the album, and the composition work and arrangements are fantastic (I want to say the mixing/mastering is good too; the Spotify version has some strange issues but my own rip sounds good).

The stretch of songs from Lady Time Machine Blues to Inori ga Kotoba ni Kawaru Koro is imo the best sequence of songs on any of her studio albums. Those songs are all outstanding, the variety is lovely, and the flow is perfect (I kinda want to say the album is great from the very beginning, ROAD OF HONESTY would be the only small dip and I've come to love that song a lot too). The album does a really good job of marrying Chihiro's classic style with the different rock influences (the rootsy vibes of ROAD OF HONESTY and MAD MAN, the trashier new-wavey (?) Lady Time Machine Blues and Anata to SciencE), this is not like DOROTHY where a classic Chihiro album gets occasionally interrupted by whole different record.

The only low point for me is Anata to SciencE, and even that is just harmless fun. Some of these songs (I'm with your shadow, Your Quiet Fantasia, PSYCHO LADY'S RAIN, The end of the flame of my eyes) are so her, they deserve to be classics in her catalogue (but she seems to be determined to doom these songs to side project zone).

I think this album is also a great proof of Chihiro's talent and artistry: at the time her voice and public image were kinda in the gutters, she was operating independently in the industry for the first time (as far as I know), and she seemed to be going through heavy things in her personal life (not for the first time either), and in the middle of all that, she made this album that, at the core, under the BILLY'S SANDWICHES moniker and the public persona, is so quintessentially her and, in my opinion, really high-quality work.

Sorry for the wall of text, I apparently just have a lot of feelings about this album.

[Ashen Twilight]

Thanks for the thoughtful responses both of you! That was a joy to read. I think I was just so turned off by Anata to SciencE when it was released that it just soured my entire thought of the album haha. That song, the intro, and The end of the flame of my eyes just don't click for me, but the other tracks are nice. I need to just give it more of a listen I think as after Ken to Kaede was released I haven't been on top of Chihiro's releases as much as I should be. HYSTERIA is actually what brought me back in.

Speaking of that album, I do have to say Boys Don't Cry is my fave. I really enjoy her more country/folk tracks like We Can Go and Storyteller, so this is right up my alley. That record is just magical with its instrumentation and the male BG vocals are <3.

[Kacku]

I'm glad you liked our responses!

I think it's understandable that people were initially put off by Anata to SciencE and the whole era. I was looking back on things from those years, I'd forgotten just how jarring the changes (in her voice, in her style, in her published images) were, so although it's a shame, it's no wonder fans' expectations were soured even before the album had a proper chance to make its own impression. But it's awesome that you're open to giving the album another chance!

I'm happy to hear you enjoyed HYSTERIA! Boys Don't Cry is a huge favorite of mine too, it's just so beautifully composed and performed.

_____

Chihiro appeared on FNS Kayousai today and performed infection! I was watching a stream of the show and her performance made my heart so full, she completely NAILED the song! I haven't seen the performance uploaded anywhere unfortunately, but it's worth seeing if you can find a way!

Here's a picture of Chihiro and the band on set:

[Kacku]

KarenPang shared the video of Chihiro's infection performance, huge thanks to her! You can download it here (link should be active until the end of this month):

Chihiro Onitsuka - infection (FNS Kayousai 02.12.2020)

Also, I got my copy of HYSTERIA today! The whole package is SO GORGEOUS, exactly what the covers promised! You can check out the photo album I uploaded here:

HYSTERIA pictures album

EDIT: I finally remembered to check Oricon for the first week's sales: HYSTERIA placed at #25 on the physical albums chart with reported sales on 3695 copies, and at #30 on the combined albums chart with 4089 points. Deserved more tbh!!

[Yoake]

I think I'm not the only one who aren't fond of HYSTERIA. It's a good album but none song stays in my mind. If End of the world wasn't so "old", It would be the only song I love. As it was released on her best album I don't feel like it's a real part of HYSTERIA.

[Kacku]

Chihiro appeared last night on NHK's The Covers Fes! She performed a cover version of Akina Nakamori's Kazari ja nai no yo Namida wa and her own Yakeru Kawa (thanks to KarenPang for the videos! The links are active for a month).

Her next single, スロウダンス (Slow Dance), now has a release date on February 24th! The covers and tracklist are out as well. The single will be released in a regular CD edition and a "Pornographer Trilogy Collector's Edition" with a second CD containing select tracks from the drama series and movie's soundtracks.

Regular edition cover:


Collector's edition cover:


Tracklist:
1.スロウダンス (Slow Dance)
2.End of the world
3.Twilight Dreams
4.スロウダンス（instrumental）
5.End of the world（instrumental）
6.Twilight Dreams（instrumental）

Regular edition bonus Tracks:
07. End of the world (Live at Bunkamura Orchard Hall on November 17, 2020)
08. Twilight Dreams (Live at Fukuoka International Congress Center on August 20, 2018)

[Kacku]

WOWOW's Chihiro concert marathon aired yesterday, here's a link to watch UNHESITATE on bilibili (thanks again to KarenPang!):

Chihiro Onitsuka - Concert Tour "UNHESITATE" (2020.11.17. Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo)

[Kacku]

Slow Dance is out today! Such a gorgeous, lovely, warm ballad.

[Kacku]

LIVING WITH A GHOST, a live DVD/Blu-ray of November's UNHESITATE concert at Tokyo Bunkamura Orchard Hall, coming on May 26th.

Spoiler:

1. BORDERLINE
2. End of the world
3. Tiger in my Love
4. Beautiful Fighter
5. イノセンス (Innocence)
6. 私とワルツを (Watashi to Waltz wo)
7. 流星群 (Ryuuseigun)
8. ダイニングチキン (Dining Chicken)
9. EVER AFTER
10. 悲しみの気球 (Kanashimi no Kikyuu)
11. 火の鳥 (Hi no Tori)
12. MAGICAL WORLD
13. CROW
14. 蛍 (Hotaru)
15. 書きかけの手紙 (Kakikake no Tegami)
16. 月光 (Gekkou)
17. 嵐ヶ丘 (Arashigaoka)

[XFER]

I listened to HYSTERIA recently, and I am with Yoake, the album is fine, but no song jumps at me. They're all... fine and that's it.

[barisuta53]

I don’t know if anyone knew this, but Insomnia and This Armor as well as a load of singles are now on Apple Music. Hallelujah.