Discography: Nomad Soul

01 Toraianguru [Triangle] (Words+Music+Arrange: Gen Ueda)
02 Onshoku Nanairo (Words: HUSSY_R Music+Arrange: Kou Mamiya)
03 Sen no Yoru to Sen no Hiru (Words+Music+Arrange: Gen Ueda)
04 Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi (Words+Music: Sadayoshi Okamoto Arrange: Takefumi Haketa)
05 Hisui (Words: HUSSY_R Music: TANATONOTE Arrange: Takefumi Haketa)
06 Ôrora [Aurora] no Sora kara Mitsumeteiru (Words: HUSSY_R Music+Arrange: Masayoshi Yamazaki)
07 Kono Machi (Words: HUSSY_R Music: Kou Mamiya Arrange: Takefumi Haketa)
08 Getsurei 17.4 (Words+Music+Arrange: Gen Ueda)
09 Yuri Korekushon [Collection] (Words+Music: Agata Morio Arrange: LionMerry)
10 Uruga no Oka (Words+Music: Yumi Matsutoya Arrange: Gen Ueda)
Epic Records Japan
Released: September 3, 2003
Catalog Number: ESCL-10001-2 (limited edition)
Barcode: 4988010006877
Note: This is a hybird disc which is playable on hi-fidelity SACD players and normal CD players. The limited edition comes in a triple gatefold digipac and a bonus R2 DVD with two of her promotion videos “Kono Machi” and “Sen no Yoru to Sen no Hiru” on it. I haven’t tested the disc on my Mac yet (I dubbed it to an MD along with three of her recent singles) so I’m unsure if it can or cannot be ripped to your computer.

Discography: Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi

01 Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi (Words+Music: Sadayoshi Okamoto Arrange: Takefumi Haketa)
02 Sanpo no Susume (Words: HUSSY_R Music+Arrange: Kou Mamiya)
Epic Records Japan
Released: August 13, 2003
Catalog Number: ESCL-2411
Barcode: 4988010006709
Note: This is a COPY CONTROL CD (CCCD) that uses Sony’s Label Gate technology.

Report on Chitose’s latest album “Nomad Soul”

Let me first apologize for taking so long to post this entry after mentioning it about 2 weeks ago! After listening to the album almost everyday (I mixed the album on an MD with her 3 most recent singles), I’ve come to like it very much. At first, I couldn’t help but compare it to her first album, “Hainumi Kaze”, and thought that it was much weaker and shorter than her major label debut. Now, after giving it a good listen, I think it’s just as good or even better than it.

Similarities between the two:

• Both contain 10 tracks.
• Both are under 60m with “Hainumi Kaze” clocking in at 45m30s, and “Nomad Soul” coming in about a minute less at 44m29s.
• Both feature the same principle songwriters: Kou Mamiya, Gen Ueda, HUSSY_R, and Masayoshi Yamazaki.

Differences between the two:

• “Nomad Soul” was released in two formats: limited edition triple gatefold digipac with a DVD bonus disc and a regular edition in a jewel case, while “Hainumi Kaze” was released in a single format. In addition to that, “Nomad Soul” is the first release from Sony Records to use its Hybrid technology which bridges the hi-fidelity sound of SACDs and makes it playable on a regular CD player as well.
• In “Hainumi Kaze”, Eric Mouquet of Deep Forest was a featured songwriter, while “Nomad Soul” features J-pop legend Yumi Matsutoya.
• There were two singles (“Wadatsumi no Ki” and “Kimi o Omou”) released before “Hainumi Kaze” was released, while “Nomad Soul” had three — “Kono Machi”, “Sen no Yoru to Sen no Hiru”, and “Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi”.
• Chitose helped pen two songs (“Sango Jûgoya” and “Kimi o Omou”) for “Hainumi Kaze”, and while she didn’t uncap her pen for any songs on “Nomad Soul”, she did play shamisen on the intro to “Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi”.

Every song on both albums can stand on their own, and that definitely makes up for the rather small total track time (about 45m for each album). My favorite tracks from “Nomad Soul” (so far) are: “Onshoku Nanairo” (which sounds like something you’d hear from a J-rock band), “Getsurei 17.4” (a mid-tempo song filled with lots of groove), and “Yuri Korekushon” (a nice folksy tune). Of course, I love the three singles too and “Kono Machi” is turning into my favorite song of hers.

Detailed album information to follow…

Arrived in the mail today

I thought it would take several days to reach me, but two days is all it took for the CDs to arrive from Japan to my doorstep here in Hawaii! I’m so happy! I’ll have a full report on the limited edition album “Nomad Soul” and the single “Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi” when time (hopefully) opens up this weekend. Kudos to CD Japan for their great service, competitive pricing, and fast shipping.

On the way

My Chitose CDs (the limited edition “Nomad Soul” and the CD single “Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi”) are in the mail and I should be receiving them by next Wednesday (hopefully sooner tho’). I’ll have a complete review of the two discs as well as attempt to catch up on some old stuff before then. :)