Chatmonchy Kokuhaku Album Review

So I finally have gotten myself to stop listening to Perfume and am trying to catch up to a lot of music releases I have missed over the past few months. While catching up, I also decided to review these albums as well using a song by song break down format, rather than my old way of just commenting on the album as a whole. So here is my first review in this format.

Chatmonchy - Kokuhaku

Release Date: March 4, 2009
Genre: Rock
Language: Japanese

Track Listing

1.	8cm no Pin Hiiru
2.	Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira (Album Mix)
3.	Umi Kara Deta Sakana
4.	Somaru Yo
5.	CAT WALK
6.	Yodan
7.	Haibisukasu wa Fuyu ni Saku
8.	Aimai na Kanjou
9.	Negai Metemite
10.	LOVE is SOUP
11.	Kaze Fukeba Koi
12.	Last Love Letter (Album Mix)
13.	Yasashisa

1. 8cm no Pin Hiiru

A good song to start the album off with. I love the pacing, vocals, and instrumentals(especially the fact that throughout the song Akiko plays a very strong bass line). It's not a overly energetic or frantic song, but there's enough going on to make it a fun song to listen to.

2. Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira (Album Mix)

I think this is a good song. Eriko does a decent job in the vocal department of song, and am somewhat impressed by her "one take" vocals on the chorus. Granted you can sort of tell she is stressing a little to get that accomplished. Pretty much I think the fast one take vocals are what make me like this song so much. So yeah, overall this is a good energetic rock song.

3. Umi Kara Deta Sakana

The opening instrumentals on this track are pretty cool, but everything after that is not as interesting and memorable. Interesting guitar solo by Eriko though.

4. Somaru Yo

Personally I just couldn't sit through this song . . . I'm 100% serious O_o . . . It just doesn't work for me on so many levels.

5. CAT WALK

Here we have another slow ballad song. I am not really a fan of slow ballad songs, but the build ups in the chorus kind of help if anything. I mean it's a decent song, it's just a lot of the beginning just doesn't appeal to me.

6. Yodan

Here we have another fast paced song after the two slower previous songs. The instrumentals are somewhat interesting, the song overall just doesn't quite stick with me for some reason. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there just isn't enough here to get me hooked.

7. Haibisukasu wa Fuyu ni Saku

I absolutely love the vibe of this song. Here the band decides to go with a more acoustic mellow style. It's just a cheerful, happy vibe that I enjoy. I find the guitar on this track to very catchy and I love how it goes well with the vocals in the verses. The bridge and the chorus could use a little more work though, they partially ruin the magic that's in the verses

8. Aimai na Kanjou

It has a good base line, and the vocals are pretty good. I just think this song is way too slow for my liking. I mean it's not bad because the pacing of the instruments and vocals work well together. I'm just not a fan of slow songs as mentioned earlier.

9. Negai Metemite

For some reason Eriko felt like using a deeper voice for this song. It's a nice pop/rock almost somewhat funk instrumental, but the vocals and lyrics could use a little more work. However, it does pick up around the bridge and gets a little better. Pretty much everything after the bridge is where it's at for this song.

10. LOVE is SOUP

What the hell O_o? This is a very simple and cute sounding song that has a vibe that almost harkens to music of the 20s, 30s, and 40s. Also I wish I understood Japanese, because I would really like to know what the hell kind of lyrics they could have wrote to go with such a strange chorus as "love is soup". Honestly this song is a bit too out of place for me to get into O_o . . .

11. Kaze Fukeba Koi

After that last track, here Chatmonchy go back to a more energetic and frenzied song. It has a great fast paced instrumentals and the vocals do well keeping up with the fast pace. The chorus of this track is very catchy and overall adds to why this is a good song. I like this one a lot ^_^!

12. Last Love Letter (Album Mix)

This is another great song on the album. This is another somewhat energetic rock song style song. While the verses are a little weak, I feel the chorus and the instrumentals make this a solid effort from the band. Personally I think this is the best overall song on this album.

13. Yasashisa

Here the band has chosen to end the album with another slow paced song. It's not quite a balled and the drums on this track sound almost like a marching drum in places. It sort of gets better towards the end, as it seems Eriko builds more emotion in singing towards the end. However, I can't really say this is a song that has much memorability for me.

Tracks I Recommend

- Last Love Letter (Album Mix)

- 8cm no Pin Hiiru

- Haibisukasu wa Fuyu ni Saku

- Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira (Album Mix)

- Kaze Fukeba Koi

Overall I felt this album is somewhat hit and miss. There are some songs they do well and some that leave a lot to be desired. I guess it really depends on your interests to see what here works for you. It has a good start and is good towards the end, but I'm pretty sure I could do without a lot of the songs in the middle.