HARUHI - INSIDE OUT Album Thoughts(J-rock)

Tracklist

1. Introduction.
2. Round and Around
3. ひずみ
4. The Man Who Turned Inside Out
5. Trust Me, I Am Fine
6. Disappear
7. Nightmare
8. あたたかい光 (AL ver.)
9. Friend
10. ソラのパレード
11. BANQUET
12. Lullaby
13. Don’t Let Me Go

   I first learned of this young singer after watching "If Cats Disappear from The World". Her first single was used as the ending theme song for the film.  Her vocals are very different from anything that you will hear in Japan so I searched for her other music after viewing the film. Since then, I've kept my eye on this 18 year old's releases until Inside Out hit stores in Japan.

  Haruhi was born in California making her American by birth right. You should already know that her music will not be like what Japan is used to hearing. In fact, the album's lyrics were mostly written in English except for about two tracks. Someone made sure that they had complete control over what songs would be included on Inside Out. *cough* *cough* That would be HARUHI herself *cough* *cough*. Inside out's music is alternative rock for the main part. Its shocking how a teenage has more artistic musical direction than the artists that have been in the business for years in Japan. Alternative rock stems at the core of the album's tracks while Haruhi puts pen to paper to create haunting songs for listeners. Lyrics defiantly touch the emo style of writing in sync with her emotional depth as a performer. The band that supports Haruhi's talent play their instruments using precise precision. On one track the guitar will lay in await just playing above a whisper until the time is right to shine during a guitar solo. Piano adds that touch of emotion needed to bring out Haruhi's vocal tone even more too. She branches out to different musical styles while using a core folk sound. for example, She experience with a pop tech on sound on Nightmare that match with the pop culture thats currently popular in the Japanese music industry. There's no doubting that Inside Out is a very emotional album based on lyrics. Her Japanese songs give that same dark feeling that wants to make you cry. Inside out was the result of a singer that made an album that she had the desire to make. Some radio friendly tracks such as Banquet are nestled deep within the album but this album felt like a large journal entry to herself. Japanese people might not full understand passed the fact that the songs are in English, so they like it even if they don't speak the language. English speakers will however, either feel moved by her honesty or be turned off because this isn't the same generic music that hits the top of the on a daily basis.(Not saying that everything that's popular is bad but some of those idol groups though……)

  Haruhi's voice does not sound like it came from an eighteen year old girl. Try more like a thirty year old woman... She sings in a very versatile way that's beyond her years.  Think American artists such as Tegan and Sara mets P!nk. I caught those vocal runs she was singing in the beginning of tracks like Round and Round. She got some soul somewhere deep down in her and I'm here for it. She has a big voice that's for sure. I like the tremble in her voice that comes out after she sings certain notes as well. It's very unscripted and raw.


   Inside Out is an album that I would recommend to my friends that enjoy listening to Japanese music. Its the kind of record that you could play over and over again because she's a new breath of fresh air. I can't wait to see more of her progress as a musician in the near future. If she's this good now, imagine how good she will be when she actual turns thirty.[INSERT ME LAUGHING!]