Saturday, January 17, 2009

Honor of the Otaku-Sama


Written by: Chidori Assassin

"Otaku" is a word that traditionally means "for another's house or family" in an honorific way. Today, the term describes those with an obssession for certain hobbies such as anime. While the title of Lecca's fourth album might be meant for an honorable title, Otakus of this artist will flock to this album in their whim. Will new there be new Otakus lining up for this J-Reggae/Dancehall singer? That remains to be seen.

"Outsider" opens the listener's ears to Lecca's fluid, brisk style of lyric delivery. Voice strengh and clarity do not compromise for lesser vocals throughout. Lecca's hearty voice is what defines this album. "スタートライン (Starting Line)" is clean, displaying Lecca's talents for voice adjustments. "A~I!" is a festive song that may not appeal to all, done expertly regardless. The next two tracks show expertise in overall singing ability with healthy melodies.

"呼んでマイネーム (Say My Name)" is questionable, ripping off lyrics from a garbage American song and group called "Dunce's Child." Tsugumi's (Soulhead) rapping and Lecca's MC skills are doubtable in Track 7. The duo recover using rapid execution and Tsugumi's complimentary parts. "Otaku Girls no Utage" is energetic, a tad short at the end. The next few tracks show Lecca's singing ability with consistency.

"I Wish" sports robust vocals, rich for any mid-tempo song or ballad, utlizing Lecca's array of rapid lyrics. "Goddess of a Mountain" benefits from drum play, setting the mood and pacing. "Dreamland" ends the album, presenting a feel of Jamaica, convincing due to Lecca's crooning and accent. What seperates this album from most is the prescence Lecca commands from start to finish.

Overall, this album is a dark horse, more likely overlooked and underrated. While J-Reggae is not as popular to many, there is no reason not to try this album. More popular artists like Minmi do not compare, as Lecca is a class of her own in terms of versatility for this genre.

Rating: 8/10
Recommended Track(s) - "Outsider," "Otaku Girls no Utage," "Goddess of a Mountain," "I Wish"

Credits to GhostShell@Z-Degrees.net

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