Kita ze Inbou! - キタぜ陰謀!

If you know me, you know I’m a huge Lucky☆Star fanatic. From April 8, I spent twenty-four Sundays drawn to Kyoto Animation’s next big thing. Unfortunately, it was a bit too great for me that I neglected to even blog it so my goal for this coming October is to finally express in about six or so entries my impressions on the series episode by episode. Of course being a huge ‘tard I also have to listen to the CDs, read the 4koma, etc. For now though, I’d like to review the first 8 Character CDs featuring the girls of Lucky☆Star!

First up is Kona-chan! m(-ω-)m

So this is how the CD covers will look huh? Spiffy colors, background effects, oh and a nice disco pose thinger. KyoAni must love that pose. Why, it’s even the last pose in Hare Hare Yukai. Anyhoo, on to the songs…

どんだけファンファーレ (Dondake Fanfare)

Well all I gotta say this is the perfect tune for Konata. I was quite overwhelmed with this one, especially since it was the first song of the many character songs I would be listening to. From the parts I followed, the lyrics really match Konata. Talk about her lifestyle in the otaku world. Aya did a fine job here. The music composition is so stunning that I’d listen to it with no vocals on. Must be me being a sucker to those kind of digital effects.
Score: 9.0/10.0

Dドライヴ/ラヴ (D Drive/Love)

It’s hard to say. From the title, it seems the song is about Konata loving her d drive full of anime images and most likely NSFW images as well. I thought it was pretty bland though, nothing really standing out and I suppose not my kind of flavor. Compared to her first track, this is practically forgettable.
Score: 5.0/10.0

loading_konata_speaking

Now this is just hilarious. I like how the track is given the effect that makes it sound like messed up recording. Plus I think Konata’s dialogue through that made it much, much funnier. Saikin wa atsui desu neeeeeeeeeeeee—-
Score: 4.0/5.0

Comments
Nothing totally wrong with the CD (seriously, I think Dondake Fanfare could be one of the best of the LS songs) but I think it could do better.

Overall: 7.2/10.0

Kagamin time! Sweet choudai, I’m loving that look she’s giving.

ケンカ予報の時間だよ (Kenka Yohou no Jikan dayo)

Well, I have to admit, the first run I thought it wasn’t so great, but I started to like it a tiny bit more after I listened to it again. Katou Emiri’s voice is pretty strong here and I do like how she keeps her Kagami tone in the song although it makes for some awkward parts. The chorus is probably the only thing that sounds normal but even then, I can’t say it makes an extremely good song. In the end, I was still a bit disappointed and think she deserved a better A-track.
Score: 7.5/10.0

100%？ナイナイナイ (100% nai nai nai)

Ah yes, this totally made up for the first song. Good pace, good tune, and Katou’s voice is just brilliant throughout the whole thing. Actually, this totally contrasts Kenka Yohou no Jikan dayo. It’s like that was tsuntsun and this is deredere. Makes sense to me. But anyways, overall, a great song.
Score: 8.0/10.0

I’m sorry by kagami

It sounded very odd and plain right until “tsundere ni” keeps repeating (then it just gets weirder). I’m definitely sure there could be much more input with this, even though it’s not even a song.
Score: 2.5/5.0

Comments
I myself feel a bit sorry for Kagami because I think her CD was really “meh” worthy compared to the rest. They weren’t the best of songs and they weren’t so bad either but I just expected more from Kagamin’s.

Overall: 7.2/10.0

And now let’s see how her twin sister fairs…

寝・逃・げでリセット！ (Ne Ni ge de Reset!)

Finally, I can hear Kaori’s magnificently adorable voice without anyone else in the background, and I love it. This is a really cute song which fits Tsukasa like a glove. That effect they put in her voice makes it better IMO. Definitely an awesome listen.
Score: 10.0/10.0

しすたー・うぉーず (Sister Wars)

Just from the title alone, I could tell it was gonna be an interesting song. My guess is it’s not just Kagami she’s talking about but her two other older sisters. Must be great to be the youngest eh, Tsukasa? I love how the beginning starts with a certain piano tune. It’s another well paced song and Kaori once again delivers a great performance.
Score: 8.0/10.0

yume-tsukasa-night-loopin’

Very cute track here. It’s mostly just Tsukasa repeating “yume” and “goodnight” over and over but still cute. And you do get to hear a bit of Kaori in the background similar to Kagami’s uh… whatever you call the 3rd track.
Score: 3.0/5.0

Comments
Definitely the best of the CDs featuring the first four girls. Her first and second track didn’t have a big gap between them in terms of my likability. They both sounded awesome and overall worth listening to again and again.

Overall: 8.4/10.0

Next up, the one and only Miyuki, aka Wikipedia.

萌え要素ってなんですか？ (Moe Yousotte nan desu ka?)

A very cutesy beat that sounds like something from 80’s or older… I think. Anyways, I knew it. Endou Aya can sing better than karaoke! I don’t think it’s a really bad song but I can’t really find anything really outstanding about it either besides what the song is about.
Score: 6.0/10.0

たぶんかなり普通の休日 (Tabun Kanari Futsuu no Kyuujitsu)

To put it simply, if I ever attempt to remember how this song sounds like, I wouldn’t remember it. It’s a bit too slow for me and bland; nothing really special.
Score: 5.0/10.0

Rhyme of miyuki continued

Pretty much the same as her 2nd track though probably a lot worse because it sounds out of place. Although the “megane” repeat part caught me off guard.
Score: 2.0/5.0

Comments
I’d be lying if I said I was expecting Miyuki’s CD to be excellent. In fact, this is probably how I imagined it would be, unfortunately.

Overall: 5.2/10.0

The four girls are done, now it’s on to the new girls!

みにまむテンポ (Minimum Tempo)

Well this is a rather interesting tune. I couldn’t help but think “jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock” at first. I love Hasegawa Shizuka for her voice as Yutaka, but I don’t think it works in song, not like this anyway. Another one that was quite slow.
Score: 4.5/10.0

たとえばピンクとブルーでも (Tatoeba Pink to Blue Demo)

Well it was slightly better than the last one, but that’s all that it was. It’s a faster song, yes, but just doesn’t grab my attention, not even with “sweet sweet sweet daijoubu” or “shake shake shake” or whatever cute stuff she says.
Score: 5.0/10.0

i-Free Tempo U-taka apartmentronik

Ironically I think this is probably Yutaka’s best track. It’s catchy and captures Yutaka’s adorableness better here.
Score: 3.0/5.0

Comments
I expected Yutaka to be better than at least Miyuki. Funny, it turns out I didn’t think so after I heard it. As a matter of fact, she’s listed as the least best.

Overall: 5.0/10.0

Here we go now with… Minami-chan!

黙っと休み時間 (Damatto Yasumi Jikan)

Ah, it’s Minori’s lovely singing voice. It’s a shame though because I really felt nothing in this song and it got me drowsy.
Score: 5.5/10.0

透明リボン (Toumei Ribbon)

Now this is better. Even though this sounds different from what how Minori’s songs are, I can faintly hear the “crystal” effects in the song. It’s pretty mellow of a song but I suppose it’s worth listening to at some point, just not all the time.
Score: 6.5/10.0

mokutt minami growing

I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of “mukutt.” Anyone wanna fill me in? Anyways, I thought this was a rather great track. I love the jazzy tune, like Minami’s in one of those breweries performing. Does that make sense? I really do like the instruments playing the entire time though.
Score: 3.5/5.0

Comments
Hate to say it, but this CD was also lacking something. Maybe it’s because Chihara Minori’s Yuki Character CD was just so much better that I had to have this CD meet its standards. In the end, none of the two songs can beat Yuki, Muon, Madobe Nite..

Overall: 6.2/10.0

Is all hope lost for the new girls? Hiyorin, make us proud!

も、妄想マシーン。 (Mo, Mousou Machine.)

Dear lord, this is an awesome song. Thank you!! I think Ms. Shimizu Kaori just earned another fan. Her voice is quite strong and delivers it exceptionally good. I think the song fits her. If I’m hearing right, it’s kinda related to her delusions and fantasies that keeps popping up in her head, mostly just her dirty thoughts I suppose. But, whatever, the important thing is, this song is freakin’ awesome.
Score: 10.0/10.0

デフォルト女子高生にゃん (Default Joshikousei Nyan)

I know it’s not just me. She’s definitely repeating “yuri” a lot. There’s a reason for that I presume? Jokes aside, it’s another perfect track. Shimizu Kaori pulls it off once again. Though, I kinda wonder, what’s with the “nyan” part?
Score: 8.5/10.0

he_yo_reason&mechanique

A very interesting little tune if I do say so myself. You know, after much thought, everyone’s getting a little tune thing as their 3rd track. The only one that doesn’t is Konata’s. Maybe it’s better they don’t, who knows? I felt this was okay, not as great as her two kickass tunes.
Score: 3.0/5.0

Comments
I really didn’t think anything about Hiyori’s CD, but that suddenly changed after I heard it. She’s my favorite girl out of the new four so I’m really glad she got an excellent CD. Actually, this was the first of the new CDs I listened to so I’m also glad for that too.

Overall: 8.2/10.0

Last but not least, our very own gai(koku)jin, Patricia Martin desu!

こすぷれノこころえ (Cosplay no Kokoroe)

A very lovely tune from Sasaki-san. Oh, lemme guess. It’s about the the cosplay café huh? Making sure to treat your master good and all that? She really loves this culture huh? But then again, I think any gaijin would. I think what REALLY got me was this part:

Hare Hare de Hare Hare de
Pare Pare de Pare Pare de
Motteke de Motteke de
Kaeshite yo Kaeshite yo

I quickly picked this up right away. The first two are obviously from Hare Hare Yukai and Saikyo Pare Parade, both songs from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and the last two referring to Motteke! Sailor Fuku and Kaeshite! Knee Socks, both from the Motteke! Sailor Fuku single. Actually if you listen closely, you can hear Patti mention them in the background when she gets to that part.
Score: 8.5/10.0

最大聖地カーニバル (Saidai Seichi Carnival)

Wow, just wow. As expected, they really want to dish out the fact that Patti is a hardcore gaijin, but this was more extraordinary than I conceived. Her lyrics sums it up very nicely. Basically, the otaku mecca Akihabara, the holy land for anime/manga/games/everything. It’s no surprise she would label it a sanctuary. Hell, if I get to go to Japan, Akiba is the first place I want to visit. The chorus is very catchy and cute, you can just sing along with her the desires of that every foreigner aches when it comes to visiting Japan. After this song, I have much more love for Sasaki Nozomi and especially her character Patti.
Score: 10.0/10.0

pa pa pa pa patti

Another crazy tune with more of Patti’s hobbies. I laughed so much when she suddenly said something like “broadway!” and right after she reiterated how Akiba is the best. I’m starting to like Nozomi’s voice even more now. I think what really sealed the deal for this track was the MIKURU BIIMU~!! Nice one, Patti.
Score: 5.0/5.0

Comments
I had no doubt Patti’s was going to be decently good, but being the best out of the eight Character CDs available is a damn good feat for her. Kudos to everyone responsible for this (that includes KyoAni, Sasaki Nozomi, Lantis, and of course, Yoshimizu Kagami).

Overall: 9.4/10.0

And there you have it! So what do you think? I know some people will disagree with my impressions but hey, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. Now let us look at the total rankings in descending order:

Ranking 1st track
Ne Ni ge de Reset! – 10.0/10.0
Mo, Mousou Machine – 10.0/10.0
Dondake Fanfare – 9.0/10.0
Cosplay no Kokoroe – 8.5/10.0
Kenka Yohou no Jikan dayo – 7.5/10.0
Moe Yousotte nan desu ka? – 6.0/10.0
Damatto Yasumi Jikan – 5.5/10.0
Minimum Tempo – 4.5/10.0

Ranking 2nd track
Saidai Seichi Carnival – 10.0/10.0
Default Joshikousei Nyan – 8.5/10.0
Sister Wars – 8.0/10.0
100% nai nai nai – 8.0/10.0
Toumei Ribbon – 6.5/10.0
Tabun Kanari Futsuu no Kyuujitsu – 5.0.0/10.0
Tatoeba Pink to Blue Demo – 5.0/10.0
D Drive / Love – 5.0/10.0

Ranking 3rd track
pa pa pa pa patti – 5.0/5.0
loading_konata_speaking – 4.0/5.0
mokutt minami growing – 3.5/5.0
he_yo_reason&mechanique – 3.0/5.0
yume-tsukasa-night-loopin’ – 3.0/5.0
i-Free Tempo U-taka apartmentronik – 3.0/5.0
I’m sorry by kagami – 2.5/5.0
Rhyme of miyuki continued – 2.0/5.0

Ranking Overall
Patti – 9.4/10.0
Hiyori – 8.6/10.0
Tsukasa – 8.4/10.0
Kagami – 7.2/10.0
Konata – 7.2/10.0
Minami – 6.2/10.0
Miyuki – 5.2/10.0
Yutaka – 5.0/10.0

Closing Comments
This is how I imagined the characters would be ranked actually, so I’m glad about that. I’d say anything that scored 7.0 or better is worth the listen. Anything below… well you could give it a shot but I guarantee you you’ll be listening more Patti or Hiyori. I’m a bit dumbfounded that Minami’s wasn’t as I thought it’d be but at least she had a good 3rd track, which is worth something.

Now that that’s done, it’s time to move on to the next upcoming releases. The next sets will be a Misao/Ayano CD (I’m guessing they only get one song each similar to how the later Haruhi Suzumiya Character CDs only included one main track) and a Konata/Yutaka/Minami CD, aka the “flat-chested girs” CD. I plan to review the other CDs as well, including Motteke! Sailor Fuku, the ending karaoke themes, and plenty more. Yes, I do believe that includes Shiraishi’s manly lullabies so please don’t ask me. Knowing KyoAni, they’ll definitely wanna step up a notch and make a drama CD sometime soon. Actually, I do hope they’ll make one for Yui and Kuroi-sensei too. Stay tune for my next report, which I have no idea when that’ll be.

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