When it comes to seiyuu releasing music, it's usually a flip of a coin. Sometimes it's surprising good (Minori Chihara, Megumi Hayashibara), and some are embarrassingly bad (Yuko Goto, Rie Kugimiya). When it comes to Aya Hirano, though, it's the luck of a draw. Her last album Riot Girl surprised a lot of listeners with its Avril Lavigne-like sound and upbeat tone. Unfortunately with Speed*Star, while the happy feeling is still there the originality is sadly lacking.

The two best songs practically bookend the album (not counting the "stereotype" intro): "Super Driver" and "Unnamed World." While both songs were theme songs to anime series (the former belonging to The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, the latter to The Daughter of Twenty Faces) they certainly stand alone pretty well. "Super Driver" is fast-paced with good guitar riffs and is up to par with some of Riot Girl's best tracks; but the drummer appears to be a bit too snare-happy. "Unnamed World," however, is probably Aya's most strongest track, and while the broken English is spread variously the message of the song is clear.

In-between these two great songs is a mixed bag. While "Sing a Song" and "OH! My Darling" have some sort of life to them, their novelty wears off quickly. It's not that they're bad tracks, but rather it just sounds like Hirano wasn't really feeling these songs when she was recording them. The same can be said for "Set me free" and "VOXX." It's as if she was more forced into recording these tracks instead of letting her do her own thing, which is a problem a lot of seiyuu face when recording an album. However within this bitter taste are a couple of sweet tracks in the form of "Mizu Tamari" and "Ano Hana no You ni," which are both able to showcase the timid and soft nature of Hirano's voice.

While Aya is trying her best in this sort of poppy genre, it's just doesn't seem to fit with her voice. If she had the creative freedom I wouldn't be surprised if she would do something more in vein of Shonen Knife or FLiP (or even Head Phones President). Maybe it's silly of me to think this, but I can't help but think Hirano would do better with something like an Iggy and the Stooges setup. (Imagine her singing Pop's "Tonight.") Unfortunately if she continues on this sort of musical trek her full potential won't be heard, and Aya Hirano will continue to release more mediocrity like Speed*Star.

** ½ (out of five)

Labels: Aya Hirano, J-POP, King Baby Duck, Music