URBAN ROMANTIC was Rie fu’s 4th album. It was released on April 8, 2009. There were two singles released prior to the album, originally HOME was thought to be released on the album but was not featured.

Tracks:
1. Something In My Head
2. Sunny Days
3. Hey I’m Calling Up
4. Business
5. Anata wo Omoeba Afureru Namida
6. Romantic
7. drummy
8. She Can’t Say No ~no to ienai onna~
9. Money Will Love You (English Version)
10. Itsuka Kono Michi no Saki ni ~All The Way~
11. PRESENT
12. SUKI
13. Romantic (Strings Version)

Review:
Leave it to Rie fu to have the first song of the album in English. But that’s always a good thing, for the most part. I mean Rie fu does have some of the best English songs, and she proves it with Something In My Head. It’s somewhat of a throwback to 70’s music with all the synth. The strong use of percussion, guitar and the tambourine (really retro). However the mellow beats and the crisp vocals really make it exciting oddly enough. But what makes this song is obviously the chorus. The climax gets it off to a great start and Rie fu finishes it with her extraordinary vocals and catchy lyrics. Somewhat of a flashback to the past wouldn’t you agree? And it feels so good hello goodbye…

Well as if a blast from the past wasn’t strange enough perhaps Sunny Days will make you think twice. It’s not nearly as retro or as exciting but the music has such a sense of nostalgia to it. The feel good piano chords, the soft percussion, and even the organ towards the end, it’s really repetitive but somehow Rie fu makes it work. However I did like how the music eventually changed from just a mundane piano song to more of a church oriented rebirth. Yet it’s still a little strange, it’s got to the the music.

The synth opening really got me excited about Hey I’m Calling Up, but that was just the beginning sadly. After that it transformed into more of a tradition folk song, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s up-beat though, not nearly as energetic or enthralling as 5000 MILES but it does have it’s own unique charm. That being said I’m definitely not going to remember this song after this album sadly. One thing I did like was that during the chorus her vocals sounded wonderful, must’ve been the background vocals, either way it was nice.

Things get down to some more modern music with Business. This song is somewhat of a fusion of Rie fu’s new and old music, new being synth and old being folk / rock. It’s a little more edgy with the electric guitar and percussion but it’s also a little more modern and new with all the newfound synth. I’m not to sure about the whole jazzy piano in between some parts but for the most part it was amazing. The melody and rhythm were just insane, I mean not all crazy but it was catchy. It’s a really unique song that stands out.

One of the hottest messes around happens to be Anata wo Omoeba Afureru Namida. And like most hot messes it’s arrangement and composition vary. It’s got a lot of things going on when it comes to the sound. One second it’s a piano ballad yet one second later it’s a thumping up-beat rock song, and then it’s infused with some great synth riffs. It’s just a really unique song. As to the actual structure etc. It begins much like a ballad, romantic piano chords playing while the music picks up and the tempo increases. But when the chorus comes so does the guitar and synth, making one impressive combination. As usual Rie fu displayed her excellent vocals that were impressive and crisp. And as usual her English was flawless.

And now we come to Rie fu’s BEST song in ages!!! Romantic is without a doubt one of her best songs despite the temporary divergence from folk. It began the URBAN ROMANTIC Era with the newfound synth as well as the elaborate cover. Anyway it’s an amazing synth ballad that utilizes the strings as well as the piano. It’s very mesmerizing and sounds just beautiful.

One of the boring songs on this album is drummy. Seriously everything about this song screams mundane and mediocre. Yeah I’ll give it to Rie fu for having some great vocals and the synth does sound great. But it lacks so much. There’s hardly any climax and besides the vocal distortions this song is completely boring. It does sound better towards the end with the new instruments but for the most part it’s just the drums. If you have any sense you’ll just press the skip button.

On the other hand She Can’t Say No ~no to ienai onna~ is anything but boring. It’s her signature folk music that’s wonderful and just nostalgic. And it also happens to be another song that’s in English. Anyway the instruments are pretty simple, piano, acoustic guitar, nothing special but somehow she makes it sound like an amazing. The melody is so-so and the verses aren’t all too exciting but the chorus however is PERFECT! Yes it is simple but it sounds a little aggressive with the piano chords somehow, that and inquisitive. Do you want to be her perfect friend?

I can honestly say that I didn’t enjoy Money Will Love You as much as I loved some of her other material but I admit it was nice. Well with the English version things have changed a bit. It’s still Rie fu’s signature folk music, acoustic guitar and all, but she’s managed to turn a mundane folk tune into a nostalgic easy listener. The melody is the same that’s probably why I like it so much. But one of the oddest things was that part of this song was in Japanese??? I mean English version you’d figure it’d be in all English, but I really don’t mind. Still sounds great, especially with her vocals.

Get ready for one of the craziest things you’ll ever hear. Let’s face it, most of us things Rie fu’s all innocent and sweet right? Um not anymore, well not with Itsuka Kono Michi no Saki ni ~All The Way~. The rock guitar opening sounded different but great. But that’s not what shocked me. he fact that Rie fu said something along the lines of couples fuck it up. Other than that it’s just another awesome Rie fu song full of great vocals, creative melodies and a catchy chorus.

I’ve tried to like PRESENT but I’ve just given up. Sure it’s a great ballad but it doesn’t appeal to me like Romantic does. It’s still a nice ballad with the epic piano chords and the dazzling strings but if the melody isn’t all that great then how do you enjoy it. It’s still forgettable even as I listen to it

I have to say that the same goes for SUKI. It’s another calming, gentle ballad that’s really lovely when it gets down to it, but lacks that WOW factor. Yeah it’s a nice song but it’s just too forgettable. One the bright side though it sounded great towards the end with Rie fu singing in English. Very similar to PRESENT in most respects.

And now for the most awaited track ever! It’s the Strings Version of Romantic. I remember hearing a live rendition and how magnificent and beautiful it was. It’s not too hard to guess but the synth elements that made it so much fun are removed and instead an array of strings and piano have been added giving it more of a ballad feel and making it more romantic in a sense. There are some major differences though. The music has been sped up a bit and the vocals sound a lot more refreshing and personal. It has its own unique charm that lets it hold its own against the original version.

Overall Review: URBAN ROMANTIC was folk magic with an urban twist! Where Ayu has failed Rie fu accomplished taking her album to the next level. I really can’t say how good her previous album was but this album ROCKS! It features some of her softer more tradition folk songs with her newer synth style that really gives the album a duality, new and old Rie fu music. She included some great songs that you’d expect from Rie fu, folk pop, and then some new synth infused songs. But then she also included some ballads, some good and some bad. But I have to say that I’m impressed with Rie fu and her newfound style and album.

Final Grade

Until I Say was Rie fu’s 6th single. It was released on July 19, 2006 and reached no. 99 on the Oricon Weekly Charts. The title track was used as the theme song for the Japanese release of Heidi.

Tracks:
1. Until I Say
2. Sunshine Of My Day
3. tobira

Review:
For the most part Until I Say is a ballad. The music and instruments are typical of what you’d expect, piano, strings, and some percussion. Except this song is actually more up-beat and bilingual. I guess it’s what you’d expect from Rie fu though. The chorus is absolutely romantic and beautiful, it’s really sweet once you hear the lyrics. Sort of a water downed version of 5000 MILES that’s a little more beautiful.

Slightly more aggressive is Sunshine Of My Day. And like most B-Sides this one is sung completely in English. It’s not her traditional folk song but instead more of a country/rock song, which is both good and bad in a sense. However the optimistic lyrics really make up for that. It’s just a feel good song for the most part. It actually could’ve been an A-Side if there was some Japanese. It’s certainly a strong enough track and it has some high quality music.

The final track is tobira lit. Door. It’s really a soft track that’s just really repetitive. The acoustic guitar is the only instrument. It’s really not that exciting, there’s just a bunch of ad-libbing that might sound nice, but it’s actually annoying after a while. The melody isn’t all that developed either so it’s pretty much just a mess, and not in the good way either.

Overall Review: Until I Say was romantic ballad goodness! The title track was surprisingly entertaining as well as beautiful. It’s just a very sweet and sensual love song. The first B-Side was great, but I’m a bit biased towards English songs. And the final track was just a bore, it’ll just put you to sleep. A great way to kick off the Tobira Album.

Final Grade

Home was Rie fu’s 10th single. It was released on January 23, 2008 and reached no. 98 on the Oricon Charts. The title track was used as the theme song for the movie Koneko no Namida.

Tracks:
1. Home
2. Wait For Me
3. (They Long To Be) Close To You

Review:
Right from the start you can tell that Home is one of Rie fu’s songs, namely from the folk music. It takes a while but this song grows on you. It’s very cheery and whimsical. The piano chords are in perfect harmony with the guitar riffs and the angelic strings. And honestly it’s very epic, well at least during the chorus. The music sounds so beautiful and so regal, fit for a ballad yet just right for this song. I completely loved the brass and the percussion, a unique yet vibrant combination. Her vocals sound excellent as always but with a few minor distortions it reminds me of 5000 MILES. The lyrics are very descriptive, they almost seem to ramble on, but all and all it’s very romantic. And as usual there’s some English in there. Just a warning, it takes a while before it gets really good.

Wait For Me is basically a watered down version of Home. Except this song is more somber and solemn in tone. It’s not nearly as cheery with the acoustics and lonely piano, but it’s certainly just as beautiful. Rie fu’s vocals were great too, a little monotone but great nonetheless.

The Carpenters are one of Rie fu’s favorite artists so I guess it’s no surprise that she decided to cover their (They Long To Be) Close To You. This song is pretty similar to the original for the most part. I really loved the music, nostalgic in a sense, reminds me of the old days, way back when. The lonely piano chords and the classical strings were simple yet impressive. And does Rie fu have amazing vocals, they’re outstanding. Her English covers are always impressive, luckily this song follows that pattern.

Overall Review: Home was acoustic folk simplicity! Despite the simplicity of this single it’s rather enjoyable and astounding. The music is heavenly in an acoustic and ballad sense, and the fact that she included the brass really shows some diversity. Rie fu’s vocals don’t disappoint one bit in any of the songs. The only bad thing about the title track is that you have to wait before things get really good, aside from that it’s perfect. The B-Side was pretty simple and somewhat sad, yet overall it’s wonderful, although it’d be better if it was more up-beat. And lastly, the cover is just astonishing. Rie fu does the original version justice and then some. Then again I love the original version, so perhaps I’m a bit biased.

Final Grade: 95A

present was Rie fu’s 12th single. It was released on February 25, 2009. This is also the final single prior to her newest studio album URBAN ROMANTIC set to be released in April 2009.

Tracks:
1. present
2. Time Traffic (Rie fu mix)
3. Doyara kyo mo Shibuya Made

Review:
It’s safe to say that Rie fu is back to her folk songs, which is both good and bad in a way. With present Rie fu focuses more on the ballad aspect of her music more than anything. And that’s really the best way to describe this song. It’s a soft ballad that’s pretty generic I guess. The music is pretty normal with the strings and the piano chords. The arrangement is magnificent, and the music is astounding but it’s what you expect. Rie fu’s vocals really aren’t all that astounding either sadly. It’s a letdown at best.

I really don’t know much about Time Traffic (Rie fu mix), but I do know that it’s a collaboration between Rie fu and LEO. It’s more R&B sounding than anything really. The beats are infectious and mesh well with the piano chords. Not only that but Rie fu’s vocals are stunning, and go well together with LEO’s. It’s mid-tempo and with the music so soft you might find yourself in a trance with this song. I prefer this over the title track any day.

Leave it to Rie fu to have such a bad title track but an amazing B-Side. That’s what Doyara kyo mo Shibuya Made is, it’s an energetic B-Side that’s perfect for her upcoming album. It’s more or less one of her folk songs and this time it’s actually good. It’s pretty up-beat and the acoustic guitar is just awesome in this song. The soft electric guitar riffs were petite yet still rockin’. And unlike the title track, the melody is just so catchy, don’t be surprised if you just start singing. Unlike the previous songs, Rie fu’s vocals really shine though, the collaboration was nice but you also got LEO’s. With this song you get to hear Rie fu’s unaltered and beautiful vocals, that reminds me of 5000 MILES.

Overall Review: present was a folk return. Sadly I think she should have stuck with Taku being her producer and the synth music. The title track was really weak for a ballad and really lacking, I mean what happened to her Life is like a boat material? It’s just seems like she’s taken a giant step back. Maybe I just need some time. Her collaboration was just awesome, I mean really amazing. It’s the closest thing to R&B for Rie fu so enjoy. The final B-Side was more like Rie fu, up-beat, folk, acoustic, and magical! One of the best things about this single was sadly the cover, which featured the same trichromatic scheme as her last single, just with blue. Not a surefire way to end the URBAN ROMANTIC Era.

Final Grade: 92B

5000 Miles was Rie fu’s 8th single. It was released on September 5, 2007 and reached no. 100 on the charts.

Tracks:
1. 5000 Miles
2. Aitai Toki ni Utau Uta
3. Life is Like a Boat ~Tsukiakari Rie fu Live version~

Review:
Compared to her previous single, 5000 Miles is quite up-beat. This song is actually pretty sweet and even cute. The music is lighthearted with the piano chords and the harmonic strings. Like most of her songs, this song features some English. And although it’s not as much as a whole verse or two, the little bit is good enough. The melody is so lovely and rather catchy. And as for the chorus, well Rie fu’s vocals really shine through. They make it sound so catchy and so beautiful as well as cheerful. I really loved the fact that there was some variety too and that it wasn’t all the same. The classical approach was shear genius too, it made for a very up-beat and up-lifting performance.

The b-side sounds more like something Rie fu would do. Although Aitai Toki ni Utau Uta features some low pitch strings it’s still very nice. The music is very calm and relaxing, and just plain smooth, it’s similar to lounge style music. The acoustic guitar went well with Rie fu’s great vocals that were soft and just stunning. They were simplistic yet still very southing. And as usual there was some English in this song, more than the title track, and like the music, it was quite southing and soft.

The final song is the ~Tsukiakari Rie fu Live version~ of Life is Like a Boat. Honestly, I really didn’t care too much for the original version, even when I watched Bleach, but this version is so refined, so pristine, and so beautiful. I might need to give the original another change since this version sounds so incredible and powerful. I loved the piano in this song, although it sounded very sad and gloomy, it was beautiful. The melody is surprisingly catchy and extraordinary. I have to give Rie fu some credit for this magnificent live performance.

Overall Review: 5000 Miles was pure magnificence! It seems that Rie fu keeps getting better and better with each single. That each brings better music and more happiness. Compared to her last single, it’s not as powerful but it’s still enjoyable. The up-beat title track was quite impressive and very fun to listen to. The b-side was somewhat sad and gloomy compared to the previous track, but it was nice too. But what I enjoyed the most was the live rendition of Life is Like a Boat, it was so impressive and spectacular. Another defining single for the Tobira Album Era.

Final Grade: 100A+

Tsukiakari was Rie fu’s 7th single. It was released on May 25, 2007 and reached no. 35 on the charts and has sold 4,516+ copies. The title track as used as the first ending theme song for the anime DARKER THAN BLACK -Kuro no Keiyakusha-. This was the second single in the Tobira Album Era.

Tracks:
1. Tsukiakari
2. dreams be

Review:
I know that I’m reviewing singles out of order, but when I saw the cover of Tsukiakari lit. Moonlight I just had to review this. From the title I naturally assumed that this song would be a ballad, and for the most part I was right. The one thing that really caught my attention was the sound of the wind, so strong and powerful. But besides that I also heard some very beautiful strings, with the piano, drums, and even the guitar. The song itself is somewhat mid-tempo and that pretty much sets the tone, well part of it. The vocals and music do the rest. As for the actual music itself, well it sounds almost like country music. And I know that Romantic had incredible vocals, but so does Tsukiakari. They’re a bit deep in this song, but I like it, they sound very mature and confident. However during the chorus they become higher pitched, and can she ever hit those high notes. And I really loved just how beautiful the chorus sounded, and even how catchy it was, well that and it was memorable. And during the bridge, the strings and the piano were so classical and lovely. Such a perfect composition, and such a wonderful song.

Most of us know that Rie fu is bilingual so it makes sense when she occasionally sings in English, and dreams be is just that. The song gets off to a slow start, but afterwards it becomes alive and more up-beat. The electric guitar provides for some nice stability in the song along with Rie fu’s great vocals. The lyrics are very interesting and they seem to follow some sort of pattern, not exactly sure, but they’re somewhat poetic. My favorite part was when the guitar riffs became stronger. This little light rock song is pretty sweet.

Overall Review: Tsukiakari was a mesmerizing night. I have to admit that I really didn’t think that this single would be all that incredible, but I was wrong. I mean this single is not only visually appealing, but also so beautiful and such a treat for the ears. It’s definitely a great song either way you look at it. The crisp vocals and the instruments make for one heck of a combination, and those strings were so amazing. The English song was a nice little bonus too, much better than most artists who attempt it. And I loved how both songs were so night oriented, I mean moon light and dreams? What more could you want? Not to mention the fact that the cover and promotion pictures were so amazing, flowers really are attractive. Such a fantastic and mature single in the Tobira Album Era.

Final Grade: 100A+

Romantic was Rie fu’s 11th single. It was released on November 12, 2008 and reached no. 100 on the charts.

Tracks:
1. Romantic
2. In The Airplane
3. Money Will Love You

Review:
After hearing people rave about how amazing this song was I decided to give Romantic a shot. I hadn’t heard much from Rie fu except for her second single, Life is like a boat from the anime Bleach, and honestly it really turned me off to Rie fu. But after seeing the cover and the reviews I figured why not listen to this song. Considering this song was produced by Taku of m-flo I knew it’d be different from her normal style. Instead of being all traditional folk pop, this song is filled with synth music, the occasional distorted strings, a piano and some electronic influences. The strings play throughout the song along with the synth music to create an ethereal combination. The verses were very long yet still beautiful lyrically. The chorus lyric wise was short, yet when Rie fu sang it slowly she prolonged it, making it more enjoyable oddly enough. I guess you have to thank the melody for most of that. I haven’t heard many of Rie fu’s songs and therefore I’m not accustomed to her vocals, but if her vocals in her older work sound half as good they do in this song they’re sound amazing. Like some of her work though, this song features some English. There’s a little English in the verses until the second chorus where there’s an entire verse with only English. And I really loved that part. I mean her vocals were so clear and crisp. Not only that but the piano began playing during that verse. The lyrics were incredible and romantic too. This is one of her best works ever by far.

Getting back to the basics is In The Airplane. It’s a bit lackluster when compared to the previous track, but it’s still pretty nice. At first I thought it’d be a ballad with the sweet instrumentals in the beginning, but then after the strings the song changes into a more rock oriented song that includes a synthesizer and a guitar. And the melody reminds me of some English song, either way it’s nice. Her vocals sound a little louder and more vocal, seemingly more powerful too. The chorus was a real treat, I mean the drums, keyboard and the synthesizer, a odd yet incredible combination. The melody was so perfect and pretty catchy. As far as lyrics good, it was around 20/80 as far as English and Japanese go. Not a bad b-side really.

Very gentle and sweet is Money Will Love You. This song is more laid-back than the previous tracks and it’s on the lighter side. The acoustic guitar really sets the tone of the song and is just a great instrumental. This time Rie fu’s vocals were so sweet and so high, which I enjoyed so much. The piano was a nice instrumental too, very fitting for this song. There’s also something about this song that makes it so catchy for some reason, maybe it’s the melody or the vocals. Either way it’s a great song, especially the “somebody already loves you” line, so romantic and innocent.

Overall Review: Romantic was ambient bliss. One word that pops into my mind when I think of this single is “rebirth!” It’s not that Rie fu needed to revive her career, but this single couldn’t hurt. It’s really different from her past works and I honestly hope that this continues, it’s that good. Rie fu was really outdone herself with this single. It’s pure romantic bliss, and despite all of the songs having different music and genres the overall theme still sounds like love for the most part. Now I’m really psyched for her next release, which is January 28, 2009 I believe.

Final Grade: 100A+