Shione Yukawa

Among requests for reuploads this artist is probably the most asked for along with Morita Douji. I did a discography post on Morita a few years ago so I've decided that I should do one on Shione Yukawa.

I have no idea how I discovered her, maybe it was just a random download somewhere but I liked her stuff ever since I first heard her. Her music isn't very Japanese and I think that's exactly what she is aiming for. I guess folks in Japan don't really dig this kind of...well...folk. I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing since the music itself is really good and relaxing but as I followed her career through the years it seems to go just about nowhere. She rarely changed much but maybe I can't read the lyrics or understand what the fuck she's saying. Maybe she evolved as a writer, I have no idea.

Her music could be best described as a very somber and melancholic but overall happy folk music. All of her albums are relaxed and calm with occasional happy energetic song thrown in the mix. Her music is a relaxing sunny day stroll in the forest and you're sipping orange juice along the way. Actually now that I'm more versed in folk artists her music reminds me to an extent of stuff Rachel Goswell did as a solo act.

The biggest dud for me in her whole discography is the first album. It's completely in English, compromised of covers (I think?) all in a cappella. Her voice is good and I can appreciate what she tried here but it just doesn't work. Japanese singing in English always throws me off for some reason, I can't get into it. It's interesting for a listen or two but I never really go back to it, ever.

Things pick up by the time the second album comes along called Uta no Katachi which is among my favorites of hers. Everything is in place, her voice and music that accompany it are in perfect unison. There's nothing really to complain about aside from maybe the production which  at times distracts from the songs. It's a slow but happy album that strolls along with its songs that are catchy, warm and very humble in its sound. Overall I think this album is where you'd want to start with Shione if you're new to her music. You'll get a really good grasp of what she's all about on this album.

After Uta No Katachi comes 逆上がりの国 which is basically the same thing but in a high budget version. Everything is more polished, supplemented with more instruments and more ambiance. The only downright annoying thing about this album is that she seems to try too much to be Norah Jones on a few tracks.

Her next EP comes with a change of pace. This one is far more upbeat and happy. I guess whatever was bothering her these past few years she overcame it and became one big happy motherfucker or something. This one I don't really listen to too much but there are several good songs here albeit they tend to feel a bit too crammed with instruments sometimes. On other occasions they sound like anime openings which also breaks my immersion in the album. It's a good change of pace overall and she shows on this album that her voice is suited for more merry songs as well as those sad somber ones she has been doing before.

The same year, 2006, she releases a self-titled album because every artist has to do that at least once. This one is a mixture of sounds found on the EP and her previous album. There is a lot of focus on strings here but the basis of guitar/voice is still very much present and as pleasant as ever. It's a good mixture of everything she did before with a some forays into soft rock on several songs.

In 2007 she releases another EP titled Yuki no Warutsu. It starts of with a very string oriented waltz and after that moves on to some other vastly different songs. Each song on this EP has a different approach, they're all unique in style. It's interesting to hear her try new and original things but in the end they don't really make a coherent whole. Luckily it's just an EP so it doesn't get obnoxious.

And lastly we come to her last album in my collection called Grey. This one's also pretty good. After all those experiments and foray into different genres she's back to her original folk ways with a touch of Americana feel to it. I like it and it's probably my third most favorite album by her.

After Grey she released another album that I know of but I didn't like it (I can't remember really why) so I  didn't keep it on my hard drive. There might be some more albums that got out in the meantime but I have no idea. I'm happy with these and I'm not really looking for more.

Grab the links:

2002 - Tide and Echo

2003 - Uta no Katachi

2004 - 逆上がりの国

2006 - Ajisai no Niwa

2006 - Shione Yukawa

2007 - Yuki no Warutsu

2008 - Gray

(I got these albums a long time ago so the bitrate isn't perfect but they're bearable)

Here are some of the songs that I like:

緑のアーチ

裸の王様

風よ吹かないで