There are a few factors for why this album is very consistent. One thing that stands out is the maturation in Sakai’s vocal delivery and stays (mostly) comfortably in her range. Her vocals are on full display and she is very much a singer in her prime. Tetusro Oda and Seiichiro Kuribayashi handle all the music and for the most part it is hard to discern who wrote which song which speaks to the consistency across the album.
Masao Akashi arranged all the tracks and much as I have taken exception with some of his prior works he provides top shelf work on “Oh My Love.” Japanese albums cannot be counted on to have the same producer across all tracks, so this was an interesting experience. By and large he provides a consistent experience, though "Rainen no Natsu mo" is one glaring exception.
What I am expecting as I work through the album is a consistent album that is a very ZARD album. Let’s go to the review!
Track 1: "Oh My Love"
Izumi Sakai / Tetsurō Oda / Masao Akashi
This is such a strong opening track. Sakai’s tone shifts from subtly uncertain to very confident over the course of the song, all while being incredibly sweet. Where “Makenaide” might have been written for boys, “Oh My Love” I feel is a more feminine flipside. The music on the track is exceptional and perfectly paired with her. Production is also stellar, there are so many layers without feeling over produced.
“Oh My Love” is not just the best track on this synonymously titled album it might be one of her best tracks.
Vocals: 5
Music: 5
Production: 5
Track 2: "Top Secret"
Izumi Sakai / Seiichiro Kuribayashi / Masao Akashi
It’s kind of a funny song, but “Top Secret” and Sakai’s vocals are very good and honestly on the balance carry the track. The music has a slightly dated feel and I am not a fan of the guitar work specifically. Production has a lot of layers, but tilt towards am overproduced sound (okay it sounds like a Being song).
Vocals: 3.6
Music: 3
Production: 3.3
Track 3: "Kitto Wasurenai" (きっと忘れない)
Izumi Sakai / Tetsurō Oda / Masao Akashi
A track about a love that once was with nice parts sweet and bittersweet. Sakai pushes her vocal limits in the high parts, but doesn’t cross a line. Her change of tone mirrors “Oh My Love” in that she sounds increasingly confident. Oda really does a nice job with the music here it is very complimentary to Sakai’s vocals. The backup vocals are also very well done. Akashi’s arrangement is top shelf, there are maybe not as many elements inside of the song but it's precisely put together and has energy.
Vocals: 5
Music: 5
Production: 4.75
Track 4: "Mō Sukoshi, Ato Sukoshi..." (もう少し あと少し…)
Isumi Sakai / Seiichiro Kuribayashi / Masao Akashi
The opening to this track kinda tilts to overwrought, but Sakai’s lyrics kick in and they take a step into the background. Sakai’s vocals nicely reflect the bittersweetness of her lyrics. Kuribayashi’s music here is very dialed in and compliment Sakai, but not sure sure the sax parts were really needed, likewise the piano towards the end. Akashi started the arrangement with what I think is a stumble but reigns the song in and it has a lot of interesting layers at the end.
Vocals: 4
Music: 4.25
Production: 4
Track 5: "Ame ni Nurete" (雨に濡れて)
Izumi Sakai / Seiichiro Kuribayashi / Masao Akashi
Opens up with a sax heavy sound, but this is a sneaky song it feels very mid tempo with Sakai’s vocal delivery but the music is telling a different story. Sakai definitely hits her upper range here, might have been better to dial her back. Drums are definitely assertive and feel a little programmed in spots as they sound a little too consistent, Backup vocals are very good, it sounds like Maki Ohguro. Production was fine, though maybe a little muddy for sound.
Vocals: 3.25
Music: 3.25
Production: 3
Track 6: "Kono Ai ni Oyogi Tsukarete mo" (この愛に泳ぎ疲れても)
Izumi Sakai / Tetsurō Oda / Masao Akashi
Vocals: 4.5 Music: 3 Production: 4.5
The opening very much flexes Sakai’s vocal delivery. There is a lot of depth in the production and deftly keeps the music there but one layer beneath Sakai. Sakai’s delivery is interesting here, it is not perfect but I think that works. The pace of the song starts a little slow and then picks up a faster pace with a very well placed guitar solo. Overall "Kono Ai ni Oyogi Tsukarete mo" is a very interestingly paced song about hopeful but struggling love..
Track 7: "I Still Remember"
Izumi Sakai / Seiichiro Kuribayashi / Masao Akashi
Soulful breakup song. While this is not my favorite track on “Oh My Love” what it does is show off what Sakai’s best range as a vocalist actually was which is a powerful midrange that dips into a lower range. Music is very straightforward and a little more in balance with Sakai. Production here is really good until the back third of the song, then it is a little overwrought and begins to wash Sakai’s vocals a little.
Vocals: 4.75
Music: 3
Production: 4
Track 8: "If You Gimme Smile"
Izumi Sakai / Seiichiro Kuribayashi / Masao Akashi
A zippy up tempo love song that is a lot of fun. A good changeup track. Sakai’s vocals are absolutely on point. Backup vocals a little too assertive at points, which is a production choice. Music is delivered well and paired with production that has a lot of subtle layers in the track. In some ways this song is Sakai being confident and having fun, which is maybe the version of her I like the most and never saw enough of.
Vocals:4.5
Music: 4.5
Production: 3.5
Track 9: "Rainen no Natsu mo" (来年の夏も)
Izumi Sakai / Seiichiro Kuribayashi / Masao Akashi
Alright, this track slows things up but about 2/3rds of the way the sound picks up pace and has a different feel. It’s a bit startling, but I think works. Musically I am not a huge fan of the song, too many elements are thrown in. Synth and acoustic guitar then sax heavy, then a weird piano solo. Everything is just turned up to max, which I think is forced. I won’t say "Rainen no Natsu mo" is a bad track, but it might be the weakest on the album.
Vocals: 2.75
Music: 2
Production: 2
Track 10: "Anata ni Kaeritai" (あなたに帰りたい)
Izumi Sakai / Seiichiro Kuribayashi / Masao Akashi
A very long acoustic guitar intro, not the greatest. But things pick up to get into a break up song with some conflicting feelings. Sakai sticks to her range so I like her delivery. Production is okay, but again like in the prior track Akashi turns things up a little high and I think that washed out Sakai a little. That said it is well mixed even if I do not agree with the choices. The guitar work feels a little out of place with the song, I don;t think power chords were the best choice. For the tail of the album,"Anata ni Kaeritai" is alright, it’s a decent track.
Vocals: 3.75
Music: 3
Production: 3.35
Overall Album Scores for “Oh My Love”:
Vocals: 4.11
Music: 3.53
Production: 3.67
Overall Album Score: 4.16
Adjusted Album Score: 4.25
(slight uptick as the good tracks outweigh the middling)
“Oh My Love” is a very interesting album and the numbers suggest that Sakai as a vocalist were the best delivered part of the album. I think here is where we see a maturation and comfort that comes with ZARD’s fifth album. This is a very consistent album, which I think benefited from limited composers and a singular producer. FWIW there are also Japanese albums that benefit form the exact opposite, but “Oh My Love” showcases Sakai and is the next album is a tremendous sequence.
