Released in 1992 “Hold Me” is ZARD’s third album and maybe one people skip to when exploring ZARD. Within the context of my review series I think it is important to explore the entire body of work to see how the music evolves which gives perspective to where ZARD went over her entire career arc. It is notable though that this is the album where the ZARD sound is dialed in, specifically in Sakai's delivery which is very consistent throughout "Hold Me." That is not to say there isn’t a variety of musical styles in the go forward, just to say Sakai’s maturation starts here.
The bulk of the music on “Hold Me” was done by Daria Kawashima and Seiichiro Kuribayashi, which might explain some of the consistency. Likewise the majority of tracks were produced by Masao Akashi and Daisuke Ikeda. I had a lot of criticism of Akashi’s production “Mō Sagasanai” I think he fares better here.
The journey through ZARD’s discography continues. Please note all ratings are out of five.
"Nemurenai Yoru wo Daite" (眠れない夜を抱いて)
Vocals: 5 Lyrics: Izumi Sakai
Music: 4.5 Music: Tetsuro Oda
Production: 4.5 Production: Masao Akashi & Daisuke Ikeda
Somewhere slightly above mid-tempo, the snythy percussion is very Japanese sounding and blends nicely into a more guitar driven song with nice synth support. Bass is definitely there. Drums are a little soft and could be a drum machine but with the above synth effects it combines nicely. Sakai’s delivery is very dialed in and in true form. Backing vocals are there and support nicely.
"Dareka ga Matteru" (誰かが待ってる)
Vocals: 3.75 Lyrics: Izumi Sakai
Music: 3 Music: Seiichiro Kuribayashi
Production: 2 Production: Masao Akashi
A sax lead in for a mid-tempo track. Sakai’s vocals are really nice her and backup vocals are very complimentary. Drums are kinda odd in this one, like synth drums which I am not a huge fan of. There is definitely sythisizers here, but they are not very pronounced, but maybe the ove ruse of synth drums make up for it. Like too much, they’re overbearing. Remember why I did not like Masao Akashi’s product in the previous album… same feelings.
"Sayonara Ienakute" (サヨナラ言えなくて)
Vocals: 4.5 Lyrics: Izumi Sakai
Music: 3.5 Music: Seiichiro Kuribayashi
Production: 4 Production: Daisuke Ikeda
Up tempo here. Sakai’s vocals are very pretty and convey a lot of emotion. Drums are a little heavy, but everything is balanced well. The guitar solo is a little egregious, perhaps a function of the times. There are some very interesting synthy percussions way in the background, which I like. The song feels a little dated, but I find myself enjoying it more like a fond memory and not outdated.
"Ano Hohoemi wo Wasurenai de" (あの微笑みを忘れないで)
Vocals: 5 Lyrics: Izumi Sakai
Music: 5 Music: Daria Kawashima
Production: 5 Production: Masao Akashi
"Ano Hohoemi wo Wasurenai de" is pure magic. Absolutely everything is right, this is a perfection song.
"Sukina you ni Odoritai no" (好きなように踊りたいの)
Vocals: 4 Lyrics: Izumi Sakai
Music: 4 Music: Kazuya Izumi
Production: 4.25 Production: Takeshi Hayama
Sakai’s vocal delivery is good and catchy, but there are a couple of notes that are at the end of her range that maybe should have been pulled back. I will say this track is very well produced. The music is good and a little different in structure but a couple of spots feel off. This is a good song and complimentary to the track before it.
"Dangerous Tonight"
Vocals: 3.5 Lyrics: Izumi Sakai
Music: 2.5 Music: Seiichiro Kuribayashi
Production: 2.75 Production: Masao Akashi
An overwrought lead in that doesn;t seem to find its feet. A lot of synth hits, which is a function of the times in Japanese music but don’t really add much. Sakai’s vocals are exactly what I expect, but there is a certain nuanced strength to her delivery that I enjoy. Holy wow is that an egregious guitar solo and what better than to have another right after to take us out of the track. Akashi’s production is okay here, the music itself is weaker with all the wrong things emphasized.
"Konna ni Aishite mo" (こんなに愛しても)
Vocals: 3.5 Lyrics: Izumi Sakai:
Music: 2 Music: Seiichiro Kuribayashi
Production: 3 Production: Masao Akashi
I am not really sure the intro into the song with a noisy room filled with conversation really works, then synthy xylophone effect bring us further into the song cross mixed with the conversation… it is distracting. Sakai’s vocals are pleasant and solid but the music feels like it is fighting her. The backup vocals are a bit off. The production of the track is pretty good, but drum hits are a little loud.
"Why Don't You Leave Me Alone"
Vocals: 3.75 Lyrics: Izumi Sakai
Music: 3.75 Music: Daria Kawashima
Production: 4 Production: Takeshi Hayama
The interplay between Sakai and the synt heavy music works well. Not a huge fan of the chorus on the track but everything else is very on point. Drums are pretty pronounced, everything outside of synthesizers perk up after the halfway mark.
"Ai wa Nemutteru" (愛は眠ってる)
Vocals: 4 Lyrics: Izumi Sakai
Music: 3.75 Music: Daria Kawashima
Production: 3 Production: Daisuke Ikeda
A very chirpy lead in, then pretty heavy guitars take over. The music is bit too assertive for Sakai’s lyrics at times, but her delivery is good and she hits some high notes really well here. Production is the weak spot, it needed more balance between vocals and instruments. Overall I really like this track though and its kind of a subtle banger.
"Tooi Hi no Nostalgia" (遠い日のNostalgia)
Vocals: 4 Lyrics: Izumi Sakai
Music: 4 Music: Eisuke Mochizuki
Production: 3.5 Production: Masao Akashi
A piano driven song and it is a good song, but also very much at home for the early 1990s. Sakai’s lyrics are very smooth. Drums are a touch over emphasized. Uhg needless scythe hits. It lives somewhere between mid and up tempo and has some neat structural elements.
"So Together"
Vocals: 2.75 Lyrics: Izumi Sakai
Music: 2 Music: Daria Kawashima
Production: 1.75 Production: Masao Akashi
This feels like the last song on an album by how the intro plays out. It is… but gotta fill out an album. anyways Sakai’s vocals are really just okay here, not her best. The music is a bit unbalanced with the vocals, not much but noticeable to me at times then the chorus is a bit too amped up. Akashi, make up your mind!
Overall scores:
Vocals: 3.97
Music: 3.75
Production: 3.45
On the balance, do I like “Hold Me” as a complete album? Yes, I do. Sakai, I think, finds her feet as a vocalist which I think is its best quality. Does it hit consistently, no. What I feel here is this will not go down as one of ZARD’s best albums as I work my way through her catalog. I can say it feels like a ZARD album and I could not say that as much as her first two albums.
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