Shiina Ringo is a genius. She is literally a genius. From “Kokode Kisu Shite” to “Toumei Ningen,” Shiina covers all musical genres with incredible grace. Her deep lyrics, emotional vocals, and mind boggling complex music easily makes Shiina Ringo my favorite musician in the world.

I’ll begin by addressing Shiina’s third solo album, “Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana.” This is hands down my favorite album of all time. Furthermore, this is the only album in my 20 gigabyte collection to receive a perfect score: 5 stars for every song. Meaning: at one point each song on this CD was my favorite song. The lyrics for the album are written in old style Japanese and every song flows precisely into the next, making it necessary to sit down and listen all in one go. I believe an analysis of this album would be a good way to analyze Ringo as a whole.

Note: while listening to Shiina Ringo it’s essential to be properly equipped with a nice pair of headphones. The intricacies in this album are worth their weight in the extra cash you’ll need to hear them.

1. Shuuykuu: The first song I ever heard from Shiina Ringo. A friend of mine sent it to me during 9th grade. From that day until now, the song continues to amaze me with it’s complexity. There must be 20 different instruments in this song alone, and get this: Ringo composed the music for ALL of them. Like I said, she’s a genius. From the terrifying intro to the wicked style change 60 seconds in, this song grabs hold of you from the beginning and takes you on a roller coaster ride through madness, weaving through a rainbow of emotions. This is also the first song used in my Center of Gravity tutorial, if you’d like to listen (although the quality is rather low).

2. Doppleganger: This song is introduced with fuzzy percussion, a jewelry box solo, and low quality sound bytes. Things pick up after a minute: the tempo doubles, several new instruments kick in, and the vocals fall underwater. Oboes and flutes lead the song rest of the song. The wonderful solo is a blend of percussion and disorder, which drop off into the last minute of steady snare taps. The sounds ends brilliantly with what at first seems to be the CD skipping but is later realized as a return to the jewelry box from the beginning.

3. Meisai: This song is great for comparing Ringo to other musicians. Why? Because for the most part, it’s a pretty standard rock song. Guitars, basic drum kit, non-altered vocals, and a bass. Oh yea, and a CRAZY fiddle. Unlike most songs, which are led by the guitar, a Chinese fiddle plows the way in this upbeat rock tune. It’s standard song is most other regards, but anything ‘standard’ done by Ringo ends up as polished perfection. This track is a shinning example of that: a brilliant rock song, but with an angry fiddle. The conclusion is clever, with the sound of Ringo lighting a cigarette, almost as if to quell the stress and commotion of the song.

4. Odaijini: The albums only, “slow song.” 4 very distinct elements work together to make this beautiful piece work. First is the tormented vocals, delivered perfectly by Ringo’s nasal voice. Accompanying the vocals is a simple piano backdrop. These elements alone would make a beautiful song, but of course Ringo brings it to a different, bizarre level instead. The third element is an odd yet suitable radio broadcast, filled with static and indiscernible language. The final piece, a wailing distortion guitar, pulls everything together for a somewhat controlled chaos.

5. Yattsuke Shigoto: This song has the coolest intro I’ve ever heard. Imagine you’ve just turned on an old radio and are flipping through channels looking for something you like. There is a classical station, a french talk show, and a whole bunch of static. You find a station you like and the song starts. About 15 measures in the downbeat hits and the static cuts out. Suddenly the song you were trying to find on the old radio becomes a symphony playing 5 feet from your face. Symphony: that’s the word to describe this song. With no conventional ‘rock’ instruments, this piece makes do with strings galore, pianos and even a harpsichord. The 5 note whistle 3 and a half minutes into the song is Ringo at her best: it’s as if the person that turned on the radio has caught on to the song, and is whistling along. The ending is played out perfectly between the piano and harpsichord. This is the last song of my titanium ankles tutorial, if you’d like a sample.

6. Kuki: A haunting bass line with foreboding cellos sets the dark tone for Kuki, which is the perfect complement to Yattsuke Shigoto. Violins pick things up about 30 seconds in, and the tone is lifted. Just when things begin to brighten, the violins cut and piano leads things back into the dark. The song continues to play out in a similar fashion: an inevitable struggle to escape from darkness. All through the song it feels as if we’re bending over backwards to break free. Each chorus makes a futile attempt to lift, only to be destroyed by the verse. The final chorus explodes with the an absolutely beautiful high note melody, putting an end to the depression.

7. Toroshiku: Before beat boxing became mainstream, ringo used her voice as the beginning percussion in Toroshiku. The song is so simple to begin with, nothing but voices. Melody, bass, percussion: all handled by the vocal folds…for a bit. Suddenly an intense racket explodes from nowhere, completely changing the pace of the song. Before you can catch your breath, the clamour is ripped away and things return to normal. For the rest of the song, individual instruments from the original uproar tease the verse, only to return as a whole during the obnoxiously brilliant chorus. A final style change is added towards the end of the song, which returns to the original pace before sliding into Okonomide.

8. Okonomide: A smooth jazz like piece led by a steady harpsichord and simple drums. The song really shines during the chorus when the vocal melody is reinvented in one-two pairs. An obscure train broadcast is played during the latter half of the song, and yes, it somehow fits in perfectly. Ringo splices the last “thank you” and uses it as additional percussion for a measure. The climatic chorus is preceded by a ‘teaser’: the sounds of crickets chirping with Ringo singing over it. The fade into Ishiki with the sound of compressing gasses is my favorite section on the album.

9. Ishiki: After thoroughly listening to this album more than 25 times, I’ve decided that Ishiki is my overall favorite track. Playful is the best way to describe the song. A light guitar and flute work together throughout the piece, guiding the vocals, which are some of Ringo’s best. She covers a wide range with some of the most intense lows in her collection. Although it is probably the most ‘simple’ piece on the album, the melody is simply golden. The song gives me the same anxious joy I get just before finishing my homework. It was the second song of my titanium ankles video and ends quickly to the sound of rail cars and ‘do not cross’ signals.

10. Poltergeist: The song has perhaps the strangest blend of styles ever: circus instruments and strings. It feels like you’re walking through a carnival with a symphony following you. And just somehow, it works out incredibly. The wispy melody is just the ticket!

11. Souretsu: This is the single most complex song I’ve ever heard. An almost evil strings intro coupled with sitars set the stage for another petrifying track. The overall tone is extremely dark, with instruments coming and going just to dampen the mood. Layers upon layers of vocals in addition to the haunting organs tear the melody back forth. The final style change makes the song feel as if is rising from the dead, absolutely brilliant! The track ends with the volume doubling as every instrument used on the album is slowly added to the melting pot of insanity.

Now THAT is an album. With every instrument, every note, and every word for each song chosen and composed by ringo, it’ easy to see what makes this woman a musical genius. And that’s just ONE of her albums. Each album is distinctly different, touching genres like metal and reggae and everything in between. If you’re into rock, check out Muzai Moratorium. Feel like Jazz? Pick up Adult. I have never met someone that wasn’t impressed by the beautiful complexity of Ringo’s music. Check her out.

Top Songs:
1. Keshou Naoshi
2. Ishiki
3. Souretsu
4. Tomei Ningen
5. Kabukichou no Jou