Face to Face (椎名へきる) Sony SRCL-4452 released 1999.01.21 total time 55:52

This is a solo CD album by Shiina Hekiru (椎名へきる).

The tracks are as follows.

1. This Moment
2. fly away
3. Let me sing with soul
4. Tears
5. Kono Yo de Ichiban Taisetsu na Mono (この世で一番大切なもの)
6. Aitai (あいたい)
7. invisible
8. Dakishimete (抱きしめて)
9. Wakaranai Otoko (分からない男)
10. Atarashii Kaze (新しい風)
11. ROLLING STONE
12. Zutto... (ずっと・・)

This is Hekiru's 6th album. Like the previous one, it has a strong rock sound, but with more melodious tunes which make it seems more pop. The quality of this CD is higher than even I was hoping for. While I don't like Hekiru's new singing style (it sounds unnatural), the backing music is extremely well arranged and the instrumentals are all excellent. There is some amazing guitar work in this CD.

All the songs are good. There are fast songs, mid-tempo songs, and slow ballads (not rock ballads like the last CD). For example, the last song is sung to a piano solo. Most the other songs feature really strong electric guitar which makes it sound quite hard, and yet still remain very listenable due to the pop nature of the tunes.

At 55:52 and 12 tracks, this is the longest of Hekiru's CDs. The first press comes as a "3-sided digipack" which is essential a sort of thick glossy paper construct that unfolds out. While the Hekiru calendar was very cute and cheesy, the CD jacket, despite the revealing cover, is very well done. Only a few pictures of Hekiru, but it feels really good and professional overall. I'm very impressed with Sony and Hekiru's music producer.

Bottom line: It's not rock, but it's a really good album. Buy it! :P