Anamanaguchi Anyway
Released Aug 8, 2025 Polyvinyl Records
Early read 1 professional review Updated Feb 21, 2026
Mostly positive consensus
Early read based on 1 professional reviews. Anamanaguchi's Anyway marks a deliberate pivot to guitar-forward textures that recast their chiptune roots in shoegaze and grunge hues, and critics say the gamble largely pays off.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
Magnet
1 critic mention
“it has to be “Magnet” that stands out most.” — Ear Milk
Sparkler
1 critic mention
“Opening up with “Sparkler”, the album starts off feeling like the band plugged their 8-bit selves into a much older set of technology” — Ear Milk
Rage (Kitchen Sink)
1 critic mention
“Previously-released single “Rage (Kitchen Sink)” is exactly what it says” — Ear Milk
Full critic consensus
Anamanaguchi's Anyway marks a deliberate pivot to guitar-forward textures that recast their chiptune roots in shoegaze and grunge hues, and critics say the gamble largely pays off. Ear Milk's review awards the record a 70/100, noting that songs like “Magnet” and “Sparkler” emerge as the best songs on Anyway, where brash hooks and nostalgic 8-bit timbres meet distorted guitars.
Across the collection reviewers consistently praise the band for combining chiptune and rock without losing their signature frenetic energy. Standout track “Magnet” is singled out as a brash love song, while “Sparkler” fuses new and old identities; critics also point to energetic cuts such as “Lieday” and “Rage (Kitchen Sink)”, and highlight quieter, melodic moments like “Darcie” that introduce shoegaze-tinged atmospherics. The consensus score of 70.0 from one professional review frames Anyway as a confident, well-executed exploration rather than a radical reinvention.
Some reviewers emphasize that the record's strength lies in finding a clearer voice within a new rock palette, even if the shift will feel divisive to purists of their earlier sound. For readers wondering whether Anyway is worth listening to, the critical consensus suggests it is an intriguing, often rewarding step forward that makes the best tracks feel essential listening while leaving room for further evolution.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Sparkler
Rage (Kitchen Sink)
Magnet
Lieday
Come for us
Buckwild
Sapphire
Valley of Silence
Fall Away
Darcie
Really like to
Nightlife
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 5 critics who reviewed this album
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Critic's Take
Anamanaguchi have recast themselves on Anyway, and the best songs - notably “Magnet” and “Sparkler” - prove the gamble pays off. The reviewer’s voice relishes the band plugging their 8-bit selves into older technology, with “Magnet” singled out as a standout brash love song and “Sparkler” fusing new and old identities. There is praise for the retained frenetic energy on tracks like “Lieday” and “Fall Away”, while quieter moments such as “Darcie” show a successful, melodic drift toward shoegaze-tinged grunge. Overall the critic presents Anyway as a confident, well-executed pivot that both preserves and expands the band’s strengths.
Key Points
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“Magnet” stands out for its brash simplicity and memorable chords, making it the album’s best track.
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The album’s core strengths are a successful pivot to guitar-driven rock while retaining the band’s frenetic, pixellated identity.
Themes
