I guess it’s time for me to share my thoughts on Utada’s new album as well. So here goes! Also check out Renés review over at monki.net.
My expectations were high, it’s Utada after all and she’s one of my favorite singers. After listening to the first three songs I really thought this could be the best American r&b I’ve ever heard. I can’t deny that it’s a really good album, but I just don’t like some of the songs at all.
On And On, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence -FYI and Apple And Cinnamon are all great, the start couldn’t be better. However, Taking My Money Back, This One (Crying Like A Child) and Automatic Part II. I didn’t really like any of these, This One is okay but nothing special to me. The 7th song, Dirty Desire, is pretty good though, but I think the ending is horrible, like incredibly horrible. The next song, Poppin’, is okay but a bit repetitive and her “would you like that” keeps getting stuck in my head because it sounds weird, it’s like she has a new accent all of a sudden. My thoughts of Come Back To Me hasn’t changed since I first heard it, it’s just amazing and it was a good choice for the single release. I don’t like the PV for it though! The last song (not counting the remixes), Me Muero, is pretty interesting, I like how the sound changes to something a little funkier and the lyrics are great.
As for the remixes, I don’t like the one by Seamus Haji and Paul Emanuel, I’ve never liked the mix of eurobeat/house and r&b. And I guess the same goes for the second one by Quentin Harris. I think the remixes kind of ruin the overall feeling of the album, sure I get it if they play it in clubs, I’d digg that, but I’d rather take a bonus track than two remixes. Oh and one last thought on Automatic Part II, just like René said, this would’ve made a good interlude but it kind of sucks as a full song.
Well anyways, I like more tracks than I dislike so I’m pretty satisfied! What are your thoughts the album?
You can buy the album on Amazon or on iTunes.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like we’ve got pretty much the same thoughts on the album! It starts off great and ends pretty good, but a lot of the middle either bores me or underwhelms me enough to skip it.
Still, it sounds like just the few good tracks are enough for success here in the states.. she’s promoting like a madwoman in California the next week!
Yeah, I wonder if she can keep it up though. Maybe she should’ve made a mini-album instead of including mediocre songs.
Do you know how it’s going for BoA? I like Eat Me Up a lot!
I would choose neither of them as they are not Jukujo type. Yuko Tanaka would’ve been a good choice as a female actress.
Well, compared to you guys, I think it’s a nice change that she went to do an R&B style to her album.
But I heard its her lowest US album only selling 77,000 copies and getting 3# place but I’m glad she did something new. It surprised me and I was happy.
My favourite (or songs that I would only choose) would be Come Back to Me, Apple and Cinnamon, Dirty Desire (I know what you mean by the ending but unfortuantely, you’ll have to get used to it), On and On (My favourite), Merry Christmas FYI and Taking My Money Back.
I think alot of you are not happy with the fact she’s doing songs like Passion or Colous anymore, well maybe she’s changing her style again. We will have to get used to it.
Like “Come Back To Me.” Loved last year’s “Prisoner of Love,” I guess, overall, her Japanese stuff tends to blow me away while her English stuff usually just has me thinking, “Yeah, it’s pretty good.”
Im on the same thinking as u, I loved her albums from Deep River to Heart Station, but this album, I just dont like it, I loved Utada’s more pop kinda music, and I hated Rnb, even if she’s 1 of my favourite singers of all times, I can’t give This is the one any credit
I think it was a concious choice that her next english album would be more mainstream.
But I’ve always prefered her japanese music more though.
The video to come back to me is really gorgeus.
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence is a catchy song, it’s been stuck in my head for a while now.
I like Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. Overall, I find this album better than her previous Exodus album
OK here is my opinion coming from a non- Japanese. I feel this album is great and much better then the usual fare you hear these days. Popular doesn’t necessarily mean good these days. Much of the music on da radio now is uninspiring and generic. Utada on the other hand I feel has tremendous potential. OK so maybe this album is a bit of a departure for Utada but is that really a bad thing. Isn’t the goal here widen your demographic and not just preach to the choir.
That think this was a very good effort and much better then her last attempt. Why Asian artists haven’t been able to break into the market is anyone’s guess. Although it isn’t from lack of talent. SoulHead is another great example of another group which showed great potential and talent but fell short. Charice Pempengco is another example and has been making a lot of headway in achieving that goal as well. It is bound to catch on sooner or latter but who makes it there first is the million dollar question.
I will say this though. In comparison to Boa’s Debut Album Utada had a much better release. Boa’s might have been more of a mainstream attempt but unlike Utada she didn’t keep true to herself and thus it fell somewhat short.. I respect Utada for taking risks which I feel payed off quite well.
I’m actually not sure about BoA, I don’t listen to her so I don’t keep up with the news about her. As far as the people I do know who like her, they say they like her US album more than Utada’.