This post is somewhat of a filler post I guess, as I don’t feel like reviewing anything today really. But it is a little interesting. And after reading Stereo Love’s blog it made me want to do some post like this. So here it is:

What’s in an album title? This little article will focus on the title of albums, whether it come from a song on the album, or whether it’s just out of the blue; and also what it reveals about the title track and whether it was good or not. The real question however is is it pure driven emotion, just some title, spur of the moment, or perhaps some insight? But either way there’s a reason behind it, whether it’s obvious or not. Now for some artists, the album may come from their company, however absurd that might sound; but for some have more deeper, hidden reasons. But for now, we’ll review some basic reasons, and my thoughts.
First up is Hikki!

Heart Station - Utada Hikaru

Well we all know about this little gem, right? It was Hikki’s 5th Japanese studio album. But more importantly it was named after the song off a single of her previous single. And it’s a very good title. As the lyrics mention receiving frequencies of the heart, it gives the album a personal feel. However, I personally think she was trying to express her feelings threw the music, especially about the divorce with he ex. But I guess it also symbolizes a new beginning for Hikki. Anyway Hikki mentioned that Heart Station was a good name for the album because it was the overall feel. Either way it was a fitting name. And on a last small note, the song was fantastic and one of the best allusions.

Ultra Blue - Utada Hikaru

Originally released as her 4th Japanese studio albu,m this has been the only Japanese album to not the album name, full name, to come from an song. Anyway, to the title, i’m not sure whether it was actually from emotions or anything, but my guess it was named after her favorite color, which is BLUE, and the name of one of the songs. And when she was asked a question on what her favorite color was she said it was blue, and as for the ultra part, she said that blue sounded so lonely and it didn’t specify a blue, so she then added the ultra, and there you have it. As for the song BLUE, it was pretty good, sweet, and so simple.

Exodus - Utada Hikaru

Hikki’s first full English album, well once she reached stardom. But this album really gave Hikki a chance to express herself. As for the title, like Ultra Blue, it came from a song, or in this case it was a part of the song. In order to make the album, she moved to New York to record it. An exodus is moving from one area from another, often forced to for some reason. Now in her song, Exodus 04, she sings of moving from Tokyo to a new place, New York in real life. The point was this was journey for her in many ways, and it seems to have been successful. I’d like to say that the title wasn’t really just spur of the moment, it was emotional and nice too.

Time for Ayumi!

Secret - Ayumi Hamasaki

Here we have Ayumi Hamasaki’s 8th studio album. After only a few singles, two really, this once mini-album was turned studio album. Now this album is named after one of the last tracks on this album. I personally don’t think that the title track was that phenomenal but it was good, but the album was nothing short of genius. As for the title, well Ayumi stated that she wanted people to feel that they knew her better, like they knew her secret, which is very personal and lovely. I do think that it affected this album a little bit, especially with the first track, mentioning miracles and secrets. Overall, it was an attempt for her to become more well known with her fans, if that’s possible, but it was nice and very personal, go Ayumi!

Memorial address - Ayumi Hamasaki

Well, even though I said album, i think that this mini album would be a good example of what’s in an album title. This was Ayumi’s first mini-album under AVEX, and it’s a pretty darn good one at that. Anyway, this mini-album had a lot of dark inspired and sadder songs featured, most would be added to her latests A BEST 2 albums. But this album was really about how Ayumi was feeling about her father, who left her and her mother. And that’s really a lot of emotion was put into here, especially with forgiveness, Because of You, and finally Memorial address. And it was really moving and very emotion driven and very sad when you think about it. But the title did fit the album in this case.

GUILTY - Ayumi Hamasaki

Guilty was Ayumi’s latest studio album and her latest venture into music, really rock, but music will do. This album was very emotional, especially with the last song being, and considering the album was dedicated to a friend of hers. I have no clue whether or not Ayumi felt guilty, but that was the title track and one of the songs on the album. As for the song, i felt it lacked a lot, emotion, power, and climax, but it made you feel so sad and sorry. And that’s what you feel when you’re guilty, right? I did feel that this was one of her most powerful albums to date. This album was very heart wrenching and very sad once you when hear it all, and the lyrics. You might find yourself feeling a little Guilty with this album and it’s title. But the last track was really what defined the album, rather than the title track.

BoA is up!

THE FACE - BoA

BoA’s 6th Japanese studio album and and another no. 1 album. This album is really different compared to the previous albums above. I mean there was no title track here whatsoever. However, this was a little more expressive. The album contained many different types of genres of music, song wise. And it seemed to be a little more personal for BoA. But it was a chance to know the many faces of BoA, hence the title I think. It was pretty good, but I guess it was spur of the moment. Not much to add besides that.

That concludes this section of What’s In An Album Title??? Check back later for part 2!

Nichiyo no Asa lit. Sunday Morning right? In this case not so. Well let’s review shall we, in an interview Hikki stated that Sunday was a day or relaxation and rest. Although it seems that this whole week has been Sunday. And to be honest with you, reviewing so many singles and albums at once gets to be a little boring and dull, not to mention tiring. And despite having an almost free review week, I did review 5 singles in 5 days, so I’m not that lazy. But anyone this week, or weekend really, my cousins and a few friends came down to visit. Of course it’s because there’s an anime convention, the Anime Mid-Atlantic Convention, and they happen to have it in a place that’s very close to where I live, so naturally I went, and I will continue going till Sunday when it ends. And therefore the reviews will be halted until Monday, although I already have one review almost finished. So this is really about my little break; funny how I use song names for break posts.

But a little extra: I went there and I saw some great manga and anime along with some voice actors. And I even saw a few CD’s, although none were really that good. Well I saw a few Hikki and Kumi CDs but only 4 at the most and all were old stuff, no recent hits and they were $12 (I could buy one Hikki CD on itunes for that and have extra left over). Kinda sad isn’t it. Well that’s it, enjoy the other reviews!
Edit:I later found an Ayumi CD too! But it was so expensive, fairyland CD+DVD was $26 and A Clips Vol.2, I think, which contained videos from vogue Far away Seasons to evolution and that was about $60, so naturally I didn’t buy it. And two Hikki CDs were sold out.

Hikki CD’s: Addicted To You, Wait & See ~Risk~, Hikari, Sakura Drops / Letters
Kumi CD’s: Birthday Eve, Lies, Candy, Kamen
Ayumi CD’s: fairyland CD+DVD, A Clips Vol.2

*Sorry about the picture, the quality is too high for me to do a Not yet*

Prisoner Of Love was Utada Hikaru’s 21st single. It was released on May 21, 2008 and reached number 2 on the charts with 38,902 copies sold. This single is the first re-cut single since First Love. And this is also the first single that Hikki’s released in only CD+DVD edition and include an 8 page photobook, of course it was released digitally along with the PV. The reason, like First Love, for this song to be released as a re-cut single was due to popular demand. The title track was used as the theme song for the new drama Last Friends, while the B-Side was used as an insert. Oddly enough, most promotion for this single, and song was done for the album, or was it for this single??? Anyway Hikki performed this song live at least three times. This single officially ends the HEART STATION Era.

Tracks:
1. Prisoner Of Love
2. Prisoner Of Love -Quiet Version-
3. Prisoner Of Love (Original Karaoke)
4. Prisoner Of Love -Quiet Version- (Original Karaoke)

Review:
Prisoner Of Love, the ballad with the sad cord. This song was originally released with Hikki’s 5th Japanese album HEART STATION, but due to popular demand it was re-released as a re-cut single. And since I’ve reviewed this song before, I’ll just give it a tiny review. This song begins with Hikki singing in English accompanied by the piano, later followed by some R&B beats. Beginning with the first verse, the music begins to sound very R&B like, and sad too. Then the strings come into play, followed by the chorus. The chorus is different each time, no lyrics are the same. While the strings play a role, with the piano, they’re almost drowned out by the beats. The chorus moves mid-tempo you could say, and it’s very catchy. The English at the end was a great touch and it made it complete. Hikki’s vocals here were excellent as she was able to hit those high notes and low notes (especially during some of the English parts). The end was particularly good, those last words in English, and a little in Japanese, really sounded fantastic. Even the background vocals were great. Best song for a re-cut single, no doubt about it.

Prisoner Of Love -Quiet Version- strings superiority. The first time people found out about this version was April 8, when her site stated it’d be featured on this single. Now it took a while for people to actually hear it, but it of course was used as an insert for Last Friends, and by that time people we going crazy about it. It wouldn’t be until April 30 that people got an actual listen via her site. Some people had mixed views; but to me it’s clear, this version is better. Now there are some notable differences in this song. First, this version is shorter by about 10 seconds; and to top that off, there are a new set of vocals. Now her first recording was great, but this one seems so much better. And there are no R&B beats for this song, it’s all orchestra and piano; and the strings are so lovely, they suit the song well. Another great thing is that aren’t as many background vocals in this song. The chorus here sounded so superior to the original as it sounded more like a true ballad, strings and all. This has got to be one of the best remixes or new versions that she’s ever made.

Overall Review: Prisoner Of Love was Hikki’s best re-cut single in years. It was the perfect song for a single. The music was phenomenal and the vocals were so amazing. This just really goes to show you that Hikki is more talented then some of us thought. It also has to be one of her most beautiful ballads to date, especially with the lyrics. The new Quite Version was a great addition to the single, and also better than the original, a rare thing nowadays. Quality of quantity, and this single just goes to prove that.

Final Grade: 100A+

Movin’ on without you was Utada Hikaru’s 2nd single. It was released on February 17, 1999 and reached number 1 on the charts with 880,000 copies. This single was released in a 8cm and 12cm format, each with a different final track. In all this single has sold over 1,226,580+ copies. This was the second single in the First Love Era.

Tracks:
1. Movin’ on without you
2. B&C
3. Movin’ on without you -tribal mix- (12cm)
3. Movin’ on without you (original karaoke) (8cm)

Review:
Movin’ on without you, the R&B tune with a hint of rock. Guitar riffs, and the keyboard, open up the song accompanied with Hikki’s perfect English. Next R&B beats come into play and the verses appear. Hikki’s vocals sound nice, soft, but nice. The chorus is very catchy with R&B beats and music along with the guitar playing. The lyrics sound nice too, even though there’s no English, well not in the chorus anyway. One surprising thing about the song was that there was more English in the verses, which were a lot longer than the choruses, and for some reason I liked the verses more. I still really like this song though, it’s so lovable.

B&C, the infamous duo. Now don’t start asking questions just yet about the description. No, the song is not a duo itself but it’s the title. The title stands for Bonnie & Clyde, two of the most famous criminals during the Great Depression. Anyway, the song begins with those great, slow R&B beats. During which Hikki ad-libs “Take a chance.” The first few verses begin dull but build up momentum until the sound great. Then the chorus sweeps you away with the R&B style music and superb lyrics, and that little hint of English. Some of the instrumentals sound like drums and other like banging on trash can lids, either way they fit the song well. Hikki’s vocals sound great here, they’re high throughout most of the song, but they’re still good. It’s not a bad B-Side once you listen.

Overall Review: Movin’ on without you was yet again another sensational R&B single. I loved the title track so much, even now, because it’s so addictive and so memorable. The B-Side was even good too, especially the melody and background music. It’s no wonder why this is one of her highest selling singles. If you listen to one 1990’s R&B single, make it Movin’ on without you.

Final Grade: 100A+

Automatic / time will tell was Utada Hikaru’s 1st single. It was released on December 9, 1998 and it reached number 2 and 4 on the charts with 42,210 copies sold. At this time, her singles were released in 12cm and 8cm format, and naturally the 12cm edition reached number 2. In all this single has sold over 2,062,780+ copies, the 12cm edition has sold over 1,290,700+ copies and the 8cm edition has sold over 772,080+ copies. This single skyrocketed her popularity and she “became famous overnight” in the words of her classmates, mostly because of her new R&B style that was so new to Japan. She released this single when she was only 15 years old. This also marks the beginning of the most popular album of all time, and it began the First Love Era.

Tracks:
1. Automatic
2. time will tell
3. Automatic (Original Karaoke) (8cm)
3. time will tell (Dub Mix) (12cm)

Review:
Automatic, the brand new R&B sensation. The song opens up with some R&B beats followed by Hikki singing some English, then she begins to sing the next few verses in some great vocals. Although the song is slower paced than her new songs it still sounds so amazing, even with her young vocals. Throughout the song English can be heard as it was Hikki’s first language. The chorus then begins and it sounds so mind blowing. The beats are slow and yet enticing, the lyrics use English and they’re so catchy. The overall melody was superb and the music was so unique and excellent. The lyrics mention how “just when you’re close to me” and “I feel so good” and that “it’s automatic.” Towards the end a guitar can be heard playing and Hikki ends it with her singing in English. No wonder it’s a fan favorite.

time will tell, the softer R&B tune. This song contrary to popular belief was written before Automatic, this can be seen on her first compilation album. It begins with Hikki ad libbing and with the piano playing, shortly though the music changes and takes on that distinct R&B vibe. The music is softer than Automatic and it moves quicker and features a piano playing. Hikki then begins the first few verses and after the first few lines the piano plays. The chorus then begins and it sounds so different from Automatic but in a good way, it sounds a little more light hearted. It sounds pretty catchy, although I think it could’ve been a bit better. The final chorus sounds a lot better than the first, and the music even sounds a little better, even though it’s the same. The lyrics mention “There’s no clever shortcut to tomorrow,” “So it’s OK not to hurry so much,” and that “Time will tell.” What a great first song from Hikki. Although this isn’t half as popular as Automatic, which was used to close Utada United 2006 and fans were cheering when it began, it’s still good.

time will tell (Dub Mix), an English mix for those that don’t speak Japanese. The music is the same here but the lyrics are entirely in English. Although the actual singing doesn’t begin until the 2 minute mark. The chorus here sounds better in English, but that’s just my opinion. Hikki’s vocals sound softer here but they’re still great. The lyrics mention “I’ve gotta let you know that you’re not alone” and that” we just can’t control the time.” This version also features more background vocals than the original. She should do more dub versions for sure.

Overall Review: Automatic / time will tell was a phenomenal R&B breakthrough single. This single is responsible for making Hikki what she is today, in terms of popularity. The new, now old, R&B style was really what made it so memorable. Both songs were so simple compared to some of her songs now, but they’re so classic, so inspiring. It was an almost magical way to begin the First Love Era.

Final Grade: 100A+

HEART STATION is Utada Hikaru’s 5th studio album. It was released on March 19, 2008. It reached number 1 on the Oricon charts with 480,081 copies, but this is only from Tuesday and on, so in total the album sold 501,681 copies on the first week. In all the album has sold over 910,890+ copies, making it her first album to surpass a previous album. This album contains all singles from the childish Boku wa Kuma to the ethereal and mid-tempo ballad Heart Station / Stay Gold. One thing noticeable about this album is that most of the old tracks are on the beginning six, with the exception of Fight The Blues, and most of the new tracks are in the latter seven tracks. According to a magazine this is Hikki’s most heartwarming album to date. She also mentioned that her role as a women played a part in this album.

Album / 10th Anniversary Promotions:
As far as I’ve seen this is the most heavily promoted album that Hikki has released. Free ringtones were available for 4 days each for Automatic and First Love, the total downloads were 500,000+ and 700,000+ respectfully. Along with that EMI Japan is working alongside Mixi, a site similar to Facebook, to promote the album and those that write about their First Love are entered to win special prizes. Along with that 4 magazines have been give CD Data along with 20 pages full of interviews etc and some scans. A spread for ROCKIN’ ON Japan, a popular magazine, was also made. This album as marks her 10th Anniversary into the music industry. Many songs had tie-ins, thus helping promoting the album. For example, Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version- was used in Hana Yori Dango 2, and Prisoner Of Love will be used in the drama Last Friends. Stay Gold was used in an ASIENCE CM and HEART STATION was used in a Recochoku CM. And there are many other tie-ins. And feel free to comment to tell me what you think of my reviews. *Thanks to La La for the album scans!

Tracks:
1. Fight The Blues
2. HEART STATION
3. Beautiful World
4. Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version-
5. Stay Gold
6. Kiss & Cry
7. Gentle Beast Interlude
8. Celebrate
9. Prisoner Of Love
10. Take 5
11. Boku wa Kuma
12. Niji-iro BASU
13. Flavor Of Life (Bonus Track)

Review:
Fight The Blues, synth and ethereal at its best. This song was used to promote the album and was released on the radio March 3, 2008. The song begins with the music followed by Hikki ad-libbing and then Hikki singing the chorus. The chorus here is so great lyrical wise and catchy-ness. The verses are short and sweet and sound so amazing. Right before the chorus you can hear some panting in the verse, and it sounds fantastic. The lyrics talk about how everyone fights the blues and that you shouldn’t be sad because when you are your enemies are happy. It also mentions that not only men, but women too must be strong. If it wasn’t that clear there is quite a bit of English present. After Hikki sings the third chorus the music softens until she sings the second part. This music is so synth and ethereal it’d fit into her more experimental pop music. After that Hikki sings the final chorus and it sounds so beautiful. Following that Hikki ad-libs in the end of the song. It was also the first new track on the album. This was a beautiful way to begin her 5th studio album.

HEART STATION, the radio inspired smash hit. This was the last song to be released as a single along with Stay Gold. This song was also the most popular song on the airwaves as it was played over 1000+ times, checkmating the competition. This was also the title track of the album. Hikki stated that it represented the overall feel of the album. The chorus is fantastically written and is so catchy. The lyrics talk about a Heart Station and how it’s full of sinners and lovers. And a little bit of information, when Hikki sang this song live she would add “This is from the bottom of my heart” everyone seemed to love it and hoped that it would be added to the album, it wasn’t sadly. But on the album case after the CD has been removed you can see writing that says “This is from the bottom of my heart” how cool is that. This is such a beautiful song with an ethereal flare that everyone should hear. Here is the full review of HEART STATION.

Beautiful World, the experimental pop sensation. This song was released as the third single of the album along with Kiss & Cry. It was also the image song for Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone. This is one of her most beautiful songs in years and it’s so catchy. The song has that Ultra Blue music feel to it, but not as ethereal. The chorus filled with the piano chords is so majestic, it’s catchy enough to be a dance tune I think but that’s me. Here the lyrics talk about having just one wish come true, and telling a beautiful boy that he still doesn’t realize his beauty. The verses are simple and yet still sound so good, so elegant. In the end you can hear Hikki ad-libbing once again, it seems like she’s been doing this more lately. This song has grown to be one of my favorite songs from Hikki. Click here for the full review of Beautiful World.

Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version- the ballad of the era. This song was released as a single along with the original version of Flavor Of Life. But this was the song that was used as an insert to a popular teen drama, a huge factor in its popularity. This is by every sense a ballad. Hikki’s voice sounds deep during the verses and yet high during the chorus, a beautiful combination. The music is an array of a piano, acoustic guitar, and an orchestra of strings. The chorus is so beautiful and mesmerizing. The lyrics talk about how it’s painful when you say “thank you” and that the unbreakable magic after “good bye” is weakly bittersweet. This is one of her best songs in years as far as ballads go, and part of her most successful single for this era. For the full review of Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version-, click here.

Stay Gold, the mid-tempo ballad. Stay Gold was released alongside HEART STATION as a double A-Side single less than a month before this album was released, thus ending the HEART STATION Era. This song however was first heard in December when it was used in an ASIENCE Shampoo commercial. The song can best be described as a mid-tempo ballad, that has a little R&B flare to it. The chorus is great and so short it seems. Here the lyrics mention that because they are loved they don’t have to worry about anything and that they should Stay Gold and keep smiling innocently. I thought that it was a change for Hikki’s singles because the mood was slightly different, but that’s OK. A little bit of extra information is that this song, like Take 5, was inspired a bit by death, which is most notably heard during the whispers, a nice little touch. For Stay Gold’s full review, click here.

Kiss & Cry, a hot percussion summer track. This song was released along with Beautiful World as a double A-Side single, more specifically the third single. This song was considered an effervescent, summer, pop/R&B tune. The song opens up with percussion instruments and then the R&B beats take effect. The verses are sweet and simple, and somewhat humorous. The chorus is so fantastic and screams upbeat. I personally think that this was the happiest of the songs released as a single, and it shows. Lyrical wise it’s not so serious as the others. It tells us to “Get closer, don’t hold back, even if you get hurt just a bit, it’s all right, Kiss & Cry.” Simple and yet sage advice, and from someone so young. Click here for the review of Kiss & Cry.

Gentle Beast Interlude, the mysterious new beginning. This interlude is really a separation of new and old. From here one out most of the songs are new, with the exception of two songs. This is also the first interlude that Hikki actually sings, or ad-libs I guess. Anyway Hikki ad-libs a few parts until you hear Heart Station in the background and that Ai… The music is fast-paced and sounds as if a beast is racing through a forest. The music is very upbeat and has the ethereal quality. This song along with Celebrate was put onto the same demo disk, and it shows as the transition between both songs was smooth.

Celebrate, the upbeat dance tune. This song took me by surprise as it followed right after Gentle Beast Interlude without any change, very good on Hikki’s part. The music is so upbeat and screams dance. The verses are pretty good and are modern as far as references go. The chorus is upbeat, exuberant, and really dance-able, not to mention catchy. I love this song because it sounds so full of happiness, sadly unlike a few of Hikki’s songs. There really isn’t that many words but Hikki has found a way to lengthen the song. The lyrics mention a secret wedding on a hill where the moon can be seen, how a dress suites a sexy lady, and to Celebrate. In the background you can hear Celebrate and Hikki ad-libbing. Another little thing about the song is that part of the lyrics mention a “beast with gentle eyes awakens,” remind you of a certain interlude? What a new upbeat, hot dance tune.

Prisoner Of Love, the ballad with a sad chord. This song was mentioned by Hikki to be the second strings so, but by no mean does it mean it’s a ballad, the song features some R&B like beats. This isn’t exactly all ballad, especially since it features some R&B beats, which makes it sound sad. The lyrics mention how “dull everydays have begun to shine” and how “you stole my heart.” The chorus here is really great, fast paced and is catchy. This song is also going to be used in a Japanese drama, and the lyrics were asked to be for friends and lovers. A little interesting fact is that this song was first written in English then in Japanese. One thing you’ll notice is that at the end of the chorus Hikki mentions that she’s a Prisoner Of Love, just a Prisoner of Love. I thought it was going to be just another ballad, but I was wrong. This song is beautifully composed and the lyrics are great. But it sounded so sad, but I guess that’s what they meant with the sad chord. This will be released as a re-cut single on May 21, and it will feature a Quiet Version.

Take 5, an atmosphere of synth. The music was originally intended to be used for an Ultra Blue track. It was called the most unique sounding song on the entire album. Hikki stated that she had some trouble coming up with the lyrics but after some help from Miyazawa Kenji’s “Ginga-Tetsudou no Yoru,” she was able to write it. The music is by far the most synth sounding music from Hikki. The lyrics are short and yet so profound. The chorus is so catchy and sounds excellent with the music complementing it. The lyrics mention that “Her mood today is the highest and that she wants to be translucent,” along with a few other things. It’s also epic sounding, like Kairo, but more synth involved. One of the few things about this song is that it ends so abruptly, some people wondered if it was an error on the person who leaked the album, but I think that it’s supposed to be like that because it’s the full length of the song. Some people have said that it symbolized that death can occur so unexpectedly, so maybe that’s why it stopped. It was confirmed that the song is supposed to end that way by the staff on Hikki’s website. Also, Hikki mentioned that death played a direct role in this song, she also said that she thinks of death as restful, and is fond of the idea. Truly a beautiful song filled with synth elements, despite it sounding unusual.

Boku wa Kuma, for the child in all of us. Boku wa Kuma was the first song to be released as a single and as a result the first single in the HEART STATION Era. To be honest with you when I first heard this song I was thinking that the album would be quite childish and dull. But thankfully this wasn’t a predictor of the mood of the album. This song was used as an image song for a children’s program, and is one of the reasons why it was so successful. The chorus is sweet and innocent, but a little repetitive. The lyrics talk about “I’m a bear, I’m a bear…” Despite it being childish, Hikki said that it taught her that being an artist means that you have to have a little fun. This song also reflects how much her bear, Kuma Chang, means to her. Not a bad song really. For the single that started it all, click here.

Niji-iro BASU lit. Rainbow Colored Bus, the upbeat sweet little song. This is the final new track on the album. Hikki mentions that this song has an “analog sound” to it. To me it’s almost an evolved version of Boku wa Kuma, mostly because it sounds a little childish, and yet mature, but they are great transtions. The lyrics are said to be sad, yet have a positive message to it. The song itself sounds very upbeat. The music is a little synth and a piano along with some beats. This song sounds a little reminiscent of her past RB works just because of the overall feel of the song. The chorus is pretty good, but not as good as the others. Throughout the song the English phrase “Everybody feels the same” can be heard. The lyrics mention that “Everybody rides the Rainbow Colored Bus to a place beyond the rainbow.” Interesting lyrics for an interesting song. Towards the end Hikki ad-libs until the song is finished. That’s really my favorite part, especially since Hikki’s voice sounds so amazing then.

Flavor Of Life, the ever popular tune. This is the original version of the Flavor Of Life. Originally the album was thought to have only 12 songs, but later it was determined that the album would contain 13 songs, and this was to be a bonus track. I guess it was to make the album more appealing as the ballad version was only going to be on the album. This is also the first time that a bonus track was already released before the album. This version is more synth oriented and is faster paced, and during the verses background voices can be heard. The lyrics are the same, so there’s no point in reviewing it more. I like this version better than the ballad version so I’m glad it was added to the album, I guess it’s also a great marketing tool too. Here is the full review of Flavor Of Life. This was a fantastic way to end Hikki’s best album yet.

Overall Review: HEART STATION was excellence and beauty in the flesh. It featured some of the best singles in her entirety and the best album songs in years. I liked all these songs because they were so new and had a happier mood than some of her previous works. The new songs were so new and ethereal and synth that it’s hard not to like it. And all the new tracks were able to hold their own against those that were released as singles, a rarity for most songs. Although, recently some people have disliked this album, but I can’t imagine why, the quality is superb. This is by far one of the best albums that she’s released in years. I also loved the simplistic design of the cover and of the photobooklet. It was a phenomenal 5th album and the best way to celebrate her 10th Anniversary.

Final Grade: 100A+++

Exodus was Utada Hikaru’s 1st English studio album, there was one before that but was released by Cubic U. Utada is the real artist here as it’s used for her American albums, but for category sake we’ll just say Hikki. It was released on September 8, 2004 in Japan and October 5, 2004 in the US. The album reached number 1 on the Oricon Charts with 523,761 copies sold, it would go on to sell over 1,074,000+ copies in Japan, making it very successful for an all English album. Hikki also maintained her record for 500,000+ copies in the first week for all of her albums. On the US charts, the Billboard 200, it reached 160 with virtually no promotion and sold 30,000 copies. Exodus was also the first album released under Island Def Jam, the second is scheduled this year, hopefully. One interesting fact is that a Japanese company created animations to promote the album, they were called Fluximations.

Tracks:
1. Opening
2. Devil Inside
3. Exodus ‘04
4. THE WORKOUT
5. Easy Breezy
6. Tippy Toe
7. Hotel Lobby
8. Animato
9. Crossover Interlude
10. Kremlin Dusk
11. You Make Me Want to Be a Man
12. Wonder ‘Bout
13. Let Me Give You My Love
14. About Me

Review:
Opening, the crossover. This is the introduction to the album and serves as a story almost. It speaks of Utada not wanting to crossover from this genre that genre. This is also the only song to not have music played at the beginning. The music begins later and starts to build up until Hikki begins singing. The lyrics are simple yet makes so much sense when you think of her changing from Japanese music to English music. The perfect beginning for the new era.

Devil Inside, the darkness inside. This song begins with a thumping sound that changes into a dark rock song. The song talks of people not knowing Hikki’s burn and how there’s a devil inside. The chorus sounds really good, somewhat catchy and propelled with the guitar and a Japanese instrument it seems. You can also here where parts were recorded and where she actually sang, even though she sings both parts. The music here follows that Japanese music vibe with a little synth and a few guitar beats. Before the final chorus you can hear Hikki’s voice distortions that sound so good it’s scary. Then she begins the final chorus, which sounds amazing. Devil Inside was released as a single and reached number 1 on the Dance Charts, mostly because the remixes were club/dance remixes.

Exodus ‘04, it’s all in the name. This song is considered a Japanese influenced song as the music has that Japanese feel. It’s not all that upbeat but the song is still good. The music isn’t too fast, it’s more slow paced. The lyrics talk about new music on the radio, saying goodbye to the friends they know, and that it’s their Exodus ‘04. Exodus is the movement of one group to another place, Hikki moving to America, and ‘04 was the year, so now you know how she got the title, if you all ready didn’t. This was really a great song, especially when you listen to the lyrics. Timbaland also helped co-write this song along with Hikki.

THE WORKOUT, funky beats. This song has the funkiest beat ever. The song…well it’s OK I guess, but I’ve heard better. The lyrics are pretty catchy and are fast paced, I actually like this part of the song. The lyrics keep talking about what a WORKOUT, kinda odd. This isn’t exactly the best song that she’s written for sure.

Easy Breezy, the first single. This song was the first song released as a single, and an upbeat one if that. This song features a synth beat, but not dance or club. Easy Breezy is also the only song to feature Japanese, only two words though, Konnichiwa and Sayōnara. This song also had a PV to go with it, which was shot by Jake Nava. The lyrics talk about how she doesn’t mean anything to a guy and how he’s Easy Breezy and she Japanesy. Quoting Hikki, she said that this is a basic love song with a story behind it. Also the lyrics here are quite humorous at some points, well that’s how Hikki wanted them to be. The chorus here is pretty good and sounds so catchy and the music is fantastic. What a great song, reminiscent of the summer.

Tippy Toe the naughty song. This song’s lyrics are about adultery and how a woman talks about her lover’s life. This is really a new topic for Hikki to cover, and it worked, the song is amazing. The chorus here is filled with that funky music that sounds so great and it’s so catchy. But the best part of this song is that it’s pretty upbeat. When you’re sneaking around you need to be on your Tippy Toes.

Hotel Lobby, the dark synth song. This song is mostly about prostitution in my opinion. The melody in the bridge, i think, is the same for Kiss & Cry as the melody was recycled. The lyrics are pretty simple and yet still are nice. The chorus is the most memorable part about the song as well as the most catchy part. The song tells a story about a girl going out because she needs the extra money and when she meets her “friend” it’s at the Hotel Lobby and when their eyes meet it’s in the mirrors of the Hotel Lobby. Quite the dark song, and yet still so great.

Animato, the strangest songs on the album. This song starts off with some eerie music that plays out through the entire song. The lyrics are the post peculiar part of the song, and talk of needing someone who does the laundry too. The chorus is catchy, and yet still weird. Hikki stated that this was the one song that she translated into Japanese herself as she felt that only she could translate it to what it meant to her. Not the best English work she’s done.

Crossover Interlude, this is the second interlude, or really the first. The same lyrics from Opening were used here. But this song is mixed differently and was shortened. The most notable difference was the clapping sound and snaps. Somewhat redundant for an interlude, but that’s OK.

Kremlin Dusk one word that says it all: Darkness. This song has that dark aurora surrounding it, but that’s okay. The music sounds pretty creepy especially with the keyboard playing in the eerie tone. Hikki also makes references to Edgar Allan Poe, a favorite poet of hers, like searching for Lenore and asking will the Raven come to visit. The chorus doesn’t come until the second half of the song. Towards the middle of the song Hikki starts singing and suddenly the the guitars burst out playing and Hikki begins the best part in my opinion. Towards this point the music is a lot faster and it sounds a lot better. The chorus here sounds amazing and is so catchy and talks about opposite attraction. Then the song begins to soften until that same eerie music ends the song. Without a doubt the best track on the album.

You Make Me Want To Be A Man, the second single. This song was released as a single but didn’t chart to well. This song has some weird music that is synth. Here the lyrics have a lot more meaning to Hikki. In the lyrics Hikki tries to understand her now ex-husband. The chorus is pretty good here and is really catchy. This song also had a PV for it that featured a futuristic theme for part of it, nothing like Traveling. But the PV was all so creepy, not her best PV. Despite that the music was good.

Wonder ‘Bout, remixed by Timbaland. Well being remixed by Timbaland you can hear the American influence. The music of this song is OK, but it’s the lyrics I worry about. I will say that I couldn’t stand this song, it’s just to Americanized. Worst song on the album.

Let Me Give You My Love is another co-written track by Timbaland and Hikki. The music here is so great. The melody sounds so good and the verses are pretty catchy. The chorus here sounds so prefect and are so catchy. The lyrics talk about Hikki and someone from America and how she want to give him her love, and how they should mix genes, naughty stuff. Despite all that the song is really good.

About Me, the final track. Truly a beautiful song. This song is an acoustic based song that features the acoustic guitar. The chorus here sounds so amazing and is so deep. The lyrics talk about how her lover should know something about her. The music here is simply spectacular and it really shows. This was one of the best songs on the album, and surely the perfect way to end this English album.

Overall Review: Exodus was a mind blowing album. The genres were strange in some cases but all of them were superb. I did like how the song contained so many great quality songs. Considering how all these songs were in English it’s fantastic. Some songs could have been better, but most were excellent. I truly thing that this was such a great venture for Hikki, as she was able to be more creative with this album. What a beautiful album.

Final Grade: 100A+

HEART STATION / Stay Gold was Utada Hikaru’s 20th single. It was released on February 20, 2008 and reached number 3 on the Oricon charts with 48,430 copies. This was the last single in Hikki’s HEART STATION Era. So far the single has gone to sell over 72,104+ copies, quite good considering it was released less than a month before the album. Despite this single reaching 3 in sales according to Billboard Japan, a new chart from Billboard now a competitor of Oricon, HEART STATION was the 1st number 1 for Billboard Japan Airplay Charts and number 2 for Hot 100. Despite low sale performances, HEART STATION has remained number 1 on the airplay charts for three consecutive weeks. And like SAKURA Drops, a PV was produced for HEART STATION and not for Stay Gold. The first press edition of this single came with Heart Station stickers. And if it was purchased at certain places, the single also included a ASIENCE shampoo, a tie-in product of Stay Gold.

Tracks:
1. HEART STATION
2. Stay Gold
3. HEART STATION (Original Karaoke)
4. Stay Gold (Original Karaoke)

Review:
HEART STATION, pop, blossoming with a sharpened sense of expression. This is an upbeat ethereal song, that really expresses what Hikki feels. This song was used in the CM for Recochoku, a ringtone site. It begins with a xylophone beat that continues and some synth music while Hikki sings Ai… which I believe is love. The lyrics sing of her and another not believing in their separation. The chorus here sounds so beautiful and is so catchy, it really speaks about hearing a voice on Heart Station. If you didn’t already know, the song refers to a Heart Station, like a radio station. Like most of Hikki’s songs you can hear some English, for this song it’s right after the first chorus when she sings “Baby, can you hear me, just tell me one thing… If you can hear me, say something.” The lyrics also mention a secret that only God knows. These lyrics are quite deep and sound amazing the way she sings them. The final chorus is mostly a repetition of the first chorus with a few differences, but it still sounds good, and that synth music makes all the difference. As the song begins to end you can hear her ad-libbing Ai…Heart Station.

Stay Gold the mid-tempo piano ballad. This was the first song that people heard back in October I believe, well the 15 sec CM. Its tie-in was for ASIENCE, a brand of shampoo. The piano is the main instrumental force here as it plays throughout the whole song, but you can notice the higher keys and lower keys. The song begins right off with the chorus, kind of odd but she’s done it before in a few songs. After which the begins the first verse which is backed by the lower piano keys. Soon Hikki begins to sing in a higher pitch and the piano keys mimic her. The chorus here sounds so lovely, quite catchy but not that fast, and yet it’s so short. Hikki’s vocals sound so peaceful here. In the lyrics she tells her darling to stay gold and to keep smiling forever. It ends with her ad-libbing and singing the final chorus.

Overall Review: HEART STATION / Stay Gold was the best possible way to end the HEART STATION Era. HEART STATION was an upbeat ethereal song that easily became a hit, while Stay Gold remained sweet with the piano. Both songs are fantastic and seem nostalgic especially HEART STATION. The combination is unique and yet seems to fit together, like two pieces of a puzzle. One thing I must say is bravo Hikki, you’ve outdone yourself now.

Final Grade: 100A+