Aesthetic Rhapsody

Artist: Utada Hikaru
Release Date: October 17, 2005
Label: Universal
Personal Rating: 3.5/5

1. You Make Me Want to Be a Man (Radio Edit)
2. You Make Me Want to Be a Man (Junior Jack Mix)
3. You Make Me Want to Be a Man (Bloodshy & Avant Mix)
————————————————————————————
Uh…interesting cover…

The You Make Me Want to Be a Man (Radio Edit) explains Hikki’s difficulties for understanding her husband. (Possibly the song dedicated to her divorce?) Anyways, it’s like her typical R&B oriented song: very repetitve when it comes to the chorus, arrangement and vocal pitch. Pretty much like a monotone song.

I’m also starting to wonder why Hikki changes her label from time to time. It was EMI Music (NOT Japan), Island records and now Universal.

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Artist: Utada Hikaru
Release Date: June 21, 2005
Label: Island Records
Personal Rating: 5/5

1. Exodus ‘04 (Double J – [Radio Mix])
2. Exodus ‘04 (Josh Harris’ Elektrik Radio [JH Elektrik Radio])
3. Exodus ‘04 (Josh Harris Vs. The MPC Radio [JH vs. the MPC Radio])
4. Exodus ‘04 (Josh Harris’ Exodus Experience [JH Exodus Experience])
5. Exodus ‘04 (Double J [Extended Mix])
6. Exodus ‘04 (Peter Bailey Dub [Peter Bailey Dub])
7. Exodus ‘04 (JJ Flores Dub #1 [JJ Flores Dub 1])
8. Exodus ‘04 (Kriya Vs. Velez Progressive [Trance Mix])
9. Exodus ‘04 (Kriya Vs. Velez Electro [House Mix])
10. Exodus ‘04 (JJ Flores Dub #2 [JJ Flores Dub 2])
——————————————————————————————
Just like the Devil Inside single, there are still tons and tons of remixes. I’ve always wondered why it took Hikki a really long time to release Ultra Blue. Turns out that she was working with Island records to release her Exodus era singles.

I’m surprised to see why so many people disliked the Exodus era! The singles are actually receiving positive ratings from me and from the links on the blogroll! (ex. Hyperballad, Buce’s reviews, etc.)

Anyways, there isn’t an original version on the single but the Exodus ‘04 (Double J – [Radio Mix]) sounds closest to the version on the album. The lyrics sound pretty intersting since it’s about how she had to contribute to the production on her Exodus era. The instrumentals recieve a hands down 10 out of 10 rating and her vocals are still very strong and memorable. The remixes are just as great! (The Exodus ‘04 (Double J – [Extended Mix]) gives listeners a long time to enjoy the song!)

Personal Rating: 5/5

Artist: Utada Hikaru
Release Date: September 14, 2004
Label: Island Records
Personal Rating: 4.5/5

1. Devil Inside (Original Version)
2. Devil Inside (Richard Vission Radio Edit)
3. Devil Inside (The Scumfrog Radio Edit)
4. Devil Inside (The Scumfrog Mix Show Edit)
5. Devil Inside (The Richard Vission Experience)
6. Devil Inside (The Richard Vission Duberience)
7. Devil Inside (The Scumfrog Vocal Mix)
8. Devil Inside (The Scumfrog Dub)
———————————————————————————————-
I was thinking of reviewing the Exodus era that was released in the U.S. even though this is just a review site for J-pop music. I’ll probably review her Come back to me era as well. Since this single is loaded with remixes of the A-side, I’ll probably just review the original track. (I would generally say that the remixes are good, though.)

The Devil Inside (Original Version) is very energetic and very electronica. It has the unique factor with all of the awesomness within the lyrics and arrangement department. Not to mention that Hikki’s voice sounds out of this world! (This time, in low register.)

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Artist: Utada Hikaru
Release Date: February 16, 2001
Label: EMI Music Japan
Personal Rating: 4/5

1. Can You Keep a Secret?
2. Kettobase!
3. Can You Keep a Secret? (Original Karaoke)
—————————————————————————————————-
Can You Keep a Secret? reeks of cool sounding ad-libs and calming vocals accompanied with a nice arrangement. I have to admit that Hikki sounded really strong here but there were times when her vocals could not really hit the higher notes. (This was a first considering on how she was able to sing high in the Ultra Blue era.)

Kettobase! is another case where Hikki couldn’t sing in high pitch. I like out the verses and chorus contrast from each other regarding pitch and volume. With the verses in medium pitch while the chorus on high register.

Personal Rating: 4/5

Artist: Utada Hikaru
Release Date: June 30, 2000
Label: EMI Music Japan
Personal Rating: 4/5

1. For You
2. Time Limit
3. For You (Instrumental)
4. Time Limit (Instrumental)
———————————————————————————————————-
Nice artwork on the cover Hikki!

For You begins with light instrumentals followed by Hikki’s signature R&B acoustics. She sings in lower register as the pace isn’t as fast as her older R&B oriented music were. Despite the new and different taste is Rhythm and Blues, Hikki definitely made possibly the most addicting A-side of the Distance era!

Unlike the first A-side, Time Limit starts with powerful R&B elements. The entire arrangement itself doesn’t beat For You’s and I just can’t get myself to be addicted to this song. Apparently, this was a second A-side instead of the usual B-side. (But this isn’t really A-side material! D:) I thought that any R&B artist could sing this song but I’m pretty sure that it’ll grow on me…

Personal Rating: 4/5

Artist: Utada Hikaru
Release Date: April 19, 2000
Label: EMI Music Japan
Personal Rating: 4/5

1. Wait & See: Risk
2. Hayatochiri
3. Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)
4. Wait & See: Risk (Baton Girl Mix)
5. Wait & See: Risk (Original Karaoke)
————————————————————————————————————–
I just love of Hikki could really hold those high notes in Wait & See: Risk! (Since she sings in a lower pitch most of the time.) Pop-element instrumentations but the vocal arrangement made it sound a bit R&B. …Despite that, the song is pretty lenghty.

Hayatochiri is definitely B-side material as the arrangement and instrumentals itseld does not surpass the ones in Wait & See: Risk. There’s still a little hint of R&B here…looks like Hikki was still trying out different genres when this was released. (Since she’s moved on to electronica lately.)

For those who have listened to Hikki’s Beautiful World single, a more modern version of Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words) was used as a B-side. (Even though it didn’t sound any different.) Hikki only sings two verses and the chorus of the original song until she pretty much ad-libs during the remainding two minutes.

Personal Rating: 4/5

Artist: Utada Hikaru
Release Date: March 10, 1999
Label: EMI Music Japan
Personal Rating: 4/5

1. Automatic (Album Edit)
2. Movin’ on without you
3. In My Room
4. First Love
5. Amai Wana ～Paint It, Black
6. time will tell
7. Never Let Go
8. B&C (Album Version)
9. Another Chance
10. Interlude
11. Give Me A Reason
12. Automatic -Johnny Vicious Remix-
———————————————————————————————————
I have to admit the cover art did seem a little plain at first but now, I’m starting to like the way that Hikki posed her expression. (It’s makes her look pretty.)

Automatic (Album Edit) and time will tell were released in Hikki’s debut single with a positive rating. Movin’ on without you and the B&C (Album Version) were given an average rating. First Love was the only A-side on its single and earned a perfect score.

Amai Wana ～Paint It, Black and Give Me A Reason were her more popular R&B tracks that had addicting rhythm and the kind of background music that makes me want to dance with it. In breif, Amai Wana ～Paint It, Black over Give Me A Reason!

In My Room, Never Let Go, Another Chance are mid-tempo tracks that were the least stand out songs. Although they were nicely arranged in a very Rhythm and Blues fashion, there was pretty much no build up throughout the song; just repeating the chorus over and over again. But otherwise, positively great songs that may drag due to their length.

Interlude is the only instrumental track although the vocalized version can be found on her second album, Distance. Automatic -Johnny Vicious Remix- a great bonus track to the album as it has a more techno sound than Hikki’s signature R&B.

Personal Rating: 4/5

Artist: Utada Hikaru
Release Date: October 5, 2004
Label: EMI Music Japan
Personal Rating: 4/5

1. Easy Breezy (Radio Edit)
2. Easy Breezy (Call Out Hook)
——————————————————————————————–
I never actually planned to review Hikki’s English releases but after reading Hyperballad’s post on “Exodus ‘04,” contrasting with other negative reviews, I’ve become a little curious about whether or not I would like Hikki’s English music.

So here’s Easy Breezy (Radio Edit), the first single of Hikki’s “Exodus” era! Looks like Hikki enjoyed singing this song in a way that makes her vocals sound a little too exaggerated. But here’s the thing: artists who truly love to sing sings with emotions. The tone of her voice explains it all. (Although the lyrics are a bit…not-so-Hikki) This is a pretty interesting A-side since it wasn’t as bad as I thought that it would be. At least we know another side of Hikki’s amazing voice.

Having the first track being very interesting, Easy Breezy (Call Out Hook) is the kind of remix that makes the song a bit weird. First of all, the whole chorus isn’t even included in this song. This remix definitely cannot hold a candle next to the original.

The single wasn’t that bad now, was it? It’s just that Hikki doesn’t use the usual J-pop style so of course fans would have a different opinion about her English releases.

Personal Rating: 4/5