Heart Station

o1. Fight the Blues
This opening track is much of the similiar she has been putting out as of recent. It's a medium tempo track that flows smoothly without much variation. Lots of electronic beats in time to her singing with her breathing in the background during the verses. The chorus could have done with something a bit more dramatic to catch your attention because that's what the opening number should be on an album. It's okay but not something I would listen on repeat.
6/10

o2. HEART STATION
A song that was used on the last single to promote this album. I think this would have been a much better opening track, but that's just my opinion. It's got a catchy hook and is slightly more upbeat than its predecessor. I actually rather liked this song and had the "ai, ai, ai"s stuck in my head for quite a while.
8/10

o3. Beautiful World
Another one of the single songs used to promote this album. It flows very seamlessly from the previous track and keeps up the atmosphere but there's just something I don't like about this song. I had the chorus stuck in my head for a little bit before. But it's just standard typical Utada stuff she had been putting out lately, and the song structure is very random.
6.5/10

o4. Flavor of Life -Ballad Version-
This was a song that was played excessively during Hana Yori Dango and I had to like it otherwise I would have gone insane upon hearing it. After the three consecutive electronically inspired tracks it was refreshing to hear something with actual instruments. The ballad shows a new area of Utada's vocals, focusing on her lower range for once, so much so that she sounds like a man at some parts (not that that's a bad thing). It's a good song once it's grown on you.
8/10

o5. Stay Gold
The b-side to the HEART STATION single. I really love the background music in this song and would listen to it over and over again. Utada's vocals though aren't something to write home about as she's very shaky and all over the place throughout the song. It almost ruins the song but after so many repeated listens I've been able to tune it out for the most part.
8/10

o6. Kiss & Cry
The companion song to Beautiful World on the single is a harsh contrast to Stay Gold's beautiful instrumentals. I really don't like this song. It's a very catchy pop song but it's just not working for me. I don't like the fact that she just rehashed one of her American songs for this, the instrumental can be quite obnoxious at times, not to mention of the structure of this song aggravates me. Her notes during the chorus hurt my ears and I can't wait for this song to be over. Her adlibbing at the end is far too long but I think the only redeeming part of the song I like is the last line that goes, "Boy, you've got me on a natural high."
4/10

o7. Gentle Beast Interlude
This is a great upbeat, dance-y sort of interlude. I like how it goes "heart station" in one part in whispered tones. It reminds me of Traveling a bit, but I some of the notes she hits aren't that great but the interlude is very nice.
7.5/10

o8. Celebrate
So, I've read that this was the last song Utada worked on for the album. She said herself that it was an upbeat track but it's far from what you would call "upbeat" more like mid-tempo if you asked me. The instrumentals are bouncy and upbeat sure, but not the actual singing. The chorus (or is it the verse?) sounds like very fast talking from her. To me this track is nothing special.
5/10

o9. Prisoner of Love
I had begun to lose hope for the album tracks at this point because the majority of them had already passed and I didn't like any of them. This one was quite different. I really liked the chorus and the use of real instruments. It was very catchy and the arrangement/structure was quite simple compared to her other songs. This is something I could see myself playing on repeat on my music player.
8/10

1o. Take 5
Take 5 is sort of a hybrid between an interlude and an actual song but it works. It's a lot more dance-y than the other tracks and has a very ethereal feeling. The only problem I have with it is that it's way too short and cuts off too abruptly. She should make more songs like this.
8/10

11. Boku wa Kuma
Aha. This song is cute but that's about it for me. Thankfully it's short. Great for kids but in the context of the album, not so much.
7/10

12. Nijiiro Basu
The last of the album tracks. This song just drags and drags and gets nowhere. I only like the "whoa, oh, whoa"s I heard in the beginning. I think if I wasn't occupied by other things this song would have put me to sleep. Filler material.
5/10

13. Flavor of Life
The last song of the album. I like the original version of this song just as much as the ballad one. It gives it a different feel and is a lot more upbeat, which I think is a great alternative to the other one if you're just not in the mood for something slow. This song sounds a lot better overall when it's put together than the others. A nice way to finish off the album.
8/10

Final Notes: The standout tracks are overshadowed by the lackluster album ones. While the theme and flow of the album is very well put together, it leaves the listener something to be desired as most of the songs sounds very similiar to each other.

Score: 5/10