Ok, after first listening - really fresh album.
For now I prefer the latter part of the album after the interlude.
PIECE IN THE PUZZLE, Fake Tongue, Sometimes Dreams Come True - those are just great!
I also really like House Party and Like It.
And both Mercedes and You can keep up with me have something I really like, but I have to listen to them again.
The only song I don't really like is Lippy, lol. But her pronounciation is good here, applause.
All in all I'm satisfied and I guess this is an album, which will grow with each listen!

HOTEL: this song is so basic. First of all, the verses have some annoying vocals and the chorus is generic. I just can't get into this song. I mean, I listen to it but its nothing special

Gimme U : I don't know what to think about this. Love Kuu's vocals in the pre-chorus but the melody is too similar to Hotel x.x She should have left out Hotel and include only Gimme U, but she had to include the singles to help the sales for the album, so..

You can keep up with me : I like this one but not love it. Her vocals are kinda strong here. ~hey hey~. The short length works in its favour

MONEY IN MY BAG : too short and repetitive. She should have extended the song a bit more

PIECE IN THE PUZZLE : the chorus is so damn addictive ~brabbbammmm~~

Fake Tongue : ohh, rockish kuu. nice song

Sometimes Dreams Come True : the album should have closed at Fake Tongue followed by WOML. This is not good. I'm sure that the lyrics are nice but that's all.

LIFE so GOOD!! : please no..I'm sick of this kind of songs. She should have kept this a b-side only

WALK OF MY LIFE : I'm really glad that Kuu decided to keep this as the only new ballad. Fresh and inspirational. Not a masterpiece but nice.

Listened to the album once, I only dislike Sometimes dreams come true (sry Jessie J), really into Mercedes and PIECE IN THE PUZZLE. Gonna make a mini review after a few listens

I have mixed feelings about this album.
I doubt it will leave a good impression on her Japanese fans.
Most of them are too difficult to be sung at Karaoke.
Surely it doesn't really have J-pop feeling and it's more rock-ish than dance-ish..
Does it mean that we'll get less dance performance this time???
I bet Kenji's influence is really strong.

Introduction : Love the rhythm. Expecting a WOW tour opening. But after BV intro, it's kinda degrading.
Dance in the rain : Still my jam! Perfecto!
Lippy : Need few listening.
Mercedes : I'm not sure with this one.
Like it : The trumpet part is the best one.
HOUSE PARTY : No-No for me.
Interlude : Catchy. But after BV interlude, I can't say much.
HOTEL : I love this song. Period.
Gimme U : So relaxing. Something that I would play on repeat. Love her deep voice before it ends.
You can keep up with me : I don't like the chorus :(
MONEY IN MY BAG : Love the live performance.
PIECE IN THE PUZZLE : The chorus has already stuck in my head.
Fake Tongue : Kinda like it but need more listening.
Sometimes dreams come true : The lyric is very positive. I kinda have this feeling that she's trying to copy Jessie J's style.
LIFE so GOOD : Typical towel dance song. You can only enjoy this kind of song during concert, dancing and jumping with your towel.
WALK OF MY LIFE : Begin to like this song after few listening, especially the bridge. Still hate her ugly wig on the PV, tho.

Introduction :
The intro of the intro (lol) is strange – but, wow, it gets so good after that, when Kuu starts to sing! Better than her last intros to me.
Dance In The Rain :
A dance ballad. Some parts still sound disjointed to me from one to antoher, but it just has something that gets me. Lyrics are great.
Lippy :
Hm, hm, hm. The electric background melody reminds me of another song – ah, yeah, I think it was Namie. The rapping parts are bad, but I like the rest. Idk what to think. It’s interesting enough, that I won’t skip it, I guess.
Mercedes :
Uh, a full song in the same style SHOW ME YOUR HOLLA and Let’s Show Tonight are. I really like it, the different parts go so well together, though it’s a bit repetitive.
Like It :
I’m still amazed by its high production value. Her vocals are superb.
HOUSE PARTY :
So funky! I’m surprised they kept the rapper and didn’t mention him…
A bit repetitive as well, but I just wanna dance and sing along!
Interlude :
It’s so fitting. Male background vocals, yay. Nice.
HOTEL :
Well, I still don’t like it much. But I can listen to it at least. Sometimes.
Gimme U :
Hm, I actually don’t know what to think of this one. It isn’t bad, but I’m kind of indifferent right now. But could grow on me.
You can keep up with me :
Ah, I just like it. It’s such an interesting song.
MONEY IN MY BAG :
Somehow it doesn’t fit for me on the album. I actually prefer her to left it out. But it still has so much energy and funny lyrics.
PIECE IN THE PUZZLE :
Instant love. Love her vocals.
Fake Tongue :
Another instant love! Love the mellow verses and the - boom – chorus in your face. And that electric guitar. <3
Sometimes Dreams Come True :
I don’t know why, but this song makes me happy! I didn’t even like the demo much and I only listened to it once, but Kuu’s version sounds so different – and I love it!
LIFE so GOOD!! :
Uhm, the intro and those baby (?) and rapping parts in between are so unnecessary. But other than that it is catchy, I admit! Another nice happy song. Though nothing I’ll listen often to.
WALK OF MY LIFE :
It feels so long after the rest, lol. An unusal ballad, but so personal. And I just like her deep vocals in the verses.

Overall a fresh and cohesive album.
There actually are so much songs I already love: Dance In The Rain, PIECE IN THE PUZZLE, Fake Tongue, Sometimes Dreams Come True, You can keep up with me, HOUSE PARTY. So much (electric) rock overall - this is getting an interesting powerful tour.
Worst songs are HOTEL and LIFE so GOOD!! for me. Probably the two songs I gonna skip.

@Corvina, wow..your impressions for the album are so similar to mine :)
I also think the worst songs are Hotel and Life So Good. Also Money In My Bag and Sometimes Dreams Come True are unnecessary.

Ah, nooo, Sometimes Dreams Come True is great, you can't leave it out! :laugh
Lyrics seem to be uplifting and quite deep as well. Can't wait to get them.
LIFE so GOOD!! could actually be great, if they removed those baby noises and the rap parts, they disturb the flow of the rest - and cause the rest is actually great. Maybe it will even grow on me.

I'm excited to see, how the album will go with time.

Introduction ~walf of my life~: One of My favorites intro EVER. Nice beat, the lyric flow and I hope for a full version. 09/10
Dance In The Rain: I really like this dance ballad, it's a good opening for the album, but I'm not sure if it's and opening song for the tour. 09/10
Lippy: I love since the demo, I just can't help but sing "lippy lippeeeeee lippy like a rude girl ♪" 09/10
Mercedes: The song sounds like a leftover for an album with SHOW ME YOUR HOLLA / Let's show 'em tonight, but it's a cool song, not my favorite tho. She can put this song with Candy on the Tour, and it would be awesome. 07/10
Like It: WOW.... I was not expecting this! The production is so awesome, so urban and well done. "I think you like it, like it, like it, like it ♪" it's already in my head. Need to watch the music video and the live now. 09/10
House Party (this is a collaboration, it should have the name of the male singer...): My jam, nothing more to say. ∞/10
Interlude ~Dance~: So much better than the interlude from Bon Voyage, it could be a full song that I would love. 10/10
HOTEL: This song still fresh, love since the single. I'm still waiting for a killing perfomance. 10/10
Gimme U: WOW [2] So beautiful! Mid tempo/ upbeat ballad again! Such a beautiful song. 10/10
You can keep up with me: People were comparing with Crank that bass, this is sooooo much better. "I think. you. should. kiss. my...." LOVE IT! haha THAT is how you do an "in your face" kind of song. 10/10
MONEY IN MY BAG: Another great single song, it still as much fresh than HOTEL. 09/10
PIECE IN THE PUZZLE: The production for this song is also really great, and I love since the demo as well. 10/10
Fake tan tongue: Awesome rockish song, better than most of her rockish like Hurry Up/Work it Out, but still need to grow a little more. I can see a rock section again on the new tour. 08/10
Sometimes Dreams Come True: I'm curious about the lyric. This is ~the~ pop-rock song of the album, like Hashire / LALALALALA ~to the future~, but it's so much better in my opinion. Not a filler, not a highlight, but it's good enough. 08/10
LIFE so GOOD!: The only japanese song of the album, but you can't tell that by the style. The chorus is fun, and will probably be the towel song for the tour. Good, but not that special. I think the song needs a special moment of your life to sound good, you know what I mean? Like driving with your friends going to the beach, something like that. haha 06/10
WALK OF MY LIFE: FINALLY! I'm finally listening this song, after so many weeks with everybody enjoying and I waiting the full album. Nice ballad, so beautiful! And also, a nice ending for a great album! "I am finally free ♪" 09/10

Overall, it is my favorite album already. You don't have a single minute to breath, one great song after another.
Here it is, Kuu, a golden star for giving such a great and fresh album. http://www.galaxycitizen.com/uploads.../gold-star.png

Yeah, preview sounds great. 1st thing I did after awake was to check Kuu's website for new preview... but now I'm here and FULL ALBUM is awailable in download section. I planned to wait for my copy but now I just can't. This album seems to be too good to wait one more week :D

the new album is so adorable I love it!! but my favorite songs are

1) LIFE so GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2) Fake Tongue
3) Gimme U
4) PIECE IN THE PUZZLE
5) HOUSE PARTY

Lippy has such an amazing bass. The chorus is a bit hard to digest but the production is top notch. The chorus almost reminds me of Chara's music :)
Like It is on replay. God, the pre-chorus kills me. This is the kuu i love.

the roof
the roof
the roof is on fire!
#HouseParty

My first impressions are that there are no highs like on the last few albums, but theres no lows either. It's consistently good but never great (on first listen).

I would say its her best flowing album but Dance In The Rains placement is odd. Coming after an uptempo intro (that sounds like Nicki Minajs 'Trini Dem Girls' :/) and followed by 13 uptempos/non ballady tracks. I'd have put it after Gimme U.

A few more listens and my opinions may change.

Cdjapan has mine in shipping process!!!! :)!

The whole record sounds stale to me. From beginning to end, it all sounds like the same rock-ish, hip hop-ish song. I also noticed this record is between 10-30 minutes shorter than past releases. I'm not sure where she was going with this record, but I'm bored from it. How long did she spend writing and recording?

EDIT: I want to point out that I think the strongest tracks here are HOTEL and WALK OF MY LIFE. Both are good tracks, seem fresh and fun and totally Koda, but the rest of the album is pretty disposable.

This is first time i don't have something to excite about Kuu's album and i'm brave enough to say that i buy this album because i'm her fanclub and continuously buy every albums.

Start with concept, imo, nothing connected Walk of my life, she wants to walk to new types of her music? she wants to walk away from fanclubs who like old Kuu?. Moreover, i don't like any styles she uses for this album, i prefer something like Queen, Navy or Geisha that she plays for previous albums.

i'm not some kinds of fanclub who fond of her J-Pop side. in opposite, i admire when she verifies new types of songs even if it maybe take a risk. However, results should be songs such as No Way, Touch Down, Slow, Passing By and more not like this time.

For the first time, the songs that i pick up to be my new jams are Hotel, Dance in the rain, Money in my bag, Gimme U, Like it, introduction and interlude.

I hate Lippy so much and don't think it can grow on me because i throw it away very far from ears.

never say never this will be the last time for Kuu and me :(

omg I'm so sad right now lmao

I'm only up to Mercedes but I'm just floored by how awful both it and Lippy are :no

It's just noise and shouting over the chorus HOW IS THIS MUSIC

WELP SO MUCH for my prediction that I would actually end up liking the album despite the terribad leaked demos hahaha. I mean, the demos were god awful noise, but I love western music so I thought maybe she'd pull it out and make it work? Nahhh, nope lmao. I don't really feel disappointed at least, which is nice. The album's biggest issue, aside from terrible songs choices, is the vocals. Very messy and screechy all over the place. It's actually completely painful.

01 Introduction ~WALK OF MY LIFE~
02 Dance In The Rain: This song is OK and feels old school 2006 Kuu, but the screeching vocals all over the chorus absolutely slaughter it. I literally can't even listen to this song because of them.
03 Lippy: The demo was a hot ass mess and the full song is just as bad. Don't get how this is considered music.
04 Mercedes: Floored she managed to make something worse than Lippy lol. The screeching all over the chorus is still not attractive. Moving on.
05 Like It: This song is decent in the context of this album. It's really short and goes nowhere though. But, compared to tracks 3 and 4, it's not atrocious and is totally listenable.
06 House Party: Sounds like it was pulled straight out of the vault Jolin Tsai got all her tracks from 1999-2000 from. It's too shamelessly tacky to hate tho lol.
07 Interlude ~Dance~
08 HOTEL: It's still fine.
09 GIMME U: lulz Almost skipped this one in my review and that pretty much sums it up. Boring and forgettable, 100% typical Kuu filler.
10 You can keep up with me: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... lol. No clue where to start on her. See: Lippy and Mercedes. Just noise.
11 MONEY IN MY BAG: I still like this for what it is. It's like weird and incomplete but somehow a bop.
12 PIECE IN THE PUZZLE: This song is fine.
13 Fake Tongue: NOOO THE VOCALS GOT WORSE NOPE
14 Sometimes Dreams Come True: Well, she made it much, much less cheesy than the demo, so there's that. I can't comment fairly on this song because I hate this style of cheesy mid-2000s pop music, so. I'll leave it at that lol.
15 LIFE so GOOD!!: (I am really ashamed to admit this but) I was actually kind of feeling this one until the chorus hit hahahahahahahaha. Chorus is boring af.
16 WALK OF MY LIFE: I absolutely hated this a couple weeks ago because of the awful chorus vocals, but now that I've heard the much worse vocals wailing around this album, this sadly sits somewhere in the first half. It's not a bad song in itself, but the delivery is very lacking. :\

Also, most of this album sounds painfully like the mid-2000s, which is really unfortunate because that era for western pop music was terrible lol. The second half sounds very very cheesy and dated.

Honesty, the new tracks on this album were horrid for me. I didn't get through most of them. Thanks, but no thanks Kuu.

I, for one, do like the album lol. I think Lippy is really fun. And I love Piece in the Puzzle and Fake Tongue and Sometimes dreams come true. Mercedes is fun too. House Party is the only one that I know I'm gonna skip.

Don't be bothered.
When Djevau was released, there were so much people ripping it to pieces.
And now it isn't as bad.
Also even Kuu knew reactions would be mixed.

My feelings are kinda mixed for this so I prefer to wait and see how it sinks.
Dance In The Rain and WALK OF MY LIFE belong with each other but not on this album, the rest of the tracks are good flow, that's all I can say.

Oh and it made me love HOTEL lol.

So what does Lippy mean?

^ I think the meaning is related to Kelly Rowland's song 'Kisses Down Low' lol
Or maybe I'm thinking too much into it

Lippy is just another colloquially word for naughty or sassy.
You should be able to look it up in a dictionary.

what can i say after some repeats...
i'm really really digging this!
THIS ALBUM HAS SUCH A GOOD PRODUCTION OMG
i mean for people who are used to the mainstream formula and can't get into other sound spheres beside that it's a strange listen i think.
but if u get into it you'll love it!

Introduction ~walf of my life~ 10/10
I'M SERIOUSLY DEAD THIS IS SO GOOD! FULL SONG PLS!
Dance In The Rain 10/10
one of her best songs in years!
Lippy 7/10
the beat is so hypnotizing, but i have to be in the mood for this. but still cool.
Mercedes 7/10
expected something different as this Bon Voyage Leftover, but i really like this.
Like It 10/10
hot production, hot song, the trumpets >>>>>
House Party 9/10
i'm a 90s kid and this is such a good throwback track... LOVE.iT!
Interlude ~Dance~ 9/10
so much better in full, great one!
HOTEL 10/10
still fresh still good
Gimme U 10/10
oi... this is so cute and great and cheerful! such a lovely song!
You can keep up with me10/10
WOW! just WOW!
MONEY IN MY BAG 8/10
really great song! twerk anthem '14.
PIECE IN THE PUZZLE 10/10
AMAZING! So Kuu and so good!
Fake Tongue 10/10
i love the vibe of the song especially in the Fake Tongue parts!
Sometimes Dreams Come True 8/10
much better than expected, really like this!
LIFE so GOOD!! 9/10
much fun, vibes good! <3
WALK OF MY LIFE 10/10
incredible ballad with beautiful lyrics!

i really love this album!
it won't be a muched loved album in japan, but for her it's such a great step musically!
thank you Kuu!

oh and i really really love kaled kalil's review, it was a nice read sweetie! :heart
lmao calm ur manboobs sis
u still have ayu's rehash album A CLONE coming april 8th
or the still fresh Colours with such an artistic evolution in sound yasss!

I listened to the Album and my favorites of the new songs are PIECE IN THE PUZZLE,
Gimme U and LIFE so GOOD!! and Like it.
I enjoy House Party as well.
I was looking forward to Mercedes but it wasn't like I expected I guess I need a few more listens of that song

I'm not going to do a song to song review.

First thing i noticed after the download was over : 16 songs, yet the album is only 46 minutes long.
A lot of songs aren't even 3 minutes long, and you know why? Because they're so repetitive already that they don't need more, and this is sad : only 1 minute into the song and you already know all there is to know about it...
I mostly listen to kuu for her sexy/catchy/dance songs, so this album should be perfect to me, yet there isn't really good material here imo

I liked Like it, Money in my bag, Piece in the puzzle (♥), You can keep up with me (but too much screaming) and oh well Fake Tongue
Also "dance in the rain" and "walk of my life" were enjoyable even though i'm not that much into her "slow" songs
Hotel and Gimme U sound exactly the same to me, and sorry but that interlude was useless

I wish she'd come back to the real sexy/sensual songs, i'm sick of her screaming to some fast beat.

HOLD UP HOUSE PARTY IS A JAM!
I keep hearing "are you ready to have sex?" during the chorus though..


I didn't listen to the whole thing but I listened to snippets of the album and Jesus lord Kumi's walk of her life is a 90% partay. It's comparable to a night out where she gets slowly hyped with dance in the rain and just goes clubbing for the entire night and then shit winds down at the end. Then she contemplates her party life with walk of my life (song). I'll probably do an in depth analysis of this album because why not. It's kumi's most cohesive album ever. It's like the effects of childbirth were delayed until now. Kumi said bon voyage to her uncohesive mess albums and finally got her shit together. Some songs may be objectively bad but they're subjectively amazing (especially house party, that's my new "in the spotlight").

I loooooooove the production of the album! BV had some tracks that sounded not-well polished for me, like Winner Girls (the live ver >>>>>>>) and CRANK THA BASS, but WOML is so well done, the instrumentals are rich and deep. Especially, I love the notes when she sings "gimme u gimme u gimme u" and Mercedes as a whole. As for the song themselves, only Sometimes dreams come true is skippable for me, the rest is really great. And PIECE IN THE PUZZLE omg it should have gotten a PV, I can't stop singing that "brrrrrrrrrava brrrrrrrava" part :laugh

Such an amazing work, Kuu :heart I can't wait for your tour!

I don't get how you guys can even hear the production. The leak is awful horrible quality and all I can hear is her screeching over a fuckton of noise lol

Mercedes is the only song that doesn't work for me D: It's horrible ; _ ;

In general, I think it's a great album, better than Bon Voyage ~ (except for the singles xD)

me too!
" hey, let's go, open up that doors, are you ready have sex or i blow ya all " LOL~

@Tom Punks: A better rip of the album is out already.

@Gubsi: Thanks! It was such a good experience not knowing what expect, and it's even better than I thought!!

Let's all have a party with those who loved the album!

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz...b006o1_500.gif

The situation surrounding this album is apparently 'polarizing' from what I've been reading online. This is probably happening because I finally like a kumi album :P What's next? Am I gonna like a johnny's group, one of the rock bands posted about on this site or even Yui? Dear lord. At least Kumi's serving trash realness. Last time I got that kind of life was on hitomi's debut album back when her oricon position wasn't N/A.

HOUSE PARTY is life all you basics who don't like it can go to IKEA and pick a seat to take.

I'm a bit scared with all the bad reviews :( But I think I'll be one of those who like the album. So far I'm in loove with "Like it" and "Walk of my life" is pretty decent too. I'll wait for my copy to arrive before listening to the album but if they are urban, dance songs kinda westernized I'll be pleased, Kuu is the artist I like to listen while I workout and that style is perfect for it haha

As I am an occasional listener of Kumi I look to her new stuffs in order to see if at least one song can fit my taste but it's not really the case since some years but this time I quite liked the song Walk of my life I like the personal aspect of this song & her voice !
Though the rest of the album ... I think two songs are ok but I didn't heard something amazing and sometimes her voice is annoying ;/ She has the luck to have a fantastic low tone why she feel the need to make her voice more cutesy ? it doesn't sound good and this is the reason why I skipped a lot of songs in her discography lol
I really think she could do better with the voice she has ...

I rely wish I could like this album. I do agree it's very cohesive, the imagery, the sound, but the songs just aren't to my taste. I appreciate that Kuu really did do something different and took risks for this album, but I can only appluade the effort, not the way it sounds to my poor ears.

I'm gonna go find a seat at IKEA now and sit my sad ass down.

Yeah, like, I actually feel like she put a lot of effort into making a cohesive album and it definitely works better as an album than Bon Voyage did.

It's just too bad the actual songs she picked are TRAGIC lol

I just realized she opens the album with Dance In The Rain, which talks about loneliness jn the lyrics and despair and fear in the PV, and then closes with WALK OF MY LIFE, which is totally the opposite, it even says "I'm alone, I'm alone' I wont say such things anymore" :heart As someone who has always been singing about love and talking about marriage and family in early interviews, no wonder why she feels "finally free"

I played the album all afternoon and i ll certainly play it tommorow too. I love when i m excited for a release. I already wrote my thoughts for the songs and i m sure that much won t change from now on.

Currently listening to it again and I'm pretty sure it's "everbody hands up" and then followed by something japanese.
I don't even know how you guys hear sex. xD

I have no idea what I will think of the album, but will let you know when I receive it like 3 weeks after release. If anything, I can't wait to see the Dance In The Rain PV for the first time and on Blu-ray.

And for those who are disappointed in the album, at least we know there will be another album next year and we have the tour set list to look forward to!

To the people wondering what "lippy" means: it's a real word, not just a term Kuu/the songwriters made up!

That's why the lyrics say "lippy like a rude girl"... or whatever the line is lol

^ it's like when parents say "don't get lippy with me, missy"

So I've listened to WALK OF MY LIFE.

This album is... meh. Quite a disappointment for me.
I can barely remember how it sound and few songs stands out like Piece in the puzzle, Fake Tongue, Like It and House Party. This one especially, it's so damn catchy I think I'll gonna repeat it for the whole day. I'd like WALK OF MY LIFE too, but her vocals aren't the best. Too much random screaming.

However, this album it's just like Bon Voyage for me: a forgottable album.
Or maybe I love Japonesque so much that my standards are quite high, don't know lol.

As I said on JPC, I actually feel sad for those who didn't like the album, because I'm having a blast listen to it, and loving even more each time I listen.

And this is the album that should have PVs for all the songs, and not JAPONESQUE.

i've just got House Party on repeat like
https://31.media.tumblr.com/12e60fab...nAU1qz4rgp.gif

House Party is SOOO GOOOOOD!!!!! :luv2

I actually find this album Kuu's most smooth flowing LOL..maybe because there arn't any ballads...

but omg her vocals on Lippy, Mercedes, You can keep up with me, Fake Tongue, Sometimes Dreams Come True...they come across quite abrasive to me :/ The latter three are really strong songs though

haha I don't know why it seems many people dislike this album, but this is the first Kumi album that I liked every song at the first listen! I really enjoyed it!

The album's not even officially out and I'm already over it and wanting a new single.

The second half of the album is a LOT better than the first, the first half sucks. I was really excited for this album but it turned out to be a disappointment overall, and I usually don't feel that way about Kumi's albums. But...yeah, I would gradly take any of her past albums over this one (well, maybe not her first album, lol).

So the only thing left to say is...next single, please.

in Kuu's defense I don't hear much screeching. what I hear is her sounding very strained though. guess she was right when she said she wanted to "challenge herself". nothing offensive about her voice here, it just sounded like she's pushing it to a new limit.

i also found my least favourite song. It's Mercedes. why? because when I read the coming tour would be supported by Mercedes Benz and then this song came up I was like ... shameless product placement much lol. if it sounded like Driving it'd been fine but it sounded messy in a really bad way.

I've come to like the album as a whole. No individual song will bother my Top 40 Kuu songs, but start to finish its an enjoyable album.
Like It and Money In My Bag, as individual tracks, I found lacking. As part of the album they work.
Life So Good is a better Poppin Love Cocktail (and I enjoyed PLC).
You Can Keep Up With Me, Fake Tongue and Dreams Come True are my only 'meh' moments.
What kind of Natasha Bedingfield 2003 demo mess is Sometimes Dreams Come True?

Is she swearing as much as I'm hearing? Pissed Off, Bitch, Fuck??? Randomly throughout.

Sadly I didn't enjoy this album at all... Walk of my life and Piece in the puzzle are the only ones that stood out to me, but even those are dragged down by all the mediocre tracks.
Most tracks sounded very flat to me, they had no feeling of freshness or excitement, most of them didn't really make me want to dance either, so I'm not sure what vibe this album was supposed to give.

Kuu can do so much better than this, walk of my life works as an album and sounds very cohesive but the tracks they chose are just not good at all.

I'd give this album 2/5 for the effort but I wouldn't recommend this to a friend.

wow so much drama in here...
Anyways, gonna give my quick review after a day of listening to the album.

Overall I feel this is a very cohesive album, everything flows well together and there is no song I feel like I'm gonna tend to skip besides maybe Mercedes and LIFE so GOOD!!

Introduction ~walf of my life~ 9/10
I like it when Introductions are actually introducing the whole thing. Here it gives us a sneak peek of what's coming. Really good.

Dance In The Rain 10/10
I've loved it ever since the first listen, it's nothing really special but it just works and the structure of the song is perfect to me.

Lippy 7/10
I wasn't too sure what to think with the first listen, but it's definitely a grower for me. It's addicting and kind of fun even though the instrumental sounds a bit annoying at times.

Mercedes 6/10
Not bad overall, but it's so freaking repetitive it gives me a headache.

Like It 8/10
I wasn't a fan of the song when it was released, but I feel it flows really well with the rest of the album. I found myself humming the song all day long yesterday without even noticing it.

House Party 9/10
It's a really fun song, perfect for parties and fun days!

Interlude ~Dance~ 7/10
not necessary, but I like it for what it is.

HOTEL 7/10
I used to love it, now it's just ok. It's fresh and all but the novelty factor doesn't help it anymore.

Gimme U 7/10
it's a cute song, not usually what I prefer, but I don't mind this one. And god knows how much I hate cutesy Kuu.

You can keep up with me 6/10
still can't decide if I like it or not, it's a bit messy for me.

MONEY IN MY BAG 7/10
Still not my cup of tea but enjoyable.

PIECE IN THE PUZZLE 10/10
My favorite from the album, I guess it just fits Kuu perfectly. Kinda pissed it won't get a PV.

Fake Tongue 10/10
My second favorite, it just works. That style is perfect for Kuu IMO. A rockish song but no screaming hurray.

Sometimes Dreams Come True 6/10
I'm not sure how to feel about it, I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. It's just a bland song to me.

LIFE so GOOD!! 5/10
The verses annoy me, the chorus is ok. Not what I prefer.

WALK OF MY LIFE 9/10
it's a lovely ballad, I love the lyrics and the melody is beautiful. Perfect way to end the album. I think this one goes really well with Dance In The Rain for some reason.

Total: 7.2/10
I was left with a good impression and I still think it's a really solid album overall. No album is perfect though. It's one of those albums you either like or hate because it's so cohesive there's not much space left for more "generic" songs. By "generic" I don't mean to sound negative or anything, but more mainstream for a Japanese audience.

I want to see the special package and the 28 page booklet but sure is nothing special I was think that come with photobook...

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/7350/w0NO1c.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/1161/97SFnz.jpg

^ Super reminded me of Kesha from Timber haha. I'm sure it's just the hair color.

But she looks good!

Here's the direct link to the broadcast:
http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv212352250

I'm really looking forward to the acoustic performance.
I bet it will only be WALK OF MY LIFE, but nevertheless.

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/9341/sChCLt.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img910/6817/kqQZMe.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img908/7121/5q1bl8.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img661/6639/jFQmin.jpg

:laugh
well people shouldn't bother about what Zeke. post here...
after some years u just know his understanding of sonic landscapes is quite under the bubble, so he just can't understand or appreciate music out of the comfort zone...
"his opinion" isn't objective, it's just his taste...
but i think he should choose better words than bish, etc
he has not the right to call a woman like that.
but whatever seems like the mods even don't care bout rules if it's not against ayu...

well whatever i think this album is well produced!
i just don't like the Lippy~Mercedes Part Cause it sounds too samey.
but overall it's a great album.
she's trying to do her own sound instead of running after actual music trends.
she knows What she is doing and this isn't a million seller especially in japan, but when she's having Fun With this direction i wouldn't stand in her way!
this will be an intense show so i can't wait to see this live! :)

^^omg the hair kuu pls keep it for the next era

omg she's slaying. can't decide if Kuu 2015 or Ayu 2015 is more gorgeous

I used to be a huge fan but sort of gave up on her in 2009. However, I really enjoyed this new record. It took her fifteen years to release a good, mature, consistent studio album and I'm glad for that. I can't get "Lippy", "Like It", and "Fake Tongue" out of my head. Well done, Kuu :yes

Yes, she sang WALK OF MY LIFE.
Her English did improve a lot.
Maybe somebody else recorded it.

http://imageshack.com/a/img908/7856/H7nsAX.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img540/3839/2cVks0.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img537/6881/JteWrm.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img540/1603/j2HJXO.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img912/9519/fISCEX.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img661/4271/DHVMp5.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img903/6959/rlDNq8.jpg

both :D

Gimme U is kinda cute, isn't it? But I like the feeling I get from it.

what the hell did she do to her beautiful hair.

The performance was lovely!

She just coloured her hair:
http://imageshack.com/a/img901/2783/cEm8nv.jpg

With Directions or something similar it seems, as it's fading so quickly.

And here's the acoustic performance:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...303614&theater

Big thanks to Koda Kumi Spanish Fan Page and Sukowe Gal Revolog

I love the covers more if she appear like this with this hair xD

Ah.. her hair :luv2

I'm surprised that she can actually sing: "I'm finally FREE~"
I always hear "I'm finally FLEE~" :laugh
And.. she should really lower the key. she tried so hard to sing the high notes and it sounded painful to my ears. tsk tsk.. no kumi no~

Loooooove the hair!!

Also, Lippy reminds me of an NES game soundtrack. I think that's why I find it catchy.

I really do have to applause Kuu for really doing her own thing, her own style when it's super not trendy in Japan.

@Koumori: Thanks! One less drama here. :)

I saw someone asking what was the concept behind the album: Kumi wanted a more aggressive sound album, challenging herself. And this is the sound that she wants to sing, her vision for this album was a non jpop sound, giving to Japan something that they don't have. It's the opposite concept of JAPONESQUE, which was showing to the world what Japan has to offer.

This is what I like the most about the album, it's not a safe album. She's not here to release Love Songs / Love Again kind of thing (not comparing the style with Kumi's style, just saying that the concept of those albums are similar to each other :) ). I think ths album is the Party Queen of Kumi, not everybody will love, but those who do, will like it a lot. haha

people actually like Party Queen? #burn

lol kidding, anyways, yeah I love that she took a risk cos I can't see any flip phone wielding Japanese teenage girl weeping to Mercedes or LIFE so GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

this album isn't gonna be the "classic" that the Japanese eat up but IDGAF I thoroughly enjoyed the album and some tracks I could really dance to

Loooooooooove the performance and the hairstyle, hopefully she keeps it for the tour and not just a few days

I think I like the interludes and piece of the puzzle most. WHY can't the interludes be full songs?! They sound the best! LOL

I freakin love her new hair :luv2 cant wait to listen to the album, i know its gonna be awesome

I dont like the new hair :( i just want her to go dark again, she hasnt had it dark for aaages

I'm still listening and getting used to the album. Gimme U and PIECE IN THE PUZZLE are my instant faves tho and Lippey is just so much attitude i have to like it. It's definitely not her best album but it's fun and catchy

The only thing that annoys me is that the covers (which i don't like anyway) don't really reflect the album at all. From those covers and the main promotional track being WOML, I was expecting a mature sounding serious album. They don't fit with the fun tracks that are actually on it! Someone please make an awesome crazy cover (looking at you kaled)

Great performance, my only question is why couldn't she sing all English parts properly in the studio version. Get all the western composers to sing I'm finally flea in the main album track. C'mon Kumi you just showed us you can do better than that.

As for the album, I'll be waiting for the iTunes release. Only 3 more days to go. I actually started liking Like It.

I pretty much only like WALK OF MY LIFE and Dance In The Rain because there's some emotion behind it. Most of the album is just... Noise. No showcasing of vocal ability and lack of imaginative instrumentation. I can't even imagine how she'll perform a lot of these songs. Jumping around on stage? It's hard to choreograph something that's just noise and doesn't really go anywhere. Next please.

As far as style, I wish she'd take a page out of Nicki Minaj's book and go for a more toned down, natural, albeit still sexy look. She's a thirty-something year old wife and mother. She can stil be sexy without being gaudy and tacky. But her style switches with every release so if something is a miss she usually gives me a hit soon.

^ I'm not even gonna comment how sexist that second paragraph was, I have already a tumblr post on that, but have you seen her last shoots? Since HOTEL she's taking clean/mature and sexy photoshoots, I can't even remember the last time she looked ~tacky~

Finally listened to the album. I like it :)

It's not as good as Bon Voyage imo, but it's nice, specially the second half, I'm happy with it. Not her best, but definitely not bad at all.

I agree! the 2nd half of the album is really good!

I don't even get that comment because the covers/photoshoot for this album are literally the definition of toned down, mature sexy.

And Nicki Minaj? wtf? When has Nicki Minaj not been known for being trashy af??? Did I just dream up Anaconda or something?

I agree with that, I love the styling for the covers.

It was mostly a reference to her hair. The pic of Kumi's hair on the previous page looks like a rebellious teen that used her allowance to buy temporary dye at Hot Topic. Nicki used to wear a wig of every texture, style and color under the rainbow and now it's toned down and sleek. Yeah Anaconda was trashy AF but I'm mostly talking about her presentation during performances, talk shows, red carpets, etc.

Agree with the Party Queen comparation, this is indeed a risk taker for Kumi. But I'm so happy that she scrapped all the boring ballads and went on a funny route this time.
House Party kinda reminds me of Namie's First Timer. In fact, the first part of Walk Of My Life reminds me of Past Future. Both have that addictive crazyness.

I actually always loved Kuu's style and looks.
I like the different hair colors they suit her very well too.
For me she can wear anything and just look good in it. Nothing ever seems out of place or over the top to me.

I think WALK OF MY LIFE could be Kuu's worst album in her career.

I'm really enjoying her latest photoshoots, I think this mature style fits her pretty well. However, I won't blame her if she wants to go "tacky" again just because she's a mother.

This is looking like a new release of Britney Spears: when people say that the last album was a marterpiece now, even when they hated when it was released, and the latest album is the worst album ever released. Let's all wait till next year, when Kumi releases a new album and everybody start to say that it's the worst ever and how WALK OF MY LIFE was ahead of its time. haha

Aaaanyway, I can't wait to see the JELLY photoshoot, I hope that she is the cover girl.

I was really excited for this album and what? After few listenings I have to say IT SOUNDS HORRIBLE (except few songs).

Tracks like "Lippy" or "House Party" just hurting my ears. "Merceds" and "Like It" - pretty boring. "Gimme U" and "Sometimes Dreams Come True" - maybe nice but we heard it all before. "LIFE so GOOD!!" - one of those happy-crappy songs which we not only heard many times but it doesn't even fit to album concept (hmm.. what concept? this album is messy). "You can keep up with me" is good example of wasted potential because refrain melody is really catchy but the rest is chaotic and whole music is disaster. "PIECE IN THE PUZZLE" and "Fake Tongue" - my 2 fave tracks even if have some cons. "Dance In The Rain" and "WALK OF MY LIFE" - technically 2 the best songs (which I also like).

It makes me laugh when someone wrote in review that album is ROCK-ISH. Where the hell I'm asking? Have anyone heard anywhere on this album REAL INSTRUMENTS and GUITARS? It's really low-cost and poorly mastered album. Music from most of tracks could be created by moneky, because it's just few random electronic samples playing in a loop with random talking/singing (not even having proper melody line).

Loving the new hair!

So i'm listening to the album and i have this feeling like this album is a bunch of those songs that give you so much expectations but then halfway through the songs it's still the same and nothing happens. Second half of the album sounds much better, though. But overall the whole thing... It's a bit repetitive in terms of melodies and arrangements, i don't get any culmination points in any of the songs. I mean it's like you heard a minute and a half and you kind of heard the whole song. Nothing new happens. However, it isn't a bad album, i can totally see myself listening to this and just chillin' lol might be even a grower.
I think these would be my picks - Dance in the rain, HOTEL, Gimme U and Walk of My Life & Piece in The Puzzle. That one was interesting. Fake Tongue & LIFE so GOOD sounds like my kind of thing too. It isn't a bad album, but Bon Voyage was much better for me.

off-topic but Femme Fetale was a masterpiece from the moment it began to be birthed into existence and still remains so.

is WALK OF MY LIFE kumi's Bionic? #justiceforbionic

I'm completely addicted to PIECE IN THE PUZZLE, it's awesome, can't stop listening to it.

I absolutely loved Bon Voyage from the first listen, it's possibly my no. 1 favorite Kuu album :heart

@do it again I was thinking about Bionic when I wrote that. haha Such a good album, way better than Lotus.

@Zeke.: And I think Femme Fatale miss the most important thing: Britney Spears. It was a robotic/vocaloid well produced album, with some songs that were a hot mess (Big Fat Bass and Gasoline), but with a couple of good jams (Up & Down, Trouble for Me, Hold It Against Me). See how you can say an album isn't your cup of tea without saying that is disgusting? haha I'm joking, I got your point of view

And to everybody saying that the album is poorly mastered/bad produced, you people are judging from a MQ rip, and with only that I can listen that her voice (or screams, whatever you wanna call) are better mastered than Ayumi's latest albuns, which makes her voice disconect with the track overall (this is what I call a bad mastered album, not comparing the artist, only how the work is done :) and how everybody here knows that Ayumi's latest albuns are really missing this).

@pimenta: I love too! Winner Girls still my jam. haha

Lol, that's why I love it! It treated Britney and her voice as an instrument to be explored and manipulated. The techniques used in production, the attention to detail, the effects, the layering. That album was all about "creating" a sound. It was pure digitalization at its finest artistry.

Anyways, was it confirmed that Kuu was releasing a new DH or was it a rumor? I know it hasn't been officially announced but where did the rumor originate from?

It was ahead of its time lol

also as for bon voyage, it did serve with the 8bit "fu know" which was perfect except for Kumi's pronunciation.