Agreed. Though, as others have pointed out up there ^ lol, she herself apparently never actually used the word "mature" so it's a moot point really.

I dunno. I do think that the album so far sounds just like everything else she's ever put out. :shrug It's not as if there's been some noticeable shift in sound or sophistication just because she skimped on the cutesy songs or ballads this time around. Not that there's anything wrong with that or that it means the album will be bad per se, but I'm just not hearing the change personally or seeing it as a growth in maturity... Especially not with LOL on it.

Maybe I just don't see it because I never really equated her cutesy songs with being "immature." The only music I find really immature is that trite idol stuff (e.g. AKB48).

edit: Whatever.

...Did you read the conversation lol? Everyone did in fact deduce that she didn't say her musical style had matured. And we went on discussing whether it was more mature or not nonetheless. No need to be so hostile.

Just gonna say that people in general have really weird expectations of what "mature" is supposed to sound like when it comes to music, so, I think we should just, not use the word at all anywhere.


And yeah, LOADED's lyrics are stupid.

Yes I am. To me, LOL sounds like Watchu Waitin' On & Love Technique.

I think her most mature is "feel my mind".

Lol! No, I love both those songs and this sounds like a condescending preteen with attitude.

Honestly, it's since Secret that I feel Kuu isn't cohesive in her albums.
And that's fine for me.
I mean, she has this formula in her cds and it kind of works for me, so I can enjoy every album, even if they always have this one track that makes me cringe.
Usually the cutsey-poppy-totally inadequate for her track, typical example: EVERYDAY, which, like, completely ruined JAPONESQUE for me.
JAPONESQUE was on the verge of perfection, it has EVERYTHING, except for Brave, nice but generic, and Everyday. Everything else was either amazing, or made amazing but outstandingly convincing Kuu vocals. She rocked that album vocally so hard. Love Technique and Boom Boom Boys are so great especially because of the way she sang them.
Love Technique is also the proof she can be super cute, yet not sing souless pop songs. And that acoustic version of You are not alone was genius.
She has so much acoustic potential!

Bon Voyage, on the other hand, it's nothing new, but it's SUPER SOLID imo.
And it has these new, soft touches here and there. Nothing breathtaking, but very appreciable!

hm, interesting.
to me, neither LOL nor Winner Girls play that way. But, with a fuller track maybe what/how you're hearing could become more evident to me.

Good call on feel my mind. There is a certain maturity to that album, but it never loses energy or a sense of fun. Damn, that's such a good album. For me, it feels like her most coherent output to date.

And on the note of 'maturity' (yes, the point is over now, hahaha), to me it always meant knowing when it was ok to let loose and act like a kid.

Nice! I really want to listen to the full song >_<

I'm still going to listen to Bon Voyage all the way through. Right now, I just think LOL & Winner Girls are cute songs.

feel my mind is awesome form start to end. Rain & magic are my favorite.

I actually don't mind if she goes from cute to rock to slut to ballad queen.

Agreed, that is also what I read of a translated interview. :) And the songs on this album do seem to be a lot more hip-hop and r'n'b based direction, with less ballads and cute songs like the tradition with her albums. And as you say, less about love songs which she is known in Japan for, and showing a more cool image. Which also ties in with the album title, cause it's like shes saying 'bon voyage!' to the way she used to do things and is trying something new. (which I think is basically what shes saying).

I daresay it took a lot of courage for her to do an album built up of more songs like this (like, more western and 'go for it' attitude) than her usual cute and ballad-y songs that her fans like so much and are used to, as you can't really tell how Japanese fans will take it. But I'm really glad she has! Because I am adoring the songs so far. I'm actually looking forward to hearing more of 'Imagine' though. It might be a nice ballad or soft song to give some variety over the R'nB songs. :) But I do praise Kuu for trying new things, its what I love about her. And some people don't like all the English but I'm actually pleased to hear Kuu sing in English! But obviously that could just be me.

It is! :yes

My only thing with the whole "doesn't drink or smoke", or the whole profile really, is that we been using for God knows how long. Are purple and green still her favorite colors? I remember reading recently that it was pink. If these facts are still from an interview profile from when she was 19, they are no longer accurate.

Anywho, haven't seen this much serious discussion in the Kuu thread in a long time.

lol after a long time of this thread getting perma-closed, we finally respect each other~

hahahahaha I LOVE laught out loud (LOL)
very fantastic album !!!!

can't wait! Kuu always specta-diva !!!

Thank you!

Haven't been keeping up to date with Kuu's singles, so I am really looking forward to hearing the whole album. The previews sound quite promising.

I've refrained myself from hearing the latest previews (LOL and pvs)
so I'm looking forward even more to the release of the albuuumm!

Mature doesn't mean she is going to be an enka singer :)

^
...Now I want enka-Kuu!! :heart
(Just once. To try it, lol.)

I'd love her to go enka at least once for a EP or a cover album, like Akina Nakamori did :heart She was amazing already singing Uta wa waga inochi, imagine a whole thing omg

^ Sayonara no Mukougawa is also an enka song isnt it? or her cover for Ii Hi Tabidachi on FNS. her vocals are beautifully strong for these kind of songs :heart