I was so pumped to hear Work, but honestly it's not that different from her past stuff. It's still in the vein of the sweet, cute pop music she's been making lately. I'm hoping she's gonna make another change in her direction of music. During her debut she made some really interesting sounding pop music, and I LIVED for her R&B days. I'm not really feeling her current era. But, she's growing and changing so I'm still interested in what the future holds.

I also have to say that I'm not feeling her present era.
Since My Place it's kind of like she changed to a monotone style that is different than the toLOVE/Thank you, My Love era which was my favorite, and it's the "country", normal unoriginal pop and ballads that are written mainly for the female fans. Dear Bride and some other random songs like I wanna see you dance and HOLIDAY are still nice, but lyrically to songs like Dear bride, or most of her songs I lyrically cannot relate to since I'm a guy. I don't mind feminist/girl power songs or rarely releasing a song meant for girls but I can't relate to the kana which 99% of the time write for girls (even though I'll be there is my favorite kana song and it's between girl friends lol that song is just amazing though). I could relate to her love songs like motto..., aitakute and others, but now that most of her songs are talking about womenhood, or are just jumpy normal pop songs, and almost lost all the sound of the older kana, she kinda lost me. I have all of her original albums until now, even Just LOVE, but I'm not sure if I will buy the next one.
Her voice is still awesome but voice alone is not enough to keep me interested.

There will be a new release by Kana at the end of July (26th July) called "Girls" and it will be the theme song of a new Professor Layton Game or something. I don't know, I don't trust my Japanese skills, but I'll add all the information. As usual there will also be two B-sides and everything looks promising so far ♪

https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...f8&oe=599FE8D4

LE cover:
http://i.imgur.com/mdEbpgR.jpg

RE cover:
http://i.imgur.com/hvpkGlK.jpg

Promo pic:
https://i2.wp.com/aramajapan.com/wp-...fit=1024%2C683

I love Kana's new haircut! These covers are so lovely. :heart can't wait for "Girls".

Wow that's really different from every covers she did in the past. The imagery gives me a 90s fashion magazine vibe. I wonder if the main track'll be a new sound?

Wow I love her new look so refreshing!!!!

The way that jacket is tied really irks me. No one ties up their jacket at their waist like that, Kana.

^seeing it, they should...

...not.

I hope for something fierce not a country vibe again

^I think she has 4 main styles:
-Country
-R&B
-Pop
-Ballad
I feel this is a pop song.

LQ preview

meeh...I expected something more upbeat

Welcome back in to love era

That doesn't really sound like anything from to LOVE? Not even close...
But anyway, it's an enjoyable pop song. Nothing too exciting as usual. I like it though. Got the chorus already stuck in my head.

I sure as fuck hope the studio version doesn't sound like that. Maybe it was the TV in the video, but she sounded a torture device during that performance. The song itself seems OK, but I just hope that performance is not an indication of the studio recording. :\

Visually, a bit too much makeup for me as well...

I know. She's so talented and pretty. She really doesn't need to push every note or have so much makeup on.

I hope Kana can evolve as an artist soon, or she's going to end up collapsing. And that'd be a shame. This type of stuff made her such an icon 7 years ago, but that was SEVEN YEARS ago. It'd be nice if she tried something slightly different. If her image can mature, so can her sound.

I actually like the song. But I find the line "I'm gonna live until I die" a bit funny though. I mean, everyone sure is, right?

^Maybe it's referring to people who just follow the routine without enjoy their life? She doesn't want to be like those persons. Perhaps if we get the full translation of the song, this line would make sense?

One more TV live: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5tp5az

I like Girls too. It sounds pre-2011.