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Honestly, Utada is such an exception because there is a clear divide in her style. If someone were to recommend to me anything pre-Ultra Blue as a first listen, I'd almost certainly give up on her. Her r&b/groove days are not enjoyable for me, where-as the ethereal dream-esque world she venture into from Ultra Blue onward is divine. When I think Hikki, I nothing pre-Ultra Blue even comes to mind (with the exception of Simple & Clean and First Love the song) because her artistry was an entirely different vision and concept back then to me. It's a lot of stuff anyone could have released, and a lot of stuff imitating and inspired by other artists/styles. Whereas, I feel the material she began releasing with Ultra Blue was a flavor of music I could only taste from her alone.
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