the official thread 12 "utada hikaru

[Luv ~Venus~]

^I know it's not bad even though I haven't listen to it. I think some people aren't giving the whole album a GOOD listen to. Most people, I think, just skipped to the new songs instead of just listening to the whole album as a whole.

I can't wait to get my copy of the album!

@Aku: Oh! I don't mean to sound all uptight and anything, but it's always last on a Hikki fan's list. XD Many say that its crappy and talentless (mostly people on Jpopmusic said that) an dothers, like you, said that it was a good album but its far from her best albums. lol First Love will always be my favorite.

Ugh, gawd, I want to hear HEART STATION! Poor Me! I'm about a minute away from just dropping my pride and downloading the album.

[hayasaki]

Originally Posted by bluegie

damn... I have to skip thru 2 pages, tryin to avoid the comments of the new songs. Unfortunately my eyes see something like "the songs dun stand out", "boku wa kuma is the best track"...

Is HS that.. bad?

ofcourse not.,., instead of saying beautiful, "It's PRETTY and sophisticated i think,,," oh! yeah.,., it's gentle... lOL

[ayumisrael]

teiku 5 is absolutely the best album only track imo
The only annoying part is that it's ending like in the middle of the song x_x.

[Akutenshi]

Originally Posted by bluegie

damn... I have to skip thru 2 pages, tryin to avoid the comments of the new songs. Unfortunately my eyes see something like "the songs dun stand out", "boku wa kuma is the best track"...

Is HS that.. bad?

Let me put it this way: if you're expecting anything like her last albums, you'll be mostly disappointed. It has hints of ULTRA BLUE with the synth, and I even think it slightly resembles Distance with tracks like Prisoner of Love, Kiss & Cry, and Niji-iro Bus, but the entire album as a whole is so much more relaxed and mellow. Some people, like me, really enjoy it, but it seems like a lot of others don't.

Originally Posted by ayumisrael

teiko 5 is absolutely the best album only track imo

I agree 100%.

[hayasaki]

Originally Posted by ayumisrael

teiku 5 is absolutely the best album only track imo
The only annoying part is that it's ending like in the middle of the song x_x.

I edited it... uhmm.,., it's on the Downloads section..

[ayumisrael]

Originally Posted by hayasaki

I edited it... uhmm.,., it's on the Downloads section..

Oh there was a problem with that track? Or is it originally like that? I didn't really understand that XD

[Akutenshi]

Originally Posted by ayumisrael

Oh there was a problem with that track? Or is it originally like that? I didn't really understand that XD

Oh no, what hayasaki meant was that he didn't like the way the track ended like that, so he did an extended version, and it's up for download in the media section.

[cloud♥honey]

Originally Posted by bluegie

damn... I have to skip thru 2 pages, tryin to avoid the comments of the new songs. Unfortunately my eyes see something like "the songs dun stand out", "boku wa kuma is the best track"...

Is HS that.. bad?

It's not because this that people said 'Boku wa Kuma' was the best track. There are people who loves the song, you may accept it. I love the song to death too and it's not because of this that I would hate the album. Absolutely not. I really love HS.

[ayumisrael]

Originally Posted by Akutenshi

Oh no, what hayasaki meant was that he didn't like the way the track ended like that, so he did an extended version, and it's up for download in the media section.

Oh thank you!
And thank you hayasaki!

I wonder why hikki wanted to end the song... in the middle x_x and it's the best album only track.. it's a shame. oh well XD

[hayasaki]

Originally Posted by ayumisrael

Oh thank you!
And thank you hayasaki!

I wonder why hikki wanted to end the song... in the middle x_x and it's the best album only track.. it's a shame. oh well XD

LOL... imagine how Ayu's Monochrome end... same same

[ayumisrael]

Originally Posted by hayasaki

LOL... imagine how Ayu's Monochrome end... same same

But at least monochrome ended right after the chorus where she sang kara and there was a door that been slammed (on the single version) and on the album version there wasn't but the song finished after the chorus but not in the middle of it, teiku 5 ends just in the middle of hikki's singing aaa BOOM ended just like that x_x" There's a bit difference if you get me, teiku 5's ending is more bizarre lol.

[Luv ~Venus~]

Originally Posted by Cloud_Honey

It's not because this that people said 'Boku wa Kuma' was the best track. There are people who loves the song, you may accept it. I love the song to death too and it's not because of this that I would hate the album. Absolutely not. I really love HS.

SO if I made a poll saying "The Best of the Albums: HEART STATION vs. GUILTY vs. KINGDOM!", who would you choose?

[hayasaki]

Originally Posted by Luv ~Venus~

SO if I made a poll saying "The Best of the Albums: HEART STATION vs. GUILTY vs. KINGDOM!", who would you choose?

Oh My! HARD to choose... but deffinitely, it's between, GUILTY and Heart STATION! LOL

[Hanabi_surreal]

ooohhh so sad... I want my .zip file

[Akutenshi]

Originally Posted by Luv ~Venus~

SO if I made a poll saying "The Best of the Albums: HEART STATION vs. GUILTY vs. KINGDOM!", who would you choose?

I'd have to do it this way.

HEART STATION > GUILTY > KINGDOM

KINGDOM was still a good album, but it had the most throw away tracks for me, such as Koi no Mahou, Anata ga Shite Kureta Koto and Wonderland. GUILTY was a VERY good album to me, but for the most part, it didn't bring anything new. It was like Ayumi's old work, even if it was done really well.

HEART STATION, to me, is a completely different side of Hikki that I've never seen. It was so calm, melodic, and all around beautiful. It's definitely my favorite album of the three.

[CHE.R.RY]

^ I have to say that I agree with you. I love Ayu the best, then comes Utada, and then Kumi...but I actually enjoyed 'HEART STATION' more than 'GUILTY' and 'Kingdom'. I'm really impressed with the album. My favorite new song was 'Nijiro Basu' and as for my favorite single...I can't choose xD! But I really liked all the tracks, and surprisingly enough, 'Boku wa Kuma' sounded just fine in the album lol.

[cloud♥honey]

Originally Posted by Luv ~Venus~

SO if I made a poll saying "The Best of the Albums: HEART STATION vs. GUILTY vs. KINGDOM!", who would you choose?

GUILTY but... I love THE FACE more than it, Shanny.

[Huaka]

Well, here's my review for the album. I'll put it on a spoiler tag because some of the posters here don't want to be spoiled.

Spoiler:

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

My album ranking as of now:

o1. Deep River
o2. Single Collection
o3. Ultra Blue
o4. Distance
o5. First Love
o6. Exodus
o7. Heart Station

Edit: You know what? I like First Love a lot more than Heart Station, so I'll switch their positions.

[ayuayu798]

I think the album is pretty good , but I think that if you expected it be like ULTRA BLUE, you may be a little dissapointed. Overall I would rate this album a 8/10 . My favorite song off the album so far is prisoner of love. That song is amazing!!

I've only listened very quickly, but I really really love this album. Here's my thoughts on the non-single tracks:

Fight The Blues - Beautiful. Right now it's my favorite track on the album. It's just a perfect opener in my opinion. I love the sitar and the synths.
Gentle Beast Interlude - Her best interlude. I love the HEART STATION bits in it.
Celebrate - Definitely interesting. It reminds me a lot of "ONE NIGHT MAGIC", although I prefer ONM.
Prisoner of Love - An awesome quasi-ballad. I love that she's going back to that Distance-style with this. It reminds me so much of "For You". It's a lot more powerful though, I love the strings!
Take 5 - Sounds like a sister song of "Fight The Blues" with those synthesizers. It's absolutely haunting, I love her voice. Wow, this is really an amazing song, I love it!
Nijiiro Basu - Such a cute song. It's an amazing way to end the CD I think. Reminds me a lot of First Love.

The album is NOT better than UB like I had previous thought it would be... but I think it may tie for 2nd with DEEP RIVER

01. ULTRA BLUE (forever and always )
02. HEART STATION (for now)
03. DEEP RIVER
04. Distance
05. First Love