[Utada Hikaru] ʕ•̫͡•ʔ Upcoming 2018 Album and Tour in the 57th thread ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

[bluegie]

Originally Posted by CeReSu

Okay if the new album is less dynamic than Fantome which I found boring as hell (sorry guys...) I'm not sure I will listen to this one.

Don't take my word for it. Maybe you'll find it more dynamic than I do. Just give it a try .

[Andrenekoi]

I just listened to it once, but my initial impressions is way better than Fantome and one of her best.

[ahtka-chan]

I have no words for this album. It's pure love and it makes a lot of sense after Fantome.

Too Proud is amazing, as well as Chikai and the other songs. There's not a single song that I dislike.

[CeReSu]

Originally Posted by bluegie

Don't take my word for it. Maybe you'll find it more dynamic than I do. Just give it a try .

Okay, thanks I'll do that

[summerain]

I think "Good Night" is one of her best songs ever.

I'm kinda shocked because I really liked Fantôme, but it's an irregular album, with very good songs and some not-so-very-strong points. What endears me the most in "Hatsukoi" are the consistency and cohesion. A very solid and mature album (even the cilantro song sounds mature, I know it's bizarre).

[freedreamer]

Hatsukoi is INSANELY mature yes and very cohesive! I mean ok, some songs, I still dont rmb especially those with Japanese titles because the tempo is kinda similar. Will need more time but on my first listen through, it really is a very solid album

[Marcelo]

...I guess I'm the only one who hasn't fallen in love with it yet I love Anata (specially) and Hatsukoi (without the "I need you" parts lol), but for me, the album just goes down after them. I've been listening to it a couple of times now, I hope it grows on me. 嫉妬されるべき人生 will probably at least.

[summerain]

Is it just me or some details of "Too Proud" arrangement reminds Kyary Pamyu Pamyu songs? Besides, if Nariaki was involved in something at "Hatsukoi", it could be probably that song, it fits so much with "Bunriha no Natsu" material.

[~angel*ayumi~]

First listen it´s moderate, I never was a fan of that ever slow songs, must listen to it a few times more to catch my favourite songs.

[amorphose]

I love this whole album but I must say that Nokoriga especially blew me away. Only the Queen can turn funeral music into a bop. Anata is still one of the best tracks, imo. I love the big band vibe. I wanna hear more music from Hikki with natural instruments. The full version of Chikai is everything I wanted. THOSE BACKGROUND VOCALS. Ugh. Hikki never disappoints.

[summerain]

She released two videos in her official YouTube channel.

The first one is a rework of Pakuchi no Uta made by a british band called Superorganism.

The second one is the documentary of "Hatsukoi" PV shooting, buuuuut, guess what, Sony made it an Japan-exclusive video

[voltron]

I'm still working through the album, so won't make any major judgments other than - it sounds like a Fantome 2.0 There are a lot of interesting things going on musically, but overall it's background music to me.

But what I do think is interesting is that I didn't really think much of forevermore before, but after 4 songs that had more airy vocals that were starting to grate on me, I was SO pumped to hear something with full, rich vocals. It's amazing how placement can really make or break a song, or make you look at it in a different way!

[RealLight]

Originally Posted by voltron

I'm still working through the album, so won't make any major judgments other than - it sounds like a Fantome 2.0 There are *a lot* of interesting things going on musically, but overall it's background music to me.

*some, in my case, but I agree with what you said.

[bluegie]

Besides DEEP RIVER, it seems like hikki loves to make similar types of music for two albums. First Love and Distance were R&B, ULTRA BLUE and HEART STATION were sync instruments, and now Fantôme and Hatsukoi are mainly real instruments. The funny thing is that UB and HS are quite polar opposite, and now Fantôme and Hatsukoi are polar opposite as well.

[mi|kshake]

Thanks for posting your thoughts guys. I can't wait to hear the album when I receive my copy, in like 3 weeks, lol!

[hayasaki]

TOO PROUD IS MY JAM LAIK UGHHHHH. HIKKI CAN MAKE FULL BLASTING DISTANCE 2.0

[Michan]

Still listening to the album, but she could have deleted Play A Love Song. What a useless song that does nothing to introduce the album and does nothing to prepare for the next track.

[Akutenshi]

I read that someone on twitter pointed out that the chanting at the end of Yuunagi resembles the carrying of the mikoshi in traditional Japanese festivals, but more mournful than how it is usually performed. This just makes it even more beautiful imo.

[hayasaki]

^It surely does feel like it. The whole image i get from the song feels like Hikki is scattering her mom's ashes in the sea. This song is so sad

[Baco__]

Originally Posted by Michan

Still listening to the album, but she could have deleted Play A Love Song. What a useless song that does nothing to introduce the album and does nothing to prepare for the next track.

I disagree 200% haha I would rather not have the rapping part in too proud.

When the choir sing hold me tight and never let me go, everybody needs sometime alone (of that's what they're singing lol) I feel like crying haha