Sometimes when we indulge ourselves in the things we love, it opens us up to new opportunities and discoveries. For example, fans of anime find themselves traveling towards a gateway leading to many other traits in Japan, including the music. To paraphrase the elder leader of the Barbarios (Vampire Hunter D) " I have seen many of Japanese artists, but never one so deep!" Let us set out on a journey down Utada's Deep River of life as we are splashed with her songs. And now for unique look at Hikaru Utada lastest album, Deep River.
Track 1: Sakura Drops
Drumroll please! This song is a great way to start things off. There's a certain hook in this song that will move the listener in some way. Sakura Drops was the featured theme song for the Japanese TV drama entitled First Love. The themes for this drama were "Love can change your life." and "Love can sometimes be painful when left unrequited." The lyrics in Sakura Drops seem to reflect those themes and introduce listeners to a more mature Hikaru Utada.
Track 2: Traveling
After you pass the flashing Small World effects, this song is your typical hit single (as was the case in Japan). Since Utada was born and raised in America, her songs always carry an "American flavor". It seems to come through in this particular tune.
Track 3: Shiawase ni Narou
This song sounds similar to the songs created by the teeny-bopper Hikaru. It doesn't quite fit this album and lacks the mature sound found in the other tracks. It's a typical Jpop song with enough "fluff" to fill a pillow.
Track 4: Deep River
Deep River is the title track to the album. This song is a slow ballad and the music conveys the feeling that emotions run deeper than the deepest river.
Track 5: Letters
The rhythmic Latin beats of Letters keep this boat going. She must be illustrating her hard times in life since she feels the need to curse in English. The river must be getting rough.
Track 6: Play Ball
To a jpop fan with limited knowledge of the Japanese language you may find this song to be a little boring. It lacks that certain emotional intensity found in the other songs on this album. Nothing is wrong with the song in general and actually the chorus can be quite catchy if you keep listening to it.
Track 7: Tokyo Nights
I really think the boat took a turn into Osamu Tezuka's world full of waltzing bishoujo men. This type of music would be ideal for an anime theme song. Okay, enough fun for now. Let's get back to the adventure.
Track 8: A.S.A.P.
Our journey opens to settings familiar to Linkin Park's In the End, but unfortunately progresses to an American early 90's angry female artist. Let's leave A.S.A.P.
Track 9: Uso Mitai na I Love You
We make a hard rock right into something a little more my style. But this is Utada and as expected, we get a great voice with great guitar riffs for this kind of artist. Not too hard, but not to soft. I don't think Utada's ready to mosh with the worst of us yet. But if you like Pink's latest, you'll probably like this. Sighc it's time to move on.
Track 10: Final Distance
This song played in karaoke bars for nearly a year already. The trip and the aggression slows down. It's been a great ride. Even though the upbeat version of this song was the title track of her previous album, it is apparent that Utada's growing up with the newer, yet slower version of this song. She seems to sing with signs of emotional breakage. When Alicia Keys visited Japan and was asked about Japanese music and Utada Hikaru, she replied, "It's not overdramatic; we just don't express feelings like this in American songs too much."
Track 11: Interlude
We are about to get off the boat. By listening to Utada's CD, we can remember everything that has happened to us in life. Utada shows her fans how life is reflected in her river.
Track 12: Hikari
Released after Traveling, this is an upbeat, but slower track and featured in the video game Kingdom Hearts. This is a very powerful and emotional song, which is just another example of more mature style. A great conclusion to her album.
On a scale from one to ten, this album deserves a nine. Utada seems to be leaving her style when she debuted and is singing songs that reflect her soul and her journey growing up. Even though the trip is over, another journey will present itself soon. This was an interesting reflection into her life, but she's far from over. With an English album in the works, we can only hope her emotion translates into a fantastic voyage in all her endeavors.
Haven't heard the sounds of Hikaru Utada yet? Don't miss out! Buy Hikaru Utada's Deep River album here from Akadot Retail.
