MUSIC

Marvelous. That's one word I'd use to describe this album. If you're thinking of buying this album or any other Mika Nakashima album, and you don't tolerate the Britney Spears/Jennifer Lopez/Backstreet Boys/N Sync/Justin Timberlake/Limp Bizkit/Ashlee Simpson/Christina Aguilera/Destiny's Child/Beyonce/50 Cent/Shakira/hip-flop/etc. garbage on American radio (I for one don't), then you'll be glad you spent money on said albums instead of those clowns. Every song on this album tells a story all its own, ranging from old Japanese folk balladry ('Oborozukiyo~Inori,' recorded with Taro Hakase) to electronica ('Legend' - Main Version) to even rock ('Fed Up') although the album, as always, is one big lump sum 'adult contemporary' pop album (NOT R&B). My favorite songs on this album are tracks 1 through 3 and the last track even though I pretty much enjoy everything else on the disc. It's probably the best CD released in 2005, next to Mika's own 'Best' album. Just go out and buy it if you love her.

This is probably one of my most-listened to purchases of this year. Mika's voice stands out brilliantly against many other pop artists. It manages to be high and husky all at once, which gives her a lot of versatility. Almost every song on the album has a wonderful amount of strengh (save "Shadows of You", which I found to be rather flat and not very memorable, though it's still sweet enough). My favorite tracks include Hi no Tori, Kumo no Ito, Rocking Horse, Seven, Fed Up, and Fake, though I pretty much love the whole thing. This is the first of Mika's albums I bought, and I recommend it as a great place to start. :3

Nakashima Mika has to have one of those most distinctive and beautiful of voices in all of the Jpop industry, but also anywhere. Her silky smooth voice soars over each and every gem of a track on her 3rd album MUSIC. But the real reason behind this album's superiority over any of Mika's past albums is the variety and quality of songs to be had here. This album contains some of Mika's best material to date, but also some of her most experimental and unique. The variety on this album ranges from the seductive lounge/jazz of "FAKE" to the heartbreaking sincerity of the somber ballad "Hitori" to the cool techno-lite of "Legend". Each track here is a real treasure and this album shouldn't be missed!