I listened to TRICK without knowing what I was going through as Kumi drastically changed her sound from the previous rnb friendly Kingdom in 2008 to this new dance-electronic-rock album! That's why I felt that the name "TRICK" perfectly suited this new era which was about to present a new Koda Kumi! As you can imagine I really like TRICK but it's the first time that I make a track-by-track review of the album so I am curious to know how I will rate each song, aren't you curious too? Here's my review:

 

01. INTRODUCTION FOR TRICK Is one of her best intro ever! It feels a bit unfinished as I was hoping in a full song but it sets the mood on FYAH! 9/10

 

02. TABOO Was a real game-changer! The production is simply amazing and it sounds fresh still today. In 2008 those kinds of songs weren't that common among mainstream pop as dance superstar Lady Gaga was just debutting in the States and wasn't really that popular yet. It was also the very first club anthem fo Kumi who up to that moment has been more into rnb, pop and rock sounds. This song is iconic and perfect 10/10 

 

03. show girl is another mindblowing song with a circus theme but with a modern edge thanks to the electronic production. The melody is rich and fun and I really like the tongue-in-cheek humour! The song's structure then is perfect: incredible verses, great vocals, good bridge, strong pre-chorus and an addictive hook! Another smoking hot track 10/10

 

04. Your Love is the first ballad of the album and it's a lovely rnb track with a nice melody and gentle production. It's clearly not her best ballad but it's a real nice slow tempo 6/10

 

05. stay with me It's time for the classic Kumi's power ballad, it reminds me of You and Yume No Uta but this song stands on its own thanks to the beautiful melody and amazing chorus, a true gem 8/10

 

06. This is not a love song Another edgy and bold song! The sound is awsome and the production's aggressive! What really makes this song so special is Kumi's personality: she plays with her voice giving to the song so many textures and colours tat you'll never get enough of it! The bridge then is crazy, I absolutely adore this track 10/10 

 

07. Driving This album just doesn't slow down and it keeps on pushing Kumi's boundaries! The production is again stellar (that bridge is terrific) but it's the chorus here that brings the house down thanks to its powerful melody! Maybe just the verses don't match the rest of the song but Driving is an amazing song anyway 10/10

 

08. Bling Bling Bling feat. AK-69 This is a weird song as it's a real experiment for Kumi who goes basically rap which is not her comfort zone. The production is cool and I really like the sound of the song, even AK-69 does a nice job which is rare if you think how bad most of rap collaborations actually are. The only big downside is the weak chorus who gets repetitve and annoying but apart from that, Bling Bling Bling is a nice track 7/10

 

09. That Ain't Cool feat. Fergie I was expecting a great collaboration but sadly this song is nothing special. I really like the sound and the production but the melody is flat and weak, especially in the verses while the post-chorus is really cool (watcha gonna do about it? watcha gonna do about it?). Kumi's part is quite embarrassing...a failed project that could have been a killer combo. It's a pity because there are great ideas in this song 6/10

 

10. Hurry Up! Here's the rock number and it's a KILLER! It's not a simple rock song and I was surprised by its rich electronic production and its many details, from the filters used on Kumi's voice to the many sounds effects. Despite being so rich it doesn't sound messy and overproduced, on the contrary, it's a perfect mix. Unfortunately the melody isn't very strong making the song less than stellar  7.5/10

 

11. Moon Crying TRICK is a crazy futuristic ride but it leaves plenty of room to Kumi's classic power ballads. This Moon Crying became an istant fan favourite back in summer 2008 due to its massive and beautiful melody. The chorus is moving and emotional but I have to say that the song is a bit too long and repetitive, something I don't really like in ballads like these which I prefer to be short and intense but Moon Crying stands above thanks to the moving vocals 8/10

 

12. JUST THE WAY YOU ARE Is a lovely rnb mid-tempo where she keeps her voice soft and gentle without overshadowing the track. I really like the strings here, the whole song is so sweet and relaxing and, in its simplicity, it impressed me more than I thought it could. I have tho say though that this song doesn't seem to fit the album's sound but I really like it 7/10

 

13. Joyful Here's the usual Cute-Kawaii-Fluffy-Sugary-Childish-Poppish song but at least this one is really uplifting and puts a smile on your face thanks to the "joyful" production (I adore the guitar at the end)! A nice treat which thanks to its soft rockish edge still sounds great. Clearly it's not the peak of this album but at the same time it's one of Kumi's best cute songs 7/10

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14. Ai no Kotoba (愛のことば) Now this is a masterpiece! A simple, essential piano ballad that lets Kumi's voice leading the way and heading directly to your heart and soul! The bluesy guitar embellishes the song without covering Kumi's presence. Her vocals are astonishing, her falsetto is warm and heartfelt...I simply love every second of this song and it proves that Kumi is the queen of J-Pop. The melody is refined and classy...this ballad is huge, definitely her best original ballad ever recorded 10/10

 

15. Venus (DVD Version Bonus Track) When I was little I was a huge fan of this song (gay I know but it was a classic!) so it was really funny hearing Kumi's cover. It's a tongue-in-cheek and fun song with an '80s production! Obviously Kumi gives a modern twist to the song and the result is really nice and fun, really cool song 8/10