UNIVERSE
[2010.02.03]
UNIVERSE is a double album containing Kumi's 8th original album and a greatest hits spawning songs from Koi No Tsubomi to Stay With Me.
Being 2010 Koda Kumi's 10th anniversary, UNIVERSE was conceived as a celebrative album with its cover arts resembling her hit collection BEST ~second session~ photoshoot and with songs that showcased the many sounds and personalities she has used in her career.
After the electric and eclectic TRICK, I really didn't have a clue of where Kumi wanted to go with her next album. I was definitely expecting her to go back to the ero-kakkoii roots in order to celebrate the peak of her career and although we don't find many sexy songs on UNIVERSE, it covers all of Kumi's styles ineed.
Coming with a massive Greatest Hits with basically all of her singles from the Black Cherry, Kingdom and TRICK eras, can UNIVERSE ever match the quality of these songs or is it going to be outshined by the past?
Read my Track-By-Track review to find out:
01. Step Into My World sounds like a complete version of INTRODUCTION FOR TRICK and I love it! The urban beat is aggressive and the overall production is captivating. Thanks to a powerful chorus the song will be stuck in your head for hours! I really appreciate when urban Kumi doesn't try too much to be a real American rapper but prefers to play with western sounds staying in a Japanese zone at the same time 7/10
02. Can We Go Back is a Kelly Clarkson's cover which is pretty random to be honest. The song itself is simple with an ok melody but a good pop-rock production. Among her pop-rock songs this is one of the few that doesn't have that silliness going around which is great. I find the arrangement to be better in the original American version but overall, Kumi's edit has a stronger bridge which makes the song much more powerful and refined. Kumi's vocals then elevates the song to a whole new level and I love the bass at the end. This live, slays. 8/10
03. SUPERSTAR did I just say tongue-in-cheek?? This lovely and catchy song makes fun of those clumsy situations when we are just too shy to start flirting seriously! The bridge is extremely good and despite not being a super production with that Kumi extravaganza, SUPERSTAR is a sweet treat 6/10
04. You're So Beautiful is one of my favourite Kumi's ballads because it shiftes from the old overproduced power ballads tapping into a more Celine Dion territory, and it features some of Kuuchan's best lyrics! The touching melody and the gentle production are pure magic and thanks to the amazing bridge and Kumi's incredible voice, You're So Beautiful is an inspiring and moving pop song 7.5/10
05. Lick me Another silly and ironic song that is going to make you crave for summer every day of the year! Along with some fun lyrics the song also features a cartoonish melody supported by an over the top production which has still space for an impressive bass line and a cool rockabilly guitar solo! I absolutely love this crazy song and it's Kumi perfection 9/10
06. Work It Out! is an empowering anthem and similarly to You're So Beautiful, it will inspire you to face the future. She also opens up about her struggles within the music industry and such honesty is quite rare among JPop singers. I think that Work It Out is Kumi's best rock song with astonishing vocals, a refined and powerful production, a catchy chorus and a crazy bridge. Kumi delivers perfection, again 10/10
07. No Way is a peculiar midtempo which deals with that moment right before a break-up when you just can't express your feelings. I find the urban production magnificent, the incredible chorus and the always perfect Kumi's vocals then make this song timless and unique 9/10
08. Stay is a soft RnB ballad which has nothing special to it neither lyrically nor musically. Even Kumi's voice sounds too nasal and not good as it should. Stay is still pretty catchy but not really album material in my opinion, it could have been a b-side for Can We Go Back 6/10
09. Comes Up is another inspiring song with the typical super kawaii Kumi's sound. Nevertheless the song is catchy and with its beautiful message it will put a smile on your face but I would have left it in a summer single 6/10
10. Physical thing the heat rises with this hot RnB uptempo song! I think that the amazing production, which is the strongest thing here, makes up for the basic melody. The song is catchy anyway and will set your mood for a night out 8/10
11. ECSTASY is a perfect sexy song that reminds me of the dance/rock productions on TRICK. It's simply catchy and powerful and has a terrific post-chorus. This is yet another perfect song 10/10
12. UNIVERSE the title track is a strong dance song which takes inspiration directly from Missy Elliott's iconic hit Lose Control released in 2005. Unlike the Ciara and Fatman Scoop assisted hip-hop track, UNIVERSE goes into a more EDM direction with crazy synths and powerful beats. To be honest, it feels a bit overproduced and weird but it's definitely a smash on the dancefloor and it's full of energy 6.5/10
13. It's all Love Feat. Misono is a duet with Kumi's little sister Misono and it's...insane. This is Japanese extravaganza at its best! Everything is absolutely over the top, from the lyrics, to the melody and the production! This might get you a headache but I still love this bold rockish song 9/10
14. Alive is an elegant ballad which strips down everything she has done before and leaves space to Kumi's voice and interpretation. Alive is so good that it sounds like a Disney's song, this sounds refreshing and genuine, love it 9/10
The album debuted at #1 on the Oricon Chart selling 222,000 copies in its first week of release. It has sold around 400,000 copies also thanks to a massive arena tour.
UNIVERSE is an incredible collection of songs, it has certainly a couple of songs that are more fillers than real good album material and it's too long as usual but the overall quality is incredibly high.
This album might not be as bold and experimental as the previous TRICK and not as choesive as the following Dejavu but it greatly celebrates Kumi's career with still space for a couple of surprises.
And when Kumi walks on already paved musical paths, she naturally does it with confidence without trying too hard to be someone else.
This is simply Koda Kumi at her best!
UNIVERSE: 8/10
Italian Fan Club Tracklist:
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