Utada, Exodus

Utada, Exodus - In my opinion, I can't compare this album to any of the Japanese releases, since this one has a different style.

Lyrics. VERY CHEEESY. Lots of Annoying melody lines. I do not like the fact that the label is exploiting her skills to compete with Britney Spears or any one of those type of vocal icons. They also overexpose the fact that she is oriental, as noted in some the lyrics which gets obnoxious. And also the album cover is purposely trying to make her look more "exotic."

I just think she was better off the way she is in Japan.

Utada, Exodus - I've been following Utada for quite awhile now before her big "crossover" which honestly isn't much of one as she released albums in America before but wasn't recognized. This one just got Timbaland to front it.

As for this CD, the cover itself could almost turn it off to you, her face is suppose to be in a 'sexy pout' but she just looks like someone who just woke up to see a camera in their face (only without the panic). Not to mention the overboarding on Photoshop sparklies. If you truly buy a CD by facial value if you're impluse buying I ask you to at least give this one a second chance.

Onto the CD itself. Obviously off the bat I can tell you that this CD is -not- her Japanese music. Whatever Utada and the other producers were thinking, I don't know but this is where it works and it doesn't work. It's stale, yet 'different' in a way that I can't really describe. What's going for her here is that she's clean. Not a lot of artists can do that nowadays as their work is littered with either flat-out swearing or lots of little bits of innuendo that an eight year old can pick up. This CD, I had to actually read the lyrics to see if it was actually what I thought it to be.

Utada experiments in this CD. She tries to dip her fingers into every musical genre pot to give everyone a taste of what she can do, WITHOUT flat-out going so far to be labeled as an 'X-artist'. She even flat-out says this in Track 9, "Crossover Interlude":

"I don't wanna crossover between this genre that genre."

Generally, her tracks in this CD are mainly goodnatured or playfully sexy. A side of her barely touched in her "COLORS" single from Japan. She's trying to embrace her womanly self - but you can tell from this CD she's only an arm-reach away. There's potential. But she has to be more careful with how she goes about it.

This CD -is- a worthy buy if you are not afraid to listen. This is growth in the process folks, and, while it lacks, she still does a good job. She isn't just flat-out -rubbish- so the credit must be given due.

There are flaws. But they are easily looked past no matter what your experience with Utada if you just keep your mind open. You -might- actually end up liking a song for no reason aside from the fact that it just strikes you in the right way. Takes more than a single listen to truly hate a CD in my opinion.

A few songs to note:

"The Workout" - Silly dancebeats, just a general, good-natured party song.

"Hotel Lobby" - Repetitive, but it just stays kinda smooth. The chorus is very nice in my opinion.

"About Me" - The only song in this CD that isn't jazzed up with electronic beats. Almost, just almost reminds me of what she can do in Japanese. A good finale to a busy CD.

Utada, Exodus - I was also a fan of Utada's Japanese music. Her Japanese music is great, and if she had been able to bring just 3 percent of that quality to this release it would have been a hit. I am not so obsessed with her JPOP however, to be blind to how awful this CD is. The only CD, out of my collection of 400, that I would consider selling back. Some jewels from her lyric poetry:

"I was dancing with a dirty blonde Texan/ charming accent but the music's playing too loud for talking / so I showed him how people in the Far East get down/... push it up, push it down (repeat four times)/ what a workout!"

"You're easy-breezy and I'm Japanesey/... she's got a new microphone/ she doesn't need you/ she's got a new microphone (repeated continuously to fade out."

"Can you and I start mixing gene pools?/ Eastern, western people/ get naughty multilingual/ hurry up lets turn this room into a melting pot."

If the poor lyrics don't get you, dont worry, the music itself is garbage too. Too much metallic beat and percussion and not enough actual music to hide her subpar vocals.

If you have any interest in JPOP, Utada's "Deep River" will be a powerful, eye-opening experience that shows you just how good Japanese music can be. Exodus will just make you feel sad for this silly, confused girl and her musical mistake.

Utada, Exodus - Utada is the exotic name of one of the best-selling artists in Japan. Utada's recent excursion is the crossing over into the American market with her English debut: Exodus. Exodus is an amazing CD which travels through different genres of music; from upbeat, to morose, from techno dance beats to hip hop tunes, from pop to ballad, and this CD has got it all. With her infectious beats and breathtaking lyrics, Utada is an amazing performer and artist. If you are a fan of her Japanese music, or just recently discovered Utada, you will love this CD. Exodus, is truly a must-have for any avid music listener.