CU Recommends : Asuka

Artist: Asuka
Album Title: Intial A
Styles: R&B
Label: Avex Trax
Reference Code : AVCD-30687
Released: 2005/03/09
Running Time: 73:18

REVIEW >>>

Asuka, one of Japan's most promising new r&b talents blew many fans of Japanese r&b off their feet with her debut and has now released the follow up to the acclaimed shining album that was released in 2003. Not only the fans but also the critics praised Asuka's debut album and many were ready to even claim it as the best r&b release to ever come out of Asia. 2 years has passed since and the question in everybody's mind now should be if Initial A can compare to the brilliant offering of the first. Before going in depth with the quality of this release it should be told that Asuka produces as well as writes all of her music which is a rare thing in the r&b scene, in any country of the world. What made Shining so good was Asuka's skill to understand r&b music much better than most of her fellow vocalists. Without being bias one bit, Asuka also has a great voice and even better ability to use her voice to fit the music without sounding exactly the same as those other hundred r&b singers that you've heard from Japan or the rest of Asia. Without going into more praising, it's time to put the new album into test and see how it compares to Shining or the latest releases on the market.
What puts down the level of most Japanese r&b releases is the fact that many artists do not yet have a clear understanding what r&b music is (due to the fact that Japan embraced r&b music only around 6 years ago) which often makes the music sound like a mix of pop and r&b. As i mentioned before Asuka brilliantly succeeded from staying away from this formula on her debut which is exactly why it was so highly acclaimed in the scene. Initial A features 15 new tracks that strangely include remixes of the singles for the album and not the originals but in the end this is a good thing since the singles for this album were criticised anyway by most of her fans and indeed the remixes add up some needed spice (except for Me & My Girlfriend remix which is probably the weakest track on the album). Vocal wise Asuka ranks up on the podium but what makes Asuka stand up from the mass is her ability to write good songs. R&B in a way is one of the hardest forms of music to create, especially lyrically because most things about love have already been explored before. What made Shining (Asuka's debut album) good is what makes Initial A almost as good and that no doubt is Asuka herself. It all comes down to good music in the end and what we have here is well written package of songs with nice variety and good production. Asuka's english is also great which helps non Japanese speakers to really get into the hooks and helps her to get credibility as an r&b singer amongst all those r&b purists or whatever you may call them. Also as mentioned before what helps Asuka and her work is the other fact that she seems to understand r&b music better than most and does not limit her influences on cheesy quotes from American music and instead draws the influence vocally and production wise (some clear influences from Janet Jackson for an example and by that i mean Janet's r&b tracks!). Don't worry though even if you don't consider Janet r&b or if you don't like her music there's still a very high chance that you'll enjoy Initial A.

The same funny fact is visible on Initial A as well as on Shining which is that the single releases are actually the least enjoyable tracks of the album which by no means has anything to do with the singles being bad or anything. Apart from the unchanged quality of Asuka's great vocals comes the more "poppish" production this time around which however is not too big of a chance to make existing fans turn their heads or make new fans think she's doing pop r&b. The albums length in the other hand might be an issue for some people since it runs for 73 minutes but as a good side the album doesn't feel like it's that long because of the lack of filler tracks. Initial A to most people might not live up to Asuka's first album but it doesn't dissappoint any r&b fans guaranteed. Every single track on the album is pure quality but not classic material. Production wise Initial A is more varied than Shining though and the album is balanced well which means there's no sudden 5 ballad marathons to make you fall on the floor face first just ouf of boredom. The longest tracks on the album though go up to 6 minutes in length (three last tracks are all 6 minutes) which should have been cut down by a minute or 2 to make them more enjoyable but hey can't always have everything right? Me and My Girlfriend remix thanks to Black Fly and the feel of "another crappy disney movie theme" of Never Surrender are easily the albums weakest moments but everything else on the release is solid and enjoyable. Asuka couldn't have done much better with the follow-up for Shining to be honest. Not that she's not talented enough because it speaks more for the quality of this release. If you're a self respecting fan of "real" r&b music or just a fan of Asuka's first effort then by all means Initial A is worth those hard earned pennies that your unemployment office is kind enough to prepare for you around the beginning of next month :) C.U Recommends.

Rating:

Words By : Jesse Viinikainen

ADDITIONAL INFO >>>

Asuka first debuted with Brand New Aria! in 2003 and became one of the few females in the r&b scene who produce and write all of their own music. She also received the rookie of the year award from the black music and fashion magazine Luire on their annual awards in 2004 and opened for Ashanti on her Japan Tour. Initial A is her second album.

TRACKLIST & SOUND SAMPLES >>>

01. Sexi Sexi
02. X-MAN2～Saturday NightヤバFever☆～
03. Oh…What a night
04. Love again - 200％ mix feat. TYPE-Lo
05. A Song 4 U
06. 話をしようよ
 07. 名前呼んでIで叫んで
 08. Initial A
09. Excuse Me
10. 7days
11. (Another 3 months) without u
12. Breathe into the rhythm
13. Me & My Girlfriend - Home Girls Remix feat. Black Fly
14. Never Surrender～信じる力～
15. Missing

Album Highlights are marked with this symbol

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	Artist: Asuka Album Title: Intial A Styles: R&B Label: Avex Trax Reference Code : AVCD-30687 Released: 2005/03/09 Running Time: 73:18
REVIEW >>> Asuka, one of Japan's most promising new r&b talents blew many fans of Japanese r&b off their feet with her debut and has now released the follow up to the acclaimed shining album that was released in 2003. Not only the fans but also the critics praised Asuka's debut album and many were ready to even claim it as the best r&b release to ever come out of Asia. 2 years has passed since and the question in everybody's mind now should be if Initial A can compare to the brilliant offering of the first. Before going in depth with the quality of this release it should be told that Asuka produces as well as writes all of her music which is a rare thing in the r&b scene, in any country of the world. What made Shining so good was Asuka's skill to understand r&b music much better than most of her fellow vocalists. Without being bias one bit, Asuka also has a great voice and even better ability to use her voice to fit the music without sounding exactly the same as those other hundred r&b singers that you've heard from Japan or the rest of Asia. Without going into more praising, it's time to put the new album into test and see how it compares to Shining or the latest releases on the market. What puts down the level of most Japanese r&b releases is the fact that many artists do not yet have a clear understanding what r&b music is (due to the fact that Japan embraced r&b music only around 6 years ago) which often makes the music sound like a mix of pop and r&b. As i mentioned before Asuka brilliantly succeeded from staying away from this formula on her debut which is exactly why it was so highly acclaimed in the scene. Initial A features 15 new tracks that strangely include remixes of the singles for the album and not the originals but in the end this is a good thing since the singles for this album were criticised anyway by most of her fans and indeed the remixes add up some needed spice (except for Me & My Girlfriend remix which is probably the weakest track on the album). Vocal wise Asuka ranks up on the podium but what makes Asuka stand up from the mass is her ability to write good songs. R&B in a way is one of the hardest forms of music to create, especially lyrically because most things about love have already been explored before. What made Shining (Asuka's debut album) good is what makes Initial A almost as good and that no doubt is Asuka herself. It all comes down to good music in the end and what we have here is well written package of songs with nice variety and good production. Asuka's english is also great which helps non Japanese speakers to really get into the hooks and helps her to get credibility as an r&b singer amongst all those r&b purists or whatever you may call them. Also as mentioned before what helps Asuka and her work is the other fact that she seems to understand r&b music better than most and does not limit her influences on cheesy quotes from American music and instead draws the influence vocally and production wise (some clear influences from Janet Jackson for an example and by that i mean Janet's r&b tracks!). Don't worry though even if you don't consider Janet r&b or if you don't like her music there's still a very high chance that you'll enjoy Initial A. The same funny fact is visible on Initial A as well as on Shining which is that the single releases are actually the least enjoyable tracks of the album which by no means has anything to do with the singles being bad or anything. Apart from the unchanged quality of Asuka's great vocals comes the more "poppish" production this time around which however is not too big of a chance to make existing fans turn their heads or make new fans think she's doing pop r&b. The albums length in the other hand might be an issue for some people since it runs for 73 minutes but as a good side the album doesn't feel like it's that long because of the lack of filler tracks. Initial A to most people might not live up to Asuka's first album but it doesn't dissappoint any r&b fans guaranteed. Every single track on the album is pure quality but not classic material. Production wise Initial A is more varied than Shining though and the album is balanced well which means there's no sudden 5 ballad marathons to make you fall on the floor face first just ouf of boredom. The longest tracks on the album though go up to 6 minutes in length (three last tracks are all 6 minutes) which should have been cut down by a minute or 2 to make them more enjoyable but hey can't always have everything right? Me and My Girlfriend remix thanks to Black Fly and the feel of "another crappy disney movie theme" of Never Surrender are easily the albums weakest moments but everything else on the release is solid and enjoyable. Asuka couldn't have done much better with the follow-up for Shining to be honest. Not that she's not talented enough because it speaks more for the quality of this release. If you're a self respecting fan of "real" r&b music or just a fan of Asuka's first effort then by all means Initial A is worth those hard earned pennies that your unemployment office is kind enough to prepare for you around the beginning of next month :) C.U Recommends. Rating: Words By : Jesse Viinikainen
ADDITIONAL INFO >>> Asuka first debuted with Brand New Aria! in 2003 and became one of the few females in the r&b scene who produce and write all of their own music. She also received the rookie of the year award from the black music and fashion magazine Luire on their annual awards in 2004 and opened for Ashanti on her Japan Tour. Initial A is her second album.
TRACKLIST & SOUND SAMPLES >>> 01. Sexi Sexi 02. X-MAN2～Saturday NightヤバFever☆～ 03. Oh…What a night 04. Love again - 200％ mix feat. TYPE-Lo 05. A Song 4 U 06. 話をしようよ 07. 名前呼んでIで叫んで 08. Initial A 09. Excuse Me 10. 7days 11. (Another 3 months) without u 12. Breathe into the rhythm 13. Me & My Girlfriend - Home Girls Remix feat. Black Fly 14. Never Surrender～信じる力～ 15. Missing Album Highlights are marked with this symbol