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Wednesday, October 01, 2008

CD Review :: ai otsuka - LOVE COOK

Tracklist :

1) 5:09a.m
2) Haneari Tamago (Egg with Wings)
3) Biidama (Marble)
4) SMILY
5) U-Boat
6) Neko ni Fuusen (A Cat with a Balloon)
7) Cherish
8) Ramen 3-pun Cooking (Cooking 3-Minute Ramen)
9) Tokyo Midnight
10) Planetarium
11) Birthday Song
12) LOVE MUSiC

LOVE COOK is ai otsuka's 3rd album . This was released 3 years on 14th Dec in Japan .

3 singles are included in the album in which 1 of them is a double A-side single .

otsuka revealed herself on Music Fighter that the album title "LOVE COOK" comes from her own birthday . Her birthday is September 9th & in Japanese context Sept 9th is read as "kukku" which corresponds to "COOK" .

The album kick things off with a weird song title by the name of 5:09a.m . 5:09a.m is incidentally the shortest track on the album clocking in at 2:53 mins . This's a great opening song in which 5:09a.m started out on the soft side & then subsequently it lashed out in full pop/rock swing .

It's too bad that the song's so short cos I'm quite sure if she were to extend it a bit more , it will sound more complete .

Track 2 is another song that has a funny title , Haneari Tamago (Egg with Wings) . Despite the strange title , I actually find Haneari Tamago very calming & soothing on the ears .

The next 2 songs are incidentally otsuka's 1st double a-side/8th single SMILEY / Biidama side by side together . It's also her 1st no.1 single too . I find Biidama (Marble) extremely charming while SMILEY is an upbeat song that's perfect for summer although I somewhat find the video for SMILEY a bit reductant & weird .

Track 5 U-Boat follows in the same vein as SMILEY in that both are extremely upbeat catchy no.s & U-Boat is such a fun song to listen to , you can't help but to sing along with it .

The next song's otsuka's 9th single Neko ni Fuusen (A Cat with a Balloon) . This's not really 1 of the best singles that she has put out to date but still I have to give her credit for writing such a nice mid tempo no. . The single covers of Neko ni Fuusen showcased the 1st time that she sported short hair when it was released at that time .

Up next's probably my fave non single on the album . Titled Cherish , this song's also found in the NANA compiliation album , LOVE for NANA ～Only 1 Tribute～ for TRAPNEST & as such , the song showcased something different coming from otsuka in that she incorporated a much harder rock sound as compared to her usual material which's fantastic & I feel that she should come up with more songs in the vein of Cherish .

Just when you thought 5:09a.m & Haneari Tamago are weird , in comes another song that has a funny title which's Ramen 3-pun Cooking (Cooking 3-Minute Ramen) & as the song suggest , it's all about otsuka singing about cooking ramen within 3 mins & ironically the song's 3:01 long .

I find this song amusing & cute as who would have thought it's fun to sing about cooking ramen under 3 mins LOL

Tokyo Midnight follow suit & I really like the melody of the song as it's so peppy & upbeat although I must admit I do not find this memorable on 1st listen but after a few listens or so , I'm ok with the song .

Up next's probably the best single that she has put out in her music career ala her 10th single Planetarium . This's the song which changed my whole perception on otsuka as before that I didn't had a good impression on her musically .

This's her 2nd no.1 single & her 2nd best selling single behind her 2nd single Sakuranbo (Cherries) & Planetarium's of course used as the insert song for the 1st season of the dodrama Hana Yori Dango which starred ARASHI's Matsumoto Jun & actress Inoue Mao & ARASHI's 15th single WISH was the opening theme song for the show .

Such a great song & I must admit I find Planetarium a masterpiece coming from otsuka & nowadays whenever I hear the song , I always remember those scenes in HYD where the song was being aired , real fantastic stuff .

Track 11's called Happy Birthday & no brainer on what this song's all about . I find the melody very old fashioned & somewhat dated & there's even an appareance of a music harmonica too . It's quite an unique piece of song although I must admit it does get cheesy from time to time but still it's a pretty decent non single .

The final track to close off LOVE COOK is called LOVE MUSiC . I think this's quite a fitting song to close things off as it's a very nice soothing mid tempo no. . I do find this a bit boring initally but I have no problems with it now .

LOVE COOK is otsuka's best selling album to date & it's quite easy to see why so . The singles themselves are great especially the masterpiece that's of Planetarium & also the non singles are quite well defined in their own unique way .

This's another solid album coming from otsuka .