PAST < FUTURE
Namie Amuro
PAST < FUTURE
avex trax
2009
“’Cause I’m your bad habit.”
Mercilessly stealing the hook from Boys II Men’s [I’ll Make Love to You] on [Meaning of Us], featuring smart, eclectic electropop on the concept-inducing [Dr.] and [Defend Love], and transgressing on faux paus as to how many times she can recreate [It’s All About You]; Namie Amuro, my hands-down favorite JPop artist, does fail to impress but doesn’t cease to please on her ninth studio album. The production is flawless, her voice auto-tuned to slink and bounce over her typical song choices from long-time collaborators T. Kura, Michico, and Nao’ymt. Impressive moments include the breakdown at the end of [Copy That], the sheer vocal sensibility of [First Timer], cutesy [My Love], and the dark 80’s vibe of [Defend Love]. Overall, it’s the same schtick from PLAY with an update, but it at least points in the right direction.
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~ by vinyabarion on July 9, 2012.
Posted in Album Review, Namie Amuro
Tags: 2009, Amuro, Amuro Namie, Avex, Avex Trax, Bad Habit, Boys II Men, concept album, Copy That, Defend Love, Dr., electropop, Fast Car, First Timer, hiro, I'll Make Love to You, It's all about you, J-Music, J-Pop, Japanese Pop, JPop, Love Game, Meaning of Us, Michico, music, music review, My Love, Namie, Namie Amuro, Nao'ymt, Past < Future, PLAY, shut up, T. Kura, vinyabarion, Who's Afraid of Music, WILD, 安室 奈美恵, 安室奈美恵