Single Best (ALBUM+DVD)(First Press Limited Edition)(Taiwan Version) DVD Region All

The compilation starts off with Kiss Shite (Track 1), her latest single under the name KOH+, which is the code name for her collaboration with pop star Masaharu Fukuyama. Used as a theme song for the television drama they star in together, Kiss Shite features Fukuyama on virtually every job except lead vocals, and the rock influence shows. However, he strangely decides to electronically alter Kou's voice throughout the song, greatly distorting her voice. As a result, Kou sounds as if she's struggling to the note at the end of every line, even though she is actually a much better vocalist than the song suggests. Nevertheless, the song has an addictive hook and active energy that will not be found anywhere else on the album.

A better song featuring Kou under a pseudonym is her first hit, the 2003 single Tsuki no Shisugu (track 3), which Kou performed under the name "RUI" from the hit film Yomigaeri. The song features very traditional J-pop composition that blends in traditional Japanese chords with typical ballad elements. Lifted by the popularity of the film and a memorable if familiar chorus, it's easy to see why the song is such a big hit with mainstream Japanese listeners. Meanwhile, Kou's next hit ballad makes its first appearance since released on single format in 2004. Katachi Aru Mono (Track 3) is a typical karaoke-friendly ballad with strong arrangement and composition that also show off Kou's vocals talent. Every tone and pitch fit Kou's vocal perfectly, allowing her to stretch her voice at the right places, and the song shows the subtle production efforts that are put into an ordinary ballad.

However, Kou's ballads don't always hit the mark. The 2004 single Ikutsuka no Sora (Track 11) is an epic six-minute ballad that includes a very memorable chorus even to non-Japanese speakers thanks to the use of repetition in the lyrics. The pitch of the chorus is placed slightly lower than what sounds to be Kou's comfort level. As a result, she ends up sounding as if she's screaming the chorus rather than singing it.

Single Best is not all lovey-dovey ballads, as Kou does have an energetic side in her music. In fact, her debut single Trust my feelings (track 12) is actually a mid-beat rock ballad that shows her talent in performing in the rock genre. With a chorus that forces her to show a louder side as well as her falsetto, Trust my feelings is actually a very solid debut in hindsight. Two and a half years later, Kou shows off a lighter side with the breezy waltz Glitter (Track 9), which features an elegant composition. However, Kou's mid-level pitch isn't quite suited for this type of song, which requires a higher pitch and softer voice, and she sounds as if she is struggling to sing some of the softer parts of the song. The same applies to the house ballad invitation (Track 7). Kou adjusts her voice to fit the energy of the song, but one can tell that she has wandered far from her comfort zone. The 2007 single Prism (Track 5), on the other hand, improves upon that problem. Featuring the same production team, Kou again softens up her voice, but the effect is much more effective because she performs the song without straying far from the pitch she's most comfortable at.

Trying to balance an acting career and a music career is tough, and Single Best shows the long six years Kou has taken to get to where she is now. With nine of the fifteen tracks featuring lyrics written by Kou herself, her effort shows that she's not just another movie star with an itch to sing. Like most pop singers, her vocal has improved over the years, although she hasn't been able to find success outside of the ballad genre (none of the energetic tracks I mentioned debuted higher than 6th place on the music charts). If a music career can be measured in steps, then Single Best shows her taking her first step to establish herself as a singer. From here, the next step is to distinguish both musical and vocal style. Hopefully, a few years from now people will be listening to her next compilation album for music rather than novelty.

Recommended Tracks: Hito Koi Meguri (Track 2), Katachi Aru Mono (Track 3), Prism (Track 5), Glitter (Track 9), Trust my feelings (Track 12), Tsuki no Shizuku (Track 13), Sweet Mom (Track 15)

by Kevin Ma