MUSIC (Japan Version)

The album kicks off with the beautiful Sakura Iro Mau Koro, a timely single that stands out from the annual barrage of musical tributes to Japan's favorite flower with its simple yet elegant arrangement. The slow 5-minute ballad may not be the best way for Mika to capture her listeners' attention, but it’s a beautiful song nonetheless.

Music continues with a sense of elegance courtesy of Oborozukiyo~Inori, Hi No Tori, and Kumo No Ito. The three tracks share a connection in that new twists are brought to old formulas; Oborozukiyo~Inori is an old folk song with new lyrics and a new chorus added in, Hi No Tori is the theme song for the anime of the same name created by Osamu Tezuka (known to some as the "God of Manga"), and Kumo no Ito is an interpretation of a story of the same name written by Akutagawa Ryuunosuke in 1918. The exquisite melodies of the first four tracks and Mika's unique vocals give the album a great start and enormous potential.

Unfortunately, the album returns to the safer territory of lighter tempos and heavier commercialism starting with Rocking Horse and Carrot & Whip, both relaxing and fun tracks that lighten the mood drastically. While there's nothing wrong with commercialism in music, when an artist such as Mika does it in this album, she seems more confined than comfortable. By the time the album returns to a more distinctive style with Seven and Fake, Music has started to wear out its welcome. Fortunately, the album goes out strong with the heartbreaking Hitori, which exudes the rare elegance the album possessed at its start.

As a collection of individual songs, Music is far more satisfying. The faster songs on the second half will attract those who like their music light (particularly Rocking Horse, Shadows of You, and Seven), and the first 4 tracks have even higher replay value for those who don't want to invest an hour for the whole album. Meanwhile, Mika's vocals fit perfectly with each song's mood and she delivers them flawlessly; Mika's ultimately the star here, and her presence elevates Music to an exceptional pop album.

Nevertheless, there is an inherent problem in Music: all its songs seem to be produced as singles rather than parts of a coherent whole. As an album, Music becomes slightly too long for the casual listener, even though the arrangement is well calculated. However, it does travel such a wide spectrum of musical genres that no matter what time of day, if you're looking for a good song to listen to, Music will most likely have something for you.

By Kevin Ma