Ironic Clown

Tracklist:
1. Opening
2. Devil Inside
3. Exodus ‘04
4. The Workout
5. Easy Breezy
6. Tippy Toe
7. Hotel Lobby
8. Animato
9. Crossover Interlude
10. Kremlin Dusk
11. You Make Me Want to Be a Man
12. Wonder ‘Bout
13. Let Me Give You My Love
14. About Me

This is Utada’s 1st well known English album (second if you count her Cubic U album). It reached 1 on the Oricon weekly charts and 6 on the Oricon weekly charts. In the US, however it was not as sucessful only managing to climb to 160 on the Billboard Top 200.

Opening is great start to this fantastic album, and meaningful lyrics saying, she doesn’t want to change genres for different languages, but just wants to sing. Interesting instruments kind of make it interesting, but very effective.

Devil Inside is one of the best songs on the album, very catchy with deep lyrics saying just because you’re Asian you can join the American music industry (”you’re too busy reading labels, your missing all the action underneath my table.”) Fantastic beat, got a dark feel to it, but very effective, one of her best songs to date.

Exodus ‘04 is slow R ‘n’ B type song, co-produced by Timbland, but he doesn’t really matter. It’s Utada that makes the song amazing. Good vocals, with deep meaning – just like most of her songs have. In this song she is talking about leaving the Japanese music industry.

The Workout is such a good dance song! One of her best songs on the album, the lyrics are pretty average, but the beat is phenomenal! Great special effects added to make you feel like you’re on the dance floor!

Easy Breezy is a cutesy song, but the lyrics and beat are pretty average. This is one of her most American songs. It was her first single from the album, but even though it was I don’t reckon it was one of the strongest songs from the album.

Tippy Toe is a funky song with a good beat. Overall this song is a great song; some of the lyrics are a bit “out there” for Utada, but an effective, American type song. One of her best songs on the album.

Hotel Lobby starts with a long introduction, but once that finishes you’ll begin to realise how Utada is different from American artists, it’s all in the lyrics, which are deep, and very meaningful, which is what, makes Utada’s music so good.

Animato is Utada’s fist song she wrote for this album, she wrote it while she was in hospital, and was the only song she didn’t get professionally translated, so it must have a deep meaning to it. It has a great beat and amazing – and at times quirky – lyrics. For example “I need someone who’s true, some one who does the laundry too.” It is a good strong song.

Crossover Interlude has the same lyrics as the Opening, just with a different beat. I prefer this song more then the opening, it has a good, strong beat.
Kremlin Dusk is amazing. Utada’s most experimental song to date. Lyrics that will blow you away, instruments that will make you feel funny on the inside, but inspired. About halfway through the piece a crescendo rips through the music creating an amazing atmosphere, that will leave you awestruck.

You Make Me Want To Be A Man… erm…umm… interesting name, but the best song on the album, and possibly her best song to date. This song has a very deep meaning to it. In this song Utada is trying to convey that she thinks her husband is keeping secrets and she doesn’t understand his mind. In Japan men have a higher class so she thought, “damn why couldn’t for a day be one of his male friends to understand what’s going on.” This song is full of signs – in the PV it shows Utada next to a snake which is most probably the devil in a snake form. Surprisingly the PV is filmed by her husband. A fantastic song with a great, oriental beats, that only ceases to amaze, some might not like this song, but to me it’s the best song on the album.

Wonder ’bout is another cute song by Utada, about a previous relationship that she keeps thinking about. Strong, repetitive beat, which gives a nice feel to the music. This song has a really good chorus, which brings meaning into the song. Another good song by Utada.

Let Me Give You My Love in my opinion Utada’s worst song to date. The lyrics are pointless and don’t suit Utada, probably because they were written with help by Timbland. Nonetheless it’s listenable and has a nice beat.

About Me is a quieter, acoustic song. Very meaningful, about her fiancé proposing without knowing the full truth about her, and Utada trying to be good soul mate. A great ending to the album. A nice peaceful song to wind down on.

Utada has done it again! Exodus is very different from Utada’s previous albums, but just as good if not better! Utada has made a great change and while we miss her old stuff, it isn’t too sad because this album is enough to suffice anyone. Utada has truly spoilt us.

Rating5 stars