Customer Reviews

Distance

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Hikki, to us fans, is a passionate and talented young woman. I am hopelessly addicted to this album. This CD has managed to take the place of so many CDs I listen to on a regular basis. I would never in a million years think I would be so consumed with one CD.

Hikki is exquisite on this album. You can definitely see the growth between First Love and Distance. Hikki has come into her powers as an enchanting songtress. She loves what she does and it shows.

The beats are kickin'. The production is bangin'. Mind you I am not one for current flavors of R&B & Pop but Hikki makes it fresh. She's a creative force to reckon with and I just can't wait for more.

Also, while I do not have a good grasp of the Japanese Language (I can speak it but my vocabular and understanding of grammar is limited), I thoroughly enjoy listening to the words spoken. While I may not be able to visit Japan, I can immerse myself in Japanese through Hikki.

By the Way, did you know that Hikki was born in New York? She also attends Columbia University. It just goes to show you that the world is big and opportunities are waiting to be grabbed.

BTW, for all those in the States that love Hikki... Hikki has inked a deal with Island Records. Look out America ... here comes Hikki!!

I've been listening to popular music for three decades, keeping myself open to rising young talents who take contemporary styles and give them substance...emotionally, stylistically, whatever. I've loved the sound of contemporary r&b/hip-hop from day one, but found that true visionaries like India.Arie are the exception rather than the rule. Based on this album and her debut (FIRST LOVE), the young Japanese superstar Hikaru Utada is in my opinion another of those rare talents that open-minded music fans of all ages live to discover!

Hikki, who lists a number of 1970s soul icons (e.g., Minnie Riperton) among her influences, basically has the total package. Her vocals display a soulful vulnerability that one expects of singers twice her age, a trait that creates an irresistable tension when channeled through the vocal cords of someone who is barely a post-teen (think of Michael Jackson at that age). Her tunes almost without exception commit themselves to one's memory--even if one cannot understand Japanese there are still a wealth of memorable melodies and nuances to absorb and retain. Furthermore, the production is state-of-the-art, confidently blending today's hip-hop sound with the beauty of classic soul, and throwing in everything from hip-hop and rock to jazz, rap and reggae over the course of the album. Hikaru turns to such legendary producers as Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis at times, but her musical vision remains consistent no matter who is/are shaping the sounds behind her. Amid all of this, she avoids the shallow plastic/profane images that are a turn off to content-conscious watchers of popular culture.

This CD contains a number of stellar tracks recently issued as singles (ADDICTED TO YOU, WAIT & SEE-RISK, FOR YOU, CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?), several b-sides (with a remix or two), and a fair amount of new material. Even the couple of lesser tracks are still worth repeated listens. Meanwhile, the vast majority of DISTANCE is truly addictive...and a reminder that up-and-coming generations of musical talents will always have a few up to the challenge to walk in the footsteps of their most brilliant predecessors.

I bought this CD while in Japan. I heard the catchy tune "Can You Keep A Secret" being played on the radios of every store, shop, mall, everywhere I went.

I took the CD home, still un-opened and left it that way for a few weeks after I came back to the US. When I finally listened to the album, I was blown away...and hooked!

I know a little Japanese and am studying the language, but I think that even those who don't speak Japanese would love and appreciate this CD, it is truly awesome! It has a wide range of sounds and styles of music, from R&B to Alternative Rock. I think I'll have to buy her first CD, now!

I'm also learning to sing "Secret" in Japanese! Get this CD!!!

This CD rules and I already wrote a review because of that fact, but I believe it is important to point out that this CD is NOT the original Japanese printing of the CD. This is in fact a Chinese/Taiwan (probably) authorized release of the album. The original Japan print album is the more expensive incarnation of this CD available here. Although most Taiwan/Chinese release of albums are normally undistinguishable in the audio itself, the packaging can be severely inferior (Ex. Book portion could be printed on cheaper paper, lower resolution of letters or photos, abridged/removed pages, etc.)

**This can be distinguished because of the wrong name on the left side of the cover scan. In Chinese characters/Kanji, written vertically, it says 'Utada Hikaru,' but the problem is that 'Hikaru' is written as a single kanji (the first 3 is 'Utada', the last being 'Hikaru,' top to bottom). Her Japanese name is instead the same 3 kanji for 'Utada', but 3 katakana letters, phonetically written as 'Hi-ka-ru' instead of a single kanji letter. Since a phonetic alphabet does not really exist in Chinese, her name is written in the single kanji that is also read 'Hikaru' in Japanese.

I love this cd! I think it is slightly better than her First Love cd. Don't listen to raboof and Kinuka. I don't think they know what they are talking about at all. My guess is they don't know much about Utada. This cd is excellent. Icebreaker seems to have the right idea. Utada has much more talent then most of the popular groups here in America and in Japan. Has anyone ever heard Hamasaki Ayumi sing live? Ayumi has very little talent. Utada sounds the same when she is singing live, and no she is not singing to her recording. She writes her own music which I think says alot right there. Kinuka should have listened past the first track. Everyone I have met has instantly loved her music. Kinuka and raboof are the first people I've heard of who hasn't like her music. My friends who dont even like Japanese music will listen to Utada.

My favorite song on the cd is probably Wait & See (which by the way she sings her own back up like icebreaker said, listen to the music or watch the music video of Wait & See) I also like Parody. She has an excellent voice, she can sing very low and very high, and she did break into the us...

Trust me, buy this cd...

Man I just can't get enough, I have this CD playing in my car constantly, Utada's music is the kind of music that keeps playing in your head, all of the tracks on this CD are incredibly well produced. On this album Hikki covers a wide range of genres, from her usual R&B arrangements to even some Rock tracks. Almost every track on this CD sounds like a #1 single. It is in your best favor to lessen the "Distance" from you to this album.

If someone told me 3 years ago that I would be hooked on Japanese pop, I would say: yeah, right! However, when one of my friends introduced me to Hikki's 1st album: 'First Love', I was instantly hooked. The girl's definitely got talent. Already a bestseller in Asia, she is ready to make her U.S. debut on the Rush Hour 2 soundtrack in a collaboration with Foxxy Brown. This album, like it's predecessor, contains mostly of dance 'Wait & See'& 'Can You Keep a Secret,' and hip-hop tunes with one single ballad:'Eternally.' If you're driving, go ahead and crank up the volume and let the music take over. I think audiences in the English-speaking part of the world would like this album because in many of her songs, Hikki has bit & pieces of English (probably because she was born I raised in the States. This CD will most defenitely be worth every penny!! Enjoy!

I really don't want to review, but the fact is reading reviews by people who don't know what they are talking about makes me sick.

The fact is, Utada Hikaru is not a run of the mill, produced, idol-type Jpop artist that clutter the Japanese market. She isn't a Hamasaki Ayumi, Suzuki Ami, Hiro, Morning Musume or even a Kuraki Mai (Mai writes her lyrics, but most of her songs themselves are not written by Mai). If anyone who gave this album a negative review actually read the thingy in the front, it can be seen that the background singer is Utada Hikaru (not some other person or choir) and also the fact that most of the songs are written (music and lyrics) by Hikaru herself. This alone shows that she has a lot more talent than any of her idol rivals (Especially those produced by people like Komuro Tetsuya and Tsunku). She sure as hell doesn't need a voice trainer either. Both her parents are former artists. Her mother was a popular artist during the 70s and her father is also the producer/manager for Hikki.

Now for a review, I personally liked this album better than 'First Love.' 'Distance' features a much more broader and mature sound. It shows a lot of growth in between the two albums. My favorite songs are 'DISTANCE' and 'For You' right now, but I also like 'Wait & See ~Risk~' and 'Can You Keep A Secret?,' along with a few more. This is actually one of the first CDs that has had more than 2 songs I like. Overall, it was a good purchase. It's a good thing it was, since I bought it for twice the money...

*Hikki's also featured in the Def Jam 'Rush Hour 2' Soundtrack CD.

I am terrorized by singers nowadays. The standard of music dropped so rapidly that as long as you are nice to look at and are able to appear charming in slick music videos, you are known as a "singer". Vocal skills? Never heard of that.

But, Hikaru : my-oh-my, I am amazed by her super natural vocal prowess (although I cannot understand Japanese) since the first time I heard "Automatic" from her debut album "First Love".

Singers who rely on looks and hyped up gossips should be ashamed when compared to Hikaru. Not only can she sing, her voice is a little husky with a stint of sultryness (very evident in the song "For You")something unique and unlikely for a starter like her. When she hits the high notes, you can actually feel her voice pulsating in such soulfullness and later melt into deep emotional ending. What Hikaru does not do (thank God) is to scream out her vocal cords just to prove that she can sing, like many singers do. One good example is Christina Aguilera. Yes, her voice is loud but she lacks control especially apparent when she reaches the climax of a song. As a result, it makes her voice sounds flat - expressionless.

In relation to Hikaru, her near perfect voice is passionate, not over amplified and yet strong & bold. This, blends in extremely well with the melodic tunes of her own composition (can't comment on the lyrics she wrote though). Where did she get the muses to compose such catchy and memorable tunes for all the songs in both albums? The exceptional arrangement of the music which enhances both the tune and her voice tips the score to 100%.

I believe that "First Love" and "Distance" are equally good. Perhaps, in "Distance", Hikaru is going back to her roots by slotting in 2 rock songs (Drama & Kettobase), something that she listened to while growing up. This only shows that Hikaru is versatile. In whatever type of music she makes, the "Hikaru Trademark" is prominent which is synonimous to excellent quality.

Music fans - give Hikaru a try. You won't regret it.

Utada Hikaru, queen of J-pop since First Love and this album just furthers that notion. Alright, but lets break down this album, because nobody has really given any thought to what material is actually on this piece. This thing is made up of her hit singles datin back to 99 with Addicted to You. She has some For You, Can u keep a secret?, timelimit, addct 2 you, hayatochiri (a very, very, hot remix) and wait and see. These are all top-notch songs and are, I agree with the past reviewer, near flawless. This is old stuff, though...so-- This album is bassically a collection of old stuff with some new tracks. Her new stuff I have to admit, with the exception of Parody, is not as good as the songs that were previously singles. Distance and all that other stuff, Kettobase isnt too wonderful compared to Automatic and For You. But it is damn good, still better than almost everything else. If you are learning Japanese, these songs can help you with some basic vocab that you can pick up. If you are advanced-- i have to say its nice to understand what the heck she is sayin. Her lyrics are hot, her beats are better than anybodys, she sings better than anyone comin out of the states, and she isnt popular here. I cant figure it out. But lets keep her a secret, because without a doubt she developing into ONE OF THE FOREMOST POP ARTISTS OF THIS DECADE. Totemo Sugoi desu ne!!! Buy this album right now, aiight? You wont regret it, I promise.