Fame
didn’t come fast or easy for Japanese pop star Koda Kumi. Up until 2005 her
albums and singles sold moderately well but with the release of her
breakthrough album secret she
rocketed to superstardom. To bank on her growing popularity, her record label
released her first ever two-disc compilation that brought together material
from her first four albums and songs that had previously been unreleased. Best ~first things~ was an immediate
success and has gone on to become one of the definitive releases from Koda
Kumi.
If
there is one thing to be said about Best
~first things~ it is that it shows Koda’s growth as a musician. It opens with the solid hip hop cut "NO TRICKS," the compilation's newly recorded track, and it serves as a snapshot of where she was sonically in 2005. From there, she goes back in time to 2002 when she entered the music industry. The tracks
from her debut album affection are
dated pop songs that are vaguely spiced with a hip hop flavour. They can be
praised for their cohesion but at the same time it is also what causes
them to blend into one another. The material from her sophomore release grow into one proves to be more interesting, particularly the songs “real Emotion” and “1000 no Kotoba” which were created
for and included in the video game Final
Fantasy X-2. The former is a catchy dance song and the latter is a
touching ballad with a beautiful blend of strings accompanying Koda’s warm
vocal delivery. With the tracks from feel
my mind, Koda continued to develop as an artist and expanded the sounds she
was working with. On “COME WITH ME” she utilizes a jazzier arrangement to
create a fun and playful song perfect for the summer time while “Gentle Words”
proves to be a laidback track that includes breathy vocals which are
reminiscent of those done by Janet Jackson on her slow jams. “Crazy 4 U” closes
the first disc with its bouncing rhythm and is infused with an interesting mix
of rock, pop, jazz and hip hop. Truthfully, it is on the second disc where Koda
Kumi shines brightest. Her cover of the theme song from Cutie Honey stands out as one of the best tracks with its strumming
bass line and improvised wind sections, making it an infectious jazz-pop
miracle. Likewise, the other material from secret
fares just as well. The dance track “Selfish” weaves a rock aesthetic into
its composition to create the sassiest and sexiest song on the compilation. “Hot
Stuff” is a pounding hip hop track that features a guest rap from KM-MARKIT. The
ballads “Kiseki” and “hands” show off Koda's softer side and serve to highlight
her versatility as a singer. In fact, her warm, husky vocals are best suited to
these slow jams where she’s sure to impress anyone with her incredible tone. As
such, “flower” and “Promise” become the most remarkable works on the
compilation with Koda showing off her lush vocals to the listener.
While
Best ~first things~ may not convert the casual listener into a being a fan of Koda Kumi, it has its moments of
brilliance. Its ballads are touching and emotive while many of the upbeat dance
tracks are quite infectious. It does do its job of introducing the listener to
Koda Kumi as an artist and plots her early journey from newcomer to superstar.
Recommended Listening: "NO TRICKS," "real Emotion," "1000 no Kotoba," "COME WITH ME," "Gentle Words," "Cutie Honey," "Kiseki," "Selfish," "hands," "Hot Stuff," "flower," "Promise."
Grade:
B
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