Honestly speaking, most J-pop music from the 90s to the early 00s sound way better than anything they're releasing these days. Things started to decline around the mid 00s. I don't know why that is, though, but it seems to have something to do with a less diverse musical landscape. Fewer record companies (and artists) seem less prone to taking artistic risks.

I don´t think that about the japanese music, i think Namie has improved a lot

In general I agree. Many songs these days seem to lack the "timeless" feel that many songs had in the past. I think that is also what is contributing to the downward spiraling sales of artists in general.

Style through Play was her best set of albums for me. I don't like P<F that much other than a few songs, and I've always had trouble getting into her older music.

But style ~ play is amazing.

I also think it can be traced to the continuous stagnation of the Japanese economy. When people are less willing to spend, then there is less of an incentive to take risks, and I think that kind of attitude lends itself to all aspects of a society, including its art and culture. It's unfortunate, but Japanese popular music has been flattened to the point that it is only produced if it can sell. Case in point: all those boy groups that are interchangeable with one other, lacking any sort of distinct musical identity. Wonderful music is made once in a while, of course, (Superfly, somehow you're here) but I believe that most of the best music is not even being marketed or put out by the major record companies. Or, worse, invested in. The Japanese people seem to want to put their money only on sure bets and formulas: Johnny's groups, Studio Ghibli films, Hikaru Utada, so-called Japanese institutions, whatever is safe and familiar.

Nowadays, I can't imagine something like the shibuya-kei movement or unique artists like Chitose Hajime or Ua flourishing in this kind of environment. Why does an interesting and potentially great artist such as ICONIQ barely make an impression on the Japanese public? Back in the day, they had room for everybody. But now, only so much space can be spared. Unfortunately, Japanese popular music seems to be losing its best and most distinct characteristic: novelty.

That's why I prefer Namie during her transitional phase, up to Style and a bit of Queen of Hip-pop. Now she's going the way of Ayu before Rock n' Roll Circus. She's found a winning formula, and she's sticking by it.

Altogether, her albums are half hit and miss for me.
From Sweet 19 Blues to Break the Rules, it's a complete miss. I cannot bear to listen to them.
Style has a few good songs, Come especially.
Queen of Hip Pop is even better. I can listen to it fully
Play is quite boring for me.
Past < Future is my fav namie album.
Uncontrolled has only like 4 songs i like.

Hit or miss for me !

I like some songs on each album but none completely ! Maybe because her songs are too westernized I don't know ?

Her top albums for me are Past<Future, Genius 2000, PLAY, and of course, BF :D

The others are meh~

I feel like STYLE, Queen of Hip-Pop, PLAY, and BEST FICTION is like Namie's renaissance. I still love Namie's newest album, but I think 03 to 08 will be her best era.

I like STYLE and I just love all her albuns since Queen of Hip Pop until now, with the exception of Checkmate! that I like, but I do not love. PLAY and Past<Future are my top favorites :heart But I can barely stand her older albuns, specially because of her vocals back then (but I do enjoy some of her older songs when she sings them live now)...

I like some songs on each album but none of her albums, quite honestly, are "great". At one point I owned her whole discography but then I sold it since I never listened to the albums but had certain songs on repeat.

That's the downside when you don't write your own music; the results can be quite unpredictable, which is definitely her case I feel like. I'd say there a handful of songs I love from her. I'd say I like her personality more than I like her music (she's very lovely I think!)

I love most of her albums except these:

- Genius 2000
- Play

I think they're plain boring. I'm not really into R&B, for me it's a very boring genre, it doesn't matter how much I try to like it, it makes me fall asleep. Play has some catchy songs (are they hip-hop?) but after a while I got tired of them.

I like more her new music style... it's a mix between pop/hip/hop/electronic , I can't stand when she sings only hip-hop or only R&B, which most of her past works were mostly one genre.

I :heart :heart :heart :heart :heart ALL HER ALBUMS & SINGLES!! I Have Every Last One Of Them As First Press & Listen To Her Stuff EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! :D :D :blove :blove