[Zeke.]

Well there's a thing called hyperbole too, you know, when you just say you really dislike something in an exaggerated manner to sound funny...

I get what you're saying but I like Kumi's great songs because she pulls those GREAT songs off like nobody can or could. I can't get in line with "this song sucks but I'm glad Kumi sings it cause it's be even worse if someone else did". I understand it is very demanding to try and top yourself and past materials, but that doesn't mean that should be a consideration factor when judging on quality and impact alone. Every now and then Kumi does deliver, 100%, as do other artists who have gone astray lately, and the fact that the possibility remains for that kind of impact / quality will forever leave me fantasizing and hoping for that rush to take it's effect in full force once again.

I think I've just been SO BLOWN AWAY in the past by most artists that there is literally nothing to match those experiences. (Actually just read a study on how the brain perceives new music and how only when expectations are exceeded or met when compared to a template of favorite musical experiences will the listener feel such intense releases of dopamine in the brain).