[Utada Hikaru] [2005] Utada - EXODUS -- UPGRADE? DOWNGRADE?

[greggerz189]

Originally Posted by firefox

it is a disappointment.... she should have just retired at her peak (deep river) rather than see her career plummet

yeah like bluegie said, her peak was her debut...she's technically been going downhill since then if you judge it by sales. I wouldn't say that during her DISTANCE and DEEP RIVER eras she was washed up, but she definitely isn't what she used to be anymore. I don't think she's washed up just because she can still score in the top 3 when she debuts a new single, and she's still an a-list performer, and she may have beat out Ayu in her day, but I think that Ayu wins the longevity battle if you know what I mean. Hikki not so much. Her new sales are insanely low compared to before, but that doesn't mean that she doesn't sell well. In comparison to other artists, Hikki still sells fine. I mean, her last couple singles were right up there about the same number as the newest unlimited singles of Koda Kumi, and Ayu's Bold & Delicious/Pride. But yeah, she isn't what she used to be.

[xLuna&1LOVE]

EXODUS?

[TITANIC]

downgrade for me
it's dispaointed for me

[CHE.R.RY]

Ok, I didn't vote because I don't believe it's an 'upgrade' nor do I believe that it's 'total trash'. I do think however, that it is a downgrade from Hikki's Japanese works, but it's definitely not trash. The overall quality of the music is just not as good as Hikki's normal stuff because it sounds like it's trying waaaay too hard to be American. One of the weakest points of the album was the lyrics...they were no where near as meaningful and beautiful as Hikki's Japanese lyrics, so that's really the only part of the album that I find sort of 'trashy'. I can't really put into words what I'm trying to say exactly, but there's just something that seems slightly sloppy about it overall, even though I still enjoyed the album.

[spookshow]

upgrade -- exodus is my fav utada album!

[Damita]

It was definitely a downgrade for me, it was one of the worst albums I've listened to. Not suprised it flopped for that reason.

[AyuHamasaki01]

Originally Posted by xLuna&1LOVE

EXODUS?

It's one of Hikaru's albums.

[AyUta]

I loved the album, total upgrade.

[ALfromHELLSING]

First I thought it was trash, BUT now I think it's my favourite album of her. I hope her new english album would have something from EXODUS.

[C+R+E+AYUMI]

'trash' is the right word

[Crystal_Ageha]

I wouldn't call it an upgrade from her old style R&B stuff, but I loved it. Wasn't big on it the first listen through, but I've come to like every song on there! (Kremlin Dusk and Devil Inside are actually in my top favourite Hikaru songs ever.) Not to mention, EXODUS is fifty billion times better than Precious and This Is The One combined, lol. >_<'

[JackieRos]

i picked idk
cos it doesnt matter to me i like the album
thats all to it is way better than TITO waaaaaaay

[Minttulatte]

I can't say what I think of EXODUS. I think I have no opinion of the album actually. It's an ok album I think. Not a amazing one, nor a total trash. It's ok.

[aqua_crystal]

TOOOOTAL TRASH!! Wth was she thinking!?

[Aditmi Krisnasaki ~II~]

it's a very ugly dirty garbage of Hikki's album ever!

no offense guys~~~

[primavera♥]

welli technically would rather listen to it than say First Love (so plain. . .and generic r&b songs) at least Exodus has some good originality. Kremlin Dusk owns all first love and distance songs for me. plus theres some other good songs too

just a few downers - but i love every hikki song so it doesnt matter

[CHE.R.RY]

I like it but I don't think it was an upgrade because Hikki's Japanese music is so much better imo. However, I don't wanna say it's total trash, as I do like it...I picked the 3rd option in the end.

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by iloveayu04

I think that although the music is unique in it's own right they just weren't my cup of tea. I loved Exodus '04 and Devil Inside but that's where it stopped. Their only redeeming factor is the music.

Utada said that english music is more dependent on being catchy than Japanese. While I would generally agree with that I believe it went too far. On the album she sounds like she tried too hard to make the songs rhymy (sp?) and focused less on actual content. "You're easy breezy and I'm japaneasy," anyone?

The chorus is supposed to be repetitive because it's supposed to 'hook' you into the song. Most songs don't have more than three chorus sections that I can recall, but "You Make Me Want To Be A Man" essentially just loops the entire song. After you hear the complete verse and chorus you can pretty much stop playing the song because you know what the rest of it is. That song makes me ill listening to it. I only watched the video to see what it looked like.

The repetitive, often cheesy lyrics, looping music, and lack of a serious promotion doomed Exodus right from the start. My god.. Utada promoted her "Easy Breezy" single more than she did her album! In all I think that Exodus was a crappy album, and I pity mainstream America for hearing it. I think Utada's past work is vastly superior.. hell even "Simple & Clean" is better than Exodus. While I think about it was there even a music video on its launch for promotional purposes BESIDES "Easy Breezy?" It's been 10 months since Exodus debuted and they are just NOW showing a video for "You Make Me Want To Be A Man"! Or at least that's the impression I got. Anyway, enough harping for me - I just don't like it.

That's exactly how I feel!

[Catfisk]

Upgrade!
This album is what made me start listening to Utada in the first place (: Amazing album!

[Delicious n Bold]

DUNNO. >,< Can't decide!!
I discovered the album at a weird time. I love it, though.