Search - Bonnie Pink :: Golden Tears

Addicted to "Golden Tears"

Brian Neurauter | Minneapolis, MN United States | 10/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've always been leary of purchasing albums. I generally have a rule that I need to like at least 3 songs off an album before I buy it. Meeting a requirement like that is even harder for foreign albums that will never be played here in the United States.



When it comes to Bonnie Pink, however, making an exception to my rule was easy. I've never been disappointed by her music, so I bought her latest, "Golden Tears," without having heard a note. The verdict? Another great album from a singer/songwriter who in my opinion deserves much more attention here in the states.



Bonnie Pink has been on the Japanese music scene for 10 years. "Golden Tears" is her 8th album, and similar to her previous efforts, she sings in both Japanese and Engligh. I do not speak Japanese, so I cannot comment on her Japanese lyrics, but as with all her songs, I think the music itself and her wonderful voice speak volumes.



Copying the format from her two previous albums "Present" and "Even So," Bonnie places the most catchy tune, titled "So Wonderful," as the very first track. Hearing new music can be an adventure, and it certainly was for me with "So Wonderful." The first time I heard the song, I was transported to the 70's - it opens like a disco track, with lots of strings providing the background. It caught me off-guard, but once the melody and chorus really kicked in, it was pure Bonnie. For me, this is the second best song on the album.



Songs on the album run the gamut from "Paradiddle free" and "Coast to Coast" which feel very lighthearted and fun, to "Robotomy," which has a bluesy feel to it, to "Monster," which feels more like a late 80's/early 90's piece.



Standouts for me are "So Wonderful" which I mentioned above, and "Mirror" which she sings in English and is a very heartfelt song. Another favorite is "Nocturne," which has a gentle, tender feel to it, and finally, my favorite song on the album, "Addiction." I absolutely loved this song the first time I heard it - it has a slow, driving beat, and just begs to have the volume cranked up by the time the chorus begins.



Over all, this is a wonderful new collection of songs from a great singer/songwriter; if you are a fan, I'd highly recommend this album."

A new direction- a new world of potential

N. O'Toole | 10/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since her album "Present" was released, Bonnie Pink's music has been headed in a new direction that is both much more extroverted and much more mainstream. Although some of Bonnie's longtime fans have looked down on her for taking this route, Bonnie still has some aspects that most mainstream signers just don't have. All of her songs are tightly written, and her voice is always pitch-perfect. Whether she's written a blues-tingled pop number or a moving ballad, each song has a special Bonnie touch that can't be imitated. "Golden Tears" shows Bonnie completely emerging herself in this new, fun, pop style, and you can tell she enjoys every note. Here's my quick and dirty breakdown of the tracks.



The album begins with the high energy, catchy "So Wonderful," where Bonnie shows us that she's a good singer as well as being a good song writer. Although her acoustic guitar is no longer the centerpiece, the arrangement here gives us a sense of fullness and energy that really grabs your attention. "Pradiddle-free" and "Coast to Coast" both bring back in the strong guitar parts, the first song being a laid back mid-tempo track, and the second being more fun and energetic. "Paradiddle-free" is written completely in English, and unlike with many Japanese singers, these English lyrics make sense. The fourth album track, "Addiction," quiets things down to almost a ballad feeling. The alternating English and Japanese lyrics give us insight into to Bonnie's thoughts and emotions. The next track "Mirror," is also a ballad and also written in English. I find the lyrics very easy to relate to and applaud Bonnie for her strong songwriting.



The next tracks are much more fun. The synthesized instruments mixed with a real traditional Japanese instrument (or a REALLY good fake one) in the mid tempo "nichinichi-sou" will make you smile. The bluesy "Robotomy" is one of my favorite songs on the album. It's a throw back to songs like "Scarecrow," but written in Bonnie's new, catchier style. "Monster," is like something out of a horror movie, with ghost like instruments and vocal affects, and is another favorite of mine. "Rise and Shine" and "Cotton Candy" are both more laid back tracks that are sure to become new Bonnie favorites. "Nocturne" takes things down another step to an almost ballad level, with the use of a harp being a really nice and unique touch. "You got me good" is the last up-tempo track of the album. Here, Bonnie adds handclaps to give the track more rhythm and punch. The last track, "Believe" is a ballad, the synthesized instruments harkening back to the album's opener, "So Wonderful."



"Golden Tears" above everything else, shows us something very important about Bonnie. She is not afraid to change. She is not the type to stay stagnant and only write one type of music. Although this may alienate some of her fans, it proves that she is willing to grow and change as an artist, trying out new things, straying from her comfort zone. Her most recent single "A Perfect Sky," shows her continuing with this style and for the first time since albums like "Heaven's Kitchen" and "evil and flowers," Japan has stood up and recognized her. Her career is stronger than ever, showing the world that Bonnie Pink is not done with it yet."