Search - Maaya Sakamoto :: Lucy

A good variety of sounds.

A. Laughlin | Clinton, MS USA | 12/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I haven't heard any of her other albums, so I can't make comparisons, but I've really enjoyed "Lucy." Maaya has a lovely clear voice that is very appealing, and the album's songs range through a variety of styles, so that each track is distinct, rather than being like any number of pop albums on which every song sounds essentially the same. My favorite songs from "Lucy" tend to be the bluesy ones, like "Alkaloid" and "Honey Bunny," and the slow ones like "Kuuki to Hoshi" which showcase Maaya's beautiful voice."Lucy," the title song, is a pretty instrumental track, slow piano and strings."Mameshiba" is light pop/rock, with an almost 60's or 70's lounge sort of feel to it in places."Strobo no Sora" is a fun, vaguely bluesy, upbeat song."Alkaloid," one of my personal favorites, is bouncy, more bluesy and just as fun, with absurdly amusing lyrics (translated, the last line of the song is something to the effect of "Exhale love from those pitch black lungs," addressed to a chain-smoking object of affection)."Koucha" is a more delicate not-quite-pop song, sweet and regretful."Kinobori to Akai Skirt"--again, a song with a vaguely late-60's/early-70's feel to it (maybe it's the much more present harmonies--including an amusing little bit of whistling in places--and the steady piano line)."Life is Good" is the album's lone English track. Straight pop, chirpy, careless, and cheerful: "The future is the future / Que sera sera / We can make some sense of it all / When we get old / Let's do something stupid!""Honey Bunny" is another quick, fun track, this one genuine blues including bass and a brief piano bridge."T-Shirt" is a soft, emotional song. I particularly like the verses, which are just piano and Maaya's clear voice."Kuuki to Hoshi" is my favorite song from the CD, a sad, etherial piece with some really beautiful imagery in the lyrics (translated: "The wind blows and I don sorrow / Like feathers and am sent flying away / Air and stars / To a land so pure and unknown to anyone / Where only such fleeting things gather // An undescribable world, a blue and clear light / Everything is delicate like glitter and / What is truly precious / Is unrecognized by anyone and / Is small if taken in the hand and / Is lost and then fades away.")"Rule ~ Iro Asenai Hibi" is sweet, fluffy-sounding pop, possibly the least memorable track."Watashi wa Okano Uekara Kabin wo Nageru" is a slower, more tranquil sort of song, with a somewhat uplifting sound."

Another great from Maaya

ellie-chan | USA | 06/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think this album is a good example of what Maaya is capable of. It has a few of her more pop-style pieces (Honey Bunny, Koucha) and some that are kind of pop, but that aren't so typical. (Mameshiba ^.^ That's my fav) There are also some soft sweet pieces (Lucy, Kuuki to Hoshi) that kind of complete the album's feel. As usual, Maaya has come out with an album that doesn't give you a whole slew of the same kind of song - there are more than one genre on there. Personally, this is one of my favorite Maaya Sakamoto albums. If you liked this, I would recommend DIVE as well."

Good album

Qian Shen | Shrewsbury, MA United States | 10/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like Maaya Sakamoto's songs, then you should definately get this CD. I personally like the "Easy Listening" album better, because that one features more songs I like. However, this one has some pretty good songs and as well as themes from anime "Earth Girl Arujuna"."