Search - Toshi Kubota :: Nothing But Your Love

Mixed feelings...

Torquemada | Atlanta, Georgia USA / Madrid, Spain. | 10/08/2001

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I must agree with some of the things pointed out by other reviewers for this album. The singing is weak, some lyrics are absolutely absurd ("I'm not your sushi, I'm not your daddy, I'm nothing but your love...", or "You smell like pu-pu"), and the cover version included here is not really great. Also true that there must be a bunch of artists out there that could do as well as Toshi Kubota, but just don't get the chance to prove themselves. The fact that T.K. is Japanese is certainly a factor that pushed his label to use this marketing argument (especially with the interest from the public for artists also from Japan, such as Mondo Grosso, Yasushi Ide, the Kyoto Jazz Massive, Satoshie Tomiie, etc.). It's exotic, but doesn't necessarily mean it's good. He's a star in Japan ? Good for him...Some stronger points : "Masquerade" has a Lonnie Liston Smith feeling, "Someday" is a very nice ballad with a Stevie Wonder flavour. "Till she comes" has a nice mid tempo R&B beat. "Shame" sounds like one of those ballads from the Average White Band (remember them ?). "I just can't get enough", "It's over" and "Gently" make the journey acceptable, and at times even close to pleasant. The cover sleeve is also nice...The man definitely has his idols he copies (or is it a tribute he renders to them ?). But again, he doesn't come close to the quality and genius THEY showed. This is why I can't decide if this really is a terrible album or not. I would probably recommend you to listen to it if you can, but keeping in mind it really isn't the album of the year. As a comparison, Rashaan Patterson has two much better albums worth spending money on."

Room For Improvement

Charles Scott Bennett | New York, NY USA | 06/21/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have enjoyed Toshi's music for years, and have seen him perform at clubs in NYC. He is an amazing performer, a brilliant vocalist, and can hold his own with the likes of many of today's soul/r&b heavyweights. However, this particular cd lacks the sparks of some of his earlier releases. This happens to everyone, in the music business and other industries, from time to time. That does not mean a person, in this case Toshi, is a bad singer. Perhaps he would be more popular to an American audience if he wrote with other successful songwriters. I believe anything is possible in the music business, and there is definitely room in the business for a hitter like Toshi. Maybe he's trying too hard to please listeners with prejudiced ears, maybe not. I hope his next release shows more of his personal singing style and a relaxed ease in his songwriting. He's obviously done his homework, and has demonstrated his talent. I hope he can let it flow, and let the naysayers groove on too."

Much underrated

S. J. Washington | Chicago | 08/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD was a sleeper when released....but I'm surprised that it has remained so. Sure, I wouldn't have expected much from someone so removed from the US urban scene, but this brother has a groove. This is definitely a must listen to CD!"