BEST ALBUMS OF 2008: #7: KODA KUMI “Kingdom”
With our period of mourning for punk guitar legend Ron Asheton concluded, we now resume where we left off with our end-of-year album list…
KODA KUMI
Kingdom
(Rhythm Zone/Avex Trax)
Available on CD, two different CD/DVD sets, and iTunes Japan
While her mouth might have gotten her in a bit of trouble not long after this album came out (it’s apparnently not nice to joke about the nature of mothers in Japan), what usually comes out of her mouth – great urban contemporary-influenced pop – still served her well even while she was forced out of action for a few months. Kingdom still topped the album charts in Japan and stayed there while Kuu-chin was incognito – no doubt thanks to the fact that the album is a solid package of modern R&B/pop that has everything post-TLC American urban music lacks – solid songs and vocals, with no monotonous sound structures, gimmicky lyrics or half-assed hooks to be found. Kuu-chin’s vocals are getting better with every succeeding album – and the next one is coming out in a week or two, so feel free to play catchup with Kingdom if you haven’t already.
(SIDE NOTE: Speaking of Rhythm Zone artists, when the fuck is Maki Goto’s first post-H!P record coming out?)
