This Isn't Quite The One

Utada's second English album (not counting her original "Cubic U" debut) features an array of different sounds, with some catchy lyrics and great melodies, but not all of them carry an equal weight. My favorite tune of the bunch is probably "Apples and Cinnamon," but the titular "This Is The One (Crying Like a Child)" is pretty amazing too, especially when you really listen to the story behind the lyrics. Especially interesting is "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence - FYI," which samples from the track of the same name (the "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" part, a movie that was also released under the name "Furyo;" the vocal track of that same song is called "Forbidden Colors")

Some of the other songs though, like "Dirty Desire" and "Poppin'" just make it seem as though Utada's trying to shoehorn herself into a genre she doesn't fit in, at least where the American market is concerned: these are stereotypically "poppy" songs about sex and dancing. Sadder still, "Automatic Pt. 2" shares very little in common with the original song that propelled Utada into acclaim. The lyrics aren't interesting, the melody is blase: it's not "Automatic" in English, that's for sure.

Overall, it's not as incredible as her debut English album "Exodus," but the few gems on it are worth listening to again and again.