Exodus '04

Oh man, this is Utada Hikaru at her sultry best. Fans of her previous works will either find her 180 degree change refreshing or get turned off by it. I fall under the former category. This album departs from her usual J-pop fare, plus it's all in English, her first. I must say some of the songs are very sensual, with the lyrics painting various imageries, making some people hot under the collar, or horny to use a more direct term. I highly recommend it, as it is not your usual radio fare, it's a mix of R&B with strong synthesizers in the background. What makes it stand out is of course her voice which is distinctive. Some people may still prefer her previous pop offerings, but I'm fine with the change as I felt she was getting a bit formulaic. This album will appeal to some people only, so I don't expect a mainstream release anytime soon. Anyway, the song below, Exodus '04, is ironically the most popish song of the album, it could even be an English version of "deep river", with the strong Indian beats in the background.

Exodus '04

With you these streets are heaven
Now home feels so foreign
They told me I was mistaken; infatuated
And I was afraid to trust my hunches
Now I am ready

Daddy don't be mad that I'm leaving
Please let me worry about me
Mama don't you worry about me
This is my story

Through mountains high and valleys low
The ocean through the desert snow
We'll say goodbye to the friend we know
This is our exodus '04

Through traffic jams in Tokyo
New music on the radio
We'll say goodbye to the world we know
This is our exodus '04

Landscapes keep changing
His story teaches something
I know I could be mistaken but my heart has spoken
I cannot redirect my feelings
The waves have parted

Daddy don't be mad that I'm leaving
Please let me worry about me
Mama don't you worry about me
This is my story

Through mountains high and valleys low
The ocean through the desert snow
We'll say goodbye to the friend we know
This is our exodus '04

Through traffic jams in Tokyo
New music on the radio
We'll say goodbye to the world we know
This is our exodus '04

I'm listening to a music never-ending
My baby don't you know I'll never let you down
You've opened me to so many different endings
But baby I know that you'll always be around

Through mountains high and valleys low
The ocean through the desert snow
We'll say goodbye to the friend we know
This is our exodus '04

Through traffic jams in Tokyo
New music on the radio
We'll say goodbye to the world we know
This is our exodus '04

Through mountains high and valleys low
The ocean through the desert snow
We'll say goodbye to the friend we know
This is our exodus '04

Through traffic jams in Tokyo
New music on the radio
We'll say goodbye to the world we know
This is our exodus '04