Rising Suns: Utada Hikaru's Science Fiction

    I was kinda scratching my head when Utada Hikaru announced this new "best" album, Science Fiction. I was like "does she even have enough material for another one following 2010's Single Collection Vol 2.??? Then I had realized we'd gotten quite a few albums since then. REGARDLESS. I was happy as cheese for a new Utada anything. I was just so sure we would be getting a new full-length album though. I feel like we're due one. 

    ANYWAY!!! The details that kept coming out for Science Fiction made me more and more curious about the album. For instance, "best-of" releases are even kinda phasing out in Japan where they used to almost be guaranteed million-sellers. In this age of streaming, no one really needs these types of releases anymore. 

    Secondly, the details about the album were kinda like huh? We were getting a few re-recordings and new mixes. Which doesn't necessarily make a "best." Since the originals are what are "the best." Which albums where new mixes and re-recordings are featured have grown in popularity. 

    Thirdly, the album was announced late last year, and we had to wait 4 months for it. Which was a choice. Utada has done the long waits before though, so we're used to it. I will admit that I feel like this album was a good move in the long run. Utada will be touring this year, so this album is perfect to prepare us for that. It's rare that she tours, so it's nice that it will be supporting an album. Anticipation was also raised for the album by FINALLY UPDATING PAST MUSIC VIDEOS into 4K where you can actually SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEM!!! Praise Jesus! My prayers have been answered!

 *insert Hikki, got any more of them pixels? meme*

    

    As for the album itself? I feel like a good amount of "best" material was included. Kicking myself that "Keep Tryin'" isn't featured with a banging new mix though. This easily could have been a 3 disc affair though. And I would not complain one bit. We're mostly getting the goods from 2016 on. 

    What's new and old-new here have divided quite a bit of fans. I saw a lot of discussion about the album. The re-recordings especially. After seeing Taylor Swift's re-record project I have to say... It's so hard to do the originals justice... So very hard. You fall in love with the original versions of these songs and even some hot remixes of them. You learn to sing along with them. You memorize every little in-and-out of your favorite songs. Every nook and cranny. Even if the artist singing them forgets the lyrics, you don't. So it's hard to listen to a re-recording and think "wow. This is so much better than the original." And it was a challenge that even Utada kinda stumbled at.

    

    Our first track is the re-recording of "Addicted to You." It's rough. Utada's voice has matured. Her voice is still absolutely beautiful and stunning, and she's still very much capable of pyrotechnic, emotional vocal performances. But this re-recording sounds like a one take, no mistakes, in the oven, easy bake. The instrumental is fantastic though. It definitely keeps that early-2000s R&B spirit. It needed some fine-tuning. I would listen the crap out of this if it was like the 2024 mix version songs here instead of a re-recording. 

    Our second track shows the duality of the album. It's the 2022 mix of "First Love." And it sounds so crisp and clean with no caffeine. The difference mixes are what make the album, to be honest. The 2024 mix of "SAKURA Drops" is also very, very, very good. The outro shines so much and adds such complexity to this take of "SAKURA Drops." Like "First Love," "Can You Keep A Secret? (2024 Mix)" sounds so crisp and fresh. There's not much changed about "Prisoner of Love," but it still sounds very nice and like a lot of care was put into it. Though the vocals are drowned out just a *smidge* too much in that chorus, I think. I don't mind it as much during the bridge before the final chorus. It adds to the drama.

    Back to the re-recordings, "Hikari" gets an update here. Sonically? Chef's kiss. It embodies the science concept of the album. Vocally? It's shaky. They're not bad. The verses in fact sound relaxed and pure. It's just hard to live up to the original's vocal performance. The chorus is where they falter. 

    "Flavor of Life" sounds so very impressive here. Absolutely stunning. Beautifully mixed. "Goodbye Happiness" has this crazy vocal effect now which I'm not sure how to feel about. I think it keeps it in line with the album's concept though, so I'm not too hung up on it. 

    Our last re-recording and first track of the second disc, "traveling," is probably the best of the re-records. Utada sounds great here. And the new mix is so very crazy good. It embodies the futuristic experimentational spirit of the original "traveling." And I love that song so very much. I wish it had the original's vocals though. And I would love it as much as humanly possible.

    "Beautiful World" and "Automatic" sound great. Do you hear how crisp and cutting-edge though record riffs are on "Automatic???" Damnnnnn. Sharp AF. "Letters" is missing that long outro that made it so cool in the first place. It still sounds good and as refreshing as the day it was released, so I can't complain too much. "Letters" doesn't get near enough love as much as it deserves, so I'm happy it's getting noticed here on Science Fiction. 

    As far as new songs go (we get some of those too!!) We've got some goodness going on here. I love "GOLD -Mata Au Hi Made-!" It's a classic Utada take. It bridges the old and the new Utada, I think. I love the Taku's Twice Upon a Time Remix more than the original though. And it would have felt right at home here if included. "Naniirodemonai Hana" is a nice and perky ballad. There's a hopefulness to it that I can't quite put my finger on. We get like 2 different songs on 1 track which is interesting and Utada-like. After that second chorus it goes from "every ordinary day cutesy love song" to "I might have to shake my ass to this." Which is a juxtaposition of the best nature. "Electricity" is a nice track in the new Utada style. The thumping beat is delicious. And when it takes off after the intro, there's no stopping it. And Utada sounds fantastic here! Very much in the element. The "ele-ele-eletricity" (did I spell that right??) hook is a welcomed addition to the Utada canon. The wind instruments are as well. The song is giving me Sufjan Stevens vibes? And I love it! From one genius to another. 

 

    For those of us that are busy and always on-the-go there's a Sci-fi edit of the 11-minute masterpiece "Somewhere Near Marseilles." I'm glad this song got featured here as it's the most Science Fiction-esque in its original form. 

    In conclusion, I am quite happy with this Utada venture. The new songs help tie everything together, I think. It's definitely one for the forever fans, but I think there's a lot for casual listeners who enjoyed the hits back in the day (and today) and new listeners here as well. If you know the songs already, I guarantee you'll be singing along while listening. 

Rank: S...cience Fiction Rank

Recommendation: for lovers of all things Utada.

Standouts:

    Them new songs tho.

    The new 2024 mixes of past flames