Yuki "Wave" (2006)

Wave
release date: Sep. 6, 2006
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "Nagai Yume" - 2. "Melancholinista" - 5. "Fugainaiya"

Studio album by Yuki. This is a continued journey into synth pop, which suits her voice quite nicely, although it's a stylistic mix. J-pop still is the major style, the production has become more orchestrated in an almost Eurovision-song-contest-kind of way. Also, I think, she challenges her voice more on this release and shows she really can sing and not only use a childlike tone but many tracks are attempts to be indie rock, which fails with her tiny voice and crossings from j-pop pop-songs to more (tempted) aggressiveness.

Yuki "Joy" (2005)

Joy
release date: Feb. 23, 2005
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5]

Track highlights: 2. "Joy" - 4. "Walking on the Skyline" - 7. "Air Wave"

3rd solo studio album by Yuki is her best so far, I think. The style is j-pop art pop and now also with some r&b elements and a more distinct synthpop, which makes it a more danceable and joyful release and a clear turn away from her initial indie pop and art rock-inspiration.

Yuki "Commune" (2003)

Commune
release date: Mar. 26, 2003
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

A better album than her solo debut. It's still j-pop and art pop and this time less new wave making it more contemporary. She sounds like someone caught in between a clean pop universe and a need to rebel against the facade. The album lacks good and interesting songs, maybe because I don't get the Japanese lyrics.

Yuki "Prismic" (2002)

Prismic [debut]
release date: Mar. 22, 2002
format: digital
[album rate: 2 / 5]

Yuki's debut as a solo artist. This is clearly j-pop art pop and perhaps an attempt into art rock and indie pop / rock with some new wave style that seems outdated and overall of little interest. Some tracks make me think of inspiration in Breeders / Pixies and the voice of Kim Deal just without the originality and the songs.

Yuki [or: 'YUKI']

~ ~ ~

Yuki: Yuki Kuramochi (倉持 有希, Yuki Isoya [birth name], born Feb. 17, 1972 in Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan), known by her stage name Yuki, is a Japanese musician and singer / songwriter. She was the lead vocalist for the band Judy and Mary (1991-2001) of which she was a founding member. After the disbandment she became a solo artist in 2002. She has been a member of the band NiNa (1999, with Kate Pierson of The B-52's, bassist Mick Karn of Japan, former members of the Japanese new wave band The Plastics, Masahide Sakuma and Takemi Shima, and session drummer Steven Wolf), as well as member of Mean Machine (1998-2001), and the collaboration Chara+Yuki (Chara, also from Mean Machine).

~ ~ ~