I'm fairly new to Mari Iijima's music -- not anywhere near the expert level fan that Janitor is
As you have noticed, we've been promoting this cd for a little while now -- and the reason is because we feel it is a nice alternative to much of the music available for mainstream consumption ... so without further ado, our review ...
Mari Iijima - Wonderful People REVIEW: A
This is an album that shows off the confidence and expertise of a long standing artist -- yet possesses the wonderful qualities of being particularly dynamic, fresh, and a viable music alternative to the mainstream
The body of work in Wonderful People stands up as a wonderful collection of adult contemporary music -- however, unlike most AC music, it goes out of the box to re-think the genre with a creative and dynamic energy that is normally not found in the AC genre
Eminently listenable, here are some of the highlights of the CD:
"3-D" has a wonderful pop sensibility to it -- it reminds that it could be used as soundtrack music -- but very rarely is S/T music as good as this -- this is unique music in that it takes you for an emotional ride -- you can feel the vibrancy of the song and its message, whether you understand Japanese or not -- transcendence: that is a sign of music quality of a very high order
"Unspoken Love" has a current adult contempo feel -- it reminds a lot of John Mayer type arrangements -- you know the kind, very sparse yet musically vibrant and fresh
"Complete" has a brilliant contemporary jazzy simplicity -- this is very high level adult contemporary music, and out of the box, is high level music -- period. -- the lyrics are very expressive of a perfect relationship of balance, the guitar and keyboard interaction make for interesting compatible harmonies
"Tuesday" is one of the most emotive ballads in terms of style and feel that we have heard in a long time ... there is a distinctive feel to this song that just transports you -- it has that elusive emotional "it" factor -- I've tried to put in words a comparison to what it is like, it gives off a soaring feel like when love is new
"Wonderful People", "River", and "I Can't Hide" round out the the remaining tracks -- each brings forth an adept understanding of arranging music and making music with emotion and heart -- with no sacrifice to listenability
A wonderful musical alternative -- very highly recommended.
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I've been searching the internet to see how people think and feel about this artist. It's refreshing to see her taken so seriously as an artist.
As a long-time fan of hers, I've seen most people only know her for her solitary anime seiyuu [voice acting] role: Lynn Minmay in Macross (or, in the USA, as the first 1/3rd of "Robotech"). But ask these same people how much of her music they know, ... and they falter.
I recently went to Japan just to see her in concert [March of 2005] in Tokyo.
Yes, I really did. :)
It was interesting to see the difference in appreciation between Japanese and American fans. You'd expect some disparity, but with Mari's bilingual musical talents, I would hope it to be a more balanced appreciation. I was disappointed in this fact; it seems her English-speaking population, in general, hasn't really been as exposed to her music as one would hope.
Japanese people will happy enjoy her English-language lyrics. However, how many English-speaking fans appreciate her Japanese-language work?
Remains to be seen, I guess.
I know her personally; she is a marvelous human being. Her passion [which you seemed to have found] in her music exists in her personal life. It flows into her music fluidly.
Her official website: http://www.marimusic.com/
[English & Japanese]
Well, you like John Mayer and Norah, so I would think so Alii Sir C.P. Warpisto ... hahahahaha
would a warpisto clanster like me enjoy it?
Great review! im so glad you enjoyed the album as much as i did. The songwriting is sooo strong on this...
post it on cdbaby.com too :-)