Top tracks — play these first
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JUICY — This track captures the essence of Black Cherry with its infectious dance beat and flirtatious lyrics, exemplifying Koda's playful side.
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恋のつぼみ — The song features a captivating blend of sweet melodies and upbeat rhythms, symbolizing youthful love and desire within the album's context.
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Get Up & Move!! Start here — An energetic opener that sets the tone for the album, encouraging listeners to embrace life with its lively tempo and motivational lyrics.
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月と太陽 — This track showcases Koda's vocal range and emotional depth, offering a more introspective moment that contrasts with the album's high-energy songs.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends genres effectively but has uneven pacing and relies on familiar tropes.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a brief introduction before launching into high-energy tracks that maintain an upbeat tempo for the first half.
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies and call-and-response patterns, particularly in 'JUICY' and '恋のつぼみ'.
- The latter half of the album introduces slower ballads, creating a contrast with the earlier energetic songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- inviting dance floor energy
- dynamic journey with intensity
- celebratory moments of joy
- playful vibes for social gatherings
- captivating rhythms for movement
Maybe skip if you
- seeking quiet introspective moments
- prefer standalone tracks only
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Established Koda's popularity with diverse sounds and themes, debuting at number one on charts.
- Themes
- dance floor celebration· seductive nightlife· romantic longing
- Career context
- Released on December 20, 2006, Black Cherry was Kumi Koda's fifth studio album, following her commercially successful album, Best: First Things. At this point in her career, Koda was solidifying her status as a leading figure in Japanese pop music, known for her bold image and eclectic sound that pushed the boundaries of mainstream J-pop.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Namie Amuro· Ayumi Hamasaki· Miliyah Kato
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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恋のつぼみ
The narrative shifts from playful flirtation to an earnest confession of feelings as the chorus unfolds.
This transition adds emotional weight to the song, emphasizing both innocence and vulnerability in romantic pursuits.
Tracklist
- 1 INTRODUCTION 1:24
- 2 Get Up & Move!! Start here 3:22
- 3 人魚姫 4:25
- 4 夢のうた 4:43
- 5 月と太陽 4:01
- 6 Puppy 4:03
- 7 恋のつぼみ 4:06
- 8 WON'T BE LONG 〜Black Cherry Version〜 4:29
- 9 JUICY 4:29
- 10 Candle Light 3:16
- 11 Cherry Girl 3:55
- 12 I'll be there 4:14
- 13 運命 4:21
- 14 With your smile 4:15
- 15 ミルクティー 2:35
- 16 Twinkle 3:52
- 17 GO WAY!! 4:30
- 18 WON'T BE LONG 〜Red Cherry Version〜 5:11
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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