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Music TALENT+ REVIEW | Monday Michiru Debuts to a Western Ear in Awe
OK. OK! Finally... shoot ! Finally!
Someone, that someone being a music "critic," on this side of the earth
(US) not only listening to a Monday Michiru album (!), BUT, actually
smart enough - or not excessively lamed - to first realize, then
acknowledge, and inform the rest of the aurally-challenged individuals
on the globe what refined and educated Acid Jazz (not of the dance-floor
reared) listeners have known as fact for much too long. Although a far
from perfect review (lacking of crucial information), at least a modest
4.5 / 5 star rating was given to what is if any were such, a model
album.
Monday Michiru. Viewed with reverence, but largely unknown among the
many numerous niches and groups in her very own Acid Jazz community and
culture, and needless to say: the popular culture of lands all over.
For what has been a gem, a secret in circles across the lands, our pride
and joy, ...
For groove sake!! The word's leaked out:
There isn't a singer on either side of the globe that has this
much class or natural ability that uses it this beautifully.
Brilliant and moving.
-Thom Jurek
On Monday Michiru. 2001
There are singers - Angie Stone, RES, Carol C., Diana Krall
There are singer-occasional songwriters - Mary J Blige, Nikka Costa.
There are singer--co-songwriters with the pointing "oh-no-you-ain't
index finger" and/or ready-when-unsteady "Diva-complex" flip-on switch
to conceal shortcomings be it appearance (little on the heavy or
disproportionate side) or talent (voice is too..., sounds familiar
to...) - Jill Scott, Macy Gray
There are singer-songwriter-instrumentalists - Nicky Love, Patricia
Barber, Beate Lech.
There are singer-songwriters who self-proclaim musical integrity - "not
like your average girl in the music video," says India Arie, who claims
beautiful women on PVs aren't artists, rather, simply walking beauties
displaying their sex appeal, hence immediately discredited - so to
deflect focus from their lacking of physical appeal, or is it jealousy
and enviousness? Hmm - India Arie, Macy Gray
(Wonder what India thinks of the 5 yrs younger and equally
talented Alicia Keys who's pretty and partook in creating more
of her album than India. Keys amazingly did production,
writing, composing, mixing, piano, and vocals among others -
and also humble, sweet and grounded. Not bad!)
Then there is her...
She has no Diva pretentions, no on- nor off-stage short temperedness -
she was a model and actress but quit to pursue music. She doens't need
not be a Diva - she speaks clearly all that is unsaid and need be said.
Yes, she's a beauty in a music video - and non-typical music videos on
decidely lower scale. She is the Beauty in appearance - in person, face
to face: of sophistication, mature womanly charms, flowing eloquence,
youthful character, concious spirituality, admirable lifestyle & values,
intellectual keenness, poeticly striking,... Oh, but there's a little
more.
Here's the trump card, trump cards... A singular
singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist career spanning a decade
bookmarked with seminal, evolutionary, and revolutionary moments a
plenty - often leading the path to sounds new, with others trying to
follow. And so...
there is Monday Michiru - usually sole producer, composer, writer,
arranger, vocalist, backing vocals, vocal arrangement, backing vox
arrangement, DJ, remixer, and flutist of her works, in addition as
long-time musical confidant of Mondo Grosso's sole member and an Acid
Jazz icon himself as well, Osawa Shinichi.
The Westerner review follows below. But first,
~we'd like to thank~
OUR SPONSORS and SUPPORTERS
Supported by S.M.A.R.T. (Solely Music Aimed for Real Times)
Sponsored by LotsOFolks, NAACP, and NAAAAACP (National Afro- Arabic-
Aussie- American Asian Community of Peers), GM (Good Music), FORD (Fans
Of Remedies Dope), BMW (By Music Warriors), LEXUS (Let Everyone 'Xcept
Us Suffer), BEAMER (But Even Americans Mustn't Endure Rolling Stone),
and 7-11 (reminding you the entire catalogue of albums will only run you
$711+).
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WARNING for Weak Souls: This revelation may prove too unsettling and
emotional for some. Use protection.* Do not drive with Michiru CD
playing as head-knodding, shoe tapping, and singing will impair
capacity to function safely. It is very important to use as directed
(buy, listen, loop). Do not skip doses or discontinue use unless
directed by your doctor (none will allow such mal-practice).
Consume with welcome soul, and comfy couch. Do not use in conjunction
with lesser music. Do not use alcohol, cause there's always water.
Side effects may include out of body experiences, loss of appetite,
heart palpitation, dizziness, loss of pride, sudden distraught,
inclination to crack crap CDs in personal collection, and repenting
for previously regarded good music. Side effects will dissipate with
repeated listens. Just keep on spinin'.
[ *Protection from bad music.]
Monday Michiru Hits Western Ear for Wake Up Call
[Image]
Monday–ž‚¿‚é
Artist Monday Michiru
Album Title 4 Seasons
AMG Rating [Image]
[Image]
AMG EXPERT REVIEW:
This two CD set from Monday Michiru compiles a handful tracks or so from
her four seasonal EPs and fills it out with new music exclusive to this
album. And what an album it is. There are 20 tracks that cover a range
of styles from bossa nova to soul to jazz-both trad and acid-pop and
beyond. If she never released another record this one insures her
place-even if Americans have no idea who she is and she's one of their
own. Think Sade with a wider range or Lauryn Hill if she didn't have to
rely on hip-hop to get over and Erykah Badu with more musical diversity,
and you still can't come up with the entire picture. Michiru may have
come up with the acid jazz generation that launched the Brand New
Heavies, but musically she's left them all behind. Here is a woman who's
vocal and songwriting chops are so far above her peers she can't get a
record deal in the US. From the sparkling soul meets bossa of "Fallin'"
(on which Michiru plays a killer flute solo) to the lush, emotional
jazzscape of "Afternoon Dream," to the "Barefoot and Pregnant" version
of "Chasin' After the Sun,' with its slippery, airy funk to the
shimmering torchy grace of "Something To Believe In," to the
LaBelle-driven funk and roll of "Do It Again," Michiru covers all the
vocal bases and digs deep into enough emotional soundscapes to lend her
adventurous nature weight and dimension. There isn't a singer on either
side of the globe that has this much class or natural ability that uses
it this beautifully. Brilliant and moving. --Thom Jurek
Additional Info:
UPCH-1027/8
DISC 1
1. Kohyo (Monday) - 1:26
2. Chances (Monday) - 5:59
3. Fallin' (Monday) - 6:54
4. Do It Again (Monday) - 5:40
5. Inspiration (Monday) - 7:06
6. Changes (Monday/Sipiagin) - 5:37
7. Afternoon Dreams (Monday) - 9:36
8. Tahitian Xmas (Monday) - 4:31
9. Restless (Monday) - 7:17
10. Early Dawn (Monday) - 5:49
11. The Island (Bergman/Bergman/Guimaraes/Martins) - 7:22
DISC 2
12. Something to Believe In (Monday) - 6:35
13. Chasing After the Sun (Monday) - 12:08
14. Mysteries of Life (Monday) - 14:07
15. Restless (Monday) - 6:42
16. New Beginnings (Forge/Franck/Monday) - 4:15
17. Fallin' (Monday) - 5:31
18. Stop N' Listen (Monday) - 2:48
19. Chasing After the Sun (Monday) - 5:21
20. Mysteries of Life (Monday) - 7:11
Part of the prestigious Crew:
Gil Goldstein - Piano, Accordion, Fender Rhodes
Makoto Ozone - Piano
Dave Kikoski - Piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer
Waltinho Anastacio - Percussion
Brian Bacchus - Producer
Cyro Baptista - Percussion
Seamus Blake - Saxophone
Dwayne Burno - Bass (Upright)
Jose "Cochi" Claussell - Conga, Timbales
Nick Cohen - Bass
Scott Colley - Bass
Dave Darlington - Engineer, Mixing
Clark Gayton - Trombone, Tuba
James Genus - Bass
Rodney Holmes - Drums
Gene Jackson - Drums
Romero Lubambo - Guitar
Richard Locker - Strings
Paulette McWilliams - Vocals (bckgr)
Adam Rogers - Guitar
Dennis Rollins - Trombone
John Stubblefield - Narrator
Eddie Bobe - Vocals, Bata Drums
Donny McCaslin - Flute, Saxophone
Mimi Izumi Kobayashi - Recording Coordinator
Shinichi Osawa - Drum Programming, Percussion Programming
Fred Walcott - Percussion
David Gilmore - Guitar (Acoustic)
Ken Shima - Piano, Fender Rhodes
Liuh-Wen Ting - Strings
Tom Coyne - Mastering
Derrick Phillips - Drums
Andy Gonzales - Bass
Hiroko Umeyama - Stylist
Mitsuo Shindo - Art Direction
Eriko Sato - Strings
Alex Sipiagin - Trumpet, Arranger, Flugelhorn, Producer, Horn
Arrangements, String Arrangements
Hiroshi Sawada - Piccolo Bass
Miri Ben-Ari - Violin
Da Lata - Arranger, Producer
Madoka Sugaya - Engineer, Mastering Coordination
Dan the Man - Cello
Christian Franck - Guitar, Percussion, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer
Hisa Ishioka - Engineer, Mastering Coordination
Bruce Flowers - Piano, Keyboards
Masashi Hashimoto - Engineer
Boris Kozlov - Bass
Hidenori Taga - Executive Producer
while listening to Chocolate City,
wesley
"No, the fact is, Western pop is the fast food of music, and there is
more exciting
creative music making going on outside the Western pop tradition than
inside it.
To restrict your listening to English-language pop is like deciding to
eat the same
meal for the rest of your life. The 'no-surprise surprise,' as the
Holiday Inn
advertisement claims, is reassuring, I guess, but lacks kick. "
- David Byrne
The New York Times, October 3, 1999 article 'I Hate World Music' by
David Byrne
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