Search - Maki Goto :: Paint It Gold

Maki Goto's second solo CD is a nice, bouncy one

Brian Camp | Bronx, NY | 02/12/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Maki Goto is one of at least two great solo voices to emerge from the all-girl Japanese pop sensation, Morning Musume. (The other one I'd cite is Yuko Nakazawa. The two sing together on "Folk Songs V. 3," also reviewed on this site.) "Paint It Gold" is the second of four solo CDs Maki has released so far and I would argue that it's the best, with her next one, "3rd Station," a close second. "3rd Station" shows off more of her vocal range, while this one concentrates on more catchy, upbeat J-pop tunes, as evidenced by seven out of the eleven cuts here, with some real nice dance numbers included (especially #10, the title track). Three of the others are soft and sweet (tracks 6, 7 and 9), while one other, the heart-piercing "Shiawase desu ka" (track 5) is easily one of the best songs in the whole Hello! Project catalog and is wonderful no matter who sings it. (Sheena Easton did a soulful English-language cover version retitled "If You're Happy" and found on the Morning Musume/Hello Project International CD, also reviewed on this site.) Some of the upbeat cuts here are standard J-pop material, but they get better and better with each listen. There's something about Maki's voice that just makes everything she sings enjoyable. Her first and fourth CDs, "Makking Gold" and "Premium Best 1," are also recommmended.

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