Monday Michiru places jazz in the core of pop-culture music!
J. Lund | SoCal, USA | 02/10/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After a decade of recordings (beginning with 1991's MANGETSU), Monday Michiru's music continues to branch into new areas, leading the way in defining a significant--perhaps dominant--role for jazz in contemporary popular culture. My primary gripe with the Ken Burns JAZZ series is that the narrative offers virtually no indication that jazz has a significant presence in contemporary popular music (both aesthetically and popularity-wise). I feel that more than any other artist on the world music scene today, Monday Michiru offers the most consistently compelling evidence to the contrary: the fact that her albums are not issued in the USA doesn't minimize the significance and influence of her career accomplishments (not to mention her last album reportedly sold well over 100,000 copies in Japan and elsewhere). Although I recommend all of her albums--and if you get those and want more, check out the remix collections--4 SEASONS is at least as good a place as any to get introduced to her unique vision. Of course, long-time fans will admire her continually-active musical imagination. As she progresses, Monday seems to come up with an even-greater quantity of fresh, high-quality musical ideas. Her music cannot be categorized...that is unless "eclectic" is one of the choices.Besides being musically substantial, this set is also a bargain, compiling the original vocal versions of all tracks from her four recent "seasons" CD singles (NEW BEGINNINGS, INTROSPECTION, FALLING, and CHASING AFTER THE SUN) into one 2-CD package, while adding bonus tracks and remixes. I highly recommend that anyone intending to purchase one or more of those CD singles to opt for this collection, which contains 132 minutes of sophisticated compositions (lyrically and musically), emotive, jazz-inflected vocals by Monday, and forward-reaching, cliche-free accompiament. Regarding the latter, the tracks vary from all-acoustic accompiament to electrified studio remixes, with little or no sacrifice in cut-to-cut continuity. There are straight-ahead, Latin, funk, hip-hop, and even disco rhythms, and above those patterns are a lot of fresh ideas, whether it be the solos (including fine contributions by her trumpet-playing spouse), the arrangements, or the melodic/harmonic contour of Monday's tunes. And of great importance is that the overall tone of the music is emotively warm, unlike a lot of progressive music that projects a sterile exterior. As with the likes of Joni Mitchell and Cassandra Wilson, Monday's music aims for the heart and soul as well as the mind (and I guess the body too, given the dance-friendly rhythms).Monday Michiru is a role model for aspiring artists who feel that soulfuless, positivity, innovation, and intelligence are essential ingredients to create a work of musical art that stands far above the commonplace, underachieving nature of so much that we have been exposed to in all eras and genres of music."
Monday's best to date 4.5 stars
acid_win | 11/07/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Monday Michiru is a great American singer/songwriter that doesn't get recognition in the States for the classy work that she has constantly produced over the past decade. She has so many different styles that you could call her a bit of a musical schizophrenic. She has cut her teeth initially on the back of the acid jazz bandwagon along with the likes of the Brand New Heavies and Young Disciples but to put her in that silo would be totally misleading. She has crossed over into more mainstream Jazz has infused Bossa rhythms, trip-hop, hip-hop and various other forms into her music. Check her out on the Mondo Grosso MG4 album from last year and you will get a taste of her great variety.
She is the jack in the box to the little child. Always exciting when the box is opened and never quite sure when or in Monday's case what will emerge once the box is opened. What there can be no doubt about is that the music will be quality with fine vocals.You could roll many of your favourite comtemporary singers together and they probably still wouldn't cover the variety of guises that Monday has assumed throughout her career. The Four Seasons CD is a collection of her four seasonal EP's with some new music for this album. As for stating my favourite tracks on the double CD is very hard suffice to say there are plenty of fine tracks and not a bad one to skip over. Current personal favourites are "Something to Believe in", "Chasing after the sun [Barefoot & pregnant version]", "Mysteries of life [5th season version]" and the soul bossa "Fallin' ". All I can say is that you are in for a listening treat and it will put a smile on your face to experience such great uplifting music."
Beautiful album by a beautiful woman
J. Book | Pasco, WA United States | 11/07/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This double CD set consists of songs from a series of four 12" EP's, each covering a season of the year. They are gathered here with some of her boldest music to date, including the Latin-flavered "Something To Believe In", the soulful "Do It Again", and the it-should-be-a-dancefloor favorite, "Chasing After The Sun". Michiru, the daughter of jazz musicians Toshiki Akiyoshi and Charlie Mariano, is (as one of her album titles indicates) a jazz brat. She incorporates all sounds that become not only a product of her parents, but a sound all her own. Jazz, soul, Latin, and pop are all meshed together with a voice that can either make you smile or bring you to tears."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1