Ongaku Cafe (The 2000s): Shimatani Hitomi – Best & Covers (July 2009)

This album is pretty much for those who are looking for her pop tracks from 2004-2009 and  you get her new song “Nagai Aida”, a cover of the popular Kiroro track from 1998 and also the music video for it.  Quite simply, you can’t really go wrong with this best album.  26 tracks of music and 17 music videos, this is the definitive Shimatani Hitomi album to own!  Highly recommended!

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DISC 2:

1. 亜麻色の髪の乙女
2. パピヨン ～papillon～
3. 白い蝶のサンバ
4. 花鳥諷詠 -Song for Everybody-
5. 元気を出して
6. 初恋
7. 魅せられて
8. 世界中の誰よりきっと
9. あなたといた時
10. 長い間

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Reviewed back in July 2009

For nearly a decade, we have covered Shimatani Hitomi’s music and of course, one thing that has remained consistent with our reviews is that Shimatani is not a consistent artist and that’s not a bad thing.  In fact, that is something that makes Shimatani so different from the other women on the avex trax label and that is with every CD single, you don’t know what kind of music that you are going to get.

And that is the attraction of Shimatani’s music.  Originally, she started as an artist that showcased your typical J-pop songs but right when the artist released the song “Angelus” in 2004, I don’t think fans knew what direction that the artist would go.  Followed up by the dance track “Garnet Moon”, it was another track that featured a more synth-inspired track and then “~Mermaid~” came along and showcased a gothic/organ style of intro.

She would then follow up with CD singles that converged back to pop music and sultry ballads but in 2006, Shimatani really showed diversity with her music with the orchestral track “Destiny”, the Spanish style pop track “PASIO”, the rock track “Dragonfly”, the pop track “Neva Eva” and literally, with each released single, you get something different.

And because of that, you either were a fan who enjoyed the freshness of each release or a fan who got hooked on a style of music and then are surprised that she hasn’t returned to that certain style.  So, consistency has not been a major trait for Hitomi’s music and personally, I’m one of those who have supported her ability to constantly release different style of music.

So, with that being said, there are many fans who may have missed out on many of her singles and those who may have been curious about her music but really don’t know where to start.

With the release of “Best & Covers”, this is the definitive Shimatani album to own.  An album to celebrate her 10th Anniversary as a music artist, not only do you get all her hit songs but also her popular cover songs. So, 26 tracks of music on two CD’s and it doesn’t end there… The CD+DVD version of “Best & Covers”, also includes 17 music videos.  So, for those who missed her previously released CD+DVD singles, no problem…you get a lot of her music videos with this release.

Suffice to say, Hitomi Shimatani fans are getting their money’s worth with this release.  The only thing that you will be missing out if you didn’t buy the original singles are the certain B-side tracks and on the music video end, the making-of videos.  But for the most part, this is an awesome release that you really can’t go wrong.  Especially knowing the money you would be saving through this album alone, especially with the DVD with so many of her popular music videos.

As for the CD insert, the booklet features all the lyrics to all the songs included on the best album with very few photos of Shimatani.

When it comes to best albums, you can only hope that it’s done right.  Shimatani has released a best album in the past with “Delicious” covering her older pop hits but with “Best & Covers”, you get a bit of the old but of course a lot of the new.  Especially those defining tracks from 2004-2009.  Fans who were hoping her first enka track “Kaihoku” would be on this album, you’re not going to find it on this album.  For those who are looking for the classic pop videos such as the Janet Jackson cover “Papillon”, that is on her “Delicious” best album.

This album is pretty much for those who are looking for her pop tracks from 2004-2009 and  you get her new song “Nagai Aida”, a cover of the popular Kiroro track from 1998 and also the music video for it.

Quite simply, you can’t really go wrong with this best album.  26 tracks of music and 17 music videos, this is the definitive Hitomi Shimatani album to own!  Highly recommended!

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