Ongaku Cafe (The 2000s): Suzuki Ami – DOLCE (2008)

“The second and final Suzuki Ami “Joins” album features more awesome musical collaborations with Capsule’s Nakata Yasutaka, Aly & AJ, RAM RIDER, CAPTAIN FUNK, Shinohara Tomoe and more. ”

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ARTIST: Suzuki Ami

ALBUM: DOLCE

LABEL: avex trax

CATALOG #: AVCD-23432/B

DURATION: 55:49

RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2008

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1. 1. FREE FREE – Suzuki Ami joins Nakata Yasutaka (capsule)
   2. feel the beat (album version) – Suzuki Ami joins Sugiurumn
   3. Potential Breakup Song – Suzuki Ami joins Aly & AJ
   4. Bitter… – Suzuki Ami joins S.A.
   5. SWEET DANCE – Suzuki Ami joins RAM RIDER
   6. THe WeekeND – Suzuki Ami joins CAPTAIN FUNK
   7. SUPER MUSIC MAKER (radio edit) – Suzuki Ami joins Nakata Yasutaka (capsule)
   8. MUSIC – Suzuki Ami joins RAM RIDER
   9. Stereo Love – Suzuki Ami joins Tomoe Shinohara***
   10. アイノウタ – Suzuki Ami joins ROCKETMAN Feat. YOU THE ROCK*
   11. 2人はPOP – Suzuki Ami joins Hoff Dylan
   12. 新しい日々 – Suzuki Ami joins YO-KING

DVD: Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 21:07 minutes

1. Bitter… (Music video)
2. DOLCE – BEHIND THE SCENES

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Reviewed back in February 2008

Reinventing Suzuki Ami. With the release of her last album “CONNETTA”, in my last review, I was quite impressed by her collaborations project and somehow injecting new life in to the musical career of Suzuki Ami.

Although many will remember Suzuki Ami, one of the top selling J-Pop artists in the late 90’s and one of the most successful teenage artist’s at the time, now going on her late 20’s, the collaborations with popular club DJ’s, producers and Indie artists has definitely made things fresh and new.

The question is if people can move past her old J-Pop years and embrace her music now. I surely have.

In the second “Joins” album, Suzuki Ami has teamed up with a good number of artists and producers.

For the first track “FREE FREE” and the eight track “SUPER MUSIC MAKER”, Suzuki Ami joins Nakata Yasutaka of capsule. Nakata known for fusing elements of fhouse, lounge, electronica, and bossa nova to his music definitely has given some life to Suzuki Ami for the double A-side CD single and has slated to work with the artist again for her upcoming 10th Anniversary CD single.

For the second and third track “feel the beat (album version” and “Potential Breakup Song”, I was head over heels with this “joins” CD single as the collaboration with music producer sugiurumn was just awesome and her teaming up with California-based Aly & AJ (for a Japanese cover of their popular song) was also well done and showcasing a sexy side to the pop singer.

Suzuki also joins S.A., RAM RIDER (for two tracks), CAPTAIN FUNK, Shinohara Tomoe, ROCKET MAN feat. YOU THE ROCK, Hoff Dylan and Yo-King for more upbeat tracks.

The track that stood out was definitely “Futari wa POP”, a collaboration between Suzuki Ami and Hoff Dylan. The song is a surf-rock/pop song.

And then there is “Atarashii Hibi” which is a rock song featuring Suzuki Ami and rock band YO-KING.

All in all, the experimental collaborations were fun and although not much as an impact such as a “m-flo loves” project, the “Suzuki Ami joins” project was great while it lasted (note: this album is the last “joins” project album).

As for the DVD, you get the music video for “Bitter…” which features Suzuki Ami joins S.A. And similar to last year’s DVD for “Connetta”, the behind-the-scenes featurette features Suzuki Ami at the studio for each song recording for the collaborations, so really good behind-the-scenes material and great to see Nakata Yasutaka, RAM RIDER working on the music.

The CD insert is more of a folded out poster with track listings on one side and photos of Suzuki Ami on the other.

I have to admit that I wasn’t the biggest Suzuki Ami fan in the 90’s. As a Morning Musume fan, I would always dislike the ASAYAN competitions pitting the two against each other and of course, Suzuki was aligned with Komuro Tetsuya during the time the TK family was still on top.

Sure, there were some song such as “White Key” that I enjoyed but I found myself supporting her when she made her return after some hard times. There hasn’t been many music artists who had gone through what she has and although not the record sales dominating force that she once was, she is still among the top names with Avex as a music performer and now as an actress.

“DOLCE” is a fun, entertaining album but for old school fans who want her to return to Suzuki Ami style of J-Pop, then I can understand why they are not into the “Join” projects.

If anything, I embraced the experimentations and also this sexy look that she has brought to her most recent music videos. Sexy but not trashy and it works for her now that she’s matured beautifully.

I recommend the two “Joins” albums for the experimentation and bringing in something overall fresh for Suzuki Ami’s music.

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