Ayaka(絢香) - Wonder! album thoughts (J-pop)

 

     I've written about Ayaka before on this blog, so she really doesn't need an introduction. She's been an independent artist for some years now and her albums sales have suffered since. However, Ayaka is still seen as one of the most influential female singers in the Japanese music industry. As one of the only rookie singers in the early 2000s to raise to fame so fast, Wonder! marks Ayaka's return to music after two years of no releases. 

Tracklist:

01. Wonder! (3:16)
02. You're where I wanna go (3:55)
03. アソブココロ (3:12)
04. Versailles - ベルサイユ - (4:08)
05. Dreaming (3:13)
06. ひまわりの帰り道 (3:37)
07. ずっとキミと (4:32)
08. Feelin' goo-good (3:34)
09. Me & You (3:39)
10. 花束じゃなくキミといたい (5:02)
11. Versailles - ベルサイユ - Piano version (4:11)

       

    Wonder is probably her body of work since her first two debut albums under Warner Music Japan. I honestly feel like Ayaka's past releases were he grasping at straws of the genre of music that fit her the best. She's never actually tapped into the musical style that I feel like suited her. Pop rock and ballads were her go to music choices. I'm not sure if it was because that's what she knows or if she was told to do this genres and it's just worked till now. There was always a some soulful influences in her sound that she plays around with. For example, Hiring the vocals of Gospel singers for background, as well as groovy rhythm guitars to uptempo some of Ayaka's tracks. Well, imagine her do this times ten on Wonder. Ayaka leans fully into her soulful bag that she tasted for years, yet never fully consumed. This is a good album front to back with no skips. I enjoyed how it's a full soulful effort that flows together from groove to ballads. Wonder is Ayaka's true third album after Sing to the Sky in my opinion. 

    Ayaka has always had a voice that is the highlight of all her music. She's top ten on the best vocalist in Japan along with the likes of Crystal Kay. The only other singer that has a her quality of voice is Superfly. 

   Wonder is recommended to new time listeners as well as long time fans. Ayaka seems the most comfortable here. The music reflects this idea well.