Bon Voyage [CD+Blu-ray]

Kumi hits a hard set of home runs with this album. I have all her others, but this one takes the cake on great albums. I've been listening to this at least 6 times a week since it first arrived at my doorstep several months ago. I just can't get tired of it the slightest bit. Kuu keeps the entire album jamming with great tracks except for the slower ballads Imagine and Koishikute, which are both just gorgeous. She also tries (& succeeds) at several genres and moods on this album while leaving her old cutesy thing off this one, which as much as I enjoy many of them, I feel this is a more mature refreshment for her. Some people argue LOADED isn't mature as the song (as the title would suggest) is a song about getting drunk with friends, but I disagree. I'm not much of a drinker myself, but every grown adult out there knows the stresses of daily life that we all need to sometimes shake off. Then the PVs(MVs) are each all unique and awesome all in their own way. SHOW ME YOUR HOLLA switches back and forth between black & white and color using a 1940s pin up girls type of theme, LALALALALA is filmed in L.A. at Venice Beach (I believe) of her having fun with the people there and Go to the top is her first fully animated MV which was first filmed around the time she had just come back from maternity leave after giving birth to her son. Sadly though there's only making of videos for two of the seven MVs. I only say this since the two for SHOW ME YOUR HOLLA and LOL are just wonderful getting to see the regular behind the scenes side of Kuu hard at work on her ideas and bringing them to life for the camera. It would've been great to have watched and seen more for the rest of them as well. And lastly is the packaging. I bought mine when there was still first press available, so I don't know how different the non-FP is. However, the slip cover is thick & sturdy. Out slips the actual CD jewel case which has a different cover, on the back she's holding a blue and white flag and inside the lyrics booklet contains a ton and I do mean A TON of pages of great photos of her in the album's theme with the lyrics all written quite neatly and a lovely thank you word towards her family, friends, staff & fans on the final page. As a FP bonus there's also a cute jewel case size hologram sticker inside as well, which I have yet to find a use for. I HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ALBUM!!