Review by Ana

I like Celine but this album is far from a great one. I do like tracks 1, 3 and 8 but the rest of the album doesn't hit it big unlike her earlier works. However, 'Complete Best' and 'My Love' were much better.

With 'Voice,' Nakashima Mika continues to prove why she just may be one of the greatest musical artists not to have been heard of by most people. Although the style of this album leans closer to pop a la Phil Collins, the songs are very well executed, as usual. 'Life,' for example, offers adult contemporary fare that might remind listeners of the kind of music played on light music stations, while 'Orion' and 'Trust Your Voice' follow the same category but grab your attention. Only 'I Don't Know' and 'Shut Up' (both English songs sung as MICA 3 CHU - the former was her first English single) seem out of place, but I like IDK better than 'Shut Up,' the only song from Mika that I can live without. The DVD is fantastic, with 6 videos (one of which, 'Focus,' was made in 2007) very well constructed and photographed. All the while, Mika's voice is as delicate and pristine as ever, without wasting it behind the mainstream sound of most music these days. Possibly the best album released by any artist in 2008!

'Voice' has Mika Nakashima leaning more toward a hardcore form of 'adult contemporary' than the kind she displayed on her earlier albums, and it's a well-done mix. 'Life,' for example, is a soothing soft pop ballad with an electro groove; 'SAKURA~Hanagasumi~ (Daishi Dance)' has a gorgeous techno-classical sound (even though the original version was better); and 'Orion' (the best song on the CD) is an ambient rock ballad that gripped me the first time I heard it. The rest of the album has a soft and light feel to it, but 'I Don't Know' (her first English single) and 'Shut Up' are completely hard and heavy songs that sound interesting, but seem out of place on this album. Still, 'Voice' is an amazing CD and the best album released in 2008.

'No More Rules' is Mika Nakashima's tenth album, and it shows how she's come a long way from her early days. Aside from compiling all of the songs she did for the Kanebo KATE franchise from 2002 to 2009, the 15 songs' styles reflect a great range of versatility that's bettered only by the 'Best' album. The new song, 'Game,' is a perfect addition to the compilation: its jazzy mood offers a taste of old-school Mika while at the same time allowing her to cross over into something much less 'easy listening' but a lot more 'adult contemporary.' The DVD is also a wonderful bonus, compiling all 15 of her Kanebo KATE commercial appearances and 10 videos. This album was limited to 50,000 copies, all of which have sold out, but you might be able to find it elsewhere. By far, this is the best album released by a female in 2009 and the second best one by a female this decade...not to mention her second best only to 'Best' (not to say her studio albums weren't wonderful; not at all).

In response to what Darlene said below me, this song IS a great one even though I like 'Mienai Hoshi' (from Mika's own 'Yes' album) better. She went to New Orleans to record this one and dedicate it to the victims of Hurricane Katrina so apparently she must have done SOMETHING right.

This album has Mika returning to the soft, 'Adult Contemporary' pop style that became her trademark ever since her first single, 'Stars.' The gospel sound might be a bit strong for her otherwise lovely voice, but she handles it as if she's been doing it her whole life (just as she tackled the NANA songs on 'The End' with little or no trouble). The best song on the album would have to be 'Mienai Hoshi' (track 2) but the whole album is worth a listen or two. It's by far the best album released in 2007 by any female artist in any country. I love you, Mika.

This is Mika Nakashima's very first album. Even on this one she proves how enormously full of potential she was back then. Every song on this album is completely 'adult contemporary' (not mainstream pop a la Britney Spears or anybody like that) and better than anything Britney, J. Lo, Lindsay Lohan, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Shakira, 50 Cent, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Ricky Martin, and so on ever did, ever had done, and ever will do.

Unlike most follow-ups to a debut album, this one outsold 'True' by a mere margin. And after listening, you'll probably get an idea as to why it did. Mika expanded her horizons with a more relaxed, jazzy/ballads style mingled with reggae and lighter pop sounds. Since softer, lighter music is my taste, I felt that this album was unbelievably relaxing in nature in contrast to albums by the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, N Sync, Justin Timberlake, Ashlee Simpson, Hannah Montana, and those other musicians that I so desperately try to avoid but are always thrown in my face even if on TV. If you get stressed out like I do or you feel sick in any form, crank out this or any of Mika's other albums and I guarantee you'll forget your pain in no time. Possibly the best album released by ANY artist in 2003!

Marvelous. That's one word I'd use to describe this album. If you're thinking of buying this album or any other Mika Nakashima album, and you don't tolerate the Britney Spears/Jennifer Lopez/Backstreet Boys/N Sync/Justin Timberlake/Limp Bizkit/Ashlee Simpson/Christina Aguilera/Destiny's Child/Beyonce/50 Cent/Shakira/hip-flop/etc. garbage on American radio (I for one don't), then you'll be glad you spent money on said albums instead of those clowns. Every song on this album tells a story all its own, ranging from old Japanese folk balladry ('Oborozukiyo~Inori,' recorded with Taro Hakase) to electronica ('Legend' - Main Version) to even rock ('Fed Up') although the album, as always, is one big lump sum 'adult contemporary' pop album (NOT R&B). My favorite songs on this album are tracks 1 through 3 and the last track even though I pretty much enjoy everything else on the disc. It's probably the best CD released in 2005, next to Mika's own 'Best' album. Just go out and buy it if you love her.

As a die-hard Mika Nakashima fan, I eagerly awaited the release of this album when it was first announced back in 2005. I got it for Christmas, and I felt this gift was worth more than its weight in gold, so to speak. Although the style here is 100% pure rock, with some heavy metal flavorings on tracks 4 and 5, the lyrics are more complex and realistic than most of today's popular rock bands (Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park, 'Enema of the State'-and-on-era Blink 182, Limp Bizkit, etc.) Best songs on this album: 'Hitoiro' and 'Glamorous Sky' Bottom Line: This in my opinion was the best album released in 2006 by any female artist in any country. I've never seen the 'NANA' movies but now I know why I should.

This song is by far the best single by any female artist released in 2007. Not only are the lyrics moving, but so are the arrangement and Mika's voice. If you don't feel like buying this single (which contains the ORIGINAL version of her cover of Yutaka Ozaki's 'I Love You'), buy her 'Yes' album. You'll be glad you did. Aishiteru, Mika-san. :)

This album, which once it was released was #1 on the Oricon Album Charts in Japan for a few weeks (to my knowledge), was released in Japan and Asia starting 12.7.2005, which was former NY Yankees First Baseman Tino Martinez's 37th birthday. Mika Nakashima is on a par with Andrea Bocelli, Judy Garland, Phil Collins, Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Santana, Marc Anthony, Sarah Brightman, Barbra Streisand, Michael Bolton, Celine Dion, Il Divo, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, and Josh Groban during their primes at least(to name but a few) as having one of the best voices and some of the best music I've EVER heard, but I think this album is indeed her 'Best' (not to say 'True,' 'Love,' and 'Music' weren't good, because they too were exceptional). Her music, based upon the audience she targets and its sound and style, makes all this rubbish on American radio sound bland (and it does). This is one of those rare albums on which EVERY song is good. I sure could keep this in my CD player forever.