Collection of Romance Melodies
From Clumsy Media
Collection of Romance Melodies (formely under project title of 'SweetHEART: Kisses&Hugs') is the seventh studio album by Japanese artist JayMi, released on August 2, 2014 through Clumsy Media. Incorporating R&B, pop and soul, the album sees a return to JayMi's previous signature style of release in the beginning of her career. The album was recorded inconsistenly over a five year period and explores the central theme of romance of its different stages. Production for the album was overseen by Mini Bus, Fedric Arnold, Harmony Raynond, Ethan "DJ Efun" Fujiwara as well as others and features collaborations with Yuga Akiyama, Baby J., Jazz Cat, Kita Hari and Yanno Iwasaki. On the album, JayMi wrote all twelve tracks and co-produced five. The album's physical standard release features a twelve tracks and two other versions are available which delivers bonus features.
The album was promoted with live renditions of stage performances at live events and television shows. The album was also preceded by the release of the lead single "#SweetHEART" which peaked in Oricon Music Charts at number one. Prior to the release of the album two tracks were released as teaser singles, "Eternally Yours" and "Falling Naturally In Love" over a two week period. Both peaked at the top of the music charts and maintained first position for a week respectively.
Upon its release, the album received general acclaim from music critics, with much praise going to her improve vocals, with critics comparing them to Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki, and her throwback to 1990s R&B music. Yours Truly debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Charts selling 200,000 copies in its opening week, becoming JayMi's seventh consecutive number-one album as a solo artist since her debut.
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Background Information
Type: Normal Full Edition TYPE A
Sale Date: August 2, 2014
Price: US $25.00
Label: Clumsy Media
Album Information
In March 2013 when the second concert series "JayMi & U-Mi Days ～Gentleman～" ended, JayMi announced to the fans that she will be releasing another full studio album later during the year, "We're currently working hard on finishing on all the major details and although there's no yet a set release date for it please look forward [to the album]!", confirming the long speculated rumor. After the tour was finished she went straight onto filming for the 150-episodes family drama Amachan in which she makes her acting debut.
During this time she remained musically inactive but in September she updated on her official website about the latest status of the confirmed album. "Recording has been completed ever since I could remember, the only problem now is finding the correct time to release it [due to drama committments]." On October 24 her representatives officially announced that the release has been delayed indefinitly, citing "a combination of reasons" and instead she released two digital singles before the end of the year (Crush Crashers and クリスマスのキス). On April 17, 2014 it was revealed that the previous planned album's release has been scrapped, and instead JayMi has expressed her desires to release an album that comprises of a collection personal tracks written over the years. On July 12 the album was revealed to be titled Collection of Romance Melodies with the release date set as "sometime during the first week of August".
Collection of Romance Melodies is the result of inconsistent work over a period of five years. Described to be one of her "most personal release", the tracks were originally composed and recorded without the intention of mainstream release. JayMi admits to all of the songs being based on her personal experiences and are inspired by actual events.
Work on the album began unofficially in April 2009 with the composition of the track "Eternally Yours". During an interview in September 2014 after the album release, JayMi described everything on the album as being "a diary entry of the key romantic moments [of her life] in the past five years" and revealed that although she does not deem the album to be her most personal work, "it is the most honest". Other songs that JayMi had named as originally being part of the album, but later excluded due to the possibility of them revealing too much details of her personal life, included "Honeymoon Avenue", "Pink Champagne", "Boyfriend Material", "All We Got (Love)", and "Eyelashes".
Reception
Commerical
Critical
Upon its release, the album was met with critical acclaim from music critics. According to Oricon Reviews, where they assign a weighted average score out of 100 to ratings and reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average of 81, based on 9 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Magazine TeenPop rated the album four stars out of five, saying that Collection of Romance Melodies was "surprisingly sophisticated and unique" which showcases JayMi's soulful R&B vocals and the album "showcased her much repressed composition talent." Entertainment Weekly graded the album an A-, calling the album "pure blues bliss" and "one of the most purely enjoyable albums of the year".
Tracklisting
*Note: Highlighted in bold are title and single tracks.
1. A Thousand Butterflies
2. Eternally Yours (featuring Jazz Cat and Yanno Iwasaki)
3. Falling Naturally In Love (featuring Yuga Akiyama)
4. #SweetHEART
5. 甘いショー (featuring Baby J.) (Sweet Show)
6. 私にメロディーを歌う (Sing Me A Melody)
7. 私今夜とダンス (Dance with Me Tonight)
8. 朝の純愛 (Innocent Love in the Morning)
9. 情熱を再発見 (Rediscover the Passion)
10. 虹のハート (featuring Kita Hari) (Rainbow Heart)
11. 言う "je te aime" 再び (Say "I Love You" Again)
12. 愛といふ病気の療法 (Treatment for the Sickness Called Love)
