Kahimi Karie

(Minty Fresh 10)

You play it once and think, "No I can't take this."

The voice is too sickly sweet, even if the lyrics have a certain edge to them.

But don't go putting Kahimi Karie in the "To Sell" pile yet. Play it again and again. You'll soon say "Well. . . her voice still bugs me but I have to admit that that one song is pretty good. I'll put that on a various tape and then sell it."

Listen the following day and now there are three songs to go on that tape.

. . . and soon enough, no day seems complete until you've listened to the disc all the way through.

Kahimi Karie is a Japanese Pop Mega-star in her home country. This is her first album and contains songs written by such indie cult stars as Cornelius Fantasma and Momus, as well as covers of Serge Gainsbourg and Astrud Gilberto. Also a Beck sample. It's a big piece of candy at once sweet and (pleasantly) sour. Give her a chance and you'll get the sweet tooth.

--- Brian Greene