MAA - [Mini Album] Monkey Kingdom
[Mini Album] MAA - Monkey Kingdom
Released: 2010.12.01
Genre: Electro, pop, dance, slight rock influences
Sounds like: Namie Amuro, ICONIQ, Mizca
Language: Japanese
Bit rate: 320kbps
01. バレリーナ・ブレインシステム (Ballerina brain system) (Music Video@YT)
02. Ghost Enemy (Music Video@YT)
03. Tomorrow @ Your Kingdom
04. モンキーボーン・シティ (Monkeybone City) (Preview @YT)
05. ハングオーバー・ペイバック (Hangover payback) (Preview @YT)
06. Beautiful Mistakes (Preview @YT)
07. バージンキラー・サンタ (Virgin killer Santa) (Preview @YT)
08. Demon’s Phone Call (Preview @YT)
Japanese-American songtress MAA, nicknamed "Psycho Cinderella" by fans makes her grand debut with Monkey Kingdom, an electro/pop mini made for those wanting a gritty, dirtier smudge on dance numbers minus the baby voice - thank goodness. Ballerina brain system is a cunningly catchy tune with explosive hooks and that head-bobbing quality. Ghost Enemy could very well be an ICONIQ production (listen to ICONIQ's Crystal Girl) for having similar backing beats but stands out as MAA is much more forceful and less sweet than ICONIQ. MAA means business.
I absolutely adore the gradual sweeping start of steady strumming meeting up with confident piano chords in Tomorrow @ Your Kingdom. It's the perfect song for staring out the window and daydreaming. While slower and much more reserved than the rest of the tracks, it does continue with the electro theme of the album a la slight auto-tuning and a fade-away textured bridge insert.
Monkeybone City, exudes the vibe of a woman on a mission and teases listeners by cleverly strunting out through its chorus punctuation of "make me believe". Hangover Payback is yet another catchy feather in MAA's already crafty showcase. MAA's voice is hypnotic as it is alluring as the melody expertly throws you to a scene of a pulsating dancefloor and frosted champagne glasses. Beautiful Mistakes is indeed darkly beautiful as MAA carefully asserts herself with the chorus that "one mistake could make my life beautiful".
Virgin Killer Santa - what a title. I never expected to like it as much but I do now. MAA's voice is perfect for injecting a haunting element against an echoey yet dramatic backing. Demon's Phone Call is the only entirely English track. She sounds so much like Gwen Stefani here. It's effortless, slightly rockish but wanders over to the giddy, drunken stupor kind of vibe.
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COMMENT. COMMENT. Do tell me what you think of her. Here's a translated NYLON interview for those interested in knowing more about this eccentric biotch :D