Artist: Puffy Amiyumi
Album: Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi: Music From the Series
Label: Sony Records
Tracks: 14
Review By: Jacob Gehman

From what I have gathered, Puffy Amiyumi started in the mid-90s as two girls whom a Japanese producer brought together to become a pop sensation. They became popular in their home country, however, never achieved the American success that, well, defines success. That changed somewhat when they got their own Cartoon Network TV show called “Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi,” complete with an animated version of themselves. This show, obviously, uses their music. And this soundtrack reflects what the TV show has been using.

So while this CD is being marketed as the soundtrack for the show, it is essentially a best-of album. Most of the tracks here are not new, so can be seen as an overview of Puffy Amiyumi’s career. An album like this that works on multiple levels for different markets is a record label owner’s dream.

Puffy Amiyumi are two girls who sing radio-made pop. The concept sounds horrible. However, these girls have incredible voices that sound like they were made for each other. The songs take unexpected twists and turns with delicious blending of their non-American voices in perfect harmony.

Think of a t.A.T.u., only minus the brash lesbianism and with silkier voices mixed with the pure pop joy of “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson. That Kelly Clarkson track has been one of the greatest pop songs to hit the radio in a number of years, but this album has three or four tracks which are better than that. If you find yourself enjoying female driven pop, particularly of the t.A.T.u. or Kelly Clarkson brand, don’t be distracted by the childish make-up of the packaging of this album and check Puffy Amiyumi out.