Ultra Blue saw Utada move further into electronic textures and jazz-inflected arrangements, while retaining her signature lyrical introspection. The album was a commercial success, topping the Oricon charts upon release.
- Ultra Blue was Hikaru Utada's fourth Japanese studio album. It was released on June 14, 2006, by Universal Music LLC. The album was a commercial success in Japan, topping the Oricon weekly album charts.
- The album features a blend of art pop, synth-pop, and jazz influences. It was noted for its mature sound and lyrical depth.
- Ultra Blue was Utada's first album not to be released in the US market at the time of its initial release. The album included the singles "Sakura Drops" and "Keep Tryin'".
Hikaru Utada is a Tokyo-born singer-songwriter, producer, and arranger, known for her genre-blending, introspective music that straddles pop, R&B, and electronic styles. She emerged in the late 1990s as a leading figure in Japanese pop music, achieving massive commercial success with her debut. Ultra Blue arrived midway through Utada's career, between the internationally focused Exodus (2004) and the more experimental, sample-heavy This Is The Way We Are (2009).
Tracklist
