HEART STATION by 宇多田ヒカル

Heart Station is the eighth studio and fifth Japanese-language album by Japanese–American recording artist Utada Hikaru. It was released on March 19, 2008 by EMI Music in Japan, and globally on March 26, 2008. It is Utada's eighth consecutive studio album to be fully written and produced by her, with the help of her father Teruzane Utada and long-time collaborator Miyake Akira through the production. Recorded between 2006 and 2008, it was worked on whilst she was recording her ninth studio and second English-language studio album, This Is the One (2009). With the album artwork photographed by Japanese photographer Mitsuo, Heart Station was released in two formats: a physical CD, and as a digital download. Upon its release, Heart Station received very positive reviews from most music critics. Many of them commended the production and song writing, alongside Utada's musical direction and vocal performance. However, minor criticism was aimed towards the lack of innovation and surprise-value of the album's material. Commercially, the album was a success in Japan; it peaked at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart, and was ranked the fifth best-selling studio album of 2008. With over one million sales as of June 2011, it is ranked amongst the highest selling albums in Japan of all time. Seven singles were released from this album; "Flavor of Life", "Beautiful World", and "Prisoner of Love" sold over one million units, while "Flavor of Life" is ranked as one of the best selling singles of all time. She performed several songs from Heart Station on various Japanese television shows, including Music Station, Music Fighter, amongst others. Since its release, Heart Station has broken records and has been awarded some accolades.