I had bought all the other Pink Martini albums but had been put off purchasing this by the adverse reviews. Pink Martini seem to have a bit of an obsession for collaborations with other artists, some well past their sell by date. The result can be embarrassing and not a good listen. Sadly this mistake is repeated on the upcoming Get Happy album which opens with Phyllis Diller 'Smile'. Not a good decision!
My mind was changed when I heard Saori Yuki in concert with Pink Martini at the Albert Hall. She has a beautiful voice and the Pinki Martini arrangements compliment it superbly. This may be why some Martini listeners are disappointed. Instead of a singer with a band playing a range of Latin and international tunes the singer is the focus and the arrangements adapted to her.
The songs become a matter of personal taste. I could do without Puff the Magic Dragon but love the rest. As with all Pink Martini albums the recording and production is immaculate. I find that listening with headphones reveal lots of musical flourishes that are an absolute delight.
Ignore the poor reviews. This is a top class recording from a top class mini orchestra.
This is a fabulous album. It's a little different. Most of the songs are sung in Japanese, which I happen to like. The backing, production and musicianship is excellent. I personally like this very much and recommend it as a slightly different Pink Martini album but with their usual stamp of quality.