Dreams Come True - Do You Dreams Come True? (2009)

They had a previous greatest-hits compilation, but the duo (and sometimes trio) Dreams Come True had more than enough hits in their catalog to fuel a second compilation. The songs aren't new (aside from a remix or two of their biggest hits, such as the theme to Sleepless in Seattle), but the music remains surprisingly fresh for two reasons. First, lead singer Miwa Yoshida's vocals can soar without dipping into the melodramatic pool that traps so many Japanese singers. At the same time, the band's compositions cover ground from standard ballads to modern dance tracks to singsongy jazz interludes (the last of which are powered strongly by bassist Masato Nakamura). This is not music made for an audience as much as music created well that audiences responded to -- a refreshing format for a band from Dreams Come True's era. Hearing Yoshida sail through the scales in "Aa Mou" is a surprising bit of iconoclastic pop, but hearing her transition quickly to a soulful ballad in "Daikkirai Demo Arigatou" highlights her exceptional range and the emotion she can infuse into her tracks. It's an excellent compilation for new listeners (although missing the original version of the Sleepless in Seattle theme) given its sheer musicality and wide base of tracks to choose from. The simultaneous breadth and depth of the compositions beg for the listener to dig deeper, and Do You Dreams Come True positions itself at the same time as an outstanding stepping stone.