Guilty (ALBUM+DVD)(First Press Edition)(Japan Version) DVD Region 2
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Customer Review of "Guilty (ALBUM+DVD)(First Press Edition)(Japan Version)"
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Average Customer Rating for All Editions of this Product: (22)
Average Customer Rating for All Editions of this Product: (22)
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Nick in NYC
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December 24, 2007
See all my reviews
December 24, 2007
9 people found the following helpful
Significant Ayu Release
Significant Ayu Release
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I'd say this is the most significant release from Ayumi Hamasaki since 2001's "I Am...". We've had a few albums over the past years - Secret, MY STORY, (miss)understood, to name a few - but frankly, I found that they lacked the substance and raw power that attracted me to Ayumi in the first place. This album has a dark sound that's both refined and experimental. Her lyrics, instead of waxing poetic on life, are self-centered and discuss her relationships and ultimately question and discuss the challenge of finding peace when going to sleep at night. Her lyrics, which she writes herself are incredibly self-actualized -- and yet not situation specific, which adds a significant amount of universal appeal to her music. The listener can relate. Now, track by track: 1. Mirror - Intense introduction track that begins with the sound of a dial-up modem connecting with military drums on top of it. It sets the mood for the album. 2. (don't) Leave Me Alone - One of Ayumi's most successful new pop-rock tracks in recent history. The chorus, instead of sounding similar to everything out there, is refreshing and the song doesn't end up sounding like "1 LOVE" or "About You." Describing it as "rock" does not give merit to the roots in electronica or pop music that the song has, nor does it give you any idea how refined the sound is. 3. Talkin' To Myself - Total rock track, very successful with strings and a powerful chorus. She killed this as her last single. 4. Decision - Sad rock-orchestral track. Again, EXTREMELY precise mixing of rock, strings and her knockout voice. 5. Guilty - Incredible. Think pared-down sound, acoustic, earth, synth. The most similar track to "I Am..." in recent history. No screaming, but just singing - with an eerie background radio echo of someone coming through in English - a great title track. 6. Fated - Think "Moments," but refined. Absolutely killer voice on this, mixed with a pulsating arrangement - a heartbreaking power ballad; you feel her voice on the verge of pleading. This is exactly what Ayu is known for. Killer track. 7. Together When - It's a pretty ballad and her most recent (digital) single release, but I'm not crazy about it. I think "No Way To Say," "Jewel," "Carols," or "Momentum" have all been stronger winter ballads. 8. Marionette ~prelude~ - It's the instrumentals in-between tracks on albums that Ayumi has known for. Amazing lead-in to the full song. 9. Marionette - Again, a refined and advanced power ballad. The orchestration is nailed on this song. She did a great job on this one. 10. The Judgement Day - BY FAR, my FAVORITE Ayu instrumental, second only to "Opening Run" on "I Am...". The first half is a bunch of "la, la" repeated over an organ - and then halfway through, intense cyber-beats break through, amp up the production and break through the repetition and bring the track to a quick close. GENIUS. 11. Glitter - Total typical J-pop song! Pop, silly, happy - "Wow, wow, wow!" and "No, no, no!" as verses - enjoyable. Sweet, but not saccharine. 12. My All - Think "Honey" from "MY STORY;" again, refined a bit. A great J-pop song. Amazing production by H/\L. Total anime theme potential. Really like it. 13. reBIRTH - Instrumental interlude. 14. Untitled ~for her~ - A sad, nostalgic tribute to a friend. Her voice is incredible on this track and simply shines. Again, the arrangement sounds fresh and a bit different. All said and done, a really solid knockout work. I would highly recommend buying this album to anyone with a slight interest in Ayumi or who is curious to see what her sound has developed into by 2008. |
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Funky Monkey Baby
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December 18, 2007
This customer review refers to Guilty (Japan Version)
See all my reviews
December 18, 2007
This customer review refers to Guilty (Japan Version)
9 people found the following helpful
Ayu vs Kumi - competition! O_O
Ayu vs Kumi - competition! O_O
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This is absolutely amazing. To me, this is Ayu's best album ever and Kumi is releasing her best album ever too! n_n'' major competition, but I'm rooting for Ayu. She's always been my most favorite artist. This album is dark, hard rockish and sexy-cool! Those who like songs such as "talkin' to myself", "decision", "Secret", "GAME", and "Kiss O' Kill" will be VERY pleased because almost every song is like that kind of style. This album is strong vocally too! All the songs are strange, different from one another, and highly interesting. =O I'll review the CD+DVD version once I recieve mine in the mail! n_n Intro - once this comes on, you know you're in for a dark and mysterious journey through the world of Ayu. (don't) Leave me alone - Hard rockish song that reminds me of a mixture between "1 LOVE" and "Kiss O' Kill"! Amazing new track! n_n can't wait for the PV!! GUILTY - very dramatic with a catchy guitar drift like "talkin' to myself" has. This is one of the tracks I'm looking forward to most of all. it's very emotional too. Together When... - one of Ayu's most gorgeous ballads ever. It combines a beautiful string section with piano. T_T The PV for this one is so sad and very symbolic too. I think this song was perfect to release as a digital single to excite fans about the upcoming album! Marionette - the prelude for this song is very eerie O.o then, when the song comes on, you're like =O .... it's the best new song! Truly strange, mysterious, dark, and dramatic with a rock feel mixed with a string section. Astounding *_* The Judgement Day - It starts with "lalas" and a organ...quiet and soft...honestly, nothing more to say! O.o (the sample ended!) i wonder what happens next! MY ALL - One of my most favorite tracks! Ayu begins to close off her awesome rock adventure with a softer, light-hearted upbeat song (still rock though!)...it's so sweet and I can imagine Ayu ending a concert with this song + "untitled ~for her~"!! It's one of my most favorite Ayu songs EVER. n_n-V reBIRTH - n_n sweet, relaxing music from what I hear! (sample ended) I wonder if Ayu will sing in it later. But it's very orchestra and beautiful - kind of preluding the next song. untitled ~for her~ - Ayu ends her album with a beautiful, emotional ballad loaded with gorgeous music and vocals. It's too gorgeous to describe. Maybe Ayu will end the encore of her 2008 ~10'th Anniversary~ Tour with this or it'll be the next-to-last song. Anyway, it's amazing. This album is so incredible.....I have no words to describe it. The only song that pops in there where you're like "what the heck?" O.o is "glitter"...I like it, but it is NOTHING compared to the rest of the album. "fated", "decision", and "talkin' to myself" fit in there just perfect though. Truthfully, this style is more classic Ayu-style than "Secret" and "Miss Understood". This is sort of like "My Story"!!! It's her best album ever and I can't wait to see the videos once I recieve my CD+DVD in the mail. Kumi has some serious competition. Ayu just might outsell everyone, and by the sound of it, I think this CD deserves it fully. n_n By the way, the covers are incredible! Kind of like a reminisence of the "Duty" album, except this time she's not confined by the cage, but free with unlimited possibilites in her grasp. Symbolic as it is pleasing to the eyes. Way to go, Ayu. n_n |
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