Guilty

For her ninth studio album, Ayumi certainly chose to stray away from the material on her more recent albums (My Story, (miss)understood, and Secret). Some of the fan reception of this album has been very mixed and it's obvious to see why.

First of all, ignoring all the interludes and singles that have been put into GUILTY, there are only five brand new full-length tracks. Next, while (miss)understood legitimately displayed Ayumi's versatility with each song and Secret showcased some great power ballads, GUILTY strays from her usual album release. The lyrics have a heavier and more personal feel to them (excluding glitter, the summer single), which confirm her previous announcement that she is beginning a new chapter in her life. It's clear that to some extent, Ayumi literally presents some guilt on her mind with this accurately-titled album.

As always, the vocals are pleasant and the lyrics and poignant. Tracks to reconsider include "fated," "talkin' 2 myself," "Together When...," "Mirror," "MY ALL," and "untitled ~for her~." This isn't to say the rest of the album isn't worthwhile. The new direction that Ayumi has chosen for herself is more reflective, deep, and more esoteric than any previous release. It's a great album regardless of the potential to shrink a vast fanbase. With multiple listens, the meanings that Ayumi imbibes into her songs transcend any language barrier. What she feels, you feel. And I don't mind feeling GUILTY.

Ayumi Hamasaki is unusual for a J-pop performer. For someone who spent the better part of the last eight years creating horrifying fashion trends among Japanese women and pretty much single-handedly quadrupling the size of the hair-dye industry there, she resists trends in the music industry and frequently goes in her own direction with each album.

I keep wondering when Ayu's going to run out of steam since she's now deaf in one ear and is damaging her voice by smoking, but somehow she (and her immensely talented band, give them credit) has assembled her best album since "Duty."

This album is predominantly a rock album and features little of the pop theme seen in songs such as "BLUE BIRD" (the ones that sound more like anime theme songs).

The theme is instead much more along the lines of the gritty "Ourselves" and "Because of You" (from "Memorial Address"). "Mirror," "(don't) Leave Me Alone," "decision," and "GUILTY" are the best of these, though the slightly more upbeat "MY ALL" joins them as one of the best songs on the album. All are pulse-pounding, dramatic, and powerful, especially when Ayu uses the come-hither voice she used so effectively in the title track on "Duty." In fact, while it's often pointed out that Ayu's voice is inferior to competitors such as Utada Hikaru (it is) or that she hits a brick wall on high notes (she does), she sings "MY ALL" just about perfectly - for all of her faults, when Ayu is at her best, nobody comes close to her.

In seeking to distance herself from her recent albums and (perhaps) finally abdicating the J-pop throne in favor of her imitators, Ayu might just put together more albums with GUILTY's level of awesomeness. Even if she doesn't sell as well with the hair dye crowd in the future, I'll still be willing to fork over the 3000 yen.

Nobody does J-pop better than Ayumi Hamasaki.

That's all I can really say about how Ayumi does what she does best.

CD

1.Mirror:A good intro that gets better and better but man, just like other intros end just when it's about to reach it's peak. 9/10

2.(don't) Leave me alone:I thought this was gonna be a calm song, but man it blows up with a excellent hype rock pop track, and I love the hook to this track. 10/10

3.Talkin' to myself:I didn't know how Ayumi was gonna do after breaking up with her boyfriend after 7 years, but after this track it gave me a sense of how strong her maturity of moving on is. It had a edge, and the song feels like the spark that Soon started a fire in her later in the year. So this track showed me a great promise after the dissapointing fated. 10/10 2nd favoirte

4.Decision:This track has the electricity of "game" and the consistancy of "is this love". Love the track and it's hard hitting hook. 10/10

5.Guilty:I love how even more deeper and darker this is compared to a favorite track "Criminal" Altho I wish the hook was a bit more edged, this song definitly gives that death sentence feeling. 9/10

6.Fated:After Glitter, I herd this. Her emotion level wasn't strong on par as the video. It gave a dissapointing average feel, at this point I didn't feel to great. 6/10

7.Together When:A sweet calm ballad. I love the calm smooth part before the nice hitting hook which brings the song a little up tempo for the better. 9/10

8.Marionette -prelude-:I love the music box style interlude in this track. Gives a feel of halloweenis christmas. 10/10

9:Marionette:Aw man this in my mind without question is Ayu's best rock ballad. Better than Game, About you About you, Alterna, (Miss)Understood, yea. It's got a dark feel, but the hook just feels so well formulated with the rest of the excellent song, and Ayu being the main drive behind it. 10/10 3rd favorite

10.The Judgement Day:I love how it feels like your going into judgement, and then the tone lightens up as if you made it to heaven. Love it. 10/10

11.Glitter:And no this track has no affiliation with Marriah Carrey. Ayu over the last well, every CD has had a good summer song, and this one is no exception. A splash of a lively beat, and Ayu's emotions going through it like adreniline in the heart. 10/10

12.My All:Ah for the first time since My Story my favorite track is not a single. I love how this one has a uplifting punch in the hook like momentum, And Ayu bringing the supercharged emotion and then some. 10/10 Favorite track

13.reBIRTH:In many ways by listening to this CD, it does feel like a rebirth album for Ayu, since it was one emotional shiftcanging year, yet she still remians herself, just adding an edge that has tons of attitude. Oh, and the interlude is beautiful. 10/10

14.Untitled -for her-:When I read the book, obviously someone close to her is off in a better place. Altho I got used to the intensity on tis album, her emotions in this dedication track is definitly a great way to close this CD out. 9/10

DVD

1.Distance Love-(Glitter-Fated)<short film> Tell you what, I ain't used to seeing Ayu make short films(Voyage didn't work out too well for me) The fact that this drowned out what I thought Glitter could be, and fated well, it just dissapointed me. If she wants to do a movie do it, this just don't reach me. 3/10

2.Talkin' to myself:A destroyed world, sounds like a revolution to me, but this was a revolution for an artist with a emotional year, but man this video had a serious edge, a side of Ayumi that I was glad to see. 10/10 2nd favorite

3:Decision:Ayu and her crew on a stage with no audience. Don't matter. The video is just full of energy, with her chours piano players and that dude on the guitar who just killer on it, and is almost the show stealer. Man I love the excitment of this video. It's like carols with the energy of evolution. 10/10 3rd favorite

4.Together when...:I loved this video. The puppetmaster feel to the man and Ayu in a alternate world, andthe video is a bit strange, but man it does prove to serve justice to the title and song. 10/10

5.Marionette:Aw man Ayumi pulling a Tim Burton in this one. But man for the rock ballad, it is just perfect and I mean a perfect video for the track, at first I was freaked out, but as it went on, it settled in as the best video in my mind. 10/10 favorite video

6.(Dont) Leave me alone:This video got atye and additude in it. A dance track with flavor and spice in it which suits the perfect rock ballad style of the track. 10/10

Making of clips:

1.Distance love(Glitter):Man I dunno what to say about it, only there are interviews with the chinese peps involved. 4/10

2.Distance love(fated):Deja vu 3/10

3.Talkin' to myself:Interesting how they show the dance moves with a choreogepher, and the procedures it took to make the great video, and funny pics. 9/10 3rd favorite

4.Decision:Well straightforward stuff, just baisicly them rehersing in normal life since most of it is just like a stage performance. 5/10

5.Together When:Mostly not much, but it was funny how Ayu and the frenchman tried to communicate. 8/10

6.Marionette:I liked this one because it had some outakes I wouldn't mind seeing again. Esoecially one of her dancers acting like a vampire after a cut. 10/10 favorite making of clip

7(Don't) Leave me alone: Great how it shows her walking through the backround, and the excellent dance moves wit the help of a choreogerpher. 10/10. 2nd favoite.

Man it's been a rough year for my favorite artist. Going to Hong Kong for major promotions(Hope she comes to the U.S. one day), end of a 7 year relationship, losing a good friend, and loosing all hearing in her left ear. Man, the ear is a current problem, but for her to rise up and inspire not only herseft but her millions of listeners is just amazing. Year after year after year she puts in more effort than any other artist I like and know. To change up her style for the better in the middle of the year, and to still remain on her consistant bases is a real joy to behold as a serous fan of this talanted artist.

If you love Ayu j-pop or j-rock, get this! The thing I love about Ayu is she's never trying to be anyone else, and she never took a night off if she felt like she could go on regaurdless. She's determened to be the Ayu me and many other fans known for the last 10 years. She never changed up her sound to sound like anyone else, and she has reigned as Queen of J-pop because of that, and like every great embassedor for they do, she's made a name for herself and has become a international Icon. What Michael Jordan is for Basketball, Stephen King is for Horror tales, What Tom Hankes is for basketball, Ayu is for J-pop. I'm serious 10 years from now if an artist should be put within the top 10 icons of modern entertainment, she WILL be in it.

peace

All is blessed. BIGZ