Aesthetic Rhapsody

Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Release Date: July 24, 2002
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 4.5/5

1. independent
2. July 1st
3. HANABI
4. independent (instrumental)
5. July 1st (instrumental)
6. HANABI (instrumental)
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There were so many covers for this single! I simply chose to use blue one because blue’s my favorite color.

I just loved how the mood and pace transitioned back and forth throughout independent! There were some quick and energized parts and then the chorus is also thrown in to change the moderate pace to fast. For some reason, I felt that Ayu really handled her vocals pretty well this time too!

Transitioning moods in July 1st also reigns surpreme! At first it sounds like a complete balland and the next minute, the arrangement is thrown in to the trance and dance category. This was probably one of the best Ayu releases out there and a total job well done.

Finally, HANABI has the kind of instrumentals that soudns pretty scary. Not to mention, Ayu has that sad voice to add to it. I really liked the song and its beautiful arrangement but when I listened to this song a few minutes ago, I was really in the mood for happy music…

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Release Date: March 8, 2006
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 3.5/5

1. Startin’ (original mix)
2. Born To Be… (original mix)
3. teens (acoustic version)
4. Startin’ (original mix Instrumental)
5. Born To Be… (original mix Instrumental)
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The Startin’ (original mix) is pretty upbeat for my taste. The introduction has a little hip in the beats that sounds a little out of place in the song since the vocals has a touch of agressive pop in it. This was probably the first A-side that Ayu’s vocals began to sound more mature but even so, I got pretty boredof this song quickly.

Born To Be… (original mix) begins with a choir singing “Born to be” until Ayu’s vocals enters in not soon after. Now, this is new Ayu material since her songs aren’t normally oriented this way. Plus, her vocals were flawless but the arrangement still didn’t go up a notch.

Finally, the teens (acoustic version) has more stings elements instead of the traditional guitar and piano. The overall melody was great since it’s claming to the ears but now I’m wondering, was there even an original version of this song?

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Release Date: August 12, 2009
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 4.5/5

1. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ (Original mix)
2. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL ~ (Original mix)
3. fairyland-glitter-BLUE BIRD-Greatful days-July 1st (Mega-Mash-Up-Mix)
4. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ (Original mix Instrumental)
5. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ (Original mix Instrumental)
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When I first heard about this ayu release, I was like “what’s with the ‘~LOVE is ALL~” at the end of every song? And the cover; Ayu looks like she went to a tanning place.

The Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ (Original mix) brings us all the way back to her last album NEXT LEVEL with all of the new hardcore electronica elements with a hint of Summery influence. At least Ayu gives off a positive touch to her vocals.

Oh, so that’s why there’s ~LOVE is ALL~ in the titles. The Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ (Original mix) is the upbeat version of Sunset ~LOVE is ALL ~ (Original mix), which is the ballad version. The only down side is that some songs can’t really me made to a ballad once it’s already heard as a hardcore track. The elements that worked for Sunrise just doesn’t cut it for Sunset.

The fairyland-glitter-BLUE BIRD-Greatful days-July 1st (Mega-Mash-Up-Mix) is literally a mashed-up version of all five of Ayu’s summer songs put together into one song. I don’t think that this was the first time that she has done something like this…

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Release Date: November 30, 2005
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 4/5

1. Bold & Delicious (Original Mix)
2. Pride (Original Mix)
3. HEAVEN (House Mix)
4. Will (Wall5 Remix)
5. Bold & Delicious (Original Mix Instrumental)
6. Pride (Original Mix Instrumental)
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I was definitely taken by surprise upon hearing the sudden “Yayayayaya gagagaga dadadada wowowowo” at the beginning of the Bold & Delicious (Original Mix). Sure it’s a little weird so during my first listen, I immediately changed the song to a more interesting Ayu track. But when I finally came back to listening to the song (this time the WHOLE song), I actually changed my impression. Well, I’ll say that it wasn’t really a stunning Ayu song but I really love how we could feel Ayu’s joy as she happily sang the delicious lyrics with a bold chorus. Quite a new arrangement wouldn’t you say?

The Pride (Original Mix) took a major contrast compared to it’s first A-side. At least with Pride, it’s a lovely ballad. I’m not going to lie but the arrangement isn’t incredibly special but Ayu could really synch her voice with the background chorus could easily manipulate the emotion that she puts into the song. There’s just something about this song that makes me want to listen to it over and over.

Personal Rating: 4/5

Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Release Date: August 3, 2005
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 4.5/5

1. Fairyland (Original mix)
2. alterna (Original mix)
3. STEP you (DJ TAKI-SHIT More Step Up Remix)
4. Fairyland (Bright Field mix)
5. Fairyland (Original mix Instrumental)
6. alterna (Original mix Instrumental)
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Wow. Rumors state that the PV for “Fairyland” is one of the most expensive music videos.

To be honest, the Fairyland (Original mix) was one of the first Ayu songs that I’ve listened to. (Aside from Dearest and Endless Sorrow.) The begining is a bit quiet with fast beats but with Ayu singing with a little distortion. Soon, the instrumentals explode into a Summer-pop oriented song, returning Ayu’s voice back to normal and singing at loud volume. The development of the chorus really made the song memorable but with a mixture of happiness and sadness. (You’ll understand when you watch the PV.) Probably one of my favorite Ayu songs.

The alterna (Original mix) has a similar opening but with a more agressive feel while singing the “heys.” The only downside of the song is that verses are the majority of the arrangement and doesn’t show much of a chorus builder.

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Release Date: September 19, 2007
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 4/5

1. talkin’ 2 myself (Original mix)
2. decision (Original mix)
3. fated (Orchestra version)
4. talkin’ 2 myself (Original mix Instrumental)
5. decision (Original mix Instrumental)
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I think that this was the single when Ayu began to add drastic changes to her style. (From pop to hardcore electronica)

The talkin’ 2 myself (Original mix) had a pretty cool introduction with all of the quick guitar instrumenals being played and a quick jump into the song. Ayu’s vocals take on the lower register but then it suits the mood of the song with all of the electricity flowing within the song. Perrsonally, I think it totally beats her last release, glitter/fated.

decision (Original mix) also jumps into the fast and aggressive mood of the song since the guitars still blares and Ayu still sings in a lower pitch. The genre still falls into the same category as talkin’ 2 myself but Ayu seems to sing with even more power here. (Possibly even more electrifying than the A-side?)

The fated (Orchestra version) sounded much more serene and gave off a graceful touch to Ayu’s style. Definitely worth a listen.

Personal Rating: 4/5

Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Release Date: April 24, 2002
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 5/5

1. Free & Easy
2. Naturally (Dolly remix)
3. Still Alone (Warp Brothers Extended Mix)
4. Free & Easy (Instrumental)
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Just to note, Free & Easy came out AFTER I am… so Naturally and Still Alone are considered older tracks on the single. (I still have to review the album, though. At least Ayu does not release any re-cut singles!) Free & Easy is the only original song as well as the A-side.

Free & Easy has a very serene and long introduction that makes the song stand out compared to her other phenomenal songs. I loved the parts when Ayu’s vocals would come out strong and loud and then gradually go back soft and quiet. Her vocals suited the arrangement really well and gave off a feeling different from her past releases.

Personal Rating: 5/5

Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Release Date: April 20, 2005
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 4.5/5

1. STEP you (Original Mix)
2. is this LOVE? (Original Mix)
3. STEP you (Instrumental)
4. is this LOVE? (Instrumental)
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I just love the way the STEP you (Original Mix) sounds so addicting! There’s just something about it that makes me want to sing the song over and over again! Is it the synch in the background, the upbeat-ness or the ad-libbing that makes it so special? Anyways, this is totally “in” for Ayu’s style!

However, is this LOVE? (Original Mix) which jsut happens to be the second A-side beats the STEP you (Original Mix) by a landslide! Her vocals really blends in with the arrangement and the aggressiveness of the instrumentals makes the song more electrifying than STEP you!

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Release Date: November 10, 1999
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 4.5/5

1. Introduction
2. Fly high
3. Trauma
4. And Then
5. immature “Album Version”
6. Boys & Girls
7. TO BE
8. End Roll
9. P.S. II
10. WHATEVER “Dub’s 1999 Club Remix”
11. too late
12. appears “Album Version”
13. monochrome
14. Interlude
15. LOVE~refrain~
16. Who… (+ Kanariya)
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Trauma , End Roll, too late and monochrome were all featured on the A single while Fly high, immature “Album Version”, Boys & Girls , TO BE, WHATEVER “Dub’s 1999 Club Remix”, appears “Album Version” and LOVE~refrain~ were released on their respective singles. Some were average while some were over the top.

Since there happens to only be four album tracks due to the large amount of previously released singles, I will do a track by track review for LOVEppears.

Introduction is like the typical introduction track that’s played at the beginning of an album. It’s a great start for the album though.

I first listened to And Then from her remix albums and thought that it was very catchy and rthymatic. And when I listened to the orignal version, I still had the same opinion. Plus her vocals were sung at medium pitch at a moderate pace so Ayu’s voice didn’t do much straining as it usually did.

I didn’t realize that P.S. II actually meant “Powder Snow” Part II until after I listened to the album. I also first laid my ears on this song on a remix album bit thought that the song was some of her rare songs. I loved how it containted parts from Powder Snow and how the flow of the song was arranged to match her vocals. As of now, the medium pitch was probably the best one she sung in.

Finally, Who… was Ayu’s first song with a hidden track. (Kanariya) Anyways, it’s a nicely made ballad with easy listening elements. Great way to end the album!

LOVEppears takes a HUGE step from a Song from XX since her vocals have improved for the most part. There were also more tracks to listen to and there was a sudden shift from pop to the dance oriented genre.

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Release Date: December 1, 1995
Label: Columbia Japan
Personal Rating: 1/5

1. Nothing from Nothing (single version)
2. Limit
3. Paper Doll
4. Gut it-pez
5. Nothing from Nothing (album version)
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On a personal note: I’m getting really close to finishing Ayu’s discography! I hope to finish her in about a month but the problem is that there’s so many albums! I’m beginning to even aviod writing albums since they take to damn long to write.

Nothing from Nothing (single version) is actually a rap incoporated track so there’s absolutely no way anyone could compare this single with any of her releases with Avex Trax. Sadly, this was Number 200 on the Oricon chart so Ayu didn’t really start popular. Her vocals sound horrible with this song and there’s also the fact that the whole rap is actually over 6 minutes long. (over 6 minutes of horrible rapping.)

Another long song!? Limit actually shows that Ayu didn’t take the right kind of voice lessons. For the most part, her pitch isn’t well controlled and her vocals were ugh… Unlike her songs today, the lyrics didn’t even have any meaning.

Paper Doll is an attempted Ballad/rap track. I couldn’t exactly focus on the background music since her vocals pretty much sounded bad enough to make the song less enjoyable. Yeah I know, totally not Ayu.

Gut it-pez doesn’t make the album any better since there’s pretty much nothing. There’s no melody or anything, just singing with a bunch of random people.

Finally! We’re almost done! Nothing from Nothing (album version) is even worst than the original version since there’s actually nothing relevant! (except the main melody) It’s just like Gut it-pex, random singing!

Oh… my ears….I’m so glad Ayu took voice lessons after this.

Personal Rating: 1/5