And here we have the two latest remix albums from the J-Pop goddess herself, aptly subtitled GOLD and SILVER. I guess Ayu must have liked the BLACK and WHITE concept from her A Best 2 albums so much, she decided to use it again. True enough, if you examine the tracklists, GOLD follows WHITE with a collection of brighter, happier songs whereas SILVER follows BLACK with songs of a darker and more sorrowful nature. Still, being remixes, you can expect a more upbeat tempo and tone from the tracks on either of the two albums. Which is nice and all if you wanna get your groove on to some Ayu music.

Problem is most of the remixes are crap.

Yes, I'm sorely disappointed to say this, but no words can fully describe how aghast I felt listening to how they brutally mangled Ayu's wonderful songs into something less than stellar, less than ear-appeasing even. It's almost as though they just generated some random dance riff and slapped Ayu's vocals onto it, without caring what the result would actually sound like. A casserole remix. Yeah, that's the word. Casserole.

This is true for all but a few of the remixes. Notably for me, ourselves (COLDCUT remix) and HEAVEN(DAISHI DANCE remix). My most favourite remixes among the lot. The remix of ourselves is like a sped up version set to a simple clubbish tune. As for HEAVEN, the remix was done very beautifully, alternating between classical sounds of the piano and violin with thumping dance beats, seamlessly blending them at times. Other remixes worth listening to are fated (Makoto remix), JEWEL (STEPHANE POMPOUGNAC remix) and part of Me (CARL CRAIG remix). Unfortunately (for me, that is), my all-time favourite songs, Moments and GAME didn't get a decent remix. Pity really.

---

Results
ayu-mi-x 6 GOLD:

Only reason it gets even one berry is because of ourselves. Otherwise, major minus points for screwing up Moments and the rest of the songs.

ayu-mi-x 6 SILVER:

One up against GOLD simply because it has a few more decent remixes, especially HEAVEN. The rest are still either too bland or jarring enough for it to miss getting an overall average rating.

Mirrorcle World by Ayumi Hamasaki
Release: 8/4/2008



Mirrorcle World(Single+DVD/Jacket A)



Mirrorcle World(CD only/Jacket B)



Mirrorcle World(Single+DVD/Jacket C)



Mirrorcle World(CD only/Jacket D)

Track Listing 1 (Jacket A&B)
CD
1. Mirrorcle World (Original Mix)
2. Life (Original Mix)
3. YOU (10th Anniversary edition) *special track
4. Mirrorcle World (Instrumental)
5. Life (Instrumental)
6. YOU (10th Anniversary edition -Instrumental-)

Track Listing 2 (Jacket C&D)
CD
1. Mirrorcle World (Original Mix)
2. Life (Original Mix)
3. Depend on you (10th Anniversary edition) *special track
4. Mirrorcle World (Instrumental)
5. Life (Instrumental)
6. Depend on you (10th Anniversary edition -Instrumental-)

DVD (Jacket A&C only)
1. Mirrorcle World (Music Video)
2. Mirrorcle World (Making Clip)

Preview: Mirrorcle World.mp3


Hweeeeel!!! Amethyst here with the new single by none other than the lovely Ayumi Hamasaki!!!~<3
Source: Ayumi Hamasaki Official Site

ayu-mi-x 6 GOLD

Tracklist
1. STEP you (THE YOUNG PUNX! remix)
2. Moments (dj KENTARO remix)
3. talkin' 2 myself (STONEBRIDGE remix)
4. Beautiful Fighters (MSTRKRFT remix)
5. INSPIRE (ARMAND VAN HELDEN remix)
6. Greatful days (PARA ONE remix)
7. Startin' (SHINICHI OSAWA remix)
8. glitter (SOUL CENTRAL remix)
9. BLUE BIRD (7th GATE remix)
10. ourselves (COLDCUT remix)
11. Ladies Night (AFRA & INCREDIBLE BEATBOX BAND remix)
12. HAPPY ENDING (MAD PROFESSOR remix)

ayu-mi-x 6 SILVER

Tracklist
1. GAME (YOJI remix)
2. Together When... (CO-FUSION remix)
3. No way to say (HIGH CONTRAST remix)
4. alterna (FREEFORM FIVE remix)
5. HEAVEN (DAISHI DANCE remix)
6. fated (MAKOTO remix)
7. About You (BLACK STROBE remix)
8. decision (FORCE OF NATURE remix)
9. JEWEL (STEPHANE POMPOUGNAC remix)
10. CAROLS (PLAYGROUP remix)
11. part of Me (CARL CRAIG remix)
12. walking proud (CALM remix)

I love remix albums! ~<3 Don't you? Rift goes for all the Cyber Trance remixes, but I'm more of a Eurobeat fan.^^ Of course, the ayu-mi-x series aren't too bad either (well soooome at least), and here we have Ayumi's latest!

We've got a nice range of songs all the way from Memorial Address up to her latest Guilty album. They missed 1 Love and momentum though.=( I love those songs!

In any case, I hope these remixes rock.^^

Source: Ayumi Hamasaki Official Site

Greetings. I'm gonna spare the long introduction and just say that I'm Amethyst's creator and I've been invited by Amethyst herself (ironic, isn't it?) to do a review of the PVs from Ayumi's latest album GUILTY. I kinda find it silly that she wanted me to do this for her considering she could have done it herself, but in any case I'm not complaining. This is Ayumi we're talking about. And like Amethyst, I'm a big fan of hers.

This will be the first part of a series of reviews on the PVs included in the GUILTY album DVD. Note: I'm excluding glitter / fated because I don't really have much to say about either of the PVs. So let's start off with our first PV, Talkin' 2 Myself.

Talkin' 2 Myself

This song is heavier and darker than some of Ayu's recent ones. And so is this video.


The first thing you hear? Crackling flames as they lick the debris of a crumbling, destitute city.


The trees are dead. Whole branches fall off alight in flames.


The city lies in ruins. Fire and smoke is everywhere in this PV. Yet there are still people who inhabit this place, the expressions on their faces as grim and sombre as their surroundings. The effects of a natural disaster? Doubtful. The devastation of war? Most probably.


What is this place? I'm not sure what language that is, but it looks like a South Asian script, ie. India.


Notice the searchlights? Okay, you probably can't see them very clearly in this shot, but try watching the PV. They're everywhere. Other than doubling as stage lights for Ayumi and her dancers here, they also lend credence to my theory that this city is in the midst of war.

Searchlights were used extensively in defense against nighttime aerial bomber raids around the time of World War II. In particular, pairs of searchlights spaced a known distance apart were used to determine (via triangulation) the altitude of enemy bombers, so that the fuses on anti-aircraft flak shells could be set appropriately for maximum effect. In addition, the lights may have helped blind bombardiers using optical bombsights.

Source: Wikipedia

Aerial bomber raids could have caused all this destruction.




And of course, there's Ayumi.


Observing a group of children playing football(soccer for you Americans). Their joyful and carefree nature is in stark contrast to the gloomy atmosphere.



A boy falls down. A friend helps him up. It's nice to have friends there for you, isn't it?


I like this shot right here. Rain pounding on a weathered old jeep.


And Ayumi keeps on singing and dancing come rain or shine.


One final glance back at us.

A nice, dark PV from Ayumi. My only complaint is probably her choice of outfit - looks a little too butch. But the setting and tone of the PV fits the song perfectly. Great job, Ayu!

Watch the PV!

Oooookay! So this thing is held every year to award some of the best music videos in the Japanese media industry.=D

Ayumi, YUI and Hikki have gotten their music vids nominated.

Pop

Title: My Generation
Artiste: YUI
Watch it!

CG/Animation

Title: Kiss and Cry
Artiste: Utada Hikaru
Watch it!

Art Direction

Title: Part of Me
Artiste: Ayumi Hamasaki
Watch it!

The awards will be handed out on 15/3/2008(Saturday).

For more details on who's being nominated, visit SPACE SHOWER Music Video Award's website!

One of Ayumi's latest PVs that portray her as a marionette along with some men in suits.

Check out my review!

Finally, a review! And for one of my best-loved singers of all time!<3

I've been a fan of Ayu since her album (miss)understood - though that was the one album I didn't really like from her! I've been following her ever since. There were some hits , her album Secret which I really LOVED and Talkin' to Myself.<3 And then there were some misses...Blue Bird, glitter / fated...bleh!>_<

Her album Secret had a good mix of ballads and upbeat tracks. But what I REALLY wanted was for her to release something more rockish. Edgier. Darker maybe.

When Talkin' to Myself came out, I was thrilled! It seemed like she was going in that direction. And now we have GUILTY. Here we go! =D

Mirror
The album kicks off with an intro that does well in setting the scene. It's like you're dialing in to the connection, complete with digital distortion sounds, then you're in! And then the song starts taking you along, lifting you, building up the scene and power, showing you what to expect for the rest of the album. Then it's done, it's finished, it's happy with its handiwork and takes you back down. It's not over yet though. This is just the intro. Take a breather and get ready. The show's about to start!

(don't)Leave Me Alone
The first song establishes the same feel to it as Talkin' to Myself did - dark and expressive. It doesn't want you. It's telling you to get away while you still can. But at the same time, it wants you to stick around. For there's more to come.

Talkin' to Myself
And here we have Talkin' to Myself! I love this song.<3 Did I repeat myself? It's a nice progression from the previous song as comparatively, this sorta builds upon it and takes it to another level. The song sounds like it's berating itself for telling you to leave it alone.

Decision
This song then starts. At first, you might think it's gone soft and sorrowful. But then it proves you wrong with a rebellious rockish beat that begins shortly after. Then the song intersperses both, starting out dejected and hurt only to rise with firm resolve again and again. Ayumi's not backing down just yet, people!

Guilty
We have a nice beat going here. It starts sounding even darker and morose here - fitting the title of the song very well. You can hear the regret in her voice. Over what? A lost lover? People wronged? Past mistakes? The pathetic state of the current world?

I dunno. I don't understand Japanese and I've yet to read the translation for this one.^^;

Fated
Heard ittttt. Don't get me wrong. It's a decent song. Just not that great. This song sounds hopeful. For things to be better one day. Or maybe it's just resigned to fate and content with life however it goes. Because she knows it'll turn out well somehow in the end. Hopefully.

Together When...
Now this is a lovely first-class ballad. Sounds like it's reminiscing over sweet memories shared with a special someone. And wondering when they'll ever be together again.

Marionette -Prelude-
Prelude! It's like Ayu wants to end the first phase of the album but then as an afterthought, she puts on this musical box. It's really a sweet little melody.^^

Marionette
And then she gets inspired for this song. You really have to watch the PV to get a real feel for it! Very curious stuff going on here. Ayu's always had a penchant for songs that portray her as just a puppet, robot or image of some sort. There's quite a few actually...Evolution, Real Me, Alterna.. So this song continues the same theme. A very dramatic song at that!

The Judgement Day
Interlude! And finally we've come to the end of the first part of the album. Really, the tune here isn't as scary as the title makes it out to be. It does start off with some ominous clock chimes and organs, accompanied by Ayu doing her trademark 'lalala' thing in a morbid tone. But then it quickly grows brighter and more upbeat, till it nearly reminds you of Fairyland. And now you know what's coming.

Glitter
I hates this song.>_< I mean, on its own, it's a nice happy song - very different from the songs in the first part of the album. Only oh I dunno...IT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE! First Fairyland. Then BLUE BIRD. We really don't need another one, Ayu! XD I'm fine with you being bright and happy, but at least make it more original than all your previous songs.<_<

My All
Now this is slightly better in some ways. Still, the beat is pretty ho-hum and not very inspiring. It only picks up during the chorus, but even then it doesn't sound like Ayu's really giving her all here. Even Glitter sounds more persuasive. But I hate that song...<_<

reBIRTH
Another interlude? Weird...=/ I mean it IS a nice tune and all and does fit the title reBIRTH perfectly, sounding like you're observing the magical wonder of life itself. But still, I don't see what it's doing here...unless it's meant to bridge to the next and final song of the album.

Untitled ~For Her~
The title itself is curious. I'm guessing 'her' could be her mom. On the other hand, it could be referring to her own self. I read somewhere that Ayumi actually views herself as two aspects, one which is her personal self and the other which is her muse. Or something like that. That's why you see a lot of PVs where you see 2 different Ayumis.

In any case, this song sounds a lot like a tribute to whoever 'she' is. A nice way to wrap it up.^^

Overall
I love this album. X3 Even more than Secret. It's exactly what I wished for ~<3 (at least the first part) From what I can tell from the titles and feel of the songs, it sounds as though Ayumi is regretting over something, but will continue to strive ever harder towards the future, ever hopeful for the best.

Which bears resemblance to her message to her fans when she got deaf in her left ear:

Translation by HiruNoKaze:

My frank resolution for this year.

The truth is, last year, I had an ear check-up, my diagnosis being that my left ear has completely lost all function and that there is no treatment.

Even so, I want to keep being a singer.

That's why I'll keep singing as long as this remaining right ear works, to its limit.

I won't quit.

I won't make excuses.

As a professional, I will sing the best songs for you*.

I don't really like the word "ganbaru," but...

I will ganbaru**!!!!! At all costs!!!!!!!!!

Until that day, someday...

*Here she uses the word for "everyone," but I think it is better translated as "you." Also, the literal meaning is "I will definitely deliver the best songs to you." for reference.

**ganbaru means persevere or try hard, and it is a word very commonly used in Japanese. For example, as well as being used to mean "try hard," it is used in the same situations that "good luck" would be used in English.

Source: Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai

I'm probably wrong though and it could just be a coincidence.^^;

In any case GUILTY, a great album. I heard that it should be out here about now, so I'm definitely getting Rift to pick me up a copy! X3 You should get yourself one too!

Here's to more wonderful songs from Ayumi Hamasaki! =D