Ayumi Hamasaki is one of those rare artists that combines raw talent with that certain look and stage presence that just drives everyone wild, and for good reason. She just has it, that overall star quality, that is easy to appreciate whether you understand Japanese or not.
As far as I know, all of the lyrics are written by Ayumi herself, and most every song she's put out over the years has been (initially) produced by the ultra-talented Max Matsuura.
Her music - evenly split between ballads and dancy tracks - is invariably satisfying. In fact, [LOVEppears], her second real album that came out in November 1999, is by far one of the best records I have in my collection.
Since Japanese albums usually are constructed of singles that become hits long before they are collected, it was a foregone conclusion that this record would be a winner - tracks such as [Boys & Girls], [Fly High], [Trauma], [TO BE] and [appears] are satisfying in their own right, but in one package... (which happens to also include a bonus cd including videos)... let's just say you really can't go wrong.
[A Song For XX], her first album, is more subdued and ballad-heavy, but also a great purchase. I'm not terribly partial to the innundation of remix-collections that go over big in Japan these days, but if you like such things, Ayu (her most common nickname) offers them in spades.
Ayu's newest release (not counting the incessant remixes) is [Duty], which includes hit singles from 2000 like [Vogue] and [Seasons], along with solid new songs which have taken a strong leap forward in production since [LOVEppears]. If you like Japanese Pop dancy ballads at all, I strongly advise that you check out this album. Or, you can try out [A Best], the best of collection that packs quite the punch, particularly for newcomers.
It goes without saying that I'm totally obsessed with Ayumi Hamasaki, and am looking forward to exploring more of what this talented and beautiful woman has to offer. If you want to find out more about her (and the internet is crawling with info as of late), the links to the right would be a good place to start.
ayumi hamasaki
Ayumi Hamasaki: Lyrics, Vocals
Ayumi has released scores of singles, albums, mixes, and the like - more than I've kept up with on this page since 2000, even though I have most of them. I'll update things here as soon as I find a few free hours.
Just know that her newer albums, [MY STORY] and [(miss)understood], are on the whole better than [I Am...] or [Rainbow], and that most singles that have come out in the past few years have had a special edition with Promotional Video DVDs. Much fun, those.
As a teaser, here's a review from the end of 2004, from my junk.log:
New Album Released 12.15.2004
For the past 5 years, I've been a fairly large fan of Ayumi Hamasaki. I thought her second album, [LOVEppears] was bolt from the blue brilliant, and [Duty], the follow up, was almost as special. I cared less for the next three albums, and was bored enough with them and innumerable singles and remixes, that I haven't even included them in my small HTML shrine to her. No matter - now she's finally vindicated by [MY STORY], out in time to get 2005 started right.
Produced by Max Matsuura (as always), yet more lively due in part to all of the collaborators, [MY STORY] (released 12.15.04) is not just a 17 song collection of singles and new tracks, but actually seems to cohere more than her recent efforts. Out of the trancy phase, now there are ample rock guitars to go along with the ballads, and while I was non-plussed the first time through, subsequent listens have provided much enjoyment.
Tru Ayu fans already purchased the limited CD+DVD package, which comes with one of 4 covers, a heaping handful of 7 Promotional Videos, along with 4 making of mini-docs. All of that for only about 900 yen more - it's a done deal with tons of fan service.
In short, while Ayumi Hamasaki is more marketed than perhaps even Morning Musume and Hello Project, I'm still finding something of worth in her efforts. There's no way any normal person can buy all of her output, but those new to the party should grab her first few albums or this latest release for a solid start.
[I am...]
AVCD-17037
1.1.2002
Nothing more needs to be said. I will buy this (non-remix!) album as soon as possible, and report what I think here in early January. Contest, anyone?
Track Listing for [I am...]
1. I am... [Real Audio]
2. opening Run
3. Connected
4. UNITE!
5. evolution
6. Naturally
7. NEVER EVER
8. still alone
9. Daybreak [Real Audio]
10. taskinlube
11. M
12. A Song is born
13. Dearest
14. no more words
15. Endless sorrow
JM = Junk Magnet has this
1st Album:
[A Song For XX] JM
AVCD-11691
1.1.1999
2nd Album (2CDs):
[Ayu-Mi-X] (Remixes)
AVCD-11716
3rd Album:
[LOVEppears] JM
AVCD-11740
11.10.1999
4th Album:
[Ayu-Mi-X II version US+EU] (Remixes)
AVCD-11797
5th Album:
[Ayu-Mi-X II version JPN] (Remixes)
AVCD-11798
6th Album:
[Ayu-Mi-X II version Acoustic Orchestra] (Remixes)
AVCD-11799
7th Album (2CDs):
[Ayu-Mi-X II version Non-Stop Mega Mix] (Remixes)
AVCD-11800-1
8th Album:
[Duty] JM
AVCD-11837
9.27.2000
9th Album:
[Ayu-Mi-X III Acoustic Orchestra Version] (Remixes)
AVCD-11928
10th Album:
[Ayu-Mi-X III Non-Stop Mega Mix Version] (Remixes)
AVCD-11930
11th Album (Best Of):
[A Best] JM
AVCD-11950
12th Album:
[SUPER EUROBEAT presents ayu-ro mix 2] (Remixes)
AVCD-17027
9.27.2001
13th Album:
[Cyber TRANCE presents ayu Trance] (Remixes)
AVCD-17028
9.27.2001
14th Album:
[I am...]
AVCD-17037
1.1.2002
1st Single:
[Poker Face]
AVDD-20228
2nd Single:
[You]
AVDD-20239
3rd Single:
[Trust]
AVDD-20248
4th Single:
[For My Dear...]
AVDD-20267
5th Single:
[Depend On You]
AVDD-20278
6th Single:
[Whatever]
AVDD-20291
7th Single:
[LOVE ~Destiny~ / LOVE ~since1999~]
AVDD-20309
8th Single:
[To Be]
AVDD-20316
9th Single:
[Boys and Girls]
AVCD-30049
10th Single:
[A]
AVCD-30050
11th Single:
[Appears]
AVCD-30064
12th Single:
[Kanariya]
AVCD-30067
13th Single:
[Fly High]
AVCD-30066
14th Single:
[Vogue]
AVCD-30108
15th Single:
[Far Away]
AVCD-30118
16th Single:
[Seasons]
AVCD-30119
17th Single:
[Surreal]
AVCD-30175
18th Single:
[Audience]
AVCD-30184
19th Single:
[M]
AVCD-30197
20th Single:
[Evolution]
AVCD-30203
21st Single:
[Poker Face] (Reissue in CD5)
AVCD-30211
22nd Single:
[You] (Reissue in CD5)
AVCD-30212
23rd Single:
[Trust] (Reissue in CD5)
AVCD-30213
24th Single:
[For My Dear] (Reissue in CD5)
AVCD-30214
25th Single:
[Depend On You] (Reissue in CD5)
AVCD-30215
26th Single:
[Whatever] (Reissue in CD5)
AVCD-30216
27th Single:
[LOVE ~Destiny~] (Reissue in CD5)
AVCD-30217
28th Single:
[TO BE] (Reissue in CD5)
AVCD-30218
29th Single:
[Never Ever]
AVCD-30231
30th Single:
[Endless Sorrow]
AVCD-30254
31st Single:
[UNITE!]
AVCD-30275
32nd Single:
[Dearest]
AVCD-30294
If you have a source for the release dates of the above albums/singles, please let me know.
The rest of her discography will be posted once I find the time, but check out her official site until then.
ayumi hamasaki
6.1.2006
Avex Page [J]
Official Home Page
Avex Ayu Data [J]
Very Useful
Toy Box [J]
Great Resource
Ayu Link [J/E]
Many Useful Links
Ayu Yuni [J]
Great Fan Site
Ayu-Mi-Llenium [E]
For English Readers
Addicted to Ayumi [E]
For English Readers
Ayumi-Hamasaki.org [E]
For English Readers
Love Destiny [E]
Fan Site
Ayu Site [J]
Great Fan Site
Ayumi World!!! [J]
Great Fan Site
A For All [J]
Good Fan Site
A For You [J]
Updated Often
Ayumi Hamasaki [J]
Great Fan Site
weblog:
[junk.log]
[complete index]
search:
message board:
[jm:messages]
newsletter:
junk magnet
po box 11501
berkeley, ca
94712-2501
[e-mail me]
