Ayumi Hamasaki – FIVE (Mini-Album)

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Ayumi Hamasaki, Ayumi Hamasaki - FIVE (Mini-Album), FIVE, Jpop, music, Musica

FIVE was Ayumi Hamasaki’s 2nd mini-album. It was released on August 31, 2011 and debuted at no. 1 on the Oricon Weekly Charts with 127,024 copies sold. In all this mini-album has sold over 213,495 copies. It was released in three editions : a CD+DVD edition, a CD-Only edition, and a limited CD-Only edition containing an access card to download a character costume for the PS3 game Tales of Xillia. First pressings of the CD+DVD edition included a serial number to access a special website broadcasting the making-of movie of “ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2010-2011 A ~do it again~” in streaming. This is Hamasaki first album not to have any singles. The song “progress” was used as the theme song of Tales of Xillia. This is her 18th overall album to debut in #1 position at Oricon charts. FIVE is also her first album to top the Oricon charts for two consecutive weeks since (miss)understood released in 2006. A Blu-ray (BDM) version containing all five tracks, videos clips and as well the making clips was released on November 9th.

Tracklist:

1. progress
2. ANother song feat. URATA NAOYA
3. Why… feat. JUNO
4. beloved
5. BRILLANTE
6. Why… feat. URATA NAOYA (CD+DVD hidden track)
7. beloved (Orchestra version) (CD-Only bonus track)

Overall Rating

5 stars

A wonderful mini-album that has made me remember why I listened to Ayu all those years ago.

Ayumi Hamasaki – Party Queen (Album)

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Ayumi Hamasaki, Ayumi Hamasaki - Party Queen (Album), Jpop, music, Musica

Party queen is the 13th album by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki, released through iTunes on March 14, 2012 and a planned physical release on March 21, 2012. The album was preceeded by only one promotional single, how beautiful you are. The album was released in 5 versions: a CD-only version, a CD+DVD version, a CD+2DVD version containing her latest Countdown Live show, a SPECIAL LIMITED BOX SET containing the “ayumi hamasaki ~POWER of MUSIC~ 2011 A LIMITED EDITION” tour and a Blue-ray edition. The album charted at #2 on the weekly Oricon chart, her second album to do so, since GUILTY back in 2008. It was unable to sell more than 100,000 copies in it’s first week.

Tracklist:

1. Party queen
2. NaNaNa
3. Shake It♥
4. taskebab
5. call
6. Letter
7. reminds me
8. Return Road
9. Tell me why
10. a cup of tea
11. the next LOVE
12. Eyes, Smoke, Magic
13. Serenade in A Minor
14. how beautiful you are

Overall Rating

4½ stars

Ayumi Hamasaki – A Summer Best (Album)

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Ayumi Hamasaki, Ayumi Hamasaki - A Summer Best (Album), Hamasaki Ayumi, Jpop, music, Musica, 浜崎あゆみ

A SUMMER BEST is the sixth compilation album released by Hamasaki Ayumi. It contains a selection of her summer songs as well as a new song, “You & Me”. The DVD contains a-nation lives, exclusive videos and the new song’s music video. The compilation album is certified Gold for shipment of 100,000 copies.

Tracklist:

~DISC-N Tracklist~
1. BLUE BIRD
2. July 1st
3. glitter
4. Greatful Days
5. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~
6. independent
7. BOYS & GIRLS
8. evolution
9. INSPIRE
10. UNITE!
11. AUDIENCE
12. NEXT LEVEL
13. Happening Here (original: TRF)

~DISC-A Tracklist~
1. HANABI
2. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~
3. monochrome
4. fairyland
5. fated
6. HANABI ~episode II~
7. SEASONS
8. theme of a-nation ’03
9. blossom
10. MOON
11. ANother Song feat. URATA NAOYA
12. Far away
13. You & Me

Overall Rating

4½ stars

Ayumi Hamasaki – A Classical (Album)

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Ayumi Hamasaki, Ayumi Hamasaki – A Classical (Album), Classical, Hamasaki Ayumi, Jpop, music, Musica

A Classical is the second classical album and 25th remix album overall by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki, released on January 8, 2013. It is the third release of the special 5 consecutive months releases event to commemorate her 15th anniversary. The album debuted at #1 on the Oricon Charts and has sold 33,017 copies to date.

In November 2012, the members of Hamasaki Ayumi’s official fanclub, TeamAyu, were asked to choose their favorite songs from any release (including singles, digital singles, albums, mini albums, remix albums and best albums). It was later announced that the chosen tracks would be remixed in A Classical. All the songs was recorded live and the cover was desing by Mr Uki.

Tracklist:

1. M
2. Love song
3. SEASONS
4. You & Me
5. BLUE BIRD
6. Days
7. Voyage
8. Song 4 u
9. Missing
10. Dearest

OVERALL RATING

5 stars

In the end, this A Classical is really worth it and I would definitely give it a try if I were you. Classical music is not my favorite genre, on the contrary even, but Ayu makes it more accessible for people like me who are more used to her usual sound (and pop music in general). The songs are very popular, you probably know them all, so the recognition of those songs and the realisation of the things that have changed in the arrangements is an experience on its own.

Ayumi Hamasaki – LOVE (Mini-Album)

Tags

Ayumi Hamasaki, Ayumi Hamasaki – LOVE (Mini-Album), Jpop, LOVE, music, Musica

LOVE is Hamasaki Ayumi’s third mini-album (4th overall). It was released in three editions : a CD+DVD edition, a CD-Only edition, and a CD-Only “Tales” edition containing a special code to download bonus contents in the PS3 game Tales of Xillia 2. The song “Song 4 u” was used as the theme song of Tales of Xillia 2. It is also the first release of the special 5 consecutive months releases event to commemorate her 15th anniversary.

Tracklist:

1. Song 4 u (Original mix)
2. Missing (Original mix)
3. Melody (Original mix)
4. Song 4 u (Orchestra version)
5. You & Me (SHINICHI OSAWA remix)
6. You & Me (Remo-con rmx – Extended)
7. Missing (Dubscribe remix)
8. Melody (BROKEN HAZE remix)
9. Song 4 u (Original mix -Instrumental-)
10. Missing (Original mix -Instrumental-)
11. Melody (Original mix -Instrumental-)
12. You & Me (Original mix -Instrumental-)

OVERALL RATING

5 stars