Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai - View Single Post - Thoughts on GUILTY
View Single Post
  #109  
Old 23rd December 2007, 08:31 AM
namiie's Avatar
namiie namiie is offline
Endless sorrow Initiate
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: California
Posts: 1,881
I'm just going to comment on the album-only tracks.

Mirror: Fresh! I like how she manages to make the sound of a modem dialing seem cool, haha. Not quite up there with "Not yet", but decent all the same.

(don't) Leave Me Alone: Amazing. The video for it may be a bit generic, but the song in itself has a great arrangement and the chorus is good. Ayu's voice sounds good and even though some guitar riffs sound like "1 LOVE", essentially, it's a strong track and I enjoy it greatly. #2 album track for me, after Marionette.

GUILTY: What a let-down. It is so unoriginal it hurts. =\ It's sad that Ayu chose this to be the title track because, franky, it's quite lackluster. Maybe it'll grow on me, but for now, not so good.

Marionette -Prelude-: Creepy. Chilling. That's really all I can say. It's definitely thought-provoking and segues into the actual song nicely.

Marionette: BEAUTIFUL. Ayu's voice flows so beautifully and the combination of strings and percussion in the background just shines. It is reminiscent of "Pride" in that I get this dark sort of feeling from it; it's like I can almost see the feelings pouring forth. Her vocals are definitely the best part of this song; the end of the chorus leading into the quiet strings at the beginning of the next verse, accompanied by the pounding guitar, makes for a very original touch. The only beef I have is that Ayu should not have "woah woah woah"-ed during the guitar instrumental. Otherwise, I think it's the best album track.

The Judgement Day: This song confused me the first time I listened to it. I think the transitions are a little choppy and that the organ doesn't belong. It's decent, but not her best interlude.

My All: Wait. "Replace" flashback fosho! It also reminds me a little of her older, "A Song for XX" days. Doesn't make it bad though. At times I miss poppy Ayu! I love how her voice is so on-par with the fun beats in the back. Even though it sounds happy, I still get a few melancholic feelings from this song. The first part of the chorus sounds like old-school Chinese/Vietnamese karaoke, but overall I think Ayu makes it her own with the lyrics and voice. The background beats are a throwback to "momentum", which is great because it's like a little tie-in to the previous album Those "la la la"'s at the end need to go though.

reBiRTH: Oh geez, another interlude? I'm starting to think Ayu is lacking material. I love the feel of this song, though...I would've been satisfied if she turned it into another "Catcher in the Light" or "Not yet", but oh well.

untitled~for her~: Lovely. I think it sounds really Christmas-y for some reason....Ayu's voice is just killer in this album, because this song is very pleasing to listen to. The background vocalizing and the strings in the intermission are heavenly!
__________________


★★ BIG BANG: Japanese expansion, June 2009! ★★

♫ w-inds x G - D R A G O N: "Rain is Falling" out now!

Reply With Quote