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Let's start with this album. Duty was Hamasaki's third studio album, and her best-selling studio album. Released in 2000, it was a departure from her previous work, and remains as one of the best albums ever created.
starting over: it just couldn't start better. An opening which mixes electronic beats, ayu's vocals and gives an accurate feeling about what the album is about
Duty: the title track is just a masterpiece. It starts with guitars, violins and choirs. It has something specials, as long as you listen to it you percieve despair, even anger, loneliness. "I saw the end of an era", certainly it reflects how Ayu was thinking about ending her own career.
9,5/10
vogue: sudden change, at least in music. It certainly sounds very asian, it also sounds very girlish and even cute. The lyrics, on the other hand, deal with feelings such as having to enjoy before we grow older and so. It's melody is beautifully composed, really haunting.
9/10
End of the World: probably the rock sister of "Duty". And probably ayu's first pure "rock" song. Its deffinetly a new Ayu here, she is discovering new types of music and sounds. This is probably the precursor of Because of You, decision, Heartplace and so many others. The lyric are just beyond epic, and deal with different human feelings with 100% honesty
9/10
SCAR: time for some ballads. It also has those "technology" influences in the beginning like "starting over". Ayu's voice really sounds amazing here, a good example of how her voice was improving at the time.
7/10
Far away: the second single of the album, probably ayu's most experimental summer song ever. We can't consider it upbeat, even if it is more upbeat than her ballads. The melody has the same "apocalyptic" feeling (similar to Duty, SCAR or End of the World). The lyrics are just beautiful. It was a risky choice, but the result was impressive
8,75/10
SURREAL: BEST ****ING SONG EVER CREATED. Enough said.
100000000000/10
AUDIENCE: It was, also for the first time, ayu saying "thank you" to the fans trough the music. It is funny when she performs, but meh comoared to other similar songs
5,75/10
SEASONS: One of Ayu's classics, well-known among japanese people. An amazingly beautiful ballad. The lyrics deal with how we realize that everything is not funny when we grow up. Just amazing
9,75/10
teddy bear: Ayu's father left her when she was just a kid. And she wrote this song about him, about how he left her a teddy bear and left forever. It is simple, just the oiano and her voice. But at the same time is haunting, sad and beautiful. Just pure perfection
9,25/10
Key~eternal tie~: acoustic guitar-driven ballad, it somehow feels so nostalgic everytime I play it. I kinda miss this time, and Key is just so "Duty" for me
9/10
girlish: the most amazing thing about this song is that I know that Ayu will never ever do something like this. Funny, almost live, with the band, lovely
9,25/10
Conclusion: the melodies, the lyrics, the arrangements, everything slays in this album. Ayu's best album by far, pure Jpop perfection, and the first time Ayu tries some new styles which would later become her signature
9,5/10
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