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Guilty (Limited Edition with DVD and Photobook) | 
| Creator: Ayumi Hamasaki
Label: Avex
Category: Music
List Price: $57.99
Buy New: $25.99
You Save: $32.00 (55%)
New (4) Used (1) from $25.99
Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 166224
Format: Import, Limited Edition
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 5.7 x 5.2 x 1
EAN: 4988064235032
ASIN: B000YEX91O
Release Date: January 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Korean Ltd Edition Coming with Bonus DVD (Region Code:3, Only Viewable on Code-Free Players) Brand New. Ships Within 24 Hours From Korea. Generally takes 7-15 days to Arrive. UNLIKE other Import Traders, We Only List What We REALLY Have in Stock, Which Means Overall Transaction Can Be As Fast As Domestic One (Sometimes Even Faster!) because There Will be NO Backorder At All. We NEVER Sell Illegal Bootlegs from China.
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Album Description
Japanese full-length release from Ayumi Hamasaki. Comes with single tracks, 'Glitter', 'Talkin'2myself' & more! Comes with photo book & a bonus DVD. Avex. 2008.
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| Customer Reviews:
You got to give some respect to the J-pop queen January 8, 2008
A. Cohen (Maryland, USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
For her ninth studio album, Ayumi certainly chose to stray away from the material on her more recent albums (My Story, (miss)understood, and Secret). Some of the fan reception of this album has been very mixed and it's obvious to see why.
First of all, ignoring all the interludes and singles that have been put into GUILTY, there are only five brand new full-length tracks. Next, while (miss)understood legitimately displayed Ayumi's versatility with each song and Secret showcased some great power ballads, GUILTY strays from her usual album release. The lyrics have a heavier and more personal feel to them (excluding glitter, the summer single), which confirm her previous announcement that she is beginning a new chapter in her life. It's clear that to some extent, Ayumi literally presents some guilt on her mind with this accurately-titled album.
As always, the vocals are pleasant and the lyrics and poignant. Tracks to reconsider include "fated," "talkin' 2 myself," "Together When...," "Mirror," "MY ALL," and "untitled ~for her~." This isn't to say the rest of the album isn't worthwhile. The new direction that Ayumi has chosen for herself is more reflective, deep, and more esoteric than any previous release. It's a great album regardless of the potential to shrink a vast fanbase. With multiple listens, the meanings that Ayumi imbibes into her songs transcend any language barrier. What she feels, you feel. And I don't mind feeling GUILTY.
Powerful and effective. January 20, 2008
mcsidious (Kitsap County, WA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Ayumi Hamasaki is unusual for a J-pop performer. For someone who spent the better part of the last eight years creating horrifying fashion trends among Japanese women and pretty much single-handedly quadrupling the size of the hair-dye industry there, she resists trends in the music industry and frequently goes in her own direction with each album.
I keep wondering when Ayu's going to run out of steam since she's now deaf in one ear and is damaging her voice by smoking, but somehow she (and her immensely talented band, give them credit) has assembled her best album since "Duty."
This album is predominantly a rock album and features little of the pop theme seen in songs such as "BLUE BIRD" (the ones that sound more like anime theme songs).
The theme is instead much more along the lines of the gritty "Ourselves" and "Because of You" (from "Memorial Address"). "Mirror," "(don't) Leave Me Alone," "decision," and "GUILTY" are the best of these, though the slightly more upbeat "MY ALL" joins them as one of the best songs on the album. All are pulse-pounding, dramatic, and powerful, especially when Ayu uses the come-hither voice she used so effectively in the title track on "Duty." In fact, while it's often pointed out that Ayu's voice is inferior to competitors such as Utada Hikaru (it is) or that she hits a brick wall on high notes (she does), she sings "MY ALL" just about perfectly - for all of her faults, when Ayu is at her best, nobody comes close to her.
In seeking to distance herself from her recent albums and (perhaps) finally abdicating the J-pop throne in favor of her imitators, Ayu might just put together more albums with GUILTY's level of awesomeness. Even if she doesn't sell as well with the hair dye crowd in the future, I'll still be willing to fork over the 3000 yen.
Nobody does J-pop better than Ayumi Hamasaki.
Consistancy January 15, 2008
Samario C. Oliver (VA)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
That's all I can really say about how Ayumi does what she does best.
CD
1.Mirror:A good intro that gets better and better but man, just like other intros end just when it's about to reach it's peak. 9/10
2.(don't) Leave me alone:I thought this was gonna be a calm song, but man it blows up with a excellent hype rock pop track, and I love the hook to this track. 10/10
3.Talkin' to myself:I didn't know how Ayumi was gonna do after breaking up with her boyfriend after 7 years, but after this track it gave me a sense of how strong her maturity of moving on is. It had a edge, and the song feels like the spark that Soon started a fire in her later in the year. So this track showed me a great promise after the dissapointing fated. 10/10 2nd favoirte
4.Decision:This track has the electricity of "game" and the consistancy of "is this love". Love the track and it's hard hitting hook. 10/10
5.Guilty:I love how even more deeper and darker this is compared to a favorite track "Criminal" Altho I wish the hook was a bit more edged, this song definitly gives that death sentence feeling. 9/10
6.Fated:After Glitter, I herd this. Her emotion level wasn't strong on par as the video. It gave a dissapointing average feel, at this point I didn't feel to great. 6/10
7.Together When:A sweet calm ballad. I love the calm smooth part before the nice hitting hook which brings the song a little up tempo for the better. 9/10
8.Marionette -prelude-:I love the music box style interlude in this track. Gives a feel of halloweenis christmas. 10/10
9:Marionette:Aw man this in my mind without question is Ayu's best rock ballad. Better than Game, About you About you, Alterna, (Miss)Understood, yea. It's got a dark feel, but the hook just feels so well formulated with the rest of the excellent song, and Ayu being the main drive behind it. 10/10 3rd favorite
10.The Judgement Day:I love how it feels like your going into judgement, and then the tone lightens up as if you made it to heaven. Love it. 10/10
11.Glitter:And no this track has no affiliation with Marriah Carrey. Ayu over the last well, every CD has had a good summer song, and this one is no exception. A splash of a lively beat, and Ayu's emotions going through it like adreniline in the heart. 10/10
12.My All:Ah for the first time since My Story my favorite track is not a single. I love how this one has a uplifting punch in the hook like momentum, And Ayu bringing the supercharged emotion and then some. 10/10 Favorite track
13.reBIRTH:In many ways by listening to this CD, it does feel like a rebirth album for Ayu, since it was one emotional shiftcanging year, yet she still remians herself, just adding an edge that has tons of attitude. Oh, and the interlude is beautiful. 10/10
14.Untitled -for her-:When I read the book, obviously someone close to her is off in a better place. Altho I got used to the intensity on tis album, her emotions in this dedication track is definitly a great way to close this CD out. 9/10
DVD
1.Distance Love-(Glitter-Fated) Tell you what, I ain't used to seeing Ayu make short films(Voyage didn't work out too well for me) The fact that this drowned out what I thought Glitter could be, and fated well, it just dissapointed me. If she wants to do a movie do it, this just don't reach me. 3/10
2.Talkin' to myself:A destroyed world, sounds like a revolution to me, but this was a revolution for an artist with a emotional year, but man this video had a serious edge, a side of Ayumi that I was glad to see. 10/10 2nd favorite
3:Decision:Ayu and her crew on a stage with no audience. Don't matter. The video is just full of energy, with her chours piano players and that dude on the guitar who just killer on it, and is almost the show stealer. Man I love the excitment of this video. It's like carols with the energy of evolution. 10/10 3rd favorite
4.Together when...:I loved this video. The puppetmaster feel to the man and Ayu in a alternate world, andthe video is a bit strange, but man it does prove to serve justice to the title and song. 10/10
5.Marionette:Aw man Ayumi pulling a Tim Burton in this one. But man for the rock ballad, it is just perfect and I mean a perfect video for the track, at first I was freaked out, but as it went on, it settled in as the best video in my mind. 10/10 favorite video
6.(Dont) Leave me alone:This video got atye and additude in it. A dance track with flavor and spice in it which suits the perfect rock ballad style of the track. 10/10
Making of clips:
1.Distance love(Glitter):Man I dunno what to say about it, only there are interviews with the chinese peps involved. 4/10
2.Distance love(fated):Deja vu 3/10
3.Talkin' to myself:Interesting how they show the dance moves with a choreogepher, and the procedures it took to make the great video, and funny pics. 9/10 3rd favorite
4.Decision:Well straightforward stuff, just baisicly them rehersing in normal life since most of it is just like a stage performance. 5/10
5.Together When:Mostly not much, but it was funny how Ayu and the frenchman tried to communicate. 8/10
6.Marionette:I liked this one because it had some outakes I wouldn't mind seeing again. Esoecially one of her dancers acting like a vampire after a cut. 10/10 favorite making of clip
7(Don't) Leave me alone: Great how it shows her walking through the backround, and the excellent dance moves wit the help of a choreogerpher. 10/10. 2nd favoite.
Man it's been a rough year for my favorite artist. Going to Hong Kong for major promotions(Hope she comes to the U.S. one day), end of a 7 year relationship, losing a good friend, and loosing all hearing in her left ear. Man, the ear is a current problem, but for her to rise up and inspire not only herseft but her millions of listeners is just amazing. Year after year after year she puts in more effort than any other artist I like and know. To change up her style for the better in the middle of the year, and to still remain on her consistant bases is a real joy to behold as a serous fan of this talanted artist.
If you love Ayu j-pop or j-rock, get this! The thing I love about Ayu is she's never trying to be anyone else, and she never took a night off if she felt like she could go on regaurdless. She's determened to be the Ayu me and many other fans known for the last 10 years. She never changed up her sound to sound like anyone else, and she has reigned as Queen of J-pop because of that, and like every great embassedor for they do, she's made a name for herself and has become a international Icon. What Michael Jordan is for Basketball, Stephen King is for Horror tales, What Tom Hankes is for basketball, Ayu is for J-pop. I'm serious 10 years from now if an artist should be put within the top 10 icons of modern entertainment, she WILL be in it.
peace
All is blessed. BIGZ
Fabulous album! May 31, 2008
Weather Warden <3 (Auckland, NZ)
I am a new devotee to J-pop, I only recently got into this great genre of music. But I know for sure Ayumi Hamasaki is one of my favourite J-pop singers and one of my favourite singers in general.
Her music is just magical, I like every song I've heard by her to date (I'm working my way through getting her whole discography) and I love quite a lot of them.
GUILTY was the first album I heard by Ayu, and I liked what I heard. This is a very strong album and after hearing some of her other material, I can say that it's some of her best material.
The album opens with "Mirror" - a short 1:58 track to introduce us to the CD. Is is just me or does the opening of this song sound exactly like dialup internet connecting? My computer makes the same noises when it connects. But anyway, this is a catchy, fast paced upbeat opening - that starts off a bit slower, but around 50 seconds in kicks into a rocking number. Too bad it ends so fast, because as a longer track (Ayu's new single "Mirrorcle World" extends on it), it would be awesome.
The first full length song of the album, "(don't)Leave me alone" follows, and boy what a way to begin! This song is great! Very rocky, with a great running guitar line and great crashing drums throughout. This took awhile to grow on me, I thought it was unremarkable the first time but I LOVE it now. The chorus is really catchy and the music is just amazing.
Next up is "talkin' 2 myself" and to be honest, this is my personal absolute favourite Ayu song. From the first moment it started, I knew this was going to be an AMAZING song. And it truly is. Even more rocky then the last song, this song is just epic. With an incredibly catchy hook, in the middle ("genjitsu wa itsudatte itazura ni boku tachi wo furimawasu"), even though I don't know a word of Japanese, I can still sing along to this one. I love the smashing guitars and the whole feel of the song. You don't even notice the length (4:53) because the whole song is so good. I also love the vocoded bit nearer the end.
"decision" follows as track 4, it's deceiving because you think it's going to be a ballad but then it kicks into a rather rocky song. It changes pace throughout the song and I feel this helps the song from getting too boring. Another catchy one, this can't live up to the brilliance of the last track, but it's still a good song.
The title track, "GUILTY" is up next and man this is another absolutely awesome song. This one is rather eerie while also keeping that rock feel. The music in itself is both eerie and fierce - the piano and guitar work well together. Ayu sings this song really well and I love the end bit with the voice saying "guilty" - it sounds so cool. I'm glad to see a title track that lives up to the hype. Brilliant track.
"fated" follows, this one is 5:33. Another rock ballad, this is similar to "decision" but is different. This one is slower in pace, but keeps the guitar and drums. This one also has a sadder feel to it. But again it suffers from following after an awesome track.
"Together When..." is track 7 and is the first full blown ballad of the album. It's a lot softer then the previous tracks but is still powerful. However I don't like this one so much - it's a good song but compared to the rest of the album, it's not as brilliant. I love the way Ayu sings though.
"Marionette -prelude-" is next, and even though most of the time I can't stand interludes in albums, this one REALLY works and leads well into the next track. I find this 1:13 track incredibly creepy and eerie. It really reminds me of those music boxes, and I love all the noises in the background like the clock. Very well done.
The song "Marionette" itself follows, and I think this is the best slower song on the album and my second favourite. This song starts off sad and slow with Ayu singing soft, but when it gets to the chorus it kicks into a full blown rock ballad. Ayu is one of the only female singers I can think of who can pull off a rock ballad effectively. This song is proof - this is just a stunning song with great vocals from Ayu and fabulous music. This is a definite listen to and one of the high points of the CD.
The mostly instrumental track "The Judgement Day" is next and while this song has hardly any vocals, apart from some adlibbing, there is something very cool about it. With loads of cool sound effects during it, and Ayu's occasional vocals, this is a really unique, interesting track that kicks into a more dancey beat towards the end.
"glitter" is next, and this one is the most poppy songs on the album, but is also quite dancey. This is definitely the least rock song we've heard so far. This whole song retains the energetic, upbeat feel of the opening and I love the chorus and the way Ayu sings it. The music is also really cool about halfway through.
"MY ALL" is next and has one of the best guitar runs of the album - the moment it starts you know it's going to be a catchy song. It's easy to sing along to and Ayu sounds great. But the main bit of this song for me is the music and the way the vocals in the chorus blends with it. You can tell this song is positive and sunny and it shows. A great song.
"reBiRTH" is track 13, and it's a short little instrumental track, another prelude of sorts. But it's incredibly gorgeous with an amazing piano run during it. There's not much to it, but it's beautiful.
"untitled ~for her~" ends the album, and this is definitely the biggest ballad of the album. I like this one better then "Together When...". I find this one really beautiful and Ayu sounds gorgeous on this one. Although it would have been better to end with a fast track, this is still a great song.
Highlights:
talkin' 2 myself
Marionette (+ it's prelude)
GUILTY
(don't)Leave me alone
MY ALL
Mirror
Overall, this is a particuarly strong album with no bad songs. There's some songs that aren't as good as others, but all the songs are good. The higlights are among my favourite Ayu songs (especially "talkin' 2 myself" and "Marionette" - they're two of my fave Ayu songs alongside "Beautiful Fighters," "rainy day" and "kiss o' kill" from her previous albums). An excellent effort and Ayu, YOU ROCK!
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