Review: Ayumi Hamasaki, Secret

In many ways, Ayumi Hamasaki's eighth studio album Secret plays like a sequel to her 2006 effort (miss)understood. It operates within the genres of pop and rock, with a sprinkling of ballads thrown in for good measure. This particular album was an important one for Hamasaki. She was expanding further into the Asian market and Secret acted as the touchstone for what she wanted to present to her international fans. With messages of unity, empowerment and personal growth, Secret is an immaculate album that serves as a showcase for Hamasaki’s unique talents.

The Empress of J-Pop puts on her rockstar crown for the first section of the album. “until that DAY…” is a satisfying rock cut that sees Hamasaki channelling the Rolling Stones. It is an arena ready composition with a singular stuttering guitar boosted by electronic sounds. “1 LOVE” is sexy and fierce. A major standout on the album, Hamasaki’s vocals are rife with attitude and are only enhanced by the electric guitar-led arrangement. The single “Startin’” is a unique addition to the album. It blends rock elements with hip-hop. It features an underlying scratching rhythm and has a vaguely danceable chorus. The album’s best rock offering, however, comes near the end. “kiss o’ kill” is an ambitious song that utilizes a gothic organ as part of its arrangement. Reminiscent of the work found on Memorial Address, “kiss o’ kill” is dark and imposing, showing a much different side to the pint-size pop star. Despite the abundance of rock songs on the album, there quite a few feel-good songs as well. With “Beautiful Fighters,” Hamasaki crafts another inspiring tune about female empowerment. The track features elements borrowed from marching bands, namely whistling and cheering, making it upbeat and uplifting. It is incredibly catchy and is arguably one of her most underrated songs to date. Equally as cheerful is “Born To Be…” It plays like a theme song for the Olympics with its over-the-top arrangement. It is celebratory and serves as a joyful anthem on the record. The fan-favourite “BLUE BIRD” is another delightful cut. Its airy arrangement and summery appeal makes it effortless and timeless. Hamasaki should also be commended for her restraint on Secret. On previous albums, she had a tendency to indulge on ballads. This time around, there are only a couple of downtempo tracks. “JEWEL” is a beautiful and elegant piano ballad. Despite the wintry sound of the song, Hamasaki’s vocals are warm and inviting. The song is simple but effective. Likewise, the titular track “Secret” is controlled to a mostly acoustic arrangement. It is whimsical and graceful. This is enhanced further by her full, evocative vocals. It is a flawless way to conclude the album.

Secret continues to be one of Ayumi Hamasaki’s most fascinating albums to date. While some would say it sticks to a familiar formula for the J-pop superstar, it is remarkable for its simplicity and structure. It provides a sampling of everything she is capable of in one collection. Secret lacks filler and features some of the most interesting songs in her illustrious career. This is a must-have for fans of J-pop!

Recommended Listening: “until that Day…,” “1 LOVE,” “JEWEL,” “Beautiful Fighters,” “BLUE BIRD,” “kiss o’ kill,” “Secret

Grade: A-

Review: Ayumi Hamasaki, (miss)understood

In January of 2006, Ayumi Hamasaki released her seventh studio album (miss)understood. The album proved to be another #1 smash for the pint-size Japanese pop star as it topped the Oricon charts for two weeks in a row. Recorded in Tokyo and New York, (miss)understood features Hamasaki's trademark rock sound and pairs it with a more contemporary pop aesthetic. Though known for her originality and tight creative control, Hamasaki utilized demos from the group Sweetbox as the basis for six tracks on the album. With a strong focus on female empowerment, (miss)understood is yet another solid and cohesive collection by the Empress of J-Pop.

On her previous studio effort MY STORY, Hamasaki fashioned herself as a rock goddess. The influence of this can still be felt on (miss)understood. "alterna" has a halting rock composition with underlying electronic arrangements, while "criminal" pairs Hamasaki's breathy vocals with a lamenting piano melody that gives way into scratching guitars and pounding drums. "is this LOVE?" takes a similar approach. Its verses are vulnerable and softly sung while the choruses feature a harder edge with electric guitars leading the arrangement. The titular track, "(miss)understood," is a satisfying rock composition as well and it serves as a standout on the album. Hamasaki's brand of balladry is also present on (miss)understood. The piano-heavy "HEAVEN" is a ballad featuring airy vocals rife with anguish that builds into an impressive finish. "Pride" is operatic in its chorus of voices and orchestral arrangement. It is one of Hamasaki's more stirring ballads and stands out as one of her strongest tracks to date. The downtempo "rainy day" is an impressive song on the album. With its ticking ambient composition, it is a serene ballad showcasing Hamasaki's gentle vocals. That being said, Hamasaki had previously proven herself as a capable singer in both rock and soft rock genres. As such, (miss)understood shines brightest on its more pop-oriented offerings. The electronic-infused "Ladies Night" is a girl power anthem that lends itself nicely to being ear candy. "fairyland" is whimsical and summery in its arrangement, while its lyrics reflect on childhood and growing older. Another great cut is "Will." Its acoustic composition is infused with traditional Japanese elements and features beautiful vocals on Hamasaki's part. The strongest tracks on (miss)understood, however, are "Bold & Delicious" and "STEP you." The former crosses genres by blending R&B, funk and gospel together to create one of Hamasaki's most maddingly infectious songs to date. It is boisterous and lively, making it an easy feel-good cut off of the album. "STEP you" is equally as catchy. The single itself was Hamsaki's best-selling from 2005 and is a pop-rock masterpiece. It is peppy and features a playful Hamasaki delivering an incredibly spirited and infectious chorus.

(miss)understood is a varied album with many distinctive sounds. It sees Hamasaki staying true to her rock roots while delivering satisfying ballads and memorable pop cuts. Arguably one of her most iconic albums, (miss)understood received many accolades and is recognized as one of the best selling albums of that year in Japan. While it may not be one of her strongest, it is one of her most ambitious. The album is worth a listen especially since there are several songs that could easily be considered among her best.

Recommended Listening: "Bold & Delicious," "STEP you," "is this LOVE?," "(miss)understood," "Pride," "Will," "HEAVEN," "fairyland," "rainy day"
Rating: B+