After two steps back, Hamasaki takes a good step forward.
Written: Mar 16 '06 (Updated Mar 16 '06)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Startin' and her teens cover are decent.
Cons: Born To Be... is bland.
The Bottom Line: While not providing a completely original listen, Hamasaki's first single in 2006 is a welcome breath of fresh air.
|
|
|
| shimatani87's Full Review: Startin'/Born to be... - Ayumi Hamasaki Movies |
So, Ayumi Hamasaki...what can one say about her that hasn't already been said? She's one of the most popular and most influential artists in Japan today, and one with whom many (myself included) have a love-hate relationship.
This release, her thirty-ninth single (released just over two months since her seventh original album (miss)understood) shows Hamasaki both continuing on a path she's traveled many times before, but it also somewhat redeems her after the Black Hole of Suckage that was said album. The three tracks presented here, while not being the most original, are light-years better than most of what she released last year.
Startin' is probably the most likable of the songs on the disc. A dramatic-sounding synthesized beat leads into the song, then develops by adding some crunchy electric guitar riffs, DJ scratches and drums which have the volume set to "loud" throughout the entirety of the song, even when they're underscoring the verses. Vocally, this is one of Hamasaki's best performances -- she tones down the off-key screeching that was prominent in some of her singles last year and simply works her way through the verses here in a low-toned voice that's well-suited to the style of the song. It's strong and assured, but not overly so, and she hits her notes perfectly. With the chorus comes a punched-up vocal performance both in volume and urgency, although there are a couple spots where she sounds a bit strange (namely the line that ends with her singing alone -- she sounds a bit stuffed-up there). Possibly the only complaint I could raise here is that the "la la la" section near the end seems a bit unnecessary (and the background singers are kind of off-key). Still, this is the best thing here.
Born To Be..., on the other hand, is probably the disc's weakest track, if only because it sounds recycled and generic. The gospel choir from Bold & Delicious is back, and they open the song a capella before being placed over a synthesized, poppy backbeat whose only real instrument seems to be the rapid-fire drums which are interspersed throughout. The rather sparse nature of the instrumentation allows for Hamasaki's vocal to be heard slightly better than it was in the previous track, and it's rather un-pretty: she performs it well, but doesn't sound all that interested in what she's singing. The song's instrumental break also seems a bit too long -- the song as a whole is a bit long for the material presented, which becomes quite repetitive after a while. Overall, a decently (if rather bland) performed track with cliche instrumentation we've heard several times before and annoying backup singers.
Hamasaki's cover of TRF's song teens is given an acoustic touch-up for its appearance here. While I've never heard TRF's original or Hamasaki's non-acoustic cover (which appears on TRF's latest album), the version presented here is very pretty -- if a bit typical of the ballad genre. Lilting piano, gentle strings and some airy-sound effects round out the song's list of instruments, and they give the song a decent atmosphere. Hamasaki's vocal here starts out decently as she manages to keep the nasal-ness of her voice to a minimum throughout the verses, which are performed very well; the chorus is even good until she delves into the "la la la's" that are placed at the end. The Nose of Death returns to ruin her performance and torment us all, but thankfully that section doesn't last all that long. A very pretty song that Hamasaki performs well, with only a few vocal hiccups.
Two decent songs and one okay track make up this latest offering from Ayumi Hamasaki -- while both tracks will most likely end up on her next album, this single's a worthy hold-over until then. If she can manage to make more music like this that isn't so much an echo of what she's made before, she may manage to redeem herself (in my eyes). In the meantime, her legion of fans will gobble this up like candy -- and it's sweet enough to tickle any pop fan's sweet tooth.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
shimatani87
|
|
Member: Zach Jones
Location: Urbana, IL
Reviews written: 117
Trusted by: 17 members
About Me:
St. Louis-bound graduate student with a passion for pop.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.