Queen Of Hip-Pop-10/10

Queen Of Hip-Pop-A hot intro track to this blazingly hot album, it was my first Namie album that I bought and made me discover her. With the hot synth, clapping sounds and bass this is a sure fire hit and a great track to open this self-explanatory album!

Want Me, Want Me-Somewhat makes me scream sexual tension! The sitar…or at least I believe it is a sitar carrying a sexy beat and the lyrics are prolly her most sexual and in a provocative way. I really don’t have much to say except for that it’s a hot song and a fan favorite!

WoWa-The promotional track for the album. It definitely displays the Hip-Pop theme. A cute, upbeat, poppy track that a lot of fans can sing along to. It’s a clever catchphrase singing “Wo Wo Wa Wa Wo Wo Wa Wa Yeah”. This was actually my first favorite song from this album.

I Wanna Show You My Love-A song written for her fans, and I love how she disses the haters! Another good song from this album, sorta reminiscent of Queen Of Hip-Pop meets WoWa it’s one of those inbetween tracks on this album, and it’s really good, I love it, and I’m pretty sure I love every part to this album…yep I love every part of this album!

Girl Talk-…well I must say I love this song, but would have rather preferred The Speed Star in its place, for the fact that I find The Speed Star is much better. This song is still good, it possessess a cuteness to it just speaking about “Girl Talk” of course.

Free-My absolute fave of this album not only because it’s a hot track but also because Namie wrote it, and I believe throughout her entire career span it was reported that only 7 songs were recorded that she had penned herself. It’s too bad that she never performed it though because this was one of her more rare tracks because she wrote it herself. It’s more of a laid-back urban styled song and she made it perfection!

My Darling-A rock influenced song, that features vocals similar to “Lil’ Jon’s” but aside from that fact I find this song to be blazing and I love dancing to it, it’s also one of my ringtones. It really seems like a “crunk” influenced song as well.

Ups & Downs Duet w/Nao’ymt-I’m in love with this song as well, seriously this album is great. I don’t know why but I actually cried to this song…lol it’s a more upbeat ballad where it’s moderately slow but still a little more quick than your standard ballad. This is one of those inspirational songs when you’re feeling down and out and I find it picks me up every time.

I Love You-A cute poppy track possessing more pop than that of WoWa. I really can’t say much about this track but it definitely is a masterpiece.

All For You-Honestly my favorite ballad from Namie, and basically the only ballad on this album if you don’t count the hidden track. It’s like a classic ballad with violin, piano, and a few beats added into the mix. Her vocals are at her best in this song, but will never compare to I Will that’s forever an amazing Namie song.

Alarm-A nice lil guitar riff is played in the beginning and then the song progresses into a more electronic feel. I don’t know why but I find this song hot and sexual for some reason. I don’t have too much to say about this either, it’s a hot song though and one of my favorites!

No-The real treats of this album…I say treats because the secret track is right after this one. This is a blaring hot track with synth, bass, and everything else to get you up and dancing! Aside from her mispronunciation of Clap I don’t care because the song is total hotness!

Yes/No Pt. II-Basically the same as No except in a ballad form with the Hip-Pop element and the same lyrics aside from a few noticeable changes. This is a get your groove on type of song, especially when it hits the chorus. Basically No/Yes are the songs to really look forward to.

Overall this album was great and I’m glad it became my first Namie album because after that I became a HUGE Namie fan, this was also the first album Nao’ymt got to produce some songs for Namie and now he is one of her primary producers along with T.kura/michico.

Days/Green & Green/Days-10/10

Green-OMG the first new single release of Ayu that I fell in love with. After my disappointment with Mirrorcle World, Green set the bar tremendously high for the single release of Rule/Sparkle this year. Anyways it reminisces upon the release of Heaven c/w Will. It pertains to the song Will as it has a very oriental sound and feel. This song starts of with a few simple beats and then it proceeds into the best thing I’ve heard from her in a LONG time.

Days-A beautiful ballad that has a wintery feel. Not much to say about this track except that it’s makes this package look great.

To Be/Love~Destiny~(10th Anniversary Editions)I was excited for both of these revamps as well. I’m just thrilled because To Be is another one of my favorite songs released from Ayu. It’s a ballad produced by DAI. Anyways it was a magnificent revamp, now onto the real candy that hit my sweet tooth. Love~Destiny~ a absolutely, gorgeous ballad written by Ayu. The revamp featured her new vocals and new arrangement, I had a party with this because it sounded like a newer, maturer sound for this classic Ayu hit. It fits her current sound and impressed me by far for this single, all in all this single release was a fresh breath of air from Ayumi.

A Complete~All Singles~-9/10

I’m not going to go TOO into detail seeing as it is a HUGE release. So basically it is a digitally remastered release from all of her single songs from her debut up until the release of Mirrorcle World. It was a good release with pretty good covers, and even though I didn’t buy this release, I do plan on it in the near future.

Who…~10th Anniversary Edition~-Really a gorgeous addition to this collection. If her songs that appeared on MW and D/G and G/D had kept their original mixes with new vocals I would be in love, but they weren’t, anyways this was a great additon and I’m glad it happened.

Mirrorcle World-4/10

Mirrorcle World-This song is recut, and known as Mirror in the album Guilty. My first thought were that I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Mirror portion for Guilty, but to my dismay I was disappointed with the result of Mirrorcle World. Although the intro is very good the song overall wasn’t to my liking.

Life-The b-side to Mirrorcle World which was HIGHLY forgettable and I track I have only listened to once.

YOU/Depend On you~10th Anniversary Editions~-Both of this songs were released for her debut album, I enjoy YOU not only because it was my first Ayu song, but also because it’s brilliance strikes me, it’s my favorite song of hers, but with this 10th Anniversary Edition I was disappointed with the revamped version, I only liked it because IT IS my favorite song. Depend On You Like the song, but never really cared for it, just a song to listen to when the time comes…

Guilty-8/10

Mirror-1 of the best intros to an album I’ve ever heard! Ayu is like queen of Intros, Outros, Interludes, and Preludes, they’re simply magnificent and mostly the only ones I’ll EVER listen to. Anyways this song starts out with an internet connection sound of dialing, and the beats, and soon she starts singing, but nonetheless a great intro!

(Don’t)Leave Me Alone-I love this song title, and the song is an uptempo, rock song, something Ayu favors well in. The best parts lie in the chorus, it’s simply addictive and highly catchy. I’m still waiting on my Evolution~Part 2~ from her, cause the original is amazing!

Talkin’ 2 Myself-The last single release before this album, I was really impressed because as usual her singles were killing me, but with this release it’s another one of Ayu’s “songs” you could say in the sense that it’s because she’s always so well-influenced in the rock/pop genre of music.

Decision-The second song on the Talkin’ 2 Myself single, I’m unsure whether or not it was a a-side or b-side, but  I would say an a-side because she hardly ever features b-sides on her albums. Irregardless this song is another rock song but in the form of a ballad in some elements, either way this song made the Talkin’ 2 Myself single just as good, and made this album just as GREAT!

Guilty-The title track song of this album. To be honest I’m not impressed with it, because although it’s a rock song it isn’t doing much for this particular album, it seems like a b-side to a single, but for an album it’s just a filler.

Fated-Part of the Glitter/Fated single release, and a special short film that Ayu did for both songs. I love this ballad, and it’s one of her absolute best album songs of all time, and she has many impressive album tracks.

Together When…-Released digitally as a single before the album release. This song screams of a love lost, and the pv is just amazing beautiful in how it was structured, it really shows the anguish that this song possessess of a lost love. Beautiful ballad from Ayu.

Marionette~Prelude~-Makes me reminisce of the days I’d play Final Fantasy, the more older ones like Final Fantasy III and such. The song sounds like one of the dreaming sequences, or even walking the in the caves and dungeons. A most prized prelude to a song.

Marionette-That rock/ballad another one of Ayu’s specialties! The music video features Ayu and her dancers as marionettes of course to go with the theme of the title, and the song as well. With this track Ayu delivers her quiet vocals, and then intensifies them when the chorus comes around. All in all this song was my first favorite from the album.

The Judgement Day-Another one of Ayu’s great interludes, it’s my absolute favorite from this album, and I wish it would have received a full track, but imo it’s still good as an interlude.

Glitter-A fun, upbeat, summery song like Blue Bird, or Fairyland. Even though this style is starting to get old and too repetitive with Ayu, I’ve grown to love this song a lot.

My All-An upbeat rock/ballad/inspirational song from Guilty, this is one of those songs that you listen to and just forget about everything else. I could play this song ALL day and not get tired of it.

Rebirth-An outroduction for this album. To be honest I’m not too impressed with it, but it’s still okay and I’m not complaining because the song it flows into makes this outroduction that much more climactic.

Untitled~For Her~-The back story to this song is that it was written for a friend of Ayu’s whom was really close with her that passed away. A brilliant ballad, with the mellowing sounds of violins, and sweet harmonies from Ayu. It’s a true treasure from her and when you listen to it while thinking about its background, you appreciate it that much more.

All in all this album was definitely another upgrade for Ayu and a brilliant one at that.

Stay With Me-5/10

Stay With Me-Okay, I’m just going to say it…BORING!

Winter Bell-I love this song, it’s a great b-side, like Heat, or Bounce because they were also great b-sides as well.

Taboo-8/10

Taboo-I love this song, the first urban influenced song of Kuu’s in a while after the release of Kingdom, and with it brings a great track. It’s intense beats and the use of the bass makes this track infectious.

Always-It’s an okay song, I don’t care too much for it, but like I said it’s okay.

Moon-4/10

Moon Crying-I loved the 45 sec. preview of Moon Crying cause it sounded so beautiful and once the full version came out I was HIGHLY disappointed, so I feel terrible about saying this, but I don’t like this song!

That Ain’t Cool feat. Fergie-This song was all good and stuff, but because of the face that it’s more of a song feat. Kuu I dislike it and feel it should have just been a Fergie song instead.

Once Again-A reggae influenced song, one of the first from Kuu ever, but I don’t like it at all and it’s one of the reasons this single is down to 4/10.

Lady Go!-I LOVE this song, and it’s the only one among these four songs that I really enjoy, and the only reason I gave this single 4/10 is because of Lady Go! being the only plus to this single.

Kingdom-10/10

Introduction For Kingdom-Pretty soothing song, and I enjoyed it, but as for all introductions and interludes in any album I skip it, but to play the album correctly the first time I ever listened to Kingdom, I played it altogether and it definitely made the album just as good.

Last Angel feat. Tohoshinki-I LOVE this song, it’s the first dance song to kick off the album for Kingdom and sets the tone for other heavier and better dancing tracks. This song was used for Resident Evil: Extinction as the promotional song in Japan, and I enjoyed it very much. It’s also the first track released as a single to appear on this album.
Amai Wana-1 of the heavier dance tracks I was speaking of earlier. It features a heavy arabian feel as many of Kuu’s past works such as Shake It, and Candy have possessed. In any case this song isn’t a hit and miss and a definite fave of any Kuu fan.

Himitsu-The first ballad type song to appear on this album. It’s one of my absolute favorites of this entire album, and although the pv is super boring the song evens it out. All I have to say that it’s a Kuu song you MUST listen to.

Ai No Uta-The 2nd song on the album to appear that was released as a single and a ballad as well. Kuu usually ad libs song and ruins them for me if they’re ballads, but with Ai No Uta this wasn’t the case, because it’s a mellow ballad with mellow vocals that make this song a powerhouse.

anytime-A poppy kinda make you happy on a rainy day song. I love the pv’s for this song as there is a single version and an album version. They’re both cute, and really adorable…same as cute…LOL! Anyways anytime is just a fun enjoyable track that I find highly infectious and one of my favorites.

Under-A dark, dance track that is like my #1 off this album. The pv features Kuu in a yellow jumpsuit hiding from the police and such, and dancing as well and a move where she does the splits so significantly, and if you watch the making of she really performs the splits the way it’s displayed in the pv. Overall this song is my favorite from Kingdom.

But-The single that set the tone for all singles released after it. Although none have matched its cunning with synth beats, and bass I still find the other singles enjoyable but not as much as But. It was released as a double a-side single with Aishou a power ballad that I’m in love with currently. Anyways this song is one of her best in a LONG time. Since Secret I haven’t been able to love a dance song of Kuu’s as much as But.

Koi No Mahou-A cute poppy track, I love this song! It’s another one of my favorites from the release of Kingdom, but as we get onto Anata Ga Shite Kurete Koto you’ll find that’s my #3 favorite and that Koi No Mahou is #4. Overall this song is cute and that’s why I love it, cause Kuu does cute like no other…unless it’s Ai Otsuka.

Aishou-As I was saying it was released with But as a double a-side single. All I have to say is that this power ballad by Kuu really brings it to the table, with her intense vocals and the music in the background, it set the tone for me.

Anata Ga Shite Kurete Koto-My #4 favorite song from this album, I love it, all I have to say about it is that it’s cute in many ways, and makes my smile even though it’s not a cutesy type of song.

Wonderland-Another cute/poppy song from Kuu. It’s like Alice In Wonderland meets Broadway. The pv is acted out like a broadway play would be, and the music makes me reminisce of Alice In Wonderland. I love this song as well…she hasn’t done a single thing wrong with this album.

Freaky-The only song to be released from her single Freaky even though it was a double a-side single with Run For Your Life as the 2nd a-side. Anywho it’s an intense dance track like Under, but with more of a rock influence. I love the pv, because the way her makeup was handled made me look at it in astonishment. The butterfly wings at the ends of her eyes set it off for me.

More-The final ballad of Kingdom, displays Kuu’s vocals at their best, I love this song, it has a gospel feel to it, but the pv wasn’t to my liking. But overall this song was a good edition to Kingdom.

Black Cherry-The final track to Kingdom is the longer version of Introduction from her previous album Black Cherry. I didn’t like this version that was on the album, and luckily someone on AHS had a new mix where Introduction and this track were mixed to make it longer and better. I was satisfied with it.

Although this album’s promotion was cut because of the scandal and the statement and blah blah blah, this album still sold pretty well.

Anytime-7/10

Anytime-A mellow song to just make you happy when you’re down seriously though this song has made me smile and the pv for it doesn’t let down for that either. I love this song.

Bounce-I love this B-Side, it’s one of her better ones and a definite keeper, I haven’t listened to it in a while, I think I should schedule it in.

Anytime~freeTEMPO Remix~-I like it, it’s okay, but it’s the reason this single only got 7/10 for me.