LOVEppears / appears -20th Anniversary Edition- [4CD+DVD / Limited Edition]

Very few artists can say that their album made a cultural impact as monumental as Ayumi Hamasaki's second studio album "LOVEppears." Ayu was still a relative rookie to the music industry when she released it, and yet its legacy can still be heard and seen after 2 decades of its release, within Japan and even overseas, and for good reason. "LOVEppears" is a complete shift from the sound of her debut LP "A Song for xx", which was more juvenile and rock influenced; "LOVEppears" is edgier, more mature (which is further evidenced by the iconic shot of Ayu posing topless on the cover), while still sounding bright and futuristic. Ayu covers all bases in this record, from club-ready bangers to heartfelt ballads, and even a sprinkle of R&B. The album feels diverse and eclectic without anything sounding out of place. While the length of the record might initially take some people off guard, the album is filled with such high-quality music that listening to "LOVEppears" will be the best 70 minutes of your life. But "LOVEppears" is the gift that keeps on giving, and a bonus second disc offers a bit of a sampler of reimagined versions of some of Ayu's previous material for anyone wanting to get a taste of her older work, and the 20th anniversary edition also features the maxi single "appears" (originally released separately, but on the same day as "LOVEppears") bundled with the album, which includes exhilarating dance mixes of the title track, as well as some of the other songs from the album. Even after 20+ years of being released, "LOVEppears" still manages to sound fresh, and the sound and concept for the album has served as an inspiration to many musicians inside and outside of Japan even to this day. More than an album, "LOVEppears" is a defining moment of Japanese pop culture, as well as the magnum opus of Ayu's discography. J-pop fans, new and old alike, as well as general pop music enjoyers, are guaranteed to enjoy this absolute classic from top to bottom. A definite must-have for anyone's collection.