Review by Aura

Everybody was talking about this release, so of course I had to get a copy and see for myself. I like it, but I definitely think Black Cherry was better. Kingdom has many good tracks and I overall enjoy this release, but there are songs I always skip. "LAST ANGEL" is my least favorite song here, I just can't stand how Dong Bang Shin Ki's boys sing, their voices don't go together with Kumi's. There are some other weaker songs too, but then there are some really stylish tracks I love to pieces (like "BUT", "FREAKY" and "Amai Wana"). Still, I recommend this album. It has variety of styles and definitely something for everyone and her strong voice in both dance songs and ballads shouldn't be overlooked. It's just a matter of personal taste if you enjoy the whole release or not.

All the talk about this concert as one of Ayu's best isn't just empty words - her vocals are incredibly strong and honest to her studio recordings. While her voice was still a lot more high-pitched and immature back when this concert was filmed, she's still up to note and puts her all in her songs. This concert has songs from her older albums and being a big fan of her "Duty" album, I was really moved to see many of my favorite older tracks performed live. She put her soul in her songs and that solely makes this concert worth seeing. Her performance of Duty and A Song For XX left me breathless and crying - it was a very emotional experience. Definitely a must have for any true fan of Ayu's and especially if you like her older songs better.

This is the first release I've bought from Rie fu, though I've been listening to her music for a year already. When I heard the single "5000 Miles", I knew I just had to get this album and it certainly was worth it. Her voice is bright and clear and she switches from Japanese to English so effortlessly, she sounds very natural and there's always a distinctive style in her songs. I loved her compositions and whenever I listen to this album, it makes me more cheerful and brightens up the day. I find the overall mood very relaxed and easy to enjoy, greatly recommended to anyone who enjoys good, heartful music.

Well, GUILTY was, at first, bit of a disappointment for me. It's very different from Ayu's other albums and has more rock songs and the overall mood is very melancholic, even gloomy. Still, it has many catchy, powerful songs and they certainly grow on you. Especially (don't) Leave me alone, talkin' 2 you, glitter and Marionette are excellent songs and Untitled ~for her~ moved me to tears. It's very emotional and a good album, but I think I liked (miss)understood and Secret better. The PVs and photobook were excellent, this is overall a good release but nothing exceptional.

This was the first time I saw Ayumi Hamasaki singing live and I was extremely excited. Over two hours of this fantastic show certainly made my Christmas (a little bit in advance though). Her vocals are pitch perfect, just like in studio and she puts her all into her performances. I loved how she put her heart into all her songs and interacted with her audience, letting her fans sing with her. She's an extremely good performer, not just a good singer. You can see she's a pure professional. This concert had many of my favorite songs and seeing "fairyland" live moved me to tears, it being my favorite song from Ayu ever. The performance of Bold&Delicious is one of the highlights of this release - it's like a Broadway musical and even if you didn't like that song, you will love it live. This is an extremely good concert and no fan of hers should miss it. Grab it while it's available!

I had only heard two songs from Yuna Ito when I decided to get this album. And boy, was it worth it! She's such a good singer and her voice expresses the mood of her songs well, and that's exactly why she's at her best in ballads - and this album has a lot of them. She somehow reminds me of Celine Dion, not voice-wise, but it's in her songs and the mood. The lyrics of the songs aren't all that spectacular, but if you love romantic songs and appreciate good singing, it won't matter. She's a very beautiful girl, too. ^^ This album has its weak moments - "losin'" is very repeative and starts to get boring after a while and "Fragile" sounds a bit blah after the beauty and power of "Precious" - but Yuna's magical voice and the other good song choices make up for it. It's a very god debut album and should not be missed if you fell in love with her singles "Endless Story" and "Precious". Yuna is no doubt one of the rising stars in Japanese music scene right now.

It's so cute and adorable, I'm extremely happy I got one before they were sold out. Now my little Light is always keeping me company whenever I need to use my desk, I couldn't ask for better (or more intelligent) company. ^^ The fact it's very high quality makes it an excellent collector's item, definitely worth its price.

What I mostly fell in love with while watching Death Note was the music; it always fitted the mood perfectly and was well composed, so getting the soundtrack was really the only option I could see. I don't regret it a bit. I love the acoustic sound in several tracks (like "Raito no Teema" and "Death Note") and the orchestrated pieces with a massive sound ("Domine Kira", "Death Note Theme"). Many tracks are colored with a slightly melancholic, yet relaxing sound and to this day, this is what I listen to when I want to relax or study. Also, the slipcase design is fantastic and you've got love the booklet filled with screenshots and character art. I got mine several months ago and I have to say, my opinion hasn't changed during this time. It's a great buy to any fan of the series and I highly recommend it!

This is certainly my favorite song from Tommy February6. The title track is very catchy, but the b-side song I'm In The Mood For Dancin' is not all that great - it sounds a bit too lame after the upbeat rhythms of the title song. However, the fact this single contains the karaoke and an extended version for Je t'aime Je t'aime makes it worth buying for old and new fans alike. If you're new to Tommy February6, try this. This is Tommy at her very best.

This is certainly the best album Ayumi has released so far, and I speak from experience as I have them all. This album combines many different musical styles: it has rockish songs (Until that day, 1 LOVE), it has tear-jerking ballads (JEWEL, momentum), it has addictive dance songs guaranteed to make you dance (Startin', Beautiful Fighters). And Ayumi truly is talented in all of those! The DVD perfects this item, making it a "must have" for all Ayumi fans and if you're new to Ayumi, this is the perfect start. She isn't called the Queen of J-Pop for nothing.