Duty [Import]

Ayumi Hamasaki | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 27, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Avex Trax
• ASIN: B000059O85
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #340,434 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Starting Over

2. Duty

3. Vogue

4. End Of The World

5. Scar

6. Far Away

7. Surreal

8. Audience

9. Seasons

10. Teddy Bear

11. Key - Eternal Tie Ver

12. Girlish

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars it's your DUTY to get this ASAP!, February 15, 2001

By 

J. Taylor "chicoeldivo" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Duty (Audio CD)

Track list:> 1 Starting over/ 2 Duty / 3 Vogue/ 4 End of the world/ 5 Scar/ 6 Faraway/ 7/ Surreal/ 8 Audience/ 9 Seasons/ 10 Teddy Bear/ 11 Key/ 12 Girlish.

Well, this is SLIGHTLY disappointing after the powerful last project "LOVEppears". The energy and speed is gone and Ayumi has slowed the pace down considerably, opting for a more rock oriented direction. This is fine and it allows her talent to shine, her strong, high-pitched vocals to reign over the music. The vocals hit correct and there is no denying the infectious tunes -the girl can pen a great song and hit all the notes! However tracks like "Seasons" and the piano-led "Teddy Bear" come across as bland rock ballads -certainly lacking the originality and beauty that surfaced on "LOVE".

The set opens with the misleading, futuristic intro, "Starting over" that springs into the big title track, which, with it's slow feel, Enigma-like chanting and broken beats, is a strange delivery. The fabulous "Vogue", opening with the sounds of a cheering crowd, takes the tempo up a touch. It's a gorgeous mid-tempo dance track with a bouncy "La Isla Bonita"-like energy and catchy synthesizer hooks; a definite crowd pleaser! From then on, Ayumi heads straight into the big anthemic rock journeys like "End of the world", "Scar" and "FarAway". Track 7, the delightful "Surreal" breaks up the set and leads into some teasing and rock guitar-powered dance beats. BUT it's the fantastic track 8, "Audience", that is the big dance hit here -a blinding, beat-driven slice of J-Pop that is the closest thing to the anthems that hit on "LOVE" and it's a great reminder that Ayumi is still in a league of her own. The closing track, "Girlish", is a fun feeling, unplugged romp complete with jangling guitars that reminds me of Janet Jackson's "Whoops now", that closed her "Janet" CD.

It's hard not to compare "Duty" with the last set, considering that "LOVEppears" was such a huge success that catapulted her into a Mega Star status in the Far East. "Love" stood out because it sounded like nothing else before, wheras "Duty" sounds slightly borrowed, tried and tested. It's good to see Ayumi show some change in direction, be creative and her focus is still bold and confident but this project is not as hugely inspiring as before. Don't get me wrong, I still think she's great and I'm still going to buy everything that the girl puts out! I'm trusting that the forthcoming Remix CD -"A-yu-mi-x 3" (which includes remixes of "Duty" by various UK and US DJs) will spark my further interest. Buy it and make your own mind up. Whatever happens, you won't be TOO disappointed.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get English-Japanese dictionary, and taste Ayu more!!, March 14, 2001

By 

"tomonkey" (Morgantown, WV USA originally from Yokohama Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Duty (Audio CD)

Although I do love her voice, the most attractive thing about Hamsaki Ayumi (usually called "Ayu")is her lylics. Her lylics soaks into listers' hearts. I usually do not buy CDs untill I get to know the singer very well and like him/her. However, in the case of Ayu, I just simply fell in love with her world. For months, her song did not leave my ears. So, I strongly recommend those who like (I guess many love)Ayu to get English-Japanese dictionary and get the taste of Ayu's lylics. There is no need to know grammer. I guarantee that if you know what she is singing about, you will like her more--a looooot more. The lylic captured me was, in translation, "Because you were there, I could smile, I could cry, I could live" (From TO BE) Also, my favorite lylics are "While getting something big, maybe we have lost something. Even if we get them back now, probably they are subtly different" (From TO BE) "You can cry as much as you want, until tears dry" (Powder Snow)

and so on. Of course, my translation is not perfect, so I think the best way is, again, get a dictionary and tastes Ayu's lylics world in your own way.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Experimental Album, May 14, 2001

By 

"cliftonium" (irvine, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Duty (Audio CD)

So it seems like Hamasaki Ayumi is trying to break out of her original dance-pop genre. Her first two albums (I still love the second album) were very standard girlpop, with a little seasoning of dance. This album has more of a indie feel to it. It's got a very experimental sound to it (as other reviewers pointed out), and the instrument combinations on the songs are very interesting. She's changed her style of singing for this album, which I'm not too certain I like. She tends to extend and/or drag syllables out in a very artistic, yet somewhat whiny way. My personal feeling about my album favorite: if she had sung "teddybear" in her original way, it would've been a much nicer song. It just sounds SO whiny now, as opposed to somber/sad.

But I do admit I like the album, and I do like the lyrics. One thing about Ayu is that she can write really awesome song lyrics. "appears" was my first introduction to Ayu's music, and man, I love that song. "teddybear" on this one is a definate tear-jerker.

If you're looking to get a good dance album (like her first two) check out: Ayu-mix-/// Non Stop MegaMix (orange cover). Otherwise, get this album and see if you like her new style. Either way, you won't be disappointed.