Amuro Namie – BEST FICTION (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)

August 21, 2008 by Dennis Amith 

“Three weeks at No. 1, over a million copies shipped, setting another record and just proving to everyone that this pop diva now in her 30′s should not be counted out because she still has what it takes to be a chart topping, record setter. ‘Best Fiction’ is simply a wonderful album and I absolutely recommend this album to Amuro Namie fans!”

ARTIST: Amuro Namie

ALBUM: BEST FICTION

LABEL: avex trax

CATALOG #: AVCD-23651

DURATION: 1:14:13

RELEASE DATE: July 30, 2008

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

1. Do Me More
2. Wishing On the Same Star
3. shine more
4. Put ‘Em Up
5. SO CRAZY
6. ALARM
7. ALL FOR YOU
8. GIRL TALK
9. WANT ME, WANT ME
10. White Light
11. CAN’T SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’m SICK
12. Baby Don’t Cry
13. FUNKY TOWN
14. NEW LOOK
15. ROCK STEADY
16. WHAT A FEELING
17. Sexy Girl

The news has been promising for Amuro Namie, the pop diva who started a trend and broke records, multiple award winner in the 90′s and we have seen her dominate as a teen, a tween and here we are watching her do the same thing in her 30′s.

“BEST FICTION” is the biggest selling album in 2008 and another album to sell over a million copies in Japan and recently Amuro was recognized as the only artist to have albums to sell over a million copies in her teens, 20′s and 30′s.

With the past decade being dominated by Hamasaki Ayumi, Utada Hikaru and Koda Kumi, for Amuro Namie fans, there was always hope to see Amuro make a comeback and in 2007, with the release of “Baby Don’t Cry”, CD singles numbers started to go up and since then, Amuro’s sales are up and she’s back in the forefront.

And even when she dominated during her “Sweet 19 Blues” and “Concentration 20 Years” over a decade ago, she still looks fabulous, sexy in her early 30′s and her music, I loved her music in the past but her music now, I’ve listened to it over and over on my iPod during commutes over a zillion times because I enjoy it so much.

So, here we are with Amuro’s third best album featuring 17 of her songs from 2002 through 2008. That is from her 21st CD single “Wishing On the Same Star” (2002) up to her 33rd CD Single “60s70s80″s which featured the three songs “NEW LOOK”, “ROCK STEADY” and “WHAT A FEELING” . The album would also include two new original songs “Do Me More” and “Sexy Girl”.

Amuro’s music is nowhere near what it was in the 90′s which was produced by Komuro Tetsuya. This time around with multiple collaborations, Amuro Namie’s music is urban R&B, hard, fierce and music that continues to showcase choreography and cool vocals. Her style of J-Pop was her own and you find other artists lately trying to capitalize on a similar sound.

Favorites of mine on this album include track 6 (Alarm, her 25th CD single released in 2004) which was a collaboration with JusMe and Monk. The music is in your face with synth and bass but the vocals of Amuro Namie and the lyrics are what shine in this song. Sexy!

Track 9 “WANT ME, WANT ME” is a track fusing bhangra and reggaeton and featured the sexiest lyrics to come from Amuro. In a way, I kind of viewed this CD single somewhat like when Christina Aguillera released “Dirty”. Sexy, provocative lyrics but the background sitar, the beat and the sexy lyrics really made this song stand out.

Track 10 “White Light” was a ballad but this was not your standard piano driven love song. This was one that just had a cool groove, made you want to dance and at the same time was a ballad. The song was part of a double A-Side CD single with “Violet Sauce” which is not on this album (but featured on her last album “PLAY”).

Track 11 “CANT SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’M SICK” (her 30th CD single released in 2006) is another song that produced by T. Kura and Michico and the song is funky with the brass samples and a really cool groove. Another favorite on this album.

Track 12 “Baby Don’t Cry” is her 31st CD single (rel. in 2007) and a collaboration with Nao’ymt and a song that started an upswing for Amuro’s music. An overall fun track and a departure of the in-your-face, fierce beats of previous songs. Gentle pop with a whimsical atmosphere attached to it. Very fun and enjoyable listening to!

Track 14-16 are songs from her 33rd CD single “60s70s80s” (2008). “NEW LOOK” which used the Supreme’s “Baby Love” 1960′s sample, “ROCK STEADY” using a sample from Aretha Franklin’s 1970′s “Rock Steady” and the final track “WHAT A FEELING” which had a sample from Irene Cara’s 1980′s hit.

I enjoyed “NEW LOOK” or the Supreme’s sample and whether it’s from the Supreme’s or Donna Summer, always enjoyed the groove to that song and the sample was well used for Amuro’s “NEW LOOK”.

Actually dig “WHAT A FEELING” for it’s 80′s old school sound. One of those homages to the music that once upon a time, I used to breakdance and pop to. So, nostalgic and fun at the same time.

And of course, there are so many other tracks on this album that I enjoy as well that are just too numerous to list.

Now, there is a DVD version of this album which is definitely worth getting. I’m currently reviewing the normal album version provided to me for review but the CD+DVD album version features music videos for all tracks on the album. That is an absolutely great deal to have all music videos for each track provided.

As for the CD insert, the insert booklet features the music lyrics and production credits to the song. A flyer is added for a special “BEST FICTION” flash site which you are given a password (note: tried it but got a 404 error, perhaps you must be a Japanese resident to access the site). The flyer also includes information on the fan club and her 2008-2009 tour.

Overall this album is just wonderful. And with “Dance Tracks Vol. 1″ to “181920″ and now to “BEST FICTION”, these best albums for Amuro Namie are all worth owning.

Sure, her music has changed considerably since the TK years but production-wise, vocally, choreography-wise, everything about Amuro Namie has improved.

Her songs are catchy, enjoyable, sexy and you really can’t go wrong with it.

Now, of course, this review was for the normal CD version but I can tell you that knowing what’s on the CD+DVD version, you just can’t beat the value of having an album full of awesome tracks but owning a DVD with all music videos for those tracks. That’s great!

Overall, this album is a winner! It’s doing extremely well on the sales charts and definitely worth owning!

BUY THIS ALBUM: