“An interesting Ayumi Hamasaki album that goes a little experimental with her collaboration with CMJK and Yuta Nakano. Plus, a wonderful music video DVD featuring one of the highest productions for a music video for a J-Pop artist in terms of costume design, set design, location as music videos were filmed in Japan, China and the United States. Overall, “NEXT LEVEL” is another magnificent Ayumi Hamasaki release!”
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ARTIST:Â Ayumi Hamasaki
ALBUM:Â NEXT LEVEL
LABEL: avex trax
CATALOG #: AVCD-23858/B
DURATION: 51:44
RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2009
- Bridge to the sky
- NEXT LEVEL
- Disco-munication
- EnergizE
- Sparkle
- rollin’
- GREEN
- Load of the SHUGYO
- identity
- Rule
- LOVE ‘n’ HATE
- Pieces of SEVEN
- Days
- Curtain call
DVD: (Region 2)
- Days
- GREEN
- Rule
- Sparkle
- NEXT LEVEL
- Curtain call
- Days -making clip-
- GREEN -making clip-
- Rule -making clip-
- Sparkle -making clip-
- NEXT LEVEL -making clip-
- Curtain call -making clip-
J-Pop diva Ayumi Hamasaki returns with her 10th full-length album “NEXT LEVEL”. Her new album would contain her 44th double A-side single “Days/Green” and her 45th CD single “Rule/Sparkle” which the song “Rule” was used as the international theme song for the film “Dragonball Evolution”.
As with most Ayumi Hamasaki album releases in Japan, there are several versions released. A CD only, CD+DVD and a 2 CD+DVD version plus a USB Flash Drive album version as well. The version that I am reviewing is the CD+DVD version.
The album kicks off with “Bridge to the sky”, a short track that features a deep bass groove (ala U2 “With or Without You” style) with cool synth and beats courtesy of Yuta Nakano and Ayumi humming and singing a bit. The song then leads into the album title track “NEXT LEVEL” with music by D-A-I and arrangement by HAL. A catchy, addictive pop song!
The third track features another short track featuring music and arrangement by CMJK that had a retro style feel with the 8-bit musical beats. The song leads into the fourth track “EnergizE” featuring music by Yuta Nakano and arrangement by CMJK. Another fun, enjoyable dance track utilizing synth and retro style sounds.
The fifth track is “Sparkle”, the latest single featuring music by Kazuhiro Hara and arrangement by CMJK. Dance club oriented, deep in synth and overall, a cool dance track and almost a Bloodshy & Avant musical style. The song was used to promote the Honda Zest Spark.
The sixth track “rollin'” features another collaboration with Yuta Nakano for music and arrangement by CMJK. Synth-driven with cool beats but 8-bit style programming in the background.
The seventh track “GREEN” is another CD single track which features music by Tetsuya Yukumi and arrangement by tasuku. The ballad is more mellow but musically upbeat with string arrangement courtesy of Gen Ittetsu. The song was used as a CM track for Panasonic.
The eighth track “Load of the SHUGYO” features an instrumental track by CMJK showcasing synth and electric guitar and clanging electric beats. The track leads right into the ninth track “identity” featuring music and arrangement courtesy of Yuta Nakano. Upbeat rock track featuring Tim Pierce on guitar.
The tenth track is a rock driven track titled “Rule” released as a single and is the International musical theme to the “Dragonball Evolution” film. Music is by Miki Watanabe and arrangement by HAL and showcases the cool electric guitar playing courtesy of Takehito Shimizu.
The eleventh track “LOVE ‘n’ HATE” features a rock track with a beat. Music is by Yuta Nakano. The 12th track “Piecesof SEVEN features an instrumental by HAL and leads into the ballad “Days” featuring music by Kunio Tago and arrangement by HAL. A beautiful, romantic ballad and a single track which leads into another beautiful ballad which is more piano-based titled “Curtain call” featuring music by Kazuhiro Hara and arrangement by Yuta Nakano.
The DVD:
As for the DVD, we get a total of six music video clips plus the making of those video clips.
The first music video “DAYS” (directed by Takahide Ishii) features a sad music video as Ayumi meeting up with her dancer boyfriend and friends. How she liked a ring but he couldn’t afford it. She watches him work hard and then she wakes up and realizes that she was just dreaming. And that guy actually is with another girl and bought her the same ring that she wanted.
The second music video “GREEN” (directed by Kazuyoshi Shimomura) was shot in Shanghai, China where she performed in concert. The music video features Ayumi in China during the 1930’s. She walks through the streets in China and is seen as a nightclub singer.
The third music video is for “Rule” (directed by Takahide Ishii). The music video features Ayumi Hamasaki wearing black, tight vinyl clothing and walking through a group of fighters/dancers.
The fourth music video “Sparkle” (directed by Kazuyoshi Shimomura) features Ayumi singing in a music show ala 80’s Matsuda Seiko style and then transitioning to a sexy music video in which Ayumi is in an all red leather padded room and is sporting a tight red-leather outfit, then wears a tight purple outfit. Then an all black tight outfit as she lays on red silk sheets. Overall, a sexy music video!
The fifth music video “NEXT LEVEL” (directed by Stanly Izumi Kim and Luis Hernandez) features Ayumi driving a mustang near the oceanside near La Jolla and another scene near the desert.
The sixth music video “Curtain call” (directed by Stanly Izumi Kim and Luis Hernandez) features Ayumi singing on stage and leaves the venue and heads outside the studio lot and walks as we see different weather and studio effects and she starts crying while singing.
The majority of the clips feature Ayumi behind-the-scenes and making the music video. But the real interesting music video making was for “NEXT LEVEL” with Ayumi in the US working with an American crew and hanging out with the Japanese staff. How they had to use a helicopter and the assistance of the Highway Patrol to film the shots. While her staff have fun eating, Ayumi eats vanilla ice cream. Also, the making of “Curtain call” as we hear Ayumi communicating in English. And how they had only three tries to shoot that music video and challenges of shooting the music video because of the various elements and gear utilized.
CD booklet features lyrics to the songs and production credits and pictures of Ayumi Hamasaki.
“NEXT LEVEL” was quite an interesting album. The music spotlighted her collaboration with Yuta Nakano and CMJK and gave the album an overall synth, experimental, 8-bit feel (excluding the single tracks) but overall, I felt the album was quite solid in presentation.
The album manages to keep her pop/rock theme but the amount of experiemental sounds and cool beats gave this album a refreshing musical feel. And as always, Ayumi Hamasaki albums are typically well-worth the purchase because you often get a collection of her music videos (and sometimes the actual concert) with her album releases.
The 2 CD version comes with a live CD album from “Premium Countdown Live 2008-2009 A”, otherwise depending on your budget, I highly recommend getting the version with the DVD. Her music videos are typically among the highest in quality (and expensive production) for a pop star in Japan and as evident on the music videos included on the DVD, she shot in location in China and the United States and to see major studio effects, a helicopter and even getting the 1930’s China costume design down, these were utilized in her music videos and even more. I was really impressed by her music videos that were included on “NEXT LEVEL”.
Overall, this is a solid release from Ayumi Hamasaki. Another fabulous album with a magnificent DVD, you really can’t go wrong. Highly recommended!
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