Namie Amuro [Genius 2000] (Third Album)

Make the Connection Complete
Love 2000
Respect the Power of Love
Leavin’ for Las Vegas
Something ’bout the Kiss
I Have Never Seen
Still in Love
Mi Corazon (Te’ Amour)
You are the One (feat. Imajin)
Kiss-And-Ride
Things I Collected
Next to You
Asking Why
Give It a Try
Log Off

The album starts off with the intro Make the Connection Complete. A computerized beat that plays like static and this guy with a vocodered to death voice.

The next track on the album is the tiring Love 2000. This could have been a good track, because its not a bad song, its just really exhausting. The beat is kind a plain and airy, I heard mostly the drums, which wasn’t a problem, but they were played in a way that seemed to compete with Namie’s vocals and the whole combination just made it a bit annoying. Namie’s vocal performance was decent, but I just didn’t care for it. A somewhat catchy song to start the album on, but I think they should have shaved off some minutes, its just too long and messy.

The next track on the album is Respect the Power of Love. The album really starts with this and this song reminds me a lot of ‘can you celebrate?’ This isn’t a song I would go for, so I’m actually quite surprised that I like it. The arrangement is very fitting, the whole pop and gospel thing mixed together was very neat and I really loved how the piano took the song out. Namie’s vocals were immature sounding, because she strained quite a lot, mostly during the chorus, but she pulled this off and its hardly noticeable really. This is a nice track, I really enjoyed the chorus. ‘RESPECT!, respect the power of love!’

The next track is the laid-back Leavin’ for Las Vegas. This is the album’s first full blown rnb track and though its jarring to go from the previous track to this, the transition was actually quite smooth. The arrangement is very hip-hop, I mean it sounds like the beat you’d hear when an rapper collaborates with an rnb singer. Its consistent and makes me think of faceless people in a dark club blowing smoke into the air. Namie’s vocals were quite different in this track as to where she sounded almost monotonous and bored (like she was saying the words to the beat, instead of actually singing them), but it played to the songs advantage. This is a very interesting song and so underrated its amazing.

The next track on the album is the mid-tempo Something ’bout the Kiss. This is another straight-laced rnb track and one of my favorite oldschool Namie songs. Its pretty much like a more upbeat version of the previous, as to where Namie and the arrangement sounds pretty laid-back, but not in a way that would suggest she was bored or disinterested. There was also a sort of edge and confidence in her vocal performance that I liked. I however did not like her rapping, I want to scour it from my brain and forget I ever heard it.

The next track on the album is the cross between down and mid-tempo I Have Never Seen. This is a pretty good song, but it is also one of those songs I have never really cared for. The arrangement has a lot going for it, that definitely keeps it interesting, but I must note how memorable it is, because of the catchy-ness of it. I liked Namie’s vocal performance as well, it was pretty fluid, but her vocals are of course very immature and its quite glaring during the end when she really seemed to get into the track. The hook and chorus’ are the highlights.

The next track on the album is the nice Still in Love. This is definitely a party song, I just really got that vibe, because the whole atmosphere of the song seems pretty fun. The arrangement is pretty catchy, I just like how it makes me think of hanging with an intimate gathering of friends and just having a good time. I also kept thinking of the colors red and beige for reason. Namie’s vocals were love, I mean the verses aren’t all that stand-out, but I just really like how smooth and laid-back she sounds during the chorus, which really makes you want to get up and dance. This song also really reflects the title, because I did get such a ’still in love’ vibe from it, it also screams melancholy as well.

The next track on the album is the Spanish-y Mi Corazon (Te’ Amour). There’s always one, huh? The arrangement is very typical, kind a bland and sparse in the beginning, but it did manage to come together towards the end, giving off an interesting and rather exotic sound. Namie’s vocals were strain city at the start and that made me think I wasn’t going to like this track, then came the chorus. This song is pretty all right.

The next track on the album is the down-tempo You are the One (feat. Imajin). I like this song, I really do. The arrangement is pretty low key, it just plays smoothly and nice on the ears. Namie’s vocal performance was pretty good, it seemed like she was really feeling what she was saying, because there was a lot of emotion in her vocals. Imajin sounds just like that guy who was singing with Utada in all those songs on her first English album Precious, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re one in the same. I thought he overdid it a bit, but he meshed well with Namie and the whole flow of the song. I got a light Gospel vibe from this track as well, its very touching.

The next track on the album is the dull Kiss-And-Ride. I listened to this song twice and both times it bored me to a near stupor, well it would have had I not been surfing the internet at the same time. The arrangement is very lukewarm and gives you the impression of being not high, but stoned. Namie’s vocals were pretty sparse and when I did hear her sing talking, she sounded so detached and uninterested I’m wondering why she even bothered. I’d listen to this song only if I’m anxious to take a nap and this song will ensure that I do, otherwise its just way too stale.

The next track on the album keeps the pace slow with Things I Collected. I was very surprised with this track the first time I heard it, I guess it stems from the fact that its so soft. The arrangement is light in the rnb and rather pretty, a nice, slow and tinkly listen. Namie’s vocal performance was calm, she sounded almost peaceful and really in love. This is one of those songs that don’t really stand out and fades into the background, but it offers a nice listen, definitely.

The next track on the album is the rather annoying Next to You. The pace is bumped up to about mid-tempo, which is fine, but why is this song such a mess? I mean it started out OK, I actually kind a like the chorus since it gives me this urge to want to move around, but that’s where it ends. The arrangement is just filler and sounds like a group of friends got together and started making sounds off everyday objects. Namie’s vocals take a nose dive in this, because they sound so immature and haphazard as if she decided to break into random song and make it up as she went along. This track is all over the place and I can’t be bothered with it.

The next track on the album is Asking Why. This song is very similar to the last track, but for some reason it just sticks more. I like the piano arrangement, I don’t know, it doesn’t do much, but it just sounds clever to me, especially with the way in which Namie’s vocals mesh with it. I guess that’s why I like this song, despite it being a tad bit on the annoying side, most notably when Namie decided to unnecessarily get into the song instead of keeping the pace neutral. This is a decent track, I definitely like the air of exasperation, or maybe its just me?

The last full track on the album is the wistful Give It a Try. I immediately thought of ‘can you celebrate?’ and the Cyndi Lauper version of ‘true colors’ when this came on. This is a nice little down-tempo track that I’ve never really paid attention to. I like how genuine Namie’s vocal performance is, it made her voice breaking off towards the end seem real. I like the message this song conveys as well, even though she’s clearly talking about a relationship, I like the whole ‘just give it a try’ thing, makes the song sound really positive and inspiring.

The last track on the album is the outro Log Off. It consists of the piano and these whooshing wind noises… yup.

-GRADE: B
Rating: ** stars

Namie Amuro’s third album Genuis 2000 was certainly better than her previous album Concentration 20. We also got our first taste of her future rnb (hip-pop) career. I’ve never really paid attention to this album, I tend to ignore all albums that come before Break the rules so yeah, the only songs on this album I cared for were ‘leaving las vegas’ and ’something bout the kiss’ though at the moment I’m in love with ’still in love’ and ‘things i collected’. This was a pretty interesting album and it has a bit of variety on it as where it gives us her old sound with songs like ‘respect the power of love’ and ‘i have never seen’ but mixes it up a bit with ‘mi corazon’ and ‘you are the one’ and lets not forget the two songs that sound old and new at the same time, ‘asking why’ and ‘give it a try’. I’m glad Namie took a new direction with her music after this, because though I liked that whole Gospel-pop flare thing she had going on, I wouldn’t love her half as much if she hadn’t evolved. This is a good album for all those Namie nostalgic fans, it gives us a bit of the old with a bit of the new and some other stuff as well; I definitely recommend this early album over Concentration 20 and most assuredly Sweet Nineteen Blues.

Namie Amuro [WILD/Dr...] (34th Single)

WILD
Dr…

Namie Amuro’s 34th single starts off with the a-side WILD. I have never liked this song, but that’s to be expected, because I honestly thought I would, especially with ‘wild’ as its title. I just think the song is very underwhelming, and I really don’t like the synth (and I’m praying that Namie doesn’t make a habit of this, because I’m not feeling it at all), I mean it gives off a dark and robotic atmosphere, but I just did not get a wild vibe while listening to this, I mostly felt stiff. I didn’t think her vocals were bad, the chorus is pretty all right, but the whole flow of the song just exasperates me. I also don’t like how short this track is and how it seems to just end, leaving you confused and wondering what you were just listening to. This is a weak track and one of her weakest a-sides in a long, long while. The video was also pretty fail.

The next track on the single is its second a-side Dr…. This is a whole lot better than the first a-side, to the point that I ignore ‘wild’ completely and go straight to this. The video was better too. The arrangement was sensual to me for some reason, I really liked how slow and almost hypnotic it was, a whole lot better and cleaner than the previous’. Namie’s vocals were also a lot better as well, I definitely enjoyed her vocal performance. The ‘please save us dr.!’ is also my favorite part of the song, very nice. Its also quite funny, because the ‘dr.’ gives me such a timid/mad scientist vibe, hmm… maybe they’re one in the same?

-GRADE: B
Rating: ** stars

Namie Amuro’s 34th double a-side single WILD/Dr… was a step down from 60s70s80s, but at least we got ‘dr.’ out the deal. Though this single wasn’t as good as I thought it would be, its always good to hear some new material from Namie. I really hope she keeps them coming, along with another album.

Namie Amuro [Concentration 20] (Second Album)

Concentration 20 (make you alright)
B w/z you
Close your eyes, Close to you
Me love peace!!
No Communication
a walk in the park
To-day
Storm
Whisper
CAN YOU CELEBRATE?
I know…
How to be a Girl

The album starts off with the pseudo rock Concentration 20 (make you alright). When I first listened to this album I actually enjoyed this song, not so much anymore. I mean the beat is a bit generic and annoying. I mean the drums were a nice touch, but sometimes its all just too much. Namie’s vocals weren’t bad, but at the same time she just sounded so strange to me. I just can’t see Namie pulling off rock, it just defies all meaning. This isn’t a bad song, its actually pretty interesting and the ‘iiiii’ll maaaaaake you feel all right’ is pretty okay, but I just can’t get down with this song. Its a decent start to the album though.

The next track on the album is the seemingly hopeful B w/z you. This song made me really sad the first time I heard it. I think it may be because I wasn’t expecting it to go the way it did. The arrangement is very, not tech, but synth I’d say and even so it still retains that element of longing. Namie’s vocals strained a bit, mostly during the chorus, but it was tolerable and her voice just seemed very sad yet determined, especially when she says: ’soon i’ll be with you, i’ll be with you’ (I believe she also says: ‘i don’t know when, but soon… i’ll be with you’) Its quite heart-breaking in the sense that that person is gone, but you retain hope and know that the two of you will indeed meet again.

The next track on the album is the pointless Close your eyes, Close to you. (sigh) I really had to get that off my chest, because this song is just fail. The arrangement is a whole lot of synth, that’s all I can think of and it made me think of bright lights and gay guys dancing in the club. I can’t even comment on Namie’s vocals, because I don’t even recall hearing them. I think I mentally blocked this song out, it just seems so purposeless and why? Ugh.

The next track on the album is the pretty mellow Me love peace!!. No seriously, what kind of title is ‘me love peace?’ Honestly. I liked this song. The arrangement is a bit mellow, and though it isn’t all that interesting it really sucks you into the song. Namie’s vocals are decent, and then she goes to the chorus where her voice strains. Its tolerable though. This is a pretty okay song.

The next track on the album is the dated No Communication. This is a pretty interesting song, and I find that I like it. I don’t know, it kind of reminded me of when she was in the Super Monkeys (???), and that one song off Ami Suzuki’s SA album Nothing Without You that I like. This song does have a few problems, main being that it doesn’t make any sense–I guess that’s why I like it, though. Hmm?

The next track on the album is the eccentric a walk in the park. This was one of the first songs I ever heard by Namie, and that was such a long time ago. I find this song rather bland, but I liked it then and I certainly like it now. The arrangement is nothing special, but it does manage to keep you engaged. Namie’s vocals are a bit high in an annoying way, but tolerable. I don’t know, this song just sounds so nostalgic to me, so I like it.

The next track on the album is the laid-back To-day. This song is pretty casual, arrangement wise and vocal wise. It doesn’t really do much, and that can work against it. A lot of people will be bored and disinterested with this song, because nothing really happens, everything goes at the same pace, and it can become a bit tedious. It also plays without being felt. I can’t remember it at all, because in truth its not a very interesting song, in I find that I just don’t really care for it.

The next track on the album is one I just don’t get, Storm. I mean, just… what? The arrangement is forgettable and annoying at the same time. Namie sings this song as if she’s rapping it, and it just scared me. I don’t like this song, it just sounds like such a stupid and pointless track, I don’t even know why she recorded this. Also, the: ’storm!’ that she sort of shouts in the chorus is just… lame.

The next track on the album is the mid-tempo Whisper. I don’t know why I thought this was going to be a down-tempo, well at least its better than the last song. The beat is really nothing special, but it does go well with the whole flow of the song. Namie’s vocals are decent, but weird. I don’t know, this is just one of those songs you find that you just like for no particular reason. If I could pick though, I’d say the chorus, it really kind a drew me into the song.

The next track on the album is the heart-warming CAN YOU CELEBRATE?. I’m sorry (why am I apologizing?), but goodness do I love this song. Its very gospel, and I’ve always adored Namie for that aspect in her early sound, she did it so well. Namie’s vocals are still a bit immature, but she sung this song with such heart and it is just so felt. I mean this song really makes you smile through the tears, and I always find that I enjoy it, its such a great listen and a classic. This would have been a perfect end to the album: ‘can you celebrate? can you kiss me tonight?’

The second to last track on the album is the instrumental I know…. Its an instrumental. What, did they like run out of ideas in the studio and decide to tack on one of the most pointless and annoying instrumentals they could possibly make up? Fail!

The last track on the album is the all right How to be a Girl. I’ve never liked this song, I’ve always thought it was stupid. Though, listening to it now, I think it has grown on me somewhat, since I can relate to it in a way. I like how she chose to sing this song, I mean to most it may come across as annoying, because it did to me at one point, but I like the whole approach. Its a decent album closer, but I still think CAN YOU CELEBRATE? would have been a much better choice.

-GRADE: C
Rating: * star

Namie Amuro’s second album Concentration 20 is just not a good album. I’m glad to say that’s it a whole lot better than Sweet 19 Blues, so that’s a relief, but its still not saying much. I can not believe that this album went on to sell over a million copies, I mean it just blows my mind. Then again, this was back in ‘97 and I guess people were down for music like this (and then Hikki comes along and changes their minds). I just don’t get this album, I really don’t, and its almost like the sooner I forget about it the better off I’ll be. The only songs that stood out were: Be w/z you and CAN YOU CELEBRATE?, the other songs I liked were merely all right and the rest were fail. Concentration 20 makes me glad that Namie finally changed her style and never looked back.

Namie Amuro [60s70s80s] (33rd Single)

NEW LOOK
ROCK STEADY
WHAT A FEELING

Namie Amuro’s 33rd single starts off with the first a-side NEW LOOK. This is a sampling of The Supreme’s classic ‘Baby Love’. This is quite the catchy song. I have always loved the arrangement of this song, it just always sounded so innocent and romantic to me. Its got such a soft quality to it that makes it charming and very endearing. Namie’s little version of this song was really cute, and infectious like you wouldn’t believe. I just love how everything seems to flow together and makes you want to strike poses and dance, without really dancing. I love the chorus. This song is just love, seriously.

The next track is the single’s second a-side ROCK STEADY. This is a sampling of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Rock Steady’. I have actually never heard this song from Aretha. This is my least favorite of the era tracks, but its still good. I love how funky the arrangement is; sometimes I actually wish that I had grew up in the 70’s instead of the 90’s, but then I’d be old. I liked Namie’s vocal performance, it was a bit assertive and I just love when she says: ‘rock steady, baby!’ Also, this may be my least favorite, but its the song that definitely had my favorite video of the three era tracks.

The next track is the singles third and last a-side WHAT A FEELING. Its a sampling of Irene Cara’s What A Feeling from that movie Flashdance. Also she played Sparkle’s much smarter younger sister in Sparkle! This is my favorite of the three era tracks. Its crazy now because I actually didn’t like this song at first, or the video, but now I love it. Though not the video. I love how catchy the beat and the verses are, they really make you want to get up and dance. Plus, I just adore the chorus, the way Namie shouts: ‘What a feeling! What a feeling!’ Its so satisfying.

-GRADE: A+
Rating: *** stars

Namie Amuro’s 33rd single 60s70s80s is solid. I really wish she would do this more often, because she really delivered. NEW LOOK is light pop and rnb at its best. ROCK STEADY is a bit aggressive and edgy, and I love it. WHAT A FEELING is a bit more carefree and fun, and is the best of the three. Namie really brought it with this single, she only keeps getting better.

Namie Amuro [Break The Rules] (Fourth Album)

Rule 8AM
no more tears
better days
break the rules
LOOKING FOR YOU
PLEASE SMILE AGAIN (Album Mix)
never shoulda
CROSS OVER (Album Mix)
GIRLFRIEND
NEVER END (Album Mix)
think of me
RULE 8PM
HimAWArI (SunFLOweR)

The album starts off with the thirty second interlude RULE 8AM. It’s like the start of a day.

The first full length track on the album is the mid-tempo no more tears. I really do love this song, even if it does have the tendency to go on forever. The arrangement is of course poppish since this was before she switched to rnb, but it has a bit of Gospel thrown in as well, especially towards the end when the choir joins in making the track nearly majestic. I thought Namie’s vocal performance in this song was good and stayed consistent, but it was also a little mournful especially at the very end when her voice dies out. I mean this is meant to be a hopeful song, but I think a bit of her pain slipped in as well. ‘What’s going on with you and me?’.

The next track is the airy better days. This song has a very somber air to it, despite its hopeful message, such as when Namie says: ‘i’d change the world if i could’. Her vocals to me are very downplayed, and a bit breathy, I don’t know why, but it could be because of those swishing sounds I kept hearing in the background. Its a pretty mellow song, but just like in the previous track, Namie sounds just really depressed to me.

The next track on the album is the aggressive break the rules. This is one of my all time favorite Namie Amuro songs, man I love how assertive Namie is on the vocals, like she’s letting you know. It doesn’t even seem like she’s singing, but talking, because the words are said so quickly, that its nearly impossible to keep up with her. The arrangement is basic, but it pounds into you, making the song very rebellious. I love the, ‘let’s break the rules’ of the chorus, because it reminds me of someone taking charge of their life, and doing things their way.

The next track is the somewhat mid-tempo pop tune LOOKING FOR YOU. Normally I would loath a song like this, but in this case I really like it. Honestly I don’t know why. The arrangement is pretty basic, but has an airy quality about it that I like. Namie’s vocals are pretty nice, except towards the end when she goes aud-lib crazy and sounds way off-key, nearly threw me off the song. It has charm.

The next track is the surprisingly pleasant PLEASE SMILE AGAIN (Album Mix). With a chorus that consists of, ‘please smile again, woah, woah, woah’ I thought I was going to detest this song, and find it painfully annoying. It’s quite the opposite actually. This is not a song I can listen to often, but just like the previous track it has a nice charm to it, that draws me in and makes it enjoyable.

The next track is the hard-hitting never shoulda. It brings me back to break the rules in terms of aggressiveness, in which Namie says, ‘never shoulda let me go, even if your heart says so’. Its like a you let me go, and you’ll regret it type song, and I like that because its very straight-forward and Namie isn’t trying to sugarcoat anything. The verses aren’t all that interesting, but the chorus more than makes up for that. This song does have a tendency to become repetitive, but it’s a tolerable type of repetitiveness.

The next track on the album is the pop-techno CROSS OVER (Album Mix). I like this song and I didn’t really expect too. It’s seems a little experimental to me, but then again not really, because it sounds like something that would be on her Concentration 20 or GENUIS 2000 albums. I thought the arrangement was pretty lukewarm, but it went with the flow of the song. Namie’s vocals were good, and the guy rapping at the end was pretty good as well–him taking out the song was a nice touch.

I LOVE this next track, GIRLFRIEND. It’s like Namie is saying everything that is on my mind, especially the, ‘never wanna be your girlfriend’ and ‘you can hang with the guys and stuff, simply disregard the way I felt’. It’s like, ‘you go Namie!’. Its such a solid and relevant song, and pretty much my favorite on the album. Namie doesn’t try to do more with her vocals than what she should, and though the arrangement isn’t all that interesting, it goes perfectly with the song. Nice track.

The next track is the down tempo and heartfelt NEVER END (Album Mix). I always feel sad listening to this song, even though I don’t get that impression and its not really a depressing song. Its more like a ’sunshine after the rain’ type of song and it always leaves me fulfilled every time I listen to it. The arrangement is very sweeping and wonderful; Namie’s vocals were also really good, I liked her mostly during the verses and the hook, but when the ‘never end’ came in the chorus her voice strains and its hard to ignore. This is still though one of my favorite Namie songs.

The next track on the album is the down-tempo think of me. I remember that when I heard this song for the first time, I actually started crying. Its a little embarrassing now, considering that Namie sings off key a lot and mostly during the bridge and that does ruin the song a bit, but at that time, it really touched me. I think it’s mostly when Namie sings, ‘think of me’ there is just something so heartbreaking about the way she sings those three words, and that coupled with the mournful arrangement just brings it all home. A re-arrangement would really bring this song justice, because it really is a good and very underrated song from her.

The second and last interlude on the album is the thirty-three seconds long RULE 8PM. Its like the end of the day.

The last track on the album (in my opinion) is the lovely HimAWArI (SunFLOweR). Normally this would be a song that I wouldn’t pay attention too, but it is actually quite a good song and one I wish Namie would take advantage of, because this would be a really nice song to sing on her tours to wind things down. The arrangement is really wonderful, I love the piano in the beginning and throughout, it really gives this song depth and adds volume to Namie’s somewhat throaty vocal performance. A really nice way to end the album.

Though Namie does not leave the album on that song, but with this next track no more tears (REMIX). I don’t know why Namie decided to tack this remix on, but she did. It’s impossible and I really can’t be bothered with it.

-GRADE: A
Rating: **1/2 stars

Namie Amuro’s fourth album Break The Rules is one of my favorite albums by her, and one of her best period. I’m quite sure this album doesn’t get a lot of love like her latter albums do, but it is honestly a really good album, and the start of her transformation. I wasn’t too enthused with her previous three albums, the sheer pop they exuded made me nauseous and this album was like a breath of fresh air. Yes, pop is still the dominant music genre on this album, but it shows variety and a little rnb slipped through the cracks and made this album a lot more engaging than the ones before it. I love how Namie got aggressive with break the rules, never shoulda and GIRLFRIEND, and showed us a softer and rather fragile side to her with songs like no more tears, NEVER END, think of me and HimAWArI. I loved the experimental-ish CROSSOVER, the spiritual better days and the carefree-ness of LOOKING FOR YOU and PLEASE SMILE AGAIN. I’m surprised that even with this umpteenth listen I still love all the songs on here, and have grown to love them even more. I’m glad Namie evolved her image to bring us gems like Queen of Hip-Pop and PLAY, but I kind of miss this image of her. Break The Rules really showed us how much pain Namie was going through concerning all the tragedies that had happened in her life, with her divorce and the death of her mother, but it also showed us that she could overcome them, and that is why she is still one of the best J-artists today.