Deep Dive: Ayumi Hamasaki Part Eight (Memorial Address)

    Welcome back to our Deep Dive series into Ayumi Hamasaki's enchanting discography! We're on part eight and we've barely made a dent into her albums. I'm wondering if I should cover some of her remix albums because she's very well-known for her remixes though that would take FOREVER. This would quickly become a Hamasaki fan blog (not that it's not anyways. We love her). We'll see though! Anyways, today, we have her first mini-album which isn't so mini standing at 8 tracks. It's 2003's Memorial Address. I think Hamasaki's career spans multiple "chapters." She has also described something similar to this. I think we have that debut era which spans from A Song for xx to LOVEppears then concluding with Duty. Then we have the second chapter which is Hamasaki at her peak beginning with A BEST  and I am... through this album. And we kinda get set up for the foreseeable future with Hamasaki albums repeating trends that absolutely smash every time. There's a formula that starts with this third chapter that begins with MY STORY and then continues through (miss)understood, A BEST 2 -Black & White-, Secret, and concludes with A COMPLETE ~ALL SINGLES~. But I'd argue it starts right here with Memorial Address. Let's talk about this while we deep dive!

    This album's photoshoot is SO PRETTY! I found some photos for the article today I hadn't seen before, and I'm blown away! Thank you, internet! Something to note about this mini-album is that almost all the songs have music videos to accompany them besides the final track, the title track, "Memorial Address (Take 2 Version)." This album is 8 tracks. Which one or two more tracks and it would have been a full-length studio album. At the time it was Hamasaki's shortest album though (not counting that non-Hamasakian Nothing From Nothing EP. We don't talk about that). The length plays to its strengths though. Each song is a knockout which makes for a highly enjoyable listen with zero filler. 

    Our opening song, "ANGEL'S SONG," is one of my favorites from Hamasaki. Largely in part due to the humorous music video that's like a fever dream. I love it. The song itself is heavenly. Literally. That opening sounds like you're standing at the pearly gates. Hamasaki has fun singing this one too. It's catchy. It's poppy. It's springy. Which is most welcome here in the middle of January. 

    Hamasaki has began to shift her focus from incredibly cohesive sounding albums (Duty and I am...) into multiple genres and playing with her sound. We get a light, breezy pop with "ANGEL'S SONG" and "Greatful Days." Hard rock with "Because of You." Experimental ballad with "forgiveness." Hamasaki winter classic with "No Way to Say." The summer pop-rock we've come to know with "HANABI ~episode II~." And hip-hop/trip-hop (a Hamasaki first) with "Ourselves." Hamasaki will continue to diversify and stay inconsistent with her sound on future releases from here on out (kinda barring the unapologetic 2000s alt rock of MY STORY). Which is an interesting choice for better or worse. It works here though, I think. It keeps the listener totally engaged throughout. 

    "Greatful Days" is light and most fun. Hamasaki has forgotten the darkness of her early career and ran into the sunshine. It's a perfect sunny summer day song. There's a lot going on in the soundscape which makes it highly repeatable. It's just a great slice of pop pie. 

    Then we get rock Hamasaki. In retrospect, this song feels like a hint as to what's to come with her follow-up, full-length 2004's MY STORY. Songs like this give Hamasaki an edge. An artistic one at that. She's not afraid to get gritty, and she rocks out. She feels totally at home on songs like this. There's a teeny tiny bit of pop going on to help it fit into the rest of the record. Other than that, bang your head to it without shame. 

    

    Like its accompanying music video, "Ourselves" is just a cool song. It's a style from Hamasaki we hadn't heard before though got a hint of from "HANABI" featured on her previous studio album, RAINBOW. The hook is the main draw here. The opening sets up an intriguing, almost eerie vibe. Its serious tone is its greatest strength along with those post-chorus strings.

    As we've discussed previously, Hamasaki is always up for trying new things. And she always makes them her own. Which works in her favor as she is able to diversify her large discography and keep it memorable for the most part. But she also retains her artistic identity and stays true to herself and sharpens her strengths. "Ourselves" is no exception to this as she takes this sound and makes it into a Hamasaki track complete with memorable, self-penned lyrics. 

    Ah yes, lyrics. Hamasaki continues to broaden her perspective and themes here. Most notably with "Ourselves." But also continues the light-themes from RAINBOW with "Greatful Days." She even follows up a story here. Adding a second episode to "HANABI" with "HANABI ~episode II~" which immediately makes you curious. Then there's "forgiveness" too. Which we will cover in a minute.

    "HANABI ~episode II~" is pop rock that immediately draws you in. It also has a mysterious, night-time vibe to it much like "HANABI." It also has a heartbeat beat throughout it which makes it more special. This successor is so much different than the first song. There isn't a self-sample here or anything to tie it back in sonically. It focuses on the continuation of the first story with the lyrics alone. The result is a stunning song full of emotion.

    "No Way to Say" is classic Hamasaki, and it's so beautiful. She always does so great at winter songs. And this one has an icy cold demeanor as well. Its soundscape is lush and fully brings out its lyrics. It's one of my favorites to listen to around this time of year. It's great to sing along to too.

    Hamasaki's vocal performance is in top shape on this album. She becomes more confident in her voice with each release. She's less shrill (mostly) here and fools around with her lower and mid ranges yet feels more comfortable in her higher ranges too. I would also argue this release features her at her most emotive thus far as most of the songs require such emotion. She conveys it perfectly. 

    "forgiveness" is such an odd ball. Not in a bad way. It's a headscratcher even for a Hamasaki song. It's experimental. Hands down the most experimental on the album (perhaps in her whole discography). It's a ballad. And it was released as a single. It's not a commercial song at all. It takes the experimental elements of songs like "Voyage," "Dolls," and "Free & Easy" from RAIBOW and then multiplies them by a hundred. The result is a song that sounds like an old fairy tale from a dusty and forgotten children's book. It opens up in the chorus and becomes its own world. The "iiii" that begins the chorus is a tad bit grating. Otherwise, it's a fine experimental ballad from Hamasaki. It'd probably be a deep cut if it wasn't a single. What a risky move from Hamasaki. It's not my favorite, but I don't dislike it. I wonder how Hamasaki feels about this song because it underperformed as a single (understandably, it's not for the public

    Our final song is the title track. I've always been curious about the "take 2 version" that is tagged onto this. I think it's impressive she nailed the song in its second take and that's the one she released. Many artists do multiple takes. And there may be more of this song, but the second take was the one that was released. And it has such emotion to it. So, like Adele's "Rolling In the Deep" was this the one that was the best because of all the emotion that later takes didn't capture? You even hear a man speaking in the opening few seconds of it. Oh! I just checked Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai, and apparently a band made this song and Hamasaki liked the melody and wrote new lyrics for it? Thus the take 2 is her take on it? Interesting. There's a slightly different version of this song featured on A BEST 2 -Black- as a hidden track. We'll cover that there though. 

    To conclude, Memorial Address is a highly entertaining listen. Hamasaki breaks new ground here and there to shake things up in a good way. By this point, Hamasaki has figured out her sound and how to play to her strengths and capture her listener and enthrall them. She knows who she is an artist. She's confident here and really sells it to us which is inspiring to witness. 

Rank: S Rank. I'm writing a letter to this address to let Hamasaki know I love this memorial. 

Recommendation: I give it a spin every spring and summer! (And fall and winter!)

Standouts:

    I honestly think they all standout in their own ways!