Deep Dive: Ayumi Hamasaki Part Seven (A BALLADS)

    Like A BEST before it, we are going to give a shout out to Ayumi Hamasaki's second compilation album, A BALLADS. It has some history to it, and some new songs. I figured why not? Not sure if you could entirely call it a "best" album or a compilation as it only features 5 ballads in their original state. The other songs are either new, re-recorded, or remixed. Either way, the album is something of a fan favorite and was a hit in general as it eventually sold over a million copies. Let's get in a ballad mood and deep dive.

    The first new song, "RAINBOW," probably has a familiar title, right? Hamasaki's latest studio album shares its title with this song, RAINBOW. Hamasaki included a code to a website on first pressings of RAINBOW that fans could unlock an early instrumentation of this song. Fans were asked to give their thoughts on the clip which Hamasaki then used to write the lyrics. The final product is heard here. Which is cool as hell. The year is 2003 and you just went on a website, listened to a snippet of a song, and then THE Hamasaki used your words to write the lyrics. 

    "RAINBOW" is a nice song. The video perfectly captures how it feels. The ballad has acoustic elements to it and a beautiful piano. Production wise, it very much feels like a track from RAINBOW which makes absolute sense. I seek this song out on rainy days. It's just a great chill out song. 

    A theme of this album is that the "present Hamasaki" embraces the "past Hamasaki." Which is a killer concept that we even see pulled off through the album art. But also through the remixes. We get new takes on past favorites here. As seen with the "appears (HAL'S Progress)" remix that adds strings to it and makes it take on the guise of a ballad. In a way. The original "appears" is a dance bop. Still, this is a great remix. And "Key (Eternal Tie Version)" follows it up nicely.

    Ballads are very important for Hamasaki's discography. So I can see why a release like A BALLADS was pushed as it's a smart idea. It helps to establish Hamasaki as a balladeer. Which she will go on to release many from here. But ballads help the public take an artist more seriously, I think. They're very hard songs to pull off and make interesting. Though Hamasaki takes a stab at it and kills it 90% of the time. This compilation is just the trophy showing it off.

    "You (Northern Breeze)" is another nice take. Pretty upbeat too. So it's not boring. Many people think ballads are boring, and don't get me wrong. They can be a snooze fest. Hamasaki usually navigates away from this though. "To Be (2003 ReBirth Mix)" maintains the essence of the original.

    "HANABI" appears again untouched. Then we get a HAL'S Progress mix of "M." Which makes it more wintery. And more grand. Like it could be from an old Hollywood movie at times. Though the original is far superior. 

    "Dearest" and "Dolls" are also untouched. "Dearest" is perfect and needs to be left alone, to be honest. You can't perfect perfection.

    "Seasons" gets a 2003 ReBirth Mix much like "To Be" before it. It gets a little more... hip hop? With that box beat? Right? Again, the perfect original is perfect. "Voyage" follows it untouched.

    "A Song For xx" gets a make over here in form of a session from 2003. It gives the song a chilly edge. It's cool! A nice little treasure.

    "Who..." get a Across the Universe take that is more piano focused. The piano is such a gorgeous part of "Who..." This mix feels a little Billy Joel? Which is unexpected yet an interesting (in a good way) take. We get new vocals here like on "A Song For xx." Hamasaki is not afraid to re-record songs for compilation releases. It's interesting to see because artists need no reason to re-record for greatest hits releases. It's easy just to slap some singles on a disc and call it a day. Maybe throw in a new song or two if you're feeling frisky. Not Hamasaki though, no no. 

    We then get the second "new" song which is "Sotsugyou Shashin," a cover of the Matsutoya Yumi song. I think because I love the original so much, I don't really pay this cover much mind. It feels like Ringo Sheena with that intro though. And it's really different than the original. Cover songs must be so hard to do because you have to walk a fine line of paying homage to the original and yet making it your own. Hamasaki makes it her own, but lacks on the homage part a lot. Which leaves me not feeling strongly one way or another. I just love Matsutoya's work so much. I know all of her songs by heart. It's hard listening to a cover version without wanting to listen to Matsutoya's original. Though I do think it was a fun idea for Hamasaki to cover a song. Both because it's fun and from a marketing standpoint to drum up interest in the compilation. 

    I think A BALLADS is a nice little listen for times when you want to slow down. Perfect for rainy days and chilling on the couch. Don't be surprised if you crave the original versions of the songs that have been remixed here though. What's new here is nice though. I can see why fans cherish this collection too. 

Rank: A... BALLADS

Recommendation: Those upcoming spring rainy days would be a nice time to take it for a spin.

Standouts:

    "RAINBOW"

    "appears (HAL'S Progress)"

    "You (Northern Breeze)"

    "A Song for XX (030213 Session #2)"

    "Dolls"

    "Dearest"