Music Album Review -- Ayumi Hamasaki (A Best 2)

Ayumi Hamasaki's latest album is out in stores now!

About A Best 2 album:

On 28th February 2007, Ayumi released two compilation albums entitled A BEST 2 -BLACK- and A BEST 2 -WHITE-. They are both released as Limited edition 1CD+2DVD-packages, as well as a normal edition 1CD package. The songs included in this album are from her "evolution" to her "Bold & Delicious / Pride" singles, including a few album tracks.

A BEST 2 -BLACK- includes sad, dark songs, a black cover for the limited edition, and a new song entitled "part of Me" which will be featured in a new Panasonic CM. The backstage footage of her "Best of Countdown Live 2006-2007 A" can also be found on the DVD for the Black edition, as well as the music videos or promotional clips for the songs included.

The White edition of A BEST 2 will feature upbeat songs, as well as the live footage of her CountDown Live 2006-2007, and music videos or promotional clips of the songs on the album.

The special site "abest2.com" was set up on 15th February 2007 to promote and to celebrate the release of the album.

On the release day of A BEST 2, the -BLACK- version reached to the top #1 position on the Oricon Charts while the -WHITE- version reached #2. By the 2nd day, both versions switched positions as -WHITE- got the #1 position while the -BLACK- got the #2 position. A BEST 2 first day sales totalled a whopping estimate of 170,000 copies.

The first week sales figure of A BEST 2 gained a total of 950,000 copies. The -WHITE- version sales totaled at 475,284 and the -BLACK- version sales totaled at 470,057 respectively, while holding the first and second positions of the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart.

Covers for the A Best 2 : White and Black edition

Ayumi Hamasaki striking her poses in the A Best 2 -Black- album. A Best 2 -Black- includes "dark" songs with "painful/heartbroken" lyrics

Ayumi Hamasaki in A Best 2 -White- album. A Best 2 -White- will include "Light" songs with "bright/cheerful/upbeat" lyrics.

A Best 2 -Black-

CD:

1. Dearest
2. CAROLS
3. No way to say
4. HANABI
5. walking proud
6. Free & Easy
7. Endless sorrow
8. Because of you
9. About You
10. GAME
11. is this LOVE?
12. HANABI ~episode II~
13. NEVER EVER
14. HEAVEN
15. part of Me

DVD1 (A Best Clips -Black-):

1. Dearest
2. CAROLS
3. No way to say
4. walking proud
5. Free & Easy
6. Endless sorrow
7. Because of You
8. About You
9. GAME
10. is this LOVE?
11. HANABI ～episode II～
12. NEVER EVER [promotional clip]
13. HEAVEN
14. part of Me
15. H [TV-CM]

DVD2 (Documentary Film of Countdown Live 2006-2007 A)

A Best 2 -White-

CD:
1. evolution
2. Greatful days
3. independent
4. Humming 7/4
5. UNITE!
6. Real me
7. my name's WOMEN
8. ourselves
9. INSPIRE
10. STEP you
11. July 1st
12. fairyland
13. Voyage
14. Moments
15. A Song is born

DVD1 (A Best Clips -White-):

1. evolution
2. Greatful days
3. Humming 7/4
4. UNITE! [promotional clip]
5. Real me
6. my name's WOMEN
7. ourselves
8. INSPIRE
9. STEP you
10. fairyland
11. Voyage
12. Moments
13. H [TV-CM]

DVD2 (Ayumi Hamasaki Best of Countdown LIVE 2006-2007 A):

1. Not yet
2. ourselves
3. Fly high
4. Beautiful Fighters
5. NEVER EVER
6. A Song for ××
7. No way to say
8. Free & Easy
9. evolution
10. flower garden
11. until that Day...
12. AUDIENCE
13. Boys & Girls
-encore-
14. Trauma
15. independent
16. Humming 7/4
17. BLUE BIRD