the album
Since this page has several different parts to it, I've included a small mini-nav here for if you want to skip ahead.
tracklist & general info . where to buy . recommendations . my opinion
Tracklist & General Info
- Catcher in the Light
- About You
- GAME
- my name's WOMEN
- WONDERLAND
- Liar
- HOPE or PAIN
- HAPPY ENDING
- Moments
- walking proud
- CAROLS
- Kaleidoscope
- INSPIRE
- HONEY
- Replace
- winding road
- Humming 7/4
Ayumi Hamasaki's sixth full album, MY STORY, was released on 15 December 2004. The First Press edition of the CD+DVD version had four different covers. Of the seventeen tracks, seven (About You, GAME, my name's WOMEN, Moments, walking proud, CAROLS, INSPIRE, and Humming 7/4) have full-length promotional videos. The PV for my name's WOMEN was released after the album on her STEP you/is this LOVE? single.
Where to Buy
My top suggestion for buying this album is, of course, on iTunes, because that's where I got it. However, you can buy the actual album from YesAsia, CDJapan, or Amazon, all of which will cost more than iTunes. I myself am looking into buying the physical album because I want to have a copy of it along with my downloaded copy; once I do that, I'll give my top recommendation on which place to get it from. Of course, if a store near you sells Ayu's music, buy it there!
Recommendations
Since this album is available on iTunes as individual songs or the whole thing, I figure I should give recommendations on which songs you should look into.
For rock fans: You absolutely must get About You. Absolutely. Aside from that, the second-best rock song on the album is Humming 7/4 (which is more pop/rock, but eh). GAME and Liar are both more pop/rock to me, but I still love 'em both.
For ballad fans: This is a great album for Ayu's ballads. The highlights are Moments and CAROLS, and you honestly can't go wrong with either one. Aside from those, walking proud and winding road are the other ballads on the album.
For pop fans: Get HONEY. Period. This is probably Ayu's most cheerful song (musically, at least). my name's WOMEN is a great girl-power song, and INSPIRE has a unique sound that makes me think of a tribal dance thanks to the PV. And Replace is just lovely.
And if you're wondering which songs on the album are Ayu's "intermission" tracks, they're Catcher in the Light, WONDERLAND, and Kaleidoscope. Catcher in the Light functions more as an introductory track and does have some lyrics, but it's not a full-length song.
My Opinion
As if it isn't obvious enough, this is my absolute favorite Ayu album. This is mostly because it was the first Ayu album I heard, and it's incredibly nostalgic for me. But aside from that, it has some of my very favorite Ayu songs (like About You, Moments, and Humming 7/4) and I consider it one of her best albums. I can listen to it on repeat (and do XD) and ... yeah. I just love it. ^^ I'm sure not everyone thinks as highly as of as I do, but to each their own.