Thanks for all the links!
I know it's early to say it at first listens, 'cause maybe I'll change my mind, but I appreciated Hand on Me. It has character, and it's certanly better than something simple, safe and uninspiring like YEAH OH or GO ROUND. It kinda reminds me of WILD, for now. Nice video, beautiful colors, super stilysh Namie, awesome dance moves: fitting for the song.
I want to wait to listen to anything else that isn't preview for now.

I only got about 20 seconds into heaven and fell to HEAVEN lol...
this is going to be one amazing album!

Does anyone have HQ mp3 links for Contrail, Hands on Me and Heaven?

Contrail can be find here

Took like twenty listens to figure out that the first word in "Hands On Me" was bombard.

i dunno why but it makes me think of Beyonces "Run The World". *shrugs* first thing that hit my mind was that song.

Heaven..... is deffinitelly a no-no for me too much English and it sounds like any other crap western artists spit out these days....Even tho i'm not too impressed with "Hands on me", i'd take it anytime over this, deffinitelly not listening to it again lol So far i am only really loving Contrail and BBC..... In general i am not really liking the idea of there being so much english, cuz it sounds really messy....ANd since i am really not a lover of dance music it's a bit of a tricky thing for me to like anything that has heavy portion of it in there, like Heaven. It just sounds so typical to anything western singers do that it just makes me mad cuz it's so bad lol

she's doing everything right. the new album's gonna be FANTASTIC I'm sure

NAMIE IS NOT KIDDING WITH THIS ALBUM! DAMN
Heaven is absolutely amazing, who produced this album? Her beats for FEEL are mindblowing. This could've easily been a huge hit in the USA had it been released by the likes of Britney or Rihanna.

I was honestly not as excited for this as Uncontrolled before we heard Hands On Me and Heaven, i love Big Boys Cry and Contrail but they both had to grow on me for a while for me to really appreciate them. The new tracks are just pure love from me, if she keeps going like this then it's going to be tons better than Uncontrolled! Which was already a fantastic album.

I'm so happy that heaven isn't a ballad.

So far I love Hands on Me better than Heaven it might changed but both of them ore nice for me :D Hands on Me reminds me of those songs nowadays that incorporate electric instrumental in the chorus like Pound The Alarm lol~

FEEL is like Uncontrolled ADVANCED :D

Nambe. You just made me get back into Jpop... Even though you're singing in English lol this exactly the type of music I love.

I really like the new songs, but I feel this is going to be way too mainstream for me.

Heaven is INCREDIBLE!!! Both songs sound INCREDIBLE!! And I MUST say that it's nothing like what I was expecting. When I read the title a few pages back I was thinking of a ballad song like The Meaning of Us or something, but THIS is AWESOME!!

And secondly, I will NEVER understand why people complain about her English. I think it's improving A LOT. I'm understanding her perfectly in both HoM and Heaven.

She is completely PAWNING EVERY TRACK I have heard for this new album so far. :D :D :D :D :D :D

At one point I was considering on cancelling my order for my CD+Bluray copy, but now, HELL, I'm thinking of blowing half my paycheck and ordering a dozen more just to support her. :blove :blove

I hope this album will do as well as Uncontrolled did, she really deserves it. She's the only Jpop artist who's bringing international quality music right now.

Are there any large HQ screencaps from Contrail or HoM PVs? I need some good images to make some wallpapers with.

^I agree, her music is really international this time. It's fantastic!

Wow, this is shaping up to be a really fun album!

I agree with SoldierofSilence. Her English is much easier for me to understand. A few words here and there but the majority is clear. (I even understood "bombard" on my first listen lol.)

So far what I'm hearing isn't amazing me but really not only are these songs growers but it's only less than half the album. I have very high hopes. And I'm not a fan of much mainstream western music but if something sounds good to me it sounds good.

Really like Heaven and I adore the PV for Hands On Me :heart FEEL is shaping up to be waaaay better for me than Uncontrolled :D I just wish there wasn't so much English - much prefer her singing in Japanese (not that her English is bad, just I prefer listening to the language)

I need a DL for Hands on Me

^Try the website "namie amuro live". That's where I got my DL

I am ADDICTED to Hands on Me!!!! She's even got me trying the dance moves in my living room XD

I'm going to have to agree with the both of you. :yes This album is staring to seem overly derivative for my liking. "Heaven" sounds very mainstream and uninspiring to me. I can't picture myself listening to these songs more than once. :no

I wish she kept that innovative sound she had with (Dr., Defend Love, WILD, etc.)

I hope the rest of the album doesn't sound like any other conventional Western album on the market. :(

:yes I agree but I think I will enjoy these songs (even if this style is not my favorite) because it's easy to listen like all the songs we can hear when you listen to the radio in our western countries ^^

Sorry but since when EDM music is the only style which represent the international quality music ?? and to consider her as the only singer just because she makes EDM songs ... (Btw I don't speak about Ayu she isn't into this ! I don't want someone calls me hater because it's not true XD)

Oh yes ! These are among my favorite by her especially Defend Love though I really enjoy Contrail this time^^

Hands on Me PV totally blew me always. the styling, her moves and everything. totally love everything about it. the cherography is pure awesomeness. and I love the song. it's so catchy.
The album is gonna be awesome :)

I don't think Electronic music equals quality music, often it actually sounds cheap and rather ****** (Jennifer Lopez new song is a good example)
However, at least production wise i feel like what she's putting out right now is top quality, it doesn't sound half-assed or sell-out, but actually like something that could cross overseas cause the songs have a certain wow factor.

Of course that's just my opinion :P I'm sure there's some who's releasing quality music right now, but she's definitely in the far lead for me. Rihanna would've killled to snatch Hands On Me for herself.

Heaven indeed sounds very uninspiring to me too. I am so glad i am not the nly one here lol
I actually never thought i would like anything namie did because of this dance music/mainstream stuff, but i enjoy the most part of Uncontrolled, and Dr/WILD was on my repeat for a while. It's dance music but it's different, kind of. I mean it does not tell u "western pop music" it tell you "japanese pop music" at least to me.
I am actually kinda dissapointed that it's going this very mainstream way, still tho hopping she has more gems in there than Contrail or BBC, at least for my liking ><

Yeah, I applaud her for doing experimental stuff but I hope the album would sound more unique and less mainstream too. But being a huge Namie fan, I guess I'd still pretty much enjoy it anyway though LOL

OMG, Namie KILLED the choreography for Hands on Me! And BTW, I'm super late but I was listening to break the rules and was playing Looking for you 100000x just b/c it was in English!

I really dun know what is 'mainstream' here about the 2 new fantastic songs. As long as she's Not gonna release any boring thing like Can't Sleep & Funky Town it's ok to me X)

Now Hands On Me & Heaven are officially on the list of my top favourite Namie's songs together with Violet Sauce, Do Me More, Fast Car & Defend Love! The two new songs are too STYLISH! GOSH <3

Hand On Me is amazing. The PV is so good, I love it~ The choreography is amazing. Hand On Me is an amazing but then I listened to Heaven and, wow, just wow. Both are so good. This album is gonna be amazing!

Hands on Me is kind of messy, but I can't get it out of my mind!! @____@
And Heaven is great :D
I just wish she would stop singing in English so much D:

But TCL's Waterfalls... what a boring song! I really don't like this style of music...

Hands on me is so amazing.
I love everything about it but HOW CAN SHE DANCE IN THOSE HEEEEELS

I don't like HEAVEN, it sounds like the typical electropop song in USA.
I like electro pop, but i hope we can see more Hip hop and R&b in this album

Heaven <3


idk, I mean, no, I'm not crazy impressed with the songs, but tbh I was never really "impressed" with any of Namie's music to begin with. She always styled herself as the Queen of Hip-Pop, but I always preferred Koda's mixture of hip hop, R&B, and pop, over Namie's.

I always liked her more electronic music I think. I mean, the first song that made me love her was Do Me More, and then like, Sexy Girl. So.

I think she fits really really well with this style of music...and it's such a change from the other electronic stuff going on in Japan.


and fml Hands on me PV. The best part when she's just sitting in the chair like "Yep, I'm fabulous~ :D"

http://i.imgbox.com/ace6VSrh.gif

I really wanted to like Heaven, but the the "he-bo" instead of "heaven" drove me bananas

@emi: Yeah, I caught that too watching the PV. She just sits back like I'm not getting wet, I'm the ****.

I love the scenes where she is just sitting there. Lol. I can't wait for this to drop. I need some good music in my life!!

I've finally managed to listen to both new songs and I think I like them. they're certainly better than almost everything on Uncontrolled. That choregraphy in the HoM PV and those beats are ****in' great.

Does anyone have any lyrics for HoM? I can't understand some of her Engrish xD

Heaven PV listed on m-on!
No air date yet.
http://i41.tinypic.com/2vxitr9.jpg
http://www.m-on.jp/artist/id/533/

When I heard Hands on Me on repeat, I noticed on 2.15 until 2.22~23 that I heard something similar with Kylie Minogue's Step Back In Time, maybe they sample it or maybe it's just me :P lol~

PRECIOUS BEAUTY NO.38
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...15524750_n.jpg

I hope Namie is doing more than just spamming magazine covers. It's been a while since we've seen her perform on TV shows and such. Do people not do that anymore?

This album better be released for digital download internationally. I'll be buying the CD, but I think it's good for her brand to have the stuff available to everyone.

I like that this album has that cool colorful PVs!!
Hands On Me PV is so good and summery, I like it :)
Like Heaven out of all songs we've heard so far

NOTE: Namie stated in a recent interview with 'Scawaii' that this is the first time in her career she's worked with a new and diverse group of international producers and writers. This is the reasoning behind her album having more "Western" influences than usual. ;) Antea Shelton, who is one of the writers for "Hands On Me" has worked with Beyonce, J.Lo, Mary J. Blige, and Justin Bieber before.

I was never really fascinated with Namie's music either. I'm just a casual fan at best. I've always preferred Kuu's hybrid of R&B, Hip-hop, and danc/pop tbh. She does a better job of conveying the genres and grabbing my attention imo. However, I'm a bigger fan of Namie's electronic laced songs than Kuu's.

I'm glad she's bringing something new to Japanese audiences. :yes I just wish she steered away from the typical "Western" sound. Oh well, I'm sure Japan will appreciate her efforts and support her regardless. :P

can someone please provide namie's tour dates and locations?
i'd really appreciate it. THANKS!

This scan from PRECIOUS BEAUTY is GORGEOUS :heart

I used to be like that as well, I also used to like Kuu's music a lot more, but that started to change for me since 2007... Since then, as Namie usually stay safe with the releases and don't usually try new stuff (of course sometimes she does, she's doing it right now, but most of the time she doesn't) and her releases are usually in the same style of music that I love the most for her, I usually tend to like/love most of her new releases. With Kuu, as she tries more different stuff, sometimes I LOVE her releases, but sometimes I just can't bring myself to like them, and for me this is getting worse since her Gossip Candy single. So, because I like more of Namie's new releases than Kuu's for quite some time now, I would say I'm more fan of Namie than Kuu considering their music from the past 3~4 years. Though when it's about their older songs, then I would definitely go with Kuu's music :)

Check Namie's official site ^^
http://namieamuro.jp/tour/

i am so in love with Hands on Me and Heaven. anyone know how can I get tickets to her shows in Japan? Planning to go to her show in Osaka in Nov

We have the same opinion actually. :yes I prefer Kuu's older music (2005-2008) but as of late her releases have been slightly underwhelming imo. :(

I didn't take interest in Namie until 2009 and I've been following her music ever since meanwhile Kuu's music just seemed more unimpressive as time went on. I'm still a bigger fan of Kumi and always will be, but as of late I prefer the quality of Namie's music overall. :)

She looks so dead in that magazine pic. It's giving me so much life.

Couldn't agree more :yes (except for the Namie 2009 thing, for me it was late 2007, I just loved PLAY :D)

XD I adore this picture she looks her age for once and this style suits her very well ! There's no accounting for taste :lech

Just listened to Heaven and Hands on me. I'm cancelling my preorder. I absolutely dislike the direction she is taking and am incredibly sad right now.

thanks. sadly, I'll just be leaving Japan when she starts her tour :(

lol you have to love Japan and their "beauty concepts" though.

"Polish Lady" :laugh


I think for Namie, I just always more liked HER versus, liking her or being impressed because the music was good. I feel like she does a good job carrying her songs.

It's not easy, even for the best artists, to carry songs that aren't "good", or that aren't original, and I always feel like she just slays everything~

Like in her PVs. She'll just be walking around to some JLo inspired song.

But goddammit, it'll be so ****ing amazing lol

I was so about to pre order the album, but then I thought, hey, I'll be Japan when it releases! I'LL WAIT AND SAVE ON SHIPPING FOR ONCE! Omg shopping is going to be crazy lol

^even with EMS shipping i only paid 250Yen on my CD+Bluray copy at CDJ this time. :D :D :heart :heart

Also totally jealous!! I wanna go shopping in Japan RIGHT NOW!!
Oh well, I'll be there in September. Then I can go nuts. :D

^How so cheap? Did you have a lot of frequent shopper points saved or something?

Yeah. I had a large load saved. Actually my roommate didn't wanna create a second account for herself on CDJ since we live together, but she ordered a ton, so I ended up getting a ton of points off her one time shopping spree. :D

^I had a lot and used for the KH 1.5 HS REMiX and was pissed when there was no English voice or subtitle option, so I sold it. What a waste of points! haha

I think I'll go watch the Hands on Me PV again.......

^ You should know that the studio ghibli movies usually have subtitles.


I really dont know what to do at this point. Should I buy this album? Should I buy angela aki's single/album?
I only really like hands on me. But alive may be good.

Buy both! And Angela is coming out ith something?!

I was asked today why I preordered the album online when I love in japan!
I dont know but if I buy the album in a store, will I get the posters and stuff with them?

^some of them should give you posters.

oh and angela is releasing soon. So buying namie's AND angela's is gonna be almost 100$
Ugh.

Not sure if I'm really loving Hands on Me the song yet, but it might grow on me. The video however is fantastic! Obviously both this and Contrail were shot in LA. Also, was TLC in the video? I'm pretty sure it was them toward the beginning.

All I know is that I like everything about this album so far, and I can't freaking stop listening to Hands on Me, so I'm getting more and more excited about this album each day :D I really hope I'll like the rest of the songs as much as I like what we have so far...

I CANNOT stop watching this PV! I need help! lol

The song kinda sucks but the PV is giving me life.

Rainbow AND Heaven on the new album? OK ayu lol
and Alive (koda kumi)

interesting

Im the opposite
It's another 'namie dances and looks dead at times' video
But the song is REALLY good.

I love both the song AND the PV! PV just enhances the song for me. I'm impressed.

To me the music sounds awesome though. and it's done well. :)

All of this magazine promotion is glorious, but I really, REALLY hope we get some kind of TV glimpse as well!

so far the only song that made me want the album is Alive preview, hopefully the non promoting songs will be better

If it hasn't already been posted, the two tracks from feel that we don't know the titles for are Rainbow, and "stardust in my eyes".
Should be interesting

I overplayed Hands on Me yesterday.That ticking clock beat is annoying but at the same time addictive.

guys i need a bit of help.
http://imageshack.us/a/img195/2118/bbc1600.jpg
i posted this wallpaper for download a while ago and apparently it's nowhere to be found on my laptop for some reason. Does anyone possibly still have that zip or wallies???



Other pics preview from Precious Beauty No.38
http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...97174539_n.png

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nGpf6R3YN_...04_preview.jpg

lol she looks the same to me in first two

also that Contrail dress, that everyone was going crazy about....it does not really look THAT good lol
http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...71521368_n.png
it becomes good when you have great stylists around xD

Aaaand when you have the right model, like, I'd die for Namie's body, so sexy!

LOL @ Polish lady. That's random.

Buy the dress and buy a similar belt and boom same thing, no stylist needed.


People say she looks old in the "polish lady" picture, like damn if I look that young when
I'm her age I'LL TAKE IT.

Old? Seriously people? Shes in her 30's... I'll be 30 in another 2 years... It's not being old. It's just being a mature adult.

yeah the outfit is more then just that dress. shes wearing a dress under it and jacket.
the way she is earing it looks amazing actually. The way the model is wearing it... cheap.

Damn, I guess I'm in the same boat too. :(

I'm still going to wait until we hear the 7 remaining tracks in full. Besides, I always find I enjoy her non-promoted tracks more. :yes

Oh well, I still have Kumi and Crystal Kay (who's been recording in the U.S. for months now) to look forward to. :)

I don't like this new style at all, it's even worse than her TK days..

I don't think it's a dress underneath... it's similar to a petticoat/long-tutu. You can buy a waist petticoat like this one ( http://compare.ebay.com/like/2205693...Types&var=sbar ) I've worn such things under dresses for that flared out look.


Is there a link for the contrail mp3? I've seen the PV but I wanna listen on my iPod ;_;

^ yes a petticoat... thats what I was thinking... lol couldnt think of the word.

it's honestly better how namie's wearing it.

The model looked lazy wearing that dress compared to Namie :laugh

She looks tired in this Precious Beauty pictures :(

You know, I've been loving Namie's music lately. I've realized she's one of the only artists whose music just doesn't get old for me no matter what. If it wasn't for my inner-wannabe-hipster-self telling myself my favorite artist should be a writer and composer I'd probably declare her my favorite artist. I'm very tempted...

Im so addicted to Heaven

woah woah woah. Could anything even be worse.


I like the dress. That just goes to show how versatile those can be. They're made to be very basic, just everyday dresses~ I still think it's really cute.

They sure did a good job layering it over that petticoat thing. Looked totally seamless.

I think Hevane is my new jam...even better than BBC

I'm addicted to hands on me and heaven. so excited for the new album! personally i do miss her play and past future era.. but for me each of her album is different in some ways. and i enjoy every of her dance tracks