Guilty (Ayumi Hamasaki album)
| Guilty | ||||
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CD only artwork.
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| Studio album by Ayumi Hamasaki | ||||
| Released | January 1, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | 2007 Japan, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 56:00 | |||
| Label | Avex Trax | |||
| Producer | Max Matsuura | |||
| Ayumi Hamasaki chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Guilty | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    |
| CD Journal | (positive) |
| Channel Ai | |
| MuuMuse | B- |
Guilty (capitalized as GUILTY) is the ninth studio album by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on January 1, 2008 by Avex Trax. Guilty marks Hamasaki's ninth consecutive album to be fully produced by Japanese producer and manager Max Matsuura, while she contributes to the album as the lead vocalist, background vocalist, and songwriter to all songs. Recorded in Japanese with minor phrases in English, Guilty is a rock album with numerous musical elements such as rock, heavy metal, electronic music, and pop ballad melodies.
Guilty was recorded in Japan and the United States of America, making it Hamasaki's third album recorded in the US. Additional production and mastering was handled in both Japan and the US. Five different formats were released to promote the album; a standalone CD, a CD and DVD bundle, a photo book package, a limited edition Playbutton, and a digital release worldwide. Three different artworks were issued for the album's cover sleeve; the CD format has a long-shot of Hamasaki in a leopard-print dress, the CD and DVD format had a close-up of Hamasaki's face, and the photo book package has Hamasaki sitting in a director's seat with a yellow dress on.
Upon the album's release, it was met with mixed to favourable reviews from music critics. Critics complimented the album's darker elements and commended Hamasaki's authentic deliveries through her lyrics and emotions. However, some criticized the album's overpowering arrangements and Hamasaki's vocal performances, alongside the album's pigeon-holed genres and lack of music diversity. Commercially, Guilty was a success. It became Hamasaki's first studio album to miss the top spot on Japan's Oricon Albums Chart. Despite this, Guilty sold over 568,000 units by the end of the 2008. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 500,000 units.
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