Guilty

Ayumi Hamasaki
Avex

You get cool points for coming out of the Francophone closet, but only geek points for being a fan of Japanese pop. What can I say? I love the simple pleasures of bubblegum pop but get annoyed at the brain-dead lyrics. Since I don't speak a word of Japanese, J-pop is the answer. Hamasaki is probably Japan's biggest music star right now, thanks to having Madonna's business sense and Gwen Stefani's cool cachet. Her latest album has more cheese than bubble gum; she's decided to rock out in the way that only a superstar can: With lots and lots of studio work. Each track on Guilty is overdramatic and overproduced, with impeccably crisp guitars cutting through the layers of drum tracks, synthesizers, samples, and processed vocals. It's all very silly and earnest, like a compilation of uplifting songs from a bad action movies; but damn it, it's pretty catchy.