By the end of the year, ACO was back in the studio recording her second album, NUDE, which was released exactly a year after her debut. The album picked up where her debut left off, continuing with the jazz-pop style she was known for. The best-known single from this era was DROP, which combined hip-hop elements with ACO's leisurely vocals. By 1998, ACO had begun moving away from the predominately upbeat sound that launched her career, introducing some darker and more dramatic elements into the mix for her third album, Lady Soul. The album spawned the singles CATWALK and Yawarakai Hada (やわらかい肌), which did little to reflect this creeping style change.
In the winter of 1999, ACO released Absolute Ego, her fourth album and the work that many see as the turning point in her career. No longer singing the songs of a teenage pop idol, ACO introduced trip-hop and electronica elements into her style and began experimenting with her vocals as well. Critical response to the album was overwhelmingly positive. Absolute Ego produced four singles, among them SPLEEN and Yorokobi Ni Saku Hana (悦びに咲く花). A remix album, titled The Other Side Of Absolute Ego, followed in early 2000. It featured collaborations with the likes of DJ Krush (whom ACO collaborated with on his own Tragicomic), Tricky, and Yoshinori Sunahara. A live DVD called Absolute Live was also released.
In 2001, ACO presented her fifth studio album, Material. This album moved even further into her new electronica style, and contains some of her darkest music to date. Singles released included Hoshi No Kuzu (星ノクズ), which featured an Alice In Wonderland-styled PV, and 4gatsu No Hero (４月のヒーロー). The album also included a haunting cover of This Woman's Work by Kate Bush.
ACO's sixth album, irony, followed in 2003. Collaborating with Icelandic electronica band múm and avant-garde artists portable[k]ommunity, the album explored minimalist electronica through the use of layered vocals and delicate microbeats. The album drew comparisons to Vespertine by Björk and produced one solitary single, titled Machi (町).
A new mini-album, Mask, was released in early 2006. It explores a neo-electroclash sound, including a brash recut of Fuan Nano to mark the song's tenth anniversary. During this time, she collaborated with Taeji Sawai and his band Golden Pink Arrow. The songs, which are available through Sawai's website (www.taeji.org), have not yet seen a commercial release. In 2007, she released her first greatest hits album, ACO BEST ~Girl's Diary~, a two-disc compilation featuring all her singles from 1995-2006.
In 2010, ACO returned with Devil's Hands, her first new release since ending her short hiatus. In yet another genre shift, it departs from the electropop of Mask to focus on pop-rock and soft ballads. The moody and piano-driven LUCK followed in 2012, followed by a live album and a collection of self-covers in a new "unplugged" style, TRAD.
Valentine was released in 2015 and marked another sea change in ACO's style, giving her a fuzzy alt-rock sound with raspy vocals. A covers EP in this mode, Sing Sing Sing, followed in 2019.
Guilty
Aco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and that you're chaind on ball.
i know, i know
but it's not a big deal.
You are so empty
and you are so Frivolous!!!!
i know, i know
but it's not a big deal.
In Aco's song Guilty, the artist addresses an individual who is hiding and feels restrained like they are chained on a ball. The artist acknowledges that they are aware of this, but they don't see it as a big deal. The person in question seems to be struggling with some internal conflicts that has made them feel empty and without purpose. The artist once again acknowledges this and refers to the person as frivolous, meaning they don't seem to be taking things seriously.
The overall theme of the song is the acceptance of people, flaws, and all. Aco is letting the person know that despite what they may be going through, they are still accepted and loved. The artist understands that everyone has problems in their lives, and it's not a big deal as long as they are willing to work through it.
Line by Line Meaning
i know you hide.
I am aware that you conceal your true self or your actual feelings from others.
and that you're chaind on ball.
I know that you feel imprisoned or restricted by something or someone in your life.
i know, i know
I'm fully conscious of the situation at hand and what you're going through.
but it's not a big deal.
Despite acknowledging your struggle, I don't see it as a significant matter worth worrying about much.
You are so empty
You seem to feel unfulfilled or lacking something in your life.
and you are so Frivolous!!!!
In addition to being empty inside, you seem to act in a careless or thoughtless manner, not taking things seriously.
i know, i know
Once again, I'm fully aware of what you're going through.
but it's not a big deal.
Once again, I don't believe this situation is a significant problem that requires too much concern.
Contributed by Kennedy V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LaTeamRocketII
My favourite song of Mask with リクノリトウ (Riku no Ritou/Leaving the Shore ) :)