ayaka's melodies are so awesome!! still gonna digest the album even more before I make individual comments but you can feel her melodies have thought and they actually go somewhere instead..there's a feelign generated along with the arrangement.
like for example, HIKARI has similar progressions as Hajimari no Toki..something like that

Love the album! Most songs I love are: アカイソラ, Hello, The beginning, HIKARI and THIS IS THE TIME. :heart :heart :heart :heart :heart

really like The beginning omg

Welcome back ayaka you've been missed ;__; & I so can't wait to get my copy real soon :heart

My copy has been shipped! Estimated delivery to be February 1st at 10:30am!

Favorite tracks: The beginning, HIKARI & 空よお願い

But the whole album is so amazing ;_; I feel like I have to buy it lol.

Pics from baidu

This album is epic! especially Yasashii ao!

this album is great but I can't say I will like it better than its predecessor First Message and Sing to the sky. too many low tempo songs in the album.

Loving the album. It's very cohesive and surprises after a few slower tracks.

I love
Hajimari no Toki
Akai Sora
The beginning
HIKARI
THIS IS THE TIME
Yasashii Ao

Day 1: #1, 37,539

:thud

...which seems...low

#2 YUKI 24,489
#3 スピッツ (SPITZ) 17,247
#4 SUPER☆GiRLS
#5 TV (anime) soundtrack...

http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/d/2012-01-31/
http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/2006504/full/

(Update on my package status: Earlier tonight my copy has arrived in the U.S.A.! But it appears that it went to San Francisco before going to Seattle, because SFO has mail customs facilities (which the package is in right now) while SEA does not...

It appears that every time whenever I order anything from Japan through EMS, they go through SFO first before continuing into SEA... I have a feeling that it could come to my house either Wednesday or Thursday...)

^ My copy went to Alaska first and now it's in Memphis, TN. Usually my orders stop in San Francisco or go straight to Memphis from Japan. So long as I get it, I'll be happy.

I had hoped the numbers would be higher but this is ok for now.

Whoa...Alaska!? FedEx? (Memphis is FedEx SuperHub)

that's pretty good number for an album that only 2 songs being promoted and don't forget this is indie. I'm quite sure it will sell more than JAPONESQUE

It's FedEx. I kind of did a huh? when I saw Anchorage, AK on the online tracker. Now my order has departed Memphis and headed to me! And I'll actually be home to sign for it.

EDIT: Weeeeee! It's at the destination sort facility in my hometown! Can't wait!

I'M ADDICTED TO AYAKA'S NEW ALBUM! Seriously, I can't stop listening to it. The melodies are beautiful and ayaka's voice is as great as ever!
And I love that she wrote and composed all the songs herself! :heart

My TOP5 from this album:

*Hajimari no toki :smitten
*HIKARI
*Sora yo onegai :smitten
*THIS IS THE TIME
*Yasashii ao

GREAT job, ayaka!!

considering this's an idle release & not released via Warner Music Japan anymore , expectations should be lowered now when comes to sales :shrug

anyway I will be receiving my copy of The beginning tomorrow . I usually get items that I ordered via HMV Japan 1 day after the release date x)

Yeah, this song is soooo beautiful. :smitten I can't stop listening to it!

Sales aren't bad considering everything. I'm sure it will have a long chart run :yes

Photobook pics, found on baidu

^ The pictures are beautiful! :smitten

But I'm kind of sad that there are no pictures of ayaka!

makes me glad that I'm receiving The beginning as a late birthday gift because I seriously am not impressed at the packaging & be it the photobook that doesn't have any photos of ayaka -.-

Frankly if not for my friend that's so kind to get the album for me , I would have bought CD only with regards to ayaka's awesome comeback album

didn't help the DVD only had just 1 PV on Hajimari no Toki too :x