I loved NEXT LEVEL nontheless, the whole game theme and electro influences were a great idea for that specific album and I took it as intended.

It also holds one of the best up-beat songs exist (imo), Sparkle and my favorite ballad ever, Days but those aren't the main point.

I love that album, too, amazing example of a well-executed concept where the songs still work on their own as amazing songs

She's probably not gonna go electro at all in this album since she said it was basically a "back to basics" concept for the album.

I think she could possibly go for one electronic track, but I doubt she would do much more than that...

^ LOVEppears, I Am.., RAINBOW, (miss)understood

All of them had a big eletronic influence and electronic elements in most of their songs, back to basics can mean just a little less electronic but with a focus on rock or the typical japanese pop again

Well, what I understood her comment after talking about NEXT LEVEL to mean was that the upcoming album was not going to sound like NEXT LEVEL, that's for sure. I know RAINBOW and those other albums were electronic-y, but I just meant to say that the sort of "electropop" vibe from say rollin'/Sparkle is probably not going to happen.

If we're just looking at Microphone's small snippet, I think one could say she might be going back to how things were in Secret/GUILTY, but who knows. We need a title and more previews to find out! Bahhhh~ just announce the album, Ayu!

Didn't Christina aguilera do something similar? A "back to basics" album and a futuristic album? We should watch ayu closely and see how this works out in contrast to next level.

NEXT LEVEL was full of mixed sounds though. We still had the rock songs (Rule, identity) mixed with more electropoppy songs, which still had guitar influence in them.

I hope she pulls out another electro-rock song on this album, since she does them so well. Its a nice change from the plain pop-rock of Secret/GUILTY.

Or even some new experimentation with her sound? It's almost like she's covered every area pop music can go.. I'm sure there's somewhere she can still explore.

Kind of? But in reverse. Back to Basics came a while ago, and Bionic is set to come out later this year, I think.

I've actually been too busy to come to AHS and catch up on Ayu as often as I used to. lol But of course I'm still excited for a new album. :D

Oh man, I checked AHS for any album news before I went to bed last night. Then I dreamed that I checked it again and there it was! The album was called NEW DAY and I was about to load the tracklist before I woke up.

^ That would be so cool! I wish I had dreams like that lol XD

^I had a dream like that too, but it was for something different. I remember a while ago someone had a dream that utada had a new album called "Shake Sample" and it featured Timbaland. I thought it was so cool. too bad it wasn't real though lol.

This is getting ridiculous waiting for the album. I'm getting angry. Lol.

I would say brace yourself since this coming week is probably the week for an announcement of some kind...

(Please, LUMIX CM, please... don't be Microphone, haha.)

^ you think there is another song!! I do too :)
but I wonder if she'll release another single before the album..

all.night.raver lol I don't have patience either I'm mad too lol
I hope she tells us something this week!!

gaaaah each second and minute is taking years LOL i'm so anxious for the cm

^^ No offense but I really doubt she'll release a single..
I mean there's 2 singles already *S/S & Y/B*
But we can always hope for our.. greed :lech

Guys we basically know the logical release date(March 24), and we know when it HAS to be out by(April 7). So it's not so bad :D

They have to announce it this upcoming week if it's going to be released on March 24th, the next if it's the 31st.

lol. Hold on to your shorts guys, AHS is about to get crazier. As soon as that announcement fulfills its destiny--BAM. Party time.

~Too Much To Handle~ indeed. XD

Who says it has to come out before the tour starts? Would make sense but, its not totally unheard of for an artist to tour before a CD comes out.