I don't think that V6 would be a threat but another threat is an album that was released yesterday already and has a +1 day chance over ayu's sixxxxxx...

1 18,429 Ｔｉｒａｍｉｓｕ　ｌｏｖｅ YR3 15/8/4
ソンモ　ｆｒｏｍ　超新星
2 4,221 ＤＲＥＡＭＳ　ＣＯＭＥ　ＴＲＵＥ　ＴＨＥ　ＢＥＳＴ！　私のドリカム UM 15/7/7
ＤＲＥＡＭＳ　ＣＯＭＥ　ＴＲＵＥ
3 3,068 ＳＵＰＥＲ　Ｖｅｒｙ　ｂｅｓｔ AVT 15/7/29

DCT already sold 4,221 for this new week but the main competition would be that new release that was released yesterday (to probably have the 7 days on the first week advantage).

ayu gotta sell at least around 23,000 on the first day, or have slower drops than usual in order to get #1.
A ONE sold around 20,000 first day so basically no chance :P
It also depends on the drops of that tiramisu album.

Well if sixxxxxx can match and stay above the tiramisu album all week long it has a chance, but only then.

The tiramisu album is of a korean boy band (Supernova) member named sonmo.

Sungmo's album will drop heavily I assume unless he has events throughout the week, but honestly I don't think it's a threat despite the first day. Supernova as group usually has good first week sales but solo could be different it's not like he's a 2PM member or smth

1 17,315 ｓｉｘｘｘｘｘｘ AVT 15/8/5
浜崎あゆみ

crossing fingers for top 5

^ I think that is already guaranteed, you should cross them for top 3 or 2

Well, she got #1

^ Weekly not daily

Praying for that weekly #1

http://i.imgur.com/eOoinWF.gif

I KNOW WHAT SONG IS SIMILAR TO SAYONARA



but maybe that's just me.

Just got my copy of sixxxxxx in the mail from CDJapan--earlier than I was expecting lol.

Special scenes in Summer diary PV making! remember to catch it :D

I just don't get why the releases are usually done on wednesdays when anyone can decide to release on a tuesday and get an extra charting day...

sixxxxxx is on US Itunes for $5.94!!! DOWNLOAD IT BITCHES!!!! GIFT IT FOR YOUR FRIENDS! Let's get her in the top 200! She's charting in Spain and France on itunes!!!

sixxxxxx - EP
#1 Hong Kong
#1 Japan
#2 Taiwan
#12 Singapore
#84 Indonesia
#129 Spain
#184 France
#201 Malaysia

http://kworb.net/itunes/artist/ayumihamasaki.html

Why everyone seems to dislike Summer diary and Step by step? They're the most catchy songs on the album. I actually like the key change near the end of Step by step, made me appreciate the somg more :D

I love them, no shame haha.

She's in the top 150 in Spain. Slé un poco Ayima!

Can't wait to get my cd soon!!! Oh the anticipation.

On itunes France Ayu is already #166. O__o Very unexpected.

Well, now that I've got the album, I can finally give my scores.

1. Step by step: 3/5
2. Summer diary: 3.5/5 (but a strong contender for 4/5)
3. Sayonara: 4.5/5
4. Sorrows: 2.5/5
5. Shape of love: 3/5
6: Sky high: 4.5/5

Overall score: 3.5/5, or 70% or a B-.

Overall I thought it was a solid effort. Much more tight knit than A ONE and as a result it flows a lot better. Having Yukumi and Nakano on almost every song ensured this cohesion.
There were some mixing issues, picked up using my Bose headphones and using treble booster, such as loudness on Sorrows. While Sorrows is the ultimate grower here, that chorus is just too much to bear. It also goes nowhere, does nothing, and doesn't even try too much. Even meaning of love is better. The days when ayu filler was good. Ayu should go back to that kind of garage band sound she had for My Story if she wants to do rock again. About You is one of her best songs, winding road is still epic, and inb4 someone brings in WARNING's lyrics. However that middle 8 was really unexpected and quite good. I'm really happy that ayu threw that curveball, it shows she still has that spark to spice things up.

SBS and shape of love turned out to be really just average pop songs. I had placed my hopes on shape of love but then I realized I should just be listening to marionette for something a bit edgier and less bland. Summer diary was a surprise actually. It's one of the songs on the album that pulls a triple whammy (Yukumi, Nakano, and Yamada, better known as the Warring Triad) yet the chorus is so good that the song becomes better as a result. It's the diamond in the Triad's rough, the true underdog of the chorus. It's been done before but ayu somehow nails that chorus. It's nostalgic, the electronic instrumentation really adds to that feeling. It's definitely a strong 3.5/5. It's not an 80%, but like 77-79. Almost a 3.7 on the GPA scale. It's objectively generic ayu that won't offend anyone at all but she pulled it off. I feel as if it is the perfect song to play during a sunset at a beach. I suppose here you can say that this is ayu magic at work. A true reason why she became a force with which to recon back in the day.


The other three songs don't really stand out in ayu's discography. She's had better versions of these songs: memorial address for sorrows, marionette for shape of love, and I'm not too sure about step by step but it's definitely not in her top 50. Sky high and sayonara are at an advantage simply because they're better tracks. Sayonara would be welcome on Colours and sky high would be welcome on... it's hard to pin it. But maybe loveppears. I'm kind of saddened that I can hear some loudness issues in Sky high's chorus. It's really a bright and happy song. I like it a lot. It has that infinitely repeatable quality like Walk did.

If I had to keep three songs it would be Sayonara, Sky high, and Summer diary. None of them have a chance for the top 50 but maybe Sky high could crack the top 100.

sixxxxxx debuted at #2 on recochoku

I downloaded my album from iTunes today, why hasn't UK made it into the chart?? Lol... I have to say I love this album. This time round, it's much more JPop feel, and it's why I like it.
I do think as an album (or mini), the songs go well together in one package, and it's ok to listen to the whole thing. Its not that I don't like A One, just that as an album, it didn't go very well since it had too many similar feel to the songs, and it's quite easy to get bored if listening to the whole album rather than just picking songs here and there. I hope that makes sense!

It's very hard to decide which song I like best from this mini album. It's a battle between Sorrow and Shape of Love ^_^

Can't wait to listen once I get my copy! Probably would have gotten on itunes if I knew it would be up so quickly. But hey, I had CDJ points, and paid $5.64 for the CD which is cheaper than itunes!

Naoki Yamada mixed tracks 1-3 and Koji Morimoto returned to do 4-6.

Interesting...

Also only guitars/violins present, anything else was programmed.

That's strange. Shape of love and Sky high sound fine to me as far as the mixing goes... I am really surprised Koji mixed Sorrows as well.

But like I said before, I think tasuku might be the weak link here.

He's the most inconsistent of all the producers she works with. He's got some gems but he also has some off-ish arrangements like You & Me and Party queen. Then, there's the whole fiasco with him plagiarizing that Hoobastank song... TSMGO sounding too similar to snowy kiss, etc. etc.

Don't all of his "task" interludes sample another song? taskebab samples Aerodynamic by Daft Punk, the violins in tasking are from some other song I don't remember, taskinst is the Hoobastank song sample. I'm sure the others sample other songs as well. *waits for Deli or truehappiness to spill the T*

I don't think he plagiarized those songs necessarily since nearly all of his interludes use a sample that was also coincidentally used elsewhere and sometimes in more than one place, so it's hard to say. I'm of the mindset that he is pulling from sample libraries.

I appreciate that tasuku tends to be the most varied of Ayu's arrangers.

Finally listened to the whole thing after buying it yesterday and I like all the songs and Sayonara is my favorite.

I bought it on iTunes France, it would be amazing if she could have some kind of international record!!! I'm in love with Shape of Love, and I enjoy Sky High and Sayonara much more than I want to admit ahaha! The only one I dislike is Step by step.

Summer diary screencaps from the making of
twitter.com/ayu_tube

http://i.imgur.com/sluxWTp.jpg



Step by step screencaps from the making of
http://i.imgur.com/E8PYQqL.jpg

Jet ski scene??? where is it? I believe it will be in her next PV...
is she 36? she looks way younger than that

Think the same. She looks so young in the Jet ski scene :O Beaufitful

The funniest making off is sayonara... They looks like have lots of fun.. its entrrtaining.. And i prefer the MV with color than what we got now..

Poor Shuya needs to use some sunscreen he looks so old and ayu looks so young and fresh. X)

^I agree...Shu-ya aging quiet fast...

Seriously?? Ayu is surrounded by professionals who care for her skin and make up. Shuya doesn't have those... He looks good considering. :yes

Ayu looks so cute behind shuya on the jetski ^^

I need Summer Diary making of!!! *-*

I think its a scene that was scrapped? but yea it MAYBE like...flashback for her next tune who knows.

I love how she takes control in Step by step's PV :D

It is pretty interesting just how many things with S Ayu managed to cram into this release.

S for the song titles.
S for the guest group.
"S" / 5 as the release date. You could look at the 8 for August as two Ses too.
S for the guest star in the Summer diary PV (Shu-ya)

Also looking at the official review, it looks like she groups this release with A/H/&/L/FIVE, so this is the sixth from those?

Just watched the videos, her English really improved a lot...

I really enjoyed this mini overall ^^ it has a little piece of all the parts of classic ayu we like! Or I like haha. I can't even exactly pinpoint a favourite cuz they're all so good in their respective style!!

You & Me has an offish arrangement?

I love that song to death and I would change nothing on it.

And Snowy kiss sounds like TSMGO because of the composition not the arrangement even though it's the same style.

taskinst is definitely plagiarized lol

Ive seen this on youtube, Shu-ya will release DVD Danceness? http://danceness.net/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRqtjVAsVYk

the first 2 songs of the album are pure gold!
in the other hand, i'm really surprised that i can't find anything interesting about the last 3 songs of sixxxxxx

My main problem with A One and Sixxxxxx is that Ayu's voice sounds so forced and strained, it's hard to enjoy even if music is good.

I can't believe what a solid album this is! Not a weak track in sight! I guess, if I had to choose my least-favorite track, it would be Step by step, but even that song is pretty great!

Summer diary and Shape of Love are my favorites! So happy for some real summer songs from ayu! :D

My review that I wrote still stands but giving the mini a listen a few times has changed my opinion of a few songs.
In a nutshell everything but Sorrows is good. Sorrows is that last french fry you're about to eat but it falls on the floor and you throw it out because you know you shouldn't eat food off the floor. It's truly a reductive song with poor mixing, does absolutely nothing, that breakdown sounds like it belongs in a different and better song, and the instrumentation is so noisy and messy. Sounds like they just threw all these sounds together to make it stick, like rihanna with her new era and throwing songs around to see if they become successful.
But besides that every other song is basically great. I had a problem with SBS and SOL being basic pop songs, but SBS kind of has that ayu magic with a cute lil chorus that could and SOL is really bittersweet, and I really like the lyrics too. The other three songs are the same from my review, but Summer diary is definitely an 8/10.

The only song I can't like is Summer Diary, the rest is amazing !!

I totally agree with your thoughts on Sorrows. Sure the lyrics are amazing, but sound comes before when we talk about music. It sounds so cheap it hurts.

At TSUTAYA Shibuya

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CMbikUBUwAAxiRB.jpg

Taken by a friend

Seeing ayu's CDs getting together with only CDs of kuu and namie on the same stand is the best thing ever. :yes

So there's a continuation for summer diary pv and it seems to be for shape of love. Do you think she might release a single and include another version for shape of love (acoustic orchestea, piano version etc) and then a pv for shape of love in it?

I kinda think that the jet ski scene wasn't included in the PV because it seemed to me that ayu was freaking out while filming and just didn't want to film it again. Or is it just me? :D

Someone on fb said that shuya has officially rejoined the troupe. But I don't know a source or if it's really true. I don't care either way. lol

Just listening to Sky high...perfect album ender!

I wish I could be in Shibuya for the album promotion! I've been there for namie's FEEL and _genic album promotions and it was awesome! The buses driving around, namie's huge billboards, her music constantly playing from everywhere walking through shibuya...the release day special event at tsutaya (or tower records, I forget) was too cool.

I know there isn't that much ayu promotion as I just described for namie, but it would still be nice to be there during a new ayu release once!

I think he'll be there for a-nation. Maybe that was the special surprise Ayu was talking about instead of SpeXial, and maybe he'll only perform in Osaka. Though I'm kinda hoping that he'll return for good...

Actually there is nothing.. I was in shibuya when sixxxxxx was release and i found nothing. Only that display in the Tsutaya.. No billboard around crowded area, no songs were played...

^I thought that might be a possibility. But damn...that's frustrating. It's ayumi hamasaki.

It's such an annoying catch 22! Her sales aren't strong (maybe) because they don't do much promotion, but they don't do much promotion because her sales aren't strong! UGH.

For the little bit of promotion the album is doing fine

At Shinjuku

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CMrIU5nUwAAaDT0.jpg

Taken by a friend

interview http://109news.jp/entertainment/20150818/35140/?detail

I agree with you both, as someone who usually enjoys her rock release, Sorrows is a let down for me. I just don't the chorus which sounded thrown just like that. It has one of the best lyrics but with bad arrangement, the song is a no no for me.

OMG so much hate for sorrows.. When I think the weakest song on sixxxxx is step by step. :D now that's an awful song!!

Oh please, Sorrows is amazing.

Sorrows is a treasure. :heart

I still haven't heard so much as a preview for Sorrows, Shape of love, or Sky high. Waiting until my copy gets here!!!

On that note--hurry the F up, USPS :grumpy

^ah you're crazy! I always buy the physical copies obviously but I grab that leak as soon as it gets uploaded! I mean, I can still listen to it in full. Wow...can't remember the last time I even opened an ayu CD I bought...lol

:laugh I know! It's been so long since I waited to get my copy before listening, I figured I could use a little excitement/anticipation in my life. And honestly, it was sitting at Tenso's warehouse for like 10 days before I even remembered to have them ship it :tired I got and read the email that they received it at like 4am one day when I had just woken up and was getting ready for work...and then I promptly forgot about it. :P I'm not a morning person.

Wow, Step by step is really unpopular, huh? It's my favourite, especially the lyrics, so relatable <3 Sorrows on the other hand, I'm super disappointed. Awesome lyrics, and in what I think is Ayu's best genre, rock ballad, but the chorus was just... noisy. Idk what the musical term is, but there was like, no rhythm or something. Still love the lyrics though.

Sky High came on play today randomly and I realized how nice the song actually is <3

I like Step by step, but out of all the songs on sixxxxxx, it doesn't rank in my top.

Summer diary
Sorrows
Shape of Love
Sky High
Sayonara
Step by step

but I definitely still enjoy it a lot.

Step by step would be so much better with "build up" begining. (like fairyland have) The intro sounds like anything else, but the chorus/verses are so catchy and it could be great.

Summer diary still gives me chills ^^ Dang, I love the verses, they are so darn catchy, singable <3

Sky high have the same problem as Step by step, the intro sounds bland a bit, but the verses/chorus are pretty good. She might be chanting/whispering, building some atmosphere... but no. xd

I'm ashamed that Sayonara feel so wrong yet so good xD It's kinda guilty pleasure song xd

I still can't stand Sorrows. I feel the same way about Guilty song.

You ain't missing much with Sorrows lol. SOL and SH are actually quite good after a while. They're like fine wines. I replayed Sorrows like 30 times and still think it's junk.

Ever since someone on last.fm mentioned that the strings in the Sorrows intro sound like Love song, I cannot unhear it.

Sorrows has to be her most generic rock track. It has nothing unique to it. It's one of those songs that if it were lumped in with a bunch of other rock songs, you'd be like "ok which is this again?" For the first minute.

I'm surprised at the Sorrows reactions. It's totally hardcore and the bridge is amazing.

OMG that's the same order I enjoyed sixxxx. We're totally on the same page on this one.

@Zete
Just Ouch!! :(

That's like the only good part of the song. :laugh until that annoying "playing DJ" part starts :|

I've been listening to Shape of love a lot lately, it's so lovely.

Lol, lots of mixed feelings towards Sorrows, that's actually my favourite song on the mini album! Shape of Love is closely behind though!

I'm the same! Haven't heard any of the mini actually!

for me it is:

Sorrows (I know it is generic and everything but I can't help it, I love the rockfish ayu) *****
Shape of Love (pretty good one) *****
Summer Diary (I was missing songs like this) ***
Sayonara (nice) ***
Step by step (meh) **
Sky High (meh) **

overall: 4 stars out of 5 =)

My order would be

Sorrows
Sayonara
Shape of Love
Summer Diary
Sky High
Step by step
-
my order changed just a tiny bit.. I used to like Step by step more than Sky High but it changed now after I listened to Sky High again.

I love all songs on sixxxxxx. Shape of love and Sky high took a while to grow on me, but now I love them as well. Mostly because of the lyrics that are really beautiful in both songs. Rest of the songs blew me away. Step by step, Sayonara and Sorrows are my top 3 favorite songs off the EP. I just love them. Sorrows and Step by step are the most relatable songs for me on this release, too. I feel like crying every time I hear them. :luv2

I do like Sorrows, the way it sounds is what bothers me. Hopefully she will perform it live and the band will save that song from the mess that the studio version is.

My order would be:

1. Step by Step
2. Sayounara
3. Sorrows
4. Shape of Love
5. Summer diary
6. The other song that starts with S.

Am I the only one who's obsessed with Sky High? Lol The melody of the song kind of reminds me of some Every Little Thing songs and decent anime themes.

I love the entire album. After Sky high, I was like eh? It's the last track? Then replay the album again.:love

I feel it is hard for me to rank the songs in sixxxxxx but after a few weeks of listening, I get the answer by checking my playing times in iTunes:

1) Sorrows
2) Summer diary
3) Sky high
4) Shape of love
5) Step by step
6) Sayonara

Mine would be:

1 Shape of love
2 Sayonara
3 Step by step
4 Sorrows
5 Summer diary / Sky high

I like all of the songs on the mini surprisingly, but this is my order!

1. Shape of Love
2. Summer Diary
3. Sayonara
4. Sky High
5. Step by Step
6. Sorrows

I agree Sorrows will probably sound a lot better live, just like Last minute did.

I am so, so mad that Sorrows also suffers from what I'm going to call "Last minute syndrome". The potential is there, is really is--her vocals are on point and the lyrics are great, I don't have a problem with the melody, but oh my god listening to the studio version of this song is like nails on a goddamn chalkboard (AND WHY ARE HER BACKING VOCALS SO LOUD, IT'S NOT EVEN LIKE NAOKI YAMADA MIXED IT) I think it's going to be totally epic done live but the studio version is dead2me tbh

And what is the deal with the cheesy-ass synth hiding in Step by step/Sky high? So much of the actual music sounds so...superficial and manufactured. (Like, more than usual.) Summer diary is undoubtedly the standout track from sixxxxxx imo.

^ Yaaas stan for Summer diary. It's the track we didn't expect to be the best.

I'm also interested in what Sorrows would sound like live. Praying she sings it one day and that it doesn't get kanariya'ed.

I agree with the potential of sorrows, it would be an amazing live song. Maybe the live version will make more ppl like it, like how wake me up did for me.

Anyways my rankings are
1. Summer diary
2. Shape of love
3. Step by Step
4. Sayonara
5. Sky high
6. Sorrows

I haven't been playing a song (summer diary) over and over on repeat since like progress.

Sorrows is a pretty mediocre song if you're talking about arrangement, but the lyrics... Oh god the lyrics take me on a good feels trip. It's been a very, very long time since I felt this connected with Ayu through a new song.

What she said about shu-ya?

http://109news.jp/entertainment/20150818/35140/?detail

^ She just mentioned that the PV includes Shu-ya, who has made an apearence after a long time.

Thk u

My top would be something like:

1. Summer diary
2. Sayonara
3. Shape of Love
4. Step by step
5. Sorrows
6. Sky high

I love all the tracks tough. :) I don't usually listen to Sorrows very often because it doesn't fit my mood lately.

For today:

1. Summer diary
2. Step by step
3. Sayonara
4. Sorrows
5. Sky high
6. Shape of love

I like everything as well. :D

My ranking:
1. Summer diary
2. Shape of Love
3. Step by step
4. Sorrows
5. Sayonara
6. Sky high

Though I actually just listen to the first 4.
I like Sayonara, but it's length without any progression or highlight bothers me, so I never listen to it.