She's not really failing, but she's not smashing the charts either. She's in a comfortable position right now, chart-wise. She doesn't have the pressure that she had before GUILTY, and she isn't releasing any singles yet so, charts positions aren't that important. As long as she can keep those numbers above 100k it's okay I think, especially with albums like Party Queen and A SUMMER BEST, which weren't that well promoted or important to purchase for different reasons :shrug

Party Queen had no singles or strong promotion, and A SUMMER BEST had too much repeated stuff.

I'm sure that someday she'll be selling less than 100k, unless we get another ayu-peak, something that I'm really looking forward to :D

1) Take a long break away from the showbiz
2) Take up some vocal lessons or composing lessons
3) Relax and get inspired by life. Not writing music to meet deadlines.
4) Take time to compose music as CREA or work with D.A.I
5) Get inspired to write beautiful and meaningful lyrics

Nope

I really don't think Ayu writes music to deadlines considering her output is slow as **** now

just take a frickin rest AYU!!! LOL!!

4th Day
Position - #19

http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/d/2012-09-06/more/3/

Great back to top 20 XD

One album per year is SLOW? How about those who release an album once every 2 ~ 3 years??

Ayu has been on the same schedule for years now. Her pace is currently way slower than it was 3-4 years ago.

ture... we havent had a single in 2 years.
We only had a mini last year... and in 2010 we had two full length albums...
this year and last could be considered slow.

ASB is still in the #19 position

thats awesome!
Now I just want it back in the top 10! lol

I don't think it's possible.. But dreaming is free:)

6th Day
Position - #18

http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/d/2012-09-08/more/3/

Thanks!

It is slow by Ayu's creative output standards. Besides it doesn't take 2 or 3 years to produce a pop album unless the record company has employed monkeys to produce it and considering the hard work is already done (the actual music) before Ayu records or writes any lyrics. Ayu's music was at it's best when she was releasing singles on a near monthly basis.

That's up for discussion. I would have never ever been a fan of 1999-2002 Ayu because of how generic her music was. Her output was frequent though, that's right.

Loveppears at that time was anything but generic ... This electronic sound was pretty novative in Japan !

Only half the album even had the electronic sound. And those were mainly generic melodies on - at that time - unique instrumentals.
I'll give you WHATEVER though, that was an unique and great song.

I kind of don't agree... while I like alot of the singles, I think the album tracks were really boring and suffered from burnout (see "I am...").

I honestly think 3/4 singles a year were fine. I just wished she released singles this year.

I would agree with that regarding Rainbow, Heartplace was brilliant but the rest were so, so...where as I Am... had I Am, Connected, Naturally, Still Alone and no more words which were a lot better than some of the singles like Never Ever and Dearest (prob going to get slaughtered for that comment but those songs are boring and banal).