I much prefer the CD+DVD one, because unless you know its Maro, it could just be any random guy. I really do like the covers, they're gorgeous, but I can also appreciate them being kinda... tacky.

she needs some new PR people...
the news, then these covers and if they would have kept silent... man... lol..

people would be dying.

i think not everything has to be sensational..
LOVE and again have one of the most minimalistic tones and subtle feelings Ayu has in her covers (especially when just earlier this year, she had a bombastic Party Queen concept)

is it that different to judge a cover objectively? pardon me, but someone mentioned how this reminded himself/herself about Kuu's covers. Yes Kuu once had cover with a male model did she not? And the concept is just about the same here. Male model not thoroughly shown and there is intimacy. Just that here, we have something more soft and romantic.

there's always disagreement with ayu's works everytime just because she uses someone that she's close to. Shuya, Mannie, Timmy, Ishii, Leslie Kee, Shimoko..and recently perhaps Masashi Muto and now Maro. Everyone she works with closely is propelled into the spotlight and gets slammed. It's no wonder she calls herself a Lonely Queen. (guess what, all males above)

im not targetting this at anyone. but really, if they weren't in a relationship, how would people judge this differently. Imagine Shuya was the on the cover...then would that make more sense since he has been her love target in majority of her stage works? Why issit something so real here gets ridiculed? If these were honeymoon photos, would it be so wrong?

I hate these covers

Well... Considering this covers were made a while ago, there's actually a chance they expected people to see Maro as a random model she used at the time to represent her lover (as Shuya did for years). Without the relationship announciment, we wouldn't really care for it being Maro (aside from the usual "She puts her dancers everywhere!1!" *****ing)

But it also could be a publicity stunt to reveal it's Maro just before releasing the covers... I don't really care to be honest... Knowing she is dating Maro doesn't make their relationship less private, having him on the cover doesn't make their relationship less private, seeing paparazzi pics of them both together doesn't make it less private... In the end of the day, 100% of what we know about them, is that they are dating, period. She has no good reason to hide from anyone who she is seeing... She is a grown woman, and pretending you are not on a relationship is a huge waste of energy.

edit: Utada's hiatus is over and her new song ***** all over Ayu, her minis and her love life. Ayu could paint herself green and implant horns on her head and I wouldn't care right now <3

remo-con! YES!

Has shohei matsumoto done any other ayu remixes before?

CD+DVD ist just a really bad photo for me.
CD only is sweet, but that text placement... Also again such "lighter" colours.
So that's why I don't like them.
I'm happy it's another attempt for an Ayu cover though.

Ohhh I mentioned this a few wks ago.. somewhere.. maybe twitter.. "LOVE again" hAh~.. Maybe the others will form a sentence as well ;).

I like these covers.. They`re good. They could be better, but they`re good. They`re very natural, which is fresh to see, and compliments the [LOVE] cover well. I don`t get why they chose to put her name and title in the top left corner for the CD only..

I`m still surprised that many of her covers (not all of them recently) still heavily concentrate on her face (more-so looking at LOVE).. Normally, when artists are new to the scene labels are more persistent on head shots, so their image becomes recognizable to the public (marketing).. She`s well established in the industry where they can zoom out and involve more environment shots, that still look amazing and aesthetically pleasing.. and will probably sell just as well. Apologies, a small rant..

I`m looking forward to seeing the larger versions of these, for they`re probably much better in a higher resolution.

OHHHH Shohei has done the Grateful days remix on ayu trance 4! AWESOME!

she keeps simple from NEXT LEVEL-RnRC era lol. The only thing that stands out was FIVE covers.

I love both but I prefer cd version.
The problem is I will buy cd+dvd version

I wish it was more christmas-ie... but this cover is nice.
It grows on me more and more...

and
LOL... listening to Utada's new song and looking at the covers... it makes it more beautiful... (both song and covers)

SO glad I preordered both versions...and it seems like the remixes of wake me up and snowy kiss will be trance!

Maybe people should be grateful that she didn't use Timmy, since I know that was probably everyone's greatest fear. :mischief

Trance remixes give me LIFE

You guys never have anything positive to say:shakehead
If the Maro thing is a stunt so what get over it, she needs to stay relevant somehow to the public. As long as she's happy and releasing music that's all I can ask for :yes

http://blog.jpopdb.org/media/ayumi-n...vel-2cddvd.jpg

Simple? xD

The covers are nice, I wish she would do something more creative though.

hopefully!!
Ill have to go back and listen to greatful days to see if i truly like it..
as for remco... he is either a hit or a miss for me...

+1
it doesnt effect me in the slightest.

also she hasnt had a simple cover in the a long time... there is always so much going on...
LOVE, again is simple. its grand. they are amazing.

Really nice photos for the covers. If Ayu wants to use Maro, that's up to her as long as she is happy then I'm happy :) Maybe she wanted the affection shown in the covers to be more genuine which gives a soft, warm feeling