Rock'n'Roll Circus - 4/14 new album information [IV]
 

Thanks to hachiroku for being so helpful and organizing everything! Kudos to hachiroku and Misa-chan! They're angels! Please try to maintain this post if you are the first person to post the thread when the other reaches 500!

ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GUARANTEE THEMSELVES A LUCKY DRAW PRIZE SHOULD BUY A CD+DVD COPY FROM HMV.CO.JP -
First Purchasers Novelty

(1 novelty will be randomly enclosed when the product is shipped)
※『ROCK'N'ROLL CIRCUS』 ALBUM + DVD (Jacket A) is the subject of the novelty
※We will not be able to accept any requests, or exchanges.
※The novelty at among HMV ONLINE and physical HMV STORES will differ. Please contact the closest store.

『Novelty Setail』
S Prize: Original Spangle Bag
A Prize: Original Cushion
B Prize: Original Pendant
C Prize: Original Amenity Pouch
D Prize: Original Mini Tote Bag
E Prize: Original Mobile Phone Cleaner
F Prize: Original Key Chain
G Prize: Original Memo Pad
H Prize: Original Ball Point Pen
I Prize: Original IC Sticker
J Prize: Original B2 Size Poster or Original Sticker Set ※The poster will be folded for shippment

※Please note that the detail of novelty may change without prior notice
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Both the album and concert DVD have different posters as additional first press goods. I believe the CD only has the type A poster along with CD+DVD, and type B is for the concert DVD.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...eeen/fp-01.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...eeen/fp-02.jpg
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From angel-ayu:
COVERS!

CD+DVD
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/9392/avcd38102b.jpg

CD only
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/8218/avcd38103.jpg



-----------------------------
The album has finished recording as of March 11th. PVs and songs are all done and ready to be mastered or whatever! She has yet to do more promotional work according to a new TeamAyu message though.

From nanakopy87:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j3...n_rrc02_ta.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j3...n_rrc01_ta.jpg

the phone stand and the pencil case

(Very nice design imo.)
-----------------------------------------------
NEXT LEVEL's release pattern:
If Rock'n'Roll Circus' patterns are to mirror NEXT LEVEL, it should go something like this.
From Misa-chan:
OFFICIAL TA NEWS!! :)

(Images)

Arena Tour 2009 ~NEXT LEVEL~ DVD will be released on the same day too! :yes

April 14th (Wed) NEW ALBUM [Rock'n'Roll Circus] Release!

Release date confirmed for 11th official album!
Including big hit double-A-side singles [Sunrise/Sunset~LOVE is ALL~] [You were.../BALLAD], and recordings done in London for the first time, the new album features 10 new tracks (planned).
The DVD will feature more than half the number of songs in the album, with 8 music clips! Moreover, all making-of clips will be included. Digests for the DVD [ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2009 A ~NEXT LEVEL~], which will be released on the same day, will be included as a bonus as well!

--------------------------------------------
[ALBUM+LIVE DVD SPECIAL LIMITED BOX SET]

★Limited Edition
Together with first press [CD+DVD] listed below, a box set which includes the LIVE DVD [ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2009 A ~NEXT LEVEL~]. A special limited box set including a mug cup + bags of black tea!
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/8...a90f767f1f.jpg
How the layout of the box will probably look..

CD contains 14 tracks. DVD contains 17 tracks.
★First press includes a full colour photobook shot in London.

---------------------------------------------------------
April 14th (Wed) LIVE DVD [ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2009 ～NEXT LEVEL～] Release!

Spanning about 7 months in 2009, from April to October, with 35 shows in 12 cities around the country, produced by 300,000 staff, the much anticipated DVD for the Arena Tour Live is here! The entire show done on the very last day at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo has been recorded!
With songs from the [NEXT LEVEL] album, mixed with popular songs from the past and present, and 10 costume changes, an entertaining and colourful show never before seen.
All emcee sessions, bigscreen movies, and videos of special moments will be included (planned)!!

Source: http://avexnet.or.jp/ayu/jp/news/100305.html

----------------------------------------------
A lottery will also be held at stores and online at stores like CDJapan, HMV, and YesAsia for the following items. S = best prize you can get.

S賞オリジナル・Sequin/spangle bag
A賞オリジナル・Cushion
B賞オリジナル・Pendant
C賞オリジナル・Amenity pouch
D賞オリジナル・Mini tote bag
E賞オリジナル・Keitai / cell phone cleaner
F賞オリジナル・Passkey holder
G賞オリジナル・Memo pad
H賞オリジナル・3 color ball pen
I賞オリジナル・IC sticker
J賞オリジナル・B2 poster、and original sticker set

※ 『what benefits are subject to change, Please note that when.

Spangle bag that will probably have an Ayu logo on it:

Some other facts to point out:
- photobook comes with the CD+DVD version's first press
- photobook is 36 pages
- photobook will ALSO come with the CD+DVD version in the limited box
- 10 new tracks and 14 total tracks are subject to change
- CD only has no first press at the moment, but we have yet to find out more.
- The amount of interludes is not known yet, but people still seem to be saying that there will be 4 with no reasoning other than what has been done for NEXT LEVEL and GUILTY... at the moment though, no one knows anything.
- Sexy little things will be on the album, it just has not been listed in the tracklist since the songs that have currently airing CMs (Microphone, Don't look back) are the only tracks that Japan knows of right now. We know of it from ViVi, but that's about it... there's no reason for it to be listed in the tracklist at the moment.
-----------------------
Links to other threads:
New Album 14 April! [Rock'n'Roll Circus]
by Misa-chan
"Rock'n'Roll Circus" 4/14 new album information [II]
by truehappiness
ARENA TOUR 2009 A ~NEXT LEVEL~ live DVD out April 14th, 2010!
by truehappiness
Rock 'n' Roll Circus 4/14 new album information [III]
by hachiroku

(thanks for help truehappiness and everyone for good feedback. Please check these older threads too.)
-----------------------




from Misa-Chan:
"Basically the news here says:

TeamAyu members can now order all the above releases at the special ayu online shop.
If they buy NEW ALBUM 『Rock'n'Roll Circus』, they'll get an original handphone stand. If they buy the LIVE DVD『ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2009 A ～NEXT LEVEL～』, they'll get an original pencase. If they buy the 『Rock'n'Roll Circus SPECIAL LIMITED BOX SET, they get both. There are no extra mu-mo only goodies."

More from Misa-chan :)


Please notify me if there is anything that needs to be added to the first post!

I forgive you, haha. Not many people know that, I think. She will most likely not postpone the album after taking so long to finish it, and already releasing it the week that the tour starts.

Also, if AKB were not releasing their album I am sure that Rock'n'Roll Circus would've been released on the 7th.

haha.thanks for the info,th.
anyway,
does this means that the first press item might have photobook and another stuff?

^^;;

Yes. It might actually be "Photobook + poster" or something. But no one really knows anything, haha.

Perhaps. Haha. We have no idea what the song titles will look like, but we definitely know what the London covers might look like... you know?

i'm more interested to know tracklist LOL
they usually will announce the cover first or the tracklist first?
or maybe th,you can put the estimation date for the whole 'process'? lol

I put it in the last thread.

NEXT LEVEL's release pattern:
If Rock'n'Roll Circus' patterns are to mirror NEXT LEVEL, it should go something like this.
It'd mean two weeks until covers are revealed but hey... -shrug-

Yeah... ^^; I want to know the tracklist too. :D;; (Maybe I'm being too impatient... :()

I dun usually really care about the tracklist because I dunno anything from the song titles. They are just simply names to me until I listen to them. On the other hand, cd covers usually give me ideas of what the theme of the albums will sound like. So I'm more nervous about the cd cover than the tracklist :P.

thanks th.you are my walking ayu-dictionary :syeah

i really really hope that the tracklist will be longer than 14 tracks... she worked so much, she finished the recording just today (next step is mixing)...
but on another hand, i prefer that there are 14 good tracks, rather than 17 or 18 meh tracks, or tracks-to-fill-the-blanks.

And concerning the lucky drawing, i might have 2 extra-chances to win something, since i pre-ordered the Album and the live-DVD :D (but please no "spangle bag" -__- , come on! i'm not a girl XD).

That's how most people feel about albums, but IMO Ayu always has pretty good tracks. For the most part, all Ayu albums don't really have filler from what I've heard, haha.

"Curtain call" is such song for me
I have a feeling that this song was done in the last moment

I completely doubt that A WORLD is ONE inspired her to make the album longer... that's just being weird, haha.

and yeah, we must not forget that she said that they had re-recorded and re-arranged old songs... maybe for bonus tracks, for the concert, who knows ^^

That is misleading.

Ayu did not say that. Enrique said it because they were learning new songs and rearranging old ones for the concert, as they are her band.

well, I hope the full tracklist will soon out in 14th March! :D

oh, well i'm sorry then... ^^'

but if they re-arrange old songs for concert, we can expect good re-arranging, like "evolution" at Asia Tour 2007 maybe ^^

I can't remember, for NEXT LEVEL, when CDJ had the lucky draw, did YesAsia do a lucky draw as well?

I'm excited to see what all the bonuses are too, if there's more than the photobook!

Yes. For A BEST 2, NEXT LEVEL, GUILTY, and A COMPLETE, HMV/YesAsia/CDJapan participated.

YA didn´t do a Lucky Draw for A BEST 2, Guilty was their firstLucky Draw.

That's good to know.

Do we know if each online store gets the SAME amount of goods to give out, or is it totally random?

I guess it also depends how many people buy from the websites. More people buying from 1 site will give less chances to win something...

True. But they combined the Guilty and A Best 2 Prizes for the lucky draw of Guilty.

mu mo has released the news that there is a free 36 page photobook. i think is same with yesasia.

just wished she will released a blu-ray disc instead of just dvds... even Namie Amuro releases blu-rays...

I need the release date to come closer and closer; I'm dying for it!

Me too D':

But maybe this ridiculously amazing tour for this ridiculously amazing album will be the first ridiculously amazing blu-ray. :yes

I want A-TOUR blu-ray too!thirsty for that~!

I want Blu-Ray for Ayu and Kumi,too=(
Why only Namie they can afford it for at least these 2, too imo....

Considering blu-ray isn't at all popular in some places, maybe it just isn't worth it for some artists to release on it.

But isn't Ayu just as popular as Namie??

If it's beneficial for Namie to release a Blu-ray I don't see why it wouldn't be for Ayu...

Glad to hear that the album is finished being recorded. Now I'm curious to see if we get an update that says we've got 15 or 16 tracks instead of 14.

What, there's still no official track list revealed? :D I want to see that so badly. :p

^ I kind of want to see the covers more than the tracklist lol

Im hoping for 15 and a secret track :p so 16 lol!

aa cant wait to get this album!!!!! specially after reading the last TA update!

my dream: 18 tracks lolol xD


nah not really... would b awesome but meh


i cant wait for this album!!! i wanna see one cover at least T.T




thanks for the new thread

I'd be really happy with at least 17 tracks.

I don't mind which comes out first; tracklist or covers but I need something more that will satisfy me, or at least tell me that the album release is closer.

Same here! Any news would make me very happy :) I hope we get the covers and tracklists soon!!! >__________<

I don't know if anyone see this but play-asia is now pre-ordering the album and also the boxset!

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-...n-70-3rec.html

That sentence in the first post make me wonder:"- photobook will come with the CD+DVD version in the limited box" ,that means that if I preordered the regular CD+DVD edition I will not get the photobook?

Both the regular CD+DVD (as long as its first perss) and the CD+DVD in the Boxset comes with the photobook.

The CD+DVD version always comes with the photobook as long as it is first press. First press obviously includes the box sets. Please read the first posts carefully.

I just wanted to post this :yes

So all the people who haven't grabbed it, still have one more chance! :D

^ **** yeah I know I just got the email

I ORDERED THE LIMITED BOX

omg

NOW it's time to get waaaaay excited!! :D

by the way.. that's one heavy mug! ^^

Congrats!! :D:D

After all this hype, I somewhat wish I could afford it.

But yeah, wow, that's pretty heavy! It's not the first time I'd have a DVD and two CDs shipped together, and it didn't come up to anywhere near that weight. I suppose that weight doees make sense though; a big box, a mug/tea, the DVD, the CD+DVD, the photobook.

argh D: and it's slightly cheap than others.
But I want to partecipate at the lottery and I don't want two copies of the same album lol

Not really.

I paid $148.50 for the box at YA. With the cheapest shipping I would pay $148.80 at Play-asia.

^ yup almost same here :) $148.80 = €110.38

so much money.. but it's so worth it. CD+DVD+AT09+photobook+mug+tea

I'm really happy! I hope the packaging will be really nice as well! :)

It's a good thing this didn't happen in November or something. I spent 113 euros on ordering Sadie's Master of Romance tour DVD, and if it was down to ordering that or Ayu's box set I don't know how I'd decide. Still, because of the amount spent at that time, I can't afford the box set this time.

I don't even know why they do Blu-ray for some artists and not for others. Ai Otsuka was the first avex artist to get it, and she doesn't even sell all that well nowadays. It has nothing to do with popularity.

Aie ya, I put that CD+DVD+PB in the limited box thing to clarify that the box ALSO has the photobook, and it ended up confusing people to think that it's JUST in the limited box... blah.

Maybe because they don't sell that well is the reason they even release it on blu-ray; hoping some people would buy it more once it gains popularity.

I think it's a random thing. Like the artist mentions that they want to release it, or something else... (Namie Amuro, Ai Otsuka, Mika Nakashima, Nana Mizuki... those are the only ones I know of, haha.)

All I know is that Namie's Blu-ray sold 14,000 the first week and apparently that was "AMAZING" by the standards of Blu-ray.

I think Ayu might either be waiting to sell a NEXT LEVEL Blu-ray [like some other acts who are rereleasing older concerts on Blu-ray which kind of makes me angry] or this coming tour will be her first concert that is worth Blu-ray...

I wonder what is actually making them want to release it on blu-ray though; I know there are loads of blu-ray releases in some countries but I don't know...it seems odd for jpop artists to do it for some reason.

I don't have a bluray player, so no bluyray is fine for me lol

Neither do I so I'm quite fine with no blu-ray.

I guess they cost a lot to produce, and at the moment, the installed user-base of DVD players far outdoes the Blu-ray players... I recall Ponyo sold about a million DVDs or 800k, and the Blu-ray sold a bit of a measly 20kish?

I can't imagine that many people would want to buy PVs on blu-ray. Nobody knows if the album is even going to sell well.

.........no one ever said anything about a CD+BD, haha.

People are talking about an ARENA TOUR 2009/ARENA TOUR 2010 Blu-ray, haha.

but the price is cheaper in playasia than japan
in Playasia price are 124.90 dollars,is too cheap

Dare I ask, what is so great about blu-ray anyway? I don't know that much about, sorry for that, but loads of people seem to want it in so many places, so it makes me wonder why.

Basically... incredible (God-like, even?) picture quality that is unrivaled at the moment, haha. A standard DVD seems like a blurry mess after going Blu-ray.

You have to watch a Blu-ray to understand. It's GORGEOUS and crisp. An Ayu concert like AT09 would really benefit from being released on Blu-ray.

I actually hate Blu-Ray films cause they're SO detailed you can instantly tell it's filmed on a movie set. Me and my friends we're like "Ehm they're just walking around a set :S" I think BluRay makes things look more fake.

However, a concert would definitely benefit from it!! Since it's all real :D I'd love a BluRay concert (once I get a bluray player)

This is getting crazy :D ( already thread number 4 ) ;)

btw, you quoted my thanks to you ;) "(thanks for help truehappiness and everyone for good feedback. Please check these older threads too.)"

anyway, its not a big deal, but someone might think "why truehappiness is thanking himself" ... :)

This is probably gonna be my first "real" Ayu album! (yeah, i know, im just listened her on the "internet")

Sounds more like a crappy movie than a problem with blu-ray! :laugh

But yes, blu-ray is perfect for concerts!

Blu-ray is perfect for documentaries and concerts among other real-life situationy things that aren't filmed on fake sets or soundstages, haha.

I really do want to see every little pore on Ayu's face in concert... -pokes her face-

The only downside is that it will be painfully obvious when they cut to a standard definition camera as opposed to a high definition one.

However, since AT05, they have been filming with HD cameras so... THAT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM.

Well, bluray has superb sound quality too, so concert on BR would be awesome!!

sorry for little off-topic....

edit: Yeah, hahah, maybe your right about that ;)

I am actually aware that the thanks is still there. There's no use taking it out since it'd probably be added back in there when someone gets the fifth thread, haha.

woow. Play-asia is so expensive. usually they price is the lowest compared YA CDJ or HMV

Ahh so that's what's so incredible about it then.

Thus far I have no complaints of watching my concerts with a regular DVD player, but having the feeling of really being there would be wonderful also.

Still, it's great to get regular DVDs, at least it's something. There are loads of jrock bands I know of that have great shows that never makes it on film and it's a real shame.

A comparison of Blu-ray vs. DVD if you want to compare:

View in 720p for best results.

Wow that really is incredible.

I must add; if I was an actress, I soo wouldn't want my stuff on Blu-ray; you can see EVERYTHING! I'd feel naked, almost :P

I too want Ayumi Blu-Ray discs!!

And thank you for the heads up with Play-Asia! I just ordered the Limited Box Set too! Even though I already ordered a first press CD-DVD from CDJ. LOL I am crazy. :D

Truehappiness, I compiled a release info from NL from TA website in thread II, there's sth that maybe you want to add:

- 03/03: tracklist published and 1 of the covers
That day we also had teh tracklist with 1 of the covers at the same time ^^

- 18/03: more chaku-uta (+33d)
The day you put as songs in chaku-uta were only for NEXT LEVEL song, because it had a CM, maybe we can expect Microphone and DLB on that day (11/03) but the rest of songs from NEXT LEVEL, the new ones, came on the 18th ^^ and the rest (more parts, PCDL songs, PV's on the 25th)

- 25/03: rest of chaku-uta

^^

So...all Blue-Ray does is make people uglier.

Maybe it just makes them look more human? What with imperfections probably showing and all...

You guys forget the number one reason to have Blu-ray...it's region free. I can't buy any of Ayu's DVDs because I can't play them.

Unfortunately it's not Region-Free.
However:

DVD: Japan = Europe (both Region 2)
BluRay: Japan = USA (both Region 1)

So people in the USA will be lucky from now on (sadly for me :(). But hey, I guess give it a few years, and then unlocking BluRay players will be just as easy as unlocking DVD players (which is just a matter of putting in a code now).

Most avex Blu-rays are region free, but there are regions. Like Region 1 / 2 / 3, etc... Japan and the USA are in the same region though.

That is why I went to YesAsia and got a Region Free DVD player. I got sick of watching them on the computer and using the old DVD player that could get hacked.

Why don't you just play them on your computer?

For BluRay, Japan and USA are the same region? If they started making BluRays for Ayu's concerts, I'd definitely invest in getting a BluRay player because not only would I get to see Ayu on awesome BluRay but I'd actually be able to play it. I hate that her DVD's aren't region free. The only artist I know of with region free DVD's is Utada. I think that's just her record company though.

DVD's cost a lot and watcher them on the computer can be uncomfortable and usually TV screens are bigger and have a better picture than a computer screen. There's no way I would pay for a DVD that I could only watch on my computer. Plus, I do have a few of Ayu's singles CD+DVD and when I have tried to watch the DVD on my computer it makes me switch some weird setting that can only be changed x amount of times before it's stuck permanently.

Not with VLC player :yes

looking at the blueray video, I really don't see a difference. maybe its because I'm watching a small 5 inch by 5 inch youtube video on a forum, but I don't see that much of a difference. I'm sure it would be alot clearer on a tv or something, but as I see so far, I don't see the reason to spend extra money for a bit more contrast and sharpness.

yes, call me crazy if you must. and lol at the first thing I see out of people's mouths when the information released that at09 was coming out on dvd was "what, no blu-ray?" ungrateful.

Ahh that's a great reason! No wonder...

There's a HUGE difference, haha.

Even in just HD broadcasts/.ts files converted to AVI... you can see a HUGE difference. Ayu in HD is so stunning and gorgeous. Her SKIN is so FLAWLESS. There are no imperfections at all... -dies-

Trust me, when you're watching the concert on a 47" HDTV, on a comfy couch, it makes a great difference. Especially if you compare it to sitting in an office chair at a desk in front of a 20" computer monitor.

That's really true! Not to mention sitting at the computer for too long hurts your eyes and back, so regular breaks should be taken. Oh goodness I'm really starting to sound like an adult hahaha

wow.i can't believe play-asia will have the limited boxset also!
thats great.most important is,i can get free shipping!

I hope there's some hidden tracks *meditate*...

I wouldn't be surprised if there was.

With this album she seems to be going back to the beginning. We can only guess that the album would be about 16 songs, like most of her earlier albums were, and with a hidden track just like some of those releases. By the amount of time she's been recording and such, it sounds like she may have enough material for all that.

i think the last time she puts the bonus track on the album was memorial address?that was 6 years or more ago

^yeah but the last secret hidden track we had was memorial address on a best 2 black back in 2007. not sure if that counts though, but meh :/ you never know. haha. I have my hopes up for a hidden or bonus track since the last one we had wasn't even that many years ago.

By fans there's a bit of a debate on whether Memorial address itself was considered a hidden track/bonus track or not. I'm not quite sure what to consider it to be honest.

Though for those that doesn't count it, then the last time there was a hidden track was on RAINBOW with the song + that came right after independent. That was December 2002, thus that'd make it about 8 years.

^ .....It's not a hidden track. It's a bonus track. The CD clearly states "Bonus Track 08. Memorial address". Since it's listed on the track listing, it's not a hidden track. There's really nothing to debate there.

oh ya.what about part of me?is that considered as a new song or hidden track?

Thanks for that bit of knowledge. haha I might watch the little bit of content I have on DVD a little more now. haha

But still, I wouldn't want to pay full price for a DVD I have to sit at my computer and watch. I'd rather download it. I know I should support Ayu, but she and her company aren't taking the easy step of making her DVD's region free and making them fully usable for people not in Region 2, so I don't think people not in Region 2 should feel obligated to buy them, y'know? If they were all region I'd definitely buy them or if they were BluRay too because Japan is in the same region as the US with BluRay.

I don't think it was considered a hidden track; it was just a song that wasn't released in the past but I can't be 100% sure of this. If it is considered an actual hidden track, I'm not sure it'd count in this case since we're talking about an original album. I think a previously unreleased song and some bonuses like live DVDs is something put on Best of's to make them worth buying.

part of Me wasn't a hidden track. It wasn't even a bonus. It was just a new song on A BEST 2 -BLACK-. Memorial address was a hidden track though; it was hidden after part of Me.

^ :yes