Those of us who waited: What do you think now?
 

I'm one of those people that chose to wait until I had received my copy of MY STORY before listening to it. I got it yesterday and after a few listens, I have to say that I am pretty disappointed. I was really excited about many of the songs, but now I'm kinda like BLEH... The only new songs I really like are ABOUT YOU, Liar, Walking Proud, HONEY, and Kaleidoscope. My Name's WOMEN did not measure up AT ALL. Songs like HOPE OR PAIN, HAPPY ENDING, Replace, and winding road are difficult for me to like. It's a lot more boring pop than I was expecting. I was kinda hoping that she would have had more songs like Liar or GAME. I hate to know now that I have another Ayu album that has skipable songs on it. Memorial Address was a huge step from RAINBOW imo, but MY STORY is a huge step down. I have to give it props for pretty packaging though - the cover and booklet are lovely. And the DVD is enjoyable, even if I'm not too crazy about the new PVs. The Making Of's were fun to watch. I'm really intrigued about that swing scene from Carols. Was that in there?

Anyway, for those of you who also waited, what's your review?

Well I didn't wait, but I wish I hadn't waited for the album and had just bought the Moments and CAROLS singles as those were the only good songs on it. I thought I could just buy the album and get the singles with good new songs, but it was a dissapointment, and I'd rather spend more money and get the singles...><

I'll just stick to her old stuff and those two singles for now unless her next single is really impressive. *can't wait to get "I am..." as a birthday present. (already saw the package with it from Yesasia.). :)

I didn't know someone actually waited. :(

Honestly, i didn't wait and listened to all the songs before buying the CD. And i loved the album and will continue to listen to. The only song that i've been skipping was kaleiscope. The others are GOOD. I think it was better that you should have not had waited and get used to the songs before the CD arrives.

Maybe you should give it a few more trys.

i'm also disappointed (altough i didn't wait). i just don't listen to this album. i tried to listen to it but when i was done i felt nothing, the songs weren't running trough my head or sth. sorry guys but this cd could as well not exsist and i wouldn't notice. oh well, i'll also stick with her previous work:)

I wish that CAROLS had used the swing scene ... it was really pretty and it was refreshing to see Ayu in an open area rather than be bound into some room or a box or a soundstage.

*going to buy CAROLS CD+DVD (OS Version) and Moments, not this album*

good for you.


I'm still waiting for mine to get here, but the album's grown on me a lot since my first listen.

Believe me, there're a few who actually waited till they got the CD to listen to the full album. I was one of 'em.

The album's pretty much... grade A-.
'About You' has grown on me a lot. I didn't like it when I heard it on the BAKE CM, but it's turning out as a great song now.
The ballads are great as well, esp. HOPE or PAIN. I just can't get enough of that song.
The two interludes are good. WONDERLAND -- reminds me of this old (around 90's old) kinda horrorish movie where the setting was an old amusement park. And the last part is pretty scary especially if you're listening to it, say at night and you're all alone.
Kaleidoscope reminds me of another interlude on a previous album~

I love the PVs, and the off-shot clips as well.
The DVD gets a B+ from me.

I also waited, but I still haven't received my copy. I hope I will get it soon.

I got mine in the mail yesterday but didn't get a chance to listen to it this morning. I can safely say that this album was completely worth the crazy inflation price at YesAsia. Especially the first few tracks, About You, my name's WOMEN, etc. Her songs are starting to lean towards rock now, which is very cool. The PVs were also very entertaining to watch, as were the Making Ofs. The whole CD+DVD was completely worth buying.

I waited to listen the full album. I received it from YesAsia on Friday, and right away I liked About You, my name's WOMEN, Liar, and walking proud (besides songs from the singles because I already liked those). It took about a day for me to like Humming 7/4 because of the chorus. But I've warmed up to HOPE or PAIN and HAPPY ENDING these last couple days.

I didn't wait because i was too excited when i saw the previews and the full versions. I had to download them. I'm not dissapointed, but it's not Ayu's best album. Although, i DO like. I love most songs except for CAROLS (never was a song i loved), Humming 7/4 (well, the chorus only) and WONDERLAND (but still, it's Ayu's first interlude composed). All the rest? I'm grewing on those quite a lot. I didn't got the CD yet but i'm sure they will each sound so much pretty because it's better quality.

Sad to see you're not really liking it. =/

I didn't wait, but I am waiting for the CD quality of the songs. I've only heard those low Q files.

But at least you liked 5 of the new songs. When I waited for RAINBOW, I ended up only truly liking one of the new songs.

Yep, that's what i prefer doing before because i'm sure they will sound so much better in CD quality. There are a lot of Ayu song i heard from the computer that was bofff... alright-ish to me like Connected, I am, Free & Easy and much more. Cd quality make it sound wayyy better. I love hearing the bass, her voice and the music itself closer in my headphones.

I like it. ^^ CAROLS is still my favorite track on it, that and About You

Ever since RAINBOW not everyone likes (really really like) all the songs from her albums.

So enjoy the ones you do like and think less or nothign of they ones you don't. It's all just personal preference. All good.

I like all of AYu's songs. yeah,,but HONEY is kinda strange.... just that one song I didn't like. (the same with Memorial address, i always skip Greatful Days)

Well, I guess everyone sees it differently.. however, even if I don't like some of her songs.. they stick to me after a while.. it's just me..

Same here. I thought it was "bleh" too. Only a few, like 3 or 4 became keepers.

eh, that's somewhat insulting... Yes, there are still people out there who just wait and buy the CD, myself included. However, while I don't approve of illegal downloading, I'm not going to be one of those people whose all in your face about it, it's your thing.


So yeah, anyways...

I was very satisfied with this CD. While I do have favorite songs that I play much more that other (much, much more) namely About you, GAME, my name's WOMEN, Moments, CAROLS, & Humming 7/4. But I find that it's much easier for me to listen to this album all the way through than with both Rainbow & I am... The only track that I actually do skip through (unless I don't have the remote on hand or whatever) is Kaleidoscope, just since it's not a very necessary track (but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be there). I'm glad I didn't go out and buy the singles when they were released like I did with Rainbow (I also did it for I am... , but actually, AFTER I bought the album and they are the only ones I consider worth the price since they have lots of remix tracks), since there really wasn't any exclusivity to them, I mean, all the songs were included in the album as were the PVs that were in the CD+DVD version singles, the only thing I personally would go and actually buy them for would be the instrumental tracks and in that case, I don't have to go and buy all the singles.
So yeah, if you end up really only liking the songs from the singles, then yes, you would say that the album WASN'T worth waiting for, but if you were patient enough to wait, and in the meanwhile could satisfy yourself with guilt-free CMs (which in some cases, are neater than the PVs!) then come release date, paying whatever you happen to pay for the CD isn't such a bad thing, and the CD+DVD version is a better deal since it didn't really seem to raise the price THAT much more than just the CD.

But, yes, as far as the songs people like, it really is their own choice and that's cool.

BTW:
In comparison with the last two albums: Rainbow & I am... I noticed that her sound has sort of come and gone. Rock was prevalent in I am... but lacking completly in Rainbow which was more "pop", and now, rock returns in My Story. Since I am... was a more popular album than rainbow (that has always been my observation) maybe it's because fans liked rock music better. But that's just my little psycho-analysis.... in order to get an acurate comparison, we would have to give the new album some more time, as far as sales and fan preferences are concerned.

Also, has anyone noticed that I am..., Rainbow, & My Story, have all had hidden tracks/final songs(since My Story didn't have a hidden track) that have a similar sound? More especifically, that "Group" sound for the background singers in the choruses. Not that they might be the same singers, but that they do the same "thing".
Just thought it was interesting...