01) THE introduction
Its quite odd for an Ayumi Hamasaki album to have an introductory track without vocals. However, for some reason it seems to prepare the listener for a very unique listening experience. The track is very similar to the traditional sound we expect from a circus, but also incorporates a sort of "other-worldly" effect as well. With that being said, I think an actually "vocal" introduction would have been nice...even if it were just a man welcoming us to the show.
6/10
02) Microphone
Favorite album track thus far. Everything about this song just screams perfection to me. Ayumi's vocals are spot on and her words are performed with a sense of conviction that is unprecedented in any of her other songs.
10/10
03) count down
To be honest, I was worried about the overall theme of "Rock 'n' Roll Circus," seeing as most of its advanced single tracks were considered of the "pop" genre by me. count down, doesn't disappoint and keeps the expected rock-theme going. It feels like a blend of Memorial Address and (miss) understood in the sense that the mood is very dark but introspectively philosophical. (Weird, I know---but its the feeling I get from it).
9/10
04) Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~
I can understand why this track was the perfect follow-up to count down. Whereas the preceeding track was dark and somewhat hopeless, Sunset restores the feeling of hope that was seeming lost during count down. Again, I will say that Sunset is superior in everyway to Sunrise (even though it has grown on me substantially).
7/10
05) BALLAD
Best advanced single track of this era and another well-orchestrated transition. The tone of BALLAD goes back to the depths of sorrow touched on by count down. I love the subtle Asian-influences found within the melody of the song, as it seems to bring a piece of Ayumi's culture to the table.
8/10
06) Last Links
Beautiful mid-tempo rock song. Its simply brilliant. Ayumi doesn't overdo it with whiny vocals. She simply rides the melody and lets it do most of the work. Another favorite track from the album.
10/10
07) montage
I'm sorry but, for some reason I feel like this should have been called THE introduction. Even without the vocal-command I expected from such a track, it JUST screams "I am an album opening track!!!" It just doesn't deserve to be stuck in between Last Links and Don't Look Back. It should have been placed before or after Microphone, as it gives off the same vibe of conviction.
10/10
08) Don't Look Back
This just reminds me of a quite version of INSPIRE. It's very pretty and airy, with lovely little Egyptian and Andalusian influences. I can literally picture Ayu imitating Queen Cleopatra while performing this song. I can also see her wrapped up in a beautiful burkah too...There's just so much potential for the live performance of this song.
7/10
09) Jump!
This is a total rip-off from the stereotypical rave party before everyone goes insane. In some respects, I can appreciate it...but in others I just don't like it. Its just too thrifty for an Ayumi Hamasaki album.
10) Lady Dynamite
I anticipated this song to have a 1970s feel to it...Instead, Ayumi surprised me with a clubby-rock anthem somehow reminiscent of fly high and Kotani Kinya's music from the yaoi anime, GRAVITATION. (Which features some awesome music by the way!) My only problem with this song is that it seems a bit to slow. Even though it has that clubby feel to it, its kind of impossible to really dance to. Ayu seems to have this problem with all of her songs and I honestly can't figure out why. Regardless...
6.5/10
11) Sexy Little Things
Arguably the strangest track on the album...I just don't know where she was going with this one. I equate it to NEXT LEVEL's rollin' minus the epic goodness. Its a cute song, but in a perfume way...not an Ayumi Hamasaki way. She's just too big of a star to be making sugary-digital pop like this.
5/10
12) Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~
They fixed the opening sequence! YAY! It isn't full of a bass and now sounds crystal clear. That's a compliment. Now here's the insult...I still don't like this song. I'm grateful for the fact that its an Ayu-summer anthem that doesn't sound like fairyland, BLUE BIRD, and glitter, BUT---it still isn't all that great. Its just too loud and obnoxious for me.
5.5/10
13) The Meaning of Love
Overall just a nice song. In comparison to Secret, Untitled ~for her~, and even Curtain Call...this song just falls short of their stature on my playlist of album-track ballads simply because its by Ayumi Hamasaki. I expect this kind of song from beginners like Mai Hoshimura, Miliyah Kato, or even Sachi Tainaka.
4/10
14) You were
Succeeds where The Meaning of Love failed. There is more emotion and for lack of a better word, more lyrical meaning. My only qualm is that its so similar to her other winter-ballads.
8.5/10
15) RED LINE ~for TA~ (album version)
Honestly, I can't tell the difference between this version and the single version. Sure the ending is different but it really isn't all that special. In fact, it kind of ruins the song...
6/10