[GRACE]

01. THE introduction
This is, no question, her weakest introduction ever. It lacks a punch, it lacks a real draw, if I wasn't a fan and just heard this I wouldn't really be interested in the album. It doesn't draw you into the album like her previous openings. Also, it sounds like it would flow much better into Don't look back then into Microphone. 4/10

02. Microphone
Doesn't fit after THE introduction. But Microphone is a phenomenal tracks. The organs give it some uniqueness, and I love the contrast between the rather laid back verses and the fierceness of the chorus. Oh the chorus, it's one of my favorite Ayu chorus's ever. It's so powerful and fierce *___* 10/10

03. count down
This song has an amazing arrangement. The piano is so haunting and beautiful. It has a feeling of hopelessness and despair, it's gorgeous. This song does have a major flaw though, the chorus loses the feeling the rest of the song has. It's not the right melody, it doesn't feel like it fits in the song. It loses a lot of it's emotion too. It drags the song down quite a bit, but it's still pretty good. 8/10

04. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~
S'cuse me, wtf are you doing here? This album has no flow WHATSOEVER. This song is probably my least favorite Ayu song ever. It's so forced, it's so oversung, and it doesn't leave any impressions on me at all. It needs to get off this album, it drags on forever. There's no redeeming quality to this song whatsoever. 0/10

05. BALLAD
The album's major flaw is putting this song right after Sunset. For me, I was never into the whole BALLAD hype AHS got into. It's a pretty song, it's got a decent enough arrangement. But the melody is epically boring, and her vocals are so dull and hard to listen to. I like this song enough, but it's not spectacular. And it's placement here makes this whole section of the album drag on. 3/10

06. Last Links
Now THIS is more like it. I love the arrangement of this song so much, acoustic guitar+violins, it's gorgeous. It has a powerful emotional feeling. I feel like she could have sang it another way, but the vocals the way the are seem like they'd be easy for her to sing live, so I guess it's okay. It's got a raw feeling that I really like! 9/10

07. montage
This feels like it should go into Microphone. I feel like she labeled these two wrong when she put the album together. This is the best interlude, for sure. I like the whole classical feeling. But I don't really feel like it does anything as an interlude, and it's really not a good transitional piece. 7/10

08. Don't look back
The best arrangement on the album hands down. It's absolutely perfect, nothing in this song could be any better. I love the dark mysterious atmosphere, the power of the chorus, and the vulnerability of the verses and bridge. This may just be the best song on the album. 10/10

09. Jump!
The first time I heard it I didn't like it at ALL. It's so random and gross, but as an interlude it's the ONLY one on the album that actually does what it's supposed to do so I give it props for that. Now I sorta like it, it's not bad at all. It's not as good as her other interludes though. 6/10

11. Lady Dynamite
I thought this was going to be my least favorite song from the chaku-uta, not gonna lie. But it's incredibly catchy, and I love the arrangement. This song has some of her strongest verses in ages. Especially the prechorus, it's catchy. These are also her best vocals on an upbeat song on this album. 10/10

12. Sexy little things
Now we know what we're doing. This is the most unique track from Ayu in years. It sounds like nothing else she's ever done, it blends the past and the future perfectly. This is my favorite song on the album, it's so innovative. Do more like this Ayu, please! 10/10

Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~
Sunrise and I have had an interesting relationship, I loved it when it first came out, and then I hated it, and now I love it again. It's one of her best summer songs to me, because it doesn't sound like a fairyland/BLUE BIRD/glitter clone. It reminds me a little of July 1st, which is my favorite summer song. 8/10

13. meaning of Love
This song is very interesting. It has a generic arrangement, a generic melody, generic lyrics, and is sung pretty detached. It's essentially everything I hate about Ayumi Hamasaki now a days. However, I actually really like this song. The melody, while generic, is pretty catchy, and her vocals are really nice despite being so detached. 7/10

14. You were...
I love the chorus to this song. It's so emotional and beautiful. And the bridge is amazing. To me, this was the superior song on You were.../BALLAD, and the best single a-side of this era. It's so much better a winter ballad then last year's Days. It reminds me of Together when... which is one of my favorites. 9/10

15. RED LINE ~for TA~ [album version]
This song is insanely catchy. It's got a nostalgic feeling to it I really like. The album version doesn't change too much, but I really like the acapella at the end. However, I feel like the "lalala" part goes on for far too long now. It could have been a lot shorter and still given the effect it desired. 8/10

TOTAL: 109/150 = 7/10

All in all, it's a pretty decent album, it has some really low points (Sunset, BALLAD, and the interludes) but the album tracks are pretty strong. The flow is next to nonexistant, and that really hurts the album. All in all, it's a great step up from NEXT LEVEL, and a good step in the right direction. I can't wait to see where she'll go next!