here comes my long ass review...though that shouldnt be surprising
THE introduction: perfect and great as a lead in for the album. I know people might be disappointed that it wasnt really like...a "full" introduction a la Not Yet or Mirror, but I think it is great as a suspense builder for the rest of the album, and I don't think it really has to be a "full" one, since it served it's purpose. A lot of artists and bands have intros like this all the time...so to me, it's not too disappointing, but I can see how people would think it is. It's just different.
7/10
Microphone: just greatness. This song has REALLY grown on me, because it has the Ayu rock sound that I've come to respect because a lot of people don't have this sound. It reminds me of MY STORY and (miss) understood era, and I love that so much.
9.5/10
count down: omg whats gonna happen...I wasnt expecting this at all, and I really love it. There's so much going on in it, although I know it sounds like a pretty straightforward rock song. There's actually only one part I dislike in the chorus, and it's only one note...the rest of it is just great for me. I see a lot of people comparing it to other things...but to me it's such a different melody and sound for her, Im really happy it's here after Microphone.
8/10
Sunset: Eh...okay, the melody of this song I love, and I love that Sunset is so much better than the other one...but to me, it feels really out of place after count down...but Ballad is next...so we'll see how it goes lol
6/10
BALLAD: This song has grown on me. The melody in the verses is gorgeous. It seems to me that a lot of her songs lately have been very "sweet" sounding lol One of the things I think is great about this song is how incredibly simple it is, yet how incredibly beautiful it is, and to me, that is really important, because it says a lot about the strength of the melody and instrumental tracks. I think you could listen to this instrumental and have an entirely new song. So...I think after all this time, I really agree with my friends that this is one of Ayu's best ballads ever.
8.5/10
Last Links: I don't really like how this starts out only on the right...but I can let it go if the song is good...Love the acoustic, and I like the melody as well, seems like the writers got off their butts lol This song, for me, is in the same category as count down...it's so different to me, even though it's reminiscient of things...as a whole, it's quite not her thing, and she's doing it so well...I love this song...it's perfect. PERFECT ENDING OMG.
9/10
montage: ooo opening is greatness...woah lol was not expecting the orchestra....oh I love it lol It reminds me of Howls Moving Castle lol NOOOOO I wanted it to be a whole song. Damit.
9/10
Don't Look Back: Okay...so I've heard this song in the previews and leaks and like...I love this song...even if it isnt really the strongest song ever created, and I know people will hate it, or say it's flat and boring..it's just...you know the way the melody goes, and the whole instrumental...it's just...thats how it should be lol If this song were anything else...I think it wouldnt fit. Especially with the PV...I mean woah, that PV was amazingness...This song is so unique, it's more advanced electronics, and really gorgeous in a weird way. I get a MAJOR Ladies Night vibe when listening to it., but it's evolved into this sound that is just fantastic. To me, it is an advanced song for her, out of her comfort zone, and that is GREAT.
9.5/10
Jump!: Okay, see when I think Ayu + Electronica, these are the songs that come to mind. Why oh why couldn't she have had this sound on NEXT LEVEL? It would have been soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much better, so much more advanced and sophisticated. This is great. GREAT. A great interlude for flow. Her interludes seem to be changing a bit. imo they're becoming less like full stand alone songs, and more for the flow of the album...I think on this album she's found a great balance of the two, which is something, you'd be surprised, but a lot of artists just cant do.
8.5/10
Lady Dynamite: This song cracks me up, because the melody of the chorus reminds me of those kid songs that are like...teasing? I can't really explain it lol This isn't my favorite song...because the sound isn't my favorite...but I think it's great, and perfect for this song...and I am really happy that they came up with a melody that is catchy and can be repeated in the instrumental tracks prominently without being repetetive or annoying. Not my favorite, but serves it's purpose for the song.
7/10
Sexy Little Things: I love the intro...but....I am just not really one for the cute swing electro. It's too much like Energize...though I think it's more sophisticated than Energize, and I will say it is one of her more definitely unique songs...and I like that they were able to pull off that chorus lol The verses melody are okay...some things are kinda messy, but I think this song is going to be AMAZINGLY FUN in concert...and you know, imo it really better be, because live is the ONLY way that this song will be saved, and I really hope it wont be lipsynced.
7/10
Sunrise: oh...this song is next...great lol imo these songs shouldnt even have been on the album...I would have much preferred a 13 track album to having them here...or...they could have taken this one out, put Sunset here, and had a new slightly electro arrangment for it...for the flow into meaning of love....I basically have the same thoughts for this as for Sunset...although I prefer Sunset for this melody...this one has a more interesting arrangment. But still, meh. EW I FORGOT ABOUT THE BACK UP SINGERS....sorry...but it's gross lol gut it pez anyone? lol
5.5/10
meaning of love: I'm excited for this song...and I like the acoustic guitar I heard...okay...so right off, it's a little cheesy, like a Disney song...but I do like the little melody it's got. I don't see this song really being one of her best, but I do like that it has a lot of her and her personality in it...kinda like Days I guess. It's got all these feelings and all this "Ayu" in it, but it isn't really musically great, especially in comparison to the other songs...but it's alright. I can't wait to hear this live though...if her voice is good, it'll be so epic and full of emotion, but the studio version for me, is just a tad lacking of the proper impacts and stuff like that. I have a feeling that after the tour though, everyone will love this song more...I hope she doesn't do the hanabi dance for it lol
7.5/10
You Were: is this you were I hear lol Yes...this is a great song to be after meaning of love...talk about perfect placement. So this song has so much power in it, and it's really nice that the arrangment isn't really as generic as other ballads, like meaning and Days and such...it's still not GREAT, but it's really good, and live this song is greatness...and I really can't wait to see it in the tour. The power is just fantastic...and it's grown on me.
8/10
RED LINE: This has such an Ayu Encore song feeling lol it's funny to me. It's not really my favorite, nor do I think it's that great musically, but it's really sweet, and full of "Ayu" lol and I think that counts for something, and as a song for the fans, I think it serves it's purpose without being overly cheesy, and I do think it's a great way to end the album...almost feels like a bonus song or something...like a little present. It's cool. The vocal only part at the end...should have been a little shorter imo lol
7/10
OVERALL
So....this album is great. I think...of course there are flaws with it...or certain things that aren't as like, epic and great as her past albums...but well, for me, it's a place that I had to come to, where I realised that, I don't really think anything is ever going to be as great as her past albums, where like, every song was amazing.
To me, this album is great, in comparison with what she has been doing lately, especially after NEXT LEVEL, and in comparison with what everyone else in Japan is doing. I think it's more mainstream than her other albums in ways, for example, the acoustic songs, and the fact that her interludes are not like her older ones, and they actually remind me a lot of interludes from some other japanese bands, especially the indie ones. Very different.
I think that this album really redeems Ayu in a way. I feel like it's a lot more versatile than other things she's had, and that even though it is so, I feel like it's quite a cohesive album that pulls together all of these elements and makes something that's really unique and interesting, and where there's a song for everyone, which...I guess also will mean that there will most definitely be a song that isn't for everyone lol
With that though, I think that whether people like certain songs or not, the songs do their job in what they were supposed to convey, and they are very very very true to sound, and I believe the sound that she wanted to create, and so, I see every song as a victory and as special as well, because imo, every single song brings something new and adds to the album in some way, and that is an amazing victory in itself.
Very good album: Overall...
8.5/10
Rock 'N' Roll Circus > GUILTY >>>>>>>> NEXT LEVEL lol