I think some people are forgetting that Ayu is not a musician. She never has been and I don't think it was ever her intention to make songs that are amazing and something new all the time. I actually recall her saying in some interview that she would never make a song like that just for the sake of it...And about her getting new composers, why? The compsers/arrangers she has right now aren't just there because they are her friends, they are there because they make the kind of music Ayu likes to sing. They became her friends BECAUSE of that.
I do agree that there was more raw energy in some of her older songs, but she had just as many generic songs back in the day as she has now.
I think part of what has happened is that her music has become clearer musically; her sad songs are sad, happy songs happy, angry songs angry etc. Where as in the past they were more all over the place, as if she didn't know exactly what she was feeling. That actually shows personal growth to me; she knows what she is feeling and can deal with.
About her lyrics, I think some of my all time favourites have come out of her recent songs- talkin'2 myself and rollin' particularly stick out to me. They hit me so hard when I first read them...Even now they wow me, they are just so spot on. count down has amazing and very personal lyrics as well. And RED LINE are probably some of her best ever. Simple, beautiful and full of power. I don't care that she writes about the same themes, those are the things she connects with, that represent her. I'd rather that than her just writing abunch of nonsense just for varieties sake.
God, too many words. No one's gonna read this
I have to say that I'm happy the way this thread is going, with a few execptions it's mostly been mature discussion when threads like this have so often turned into insult fests in the past.