[Nessa]

Okay, I'm not going to read all 6 pages, got through three and I really want to post my thoughts. So, if this idea has been presented before I apologize.

In the early 1990's, heralded by Kurt Cobain came a brand new style of music that swept the nation and still has a rabid fan base today. All of us Americans know what it is, some call it "Grunge" but it's more than that, it was the birth of "Alternative" music, it wasn't rock, it wasn't pop, it wasn't jazz... it was something else and it was good. From that found era of the late 1980s and early 1990s many many many amazing bands have created some godly music, from Nirvana, to Alice In Chains... Love them both. Problem is? Their lead singers are both very very dead. But one group that was in that circle some how managed, even after losing a founding member and a lawsuit against their label, to stay together even now. From their first EP in 1992 to their last album in 2006, the band is currently recording their 6th studio album. This band is Tool. I have loved TOOL and been an avid fan since 1996, right before their release of their first #1 album Ænima. This group cannot be defined by genre. If you have listened to all their music you can pin down certain songs that fit into a specific genre, but not the band and their music as a whole. They try strange, melodic songs that capture your entire psyche, and on the same hand give you a song screaming into the mic with hard drums and wailing guitar. I am still a die hard fan eagerly awaiting their next album.

I only speak of this because Ayu is the same way. I've been a fan of Ayu since 2001 when I first heard "Dearest", then bought "UNITE!" and then my friend bought "I Am..." for me. There was no turning back. She hasn't been around as long as TOOL, but she has released WAY more music than them. It is my firm feeling that some songs you're not going to like, you just don't. There are some TOOL songs I just don't like, I always skip "Ticks and Leeches" and "Rosetta Stoned", in fact MOST of their 5th albums I do not listen to the majority of the tracks. But the tracks I do listen to, are so amazing, that I can almost feel like a spirituality coming from them. It's crazy I know. Anyway, TOOL can't be classified into a genre, while people call Ayu the "Queen of JPoP", she's not. She's strayed so far from "Jpop" that the only way you can call her a Jpop artist is that she Japanese and has some pop songs. She's extremely eclectic. I actually feel like Guilty was great, but safe, while Next Level and RnRc were not. Even these single, to me, seem risky. The only "safe" songs in her last three have been, IMO, "Blossom" and "Sweet Seasons". Other than that, she's trying out different sounds. I ADORE "Moon" I LOVE that song. The lyrics, the melody, I find it an amazing piece that is a mix between a rock ballad and a soft love song. I think "crossroad" was brilliant. I've NEVER heard Ayu do such an outright western style folk song. That took real guts, and with those amazing lyrics, the chords... it's a gorgeous piece of music if you appreciate the western (American) folk over tones. I REALLY respect Ayu's balls for covering TMR's "Seven Days [of] War". The lyrics suit Ayu perfectly, NONE of her two other covers did. This is a real, quality cover that Ayu does complete justice. Her vocals have matured and I can hear that she's getting some coaching and is learning how to work with her maturing vocals on vocal intensive songs. "Seven Days War" is a PERFECT example of her this guttural power she's found in her voice. It's not volume, it's power. You can hear it in "Moon" too; the soft build up to the chorus that just explodes, and it's not the music, if you listen to the pure vocal track, it's her. While I don't much care for "Virgin Road" lyrics, the chorus is an utterly gorgeous melody, and she does have some great lines. But this is a REALLY different type of Ballad for her - there's a formula, but no her normal ballad formula. I don't like the melody of the verses, but the chorus totally makes up for it. And "Last Angel" took me back to My Story & Memorial Address. The lyrics also reflect how she's starting, maybe, to use more mature lyrics. It also perfectly melds rock and pop with electronica, which can be horribly done. Lady Gaga can't even do it right yet. But "Last Angel" has that meld perfect.

So while some of her song are really mreh, it's about looking beyond and realize that it may sounds dull or safe to YOU, but for her, it is a risk. I really believe "Crossroad" as a headlining song, was a huge risk for single promotion. I've weeded out the Ayu songs I have no taste for, but I've found so much beauty in her recent work because I KNOW about American Folk music, I know about electronica, and I can hear the different genres she's merging into one cohesive song. It's actually a very difficult process. My brother is a professional audio engineer, he always babbles this stuff to me ^^;

I hope you guys understood my point!