I feel like everything I feel about this album has already been said XD
Well, the good news is that I LIKE IT!! And I really think it's MUCH BETTER than Rock'n'Roll Circus. Rock'n'Roll Circus, A Song for XX, and RAINBOW are my bottom three albums
I'm not sure where this album goes yet. It's too soon to tell. I agree, this is one cohesive album, but it makes sense I suppose, as almost all of the songs were composed by the same guy. I'm very, very surprised that Ayu x TK worked out so well in the end. I was afraid his influence would be TOO MUCH and Ayu wouldn't have that "Ayu" sound to her songs, but I was very wrong. Ayu's arrangers are some of the best, I swear.
The album tracks are absolutely stronger than the singles. Sadly, I was afraid this was going to be one of the worst albums from her yet, since I was not at all impressed by her singles this year. I'm glad Ayu surprised me yet again!
This album is definitely cohesive, AND it sounds very mature as well. I haven't recalled such a mature sound from her since from the days of LOVEppears, DUTY and I am... Even though she was 10 years younger back in those days, those albums really had a mature sound to them.
Her voice, for the most part, sounds decent, but yikes, some of the notes she hits in Thank U and a couple other songs sounds like it HURTS. Still, an improvement from R'n'RC vocals.
Overall score for this album, I think would be a 7.5/10 for now. Strongest songs: Last Angel, Do It Again; Weakest songs: Thank U, Sweet Season