Nice topic.
I didn't read anyone else's posts yet either so they won't mix up my own thoughts on the matter.
To me if this was mentioned somewhere between 2008-2009 I would say that yes, she is quite boring these days but that's not how I feel these days. Even if some songs on her recent releases may annoy me (BRILLANTE for example), I may later realize that they're actually quite good. There're even some of her older songs (July 1st and A Song is born) that I've suddenly fallen in love with.
I also believe that the main reason for all that negative feedback is because people tend to have huge expectations since this is Ayumi Hamasaki we are talking about. I mean, she used to have those really creative and mind blowing songs before (not that there's no gems here and there these days too, of course) like M, ourselves, evolution, Endless sorrow and so on. People tend to think that she's going to release something like that again and then get disappointed when the songs has more simple composition (like meaning of Love and Days for example) than what she used to have. Personally I used to have really huge expectations because GUILTY was such a kick ass album. I thought NL would be the same but it wasn't. I do enjoy listening to some songs on NL though but it's still not on the masterpiece level in my eyes only because I haven't gotten very familiar with it. There are some really awesome songs there though that should've been singles imo (LOVE 'n' HATE for example).
But one thing is sure, she does release a bit too many ballads. When Love songs was to be released, I understood those releases very well. I loved it when released her singles like during 2005 for example. I love that kind of variety in her singles that I wish would be back but I've also already gotten used to her releasing many ballads lately. Maybe it's just some kind of a adulthood thing then, I don't know.
I've noticed that since her 10th anniversary she's been releasing less rock singles and more medium pop/ballad double a-sides than she previously did (like in 2007 when there was glitter/fated, talkin' 2 myself and Together When...) but imo Ayu can do whatever she wants and will release songs that she personally wants (I assume she decides what she'll release and when, right?). I will listen to her new songs and if I don't like it, I don't and I'll say it aloud, and wait for the next one because I know she'll have at least some cool remixes at times on her ballad singles anyway (like that Microphone remix on MOON/blossom, omg <3).
And if she's seriously going to work with Tetsuya Komuro on her next album then I'll probably love her music since I love TK's music so much~
And when it comes to AHS, I like to read previews. I'm always curious about what everyone says about Ayu's releases, even if they're negative or positive. But I'll be honest with you that sometimes I do think that does her older fans even like anything she does anymore. When I first came here, I think there wasn't so many negative previews anywhere but in the last 2 years there has been quite a lot which makes me really wonder what's going on here at times. :/ And sometimes I wonder what's the hate for some certain things Ayu does because personally I think it's none of our business anyway. o.O
I know that someone's going to come and tell me I've complained many times myself. Yes, I have. I won't say I haven't because it's true. But as I said before, I have no expectations on her music (it's cruel, I know but it helps me to love her
). I'm very curious though every time I hear there's something coming but I try my best not to get too excited. Then, when I listen, I just look for the most amazing songs from her recent releases and concentrate on those (and yes, there has been quite many so my fandom hasn't really died yey). Then, maybe much much later, I concentrate on my least favorite songs.
Oh wait, who has been a idiot and gone to tell Ayu she should stop doing something she likes? o.o That's so rude. Even if people are dissatisfied with her stuff these days they shouldn't go tell her that she should stop doing it. :/
And I think I'll just stop now. If you didn't understand me or didn't get my point, I'm sorry for that. I'm not a native speaker of English so I may have not been able to say something like I say it in Finnish. -___- And I'm tired as hell too. And Ayu trance 2 kicks ass.
//Why do I feel like this post is totally crap and doesn't even fit the topic itself? 8D