So... biggest disappointment of my life. Makes me have a more profound appreciation for R'n'R...
I first listened to a cup of tea through how beautiful you are before work. I figured I might as well get the crap songs out of the way and they were indeed crap. Finally after work, I went out to my car to sit back and take a journey in my mind while ayu's new album blasted through my speakers.
First song,
Return Road. Verdict: It's nice, but not what I was expecting. I was expecting some hardcore rock song. This has too much "ballad" for me. I wanted a full on kick-your-teeth in rock song. It's not as epic as it tries to be and therefore probably won't be a new favorite of mine. Microphone, About You, BoY - they are all better songs. Plus, Timmy's whiny little voice is just so out of place!
I moved on to
NaNaNa, and I almost freaking died over the intro. I said "HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, THIS IS BADASS!!!" I was so excited "OMG IT'S AMAZING" and when her voice came in all sexy and auto-tuned, I loved it! But, Timmy's terrible voice does not compliment Ayumi's at all. The lyrics for that rap part are so God-awfully embarassing I can't handle it. Seriously...? Wow. This song had so much potential and I'm crushed at the final outcome. I started out listening to the song like this
and ended the song like this
Shake It, well, it's not a favorite either. Her voice sounds hot as Hell here though, and I love the verses - but the chorus is a little dry. I am not a fan of the trumpets or the overall "showy" feel to this tune. I prefer Kumi's showgirl. Again with Timmy...
call is a big fat NO as well. I hate Timmy's backing vocals here once again! It sounds SO CHEESY! Ayu's voice is so rough here too, I am not a fan. This is like nothing Ayu has ever done and I hope she never does again. It sounds so OUTDATED and another EMBARRASSING track.
Letter, well, another disappointment. The chorus yet again sounds so OUTDATED. It's like all I can picture is Ayu singing this holding hands with people in a big grass field like from Little House on the Prairie. That's what I picture.
reminds me, finally, here is the reason I will be happy this album was made. reminds me has so much emotion, it's gorgeous. I love the intro and how it just builds on this feeling of tragedy and sadness. The intro of decision comes to mind. This truly is an Ayu classic with the La-la-la's. I can't get enough.
Tell me why doesn't make me happy either. It's so un-Ayu until the chorus hits and even then it's missing a little something. Timmy's voice just turns this song into another piece of hot trash.
Overall, I think this is my least favorite Ayu album ever. I am so surprised at the positive reaction on this. I remember reading a comment someone had made about feeling as if they had "returned home" with this album before I listened to it and that comment really fed into my hopes and dreams for this album. I've always been searching for that feeling from Ayu again - to feel "at home" once again with her music. But, this is ANYTHING BUT! It's unlike ANYTHING she has ever done and it's so off-the-wall. It sounds like a completely different singer in most of the songs. I hate that vibrato she has now and that extra raspiness. However, in songs like Shake It and reminds me it sounds great! I think the auto-tune in NaNaNa is the route to go - they need to explore that further. She needs to settle on a mixture of auto-tune electro-trance and hardcore rock. Her voice really suits rock and in reminds me it sounds PERFECT!
So sad over this album... It's just so outdated and cheesy and un-Ayu. What really sealed the deal on it all is Timmy's invasive voice in throughout the majority of the album. I always loved that Ayu did her own backing vocals but now it just sounds so awkward and embarrassing and non-complimentary. Sorry for my harsh review but I am just crushed right now
