I expected a drop. I seriously, seriously did not expect PQ to sell less in two days than FIVE, a mini-album, did in one day. I think this says very different things about how fans are actually responding to this album than some here are saying.
That said, I knew when I saw the covers this would not be a #1 album. I have had zero doubt this is not a #1 record since I started hearing clips and this Timmy guy is literally **everywhere**. He is in the PVs, the production, the singing, etc. There is so little focus on Ayumi with this record. I think, like most people, we're wondering whether Ayumi Hamasaki is a musician or a group now? And FIVE was very similar to this, but I think people bought into the idea because FIVE is a mini-album and her collaborations (NAOYA and JUNO) weren't masquerading as unknown, unnamed people.
A lot of talk was going on before that Naoya and Juno were using Ayumi to jumpstart their solo careers. I think it should be even clearer that Timmy is *everywhere* on this album and the PVs, and he genuinely behaves as if he is (talent- and fame-wise) Ayumi's equal... and does this **on Ayumi's own record**.
There are literally times during NaNaNa and Shake It<3 that the focus of the video is not on Ayumi being the musician, but on Ayumi and Timmy being the musicians/dancers/kawaii. It's confusing. His antics on camera, the pouty gay face and awkward dancing are distracting. I am only thankful he was not in Return Road's PV, but still disappointed that he is a presence in some way in every song or video chosen to promote this album.
Timothy's presence is the first major downfall. He adds a sprinkle of excitement here and there, but this isn't a sprinkle. If this record were an ice cream cone, it would be equal parts ice cream and sprinkles, and as you tried to enjoy the ice cream, you'd find poop-flavored sprinkles hidden in the ice cream. That's what Timmy does to the record: He distracts, in good and bad ways, but after some time you aren't sure you're even listening to an Ayumi Hamasaki record anymore.
The second major downfall is the lack of a preceding single. This is Ayumi's first album in over a year (not counting FIVE). Between then and now, she could have released a single. There are songs on PQ, such as Return Road, that people like myself are wondering *why* they were not singles. She may lose her #1 streak if she puts out a crappy single, but she's guaranteed to lose it if she waits to put out a single at all.
Third, the covers. I feel inappropriate looking at them. I have been uncomfortable with some album covers in the past. Misono had her "Me" cover, Seiko Matsuda had her album "Sunshine" (look
http://www.generasia.com/wiki/File:Sunshine.jpg ... I need to wash my eyes out after seeing that cover.) But Misono and Matsuda are expected to do crazy things like that. Misono IS crazy, and Matsuda IS grasping at straws to sell records. Ayumi has been classfully topless in prior album covers, but this was bad. Very bad. She looks like a ****. That's all I can say. I expect this out of Koda Kumi, but the fact that I thoroughly enjoy JAPONESQUE covers and not Party Queen covers is... well, a sign for me that Ayumi is trying to fix a career that isn't actually broken.
Last, I'm used to bad songs and interludes that suck, but this is her third record to contain a boring classical interlude that has no feeling in it. Interludes went from GUILTY and NEXT LEVEL sounding cool and challenging to sounding cheap and uninspired. I would have found new people to do interludes before Love songs. And the bad songs are really bad songs now. I thought Thank you was ridiculous. Letter and the next LOVE and maybe even Eyes, Smoke, Magic trumped that song easily.
If I were in Ayumi's shoes, I would cancel the tour and record a new album over the next several months for release before the end of the year. This album was really, really disappointing. We have a few gems and jewels in here, but this is overall nothing that we should have been given as fans.
It's just miles away from what "quality" has been for Ayumi's career until now.