Ok, here are my thoughts:
CDL1112 ~HOTEL LOVE SONGS~ (TV broadcast + DVD)
The best thing for me about the new years eve was to watch CDL actually LIVE. The streaming via ustream was an amazing idea!
I really like the cover of the DVD, but after watching the concert again on DVD I was a bit disappointed. I was so excited on new years eve that I didn't really cared what was going on, so I absolutely enjoyed it! But when I watched it on DVD I noticed that the tracklist was somehow strange. I can't explain well what is bothering me here, it just doesn't work for me. Also Ayu was sitting way too much! I don't feel the need to watch it again, 'cos the whole concert feels depressing for me.
how beautiful you are (digital single)
Love the composition! The video is also really good! I listened to this song a lot, but I can't stand the way how Ayu sings the "you don't know..." part. For me she tries way too hard here and doesn't really sound like herself. But besides that the song is really beautiful, especially near the end when just 1:50 min are left!
Oh, and the cover was also gorgeous. <3
Power of Music (DVD + Bluray)
Really good concert! I loved that she made something complete different from what she is doing usually. No complains here.
Party Queen (album + 4 new videos)
"Party Queen" is a very good album and I enjoyed it a lot. But somehow I don't feel the need to listen to it since months. It has the same depressing feeling for me like CDL. Usually I love it when music has a depressing feeling, but Party Queen and CDL feel different "depressing" than let's say "Duty" or "GUILTY".
Maybe it's just that I'm totally over that "failed relationship" theme. Besides the whole concept failed for me. I really tried to get into it, but to be honest the whole "lonely queen" theme was a fail. It had so much potential, but they wasted it. I mean, why not show her on the covers as fake as possible and like a plastic doll? Or maybe make her look robotic (or somehow like in the alterna PV). THAT would be the image most of the public has of her. A woman who had a ton of surgery, who can't sing and is just a singing machine. Can't really remember I ever read a gossip article were she was referred to as "Party Queen". And somehow it seemed to me as if she was pitying herself.
I'm a BIG "Acid Black Cherry" fan, and I was really happy for him that he got the number 1 for his album "2012" instead of "Party Queen". Because "2012" is a really good concept album! "Acid Black Cherry"'s 3 albums are my favourite concept albums of all time, 'cos all three stick to the concept from beginning till end. Besides he also writes and arranges all of his music. But to come back to "Party Queen": musically I have nothing against this album, but the concept failed. An album doesn't need a real concept for me to be good, but if you want to make a concept album everything has to work, not only the music. Because otherwise, if covers, booklet and videos don't fit, the whole concept is destroyed. And lyrically "Party Queen" is more an attempt to deal with a failed relationship than to portray Ayu as a lonely queen. Without knowing the theme you would have a hard time to realize it is a concept album.
The PVs weren't good at all. It's nice that Ayu seemed to have a lot of fun while shooting "NaNaNa" and "Shake It", but for the viewer they are boring. I think I watched them twice. "Return Road" had potential, but that's about it. And the thing with the photo from "Virgin Road" was tasteless. The only good PV was "how beautiful you are".
A SUMMER BEST (compilation + You & Me + one new video + some unseen old performances)
I like this compilation, but the covers are horrible! Her tan... and everything looks fake... horrible! Although the booklet had some nice pics.
The DVD is the highlight of this compilation for me! Loved to watch all this performances!!! <3
The "You & Me" video was ok. Loved the beginning, 'cos it was cute. But the end was way to much fighting. If my boyfriend would get that violent against me he could pack his bags.
You & Me + Greatful Days at FNS (performance)
YAY!!!! A PERFORMANCE!!!
a-nation '12 (multiple TV broadcasts, two different edits)
To be honest I haven't watched it yet. I totally forgot about it... Shame on me!
Kishidan Concert (not aired yet)
I sooooo want to watch it! Although I was disappointed by the setlist. I wasn't expecting she would sing album songs like "GUILTY", but she has a lot of more rockish single songs she could have performed. Why not make this more a rock concert, without dancers and all this stuff? Would have been something fresh. Don't get me wrong, I love her dancers on stage and I love it when they appear in her videos (yeah, I'm in the minority here xD). But I would love to see a rock concert from her, I'm sure she could make a great show!
Arena Tour 2012 ~HOTEL LOVE SONGS~ (DVD/Bluray not yet announced, concert not aired on TV)
Since I haven't seen it, I can't say anything.
Song 4 u (XILLIA2 Ver.) (digital single)
Loved it! But they could have made a REAL cover for it... -.-
LOVE (EP + 2 videos)
LOVE it! Songs and remixes are great, I'm absolutely satisfied. PV wise it's ok. "Missing" is a good PV, so is "Song 4 u", but "Song 4 u" could have been better! It had potential but they wasted it till the end, I think. But it's ok.
Covers were great!
Song 4 u at Hey!Hey!Hey! (performance)
Great performance! I have watched it like 20 times?
SEASONS at FNS (performance)
I watched it live while it was airing. So exciting. ^-^ I was a bit disappointed that she sung "SEASONS" and nothing more. Here vocals were good.
again (EP + 3 videos)
I already loved "LOVE", but "again" is waaaaay better! The four original songs are all I want from Ayu, I couldn't have asked for more. And I like the remixes also.
The covers are cute! ^-^
The PV for "Sweet Scar" is awesome! But the PVs for "Wake me up" and "snowy kiss" are really bad. If not her worst... I try to forget about them...