Here are my two cents
CDL1112 ~HOTEL LOVE SONGS~(TV broadcast + DVD) - really enjoyed it even if it felt kind of rushed.
how beautiful you are (digital single) - i wasn't really into this because we'd just had far too many ballads lately, but i love love loved the cover
it grew on me more after listening to PQ for a while, and now i think its a good song, just not standout.
Power of Music (DVD + Bluray) - second only to R'n'RC tour to me, and i prefer the version of M she performed to the original <3 i love the jazzy spin she put on some songs.
Party Queen (album + 4 new videos) - i don't care what people think i really dig this album. i haven't listened to it for a while but its still my most played Ayu album. i liked the concept and how diverse it was. the only songs i find myself skipping occasionally are call and letter, because i just think she has far better songs of that sound already. HBYA PV is nice and simplistic but nothing i'd rave over. return road kicks serious ass and is up there as one of my favourites. NaNaNa had potential to be a better video with the camera they used but nevermind. Shake It was just hilarious (not in a good way).
A SUMMER BEST (compilation + You & Me + one new video + some unseen old performances) - this felt so unecessary back when it was released and it still does now. the DVD with unseen a-nation performances etc. could've been released as one of the 15th anniversary releases and i think fans would've appreciated it more. oh well, quick and easy way for Avex to make money i guess. You & Me was great during the summer but i can't listen to it much outside of that, its just a bit too tacky for me. PV was...okay. enjoy it more now as a trilogy.
You & Me + Greatful Days at FNS (performance) - watched when it came out and can't remember much.
a-nation '12 (multiple TV broadcasts, two different edits) - the setlist wasn't what i would've picked but its possibly the most summery set ever haha (with the exception of BRILLANTE). i LOVED how she started, with Timmy singing english lyrics of evolution as an intro, and how she went back into evolution. she sounded good and i really liked her outfits. glad she danced during You & Me! i want her to dance again in her PVs so baaad (not all the time, its just a bit a bit more fun and a nice break from her serious ones). this is the first a-nation i've watched fully so i can't really compare to others, but this one just screamed SUMMER!!
Kishidan Concert (not aired yet) - i hope we get to see this at some point
Arena Tour 2012 ~HOTEL LOVE SONGS~ (DVD/Bluray not yet announced, concert not aired on TV) - I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS!!
Song 4 u (XILLIA2 Ver.) (digital single) - only Ayu could get away with releasing a track like this and have it chart so highly on iTunes :L
LOVE (EP + 2 videos) - i thought it was great - and then again came along and floored it. Missing is incredible, Song 4 u great and i've took to Melody more than i expected. solid release, but could've done with one more track and been a little lighter on the remix side. PVs were very beautiful...but i wanted a fight with the queens on song 4 u haha.
Song 4 u at Hey!Hey!Hey! (performance) - she sounded okay, not great but not terrible. i really loved the staging with the chess floor and dancers
don't know whether its just me but i don't think anyone sounds great on TV lives.
SEASONS at FNS (performance) - man, i'm really not a fan of this song to begin with which really didn't help :p even so...it made me feel kind of sad
she sounded slow and frail to me and kind of made me realize how old she is and stuff, i always think of her being mid-20s and stuff.
again (EP + 3 videos) - just...
Wake me up is up there as one of her best. Sweet Scar is a throwback to RAINBOW and i love it. snowy kiss was a surprise! could've been shorter but really great track anyway
Ivy is one of those track i forget about, like meaning of Love but nvm. PVs were...mainly disappointing. enjoyed them, but i wanted something more like Sparkle/Rule for Wake me up. really liked the one shot of sweet scar though.
overall, i don't think she's had a
bad year. just a very, very unusual one.
