My interest for Ayu is still pretty high, however just like you i find her releases after FIVE kinda lackluster. The songs aren't even bad or anything, just boring and most of the time i find the tracks to be weaker versions of older songs. Party Queen took a few chances, some good (NaNaNa, Return Road) and some bad (Eyes, Smoke, Magic) but the rest of the album is just pretty.. blah.
Then she released LOVE and Song 4 U instantly became one of my favorite Ayu songs and Missing was a really great surprise as well, then came Again and she continued the high quality with Wake Me Up and Snowy Kiss. I was so stoked for LOVEAgain, i could hardly contain my excitement and then after listening to it i just blanked out. I liked some of the tracks at first, but after i finished the album i just sat there unable to remember any of the new tracks.
What was before Ayu's biggest strength has became a bore to me now, her ballads have brought me so much joy, sadness and nostalgia over the years but almost all of them sound the same today.. I like Pray, but it's not a track i feel like replaying over and over.
Merry Go Round was a nice surprise though, and the news of her new album being very up-beat and EDM sounds interesting. It could be a Next Level part 2 and since i love that album so much i'm really excited!
Just don't sound like Feel The Love.. PLEASE just don't!
