[Majutsu]

Even though I purchased the album, I have kind of been feeling like Ayu began pulling away from her former self since Party Queen. There are maybe only five songs on the album that I enjoy... the rest of them don't even sound like they were meant to be sung by her. It seemed like, "let's throw out an album really quick to get some sales going" or whatever, which I know was most likely not Ayu's mentality when it was released but I couldn't help but get that feeling. I definitely got that vibe with A Summer Best, with only one new song on the tracklist at the time. Since then, I feel like it's been hit and miss with Ayu's music lately. I know she's always trying new things that she hopes her fans will enjoy, so I really don't fault her when something like a new song doesn't get the reception she may be hoping for. It's got to be so stressful trying to constantly be innovative with the music and at the same time adhere to what the music producers think will turn a profit. Be that as it may, I also get the feeling that she hasn't really been saying in her songs what she really wants to say. Not that long ago, it seemed all of her songs came from raw emotion and she wasn't afraid to show her true self to her fans, who love her for it. But now it's kind of like she's becoming more distant and her music is less visceral. I liked Feel the love but it seems like a sort of song that Avex pressured her into doing because they knew it would sell. I just really miss the way she used to deliver her music, but still... I don't think I could ever cease being a fan of Ayu altogether. I'm confident that she will continue to wow us with beautiful and stirring songs for some time to come, so we shouldn't abandon her after all she has given her fans just because the last couple of years have been a little off.