Quote:
Originally Posted by 280301
tasky - 3.5/5
FLOWER - 2.5/5
Mad World - 2.5/5
Breakdown - 3/5
Survivor - 2/5
You are the only one - 4/5
TODAY - 2.5/5
Mr.Darling - 2.5/5
Summer Love - 3/5
Based on my first listen. It seems better than Colours, but on par with A ONE and Sixxxxxx. Ayu needs to experiment more with arrangement for me to be blown away. Everything is original, but nothing sounds *classic* to me.
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So now that I have listened to the album a few more times, I feel as if some amendment is necessary.
tasky - 3.5/5
This opening is above average
FLOWER - 3.0/5.0
I enjoy rock music and Ayu's interpretation of it prior to 2010, and I am enthralled by the traditional elements that have been interwoven, but the guitar isn't 'raw' enough for me, and Ayu's vocals here are awful in the chorus. You can hear her trying to hit those notes, and you anticipate and cheer her on...but she just doesn't soar through them. She croaks.
Mad World - 4.0/5.0
This melody has finally found its way into my soul. When I initially listened to it, I found it to be far too similar to tracks such as Last Links. I enjoy how the guitar carries this song, Ayu's vocals are on point, and the overall atmosphere is touching, I would flick a lighter and sway my arm if I was in her audience.
Breakdown - 4.0/5.0
Similar to Shape of Love, but it has this melancholic vibe and an intriguing ending. I feel when I listen to this track, I am walking tediously along a dark corridor, unaware of what is around the corner.
Survivor - 2.5/5.0
INSPIRE part II. Average, but I can imagine the audience getting down to this at her concert.
You are the only one - 4.0/5.0
A unique ballad contribution to her discography, and perhaps the standout track of the album. This is so...I think what I enjoy is that I do not delegate this track to any other Ayu era. This is the creative bounty of the Ayu from 'now'.
TODAY - 2.5/5
Average, typical Ayu concert ender. It isn't noteworthy, the melody is weakish.
Mr.Darling - 3.0/5.0
Not overtly impressed with the vocal style here, but the track is quite pleasant, the choruses are warm and ear worm worthy, but I think it is outshone by the first six tracks.
Summer Love - 3.0/5.0
A homage to 80s/early 90s jpop, but with modern EDM influences. I enjoy how light and poppy this is, I would love to see it paired with Feel the love, Movin' on without you, Merry go round and STEP you. Props to Ayu if she dresses up like a jpop star from the 80s/early 90s. I will fangirl like crazy.
3.3/5.0
A very deserving score, with some tracks being creative and promising, but others being 'business as usual'. For Ayu to improve, she needs to seriously consider expanding her production team. This is an Ayumi Hamasaki album, but it is not a masterpiece by any means. This is not Duty, this is not I am..., and this certainly isn't (miss)understood. Conceptually, she hit the mark in the vein of these albums, but the overall quality of each singular track just doesn't cut it. If she had 5/6 more tracks and had continued to display this degree of diversity, perhaps. For now however, some tracks continue to be more 'quality' than others, and until she pours those creative juices into every single track, she will continue to produce average, to slightly above albums.