[Uemarasan]

Personally, I think My Story is Ayu's greatest artistic achievement. An argument can be made for Duty as well. I Am... is less an album and more like a collection of great songs. I do think her greatest songs are in that album though.

I have to disagree that Rainbow sounds entirely early 2000s. Some songs on it, perhaps (We Wish, Everywhere Nowhere), and not that that's a bad thing. But Free & Easy, Independent, Voyage, + sound fresher than anything Ayu has released in the past five years

Recent Ayu, honestly, I don't give a hang much. I haven't bought an album since Love Songs (skipped Rock n Roll Circus). I was expecting something new with Made in Japan, some interesting use of traditional Japanese music and pushing her music forward, but again she played it safe and we have another dull late period Ayu album.

Oh well, 10 great albums plus 1 mini is nothing to sneeze at. That's more than Madonna at least.

PS. FFVII is good but nowhere near top tier FF. 4, 6, and 10 are way ahead of it.