Flashback ten years ago..how do you feel about I Am... and RAINBOW?

[ExodusUK]

Both albums were released ten years ago in 2002. Would be interesting if people did track by track reviews as if they're new albums. I know a lot of you probably still listen to the songs from them often but I'm curious what people think about them as whole albums?

[Kouyou]

I am... is a good album. I'm not absolutely in love with it, but I still really enjoy it. I just think I need to listen to it more in order to appreciate it fully. RAINBOW is one of my all-time favorite Ayu albums. I listen to it all the time, even now.

[yatsudamf]

They are still two of my favourite albums. I never tire of listening to them.

[FoObY]

Both albums have tracks that are outstanding, but they also have tracks that I practically never listen to.

RAINBOW favs: HANABI, Heartplace, Over
I am... favs: I am..., Connected, Naturally, still alone, M

[AmyRoseM]

I am...will always be my favorite! It was one of the first Ayu albums I ever bought a physical copy of..and I was 11 or 12, and I remember sitting in the living room with my discman and doing algebra homework or something..and it was just one amazing song after another. I remember sitting there thinking.."this woman can do no wrong." By the time Still Alone came on I was like, HOW IS THIS EVEN HAPPENING IT IS SO GOOD. And then I found out soon after that she composed like, the entire album, and I flipped. out.

That was Ayu at her best in my opinion..though she is still amazing, and always will be. I'm just so thankful she has been making music for this long, and music that is still on a whole different level than other artists.

RAINBOW was great as well, and has a lot of amazing songs, but for me it was a little disappointing after I am.

[Coelacanth]

Damn, I can't believe it's been ten years...

I am... is pure gold. I don't think she'll ever make another album with the same kind of intensity and rawness.

RAINBOW is the TRUTH. I love the ethereal atmosphere surrounding the entire album.

[Piccolo]

I am rocks. Rainbow rocks much less.

[NintendoHTF1242]

I am... is flawfree, RAINBOW is flawfree

[emi♡]

track by track reviews? yey! So...I'll post mine later

[PoetGirl]

I still listen RAINBOW on daily basis. I am... not so much, its overrated in my book in terms of my personal likes, just as MY STORY, from the other thread. everyone is freaking out how its masterpiece and I dont listen to those albums that much. I have like few tracks I like but thats it.

RAINBOW on other hand I listen in full. Its flawless. I dont even mind interludes. I won't do track by track now, but my favorites are Over, Dolls, Close to you, Real me and everywhere nowhere.

From I am... I have to be really in the mood to handle still alone, NEVER EVER, a song is born, no more words and that version of endless sorrow no one listens to.

when listening to RAINBOW you can do whatever you like, daydream, write homework, think, eat, write, draw, but when listening to I am... its like a 'scream in your face'... what I want to say? RAINBOW is easy to listen to.

[jang-kun]

Those two albums are my references for a 'masterpiece' nothing could ever top it off, not even Ayu's recent work imo.

[Zeke.]

Strange because to me, they really don't sound dated at all. They would sound fresh even if she released them today! A lot more fresh in fact than her recent material.

[Kouyou]

Originally Posted by PoetGirl

when listening to RAINBOW you can do whatever you like, daydream, write homework, think, eat, write, draw, but when listening to I am... its like a 'scream in your face'... what I want to say? RAINBOW is easy to listen to.

This. I always play RAINBOW when I'm studying or doing my homework. It's so tranquil to me. I have even fell asleep to it, where as I am... is more energizing. I often get distracted if I try to concentrate on schoolwork while listening to I am...

[letter]

I love individual tracks on I am... whereas I appreciate RAINBOW more as a whole. I don't feel much different about them than I did when I first listened to them.

[MissElin_]

I am... (song) kicks off the album so strongly. I'm so happy that I got to see that song live. It's withing her best songs ever. Together with ASfXX it's her strongest album title track. Amazing. Then the album just keept on going from there. Sooo good. Nice mix of happy and sad songs. But what I like the most is the attitude all the albums songs have. They are very strong. RAINBOW is a nice mix of songs I don't really care of and song that are OMFG epic. Heartplace and my orgasmic Free&Easy to mention a few of the epic song section. I loved loved loved this era of Ayu. (Including the masterpiece Duty).

[TeamAyu2004]

I am...
Rainbow...
Perfection
Nuff said.

[YUKARI]

ohhh I am...

for me this one will always stay the best. nothing can beat it. it was ayu's prime and the beginning of my ayu love...

I still feel the same about this album, I still can enjoy it fully. I still can relate to these songs. Oh. It's just a biiig part of my life, a soundtrack of my life back then and even now.

and RAINBOW

lol.

this was a disappointment for me

because I liked the rock feeling I am... had I remember I was really surprised that RAINBOW was so pop, so mainstream sounding. and I truely hated Real me, while everyone was saying it was one of her best. haha I remember how I loved Heartplace and Over.

I still don't feel much love towards this album.

Sometimes I even wish that 2002 never existed (except Jan 1st when I am... was released) and after 2001 it was immediately 2003 which was one more perfect year in ayu's career.

[Kanzaki]

I am... is a true masterpiece. Timeless and with originality that's was hard to find then and is still hard to find. RAINBOW, I like slightly less, but the same goes for that album.

[~StarCatcher~]

I think I am... and RAINBOW are the most boring albums that Ayu ever released

I know I am alone with this ^^

But I love themm too=)

[ayu_ready?]

I love them both. RAINBOW for this magic atmosphere & beautiful music and I am for it's rockish feeling mixed with loneliness