NEXT LEVEL album thoughts

[freedreamer]

I really Love what I have heard.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!!!

here's mine:
Bridge to the sky - Wow. It sounds like a happier version of "Not yet" like how it starts of quietly then slowly builds up and booms into "everlasting dream". I felt happy listening to it hahah.

Disco-munication - Another cool interlude! But something seems lacking in here. There's this hollowness in it. I was surprised with the siren that suddenly came out of nowhere towards the end. Very cool. I like the exotic sounds too.

EnergizE - This is by far a track I didn't expect to sound like that. I thought it was going to be more pop than rock. But it had an electro meets rock feel which I thought was very cool. This song is very fun to listen to. Much better than expected for me. Cute too. I like that it continues with those siren-sounding sounds from Disco-munication.

rollin' - WOW! This style feels so brand new I didn't think AYu would do it. Those vocoder parts felt very Perfume haha. Those musical box sounds sounded like Marionette part 2 hahaha. Or WONDERLAND part 2. The chorus is brilliant at the faster lyrical parts...I felt that it came off with attitude. The ending felt very rollin' hahaha

Load of the SHUGYO - I love the tension building at the start and those eastern instruments playing. That rock part is crazyyy hhaha. The back part is SOOO COOOL! With the "HAHHH" which sounds like some game interlude when a fight is going to begin.

identity - LOL what's with the creepy opening again. ahha. The opening reminded me...of some song.. *tries to remember* YES! (d)Lma!! This song sounds very cool. It does feel like there is going to be a fight hahha especially the chorus. It brings off that kinda feel. WHICH I ALSO FELT IN (d)Lma !! The bridge doesn't fit the song at all IMO. LOL...it sounds like funky dance section. But the rock section is <3 The rock guitar is AMAZING (No wonder people say this sounds left off from GUILTY...but it’s so much cooler and less dark)

LOVE ‘n’ HATE – I LOVE how this song opens. It feels sooooo epic! Ayu’s voice is so alluring. The chorus doesn’t sound like that chorus at all. Lol. The ending is super shocking!!!

Pieces of SEVEN – BEAUTIFULLLL. It sounds so tropical in the beginning gosh! I’m shocked to hear that. OMG..WHAT’S WITH THE ROCK!!!! O.O I can just say, Im awfully stunned at the twist...wow...It’s brilliant. HAL FINALLY OUTDID THEMSELVES. This could actually be the best interlude in the album. O.O

Overall
Bridge to the sky 4/5
NEXT LEVEL 4.5/5
Disco-munication 3/5
EnergizE 4/5
Sparkle 5/5
rollin' 3.5/5
GREEN 4.5/5
Load of the SHUGYO 3.5/5
identity 4/5
Rule 4.5/5
LOVE ‘n’ HATE 3.5/5
Pieces of SEVEN 5/5
Days 5/5
Curtain call 4/5

[MissElin_]

Im done listening. And in all Im very pleased. Its a good album.

But its like the singles doesnt really fit. GREEN and Days really feels random for me. Also, I thought that Pieces of Seven would make the bridge from disco/techno-to-ballads nice and smooth but instead it started ballad-ish and ended up techno-ish, and then Days started. It feelt very weird, it would have been the other way (starting techno-ish-ending-ballad-ish). Lol.

Also, I know that NEXT LEVEL is all about the next level in Ayus music life and to take it one step further but the disco theme took up way to much space. It started in track 3 (interlude) and was going on to track 12 (interlude) with a little rock-ish-thingy in between with identity and Rule. And offcourse GREEN that feelt really out of place. In that way GUILTY had a better flow.

But in all, I really enjoy this album and can't wait until the tour starts.

My favs for the moment surley is
identity
(all the singles)
Curtain Call
and maybe LOVE n' HATE

Sooo, what do you guys think?

[Larisa-chan]

I'm really impressed by what I'm hearing so far, but I'm only up to listening to Rollin' so far (which I love, by the way). It's definitely a fresh sound from Ayu, and EnergizE wasn't that awful to be honest LOL (but I did feel Disco-munication felt out of place?). More on the album when I finish it.

Edit:
I actually think this album is pretty strong, but it's TOO SHORT. Is it even shorter than GUILTY? It feels like it =/

I actually think LOVE 'n' HATE is one of my least favorite tracks.. I think it's a trainwreck. Not catchy, obnoxiously loud, tries to be r&b sort of and fails, yuck. I don't want to hear more songs like this from her, ever. -_-

Identity was a pretty neat rockish song, I enjoyed most of the interludes (the last half of Pieces of SEVEN was surprising). Days feels really out of place in this album (it would've been nice if they included Life...). I ended up liking Curtain Call at the end... Yeah, my thoughts are kind of scattered hahaha.

Initial reaction to this album? I think it's really solid. And I don't want to hear comparisons to RAINBOW because I think both albums are completely different from each other, and I still do NOT like the RAINBOW album.

Ratings:
1. Bridge to the Sky - 8/10
2. Next Level - 7/10
3. Disco-munication - 5/10
4. EnergizE - 6/10
5. Sparkle - 10/10
6. Rollin' - 9.5/10
7. GREEN - 9/10
8. Load of the SHUGYO - 9/10
9. Identity - 8/10
10. Rule - 8.5/10
11. LOVE 'n' HATE - 5/10
12. Pieces of SEVEN - 7/10
13. Days - 6/10
14. Curtain Call - 7/10

[njanjayrp]

Over all, NEXT LEVEL is a good and diverse album. I like all the tracks but rollin' for now. LOVE n HATE isn't what I really expected, for some reason I see it as my name's WOMEN 2. identity is cool too. I thought I wouldn't like EnergizE but I love it. NEXT LEVEL and Curtain call are great too. As I posted somewhere else~ Do I like the album? Yes. Do I like it better than GUILTY? No. Atm my feelings about it are kinda mixed and I kinda think that most of the album tracks aren't as good as her previous album's tracks (with the exception of NEXT LEVEL and EnergizE).

[SURREAL__RAINBOW]

i cant b bothered typing too much lol


i really liked it!! better than expected!!


from 1 to 10:

7.5

[Yooku]

I loved the whole album! My favorite song from the album is definitely LOVE 'n' HATE. It is amazing...I don't have enough words to describe how I felt when I listened it for the first time. I'm really surprised that I liked all interludes too. Even Pieces of SEVEN was great. I would give this album 10 out of 10.

[njanjayrp]

triple post someone please delete this.

[Andrenekoi]

I think that this album make her older ones sound really BAD!

LUVED IT!

[aki_SHADE04]

wow!

lol, i just love everything that ayu does...this album grew on me fast! i can't wait to get the USB though. X]

[Aisha_Angel]

IT'S AMAZING!!!

This is DEFINITELY the NEXT LEVEL. Lot's of English and a TOTALLY different vibe from GUILTY!

[identity] is the ****! [Load of the Shugyo] is the ****! [EnergizE] is the ****!...even [NEXT LEVEL] is pretty good!

[Love 'n' Hate] is...AMAZING!!!! It's SO AWESOME I'm experiencing an EARGASM for the first time in my life. I can't WAIT to see this performed on tour!

[Pieces of SEVEN] is an AMAZING interlude! It started out like Kaleidoscope ~part III~ and then burst into a wave of techno rock! It's SO good! But why is it paired with [Days]? [Curtain Call] is like [JEWEL] + [Pride], but much more somber. It really sounds out of place with this album because of the lack of ballads. I don't really care too much for songs that don't have much going on in the background, but it is pretty good. I just thank God it's the last song on the album! ^___^

With all that being said...

I can't foresee this album surpassing GUILTY in terms of sales, because it's SO rock-and-techno oriented that it might be too much for veteran Ayu fans to handle. It'll definitely sell MORE than Koda Kumi's [TRICK], but it probably won't make it past the 700,000 mark.

I will be buying this album at the end of the month. That's a promise!

[love in music]

this is the first time i've loved every single ayu song on an album since RAINBOW. i'm not even going to bother reviewing each song. they're all 8-10/10 for me. i am SOOO happy with this album

[kiseki89]

At first I thought the album would be horrible. Except for NEXT LEVEL, the other new songs were very very bad, especialy after listening to the LQ previews.
But now, NEXT LEVEL is certainly different from her past albums and I'm loving all the songs and the interludes.
I can't wait for the album's release in sg.

1. Bridge to the Sky - 8.5/10
2. Next Level - 10/10
3. Disco-munication - 7/10
4. EnergizE - 9/10
5. Sparkle - 10/10
6. Rollin' - 8.5/10
7. GREEN - 7.5/10
8. Load of the SHUGYO - 8/10
9. Identity - 9/10
10. Rule - 8.5/10
11. LOVE 'n' HATE - 9/10
12. Pieces of SEVEN - 7/10
13. Days - 10/10
14. Curtain Call - 7/10

[GRACE]

I really liked the album <3 I think though, it suffers because of the quality it's leaked in. It'll sound so much better in 320kbs, I'm sure. LOVE 'n' HATE and EnergizE are the most victimized by this quality, for sure. rollin's verses are also victims.

Out of all the interludes, Pieces of SEVEN is the weakest, it like, DOESN'T make sense nor work as a good interlude between upbeat and ballad.

also, almost every new song on this album had some sort of opening that just didn't make sense in context XD

[Lanz16]

I don't want to listen all of the album tracks until I get my own copy except for EnergizE which is my first faves for the NEW album.

EnergizE is a another cutesy pop with a rockish elements.
Think t2m and Ladies Night meets Beautiful fighters and HONEY to this track.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE EnergizE!!!
FAVE SONG SO FAR!

[yatenkouxoxo]

The first half, I get a Madonna vibe...and then, I don't know. I'm left confused. I think I have to hear it a few more times.

The interludes weren't completely in the way.

[Tasked]

It kind-of DOES make her older albums sounds bad, somehow. It's tough to be believe that this is a brand new style for Ayu; cos it sounds like it's completely her style. I guess Ayu simply manages to make anything her own.
I especially love LOVE'n'HATE. The counting is pretty awesome. Can't wait to use that song in my spinningclass tomorrow. Already got an excercise in mind =)

[Empry]

My Review

Spoiler:

1. Bridge to the sky

Nice one. Fresh and spring-like. Good intro to NEXT LEVEL. It somehow reminds me of everlasting dream.

2. NEXT LEVEL

Uplifting and relaxing, a song that reminds me of spring. I like it a lot although I think that DAI's has done better stuff.

3. Disco-munication

FAIL. Reminds me of the greatful days remix from Ayu-mi-x 6. The only track which I dislike.

4. EngergizE

HONEY goes electro-pop. Energetic and poppy. I can already imagine that she will wear some cute and pink outfit for this song at the Tour. Not amazing but fun

5. Sparkle

I loved the chorus snippet when we got the Honda CM but unfortunately I didn't like whole song. But it still is one of the best tracks on the album.

6. rollin'

The first 30 seconds are a bit pointless and the distorted voice is not my thing but then it picks up and turns into a nice electro-pop song. Cut a bit from the beginning and the end then you have a great song.

7. GREEN

My favorite ballad on this album. I really like the arrangement and the oriental feeling it conveys. It is a bit out of place here though.

8. Load of the SHUGYO

Has a bit of James Bond feeling. Nice.

9. identity

Although this song could be also called decision ~episode 2~ I enjoy it more than decision. It still has some flaws (e.g. those annoying yeahs at the beginning) but finally I do not have to listen to "boku wa...." which annoyed the heck out of me when I listened to decision and Marionette.

10. Rule

When I first came out I wasn't quite happy with it but at this position I’m really enjoying it.

11. LOVE'n'HATE

Certainly the most interesting new track on this album for me. I like it although it is kinds hard to describe.

12. Pieces of SEVEN

A great interlude but it doesn’t make to place it between LOVE’n’HATE and Days sind it doesn’t help with the transition

13. Days

A bittersweet winter ballad that I like although I don’t think it as good as Together When. In my opinion, the only song on NEXT LEVEL which has a good PV.

14. Curtain call

Not bad but not great either. I expected a more powerful ballad and the PV didn’t help either.

Conclusion:
I would rather call this album "SAME LEVEL". While GUILTY was a mixture of good and mediocre tracks for me, this album is more balanced in terms of quality but I think it is lacking some highlights. I also have an issue with two interludes: Disco-munication is just a big no and Pieces of SEVEN doesn’t fit as a transition between LOVE’n’HATE between Days. But all in all, I thinjk it is a step up from GUILTY.

[MissElin_]

Originally Posted by Empry

I would rather call this album "SAME LEVEL". While GUILTY was a mixture of good and mediocre tracks for me, this album is more balanced in terms of quality but I think it is lacking some highlights. I also have an issue with two interludes: Disco-munication is just a big no and Pieces of SEVEN doesn’t fit as a transition between LOVE’n’HATE between Days. But all in all, I thinjk it is a step up from GUILTY.

Hahaha. XD

Also, whats up with the random 25 seconds of rollin's intro...?!? Its like marionette prelude but in the same song as rollin' but still separets the intro from the song with like 5 seconds...

[zyoeru]

I'll just copy my review from my blog.

Spoiler:

So, the album starts with the song "Bridge to the sky" which is a calm intro with a slight rock-edge, it's semi-instrumental and really sets the mood for the next track.
(Composed by Nakano Yuuta who also composed Mirror(cle World), talkin' 2 myself, decision, and Marionette -prelude-).

Track two is the title track "NEXT LEVEL" and has a distinct summer feel reminiscent of BLUE BIRD, personally this is one of my favourite tracks of the album because the lyrics are really sweet. Although it's a pop song it still retains an original melody.
(Composed by D・A・I who is a personal favourite, he's composed many of Ayumi's songs including BLUE BIRD, SEASONS, Boys & Girls, Real me, Trauma, and monochrome).

The third track which is titled "Disco-munication" is actually pretty disco-sounding, it has a hard bass, synths, and (maybe) electric guitar. It's the first interlude of the album and it's completely instrumental, setting the techno-inspired scene for the next songs: EnergizE and Sparkle.
(Composed by CMJK who composed other interludes for Ayumi including The Judgement Day (GUILTY), Are You Wake Up? ((miss)understood), and a few songs: until that Day... and Over).

The forth track: "EnergizE" also carries off a techno sound, with an equally heavy bass and electronic sounds with harmonious synthesizers (I know nothing about music, obviously) it's a pretty good song even though it may take some getting used to as it is pretty different from Ayumi's previous songs, this also was composed by Nakano Yuuta.

"Sparkle", the fifth track of the album, is definitely one of my favourite Ayumi songs, fitting in with the previous two songs, it's clearly inspired by techno and infused with a dash of rock. Ayumi's vocals here are akin to Kumi Kouda's. So, yes, I have to say I'm slightly biased because I love it so much, if I was rating songs, this would easily get a 8.
(Composed by Hara Kazuhiro who also composed Marionette, glitter (both GUILTY), STEP you ((miss)understood), Born To Be...(Secret), &c.).

"rollin'" is the sixth track and in my opinion one of the strangest (also the best). Starting with a keyboard intro that for some reason creeps me out as it reminds me of clowns it suddenly stops to introduce a beat (yet another bass heavy song), her lyrics in this change between natural and computerised, which is pretty cool in my opinion. For some reason this really reminds me of the 80s, I guess I can't really put my finger on it, but the chorus is amazing, I love it.
(Also composed by Nakano Yuuta, Nakano really comes into his element on this album imo）.

GREEN is yet another favourite and comes at track seven. GREEN has a vibrant spring feel to it and comes jam packed with Chinese instruments and reminds me of many of Ayumi's other 'Chinese' sounding songs such as Moments, Will, and vogue. I think this is yet another really original song from Ayumi.
I guess for me it marked a new era, her last album GUILTY seemed to be almost entirely dealing with loss and pain, then along came GREEN which literally reminds me of a budding flower.
(Composed by Yukumi Testuya who also composed (don't) leave me alone (GUILTY), Life (Mirrorcle World single), ((miss)understood).

Load of the SHUGYO is the eighth track and is the second instrumental, getting away from the disco elements (almost) this has some really heavy guitar riffs along with a beat which actually reminds me of the Australian didgeridoo. I don't know why, so it's best not to ask. This instrumental really helps take you from disco to Ayumi's rockier songs including identity and Rule.
(Composed by CMJK).

The ninth track is called identity and is Ayumi's first "rock" song of NEXT LEVEL, it's a good song in all, it reminds me of (don't) leave me alone a lot, especially in the chorus.
(Composed by Nakano Yuuta).

The tenth track and third single from the album is Rule, which is also the international theme for the new Dragon Ball theme. Rule is also a heavy rock song.
A running theme in NEXT LEVEL seems to be heavy bass, liberal usage of computers (as in voice masking and synths).
(Composed by Watanabe Miki who composed is this LOVE ((miss)understood) she also composed Kuu's song Butterfly).

LOVE 'n' HATE which is the eleventh track is also a strange song, I think from this album it is the rock song which stands out the most. The intro to this song is really really epic, and the first part of it kind of reminds me of STEP you, but then it quickly changes into something unique.
I absolutely love this song.
(This was also composed by Nakano).

The last instrumental of the album is Pieces of SEVEN which is track twelve. This also has an unusual sound, it reminds me somewhat of a rainy day, I don't know why I get that feeling from it, but it has a really nice calming effect to it which nicely links the rock songs to the ballads even though it does speed up a little to the end.
(Composed by HΛL who also composed some other interludes such as LABYRINTH (Secret), reBIRTH (GUILTY), &c.).

The thirteenth song is Days which to me seems like a wintry love ballad, a really sweet song but not one of my favourites sadly. I think that it's not a favourite due to Ayumi's preference to performing it live.
(Composed by Tago Kunio who seems to compose soley ballads including untitled ~for her~(GUILTY), Key (DUTY), Together When... (GUILTY), and SCAR (DUTY)).

The final song is called Curtain call which is a fitting title for the last track, this song is also a ballad, the lyrics are incredibly sweet and it's possibly the best ballad of the album. This song's lyrics remind me of Who... and the melody is also pretty simple. To my ears it sounds just like a piano and maybe a backing choir. I think that the simplistic sound is a wonderful way to go to the proverbial NEXT LEVEL.
(Composed by Hara Kazuhiro).

But yeah, I have to say, it's Ayumi's best album in my opinion.
It's mainstream genres without losing its rock-touch. Her lyrics are fresh and happier, almost like opening the curtains after sleeping for a long time.
I love it.

[Ayumi27]

My review

Bridge to the sky nice one, a good way to start the album and perfect prelude of NL. I like the sound but I'd wish it had lyrics...
NEXT LEVEL A bit boring for me, but helps me relax somehow. Perfect to hear it while driving
Disco-munication One of her BEST interludes ever! It's perfectly placed in the album too!
EngergizE Best non-single track of the album, specially since ayu is using more english than ever! Powerful and funny
Sparkle Meh... two loud and experimental for me... don't really like it, I would have used EnergizE or identity instead for the single
rollin' Average track, still doesn't convinces me
GREEN I freaking LOVE it!!! The oriental sound is excelent as well as the arrangement and lyrics!
Load of the SHUGYO A typical boring interlude
identity GREAT song, specially the catchy chorus!
Rule Good one, but nothing special... she should have used something more unique as a theme song
LOVE 'n' HATE Interesting song, although too western for me. The best is the intro and the arrangement
Pieces of SEVEN Good interlude, specially the first two minutes. It would have been perfect as an intro to GREEN though
Days Another generic winter ballad
Curtain call Nice way of ending the album, better than Days. Although I don't like two consecutive ballads in an album

Bridge to the sky 8/10
NEXT LEVEL 7,5/10
Disco-munication 8/10
EnergizE 9,5/10
Sparkle 6/10
rollin' 6/10
GREEN 10/10
Load of the SHUGYO 5/10
identity 9/10
Rule 8/10
LOVE ‘n’ HATE 7,5/10
Pieces of SEVEN 7/10
Days 7/10
Curtain call 8/10