New producer, new composer.

[elepop]

The album is not "WOW" and it's not her best neither but i still like it.

I want more Naturally and evolution type of song but i guess she's over that.

[Hugo_Perry]

Through the years Hamasaki Ayumi have been tryin' every kind of music under J-pop like her first album 'A Song For XX' most of the music sounded like oldies songs as it change a little by little. From 'I am...' it become trance then followed by 'RAINBOW' which she try english. As for 'MY STORY' it's rock! Wot i'm tryin' to say is that in every album she's tryin' sumefin' different yet she wanted to stick with a little with her past work. I dun't know do jooo understand wot i'm tolk 'bout even. I think she's pickin' up things little by little. So who know sumeday she gonna be back with everything we wanted?

[yys113]

Originally Posted by sxesven

One could argue that BoA's been doing the same old thing these last few years, but she's damn good at it. And consistent.

I don't think this make any sense when you are criticising about Ayu's music. Think about it.

Personally I think MY STORY is a good album, and some of the songs are really great, if not all. Compare to a lot of other artists, I must say Ayu's album has way less filler and even if there's filler, they are decent ones. Ayu's album has way more quality than many other artists.

For those people who don't like MY STORY, it's your problem, and stop questioning others opinion on it. I don't think there's one single album that everyone loves about, just like me myself don't really like "I am" as a whole, even it does have some great songs like M etc.

Stale is not the word to describe Ayu's music, if you feel stale, you are refering to the Jpop genre, not Ayu, and that's not her fault.

[Kacper87]

i'm not sure if I want to say this, 'cuz you guys are gonna literally kill me for it and it will probobly cause another fight on the forum... but well, let's hope not.

ayu is a pop artist by all means. her "main purpose" is making money. she isn't the kind of artist who make their own songs or even play some instruments and their compositions are the only thing that matters to them. Sure she takes part in making her music but she has an army of other people to do it with. What i'm trying to say is that she is more of a performer than an artist. and don't bash me and deny it because we all remember this Time asia interview when she said that she cosnidered herself as a product. and for me that is what makes her special- she doesen't hide it.

[sxesven]

Originally Posted by yys113

I don't think this make any sense when you are criticising about Ayu's music. Think about it.

That phrase isn't meant to criticise Ayu, so go figure. It was merely a statement.

Originally Posted by yys113

Compare to a lot of other artists, I must say Ayu's album has way less filler and even if there's filler, they are decent ones.

Say pop artists and I agree. Real musicians don't deal in filler. What's there to fill? Eighty minutes of disc space. That's it.

Originally Posted by yys113

Stale is not the word to describe Ayu's music, if you feel stale, you are refering to the Jpop genre, not Ayu, and that's not her fault.

Can I say bias? Yes, I can. Bias.

[Ibitsu Kokoro]

Originally Posted by yys113

I don't think this make any sense when you are criticising about Ayu's music. Think about it.

Personally I think MY STORY is a good album, and some of the songs are really great, if not all. Compare to a lot of other artists, I must say Ayu's album has way less filler and even if there's filler, they are decent ones. Ayu's album has way more quality than many other artists.

For those people who don't like MY STORY, it's your problem, and stop questioning others opinion on it. I don't think there's one single album that everyone loves about, just like me myself don't really like "I am" as a whole, even it does have some great songs like M etc.

Stale is not the word to describe Ayu's music, if you feel stale, you are refering to the Jpop genre, not Ayu, and that's not her fault.

Wake up. A lot of people here like ayu's older work better than this new stuff. Ayu's music changes a lot. And people dont always like the latest style.

[elepop]

Originally Posted by Ayuspeed

Wake up. A lot of people here like ayu's older work better than this new stuff. Ayu's music changes a lot. And people dont always like the latest style.

I agree. I prefer her older stuff. Most of the newer fans like RAINBOW a lot. I prefer her older stuff like LOVEppears, DUTY or I Am...

[boogieordie]

Originally Posted by yys113

For those people who don't like MY STORY, it's your problem, and stop questioning others opinion on it. .

That goes both ways.

Originally Posted by Qt Mashi

yep and i noticed it's always the same ppl who complain~

And?

[kournikova]

well... maybe im late but i will giuve a word... i dont care with ayu past or present... both are equal for me... as i dont like some of her past works.. n i dont like some of her present works.. i think she is still the best... she is just trying a new variety i think... but maybe she does a little overdo it... so the kind of song maybe quite similar... (listen ourselves, BOY, game, about you in order ourselves - BOY - game - about you) theres a little similarity .. n she likes using a pattern of verse - chorus1 - verse2 - chorus2 - bridge - chorus 1 + 2 rite now (carols... -> example.. compare to surreal..) n i still like it.. coz i love how ayu makes her music ^^.. i think its not a stale thingy.. its a process of ayu.. she is maturer ^^

[Larisa-chan]

I agree that her music has become stale =/ Since I am... I can only find a handful of songs by Ayu that I consider "gems." While I like MY STORY as a whole, it pales to, say, LOVEppears. Her songs have been less original sounding ever since the release of H. While I consider MY STORY as a comeback from RAINBOW, it really isn't much of a big one. And I'm really not expecting anymore for Ayu to bring forth material that sounds like songs from LOVEppears-Duty. She rarely if ever repeats styles from the past. As for having a new producer, I really can't say if she needs one or not since I don't know the extent of Max's influence on how her music sounds. She's also had new composers for MY STORY, so I don't really think having a new composer will make a difference anymore. If anything, I want to get rid of H/\L as an arranger, because I haven't been impressed with their arrangements in a long time. We had the return of CREA, and while I like Humming 7/4 alot, the chorus is still "blah" and Winding Road doesn't impress me. We had the return of Kazuhito (sp) Kikuchi, but the songs he did still disappointed fans and they did pale in comparison to other songs he's composed. I don't really know how Ayu will make her music less "stale" sounding, but maybe 2005 she'll try something new we'll all like.

[nmskalmn]

No matter what Ayu does fans are going to complain

[sxesven]

Originally Posted by nmskalmn

No matter what Ayu does fans are going to complain

Guess you're right about that, haha

[TeamAyu]

Originally Posted by nmskalmn

No matter what Ayu does fans are going to complain

Yup Ayu fans are really annoying aren't they... over these months I have truly come to see why people can't stand Ayu fans at times.

Anyways I'm just tired of these threads, we'll never ALL be pleased so I don't think having a new producer or composer will help anyone. It'll all depend on what Ayu wants to do and we'll just have to sit and wait.

[elepop]

Originally Posted by TeamAyu

Yup Ayu fans are really annoying aren't they... over these months I have truly come to see why people can't stand Ayu fans at times.

Ayu fans are annoying? I'm sorry, but you're a fan too. It's not our faults if some of us don't like everything from Ayu. (Although, i DO like most things from Ayu) Well, hey, it's not because you're an Ayu fans that you have to agree and love everything she does. And it's not because you don't like her latest album that it means that your not a true fan.

That's why people complain... Her latest album is not good. I don't like CAROLS. Forgiveness is too long. Her concerts suck. She's not good singing live. She's getting too sexy. This PV is weird. This one is boring. Blah blah blah... Those comments come out quite often and, i don't agree with any of those things. If they want to complain, let them do. But i'll still like this or that anyway.

People always expect more or something like that. I just appreaciate the things she does instead.

[sxesven]

Originally Posted by asongforXX

People always expect more or something like that. I just appreaciate the things she does instead.

Not meaning to bash you here, just so you know, but I look at things entirely different.

Now, Ayu is an artist, or at least, she's supposed to be. As she is, I expect her to be good at what she's doing. I expect her to improve all the time - a standstill is not enough even.

I have high expectations of all musicians, directors, writers, painters I like - when they release something that's crap imo, I won't appreciate it. I'm not one to say 'better luck next time' when Kitano would be coming out with a boring, retarded movie. When Thursday's new album would suck beyond imagination, I wouldn't appreciate it. They're artists, I expect them to do good, to do better, to do best. An artist must always try to improve him- or herself. Self-criticism required. When improvement is not happening, either just quit, or do all your best to get on top again. When you just made an album and half of the songs suck, just get rid of them and write some new ones!

I'll have to admit though - that's the curse of the pop world. It's all about money in the end, so out of 16 tracks written, 16 get recorded and released. Pity.

That said - that doesn't mean everyone should dislike or like the same things. There's still taste to consider. Just expressing my opinion here.

[Raleigh]

Originally Posted by nmskalmn

No matter what Ayu does fans are going to complain

Pretty much true. Everyone loves different styles in music, thus one person might really like an album which another person would completely dislike. It's just a matter of taste.

It is however true that she is indeed past her popularity peak and her songs are not as good as they were in the past, in my opinion. We'll wait and see what this year will bring along with it.

[Qt Mashi]

Originally Posted by nmskalmn

No matter what Ayu does fans are going to complain

yep and i noticed it's always the same ppl who complain~

[sxesven]

Originally Posted by Qt Mashi

yep and i noticed it's always the same ppl who complain~

*sighs* Good for you, huh.

[ll moments ll]

yeah. i gotta admit it has gone a bit stale. i like a couple tracks off MY STORY, but it doesn't really compare to her older works. i was hyped up for the release and liked most of the songs at first, but after constant [ i mean constant ] listening sessions, it kinda died down.

i'm not saying it's a bad album. i think it's better than ASFXX & RAINBOW, but she could do better.

please don't diss BoA, Mika, or any other J-pop artists. they have different tastes and styles upon their music. they might seem stale to you, but not to their fans.

[yamogi]

I believe all of you are so stick to her past music,maybe that is caused by the popularity of ayu at that time

people always blindly follow the action of other unnoticely, you guys said her past music is better, it is because the "past" is her prime age, when everyone in the society said it is a "hit"(remember hit<>good)song , then everyone will thought that"..hmm.. a hit music,..hmm...it is good because it sell well!", it it common that almost everyone think like that, it is soooo unnoticeable, but it is true, people always follow others opinion rather they figure out what is the TRUE quality of the music by themself.

ayu is most popular that time, so your mind will finally come to a conclusion---- The music at that time is the best.
i am not trying to said that all of you have no independent thinking, but what i mention is very true, people are always affected by others easily and it is sooo unnoticeable.

why don;'t i think that her past is the best? (actually there are both bad and good thing in each album,i can't actually say which one is the best, however, in popularity, her past is the best) because i become a fans in rainbow period, i don't know about how popular that time(not don't know about it ,but i haven;t experienced it), i think i can identify what is good ,what is bad.