NEXT LEVEL tracklist + CD2+DVD cover

[Kazeyomi]

Ayu is at a point in her life where she's just having fun...maybe she doesn't want to express the sad part of herself anymore...

I agreed her happy lyrics aren't awful or meaningless! They're nice, joyful, and other nice things XD Ayu maybe isn't the best songwriter in the world but she isn't the worst neither. And she is a pop-singer, and by a pop-singer you always expect cheesy-i miss you baby lyrics.
Sparkle lyrics are different, but she is a woman now and as the quote said, she's just having fun. I love Ayu's music 'cause she loves to do it.
Sometimes its hilarious how some people judge NEXT LEVEL even if it isn't out yet, lol.

But well, its just my opinion

[GRACE]

Originally Posted by Beauty4123

so did anyone notice that ayu's gloves have nails? unique, isn't it?

"unique" is being nice :3 "tacky and awful" is what I'd say =D Her gloves and her hair are the only things I don't like about the cover, but actually, it's not so bad~ I like it, it's retro-y and it's a change of pace from the usual "lol im so purdy"

[Melting_Holidays]

Is he wearing LV? anyways I love the cover. The track list is strange but after a few listens you'll never think it's not her.

[love in music]

Originally Posted by Beauty4123

so did anyone notice that ayu's gloves have nails? unique, isn't it?

i did, i love it only ayu could pull that off

[darkcarousel]

What is this, Japan's Next Top Model or something? Some of you guys critique every little thing it makes me not even want to post here anymore. It's really sickening sometimes. Who cares about how much the album sells, what the album art looks like, and who cares if she has nails on? Seriously, I think that none of us should care about aesthetics. All that matters is the music. Ayu is obviously satisfied with what she's doing right now and I support her 100%.

[emi♡]

^We're her fans...so I guess...we do.

I think nearly everyone here will support Ayu in what she wants to do...but that doesn't mean we have to like it.

Aesthetics are very important. They make you feel. I think everyone here agrees that the music is what is most important, but that doesn't mean everything else has to look plain and boring. Aesthetics invoke things in people that enhance your overall experience with something.

What's wrong with wanting them to look good? Besides, I think Ayu cares if she looks good or not, I think she's very interested to see if her albums sell or not...If they don't, I think she will only be more encouraged to do the best she can, and if they do, it will keep her motivated to continue her success.

Perhaps to you all that matters is the music...but I don't think it's that way with the rest of the world. It certainly isn't with her record label lol

Originally Posted by Ayumi626

After looking at the cover with an unbiased eye I have to say that I'm a little disappointed with whoever was the photographer (and if it's who I think it is I hope one day I can replace him and do better justice for fashion photographers and Ayu fans). As a semi-professional photographer who is planning on becoming a professional I find a lot of things wrong. For example, the text placement of her name. The photographer as well as the art director should have thought of a better composition so that it wouldn't look like Ayu's name was randomly thrown on to the image where there was space. Second is some of the placement of her hair. While I don't have a problem with the style I do have a MAJOR problem with the little fluff of hair coming out from behind her ear. It's distracting and causes the eye to focus on it instead of the image as a whole. My third problem and the last one I'll mention is her head placement and the background directly behind her. First of all it looks like the just photoshopped her head onto a different picture of her. I keep feeling there is a disconnect between her neck and head. Also they should have noticed the peach color triangle on the T.V behind Ayu. It makes it look like it's part of her neck at first glance. If I was to turn something in like that to my studio teacher he would kill me. Well I hope I really didn't offend anyone with my critique of the 2CD + DVD cover. While I'm not going to say it's a bad album because of one cover I do wish the photographer, art director, and Ayu would have noticed these things so they could have turned a mediocre photo into a brilliant one.

Everything you said is exactly on target with how I feel about this cover.

The little fluff looks like a little animal or something to me...I don't understand why they felt they needed it. As if it was somehow going to make the picture better as a whole.

It's just a very weak picture. Does nothing right for the eyes.

I think it's odd...since this is the first time I think we've had a cover like this...maybe they'll get it right with the next album lol

[Luv ~Venus~]

Originally Posted by part of Me ♥

i did, i love it only ayu could pull that off

ummm no she can't. Just stop lying.

[YuriChan]

Originally Posted by darkcarousel

What is this, Japan's Next Top Model or something? Some of you guys critique every little thing it makes me not even want to post here anymore. It's really sickening sometimes. Who cares about how much the album sells, what the album art looks like, and who cares if she has nails on? Seriously, I think that none of us should care about aesthetics. All that matters is the music. Ayu is obviously satisfied with what she's doing right now and I support her 100%.

Yup... As I have stated before that this is what they get when they ask for a less diva Ayu and are NEVER satisfied with what she does (for the most part). To the people that are nit-picky about everything Ayu does, she's just one person!!!!! Don't be so critical UNTIL you've seen the other covers. Ok? But it is a nice concept! (^^) Everybody has their opinions and everybody doesn't agree with what she does. But... Please cool it. I don't want fights breaking out between Ayu fans.

[love in music]

Originally Posted by Luv ~Venus~

ummm no she can't. Just stop lying.

she can imo

Don't be so critical UNTIL you've seen the other covers. Ok?

I couldn't help but lol at this. his point was to not be so critical of any of the covers but yeah lol

[Aozora]

Originally Posted by darkcarousel

What is this, Japan's Next Top Model or something? Some of you guys critique every little thing it makes me not even want to post here anymore. It's really sickening sometimes. Who cares about how much the album sells, what the album art looks like, and who cares if she has nails on? Seriously, I think that none of us should care about aesthetics. All that matters is the music. Ayu is obviously satisfied with what she's doing right now and I support her 100%.

Why is it so bad that we're expressing our opinions? Would you rather us all agree on everything and believe Ayu can do no wrong?

I'm not going to stop liking Ayu because of a silly cover or a tacky tracklist. The music IS what is most important. But the tracklist and cover usually gives an idea as to what the music will sound like and I don't like the direction it's headed. You don't have to agree with me. It's my opinion and I'm allowed to have it just like you're allowed to have your opinion.

I'm not going to judge the album until after I heard all the songs. But I can judge the cover. I don't like it. And I can judge the names of the songs. I don't like them. Now it's up to Ayu to prove me wrong and have the songs be amazing.

[Northerner]

OMG. THE GLOVES HAVE FAKE NAILS GLUED TO THEM.

Also, "Load of the SHUGYO" is a fantastic title, as is "Pieces of SEVEN." I have no idea what she's getting at with either.

[YuriChan]

Originally Posted by part of Me ♥

I couldn't help but lol at this. his point was to not be so critical of any of the covers but yeah lol

Sorry... ^^; I was REALLY trying to state that people are critizing Ayu at one cover. (BTW, I'm a she! )

[waterballoon]

Well Days doesn't have philosophical lyrics but it touches me a lot ^^

[YuriChan]

Originally Posted by Aozora

Why is it so bad that we're expressing our opinions? Would you rather us all agree on everything and believe Ayu can do no wrong?

I'm not going to stop liking Ayu because of a silly cover or a tacky tracklist. The music IS what is most important. But the tracklist and cover usually gives an idea as to what the music will sound like and I don't like the direction it's headed. You don't have to agree with me. It's my opinion and I'm allowed to have it just like you're allowed to have your opinion.

I'm not going to judge the album until after I heard all the songs. But I can judge the cover. I don't like it. And I can judge the names of the songs. I don't like them. Now it's up to Ayu to prove me wrong and have the songs be amazing.

It's not really that... The sad part is that you're not the only one doing it. It's just that you (along with almost everybody else that has complained about the covers) are expecting WAAAAY too much of Ayu. After all, she is just one person. OF COURSE YOU'RE ALLOWED AN OPINION! Who says you're not? Everybody on this forum is expressing their opinion. Including myself! =D So let's all get along!

[Aozora]

Originally Posted by HONEY_INSPIRE_ME19

It's not really that... The sad part is that you're not the only one doing it. It's just that you (along with almost everybody else that has complained about the covers) are expecting WAAAAY too much of Ayu. After all, she is just one person. OF COURSE YOU'RE ALLOWED AN OPINION! Who says you're not? Everybody on this forum is expressing their opinion. Including myself! =D So let's all get along!

You're right . Sorry if my post came off as mean, I didn't mean it in an argumentative way xD.

After I heard the previews for NEXT LEVEL I just expected a more... balladish album. So this was a complete shock when I saw the tracklist and cover. After Namie did the 60s70s80s and Ami Suzuki did Can't stop the DISCO, I'm just kind of sick of the whole "retro" style by now :p. But I'm sure the songs will be amazing. They always are.

[emi♡]

Expecting too much of Ayu...I don't know...

I don't understand how it's up to her to understand Photography...but that's just me I guess.

"Ayumi Hamasaki" is not just one person. She is a huge team of professionals that works together to make everything smooth, efficient, and worthy to be something that she calls hers.

The person Ayu, is only one person, and that's why she has trusted people that do other things for her. Of course, it's never completely certain what exactly has been done by who...but it is certain that not everything she does is just her by herself.

The only thing I would really call only Ayu's is her lyrics...and probably her lip gloss lol

[panda♥]

Originally Posted by Aozora

Why is it so bad that we're expressing our opinions? Would you rather us all agree on everything and believe Ayu can do no wrong?

I'm not going to stop liking Ayu because of a silly cover or a tacky tracklist. The music IS what is most important. But the tracklist and cover usually gives an idea as to what the music will sound like and I don't like the direction it's headed. You don't have to agree with me. It's my opinion and I'm allowed to have it just like you're allowed to have your opinion.

I'm not going to judge the album until after I heard all the songs. But I can judge the cover. I don't like it. And I can judge the names of the songs. I don't like them. Now it's up to Ayu to prove me wrong and have the songs be amazing.

It's fine if you don't like the cover, but it starts to get annoying when people (not saying you) try pointing out every little flaw in the cover. Or when people try finding one little flaw just to hate the cover. "O hate her gloves. Why are there nails glued to them?" "Her eyes are too small/big." "It's too colorful." "It's too different."

I mean you have your own opinion. The people who love the cover are probably going like "WTF WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE HATE THE COVER" while people who dislike the cover are probably like "WTF WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE THE COVER".

People are really never satisified though.

People complain about the fish face/innocent face.
People complain when Ayu does something different.

Sometimes it sounds like people become way too critical. Ayu is only a person and I think she's at a new point in her career where she is EXPERIMENTING more and trying new things.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by Re:★

She looks like a damn cross-eyed amputeed futuristic hooker.

Edit Funky titles tho.

When you put it that way.......it makes the cover much more interesting to me. lol

[love in music]

Originally Posted by HONEY_INSPIRE_ME19

Sorry... ^^; I was REALLY trying to state that people are critizing Ayu at one cover. (BTW, I'm a she! )

oh lol i was referring to darkcarousel as the 'he' so don't worry

i just want to see the other covers already. we shouldn't have to wait much longer right? maybe tomorrow?

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by part of Me ♥

I wonder how some people can say this is a 'level down' when you haven't even heard a lot of the songs. maybe you mean a 'level down' from her better covers/song titles but if you mean a 'level down' of her career then you're getting way too ahead of yourselves.

I think what people are saying is that from what we have so far that we can base our opinions on, this seems more down than up.

Originally Posted by HONEY_INSPIRE_ME19

Well put... I like the cover. ^^ I'm hoping that the other covers will amaze me and everybody else. BESIDES!!! The other covers haven't been released yet... So how in the HELL can some people say that this is her worst covers if you haven't see the other versions? See? This is what you guys get for asking for a less diva Ayu. Some people are never satisfied.

You know, call me crazy, but it is highly possible to have non-Diva pictures that are actually good.

Originally Posted by HONEY_INSPIRE_ME19

Yup... As I have stated before that this is what they get when they ask for a less diva Ayu and are NEVER satisfied with what she does (for the most part). To the people that are nit-picky about everything Ayu does, she's just one person!!!!! Don't be so critical UNTIL you've seen the other covers. Ok? But it is a nice concept! (^^) Everybody has their opinions and everybody doesn't agree with what she does. But... Please cool it. I don't want fights breaking out between Ayu fans.

It seems to me that you are the one that needs to cool it. Everyone is expressing their differing opinions just fine. There is no need to shout or anything.

And if we are nitpicky, it is only because of the high standard that Ayu has herself set in the past. The only thing I ever ask of her is to live up to that high standard to the best of her ability. And if she is unable to do that, instead of just pushing herself forward, releasing products that do not live up to what she is capable of, then she should take a break and regather herself and her motivation imo.