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#21
10th April 2010, 01:49 PM
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I'm not a person who can write long reviews so I'll just give a brief review for some songs with a rating!
THE introduction - Omg this sounds like crap to me!!! It sounds like some cheap MIDI song or something.  5/10Microphone - Words cannot describe the awesomeness of this song. 10/10 count down - 8/10 Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ - 7/10 BALLAD - 7/10 Last Links - 8/10 montage - Another disappointing interlude for me 6.75/10. Well, it was 6/10 initially, then when I listened again it became 6.5/10 and when I listened to it AGAIN it became 6.75/10 hahahaha.Don't look back - I never realized how amazing this song was until I saw the PV. 9/10 Jump! - The best interlude in the album, but not as good as her other albums'. 7/10 Lady Dynamite - This song is great but very easy to get tired of. 7/10 Sexy little things - Well it's something very fresh coming from Ayu and the song is awesome so yay! 8/10 Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ - 7/10 meaning of Love - 8/10 You were... - 8/10 RED LINE ~for TA~ (album version) - 8/10 Conclusion: Rock'n'Roll Circus > NEXT LEVEL > GUILTY The interludes are kinda lacking compared to her other albums' but the awesome album tracks totally make up for it!
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#22
10th April 2010, 03:17 PM
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THE introduction This is something unique in it, you know? Sounds like a melody from the computer game, but still has that original feeling. I personally loved it. But does it match to this album, as intro before Microphone? I don't think so. Cool intro, but it shouldn't be here. 10/10
Microphone What can I say? It's my favourite Ayu's rock song together with Rule and GAME. 10/10 count down It reminds me so much of fated (~episode II~ anyone? LOL)... But with stronger feeling. Love her voice here, melody is catchy. It'll become one of my favourites from her for sure, if we talk about angry, powerful rock songs. 9/10 Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ It's kinda weird it's here exactly, after 2 previous powerful rock songs... It's like coming to another category... I've liked it since I've heard it at first. Nice, relaxing song, it can become a bit boring though. Not my favourite, but not that bad. I can't understand why there are so many Sunset haters.  7/10BALLAD I remember I used to love it when it came out... Now it's nice song, but I won't listen to it often like during Yw.../B release days. Bring even more than Sunset. 6/10 Last Links Acoustic guitar  Violin I've loved it already when I heard the beginning. But when I heard it in all... I'm having a dissatisfaction feeling. Maybe it'll grow on me. 5/10montage The most epic Ayu interlude, no doubt. It's just so beautiful with its mystery. I love how many different melodies are played in 1:40 long interlude. Variety of instruments is awesome. 10/10 Don't look back Like with Microphone, I don't say more. It's one of the best made Ayu songs in her career, music, arrangement, lyrics, climax - all is on the highest level. And I'm just a sucker for oriental sounds. 10/10 Jump! Welcome to the next part of the album! Nice alternative from all these serious melodies. Enjoyable, but it'd match more as melody to some of tour screens without appearing on studio album. 6/10 Lady Dynamite Cool & sexy~ It's so catchy. I have SURREAL feeling when I'm listening to this... and it's positive thing  Electronic sounding tune ruined it a bit for me, but it's one of the best songs here. 10/10Sexy little things I'm not crazy about it as I used to earlier, but it's an awesome song. Something totally unexpected and original from Ayu, FINALLY. 10/10 Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ They put this in a right place and they can't do this with Sunset? Maaan... Summer song which is supposed to have fun, so I've never had high expectations about it. I always want to dance (or throw a towel  ) when I'm listening to it, so it's positive side about it. Very jpop-ish, but quite good. 8/10meaning of Love What a boring and unoriginal song... I couldn't listen to whole song. It's going to be deleted from my computer asap. 0/10 You were... Typical Ayu's winter song... And very generic song. I have the same feeling during listening to No way to say. It've not amazed me and never will. I just can't stand it, like the previous song. 2/10 RED LINE ~for TA~ [album version] What a great ending! RED LINE is calm and cheering song with a super message. Ending is amazing, I've always wanted her to sing acapella in the end of the song! It's gonna sound amazing in tours! And lalalas aren't creepy finally. 8/10 So, what I think about the new album? I don't say it's better than NEXT LEVEL, because I love NEXT LEVEL and it's one of my favourite albums. I say that it's definitely better than previous albums, GUILTY and Secret. On the one hand it has a well thought-out order, we see these three parts: songs with sad or powerful message (from beginning to Last Links), montage with Don't look back (I love that it is a special, stand out part which connects 2 parts) and finally energetic, fun songs with calm ballads at the end. But on the other hand the order is a bit chaotic like in a NEXT LEVEL, what's why it's similiar album to NL IMO. It has meaning of Love, from now Ayu's worst song overall though. There are some other weak songs which can be replaced, but... it's not that bad. because this album has epic, kicking asses tracks which will stand out from her discography along with the most popular songs. Rock'n'Circus is definitely worthy to listen not only for Ayu fans! 7.5/10 Best tracks: Don't look back Microphone Lady Dynamite Sexy little things count down Song I'll give a one more chance: Last Links BALLAD You were... The worst: meaning of Love (why does it exist?) about introduction and interludes: THE introduction and montage are one the most original intros from her, I'm glad they were created. Jump! is nice, but a bit forgettable. 9/10 PVs: I re-watched them all once again and... Unfortunately, I have to say that they're not amazed me. Maybe in Lady Dynamite and Slt all was supposed to be fun, but they weren't solid videos IMO. Don't look back and Microphone are interesting, but not to watch it often. They're still better from GUILTY and NL clips though. 5/10
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#23
10th April 2010, 03:21 PM
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First of all after the NEXT LEVEL covers which are not my favorite Ayu’s covers, the RnRC ones are so pretty and amazing. Ayu looks like a doll on the CD+DVD cover. A new atmosphere emanates from the covers. I can’t really say why...it’s a mystery surrounded by magic.
1. THE introduction: the title is the reflection of the song. It’s an introduction & it’s really a pretty one. It’s worth its “THE”. The start is really weird. I can’t say the feeling I have when I listen to it. It’s a bit martial and majestic. It’s like we’re in front of a powerful queen. ^^ It’s a very introduction for the following song: 2. Microphone: a organ intro, a rockfish & powerful chorus, an exciting guitar part,… that song is SO AMAZING. I really love when Ayu’s rock. I think it’s the best style for her. Or maybe, it’s just me who love rock XD 3. Count down is a beautiful and dark rock song. It’s a long time that Ayu did that kind of song. The arrangement is heavy on Ayu voice. I mean that the sound is fated. It’s why that song is so dark. It’s like for Guilty: the music give le the feeling that I was guilty for something. Here, it’s the same thing but I feel as there is only one way in the life & that way is drawn by the gods. I really love that song. The intro is really weird but it’s original to start a ballad. 4. Sunset ~Love is all~ is a beautiful summer ballad. The melody is the same that its twin sunrise. It’s really a full of emotions song & the lyrics is really nice. 5. Ballad is a wonderful ballad with asian & orchestra l sounds It is really slow and powerful. The chorus is quiet by contrast to you were…’s one. The instrumental part is really beautiful with the violin. The lyrics are really sad. 6. Last Links is an acoustic song. It’s a long time she has used a acoustic guitar on her original song. It’s again a nice song. The arrangement is really nice and the mixing of the instruments is perfect. Above all I love the violin part. 7. Montage: is the first interlude of the album. It’s my favorite. The beginning goes out a horror film. After we have a quiet dance of violin. The theme changes for a beautiful part of harpsichord which carries us in Versailles where we’ll have a romance in the garden. The end is really sudden. Montage is a montage of varied style of music. All transition are perfect & the whole interlude doesn’t seem desultory. 8. Don’t look back is an oriental/Arabic song. It’s the first time that Ayu makes such song. It’s really beautiful. I really love how she says “don’t look back”^^ 9. Jump! Is the second and last interlude. It’s dynamic and want me to jump everywhere XD I like it. 10. Lady Dynamite is a pop rock song. That song is really good for a party. Everybody dances!!! 11. Sexy little things is really puzzling & different from others Ayu’s song. If I should find a similar song it’ll be “energize” from Next Level for the sound is old. I can’t really say the years but it’ remind me old song. The melody on electro sounds is wonderful. Some others sounds carry me on a circus with acrobats and clown. The end of the song is really special but I love it. One of the best songs of that album. 12. Sunrise~Love is all~ is a summer song with electro sound. I really love that song because it’s out of others Ayu’s summer song. Every time I hear it I feel happy and full of energize. 13. Meaning of love is nice ballad. It’s a bit like who… in the sense that it’ll be perfect if Ayu sing it at the end of concert. There arrangement is really sweet, soft & light. It’s a nice song for the spring. 14. You were… is a winter ballad. The verse is really quiet and the chorus is power. The usual instrumental (guitar) bridge is really nice. It’s the same structure than Days. One more time, I’m totally won over by that beautiful song. 15. Red Line ~for TA~ (album version) is the same that the single version. The only thing that is different is the end. Ayu sings a capella. It’s a beautiful and original way to finish an album. I would like to add one thing: the scheme of the album is really meaningful. At the middle of the album there is Don’t look back. It highlights by two interludes. Before DLB there are all Ayu’s sad and dark songs and after DLB we find all “happy songs”. I think it’s really interesting to note that! 20/20
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#24
10th April 2010, 07:14 PM
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01) THE introduction
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#25
10th April 2010, 07:23 PM
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well... my thoughts have changed a bit
I've decided it's my third favourite. There are some really good songs on the album, the interludes aren't amazing but I like them and they're placed nicely in the flow of things. but... Sunset must go away '-___- just by taking it out it has made the album that much better. ugh. i LOVE everything, except Last Links is OK the chorus is really low and nothing special RED LINE is ok too. catchy chorus, that`s about it and I hate Lady Dynamite and sunset oh, how I wish Jump! were a full song
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#26
10th April 2010, 08:08 PM
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01. THE introduction
This is, no question, her weakest introduction ever. It lacks a punch, it lacks a real draw, if I wasn't a fan and just heard this I wouldn't really be interested in the album. It doesn't draw you into the album like her previous openings. Also, it sounds like it would flow much better into Don't look back then into Microphone. 4/10 02. Microphone Doesn't fit after THE introduction. But Microphone is a phenomenal tracks. The organs give it some uniqueness, and I love the contrast between the rather laid back verses and the fierceness of the chorus. Oh the chorus, it's one of my favorite Ayu chorus's ever. It's so powerful and fierce *___* 10/10 03. count down This song has an amazing arrangement. The piano is so haunting and beautiful. It has a feeling of hopelessness and despair, it's gorgeous. This song does have a major flaw though, the chorus loses the feeling the rest of the song has. It's not the right melody, it doesn't feel like it fits in the song. It loses a lot of it's emotion too. It drags the song down quite a bit, but it's still pretty good. 8/10 04. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ S'cuse me, wtf are you doing here? This album has no flow WHATSOEVER. This song is probably my least favorite Ayu song ever. It's so forced, it's so oversung, and it doesn't leave any impressions on me at all. It needs to get off this album, it drags on forever. There's no redeeming quality to this song whatsoever. 0/10 05. BALLAD The album's major flaw is putting this song right after Sunset. For me, I was never into the whole BALLAD hype AHS got into. It's a pretty song, it's got a decent enough arrangement. But the melody is epically boring, and her vocals are so dull and hard to listen to. I like this song enough, but it's not spectacular. And it's placement here makes this whole section of the album drag on. 3/10 06. Last Links Now THIS is more like it. I love the arrangement of this song so much, acoustic guitar+violins, it's gorgeous. It has a powerful emotional feeling. I feel like she could have sang it another way, but the vocals the way the are seem like they'd be easy for her to sing live, so I guess it's okay. It's got a raw feeling that I really like! 9/10 07. montage This feels like it should go into Microphone. I feel like she labeled these two wrong when she put the album together. This is the best interlude, for sure. I like the whole classical feeling. But I don't really feel like it does anything as an interlude, and it's really not a good transitional piece. 7/10 08. Don't look back The best arrangement on the album hands down. It's absolutely perfect, nothing in this song could be any better. I love the dark mysterious atmosphere, the power of the chorus, and the vulnerability of the verses and bridge. This may just be the best song on the album. 10/10 09. Jump! The first time I heard it I didn't like it at ALL. It's so random and gross, but as an interlude it's the ONLY one on the album that actually does what it's supposed to do so I give it props for that. Now I sorta like it, it's not bad at all. It's not as good as her other interludes though. 6/10 11. Lady Dynamite I thought this was going to be my least favorite song from the chaku-uta, not gonna lie. But it's incredibly catchy, and I love the arrangement. This song has some of her strongest verses in ages. Especially the prechorus, it's catchy. These are also her best vocals on an upbeat song on this album. 10/10 12. Sexy little things Now we know what we're doing. This is the most unique track from Ayu in years. It sounds like nothing else she's ever done, it blends the past and the future perfectly. This is my favorite song on the album, it's so innovative. Do more like this Ayu, please! 10/10 Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ Sunrise and I have had an interesting relationship, I loved it when it first came out, and then I hated it, and now I love it again. It's one of her best summer songs to me, because it doesn't sound like a fairyland/BLUE BIRD/glitter clone. It reminds me a little of July 1st, which is my favorite summer song. 8/10 13. meaning of Love This song is very interesting. It has a generic arrangement, a generic melody, generic lyrics, and is sung pretty detached. It's essentially everything I hate about Ayumi Hamasaki now a days. However, I actually really like this song. The melody, while generic, is pretty catchy, and her vocals are really nice despite being so detached. 7/10 14. You were... I love the chorus to this song. It's so emotional and beautiful. And the bridge is amazing. To me, this was the superior song on You were.../BALLAD, and the best single a-side of this era. It's so much better a winter ballad then last year's Days. It reminds me of Together when... which is one of my favorites. 9/10 15. RED LINE ~for TA~ [album version] This song is insanely catchy. It's got a nostalgic feeling to it I really like. The album version doesn't change too much, but I really like the acapella at the end. However, I feel like the "lalala" part goes on for far too long now. It could have been a lot shorter and still given the effect it desired. 8/10 TOTAL: 109/150 = 7/10 All in all, it's a pretty decent album, it has some really low points (Sunset, BALLAD, and the interludes) but the album tracks are pretty strong. The flow is next to nonexistant, and that really hurts the album. All in all, it's a great step up from NEXT LEVEL, and a good step in the right direction. I can't wait to see where she'll go next!
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Last edited by GRACE; 10th April 2010 at 08:10 PM.
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#27
10th April 2010, 08:09 PM
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My review:
Microphone - This is my jam! It has the classic Ayu-rock sound we've gotten so used to in the latter half of her career. The guitars are pretty heavy this time around. her rock songs really are starting to get less "poseur" (for lack of a better word) I think fans of rock music would be impressed. I'm disappointed they didn't make more use of the pipe organ, though. A count down - My favorite song on the album. Her best song in years, I think. Honestly, this is the kind of rock song I've been wanting to hear from her for a long time. I love how gritty the arrangement is. There's something about the chorus that just hits that emotional G-spot, man... The lyrics as well, make the song all the more special. Vocal performance is so raw, flawless. A+ Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ - I was never too fond of the song as a ballad. If Sunrise did not exist, I might really like the song. Her vocals are quite shaky here... Perhaps that is my biggest beef with the song. Nonetheless, the arrangement is beautiful. Still think it should have been left off the album. C BALLAD - It'd be really sweet if they combined the oriental feeling with a kind of trip-hop arrangement like in HANABI & HAPPY ENDING. It's an enjoyable song, but a little flat at times. Low replay value. DAI stock song. B Last Links - AN AYU SONG WITH A PROMINENT ACOUSTIC GUITAR? Uh finally, dude. I adore how the song flows so well. It's short and to the point. The chorus melody is a little unsatisfying, but still awesome. B+ Don't look back - It's dark and spooky without really trying too hard. That's what I love about it. There's a strange intensity to it. The melody, arrangement, vocals... it's intense. A- Lady Dynamite - Still reminds me of B'z. Song gots some major attitude. the part right before the chorus is badass. If it wasn't for the atrocious music video, I might like it some more. A- Sexy little things - I don't know, I really like it.. but then I don't. The replay value probably won't be too high, but I respect the creative process this song must have went through. Love the ending. B Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ - Great song. So much fun to sing along to. A- meaning of Love - Yeah, it's a different kind of Ayu-ballad... It sounds more like stereotypical J-pop, but it totally works. I love the part from the instrumental bridge onwards. B+ You were... - Grew on me a lot since its release. A- RED LINE ~for TA~ [album version] - Love the updated drums/acapella ending. So happy she didn't change it too much. A+ Instrumentals don't help nor hurt the album. They're just there, I guess. I don't think my initial impressions have ever been this positive. I usually feel a little underwhelmed, but this time around I can sense the effort and I think it paid off. This makes me even more excited for her future music. Quote:
Last edited by Coelacanth; 10th April 2010 at 08:11 PM.
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#28
10th April 2010, 08:35 PM
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THE Introduction
-for an opening track titled THE Introduction...it isn't really a good representation of what a solid intro is. It's a bit cheesy and lacks the power of say....Mirror from Guilty. Forgettable. 4/10 Microphone I hated this song at first. I loved the PV. I can appreciate the song better now after hearing it a few times. Really get's back to the rock thing she had going on in MY STORY. Kinda repetitive though. 9/10 count down -lol...here comes the album filler....no melody. no life. nothing. 0/10 Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ -A nice ballad. That's all. 7/10 BALLAD -I like this song. Nice, toned down PV too, to go along with it. Calm. Not the star of the single but strangely, it's the song I prefer. 8/10 Last Links -I'd like it more if her vocals weren't so forced in this song. Another album filler to me but a much better effort than count down. Nice song. 6/10 montage -Ok...I don't know if anyone feels this way but why the heck was this put in the middle of the album instead of at the beginning....great composition. Reminiscent of I dunno...Wonderland from MY STORY. Darker though...hints of Guilty's style. I really liked this interlude and compared to what we got in NL...this is great. 10/10 Don't look back -This song is great. It has the right...ambiance continuing what montage started. Not suitable to be a single...but it doesnt just fade into obscurity either. 9/10 Jump -Yuck. Definitely not the right transition. Cheap. 0/10 Lady Dynamite -It's just not interesting. Nice title but it doesnt really live up to it. I can tell they tried really hard to put the energy into it but the song is just lackluster. I don't hate it. It just doesnt get my attention. 5/10 Sexy little things -It's interesting, definitely out of her comfort zone. I appreciate her for branching out. In all honesty, this is a great song. It just doesnt...I can't really see Ayu doing this style. This is more...Perfume maybe? She kinda needs to outgrow the cutsey thing. But the electronic style is a good effort. 7/10 Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ -Still a fun song. It's not stellar, just fun 7/10 meaning of Love -Pretty song...but when it comes down to it, another generic jpop ballad with a glittery arrangement. Not memorable but still pretty strong vocals compared to the rest of the album. 6/10 You were... -not my favorite Ayu winter ballad ever...but it's still strong. Compared to something like meaning of Love...it just shines. 8/10 RED LINE ~for TA~ -Trying to hard. Artificial. Not such a great ending. 3/10 Overall criticisms: First of all the artwork is really nice (10 bonus points). I liked NEXT LEVEL...it's just it wasn't the right style for Ayu. I'm glad she's falling back to the rock thing instead of trying to conform to the status quo. This album also has the same problem that NL had...it's just not that cohesive. It is more so than NL...just some of the pieces are really random. I don't think, to be frank, that any of the single tracks belonged in this album. Looking over that though, this album really is good. I like the concept. NL was refreshing and cool, but finally she is going back to the style she had before NL. Yeah...there were some misses... particularly the poor intro and the lame filler tracks. I can try to ignore those though. I would definitely buy this album if I have the chance. It isn't a priority though...but it's a good listen. Overall Score: 6.6/10 Last edited by Polyrhythm; 10th April 2010 at 08:39 PM.
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#29
10th April 2010, 09:09 PM
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Here is my review on the album:
01. THE introduction That introduction caught me really off guard and surprised for some reason, though it did positively. I felt that it's pretty much a new sound to ayu's interludes/introductions and I really like the sound of it. - 9/10 02. Microphone - I Love this song!! The guitars are amazing, the composition is great, the organ parts are lovely, and it gives a highly feeling of fireceness (I don't know what other word to use). There is nothing rock with that song. One of ayu's best rock songs. - 10/10 03. count down - Actually I did like the transitioning through the harder rock track to the rock ballad. From the new album tracks it's my least favorite song (just because the others are huge), it has a cool arrangement and the composition is actually pretty. - 8/10 04. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ This is where the transitioning turns off since it's going from a rockish part to a mellow/quite ballads part. Sometimes I'm not in the mood to listen to it but when I do I like singing along to it and gets my pretty vibe out of it. Not as often though. - 6/10 05. BALLAD This is quite a BEAUTIFUL piece of ballad. I know it's really quite and it might get this part of th album more draggy but since I like this ballad a lot I'm fine with it in BALLAD's point. The instrumentation, ayu's vocals, everything in this ballad are really pretty. It's not one of my perfect 10 10 ballads though. - 9/10 06. Last Links A lot has mentioned it already but I have as well. The combination of violins and acoustic guitar is a perfect match! It's really really beautiful ballad, at the first time I heard it I actually thought to myself that this song might fit into YUI's style, in a positive manner of course! - 9/10 07. montage My favorite interlude in the album (which leads to my favorite song in the album). At first I was shocked but what I'm hearing it was really really really wierd but then I heard it again and I loved what I heard. It might not be the best entrance to Don't look back (mainly because there's nothing indian/arabic here) it doesn't disturb for me because I really like it and it even gets - 10/10 08. Don't look back The best song in the album, hands down of the hands down. The whole idea and concept of the song is just great, the composition and arabian/indian arrangement is just perfect. Also this kind of instrumentation (specially the arabian parts of it) are really popular in my country - 10/10 09. Jump! My least favorite interlude in the album though it has the best transitioning. It's still cool and I'm sure that it sounds awesome live! - 7/10 10. Lady Dynamite This song is really party packed factored, it makes you rave into it and it's really a fun song to listen too! My favorite parts are the chorus and the pre-chorus parts! They are really cool! - 9/10 11. Sexy little things Another song that gets a hands down from me for the reason ayu has it. It's just an amazing, innovative track and I barely treat it as a "cute song" even if ayu's vocals are cute, it just sounds like a great great great pop with electro vibes track. - 10/10 12. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ My favorite summer song of ayu since July 1st. It's really a song I like to jump and sing into and it gives me heart rotations from time to time because of the feelings it gives (it does wonders for a summer song). - 9/10 13. meaning of Love My favorite ballad from the album. I dunno why but (as Days is my favorite ballad ever) and this song has a generic japanese pop ballad arrangement I strangely tend to love them the most. This song gives me really both emotional and a positive melancholic feeling. It's mainly the composition and the way ayu sings I guess, but I really like the arrangement as well. This song is just hugely pretty. - 10/10 14. You were... At first I wasn't that amazed with this song but it really grew on me and now I like it. It wasn't as strong as BALLAD for me but it really started to flow me with emotions as well while listening to it. The instrumentation is really pretty and ayu's vocals really gives it. That's what I found. - 8/10 15. RED LINE ~for TA~ [album version] A reminicence of the older ayu. I think that the album version is a bit clearer and the final add of ayu's acapella is really beautiful, I love the raw feeling of it. And ayu's lalala and acapella singing really warms my heart every time I hear it and I feel like singing along with her. It doesn't have the most amazing arrangement or composition ever but it delivers what it should well enough and it's its feelings. - 9/10 Total Score: 135/150= 9/10 Overall this is one of ayu's best albums to date for me. It mainly lacks over 1 part in the transition deparment but it doesn't bug me too much when I listen to the album because of the songs in it and the quality of it. The transitioning and Sunset got the 0.5 and 0.5 (1) points down so it's 9. I really enjoy this album it has everything that an album should have in it for me. It can't top LOVEppears but I think that I can say that even if it's not from the old era and I pretty much became a fan around the end of 2003. This is ayu's 2nd best album she released. I'm sure it won't be as recognised as this with most of the other people but really, I didn't enjoy from any album when I heard at first, except for LOVEppears, as I did with Rock'n'Roll Circus. Huge kudos to ayu for making one of the best albums I have ever heard this time. Last edited by ayumisrael; 11th April 2010 at 05:55 PM.
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#30
10th April 2010, 09:45 PM
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1. THE introduction 3/10
Maybe "THE (worst) introduction" is what she meant? It's absolutely awful. The only reason it even gets in a three out of ten is because I can see it *maybe* working during the tour. 2. Microphone 10/10 This song is fabulous! The nine second opening of this song is better than the actual album opener. haha This is definitely one of her best rock songs to date. I love it! 3. count down 9/10 I love this song so much too~ It's really powerful and the lyrics really touch me. I like it a lot. Does anyone else feel it that it's a "warm weather" rock ballad? 'Cause I think it's very fitting of that description, and the only Ayu rock ballad to date that is! 4. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ 7/10 I really didn't like this song all that well on the single, but the spot it's got on the album is quite fitting. It feels just like the end of a summer day, and if you read what I said about count down, that maybe why it's so fitting! 5. BALLAD 8/10 I would've given this a ten out of ten when the single came out. It's really very epic and it's a fantastic song, but the ability to replay this song got lost with time and that's why it loses some points. Maybe I overkilled it when it first was released, but I've done that with many Ayu songs in the past and can still listen to them non-stop today. Very nice song though. 6. Last Links 9/10 This song gives off a similar vibe to count down, but it's very different from that song. I don't think Ayu has ever done a song that sounded so raw. I love the passion in this song. It's really very good! 7. montage 7/10 As far as interludes go, this is a really strange one, but I do like it. It's just a tad too creepy to follow Last Links. They should've saved some of that creepy for the second half because it's much more fitting when you look at it as an opener to Don't look back. 8. Don't look back 10/10 I personally freaking adore this song. When the commercials with clips of Don't look back and Microphone came out most people were drawn to Microphone, but I was more drawn to Don't look back. It's so fun to sing along to and I love the message she's conveying here! I'm also glad to get another Middle Eastern vibe from her. She pulls that off very well, I think. 9. Jump! 7/10 This interlude has the same problem as montage, it's a great opener for the song it follows, but it leaves you kind of confused after the song it succeeds. I'm not too fond of the people yelling "Jump!" but I love Ayu's screaming and this interlude, overall, is nice. 10. Lady Dynamite 9/10 This song isn't what I was expecting, but I love it very much, regardless. I love the positive energy that this song just radiates all over the place and it's also quite catchy~ 11. Sexy little things 10/10 At first listen, I hated it. At second listen, I was unsure of it and I stayed that way through the next few listens. But then I realized how much I love this song. It's so different from her other "cutesy" and "electro-pop" songs, and it may just be the catchiest song she ever made, ever... haha 12. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ 6/10 On the single, it would've been a point higher than Sunset is on the album. Standing alone now, they would be tied. But here on the album, it's a point lower than Sunset. This song feels absolutely out of place on this album. It's a really fun tune, but I think it's gonna get skipped when I try to listen to the album from start to end. 13. meaning of Love 7/10 This is a nice, but typical Ayu ballad. I like it and everything, but it's just too similar to previous ballads, especially Secret and rainy day. It sounds like a more upbeat offspring of those two. It's a bit forgettable too. 14. You were... 5/10 This is my least favorite, non-interlude, song on the album. It's got the same problem as meaning of Love, it sounds far too much like a typical Ayu song, but this one isn't even that enjoyable. It's also go the same problem as Sunrise, it feels absolutely wrong on this album. I far from hate, or even dislike, this song though. 15. RED LINE ~for TA~ 8/10 I really didn't like the single version at all, but the album version's ending is absolutely perfect, and this is a really great ending song in general. It's grown on me a lot because of the placement and rearrangement for the album and I'm glad because it was the only song from the singles that I actually hated. Now, I really enjoy it! PV Rating: Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ (6/10) I can't watch it all the way through, but it's light and fun! Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ (4/10) Absolutely boring video. I only watched it once. You were... (2/10) This video is absolutely terrible. It's one of her worst. I don't understand the praise at all. BALLAD (9/10) Definitely the best video out of all the singles! I love the story and Ayu is gorgeous! Microphone (10/10) Oh, how I love this video! It's so hot, and Ayu really, really pulled the fierce look off great this time around. Don't look back (11/10) I think this is, hands down, Ayu's best video, and one of the best videos of all time. I love the way it's presented and the way the symbolism adds to the lyrics meaning. Sexy little things (8/10) It's a very cool concept, in this video, and the imagery is cool and all, but I don't think it works all that well with the song. Well, it does, and it doesn't. Nonetheless, it's still a cool video. Lady Dynamite (8/10) Really great and fun concept for the song, and the lollipop scenes make Ayu look so hot, but there's something about this video that makes it a bit awkward. I love how fun it is though! My overall rating of the album is: 7.6/10 That's mathematically anyway. I'd round it up to an 8/10 just because I was so surprised. It's a really good album! After NEXT LEVEL and the mediocre singles, I wasn't expecting much so I was totally blown away and I'm really pleased! 
Last edited by amorphose; 10th April 2010 at 09:51 PM.
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#31
10th April 2010, 11:23 PM
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here we gooo!!!!! ^___~
1. THE Introduction - well. its sounds dark and darkness is love and so i really liked this one. it sounds good for a tour too and whats the worth of music if it cannot be heard live? any way, i think it could be better if it used actual traditional orchestral instruments. - 8/10 2. Microphone - As otehr ayu rock songs, this does not disappoint me. It is fantastic and powerful. The organ is a nice touch along with the "Tell me why?" etc. The song is definitely full of great emotion especially when considering the lyrics - 10/10 3. count down - its a a lot more suttle than Microphone, however strong it is, it is very doleful. It is sort of the beauty of it. It is a nice sort of rock ballad. The emotion is beautiful and the arrangement is nice. Her vocals here too are great. - 9/10 4. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ - omg. this is like my least fav ayu song along with Love ~Destiny~. However, i have found that when wanting something peaceful but pretty to listen to this is actually a decent song. It is lackluster but the soft emotion and lyrics that are put into makes it all seem to make sense. overall it is liked but not loved at all. - 6/10 5. BALLAD - a beautiful song in my opinion. like Yw. . . it is not a fav ayu ballad of mine but it is hard to stop listening to it. Besides it being beautiful, it tones everything down and the Oriental sound is gorgeous. The last line gives me chills too. I believe everything works in this song and that it has its own quiet epicness too it. its full of lent and sadness yet beauty. - 9/10 6. Last Links - I loved it! Her vocals especially. It's like one of those acoustic rock ballads that you get from some American band every now and then. Its reminiscent of "It was" to me. Which is good. The lyrics make it great too. I love the power in the vocals and the composition. I would love to hear this live. This is one of those songs that could make me tear with the pure emotion in it which just penetrates so easily - 8.5/10 7. montage - My heart is in this interlude. the orchestral arrangement makes me feel like im listening to a dark little overture (minus few parts here and there). IT has this just dark disturbing beauty that is love in any song. That it is all instrumental is fantastic, lettign the orchestra show the emotion wich does get through to me - 10/10 8. Don't Look Back - One may be quite dense if they do not get the message in this song. Ayu presents it in a beautiful way that is not obviously epic but subtle epic. the arrangement makes it truly amazing and different. It gives a dark and quiet aura but still one that is very imperative. It's hard to describe as any song is hard to describe for me - 10/10 9. Jump! - i love it! what is to love for me is ayu's vocals in the backgroung. It feels like being in an arcade truth be told. Its fun and exciting and clubby. It must be great live too. i just adore - 9/10 10. Lady Dynamite - the song just works. I love the arrangemnt and its empowering overall. the lyrics, the way ayu sings everything. . .It's catchy but not without depth which is what I look for. - 9.5/10 11. Sexy Little Things - Well I love this song. Ayu really seemed to take a new approach and adding the swing sound to the arrangement and composition fit what the song overall tried to present. It is like Lady Dynamite catchy but not without depth. Clearly the emotion in the voice presents a mild admonishing sarcasm which does not require anything sort of epic. Overall the overall point and cuteness of the song got across to me. Ayu pulled it off fine. - 9.5/10 12. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ - I am a Sunrise lover. This song is just so full of fun and love that for me its impossible not to feel what ayu is trying to give here. It radiates love and joy all over. the arrangement is fun too. Frankly it is her best summer song to perform live to me although not my favorite. I give it that too considering before recordings came about its all about live emotion. This song is just cool day brightener that i take to the beach - 9/10 13. meaning of Love - forget Sunset, this song is what lacks any sort of appeal to me. However the mood of love that ayu gives off in this song does penetrate and thats what saves it. I'm never super fond of ballads yet ayu's usually get to my heart. This one did not as much. just the love did. Simply the love. And the vocals were fine too. Pretty typical arrangement though - 5.5/10 14. You were . . . - i really loved the single and i Loved this song too. like BALLAD i cant just stop listening to it once I start. It's so pretty and the emotion in it is just soo sad. usually ayu love songs don't make me cry but this one can. I like the arrangement too. Her vocals were nice too - 8.5/10 15. RED LINE ~for TA~ - I didn't realize how much i liked this song until recently. And the album version made me like slightly better. It gives off the perfect Wintery mood too. It's happy and encouraging. The arrangement makes it better too. I too liked the acapella at the end - 7.5/10 Overall - 8.6/10 The album is nice and the fact that it is circus theme makes me happy it isnt so cohesive. It works when I picture it like that. Also the world of Rock'n'Roll presents fun but there are always dark sides. That i think the album presents too. Many songs are lovable, however there are just a few that are not so special as seems with most ayu albums. i am very specific with what music I like and dislike and this album tested me. But i came out with my observations and feelings that this is truly really music and an overall great album. ^___^
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#32
11th April 2010, 12:11 AM
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Rurutia's Review
1) THE introduction (2/10) ahem...nooo..no where near "THE introduction". I originally gave it a 1/10 but the last 7 seconds of the song saved it....a little.....the synth part was sooo cheesy and boring....big dissapointment. One of her worst album intros to date as well as one of her worst interludes. 2) MICROPHONE (100000000/10) I LOOOOOOOOOOOVEEEEE THIS SONG!!!!!!!!! "Tell me why Tell me Why, I don't, I don't know"....such a great hook. This song is utter perfection. Her vocals are perfect and the chorus is soooo great. The bridge is sooooo beautiful. This is pure love and I love the music video for it....BY far the BEST song on the album...and one of my favorite AYU songs EVAR!!!! 3) Countdown (5/10) This song sounds like an album filler to me. I hate the chorus....but LOVE the ways she ends the chorus....The guitar part sounds weak, if it had come on a little stronger it would have sounded awesome. The verses are okay. THe bridge is decent but like I said before the guitars sound weak to me. The chorus ruined the song for me. Will complete later...library is closing...lol Last edited by Rurutia; 11th April 2010 at 12:49 AM.
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#33
11th April 2010, 01:04 AM
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This was something I waited for so long, mostly poppy album, there is only one song that can be called really rockish and that's Microphone. Pop and ballads are made just for me. Thank you Ayu! First, I would like to comment the covers, CD+DVD is cute, but not really fan of close ups, CD only is pretty! Title of the album is interesting, I kinda can understand the circus part, but Rock N Roll not so much. Maybe Ayu was reffering to the usual elements of her music and her influences or she just think that's cool title lol.
THE introduction It really is THE, it's dark, fierce and I love it! 10/10 Microphone That's why I love Ayu rock, she makes it epic, bombastic, awsome! I think this is just one masterpiece more in her discography. 10/10 count down Fierce intro in the album and then midtempo! Im very happy with this. Song is really beautiful, and it has dark vibe with its beat and deep voice in its chorus. 10/10 Sunset ～LOVE is ALL～ I love this song so much! It's sweet, beautiful, relaxed but emotional at the same time. This is perfect song! 10/10 BALLAD I love oriental influences in music so ofcourse I'm gonna fall for it. BALLAD is dreamy and lovely! It's like neverending dream, I would like for Ayu to have album full of epic songs like this where they are asian influenced. Awsome in every way! 10/10 Last Links Acoustic intro is awsome! Very easy to listen to, strong chorus with beautiful violins that are appearing here and there. 10/10 montage This interlude gives me a vibe of 'what will happen next', cause after set of beautiful ballads there's a classic sound. Beautiful I say. 10/10 Don't look back This song was really surprising for me, I didn't expect Ayu doing song like this. It's one masterpiece more, Ayu will you stop!? I can't handle this. I want to have just one song on repeat, but I can't cause I love so many tracks on this album. This song is too beautiful to describe. 10/10 Jump! This was the first thing on the album I felt like wth. Don't get it and don't feel it. It's weird and I don't know will I ever like it. I'm glad it's just an interlude. 1/10 Lady Dynamite At first I thought it's too simple, Ayu could do much more fun songs then this, but I started to like it. It's catchy. 6/10 Sexy little things This track is daaaaaaa shiiiiiit. So unique, so fun, so cute, so everything! I'm very happy with this!!! 10/10 Sunrise ～LOVE is ALL～ I LOVE JPOP. It's bright and cute and OMG I LOVE THIS! 10/10 meaning of Love I don't know how I feel about this, It is cute for sure, but it reminds me on Days and You were... It's like its child. I love it for its cuteness, but Ayu could have been more original, right? 5/10 You were... I've always felt how this song would have been really epic that Ayu had better vocals. Chorus is very much forced and that's the only thing it's bugging me. But, oh well... 7/10 RED LINE ～for TA～ [album version] SUCH A SWEET ENDING! I would like to have it whole in acapella. VERY VERY SWEET. 10/10 Overall: I would like to say it's a perfect album cause mostly it is, but this few things I have problem with (boring Jump! and -couldhavebeenbetterfeeling-) are here, so I will face it. It's ALMOST a perfect album. I'm very satisfied and I will buy it for sure. Important thing about this album is that Ayu is not screaming nor yelling (ok, You were... chorus doesn't count lol) and I think she's totally aware now of her possibilities. I'm happy for that! She takes care of herself cause she wants to be here for a long time I hope. 9/10 PV's: S/S ～LOVE is ALL～ Yup, it is boring but I got positive vibe from Sunrise part and emotinal feel of Sunset. Could have been better, but I enjoyed it! 5/10 You were... It's very pretty, but still so mysterious, I still don't get it. Its darkness scares me. 4/10 BALLAD This PV wins for me cause my fav color dominated whole set - PINK. Ayu looks like a princess and it has a love story. 10/10 Microphone Ayu looks fierce but whole pv scares me. 3/10 Don't look back One of the most epic PVs Ayu has made!!! I LOVE IT 10/10 Lady Dynamite I like it so much cause Ayu looks faaaaaab and we can see she is having fun, she's so sweet dancing there like there is no end. 8/10 Sexy little things I dont get this PV @_@ Ayu looks interesting and thats it for me lol. 2/10
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#35
11th April 2010, 03:55 AM
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1) THE Introduction - Kind of odd...not as epic as some of its predecessors, but not awful. It was interesting and I liked the dark feel
 7/102) Microphone - Solid rock song..it's really grown on me. I love everything about this song  . 10/103) count down - Emotional and heartfelt. The beginning kind of reminds me of GUILTY (which is not a bad thing at all!). Beautiful and melodic! I love it. 10/10 4) Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ - Overall, it really is a nice ballad. I think I would have appreciated it more if it didn't have an upbeat counterpart that suits my tastes a little more. Also, it's a little on the long side, but I've come to appreciate it a lot more over time. 8/10 5) BALLAD - SOOOO EPIC! This has come to be one of my most favorite Ayu ballads. It gives me chills every time I listen to it. It's so emotional and gentle yet powerful. 10/10 6) Last Links - I like the beat. Overall, it's a pretty solid song. I feel that it's a very mature song musically. It sounds like it would fit into MY STORY quite well. Nice chorus; not amazing, but not bad at all. 9/10 7) montage - WOW...this is amazing!!! It's dark, haunting, mysterious, and charming, then again I'm a sucker for orchestral pieces. I love that part where the organ plays that really low note. It almost reminds me of something that would go to a Shakespeare play. Great lead in to for Don't Look Back . 10/108) Don't Look Back - Such a wonderful song. Elegant, haunting, beautiful, unique, and exotic. I love the lyrics to top it off. Everything is striking about this track. It is my most favorite song off this album. 10/10 9) Jump! - I have mixed emotions about this interlude. It's not awful by any means, but there's something weird about it. I like the beat though and that little techno sound at the end . 8/1010) Lady Dynamite - This song is great fun! I find the entire song to be very catchy. It gets me all hyped up...for what though I don't know lol. It almost has this little secret agent feel to it. I have to say it's the most catchy song on the entire album. 10/10 11) Sexy Little Things - I had very mixed emotions about this song at first when I watched the PV, but after hearing it on the album, I've come to appreciate it quite a bit more. It's so weird you can't help but like it ! It's unique, fun, and swingy sounding. My favorite part is the 'Ooh Ooh Aah Aah' part in the bridge  . It almost reminds me of Put It on the Ritz (or w/e that song is called) or something lol. 9/10 12) Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ - I actually fancy this song a lot. It always leaves me with a good feeling, as it has this nice summer feel to it. The only two things that bother me a little is 1) how this song had serious potential to become a great dance song with heavy beats (the chorus sounds a little odd...the way it just speeds up so fast and doesn't carry that heavy beat any longer...DEUS EX MACHINA!!!!), and 2) TA kind of bothers me...they make it a bit cheesy. My favorite parts are the verses and the bridge. 8/10 13) meaning of Love - Well, what can I say? I guess this song is kind of like Curtain Call for me. I found it to be a little on the boring side. I mean, it's nice in parts, but overall nothing amazing. Plus, it felt like it dragged on for a little too long. The weakest song on the album in my opinion. 6/10 14) You were... - I've always enjoyed this ballad, but I prefer (and always have) BALLAD by a tenfold. I really like the chorus parts and enjoy the great amount of emotion Ayu incorporates . The one thing that slightly bothers me about this song is that it sounds a little too much like a Christmas song (as in like it was meant for Christmas time). But otherwise, this is a very beautiful song. 9/1015) Red Line ~for TA~ [album version] - This song is superb. I don't see much of a difference other than it is longer and the acapella part at the end (which I really really liked ). I've always found it to be heartwarming and meaningful, not to mention very catchy. I feel it was a great conclusion to the album, as it kind of has that 'goodbye' sound to it. The 'la la la' part went on for a little too long, but otherwise it wasn't too annoying. 9/10Overall grade : A Final Thoughts: I enjoyed the album thoroughly. I thought it was fun and original. It also displayed a great level of maturity on Ayu's part (musically and lyrically) . I feel it was an enormous step up from NEXT LEVEL (even though I did enjoy that album). Two things I really liked about this album:1) Ayu's vocals sounded exceptional on this album. Her voice was very smooth and melodic. She was starting to get really strained vocals there for a time. Also, she didn't go overboard with her vibrato which I really appreciated. I've always thought Ayu's voice sounded very cute and sweet when she wouldn't overuse her vibrato (which I don't entirely oppose as it DOES make her stand out from other J-pop artists). 2) She finally didn't put too many singles and interludes on this album (thank the lord!). Also, none of the singles and interludes bothered me in the least. Last edited by CHE.R.RY; 11th April 2010 at 04:16 AM.
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#36
11th April 2010, 04:24 AM
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#37
11th April 2010, 05:04 AM
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I'm not good at explaining using the compositon of the songs.I'll go by my way of grading
1)THE Introduction 5/10 - Weird weird weird,I'll probably like it if they were to add in a man laughing in the "MWAHAHAHHAHAHAH" way 2) Microphone INFINITE/10 - I fly when I heard that it's a rock song.I can't describe my feelings for this song.Simply indescribeable! 3) count down 8/10 - I thought I clicked GUILTY.Slightly above average 4) Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ - I love how reaching this track changes my mood.Love it the song too 5) BALLAD 9/10 - The oriental feeling to this song is EPIC.Never stop liking it when it came out 10/10 6) Last Links 10/10 - The guitar beginning is amazing!LOVE THIS 7) montage 8/10 - I think I'm getting obsessed with organ  The cymbal crash at the back was abrupt  8) Don't Look Back INFINITE/10 - I don't know how it sounds like Vogue.Not for me.This song is another killer piece in RnRC!!!!!! 9) Jump! 9/10 - I love the part when people shouts "Jump!" and Ayu vocals at the background is amazing!I usually hate interludes WOW! 10) Lady Dynamite 10/10 - I am scolding every guy who did me wrong in the past when listening to face.Right in your face boys,SHOO!Make more songs like this.Feels like dancing listening to this 11) Sexy Little Things INFINITE/10 - LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT.Same thing like Microphone and Don't look back.Feels like dancing around like the jockey inside the PV.The "oooh ooh ooohh,ahh ahhh ahh" and "heiii heiii" is the bomb! 12) Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ 7/10 - Above average but not too much.Not much to say. 13) meaning of Love 10/10 - This has got to be one of the most soothing song too hear to sleep.I feel at peace listening to this 14) You were... 10/10 - I always get affected by this song.My mood just went from happy to solemn,solemn,solemn.The chorus is really impactful 15) Red Line ~for TA~ [album version] 10/10 -This song really encourages me just by listening to it.I used this song for my class drama ending Really amazing Conclusion : Her BEST BEST BEST albums compared to previous 11 for me.I just love this album,honestly not to mention that it contains 3 killer tracks,Microphone,Don't look back,Sexy little things
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#38
11th April 2010, 05:39 AM
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"slightly above average" for you means 8/10?
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#39
11th April 2010, 05:49 AM
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#40
11th April 2010, 06:44 AM
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1 THE introduction 3/10
This is just bad and doesn't deserve a spot on an Ayu album. It doesn't at all work as an intro or get me excited to listen to the rest of the album. It definitely doesn't work as an intro to Microphone either. 2 Microphone 7/10 This song is pretty cool. It's definitely fun and energetic, a nice way to start the album. It could have been better at some parts, such as the verses which I find a little lackluster. Her vocals are also not very strong here. You can really hear her struggling in the chorus. Overall, I don't think this song is any better than any of her past rock songs. 3 count down 6/10 Awesome verses... and then we get to the chorus. It's really missing some oomph. I like this song though, even though it could have been much better. 4 Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ 2/10 Uggggh, this is most definitely Ayu's second worst song ever. It's so boring and emotionally detached... And worst of all, it goes on forever and ever. The only reason I rate this above a 1 is because it's actual music instead of footsteps or something, and I suppose it is pretty even if it is pathetic. But Ayu, why did you have to put this at the beginning of the album? You're only on the fourth track and you already made me wanna stop listening and killed the flow. Oh wait, the flow was already dead as soon as the album started. 5 BALLAD 5/10 Incredibly boring but really, really pretty at the same time. Once again she sounds emotionally detached and sleepy. I thought I would hate having to listen to this back to back with Sunset, but I actually just feel so relieved that Sunset is over. ...And now I'm bored again. 6 Last Links 9/10 Finally, a song that really impresses me. And the sad thing is, even though this is a huge relief on a modern Ayu album, this would probably have been one of the weakest tracks on any of her past albums. :| Moving on, I do feel like she killed a part of this song with the way she sang it. But it's nice and simple without being totally boring, which is a really big accomplishment for Ayu recently. 7 montage 3/10 lol This does not flow at all. It sounds bad after Last Links and it sounds bad before Don't look back. You know what, this just sounds bad being on an Ayu album period. It's not bad music but it's not Ayu album interlude material. It's just unforgiveable imo because not only is it not thoroughly amazing but it doesn't help the flow either. 8 Don't look back 7/10 I thought I would hate this song because the preview sounded so ugly to me. But the full song is much better, even though it's basically a giant run-on chorus. The arrangement works very well. I like that the song overall is haunting without being obvious or trying too hard. It also doesn't feel like it's 10 minutes long, which is a huge plus nowadays. 9 Jump! 4/10 Musically I think this is the worst of the interludes, but I rate it above the other two because it actually flows well into Lady Dynamite, so it did half of its job. 10 Lady Dynamite 8/10 Catchy and fun. I thought I would hate it from the preview, but the full song somehow managed to save itself. The verses are really strong, but the chorus could be stronger. Overall one of the best tracks on the album. 11 Sexy little things 6/10 I am torn about this song. :| I enjoy everything but the chorus, but there are so many cons: I hate the chorus so much, each part of the song is messily attached, it sounds like it belongs on NEXT LEVEL which is my least favorite album. 12 Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ 6/10 This song had so much potential, but it was killed by its arrangement. It falls way short of its bubbly summer song predecessors, and it's also part of her worst single release ever. 13 meaning of Love 6/10 This song is pretty and gentle, reminiscent of rainy day. But it's also incredibly boring just like BALLAD and Sunset, so that makes three really boring ballads on one album. :| I do prefer this to the other two though. 14 You were... 7/10 This is a typical winter ballad for Ayu. It's nice, but there's nothing that makes it stand out compared to her past winter ballads. Not to mention, she struggles a lot in the chorus. It has redeeming parts though, like the very beginning and the very end. And it's practically the only ballad on this album that doesn't bore me to tears. 15 RED LINE ~for TA~ (album version) 8/10 I like RED LINE even though it's a clone of MY ALL/all her other past songs like this. MY ALL had killer verses, but it can't beat RED LINE imo. It's lovely and simple. I love the "la la la"s at the end, and I do like the added ending, even though it makes the song unnecessarily long. Overall, this album just barely manages to beat NEXT LEVEL for me. Its strong point is that it has much stronger album tracks than NEXT LEVEL and is longer all around. But it has serious flaws. Like for example, the fact that Ayu seems to have lost all sense of what flows and what doesn't flow. Her albums used to have amazing flow, and now their flow is just pitiful. The interludes are horrible, and this is coming from someone who loved all but one of Ayu's interludes prior to this album. :| The album also boasts her most boring ballads to date and pretty much all of her weakest tracks ever. It's terribly inconsistent, because some of the songs are awful and some of them are really nice. I just don't think it works as an Ayu album. There's no consistency, flow, or cohesion. It sounds more like a compilation album or even a Kuu album.
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