Album Listening

[HarukaKamiya]

1. starting over - This interlude has very subtle beats, and I love the mystery it creates.
2. Duty - This is of course one of her most epic songs. With the sampling of a classical piece mixed with the beat and Ayu's emotion, the poignant lyrics come to life. I love the dark overtones, and the subtle guitar in the bridge.
3. vogue - Ah, yes, the light-hearted Middle Eastern piece. At least, it sounds light-hearted. I do adore this song, particularly the melody.
4. End of the World - *A* It's emotive dark rock. What more could I want?!
5. SCAR - This song is so gorgeous, and I nearly cried when it was performed at PCDL. ;_; Such a sad song, and the mixture of mild electronic bits, deep resonance in the instrumentals, and steady vocals really make this seriously underrated song one of her greatest album tracks.
6. Far away - The distorted loop plus the melancholy instrumentals make this song somewhat haunting, and Ayu's vocals are quite strong in here.
7. SURREAL - This was the song that changed me from a casual fan to a stan way back in 2005, and to be honest, I don't understand why some people don't like this song. It's got a great melody, the bass is light and very subtle, and I love the piano intro and outro. Overall, one of Ayu's best songs ever. Pure magic.
8. AUDIENCE - While I do love its upbeat tone and I love the theme, it's a hit or miss song. I have to be in the mood for it (and usually I'm in the mood for this song when I'm listening to this album). I do like how it picks up from SURREAL's somber tone, and when I AM in the mood for it, I love how empowering it is.
9. SEASONS - This song is powerful, mostly because it is so simple, and the lyrics DID win the Best Lyrics award. I would love to hear her re-record it. An Ayu classic.
10. teddy bear - This is one of my favorite Ayu songs. Ever. I'm a sucker for piano ballads, and this one is no exception. I love how soft and nostalgic the whole song sounds, including Ayu's vocals.
11. Key ~eternal tie ver.~ - I love the guitar and percussion in this song, and how Ayu goes from soft and tender to strong and particularly emotive so quickly. It may be one of her shortest full-length songs, but that's why it makes such an impact.
12. girlish - Damn, I love this song. It may sound weak in comparison to the others on this album, but I find it really strong and awesome because it's a live track. It just sounds like a chillout jam session type of a song, and I love the confidence that oozes from Ayu's vocals.

In conclusion, this was my favorite album by Ayu, and then RnRC went and kicked its ass. Its full of power, impact, and emotion. I will never understand why it's so disliked (although I think it's because it's so SHORT that people tend to dismiss it ), but I will continue to love this album.

[yukito]

Duty
ayu's 3rd album, this album is really easy to listen to, it's short so not too many fillers, so let's get down to business, shall we?
starting over - This introduction is a cool way to start, it's interesting and leaves you thinking what will come next and it is
Duty - The album track, it's amazing right? Everything works really great in this song and her voice is really something as well.
vogue - The beginning of her trilogy, it's a great single, it's not a really happy song but it makes me feel like that nonetheless.
End of the World - One of the first songs I listened to. I love the rock sound it carries and it's really powerfull in the refrain.
SCAR - One of the best songs in the album and overall. It sounds so nostalgic sometimes I cry even while listening to it. A really honest song about hope and pain.
Far away - Ok, that sample that keeps on going from left to right really annoys, BUT, even though it's a really good song, just can't listen too much because it starts to bother me.
SURREAL - I truly like this one as well, I love the guitars, the fast pace it takes, everything. Another best song in the album.
AUDIENCE - It sounds better on stage then here in the album, and I'm not feeling the place they found for it to be on the album... The not so good song in here.
SEASONS - A beautiful ballad that own a prize for it's lyrics, although I still find some other songs to have better things to say then this one. Still good.
teddy bear - A very emotional ballad, you can really hear the emotion coming from ayu in this one, great great song.
Key ～eternal tie ver.～ - My favorite song in this album, It makes me so happy and so sad at the same time. I really can relate to the lyrics. A+ definatly.
girlish - And everything that's good must come to an end this album closes with some kind of an acoustic feel, and it finishes brilliant. This song is happy and fun all along.
PV's - vogue-Far away-SEASONS - great trilogy, the clips blend in so smoothly and it makes it enjoyable to watch, nothing too great happening but it looks fine.
SURREAL - The PV is really random but it's one of those that you end up enjoying because the images look good.

[JackieRos]

I tried to listen to her older albums and I couldn't except
I am...

I forget how much I looooooove this album
This album is freaking perfect

[Crystal_Ageha]

Aa~, Duty, my favourite album!! ^_^ Pretty much my favourite because it has my two most favourite Ayu songs ever, but also because I think it has amazing flow, and the atmosphere the album gives off is incredible - something very distinct from every other album, for better or for worse.


Duty - This is my all-time favourite Ayu song. It's one of the most experimental pop tracks I've ever heard, and it's near perfect in every way. The haunting melody, the depressing lyrics... Totally my type of song, hah. Her lyrics are very squeaky here, but somehow, they're still.....dare I say, wonderful?? I really wish she did this song live in recent years.
vogue - Well, whaddya know! My second favourite Ayu song of all time, hah! XP The lyrics are what really kept hold of me in this one. I have so many regrets in life, and this is a song to me and everybody else with regrets: she's telling us that it's going to be okay, and that people who do us wrong will get what they deserve. And that's awesome, hah. This is also a really non-traditional pop song, which I love. The vocals are quite annoying....but despite that fairly major disturbance, I can't hate on this song, lol.
End of the World - This song used to be a high favourite, but not anymore. I still adore it, though. Again, really annoying vocals, but everything else makes up for it. I'm so glad she actually did this one live not too long ago.
SCAR - I've always found this one to be just okay. My third least favourite on the album... But it fits so well with the rest of the album, and I love that. It's also very relaxing, especially after the previous two songs, hah.
Far away - The beginning of this song really annoys me, lol. :X I do like it, but it's my second least favourite on the album. It also gets too much recognition, I feel, especially since it's tied in with the ultra-amazing SEASONS and vogue.... What?? >_>
SURREAL - I love this song, of course. I feel it's one of her most interesting, because of the way it's set up and everything. The first time I heard it, I remember being so wowed at all the different "parts" of this song - so random, yet it works so well, hah. To this day, I can never get enough of the last 'part', with the 'la la~ la la!'s. XP
AUDIENCE - This song isn't bad, but I get so tired of it, really fast. Especially since it's a concert staple. Honestly, I REALLY think she should replace this one with something else... Anyhow, this is my least favourite song on Duty.
SEASONS - A classic! This is just such a beautiful song, I find it hard to believe anybody couldn't like it. I've never really gotten sick of this song, either, so that says a lot, especially since it's always been pretty high on my list.
teddy bear - Definitely another really high favourite of mine, right here! ^.^ Like Ayu, I also have some father issues, eh heh... And this song really gets to me sometimes. It's easily one of her most simplistic songs, yet it's unbelievably touching. I wish she did more songs like this (and like Curtain Call).
Key ~eternal tie ver.~ - It took me a long time to really appreciate this song. It's still not one of my most favourite songs, but I do like it a lot. And I love how the lyrics honestly aren't anything special....yet at the same time, they are. XD I don't know how to explain it, lol.
girlish - I've always really liked this one! It's even better as an ending track, too - one of her best to date, I think. The semi-live quality makes it really memorable... And also, the beginning, with the "ACTION!" and giggling cracks me up, hah.

[Mirrorcle Monster]

Duty - It´s so strange, but so lovely at the same time. The chorus of the beginning is sooo scaring xD. It´s a lovely song.
vogue - i used to love this song, but now it becomes a little boring, still like it
End of the World - i heard it long time ago, but i didn´t like it. Now i really like it, the vocals are amazing
SCAR - The beginning is sooo strange, and the rest too, but still like it (it´s not my favourite)
Far away - The song is not really bad, but it´s a little boring
SURREAL - One of the best songs ever. I love it because it´s not boring, it has 3 parts, all of them are incredible
AUDIENCE - Her voice sounds different in that song, is very catchy and a little bit sugar
SEASONS - I LOVE that song, it makes me cry a lot
teddy bear -I didn´t know that song until past month, it´s just amazing
Key ~eternal tie ver.~ - It´s too short, and too lovely
girlish - I never thought ayu was going to do something like this, but is lovely

[ohsixthirty]

this thread is a great idea! often when i dig back into ayumi's discography, even though i've heard it all before, i'll find that now i love something that i didn't even pay attention to before.

thats how i feel about the song Duty. i never cared for it at all. i had the single, the album, had heard it so many times and just never liked it a lot. then i was downloading lots of her old concerts and saw the live performance of it (the one with the crosses projected on the background in the beginning), and suddenly it clicked! the song is so haunting and amazing. the chorus in the background is so dramatic and dark. i really wish she would revive this song and give it a little bit of love.