｢Party Queen｣ Thoughts on album?

[Coelacanth]

Composers:
NaNaNa - corin
Shake It - BOUNCEBACK (OMG OMG)
call - Katsumi Ohnishi
Letter - Katsumi Ohnishi
reminds me - Yuta Nakano
Return Road - DAI
Tell me why - Hanif Sabzevari/Lene Dissing/Marcus Winther-John/Dimitri Stassos
PQ/Eyes, Smoke, Magic/the next LOVE/HBYA - Timmy
taskebab - tasuku
a cup of tea - CMJK
Serenade in A minor - Yuta Nakano

I think Timmy is definitely an asset as a composer. The two jazz/broadway numbers are two of her most interesting songs. She sang so well in them!

As somebody else has said, Timmy's rapping reminds me of Marc from globe or the rappers in Euro groups Aqua and Toybox.

reminds me is EPIC.

[gogirlanime]

Originally Posted by Coelacanth

As somebody else has said, Timmy's rapping reminds me of Marc from globe or the rappers in Euro groups Aqua and Toybox.

Yeah, do we know for sure that it's Timmy? It sounds EXACTLY like Marc!

5/10

Over all opinion (March 13th 2012 first listen)
This album had no direction and was very confusing. This album is like a mixture of GUILTY and NEXT LEVEL. There were R&B and techno feels then jazz then ballads and then a splash of goth. Jazz doesn't suit Ayu at all. I feel like too many of these songs are too simple and more layers needed to be added to make them more interesting. This album is full of "album filler" tracks. I feel like Ayu was trying for a bit of a Beyonce feel with this album (not saying she's copying her I'm just saying the same sort of style with 1/2 of this album). Much like MY STORY she compensated for lack of releases by releasing a mash up of generic songs that aren't super special. There wasn't a single song on this album that grabbed my attention right away there were no "instant classics" for me on this album, those songs you love right away (even how beautiful you are didn't grab my attention super good on the first listen) (and that's a first for any Ayu album for me). I've never listened to an Ayu album and had not one song that grabbed my attention right away and kept it that way for the rest of the song. Many will hate me for it but I don't care. I would say that FIVE is a better album than this one because at least that album had 3 tracks that I loved right away (progress, ANother Song, BRILLANTE). This album may have more tracks but it's full of, I'm sorry, a lot of crap… Rock'n'Roll Circus before this was my least favorite Ayu album (but it caught my attention right away with Don't look back and Microphone) but now this is (so far) I will always listen to an Ayu album a lot and over and over before fully judging it but I almost don't want to because I'm afraid it will damage my judgement of what good music really is. I love Ayu to death but this is her worst so far.

Song rating average score: 5.89/10 (OUCH!)
Take out the interlude scores: 5.86 (a little bit more ouch)
Looking at the album as a whole score I would give it: 5/10

Party queen
I have a love hate relationship with this song I don't know if I like it or not. I'm not too big on Ayu's high vocals I tend to hate Ayu songs like that. It's a cute song with addictive elements to it but it's also forgettable. I don't think this is a "skip over" song for me but I don't think I'll find myself listening to this song often other than through my itunes shuffle. 6/10

NaNaNa
Probably the best song on the album other than "how beautiful you are" and that's not saying much about the album unfortunately I liked how Marc (from globe) was in it! That's something I've never thought of before but a cool move on Avex's part! This is really addicting and strangely reminds me of an electronic version of a track on the "Bad" by Michael Jackson. The layers on this song is what the rest of this album is lacking, there is complexity in the music, vocals, and over all feel of this song. 7.5/10

Shake It♥
Not something super special but it's strangely addicting like a bad Brittney Spears song that shouldn't be considered a good song but because it's so strangely addicting you love it (and I'm not saying Ayu is as bad as Brittney Spears she is way beyond her I'm just saying that's the feeling this song gives me). This will never be something I love to death but I'll never skip this song when it comes to play. 7/10

taskebab
Fun and up to beat I love the guitar solo in it. Super electronic and I'd love this to be a full song! Ayu should do an 8 bit song! 8/10

call
The over all feeling and tempo of this song is nice and I like the male background vocals this was kinda a happy HANABI ~episode II~ Ayu's vocals are nice. Another album-filler track with nothing super special about it. 6/10

Letter
The background vocals really enhance this song. Over all this song is pretty generic and un-original for Ayu, a typical "lets fill in a track space for the album" it reminds me of YOU mixed with RED LINE ~for TA~ not bad, but nothing special just another annual album filler. 5/10

reminds me
I LOVE the la la la la parts and the build up before it. Over all this song is quite good, not what I would call a classic. The instruments were well placed and her vocals are good I like the classic mixed with rock. The vocal melody isn't super original. A good album track this song will grow on me. 6.5/10

Return Road
Title and sound of this song are very similar to other songs in the past. The sound is very typical of Ayu and nothing particularly special but I like it more than previous albums album-only tracks. There is a special kinda magical feeling to it. It sounds like a song composed by J-rockers Mana (Malice Mizer) and Sugizo (solo and from Luna Sea). 6.5/10

Tell me why
Nothing super special I love the beginning vocals very creepy and sad. The vocals are quite good. It's much better than most of the album-only ballad tracks in previous albums. The layers at the end are very beautiful I wish she'd do more ballads with those type of layers in them. I feel like this song will grow on me a lot and I'll grow to love it as one of my favorite tracks on this album. 7/10

a cup of tea
A really unique interlude that is fun and spunky and suits with the theme(s) of the album. I like it a lot 8/10

the next LOVE
Pretty boring, her vocals were O.K. but the song was just blaaaaah like any other jazz song. I'm not big on jazz. Nothing sparked my interest with this song, very forgettable. 4/10

Eyes, Smoke, Magic
No… just no. I don't like this style of music. Ayu's vocals are pretty bad in some parts and the style is just annoying it sounds like a carnival song. One of her worst in a long time (maybe her worst ever). I bit my lip through this song. I think the only other time I'll listen to this song again is to give it another fair critique in the future. 1/10

Serenade in A minor
Super sad and boring, beautiful skills on the instrument players part but it's too depressing and sad and doesn't fit well with the album, very random. I don't think I'll ever listen to it again 2/10

how beautiful you are
Gorgeous song, some of her best vocals in a long time, a very meaningful song. I'm not too partial about the male choir break in the middle of it but it's O.K. I just feel it doesn't suit with the rest of the song. A great Ayu ballad that I'll listen to over and over and remember for a long time 8/10

[millie47]

I like everything BUT eyes, smoke, magic and the next love. No wonder I didn't like it, Timmy's behind the composing.

[RayJason]

Originally Posted by millie47

I like everything BUT eyes, smoke, magic and the next love. No wonder I didn't like it, Timmy's behind the composing.

What about how beautiful you are and Party queen? Timmy composed / contributed to those songs as well, and you like them.

I suspect another ANTI-TIMMY fan.

[haikudasai]

I guess I'll give this a go. I'll be honest.


Party queen
Despite the awkward interjections of talking, this is a fun song. It is a great way to open up an album. There are moments that fall flat though. The Engrish is really rough to process and hear as music. It sounds like: "I am a potty cream." Not a strong enough song for a single though.
7/10

NaNaNa
Absolutely painful. This song should have made it only to the cutting room floor. Despite any feelings towards Timmy, he should always stay in the background. There is nothing provided by him. The only redeeming aspect was the jolt into the chorus, which Ayumi has always been great at.
3/10

Shake It♥
Not cute. From the strange "oh lai lai" to the idea of Ayumi shaking her torso and not her butt this song should never have seen the light of day. The video game metal clashes in the background make me feel like I was defeated in a battle. It then jumps from a dubstep to elevator music. RANDOM but doesn't work. Her vocals do seem ok during the verses.
2/10

taskebab
Not a bad interlude following the heavy clashing songs just before it. It does work with those for sure. It does not transition well into "call" though.
6/10

call
A fresher feel for Ayumi while remaining to her signature style. The backing vocals are a little loud but if corrected would work well. There's something that reminds me of Do As Infinity here; which I will always welcome. The vibrato is certain places is a bit grating.
8/10

Letter
I get another slight Do As Infinity vibe from the opening verse. That feeling fades once the chorus comes. The chorus is pretty standard. Nothing inventive. Ayumi's voice does seem to go all over the place in parts. It was a little distracting, even after the processing they did to this. I do notice her trend of stripping away the music for a bridge and its just not emotionally effective anymore. Decent song nevertheless.
6/10

reminds me
I'm not sure if its the version I was listening to but there is some strange distortion on her voice. Making the backing vocal feel even more stronger and really distracting. There is a nice melody during the lalala part but other than that I was not very interested. Definitely a filler song.
4.5/10

Return Road
The beginning is the drama you expect of Ayumi. The big build up of her drag queen entrance. Enter her vocal into a pulled back almost making you think she's not going to deliver and then WHAM the drag queen Ayu snatches a wig. Very Ayumi style. I quite like this song. I sometimes hear I am... genre in the verses... Maybe M mixed with something.... Chorus could get stuck in your head. Then another WHAM, piano and Timmy-Moan. Really knocked off a lot of the score. What the hell were they thinking with that moan???
7/10

Tell me why
The beginning adlibs were pretty. A really nice filler song. Would be something nice to see live as it could be nicely stripped down and see a less over the top Ayumi. Her voice sounds decent for her. Although she did her stripped down for drama bridge which is stale.
6.5/10

a cup of tea
Its so bizarre and trippy and I just love it.
8/10

the next LOVE
Beautiful intro, it really is. Just not with Ayumi's voice. This is a song I could see being in an animated movie with some slinky soulful misunderstood person singing. Someone who has a smokey and soulful voice. Unfortunately, that voice is not Ayumi's. For this jazzy song she's projecting wrong. She's too sharp, which she's struggled with for years. It just doesn't work for me.
4/10

Eyes, Smoke, Magic
SIGHS, JOKE, TRAGIC. This song is horrendous. Absolutely nothing could save this. I foresee really corny stages if she sings this live. Like gimmicky to hell that no one would enjoy.
1/10

Serenade in A minor
A beautiful piece. How does it fit with the album? It doesn't. Still it is quite beautiful.
5/10

how beautiful you are
Opening vocal is pretty despite the harsh vibrato. The climb and fall building into the first chorus are a true Ayumi form. Vocally the only complaint I have up to this part is how sharp she goes into saying "beyouteeful." Over all vocals are ok. Still straining at parts though. I rate this high because I still love Ayumi and her over the top ballads always do something to me.
8/10

There has been so much talk about Timmy and it is relevant to bring up when reviewing this album. He's in a lot of it. I think he needs to be subtracted. He doesn't mesh well with her voice and often times it is distracting. There are moans that make me wish PECO would come back and wail that mountain witch banshee voice she has. I miss that Big Ang lookalike.

Of course having Timmy was her choice, but like every human, sometimes our choices are the wrong ones. For the very reason of him being a mess in most songs this album was marked down much lower than I think it could have been.

I have stated before that if she wants to include him so much, maybe create a pseudonym to go under rather than releasing as Ayumi Hamasaki. Her name carries a lot of weight and expectation.

There is always room for growth, no matter how seasoned you are. She did some growth and she stumbled as well. Good effort nevertheless. Just don't do anymore of SIGHS, JOKE, TRAGIC.

Songs average rating: 5.1
Interludes average rating: 6.3

[ayu_ready?]

Originally Posted by haikudasai

There are moans that make me wish PECO would come back and wail that mountain witch banshee voice she has. I miss that Big Ang lookalike.

Just don't do anymore of SIGHS, JOKE, TRAGIC

I couldn't have said it better myself

[Zeke.]

It's so strange to me that everyone thinks call and Letter are "signature" Ayu styles. To me, they are so strange and out there unlike anything she's done and I hate them. reminds me is the only song that feels signature "Ayumi Hamasaki" and the "Oh-lai-la" parts in Shake It are my favorite of the entire song! Mixed opinions just baffle me, lol.

[haikudasai]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

It's so strange to me that everyone thinks call and Letter are "signature" Ayu styles. To me, they are so strange and out there unlike anything she's done and I hate them. reminds me is the only song that feels signature "Ayumi Hamasaki" and the "Oh-lai-la" parts in Shake It are my favorite of the entire song! Mixed opinions just baffle me, lol.

The structure of call is Ayumi standard, thus my comment her signature. From the backing vocals continuing between the breaks of chorus to next verse, to her less emotionally effective stripped bridge (she's been doing it so much that we just expect it). There's a strong Ayu vibe. What made it fresh for me was the Do As Infinity vibe I got from it; be it intentional or not, I was pleased.

While I see her putting herself in reminds me, its still a huge mess. The instrumental reminds me of a migraine; from the loud metal clashing to the dubstep to the elevator music.

Now that emi says it I can somehow hear Koda lifting her breast to "call" lol.