Secret ALBUM: Discussion

[Isthan]

I’ll post my current album rankings too:

1. I am...
2. Secret
3. Rainbow
4. MY STORY
5. (miss) understood
6. Duty
7. Memorial Address
8. LOVEPPEARS
9. A Song For XX

Ooh, that ranking was really hard to make. My mind kept changing constantly...

I am... is insanely dear album to me. I think it will stay as number one forever. But Secret is at number two! The reason for this is because Secret is a mix of unique, new style and old Ayu-style. It kinda summarizes all the previous albums. The only tracks I don't like are Born to Be... and Startin', everything else is amazing.

[Surreal]

8.5/10!!!!

[RpgN12]

I only heard the samples once and that's it. So I really can't judge the album when I only listened the 30sec. previews. But from what I heard, it sounds great, rockmix with other genres, not a lot of ballads and three nice interludes. Reading your comments makes me all excited, but I want to wait for it until I have the album in my hands. Then, I'll be in heaven

[ruixiong89]

Having gotten new earphones, I relistened to the album.

It's an INSANE experience! The songs are SO SO SO GOOD! You're able to hear every single instrument used, every minute sound. Wow, amazing! Even the BLUE BIRD which I used to loathe now suddenly sounds GREAT! (Guess I missed out the bass beats in the background) Ayu's voice sounds really good!

I guess prior listening experience with speakers isn't such a good idea, since they're already old speakers. Oh yeah, this album is superb! I need to relisten to all the Ayu albums.

[s1012h]

BEST to WORST?

1. 1 LOVE
2. until that Day...
3. kiss o' kill
4. It was
5. Secret
6. Not yet
7. JEWEL
8. taskinst
9. LABYRINTH
10. momentum
11. Born To Be...
12. Beautiful Fighters
13. Startin'
14. BLUE BIRD

This album is the second best for me, losing to I am...
but i am so proud for ayumi
she's managed to make one of her best albums in a 4 year span
it's amazing, every ALBUM song is different and unique
i would be happy if it was just a 10 track album, without the single tracks
but that's just my opinion

[Weslicious]

Not Yet - Best ever intro track (Including Opening Run rather than I Am...).
It's got a trance feel yet fits in well with the albums rock style.

Until that day - Hmmmm, the chorus is quite fast which is good. Some people have said it reminds them of evolution and I can sort of see that. It seems it was written to be performed live.

Startin' - I do like it more now than when it was first released. The Arena tour and A-Nation perfmance probably helped.

1 Love - The chorus sounds so forced. It almost seems to be missing it's bass. Like 'Until That Day' I think this one was written to be performed.

IT WAS - Hope Or Pain-like. I love it. It avoids being bland.

Labyrinth - Not too impressed. It seems kinda bland.

JEWEL - Incredible. So simple yet beautiful. Her voice sounds so strong and there are some nice sounds within the music.

momentum - It reminds me of M. I love it. My fave song on the album. Can't wait to see the PV.

taskinst - Worst of the task's. However, as an interlude it's better than LABYRINTH.

Born To Be - Arena tour 06 warmed me to it slightly. But not much.

Beautiful Fighters - I like this song, but without the PV it's sorta dull.

Blue Bird - Love it. Theres not much to say.

Kiss O' Kill - I was so worried when I saw the title but this is an amazing song (although the intro's kinda odd. Sounds like a load of drunk people were in the studio. My second favourite after momentum.

Secret - It's nice. That's all.

[freedreamer]

1. 1 LOVE
2. kiss o' kill
3. until that Day...
4. momentum
5. Secret
6. Not yet
7. It was
8. JEWEL
9. Startin'
10. BLUE BIRD
11. Born To Be...
12. Beautiful Fighters
13. LABYRINTH
14. taskinst

to me, i think the album tracks still own the singles tracks...honestly, i like all the songs in the 14 but just ranking them according to fav...

I think this is the best album so far...i didnt start Ayu with I Am.. so i guess, i m never gonna be loving as much as u guys

1.Secret
2.(miss)understood
3.MY STORY
4.Memorial Address
5.I am...
6.RAINBOW
7.Duty
8.LOVEppears
9.A Song For XX

i started with MY STORY, so i hope that explains my order...
(m i the only one with this order of albums?)
of coz i love 1-7

[SheFliesHigher]

I'm really liking it. You can truly see and hear how Ayu has matured. She's definitely much more than just a cute pop singer in this album. I love her deeper voice and the emotion she infuses into each song. The instrumentals and melodies of these songs are quite amazing as well...there's all kinds of new sounds and stuff being employed here.

I'm not going to say Blue Bird and Beautiful Fighters ruin this album, but I've never been too fond of them, and they seem like a step back from all the new, mature angles Ayu is taking in the rest of this album. I like Startin' and Born to Be... but surely the album tracks surpass the singles. I remember I was excited for MY STORY because the singles leading up to it were fabulous, but the album tracks ended up being a bit weak in my opinion. Not the case here at all!

I actually think (miss)understood is an incredible album unlike many (it seems), so I won't say Secret "blows it away" or anything like that, but certainly its the perfect kind of album to follow (m)u. Like many have said, I am proud of Ayu!

Random comment: In "Until that day", I loooove how Ayu sounds near the beginning when she's singing "ooooooo whoa whoa whoaaa ooooOOOOOOooo" but I wish SO MUCH that that part wasn't abridged later on in the song (she starts going like "oooO oooO oooOO" as if the song is being remixed)

[oro77]

I couldn't hold myself.

I order it from yesasia, I don't know how much time I will need to wait (10th December ?)
Now I need not to watch the PV which will be soon available.
I also want to know why are there 4 ship units ? (CD - DVD - poster and what else ?)

I would like to advice people to try listening this album with headphones I think it's really good

[immel]

I advice people to listen to this with a 5.1 surround system, I think that is really good, too .

[oro77]

I guess the DVD won't be 5.1 too bad.

I didn't try with 5.1, I have too many people in my house right now

[immel]

Originally Posted by oro77

I also want to know why are there 4 ship units ? (CD - DVD - poster and what else ?)

That question is answered here:
http://ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51793

Originally Posted by oro77

I guess the DVD won't be 5.1 too bad.

I didn't try with 5.1, I have too many people in my house right now

I don't think it'll have 5.1 either.

Subwoofer <3.

[oro77]

Originally Posted by immel

That question is answered here:
http://ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51793

Thank you, I should have checked the forum better

Originally Posted by immel

I don't think it'll have 5.1 either.

Subwoofer <3.

It would be too bad, will MY STORY be the only one being 5.1 ? I love this DVD being 5.1(GAME, Moments)

I think it would really be benefict for Secret since there are so many good rock songs

[Cyria]

I'm very, very happy with Secret. The album tracks are just so good! I have to listen it a couple more times before I can say anything more detailed, but it confirms that for me Ayu is still the queen.

[immel]

Originally Posted by oro77

It would be too bad, will MY STORY be the only one being 5.1 ? I love this DVD being 5.1(GAME, Moments)

The RAINBOW DVD-A version has got a 5.1 version of the title track, but only that one. The DVD-A for MY STORY got them all, it's wonderful.

(m)u didn't get any DVD-A version, if this album sells better maybe there'll be one for it, later on .

[Rickumi]

its the best since I Am.
^^

[gogirlanime]

I LOOOOOOOVE this album, it's making me feel Ayu's style of the older days, yet, with the style of today. I'm having the same happiness listening to this like I did back when "I am..." and "RAINBOW" were released, this album beats "MY STORY" and "(miss)understood" (not as much that one) but this is her best album since "Memorial address" I totally love the techno/rock style within this album. It's like a mixture of Madonna's "Ray of Light" album and m.o.v.e's "Deep Calm" album.

The booklet is my favorite since "MY STORY", but I still like "MY STORY"'s booklet better, "Secret" is my second favorite booklet ever.

This album, it can't be a full 10 because I really don't like "Beautiful Fighters" "BLUE BIRD" or "Startin'" at all (lol, I know, all her singles) but I LOVED "Born To Be..." that song rocks my socks. I also don't like "It was" very much, it's too plain, there isn't any originality to it, it's obvious that song was one of the songs that weren't originally gonna be on the album, it's one of the 3-4 added tracks to her "mini album"

8 1/2 outa 10

[Chibi_Venus]

Not yet - For the short song version thing, it's good!
until that Day... - I'm not sure if I like it yet.
Startin' - Boom, baby!
1 LOVE - o. m. g. I LOVE IT!!! (!!!!!!)
It was - It's fine. A little different than I expected, but good.
LABYRINTH - It's pretty!
JEWEL - I'm actually pleased that it's very, very acoustic (mostly piano). It really is a lot like Voyage. ^_^
momentum - I can't tell, really. It was hard to hear/make out.
taskinst - Sounds a lot like taskinlude and one of the other "taskins" combined. hehe
Born To Be... - *dances and sings along*
Beautiful Fighters - Whee~! (you know, the usual)
BLUE BIRD - *sings along on a beach* hehe
kiss o' kill - Hmm. It sounds good! I think I'll wait to see when the actual album comes out.
Secret - Aw, it's cute!

Its really quite annoying to constantly see people say that every single release is better than the last. That's not possible. Eventually an artist, writer, dancer, singer, whatever will put out something not so great. Stop with the biases.

Anyway.

This album is a lot stronger than (miss)undersold and close to MY STORY.

If she continues putting out songs that follow a story and consist of a similar genre she'll have a great album, like she use to.

[immel]

If anyones, your view of the album would be the one I'm the most interested in, and curious about, Brian.

I get some hints from your post, but what do you actually think about it? Listen able?