Secret ALBUM: Discussion

Originally Posted by 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?

Mind you my music tastes as of late are more ambient than Ayumi's current releases. So I tried listening without a bias.

I think this album is a lot more enjoyable than (miss)undersold. There were only a two tracks that stood out to me in (miss)undersold. Rainy Day & HEAVEN. The switches between genres was weak and poorly executed.

I believe she was more consistant in her release as well as album track selection this time around.

The song I feel that doesn't belong is Beautiful Fighter. I can't help but cringe when that track played. It didn't fit for me.

I thought LABYRINTH was a good interlude. It did remind me of the RAINBOW interlude from the album of the same name.

I do have to add this note. I believe she can do better. This album is by far not her best, but its stepping in the right direction if she wants to become a consistant artist again.

[Raleigh]

Interesting to see an almost positive review from you. I must say you are right though. This album probably will put her back in track.

[immel]

Originally Posted by //hikari

Mind you my music tastes as of late are more ambient than Ayumi's current releases. So I tried listening without a bias.

I trust you on that, and that's why it's so very valuable. Your views are never failing to be interesting.

I think this album is a lot more enjoyable than (miss)undersold. There were only a two tracks that stood out to me in (miss)undersold. Rainy Day & HEAVEN. The switches between genres was weak and poorly executed.

To me (miss)understood does seem random. I was, and still am to an extent, a lover of that album although before the release of Secret there was a long time since I listened to anything Ayu, my musical taste prior to discovering her is quite different.

I believe she was more consistant in her release as well as album track selection this time around.

I got the very same feeling.

The song I feel that doesn't belong is Beautiful Fighter. I can't help but cringe when that track played. It didn't fit for me.

Beautiful Fighters should never have been invented in the first place.

I do have to add this note. I believe she can do better. This album is by far not her best, but its stepping in the right direction if she wants to become a consistant artist again.

I can't say I'd be unhappy if she'd do better.

[alt.total-loser]

My mom greatly approves of Secret. ^___^ Which is very good since she's rather skeptical on music in general.

And I'm really starting to think this might take top spot over RAINBOW for me.

[oro77]

Originally Posted by meerkitty

My mom greatly approves of Secret. ^___^ Which is very good since she's rather skeptical on music in general.

And I'm really starting to think this might take top spot over RAINBOW for me.

lol strange.

The Secret album or track ? I think the album is too rock to be appreciated by my relatives.

I am also a bit afraid about Japan, Ayu is so famous for her ballads, I wonder if Secret will do well with so these tracks. I hope so ! It deserves to be sold to 1 million !

[alt.total-loser]

Like, the whole album. xD I like to share things with people I know~

I dunno about 1 million. o__o; I think it has a better chance than (miss)understood did, but I might just be biased.

[immel]

Considering family members accepting Secret, my little brother is a fan of Ayumi on and off (you just have to be a fan of whatever your big brother likes, right?). He, in contrast to me, actually put an Ayu poster up, one that I gave him. Heh.

I burned down a copy of Secret for him, he's been playing it for a long time. I believe he might like it, too.

[Coelacanth]

Well, I still haven't had enough time to absorb the album, but I think it's excellent. Rather than a huge stuctured review, I'm just going to list some strong and weak points about the album.

+ Vocals; refreshing and well-delivered (Notably Secret, 1 LOVE, and until that Day...)
+ Arrangements; interesting. (kiss o' kill, Not yet, It was)
+ Album flow.
+ Interludes are very good.
+ I think the effort put into this album was of a much higher magnitude than some previous.
+ Catchy songs and melodies.
+ Great use of sound effects in the songs

- HAL arranging momentum.
- The lyrical content as a whole. I know 'the recycled lyrics' complaint gets thrown around sometimes, and I understand she may be quoting past lyrics, but I just feel the lyrics don't fit the sound of this album. As she's venturing into new sounds, I think she should also loosen up and try to venture into lyrical content that is more unfamiliar to her. I think she should add more unusual words and ideas into her songs, as well as throw in some proper names and places, and maybe make the songs have more of a storyline. She's just too damn indirect sometimes, and she goes from one idea to another and I'm not understanding why. I love the lyrics in 'Secret' though.
- Mediocre instrumental bridges / guitar solos (drowned out?)
- No vocal bridges in the entire album... (This is actually what I thought was great about (m)u. rainy day, Beautiful Day, Pride, B&D - excellent transitions to the final chorus)
- I felt some of the songs ended a bit abruptly.

[yaten]

Interesting thoughts...

Well I will start out by saying this is certainly not, by any stretch of the imagination, her best album. However, it does interestingly enough have some of her very best work.

The only songs of note to me are Not yet, until that Day..., and kiss o' kill.
Seeing as Not yet is more of an introduction than a song, when graded in that respect - it is certainly the best of its breed. The use of the dancey-techno beat is the best it can be, and should only be used the way it is on this track -- to bewilder and trap the listener. Completely destroys all other intros, Catcher in the light's got nothing on this one.

until that Day... is is so hard to classify, isn't? That 80s beat, that riff (that i think someone attributed to AC/DC) and the unrelenting chorus. The fact that the song is so cohesive and all over the place at once probably has a lot to do with CMJK having finished this as its own interlude before ayu came along and made it... well, what it is now. Excellent excellent track.

and kiss o' kill... as the penultimate song on the album, it certainly is the best. The dichotomy in the lyrics comes through in the varying composition and arrangement, not to mention the title itself. All-in-all, this song is very self contained. It has its own story to tell, and it is very unforgiving matter-of-fact ayu at her best. The wailing at the end is what really pushed this one from tied with until that Day... to over the top

JEWEL and momentum, actually, are very good songs too. JEWEL is silently beautiful, and leaves you wanting more. momentum is very much like M meets No way to say, dontcha think? However, I fear these songs are too unremarkable for them to be remembered very far down the line. I will retract this statement if the songs stick with me, of course ^^

Now for the not so positive...

It was? I'm sure ayu said this song was left over from (miss)understood, but it sure sounds like it was the weaker sibling of the whole Liar/HOPE or PAIN/HAPPY ENDING trio of MY STORY... and i really think it should have been left on the cutting room floor.
The interludes are perhaps her least stellar ever. LABRYNTH would be amazing if we hadn't already heard it on MY STORY, and taskinst is the worst interlude he's cranked out for ayu. ever.

1 LOVE probably had the most promise for me before i heard the whole album, but... uhm, no. I dare say this song is very deritive of koda kumi's ningyo hime (Which, to be comepletely fair, was a song completely deritive of Because of You). Granted, ayu owns this style of music, but her vocal technique at the end of the chorus is far too reminiscent of the kuu track for my liking. Aside from that, it is a decent song... just not all it could be.

Startin' / Born to Be... is a part of (miss)understood, and I don't care to hear otherwise. The songs were both recorded during the (miss)understood sessions, sung, mixed and completed in New York along with the rest of the album. That, and their prominence in her 2006 tour really makes them so detached from this album it's absurd to include them.

BLUE BIRD and Beautiful Fighters are OKAY songs, BLUE BIRD did completely capture that feeling of summer (If you happen to have a yacht and 10 or so physically perfect friends to spend it with) but it feels so out of place on this otherwise dark album. Same for Beautiful Fighters, which is again out of place... anyone else think of aqua when they hear this one?

The title track is so unremarkable that i literally have nothing to say about it.

-------

;-; i had too much to say

[immel]

Originally Posted by yaten

Interesting thoughts...

You must be talking about your own, because yes, they were .

Well I will start out by saying this is certainly not, by any stretch of the imagination, her best album. However, it does interestingly enough have some of her very best work.

This is an interesting line, to which I completely agree. I believe most people can interpret that line in their own way, but it fits my view of this album, too.

until that Day... is is so hard to classify, isn't? That 80s beat, that riff (that i think someone attributed to AC/DC) and the unrelenting chorus. The fact that the song is so cohesive and all over the place at once probably has a lot to do with CMJK having finished this as its own interlude before ayu came along and made it... well, what it is now. Excellent excellent track.

It's funny that a large amount of people around this board complained quite some about that the tracks of this album would sound rushed, because it was finished so late. Can't say I ever agreed on that viewpoint, but anyway, this is most certainly one of the tracks she finished last, the same goes for kiss o' kill. And great they are.

and kiss o' kill... as the penultimate song on the album, it certainly is the best. The dichotomy in the lyrics comes through in the varying composition and arrangement, not to mention the title itself. All-in-all, this song is very self contained. It has its own story to tell, and it is very unforgiving matter-of-fact ayu at her best. The wailing at the end is what really pushed this one from tied with until that Day... to over the top

Good way of putting it.

1 LOVE probably had the most promise for me before i heard the whole album, but... uhm, no. I dare say this song is very deritive of koda kumi's ??? (Which, to be comepletely fair, was a song completely deritive of Because of You). Granted, ayu owns this style of music, but her vocal technique at the end of the chorus is far too reminiscent of the kuu track for my liking. Aside from that, it is a decent song... just not all it could be.

I doubt it'd make any difference to my liking of the song, but sometimes I feel slightly happy that I've never listened to Koda, or any other jpop artist.

Same for Beautiful Fighters, which is again out of place... anyone else think of aqua when they hear this one?

Now that you say it, I'm just smiling. Yeah, it is slightly reminiscent of the sugary beat-pop that Aqua pushed out tons of back then.

;-; i had too much to say

At least I'm happy .

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by Coelacanth

- HAL arranging momentum.
- The lyrical content as a whole. I know 'the recycled lyrics' complaint gets thrown around sometimes, and I understand she may be quoting past lyrics, but I just feel the lyrics don't fit the sound of this album. As she's venturing into new sounds, I think she should also loosen up and try to venture into lyrical content that is more unfamiliar to her. I think she should add more unusual words and ideas into her songs, as well as throw in some proper names and places, and maybe make the songs have more of a storyline. She's just too damn indirect sometimes, and she goes from one idea to another and I'm not understanding why. I love the lyrics in 'Secret' though.
- Mediocre instrumental bridges / guitar solos (drowned out?)
- No vocal bridges in the entire album... (This is actually what I thought was great about (m)u. rainy day, Beautiful Day, Pride, B&D - excellent transitions to the final chorus)
- I felt some of the songs ended a bit abruptly.

Well, we should keep in mind that she wrote many of the album tracks in a day... [two or three a day, even!]~ a little after the mini-album announcement, she suddenly had an 'urge' to write.. and songs just came out. At least, that's what the interview tells me, and she probably just wrote from what she was feeling at the time using words familiar to her.


Was there something bad about HAL arranging momentum?

[Coelacanth]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Well, we should keep in mind that she wrote many of the album tracks in a day... [two or three a day, even!]~ a little after the mini-album announcement, she suddenly had an 'urge' to write.. and songs just came out. At least, that's what the interview tells me, and she probably just wrote from what she was feeling at the time using words familiar to her.


Was there something bad about HAL arranging momentum?

That's true, and she and her whole staff did a very good job in that amount of time. However, I think if given more time, she could have made the songs even more excellent than they are now.

The song is alright for me. I would have just preferred the song maybe in tasuku's or CMJK's hands.

[truehappiness]

I wonder if there would've been a more acoustic sound with tasuku at the helm..

I mean, most of his work is some of Ayu's best arranged.. [he composed fairyland and CMJK or someone arranged, so that doesn't count.. OMG ACOUSTIC FAIRYLAND -drool-]~

[KyahRyorin]

This sounds amazing. I can't wait to get my copy. Which I hope the poster will come soon... ¬_¬ I have no idea when I'm getting either (my poster or CD).

[Qt Mashi]

Originally Posted by immel

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

lol yes i am listening to it now relli load with 5.1 speakers and it's relli kool when u are sitting in front of the speakers

but listening to ear phones is relli good to concentrate on the music and the instruments, so i advise ppl to listen both ways!

[Choyan]

... XD somehow a lot of the album tracks like...at certain sections, the style of them, reminds me of old Cantonpop XD!

[AznWizKidz]

I like this album. I think this album will sell better this year!

[SheFliesHigher]

Originally Posted by yaten

1 LOVE probably had the most promise for me before i heard the whole album, but... uhm, no. I dare say this song is very deritive of koda kumi's ningyo hime (Which, to be comepletely fair, was a song completely deritive of Because of You). Granted, ayu owns this style of music, but her vocal technique at the end of the chorus is far too reminiscent of the kuu track for my liking. Aside from that, it is a decent song... just not all it could be.

Ayu's voice sounds so much like Kuu's at the beginning of the song, it's kinda scary. Remember how people used to say Ayu sounded like Namie Amuro in "Real Me"?

Her voice and the style of the song "Momentum" remind me of ZONE, if anyone knows them.

[namiie]

Originally Posted by //hikari

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.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS. To love and support an artist is always fantastic, but a line needs to be drawn somewhere. After a while people just love blindly and fail to recognize the pros and cons (and there are some, believe me).

Anyway, my thoughts on Secret.... (copied and pasted from my last.fm journal because I am lazy

Not yet: This reminds me of "Catcher In The Light". Classic Ayu voice, and it sounds fresh and inviting--perfect for an album intro! I like the instrumental and nothing is overdone. No complaints here. I love how it blends the trademark ayu-mi-x trancey beats in which eccentric sounds.

until that Day...: A great rock song! I like how edgy it is but Ayu's voice still sounds good. Ayu was right in her interview; the guitar work is fantastic. I can really see this song in concert, with Yo-chan going at it during the instrumental break. Anyhow, I like the transition between the chorus, bridge and verses--smooth and yet still fitting for a rock song. It sounds a lot like "alterna", but still has its original flair.

Startin': Everybody knows that I love this song, but just not so crazy about the PV. Anyway, I like how this song is primarily rockish and yet there are still hip-hop elements to it--the disc scratching and some of the same beats. I like Ayu's voice and how it transitions--from deep in the verses to higher in the chorus. Definitely a good song and upbeat. The lyrics are very fitting with the "TAKE CHARGE!" music as well. Very good in terms of blending opposite elements.

[U1Love[/U]: Now here's where I start to have qualms. The instrumental for this song isn't bad really; it's rather original and I like the opening guitar riff. However, the chorus sends chills up my spine--and not in a good way! Ayu also spoke of this in her interview, and she's definitely right--too much yelling. Not much like Ayu at all. She has to try new things once in a while, but this change, I can do without. The way she sings the bridge and verses are fine though. It's the chorus that sounds very choppy. It's not a terrible song, but could be better. Who knows, this could grow on me like Bold & Delicious did...


It was: A great song! Has that signature alternative Ayu flair--blends pop and rock seamlessly. It's not one of those songs that absolutely must have with you on a desert island, but still great to listen to when studying or something. For some reason, it keeps reminding of her MY STORY days; the similar riffs and vocal style. This song is not mediocre by any means, but I see her maybe skipping over this song in next year's arena tour, like she did with Will and In The Corner.


LABYRINTH: I LOVE THIS OMG. It's so mysterious and ethereal--I like how the smooth piano meshes with the otherworldly instrumentals to create a cathedral-in-a-secret-garden kind of feel. I thought this would be all grungey and such, but it's the opposite. I imagine floaty bubbles and a fancy 18th-century palace masquerade ball in France. A song that gives you that kind of imagery is just hands down wonderful. One of her best interludes to date; right up there with "taskin'".


JEWEL: Again, another song I LOVE, but the PV is less than fantastic. Anyway, I love the straight forward meaning of the lyrics of this song. Usually Ayu is ambiguous about her lyrics, but I love the simple, profound elegance of this song: "I love you, and you've changed my life. I treasure you very dearly". These meanings, coupled with the gentle background beat and predominant poignant piano make for a very enjoyable winter ballad reminiscent of "HEAVEN". The latter, I like more, however. Regardless, this song is very powerful in that it's honest; Ayu's voice seems louder in this song too, but in a good way.

momentum: MY FAVORITE SONG ON THIS ALBUM! This song, to me, is the blending of all vocal styles Ayu: the high and in-charge Ayu for the chorus, the soft, girly Ayu for the bridges, and the subtle, low Ayu for the verses. And the orchestration! I love how the background strings don't detract from the song, and how the drums come in at JUST the right time. The flow and lyricism of the song are also very sweet, and the background vocals have never been implemented better. I get very brief images of her older songs when listening to this one, almost subliminally; I see hints of "SEASONS" and "Carols" and such in this song. Overall an almost perfect song--THIS, you need to have with you on a desert island XD

taskinst: Another Tasuku interlude! Man, I love that guy. Again, he's outdone himself: I like how this starts all innocent and then shifts to edgy and rocky. The creepy laugh leading into the guitars is also well done, and the resonating "oh oh" vocals are good too, they sound good with the feel of the music and not at all out of place. And then it goes back a lullaby-like melody; I get this feeling of having a good dream, then a crazy nightmare, then back to a good dream. Nice portrayal of emotions.

Born To Be...: Everybody hates this song. Why? Okay, maybe it's cause she could've turned down the lights a little in the PV. But other than that, the song has a very uplifting message coupled by dynamic instrumental. Ayu's voice sounds very strong and powerful too--she hits all the notes perfectly. It's definitely more exciting the second time you listen to it though; it takes a bit of time to adjust to the melody shifts. Regardless, it's a good song and not skip-worthy at all. ;D

Beautiful Fighters: Another song I love. I know a lot of fans think that her singles have sucked this year, but I can't help but adore this song. The lyrics are simple and yet very empowering, and the cutesy melody and vocals go with it. Ayu's voice isn't squeaky a la "Honey" either; it's mature and complements the beats, and just perfect, IMO. I like how Ayu's vibrato sounds in this song too; she's definitely getting better at it.

BLUE BIRD: So this song sounds like fairyland~episode II~. Hmm, not really. The message is similar, yes, but the vocal styles are different and if asked how Ayu's voice has changed and grew for the better, I'd point to this song. The highs are perfectly high; the lows perfectly low. The "la-la"'s are nice and soft as well and go with the synths. Ayu's voice is definitely top notch in this song, in addition to the fun and highly catchy beats. I can listen to this song for hours and never get bored of it. Plus, whenever Ayu sings this live, she does a phenomenal job.

kiss o' kill: Is that a chainsaw I hear in there? How about a church organ? Now how's that for "OUT THERE" XD It definitely is different, but it still echoes a lot of elements Ayu's used before--the beginning reminds me of "M", the leadup to the first verse of "Game", and the I like how the guitars blend with the soft synths in the background and that they both calm at the right moments to accent Ayu's voice. Ayu's voice, too, oh gosh. It builds up the crescendo just right, and then softens down to be low at the perfect pitches. It sounds different, and yet the same. This is the definitive Ayu rock song, with a touch of that famous Ayu flair for taking a cliche genre and making it her own. Hamasaki-ing it. XD Guh, so much love for this song. It's perfect.

Secret: The perfect ending. I loved how (miss)understood ended with the soft and tranquil rainy day, but goodness this song is utter perfection in terms of vocals. I like how it touches on some R&B with the beats at the beginning, but it's still got the Ayu ballad element to it. It reminds me a little of Voyage. I love how Ayu's voice is just so clear and poignant in this track, and how the strings and electric guitar (strange, huh? But ugh, done so well!) complement each other. This sounds like something BoA would sing, except BETTER >D 'Cause Ayu's high notes are better. The soft acoustic guitar is the perfect touch too.

Overall, this album has surpassed my expectations. I was thinking that it would be just good, due to the rush, but this is like...MINDNUMBINGLY GOOD. XD I still consider "Rainbow" and last year's "(miss)understood)" as the definitive Ayu album, with "My Story" and "LOVEppears" being the supplementary A- albums, but "Secret" falls just right in the middle of those. It's Ayu, but in largely different ways. The only complaint I would have is the pacing of the tracks o_O It seems like BOOM BOOM BOOM CRASH BANG at the beginning, and then starts to calm down all of a sudden. I would probably change the track orders just so it wouldn't seem so sudden. Other than that, everything is just Ayu-fantastic as usual. ;D

[Adrian20]

I like this album a lot. But for some reason I feel (m)u was more powerful. I really like Secret, but I feel (m)u was more complete for a strange reason. From this album I like 1 LOVE, until that Day..., It was & JEWEL (basically all the new stuff except the title track Secret). I don't mind the others but I'm kind of tired of listening to her Single songs. But overall Ayu did a GREAT JOB putting an album like this together. I Just loved (m)u so much i guess. Go Ayu!