New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [II]

[happiholic★]

Originally Posted by Lady~Deviance

If what's stated in bold is true, then Ayu's new album better knock my f$%^*#g socks off. No excuses.

However, since it's Ayu I won't hold my breath.

I thought that too when I saw the translation. I bet it means that the album was simply recorded in London, Timmy composed a few tracks and some non-Japanese people helped out too, lol. I mean, Kuu works with different people all over the world, and the only "wow" song that fits in that category for me is Once Again.

And since we are on the subject, I can't stand Love songs. Her worst album, imo. I quite like a few songs, and can't stand the rest.

[Tony G]

Its funny that they push that she's using top engineers and musicians, yet her composer (Timmy) is about as novice as they come. I think both sides of the table need to know what they're doing for something like that to work.

All of her albums have top-notch production so I doubt anything else is being done differently here. They're just pushing the "London" aspect of it more.

[Aderianu]

Boxsets at HMV

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/4957753

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/4957754

[Uemarasan]

Sounds like a post-divorce/break-up album. Instead of moping about, Ayu would rather party. I'd be on board, especially after Five, which was a glorified single (Progress being the only song of value in that package).

Isn't Rock and Roll Circus supposed to be a very London album? That's one of her worst, alongside A Song for XX and now Five.

Originally Posted by Lady~Deviance

There are always going to be individuals who don't fully appreciate or favor a certain figure who's considered to be at the apex of a certain phenomena, occupation, movement, field, etc. And there will always be a myriad of ardent supporters who will invariably find gratification in what that individual stands for or does. Opinions by nature are multifarious and universal. Once again, just stating the obvious.

Honestly, though, people really value their opinions too much. Everyone has the right to an opinion, but that does not mean every opinion is created equal. There are good opinions, there are bad opinions, there are intelligent opinions, there are worthless opinions. It's unfortunate that pointing out how someone has a poor opinion has become taboo and politically incorrect.

I blame the internet for the egocentricism, exaggerated sense of entitlement, and overall lack of humility these days.

[happiholic★]

Perhaps the concept used for Party Queen, like the cover art, won't be London inspired, like RnRC. If it is, I won't be happy. Personally. That's just my opinion, though

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by Uemarasan

Isn't Rock and Roll Circus supposed to be a very London album? That's one of her worst, alongside A Song for XX and now Five.

[ALfromHELLSING]

don't wanna complain but it always has to be 14 tracks? this is kind of weird tradition. I mean not 13 or 15 or any other number, but 14 since Secret (except R'n'RC).

anyway I hope I won't end up buying all editions 'cause of the different covers. they r so expensive this time. box better have the same cover. plz avex (>_<)

[everlastingRAINBOW]

Next Level was Ayu's last decent album to me. I hope PQ can reach at that level for me (which isn't saying much). FIVE and most of LS was horrendous :/

[LacusClyne]

Originally Posted by Aderianu

Boxsets at HMV

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/4957753

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/4957754

ah, thank you for thiese, i'll be canceling my cdjapan order and switching over

[Uemarasan]

Originally Posted by happiholic★

Perhaps the concept used for Party Queen, like the cover art, won't be London inspired, like RnRC. If it is, I won't be happy. Personally. That's just my opinion, though

Haha, I really hope so. That Rock and Roll Circus cover was terrible. Bad choice of colors, bad hair, bad makeup, bad facial expression, bad layout, bad graphic design, bad clothes. Cliche, twee, childish, completely inappropriate for a woman of thirty.

I hope Party Queen is just a fun, fun, fun album. No heaviness whatsover.

I actually have grown to appreciate Love Songs over time. I like how it's a throwback to the old J-pop sound of the 90s when TK was king and conceptually-speaking it was a very strong album. November seems to be a divisive song here, but I think it's a masterpiece. The use of kitsch - the obviously old-fashioned music, saccharine, artless - contrasted with Ayu's impassioned insistence on lack of irony to convey genuine emotion is brilliant.

One album that I think Ayu needs to seriously consider creating is a traditional Japanese-inspired one. I mean, Will is one of her greatest songs, why hasn't she gone back to that fusion of sounds? I guess there's also theme for a-nation. Her voice shares so many qualities with enka that it would be a missed opportunity if she didn't try to make a whole album out of it.

[femtrooper]

Originally Posted by everlastingRAINBOW

Next Level was Ayu's last decent album to me. I hope PQ can reach at that level for me (which isn't saying much). FIVE and most of LS was horrendous :/

Exactly how I feel!

I too also find it interesting that she's got Timmy producing songs when he is some nobody really...he's not a professional...he's very novice. I like Party Queen though...so I am hoping more songs have that sound.

[emi♡]

^^This is basically the strong point of Love Songs.

To elaborate on what I meant when I said the music sucked, was more a comment on the compositions. I have no issue with the sound or arrangements, which is the biggest factor in the conceptual feel, imo.

It IS her most coherent album, but personally, I couldnt care less about that. It made the album boring for me.


Oh well, all this stuff is rehashed now lol idk what I want for the new album. Maybe just epic songs. I hate being bored. I want her to amaze.

[Uemarasan]

I believe if you like the TK sound of the nineties then you will like Love Songs, but if you don't then this album will never work for you. Most of Ayu's best albums have been strongly conceptual and coherent, though: Duty, My Story, Next Level, Love Songs. Only I Am... and (miss)understood are on the same level.

[jewelbox]

Originally Posted by everlastingRAINBOW

Next Level was Ayu's last decent album to me. I hope PQ can reach at that level for me (which isn't saying much). FIVE and most of LS was horrendous :/

I totally agree! I hope it is even little bit like NEXT LEVEL, then it would already be better than RnC and FIVE for me......

[LONJJONG]

I predict that Serenade in A mirror will be an instrumental track.

Umh well I don't really like RnRc, but I like Love songs so much. I hope this album will bring a new style
Just realized that there's a song titled "Eyes, Smoke, Magic". I remember someone in AHS had ever predicted "Magic" for ayu's new album~

[thatstacey]

blah blah blah I love Love songs, thought FIVE was pleasant but largely forgettable, etc.

I am so confused with all of these extra releases that keep trickling in (or at least were trickling in for the first 24 hours). It's strange that the photobook wasn't formally announced with the album and concert DVD/blu-ray and included in the boxset. I decided to buy the album and Blu-ray separately since I had to dismantle my last boxset anyway (+ it'd save me $70), and if they retroactively add the photobook to the boxset, I'll be so sad.

And what of the Lifestyle book we still have very little information on? Will that still be released the same day? Will that just be absorbed by the Party queen book? Will Avex wave its hand and act like it never really existed?

And there's a live album floating around somewhere? It's just something that they're planning ~sometime in the future? Why even make the public announcement now? What is Ayu's management doing?

[Bad Wolf]

Originally Posted by Lady~Deviance

I swear you stans get more and more sensitive/defensive by the second.

Being able to construct an argument that is just as passionate as yours does not mean the person is a stan. Saying so is just as silly as calling you an anti-fan or something. Which you aren't. Nor is isthisLOL? a stan.

I'm really not trying to start up nonsense, because I don't mean this to be bratty or insulting. I just think it's silly to accuse someone of being a stan because it completely and unreasonably negates any argument they make.

[Suteisi]

I breathed a sigh of relief after reading the last few pages... I'm so glad I'm not the only one that feels NEXT LEVEL was her last decent album. As much as I like the "look" of RnRC and Love Songs, the albums themselves all together haven't done much for me. FIVE was even worse, I listened to it maybe twice and haven't since...

I really hope I will be happily surprise with Party Queen, something a la NEXT LEVEL but with new sounds, up beat, dance, go go go party type music! :3

[relmy]

I hope, if Party Queen is London inspired, it's more London inspired than Rock'n'Roll Circus.

There was no London in that album. It could have been shot in a studio anywhere in the world and turned out exactly the same. Sticking the Union Jack on your outfit and dressing up in leather and studs does not make something feel like London.

Don't even get me started on the shots of Big Ben and the Buckingham Palace gates, my 12 year old niece has taken better photos of them. RnRC was so... tacky. Only word to describe it.

[Bad Wolf]

I love seeing people say how much they liked NEXT LEVEL. It makes me realise just how many tastes and opinions fly around here. I thought it was the least coherent thing she's ever done lol