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#21
11th July 2008, 05:39 AM
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My ipod's normally on shuffle, so most of the time I don't really care about how well the album flows, and most of the time I rearrange my tracks. Anyhow, after somewhat of a battle between Rainbow, LOVEppears, and A Song For XX, I guess I'm have to go with Rainbow, although three of my favorite Ayu songs are on this album. Although I do love the cover and the booklet
RAINBOW Everlasting Dream: As far as intros go, this one is pretty good. But most of the time I don't really pay attention to the intro.4/5 We Wish: I don't like her voice in this song, and although the melody really has good potential to be a good song, but arrangement killed it. The lyrics, however, are nice. 2/5 Real Me: Overall a nice song, although I wish the arrangement would be a little different. But her voice totally made up for it. 3.5/5 Free and Easy: One of my favorite Ayu songs in general. I love the mix of the quiet and loudness, and the strings and guitars. Her vocals are absolutely fantastic and I love how they carry so much emotion. The PV has to be one of the best I've seen. 5/5 Heartplace: I admit, it took a little while for this song to grow on me, but now I love it. Although I wouldn't put it on the list of my top 10 favorite Ayu songs this is definitely near it. I like the composition and the arrangements, especially the intro of this song. 4.5/5 Over: Nice song, like her vocals in it, like the arrangement, but overall it's not a memorable song. 3/5 Hanabi: Time for me to squee like a fangirl. Absolutely adore this song. The melody, the arrangements, her voice, and everything. One of my favorite all time Ayu tracks. 5/5 Taskinillusions: meh, I don't really care for this. Nice to listen to, but nothing I would purposely play. 2/5 Everywhere Nowhere: I thought this song had potential, good potential with the melody, but the arrangement just killed the song. 2/5 July 1st: I dunno, it's a decent song, and I really like the mellow beginning, but I really wish it stuck with that more acoustic arrangement the entire song. I like it live, but I'm not that crazy about the recorded version. 3/5 Dolls: Another all time favorite. The arrangement and the vocals are just incredible. 5/5 Neverending Dream: Pleasant to listen to, remind me of a scene in a fantasy video game with unicorns and fairy and stuff, but I don't really pay attention to interludes. 3/5 Voyage: I really love the arrangement and the chorus, although ocassionally I have found this song a little on the repetitive side. 4/5 Close to You: I like her vocals in this song, and the melody is certainly pretty (but then again, I tend to like all Ayu ballads), but it's not that memorable. 3.5/5 Independent: I see what she's trying to do, but instead the upbeat mood I find myself thoroughly irritated by how noisy this song is. 1/5 +: Ditto for what I said for Independent. 1/5 While I think Rainbow has some of her best lyrics to date, this album in general is just not memorable to me. While three of my all time favorite Ayu songs is on there, I disliked the overall synthed atmosphere of this album (although I'm aware that there's only real. But it might be because I personally just don't like synthed music that much, and Rainbow is a case for me where some songs has the potential, but the arrangement just ruined it. (i.e We Wish, Everywhere Nowhere, Independent , and +). Although I really enjoy this album now and then, I feel like between I am... and Memorial Address, this album dimmed in comparison. But maybe it's just musically it's not really my cuppa, as Melon Panda once pointed out, I like dark, angsty rock ballads with strings (which is weird, because I'm one of the most happy-go-lucky person you'll see in real life).
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#22
11th July 2008, 06:50 AM
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 I am...- I actually really like this song. I used to hate it when I first got the CD, but it's grown on me. It's just so unique; I've never heard another song like it. The whole concept is very original. 4.5/5 Opening Run- Meh, it's okay. Definitely a great prelude to Connected, but I just don't think it's anything special.  2/5Connected- Sorry, guys, I can't stand this song. The entire song sounds like the rhythm and beat are on constant repeat with no variation to me. I mean seriously, spice it up a bit. Change the beat. 1.5-2/5UNITE!- I've got nothing against UNITE! except that I think it's oversung at her concerts. I get sick of it easily. :/ I do love the verses, though. Adore them, actually. Shame that I can't stand the chorus. XD 3.5-4/5 Evolution- Love it! That's all I have to say. It's a fan favorite and for good reason.  5/5Naturally- Reminds me too much of Connected. Too much techno for my taste. It's okay, though. I really like the verses and the chorus is very strong. So I like the beat of the singing, I just can't stand the background music. :/ It's really a hard mix for me as to whether or not I like it. 3.5-4/5 NEVER EVER- Very original, I'll give it that. And whatever it is that makes that weird 'ding DING, DING ding' sound is awesome. Great chorus, too. But for some reason I just don't find it memorable. I don't know why. All the songs are starting to blur together at this point. :/ 3/5 Still Alone- Boring verses. Neat chorus, but she's starting to repeat all her cool background music at this point. All those little 'dinggy' noises in the background are all starting to sound the same. A little variety wouldn't hurt. :/ 2.5/5 Daybreak- I just get so bored with the chorus. It's like...quiet, then BOOM!! And people complain about Free and Easy.  And her voice in the chorus gets to me after a while. Actually, I'm starting to see a trend in her song patterns. They all start out quiet then all of a sudden, BOOM! at the chorus. :/ 1.5/5Taskinluge- Haha. Best track on the album. XD Ok, ok. Right after M and Evolution. But this is more like the type of music I like.  Remind anyone else of her Secret album? 5/5M- Pure awesome. Her emotion in it gets me every time. I can get so wrapped up in the last chorus sometimes.  5/5A song is born- Again, I'm feeling the same pattern going on. And it's just really missing something to give it a punch. It's just so...plain. :/ What can I say? XD 1.5/5 Dearest- I don't think it's as wonderful as all the Inu Yasha fans make it out to be, but I do really like it. I mostly like it because of the PV, though. It really gives an image and face to it. It makes you see the emotion in it. 4/5 No more words- I have absolutely no idea why, but I REALLY like this ballad. XD It's very fresh. And different from the rest of the songs. 4.5/5 Endless Sorrow- Literally up until about a week ago I hated this song with a passion. It was just so...calm. O_o I don't know the word. I love calm, but it was just boring at the same time. Now I just find it as so inspirational, carrying of emotion and meaning, and it reminds me of the wind. A good song to listen to on a lazy, sunny Sunday. 4/5Flower Garden- Haha, okay, so this is one of my favorite peppy songs. XD I have no idea what it's doing on this album, though. I feel like it's a Duty/LOVEppears rollover. It should have come right after Audience on Duty. I especially love the weird rap she does in the middle of the song. XD 4.75/5 Okay, so overall, not doing an average, just what I think of it as a whole, it'd be a 6/10. It's just that almost every song has the exact same pattern (quiet, quiet, calm, relatively steady beat, then BOOOOOOOM!!! Chorus!!!), and they all have the same like...what's the word?...Rhythm? Beat? Flow? Composition? They all just sound the same to me. I may have been like, 'I like this and this song' while I was listening to it, but I forget what they sound like immediately after I listen to it. That just goes to show you how memorable it was.  And they use the same instrument patterns over an over again, on top of it. :/I dunno. That's just my opinion though. XD I think that if one really listens to how she created some of the sounds and compositions, though, it really is genius and original; but I just think that for casual listening it gets really boring. :/
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#23
11th July 2008, 02:42 PM
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MY STORY is my favorite album
My least favorite album would be A Song for XX. Prologue (1/5) IMO, boring as hell. It reminds me of a Sailor Moon song (don't ask me why). A Song for XX (5/5) One of Ayu's masterpieces (IMO) and the best track on the album. I think it was a bad choice to put this right after Prologue but that's my opinion. The music of A Song for XX is so great and the lyrics are also beautiful. Hana (4/5) I love this song. Though I think that Ayu has better songs. I think the music is very good though the chorus could've been better if I compare it with the rest of the song. FRIEND (1/5) Another boring song. I think this song is very annoying. I hate listening to it. FRIEND II (2/5) And the point of FRIEND II? She has 2 friends instead of 1? I have to admit that this is song is better than FRIEND, it's less annoying. the music is a lot better compared to FRIEND. poker face (4/5) Itsu datte~~~~. Ayu's first song and I really like this song. I think the music is very nice though I think that the vocals are not as good as her first live performance of this song. Wishing (1/5) *  * Another boring song. It reminds me of a Christmas song. There is no, how should I say it, there is not really difference in this song it stays the same for the most part. YOU (4/5) Ayu's second single. YOU is a lovely and relaxing song (but the 10th Anniversary version is much better). I have nothing more to add. As if... (3/5) I heard a remix of this and I always thought the remix was the real song. yeah, I wish. The original turned out to be much crappier (I'm only saying I thought that the remix was better). Though I think that the remix is better I still like this song and I think the music is very nice. POWDER SNOW (5/5) Can someone gimme a tissue please? I always cry when I hear this song. It's such a beautiful song. Especially the chorus is beautiful. *  *Trust (4/5) Great song only the high notes are aweful! Depend on you (5/5) Anata ga moshi~~ Two word: AMAZING SONG!. SIGNAL (4/5) a really addictive song IMO. When I heard it for the first time it got stuck in my head. I really recommend this song especially if you haven't heard this album. from your letter (1/5) B.O.R.I.N.G. When I hear that a song is titled "from your letter" I expect a sensitive tear jerking song like POWDER SNOW. For My Dear... (3/5) The vocals are tres horrible. To high. Other than that the high distract me from the music I think that the song is good and the music is also very nice. Present (1/5) It's quite a happy song well the music then. Yet I hate this song it has something I don't like but I can't really describe it. I think it's the music though. So overall I think this is a pretty boring album though I would really recommend a few of these songs (A Song for XX and Depend on you) to people who have never heard this album before. I think that this album has the most horrible vocals but that might be because this was her first album. Overall I give this album a (3/5). EDIT: And incase you disnoticed: I am horrible at writing reviews and all that I typed up here is my personal opinion.
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#24
11th July 2008, 03:55 PM
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My worst album - Duty
I really love this album!But when I compare it to other Ayu albums... starting over (10/10) -Wow,this album starts with really amazing interlude.I really love Ayu's lalalala's, and the violins are just awesome. Duty (10/10) -An amazing song.I really love the strange voices in this song when it starts. I think it's my best song on this album.It perfectly connects with the previous song, and the both amaze me. vogue (8/10) -I really love this song,even now.It really gives me a summer feeling. Even though,it kinda bores me and I don't feel like listening the whole song at all. End of the World (9/10) -I always thought that this song was overrated,but still, it's such a good song with great lyrics. SCAR (4/10) -I never really cared much for this song.I kinda thought it sounded the same as the previous song.But it's still nice,kinda. I mean,it's really boring to listen to (IMO). Far away (6/10) -It's a great song,but still it kinda bores me. That's just it. SURREAL (10/10) -now,THIS is what's called a masterpiece. The whole sound of the overall song amazed me. I ALWAYS loved how this song sounds so mysterious! SEASONS (5/10) -This is one of the most overrated songs by Ayu. Yes,it's really beautiful and I like the fresh feeling to it, but,what I really have to say is that it really bores me after listening to it for a while. AUDIENCE (10/10) -I really adore this song. It's awesome in every way. teddy bear (10/10) -Now,I can't decide between this song or Duty,which one is better? This song can always make me cry,and it's the thing this album needed. Because this album IMO didn't have any sad ballads... (maybe only SEASONS but it's not so sad). Key ~eternal tie ver.~ (9/10) -Hurray!Really nice song. Nothing more to say. girlish (9/10) -Overall,it's a really fun song and I love it. It's so nice and makes me feel nostalgic. OVERALL - 6/10 A boring album,pretty much to say. There are some awesome songs,but others act like fillers for me. And the album is short...so yeah.
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#25
11th July 2008, 04:58 PM
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#26
11th July 2008, 05:07 PM
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I can't stand Connected either. I'm glad other people think the same like me.
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| Set by me | I love Stargate SG-1 even more now! Cuz in episode 9x12 there was a person called
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#27
11th July 2008, 05:10 PM
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A Song for XX
i really hate vocals in it
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#28
11th July 2008, 05:22 PM
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Last edited by Chiharo; 11th July 2008 at 05:25 PM.
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#29
12th July 2008, 01:26 AM
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actually, I rated A Song for XX as her worst album, but it's harder to write something about sth. you don't even want to listen to freely, lol.
so, I am... 01. I am... really great track, nothing wrong here 5/5 02. opening Run never got the sense of this interlude... it's not original or... interluding... it's just boring sound between two songs. x_x 2/5 03. Connected I prefer the extended version of this, but it also was the very first ayu song I ever heard and it's extremely catchy. and at that time I was quite into trance music. 4/5 04. UNITE! it sounds so dated. people always claim that this sound was new and fresh at the time, but I never really got into the squeaky voice/guitar sample/overtwisted beats kind of thing. the song makes me nervous, and there was a time the chorus really hurt my ears. 2/5 05. evolution UNITE! part 2. or better to say UNITE! was part 2 of evolution in terms of her discography. squeaky, guitar-driven madness. I always play the intro of the song, because it starts as nice ballad and then... it begins. live appearances with the dark wow yeah! make me shudder. 2/5 06. Naturally love. I totally overplayed it by now, but it is really wonderful. totally catchy in verse and chorus. belongs stylistically to a separate album with Connected. 4,5/5 07. NEVER EVER as evolution it starts quite calm and the chorus arrangement just ruins it. 2,5/5 08. still alone it's in exactly the same vein, as NEVER EVER is. lot of copling in this album, you see. but for some reason, I like her squeaky voice in this one a lot. 3,5/5 09. Daybreak never liked it, never will. just not the melody I can get into, not to mention the arrangement... 1/5 10. taskinlude no special interlude either, but listenable 3/5 11. M this song totally saves I am... it's amazing in every aspect, especially after the guitar solo 5/5 12. A Song is born I don't really have any particular opinion on this song... I only listened a couple of times to the MY STORY Classical arrangement. it doesn't really exist for me. therefore, no rating. I wouldn't miss it, however. 13. Dearest mediocre ballad. I like the piano synth in interplay with the guitar, but melody of the chorus is... piercing, to say the least. 3/5 14. no more words very nice and long introduction. lovely melody and in some parts of the vocals ayu sounds like singing french. I like that very much. sadly, I don't play it too often, because I don't play I am... very often... 4/5 15. Endless sorrow ~gone with the wind ver.~ wrong, just wrong. arrangement is horrible. the single version was so much better. but the lacking arrangement can't hide the extremely strong melody, which is soooo sad. but you hardly feel it, because it's ~gone with the wind~. meh. 2,5/5 16. flower garden dear God... 1/5 Last edited by tourniquet; 12th July 2008 at 01:33 AM.
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#30
12th July 2008, 02:26 AM
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looks like a lot of comments on the fact that I am ... is not really that well liked
I wonder how about the rest of the albums like (miss)understood & LOVEppears
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#32
12th July 2008, 03:22 AM
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guess not
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#34
12th July 2008, 03:37 PM
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 personally I think (miss)understood's her most experimental album to date & if you're not open to new music genres , you will hate it but for my case I really enjoy it I'm surprised no 1 has mentioned anything about (m)u yet . I thought people will say that that's their least fave ayumi album but I'm surprised that quite a lot has come forward & mentioned comments about I am ... & RAINBOW
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#35
12th July 2008, 04:01 PM
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RAINBOW was a favorite? I thought a lot of people didn't like RAINBOW when it was first released cos it was living in the shadow of the ever so legendary I am...
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#36
12th July 2008, 04:06 PM
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I think when RAINBOW was put out it became the 1st album of her to sell 2 million copies since then
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#37
12th July 2008, 07:09 PM
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^ No, it was the first to sell 1 mil in it's first week.
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#38
12th July 2008, 08:11 PM
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I'm going to choose the (mini)album Memorial address. I actually consider it an album because the length of the album is longer than what some artists would label full albums. So, yeah.
01. ANGEL'S SONG I really like the whole concept of the song, the PV, lyrics, and such. However, the momentum of the song is slightly ruined by the chorus, which feels disconnected from the preceding melodies. It's a good song to 'bop' along with. 3.5/5 02. Greatful days I don't know why, but this song sounds wintery/Christmasy to me. Not at all does it remind me of summer. It's a decent, generic pop track, but at the same time, Ayu made it very.. Ayu. Still, I think it's a song BOUNCEBACK composed with BoA or some poppy boyband in mind. 3/5 03. Because of You Well, at the time of release, I thought this song was pretty sick. But now, it's just horribly bland and empty compared to her latest batch of angry digirock-inspired songs. That, and the chorus annoys me a lot lately. 3/5 04. ourselves Weird song. The intro is all tribal, then in comes some really hot hip-hop beat with these creepy synth-strings. One of Ayu's most attention-grabbing songs, for sure. Her singing is excellent in this track too, despite the REALLY annoying background vocals. 4/5 05. HANABI ~episode II~ Every nuance of this song never ceases to amaze me. I feel like it belongs on RAINBOW, because the songs of that album were filled with such intense imagery like this one. 5/5 06. No way to say It's the epitome of the typical HAL-arranged ballad. I love the lyrics though, there's a lot of great lines, and I feel it's one of the more personal songs she has written. The climax is my favorite part of the song. 4/5 07. forgiveness It's actually a very nice song. It's just not something I play often. 3.5/5 08. Memorial address (take 2 version) Nothing fanciful here, I love the rawness of this song. Very unforgettable melody. I appreciate the song a lot because it's probably one that many can relate to at a particular time in their life, and this song can definitely help in the healing process. 4.5/5 I consider the album simply a transition between RAINBOW and MY STORY. This is merely just a collection of songs to me, with really good PV's.
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#39
12th July 2008, 08:32 PM
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Also, I believe LOVEppears, Duty, and I am.. all sold a million in their first weeks just as RAINBOW did. And regarding the hate... srsly. People HATED RAINBOW up until MY STORY came out. And then they hated MY STORY until (miss)understood came out... then they hated (miss)understood until Secret.. and so on.. D:
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