LOVE again thoughts? - Page 3

ayu-suits · #41 5th February 2013, 07:36 AM

not 2013-ish but I like it.

For me, untitled for her... story 2 is a message not a song. it's dramatic but it will not grow on me.

C+R+E+AYUMI · #42 5th February 2013, 07:40 AM

it's so hard to say this, but I can't distinguish one song from another

AyUmIXx · #43 5th February 2013, 08:29 AM

I love the whole album..everything sounds so perfect..
love all the ballads <333 especially SAKURA sounds amazing =))
Bye Bye Darling sounds very refreshing ~

***koumori*** · #44 5th February 2013, 08:44 AM

The album is okay. I enjoyed listening to it, and her vocals sounded strong. I can't really pick a favourite though..for me, the new songs all sounded pretty similar. I'll have to listen to it a few more times to pick out parts I really like I guess.

The album sound matched the covers - I'm just hoping the next step for Ayu will be more experimental again. I feel we've had the same sort of 'safe' sound since 2010 and although we've had some great songs in that time, I hope she gets the inspiration to start a new era for herself, for her image. (Well, I hope at least there's no more 'love' titles

)

The album itself, I'll give a 6/10. It's not that bad, just not extremely memorable. My opinion might change in a few months after listening to it more but this is my first impression.

C+R+E+AYUMI · #45 5th February 2013, 09:06 AM

Wishing for something more experimental too...otherwise I think I could get so bored I will definitively stop listening

ayu_ready? · #46 5th February 2013, 09:11 AM

as predicted by the previews, and having listened to the full thing yesterday, I have to say that the only good and kind of powerful tracks are the ones from minis

+ I like petal a lot

I don't like Gloria or Untitled 2, SAKURA seemed quite annoying for me. Bye-bye darling sounds too outdated and like a track off A Song for XX lol

I should say as compared to PQ, the album flow is really good and it creates some nice atmosphere. On the whole, it's not annoying like PQ and is definately better

but taking into consideration the competition we have and modern technology, the album is completely non-innovative and outdated. the melodies are nice,but not outstanding

I didn't expect much from it and I was right.

no way we should compare it to Love songs or label it Love songs pt.II. completly untrue

Love songs is much better. music material is much more interesting and pretty.

the public is pretty demanding, idk if it wants some release which uses the old techniques and everything over and over

it is okay for Ayu to be back to her roots, and I'm happy about it,yet when I say back to roots I really wish to have some epic songs followed by PVs plus some conceptual photoshoots with Ayu looking fantastic and actual mature woman with the least photoshop possible

Jawdarna · #47 5th February 2013, 09:55 AM

I finished listening to it a few minutes ago.

I have to say, she's really outdone herself this time. Best album since GUILTY for me. That's a big call, I know, but I thoroughly enjoyed this album.
I felt like I knew where she was going with it. It feels like a completed piece of art. My primary qualm with Ayu albums released in the last five-six years is that they sound like a Grade Eight's Home Ec project: completely random, made with all sorts of different fabrics, and overall coming together as one huge mess. Some songs of the past few years have even sounded incomplete.

To me, LOVE again:
Cohesive, but integrating various sounds.
Vocals are above average, and when you hear a phrase that is sung brilliant, it is delightful. She's really playing to her vocal strengths.
Lyrics are heart-felt, and although she has recycled the usual themes, they just seem...fresh? Like grapes picked straight from the vine?

The only negative I have is that some of the ballads drag on a bit and some vocals (such as that on petal and Gloria's verses) seem slightly awkward (but I correlate this to the arrangement of the songs). But aside from that, this album is nearly flawless.

This is what I needed from Ayu. An album that doesn't sound like a conventional (despite similar sounds from the past appearing) Ayu album, yet could only be made by her.

Kirshwasser · #48 5th February 2013, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jawdarna

I finished listening to it a few minutes ago.

I have to say, she's really outdone herself this time. Best album since (miss)Understood for me. That's a big call, I know, but I thoroughly enjoyed this album.

Cohesive, but integrating various sounds.
Vocals are above average, and when you hear a phrase that is sung brilliant, it is delightful. She's really playing to her vocal strengths.
Lyrics are heart-felt, and although she has recycled the usual themes, they just seem...fresh? Like grapes picked straight from the vine?

The only negative I have is that some of the ballads drag on a bit and some vocals (such as that on petal and Gloria's verses) seem slightly awkward (but I correlate this to the arrangement of the songs). But aside from that, this album is nearly flawless.

This is what I needed from Ayu. An album that doesn't sound like a conventional Ayu album, yet could only be made by her.

i like how u changed your opinion from "I don't even want to re-listen to them. :/" to "This is what I needed from Ayu" .. honestly, i do

Jawdarna · #49 5th February 2013, 10:10 AM

^ Nothing a bit of heavy rotation cannot fix.

Saying that though, that is definitely another point:

Songs on this album really have to be listened to together. When I heard them individually, I just felt a bit 'meh' about them. They were like any other Ayu songs. Together, they just create this amazing story? All these perspectives of a relationship together, all different, yet about the same subject? And it's not just the lyrics, it's the actual composition/arrangements themselves.

It's very similar to what I feel she achieved with albums back in her hey day. She stuck to a topic, and created brilliance.

Together they're just...I don't know. Magical sounds a bit cliche, but I'll use that word I guess.

x-megumi-x · #50 5th February 2013, 10:22 AM

It sounds like "Love songs part 2" to me and that's not a good thing since I didn't like Love songs... It's not terrible, I just think it's boring.
It's too homogeneous, there are too much ballads / mid-tempo tracks, some songs sound dated and I don't like Nakano's bland arrangements.

On a positive note, I like "SAKURA" the most and the lyrics of "untitled for her 2" are really touching. I also enjoy "Melody" better in the album than in the mini.

I need fierce Ayu to come back as soon as possible!

Kirshwasser · #51 5th February 2013, 11:44 AM

Untitled for her.. Story 2 the more i listen to it, the more im obsessed with it.. So simple yet very sad, i feel like i wanna cry.. I can feel her sadness in this song.. Omg

PoetGirl · #52 5th February 2013, 05:12 PM

I finally heard the album. After so many comments about being bland and stuff I seriously expected something dull like MY STORY. LOVE again explained what the music is about. Its emotional, her vocals are one of the best ever, melodies haunt you and never let you be the same again. I cried like a baby. Ayu why are you doing this to us. Its flawless. and honestly, uncomparable, I cant compare it to anythin' she's done in the past.

Mari-chan · #53 5th February 2013, 05:54 PM

I really like that album.
My favourit songs are Ivy and SAKURA. So greate songs.
But I also really like the others to.

Zeke. · #54 5th February 2013, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoetGirl

I finally heard the album. After so many comments about being bland and stuff I seriously expected something dull like MY STORY. LOVE again explained what the music is about. Its emotional, her vocals are one of the best ever, melodies haunt you and never let you be the same again. I cried like a baby. Ayu why are you doing this to us. Its flawless. and honestly, uncomparable, I cant compare it to anythin' she's done in the past.

OMG, what is wrong with you!? Lol.

LOVE again wishes it had power-house tracks like my name's WOMEN, GAME, About You and actually interesting and beautiful ballads like walking proud, CAROLS and something innovative like HAPPY ENDING.

Andrenekoi · #55 5th February 2013, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke.

OMG, what is wrong with you!? Lol.

LOVE again wishes it had power-house tracks like my name's WOMEN, GAME, About You and actually interesting and beautiful ballads like walking proud, CAROLS and something innovative like HAPPY ENDING.

TeamAyu2004 · #56 5th February 2013, 07:20 PM

the more I listen to SAKURA the more hopeless it all gets, lol.. I dont think thats what the message is (i really want lyrics)
but it just sounds like something she wants is just right there... but not able to reach it. will never be able to reach it... sadness.

Surreal17 · #57 5th February 2013, 07:29 PM

I didn't listened to this album from the first song to the last but in a random order.I will comment only the new songs:
Sakura - not really my favourite but I really like her "aaaa" in the middle section
petal - haunting vibe similar to the one on GUILTY but somehow it's a lot more refreshing,I think it's a highlight on the album.One of my favourites.
Gloria - I like the circus sounds (very refreshing;reminds me of how I thought it would sound Rock'n'Roll Circus).Another good song
Bye Bye Darling - I like the energy of this song and the verses (very good to listen to it when I'm in the car or when I'm running)but it's a bit repetitive
Untitled 2 - Very emotional this song.I didn't expected to be like this but I like how it turned to be.
Glassed - love this interlude.Wish it were a full song.Bittersweet feeling
task'n'bass - I like a lot the introduction and the ending.Reminds me of Until That Day.. a bit.
I like a lot the new songs (Sakura it's a bit boring but in time you'll never know) and almost all of the songs gave me a bittersweet & healing vibe (similar to Duty & Rainbow but refreshing in it's own way).
P.s:I also noticed a change in her voice

I think it sounds better.

reixminako · #58 5th February 2013, 07:30 PM

I'm kind of obsessed with bye-bye darling. I love the intro...tasuku is awesome. I just wish the lyrics were more powerful, but whatever. Gloria definitely sounds like RED LINE ~for TA~ mixed with The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Something". I really love both of those songs, so that's okay. No one would compare this album to Love songs if the word "love" weren't in the title. If anything it's a lot closer to LOVEppears (and not just because of the title). Melody even has TO BE vibes...even the music video does! hehe

Zeke. · #59 5th February 2013, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reixminako

I'm kind of obsessed with bye-bye darling. I love the intro...tasuku is awesome. I just wish the lyrics were more powerful, but whatever. Gloria definitely sounds like RED LINE ~for TA~ mixed with The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Something". I really love both of those songs, so that's okay. No one would compare this album to Love songs if the word "love" weren't in the title. If anything it's a lot closer to LOVEppears (and not just because of the title). Melody even has TO BE vibes...even the music video does! hehe

Except LOVEppears was pretty much entirely electronic and the most electronic that LOVE again gets is Wake me up and the interludes... LOVE again and Love songs both have a lot of strings, lots of piano, tinted album cover shoots, give off a mellow essence, etc.

I after LOVE again on my iPod when playing by artist, LOVEppears starts in and I was listening to it yesterday and feeling pretty depressed thinking "I miss this Ayu..." Honestly that has to be the most absurd comparison I have ever heard in my life, lol. LOVEppears is was pure modern pop at the time, and extremely catchy. LOVE again on the other hand... it is anything but modern. LOVEppears sounds more modern today than LOVE again does and it's over 10 years old!

reixminako · #60 6th February 2013, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke.

Except LOVEppears was pretty much entirely electronic and the most electronic that LOVE again gets is Wake me up and the interludes... LOVE again and Love songs both have a lot of strings, lots of piano, tinted album cover shoots, give off a mellow essence, etc.

I after LOVE again on my iPod when playing by artist, LOVEppears starts in and I was listening to it yesterday and feeling pretty depressed thinking "I miss this Ayu..." Honestly that has to be the most absurd comparison I have ever heard in my life, lol. LOVEppears is was pure modern pop at the time, and extremely catchy. LOVE again on the other hand... it is anything but modern. LOVEppears sounds more modern today than LOVE again does and it's over 10 years old!

Sometimes you have to think a little deeper than the music, which is just one element of the whole. It's no fun to be small-minded

. The subject matter lyric-wise is a lot closer to LOVEppears than Love songs. A few of the songs even sound like continuations of songs from LOVEppears. I most definitely prefer LOVEppears to LOVE again, but that doesn't mean they can't be similar in several ways. No absurdity detected.