Ayu ~Anything Goes XIX~

[EndOfTheWorld]

I don't think anyone is really hating or bashing the album. I think people just have mixed feelings on the album.
I would say the reception of Colours is generally mixed to positive.

[axmish87]

I think that NEXT LEVEL is still her weakest release even though there are a few gems on that album as well mainly : NEXT LEVEL, Sprakle, rollin', GREEN, Rule, identity and Days and interludes were good

[DavidChaiLatte]

Originally Posted by axmish87

I think that NEXT LEVEL is still her weakest release even though there are a few gems on that album as well mainly : NEXT LEVEL, Sprakle, rollin', GREEN, Rule, identity and Days and interludes were good

The problem with that album was that there was no consistency among the tracks. Always thought the CMJK remix of GREEN should be put on it instead of the original version tbh.

[truehappiness]

NEXT LEVEL was hated so much initially but it's hailed as rather good by most of the fandom, I think.

Colours is NOT titled "CoLours" or anything like that. Officially, it is Colours with the capitalization being 'unique' only on the cover like "ayuMi HamAsaKi - CoLouRs".

[sitara]

Originally Posted by Idealist

People always underestimating what she means...

CoLOURS, for instance, isn't necessarily just random, either the selection of the British spelling or the capitalization.

First, looking at the spelling--it would be entirely fitting with the way in which she has chosen other album titles for the meaning to be along the lines of "col OURS". Which is to say, colors of hers and some other person(s).

Second, the capitalization. Separating it into "co" and "lours", co obviously meaning "mutually with", and though it's not common, "lours" is an English word meaning "lower", and also means a frown or alternately a darkening sky or landscape.

In other words, the title is probably in reference to some unhappiness both she and another feel, some darkness in their lives, which would be fitting with the deep melancholy in some of the album's songs.

I really like this explanation, but I am sure they didn't put that much thought into the album name or concept ^___^

[relmy]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the choice of the British spelling was just having Timmy around.

I'm not a huge fan of Colours. The songs are fun live but it's just not the music I listen to Ayu for, plenty of artists who do it better. It kind of sounds like what it is... tracks from Western producers, that just happen to have Ayu singing on them. I'd like it more if she put more of her own spin on the songs, like the Sweetbox tracks on m(u).

[CatGirl]

Originally Posted by DavidChaiLatte

The problem with that album was that there was no consistency among the tracks. Always thought the CMJK remix of GREEN should be put on it instead of the original version tbh.

Agreed. The three ballads on there (GREEN, Days, and Curtain call) are so jarring next to all the other tracks. Even though I like those songs, I wish she kept them off the album

[oaristos]

I think NEXT LEVEL is sort of a... mess. I do appreciate her effort to deliver something different, though and the same goes to Party Queen: I dislike it, but it's better to have something unusual than another LOVE again...

There are many gems on NEXT LEVEL, such as Days, GREEN, and Sparkle, and Party Queen has one of the best lyrics in her entire career. So I'm glad she released them, regardless them being the ones I 'dislike.'

[Norrel]

The whole "rock" portion of NEXT LEVEL falls a bit flat, but the rest of the album is a joy.

I also think Bridge to the sky might be one of her best interludes, next to Catcher in the Light.

[TeamAyu2004]

^ Bridge to the sky is so AMAZING

Originally Posted by CatGirl

Agreed. The three ballads on there (GREEN, Days, and Curtain call) are so jarring next to all the other tracks. Even though I like those songs, I wish she kept them off the album

To me Days is one of my all time favorite ballads. Does it belong on Next Level? maybe not, but I also think she decided to do something different at the last minute since her singles are nothing like the rest of the album.

[Toniayu123]

Just had to say I find Next level amazing and flawless. It isn't the type of music I'm attracted to right now (nor ayu's music overall) but I loved it since the first listen. It was also my first album so maybe that's why

[sitara]

I do like next level! I bought it just recently. there are tracks on there that were rather unusual for ayu and it's a bit hit and miss. I like rollin' because it was finally a different subject matter for her to sing.

compared to the last few albums she released it really shines. the only song I could *truly* enjoy from her recent releases is tasky... and that's only an interlude!! quite sad for me, I know....

[jean-baptiste]

I think in hindsight, I liked NEXT LEVEL so much when it was first released cause I'd only been a fan for a year or so. So having a new release was exciting! But I actually do agree that the album as a whole was a mess, with the haphazard genre jumping and lackluster electro pop songs. I do enjoy it to some extent because it brings good memories back and is a great springtime album, but the only tracks that are great (in my opinion) are Days and GREEN. I'd also say Bridge to the sky and NEXT LEVEL.

So yeah, mixed feelings haha.

[EndOfTheWorld]

I thought Next Level could have been split into 2 mini albums. One has the electronic songs, the other has the rock songs.
Then maybe release Days and Curtain Call together for winter.
For Next Level I was obsessed with Sparkle. I listened to it SO MUCH. I would always be watching the music video on youtube. Then the n ext song I heard was Next Level and I really loved that one too. I thought it was kind of breezy and put me in a good mood.
The only complaints I have these days is that it does genre hop and I think it has not aged the best. Because of the electronic sounds, it sounds dated. But a positive about that is that it can be nostalgic of the late 2000s.

[mi|kshake]

I love the intro and interludes on Next Level. So relaxing and also totally bonkers!

[dreamalley]

I've been browsing through her discography on Spotify.

I'm really into:
"Memorial Adress - take 2 version" from 2003's Memorial Address
"No Way to Say - Acoustic Version" from 2003's No Way to Say
"Love Song - A Classical ver" from 2013's A Classical
"Kanariya" and "Heaven" (acoustic orchestra version) from ayu-mix-7
"Heaven" (piano version) from 2005's Heaven

You can tell I'm in an orchestral mood.

[koumori]

I am super nostalgic about NEXT LEVEL. It came out just around my final exams so I listened to it a lot while studying, so there's strong memories... I'm very biased about it
I will agree it has weird album coherence, but I enjoy a lot of the songs individually. It was a good risk take for her imo.

[truehappiness]

I think most people have an issue with the Curtain call + GREEN on that album. Everything else fits rather well IMO but those two? They needed to do something to GREEN at least to make it fit better.

[koumori]

I think GREEN would have been great for M(A)DE IN JAPAN. I am surprised they didn't throw it a little later in the album with an interlude to stack up to it, in retrospect. (For NL, not MiJ) To lead into a ballad section and not the rock part...

[sitara]

many many jpop albums have a problem with coherence because of the whole single release schedule. but many artists move away from that anyways now.

but I don't listen to cds much anyways (only in my car tbh) and the playlists I make myself are coherent and have a nice flow. it is only important for me to own the album for my music collections sake and the album artwork... everything is listened to digitally most of the time anyways :p


it would be interesting if ayu made playlists of her songs herself *_____*
that would be worth checking out