Your Love Songs reviews!!!

[Bad Wolf]

I actually think this album is her best in years. I've liked all of her releases so far, but everything from Secret up to RnRC (which I REALLY liked) did not feel as honed, polished, focused, and INTENSE as this. Not all the way through, at least. Not even GUILTY! The track list flows, the interludes aren't just slapdash thrown in useless features of music -- they're intricate and curious, they stand out and yet act as bridges between songs. I'm more than halfway through the album and I have yet to find my attention straying for a moment.

Whatever it is that Ayu's done with Love songs, she hit on something golden and this song is so refreshing. Her discography needed this ******* album.

[AyUmIXx]

it's also my very first time to ever like the interludes in an album so much!
and i can't believe i'm looping this whole album over and over again now.. everything just flows so perfectly where i could never really do it with the previous albums, except for RnRC though..

aww November, there's little romance between ayu and mannie in a month time in LA..how sweet~~

[AYUCREA]

I love this album which is an epic though the style is totally different than ever. Album tracks, the fluence of song and ayu's voice give me a lot of suprise. Also each new album songs is amazing~~~OMG!!!!ayu is best!!!!!! thank ayu give us this X'mas gift

Love song 10/10

Sending Mail 9.5/10

Like a Doll 9.5/10

THANK U 9/10

do it again 10/10

Novermber 10/10

[Bad Wolf]

I also just noticed something -- this may be one of the first Ayu albums to AVOID having those summer/winter trope songs. And you know what? THE ALBUM IS BETTER OFF WITHOUT THEM.

Does that mean I don't like summer songs and winter ballads? Of course not. I love those songs. But the fact that their absence doesn't take anything away from the enjoyment of the album says to me that Ayu is (1) taking a risk, creatively, by not throwing them in and (2) is probably happy to do without them, after all these years.

MOON / blossom may have been released in the summer, but neither track really feel like a summer song to me. Nor did any of the songs on L, not even Sweet Season. Maybe if you want to get technical, Sweet Season could have been her belated summer song, but it doesn't feel like the poppy, dance-y kind that all the summer song predecessors have been, you know? There's definitely a pattern with summer songs, and this year Ayu did without them. In fact, this entire album makes me think of a warm, spring breeze... which is a fascinating feeling to conjure up in every single song, considering this album is an Xmas gift to us fans, and it's being released in the cold cold cold wintertime :3 (for us in the northern hemisphere lol)

[do it again]

What's most impressive to me about this album is that while recording songs that sound unlike anything she's done in the past, they're still 100% Ayu and that feeling never wavers through the album. I also like the fact that she regressed a bit in her vocal style, but with a more mature feel. She sings in higher keys without it being grating.

For the people who don't like Sweet Season so much, I recommend you read this scanlation provided by the one and only Misa-chan and then listen to the song while reading the lyrics! It definitely changed my perspective.

Originally Posted by Misa-chan

[Bad Wolf]

I had the same feeling. This is pure Ayu, this album -- and yet it's so different! It's so new! The only thing I can think of, as a comparison, is how Dir en grey's "Uroboros" album is so UNIQUE and fascinatingly complex for them as a band, and for music in general -- and yet it's an album that is quintessentially Dir en grey. Love songs is Ayu's Uroboros, in that it's unique and intriguing, but it's not a ridiculous departure that makes it feel forced, risky, or even a flop.

[JesA]

I'm not gonna write a full-length review either, but I still want to voice my opinion

Honestly, I feel like this is definitely her wor...welll, I'll say WEAKEST album. I don't believe Ayu releases anything "bad", so "worst" isn't an appropriate adjective in this discussion. However, I'm a bit disappointed by this album as a whole...the album tracks do little to make up for the weak singles (save for Blossom). Here lately, her songs have seemed to operate around a formula..ever since NEXT LEVEL, the overal genre/arrangements have been bland...not "bland" in a boring sense, but "bland" in a lackluster light.

My favorite tracks on this album were the Interludes, as usual. I've treasured the album interludes since RAINBOW. I just miss the days when emotion poured out of every note. That's why I love Secret so much (easily, my favorite album). To me, outstanding music is something whose meaning can be felt regardless of language barriers...with Secret, I could understand each song without fully understanding the Japanese language. With this album, many of the songs run together, and I'm not able to sense the emotion behind her lyrics. I still think the "L" songs are her weakest single tracks of her entire career...

If I were to rank her albums, my opinion would place this release at the bottom of the totem pole, overshadowed by (miss) Understood and I Am... My album ranking would be something like this..

Secret>RAINBOW>A Song for XX>Rock'n'Roll Circus>LOVEppears>My Story>NEXT LEVEL>Duty>GUILTY>(miss)Understood>I Am..>Love Songs

[pepper]

^ it's hard to pleased a person with that unique taste (: I would never place I am, Duty and (miss)understood in that low place But it's nothing bad, it's amazing how every Ayu fan have diffrent tastes only in her discography!

[freedreamer]

^you know what, though I havent heard the album proper, but I think...I get what you mean by emotion. But to each individual, emotions can feel different. It's something so varied And intangible. For me, her most emotional albums were GUILTY, Rock'n'Roll Circus, Duty, Secret...there's something very raw in these albums altogether.

While, I really don't sense more emotion in NEXT LEVEL than in GUILTY haha..

And I have to disagree about songs in L not having the special touch. yes Sweet Season may be plain and simple, Last angel may be full of orchestra and electro (somewhat), Virgin Road is one of her more endearing and emotional ballads imo.

Love how this album has such varied opinions Hahah...not gonna judge it yet because I still don't know what to expect!

[Bruised.Sapphire]

I like the album, but most of the songs sounded the same: mellow or ballad-y. I kinda feel like the only songs that stuck out to me were Sending mail and Love song and do it again; the interludes were nice too. But then again, I was listening to them while on a plane flight with only 4 hours of sleep and slept through the album. LOL. fail. Lyrically the album's great though. Interested in seeing the full versions of the PVs.

[Cherry Dynamite]

I'm too lazy to write a full review.

When Rock'n'Roll Circus came out I thought it was one of her best but when the anticipation and excitement died down, I thought there's really nothing new and it's not as special as I thought it was and well I don't listen to it anymore. Anyway what I'm saying is I might say that I adore Love songs now but after a month who knew, I might think it's a disaster so as of now here's what I think.

It's really great and I love it. Each track is unique yet the album is cohesive.

I love the interludes.

THANK U is probably the most repetitive song I've ever heard. It's like one long interlude.

[HilaryDuffFanboy]

I'll give it a month and most of you won't be as nice about the album.
Every new Ayu album is always OMG AMAZING for the first few weeks.

[love in music]

Originally Posted by HilaryDuffFanboy

I'll give it a month and most of you won't be as nice about the album.
Every new Ayu album is always OMG AMAZING for the first few weeks.

That never really happens with me. If I love it at first, I'll usually stay loving it and thinking it's amazing.

[kagami]

^ I will, but I'm not nitpicky and overly critical like a lot of the people here. Plus this album has really touched me...

Anyway, I can see this is an album people are either going to find really boring and bland, or something new and wonderful.

[Mirrorcle Monster]

Arent u guys giving too high notes?.
I mean, its been about 20 hours since we have the album.... I understand if u love some songs, but giving them a 10 is a too much. In my opinion is necesary to listen about one month to an album to discover if you really like it. Im quite disappointed with the album, but i won't be giving any 0 until i have listened to it more times

[freedreamer]

And isn't 0 very drastic either?

And yea, EVERY new release is gonna face the same fate. There's nothing wrong with falling in love head over heels over a track now and gradually losing the like for it because either you've gotten sick or it, or that there is new music. And it ALWAYS happens. Be it album or artiste. It's just how long this love will last. If you don't even bother giving it a good listen on the first time then...in one months time, you would have deemed you didnt like it in the first place.

I created a thread in the chartroom. Whether old songs have caught up to members' likings. It proves that clearly you can still hate it over the next month and in a few years, then only you may start liking the track. Vice versa - loving it in 1 months time After deciding you like it then losing the like after the next few years. So, while some can say, "don't be too quick to say you like it", I will say "don't be too quick to dislike and hate it either"

And lol Heavenly_Zerase, you seem deemed to give songs 0 after listening to it more.

[lumieregrl]

Please realize that this is MY interpretation of what I'm hearing and reading, and it may or may not be "accurate" of what the album really is.
-------------------------
Today Ayumi's Love songs album finally leaked! It was love at first listen (lol), and I must have played the whole album three times over. Then I decided I would gather up the English lyric translations, print them out, and then listen to the album while reading the lyrics.

I already thought that the songs were quite emotional and touching from the *sound* alone, but--wow--reading the lyrics *with* the music...This is such an emotional and meaningful album. I admit that this may be due in large part to the fact that I find the songs "speak" to me at my current place in life. A couple of years ago, I lost a person/relationship and have spent the time since making many changes and growing personally. I even tried to convince myself for a long time that perhaps I had never really loved this person, but that was just a way of distraction. (This is probably why "like a doll" is my absolute favorite track on this album. wow!)

In the end, I'd have to say that this album was a great big hug and a gentle push from Ayu.

So while this is a review of the album, I will quote lyrics that really stood out to me. I highly recommend listening to the songs and reading the lyrics, if you can. Someone (kogepan?) mentioned that TK is quite purposeful with his music, and that really shows as you read along.

1) Love song - She's telling us that she can't compromise on love, dreams, and music, so what is it we can't live without? (0:44) "Life is boring if you don't have anything that you can't compromise on". If we don't know what we must have, how can we guard it? (0:52) "Do you have anything you want to protect?" I love all of the questions she poses to us. (3:25) "Can you become honest? Why won't the tears stop?"

2) crossroad - The music at the beginning is a bit formal and elegant (imo), and switches ("I wonder if I made the right choice) for the questions (0:40). Then "I'm still going forward"~ the music switches to a hopeful, rising (imo) sound (0:59). Finally, a more steady sound (1:09) "pretending to be strong to not get hurt..." So beautiful...

3) MOON - I can't help but think of the pv when listening to this song as it fits so well with the song. Sad memories that won't leave her alone... (1:20) "I thought I'd be able to forget you" (2:06) "Please don't ask me anymore..."do you love me?". No wonder she cries so much in the pv! A song of regrets and sad memories...

4) Sending Mail - This song, after listening closely, reminds a bit of Malize Mizer with the dark vocals and music at the beginning (0:20) "The sun has left me again today", the organs (0:33) "I hate myself when I'm like this". She still has regrets and wishes she could change things...She wants to write an email but keeps erasing it....eventually not sending it at all.

5) Last Angel - This song sounds like it could be the message she wanted to write in Sending Mail. It's like the last wishes and words before moving on. (1:08) "I believe you can hear me, I want to tell you" (1:22) "This bell sound announcing the end bear no sad tone at all." Even though she wishes things had been different, she is ready to move forward. (1:49) "I don't regret or look back anymore, it's the only way for me to go forward."

6) Insomnia - A dark and slightly creepy interlude...I really love this..It makes me feel a bit alone, like in a haunted house. lol

Here the tone changes from her regrets to almost as if she is admonishing and giving someone advice to move on.

7) Like A Doll - The music here is like Eurythmics and Kanon Wakeshima had a child song together. I LOVE IT! The somewhat stately, clockwork feel goes completely with the concept of a person locking their heart up and trying to live while ignoring their emotions (much like the guy in crossroad--to not be hurt, he pretended to be strong). (1:31) "Forgetting what is love, forgetting what is respect" (1:54) "If you ignore all your feelings, you won't feel hurt" It's almost like she's begging for the person to realize what is happening. (2:03) "but you won't feel any happiness either" (3:33) "Don't live like you are dead"

Basically this song is part of that "gentle push" I mentioned.

8) Aria - A very sweet, achingly beautiful interlude. All of the interludes on this album are terrific, imo. Honestly, it sounds a bit like an intermission in a conversation because Ayu continues her little talk from Like A Doll into blossom.

9) blossom - [I have not seen the blossom pv, so I'm not even considering it here.] (0:17) "Within your heart, you've actually been crying for awhile, haven't you?" blossom, imo, is Like A Doll ~part 2~. (0:43) "I'm sure it was your sweet lie and the pretension to be strong with all your might" (1:10) "we started to talk and we don't need a reason for that" (1:19) "we certainly know at least that we are simply OK, we are OK now" Basically, this song is saying, "You've been hiding your pain, and it's difficult, but we can move forward together."

Here's a little break in all the seriousness...

10) Thank U - I don't know when this song was written, but...I want to say that while RED LINE may have been for TA, I think that Thank U might be for the US/overseas fans. (0:57) "Today was another day we shared precious moments together, you just being yourself made me happy" (1:19) "I want to say Thank U for everything" I could be completely wrong...That's just the feeling I get from the song, especially since you have to know this song is perfect audience singing material at concerts. It sounds like something she might say to her fans.

11) Sweet Season - I don't dislike this track at all...Some have said it reminds them of 70's era light pop, and I like that type of music (lol). The lyrics are very sweet, and I kind of wonder how it relates to the ending of the music video. I love the tracing of time and love with the seasons. (2:21) "In the winter days, when our fingertips were trembling in the freezing cold/We warmed each other's hearts, didn't we?"

12) Overture - I've said it before, but this song reminds me of a sci-fi theme, particularly Stargate SG-1 (in spots XD). It's a dramatic interlude to prepare us for a dramatic song...

And we transition back to Ayu talking to that someone...

13) Do It Again - I think the "dance" and "sing" parts here refer back to Like A Doll (Like A Doll's music gave me a picture of a ballet type doll dancing.) This is my third favorite song...I'm not certain, but it seems like Ayu might be referencing the song, Naturally, with (1:28) "'What's sad is giving up' That hasn't changed one bit". [She could just as easily be referencing earlier songs in this album though.] She then says, (1:40) [paraphrasing] "not only that, but it's even more true now!" The part that leaped out at me was (2:49) "'Letting go is also courage' That is something we know as we become adults" Again, the talk of growing up and also remembering our important dreams (as she talks about in Love song). I think in this song Ayu is again talking about moving forward and growing with the "dance" and "sing". Don't stay still and give up--dance and sing!

To point out a little music bit, check (3:13) "what would the you now [do], think about this..." and then the music hesitates, almost as if to give you a moment right now to think.

14) November - Ok, second favorite song on the album, and the one that turned on the waterworks for me. I know people are saying this is about Mannie, but I'm not so sure of that. It retains the feel of Ayu trying to help someone. This time she is saying to not be afraid of taking a risk to find love again. The "we" she talks about--(0:55) "but we often can't find the right one"--sounds more like a general "we as people" and not "we as in some guy & I". (1:13) "though we believe, we are so afraid of being hurt that we walk past each other and continue on".

There are three choruses in this song, each one having the same first three lines [except for the last chorus] but different last two lines. It's really a very sweet picture of Ayu wishing to comfort someone and help them move forward. The first two lines (1:31 & 3:38), "If I could grow one wing, so that I could fly freely in the sky like a bird, I would gently land aflutter your shoulder". The last line in the first chorus, (1:58) "And fall asleep, while whispering to you about love". The last line in the second chorus, (4:05) "And let the tears which I have been holding back fall". The last two lines of the third chorus, (4:41) "I want to give you both of these wings so that you can fly to the place you want to go." IMO, the chorus music really does give a feel of flying.

15) Virgin Road - I think someone said this song is about Ayu's mom? It really does sound like it, imo. Ayu's saying that even though she & her mom had some rough times, now Ayu can finally say thank you to her. (Can someone remind me if A Song for xx was written about her mother? Might be interesting to compare the two songs.)

Coming from listening to November, now Virgin Road has switched to first person. (1:47) "I met a person who said, 'I love you and want to protect you.' We start to walk together now." Again the reference to walking together, going forward. It's like a fulfillment of November.

Then (4:23) "I feel that the person you once met and love is somehow like the person I love". I think the sweet part of this song is the fact she reviews her relationship with her mother [I suppose?], thanks her, and then tells her mom that she has now found someone else who loves her. Not only that, this person is like someone her mother once loved (Ayu's father?).
Even if it isn't Ayu's mother, it's definitely someone she looks up to. It's like "Thank you for all the love and support, but now I have someone else who loves me too."

16) SEVEN DAYS WAR - Another great song, I'm so glad that Ayu covered it. It really does fit with the theme of this album of healing and growing up. (0:54) "I don't want to destroy everything, I just want to search for something" (5:07) "Seven days war, I'll fight so I can just be myself" It's almost like a last notes of "I'm moving on, here I go, I'm fighting."

(thank you tenshi no hane and masa for your lyric posts!!)

I REALLY like this album apparently because usually all I can say is a few sentences about this kind of thing.

And if you read all of this, then have a cookie. And some sleep.

Adding: The first part of the album is Ayu talking in first person, the second part is Ayu talking in third person. I think it's possible that she is talking to herself in this second section. Then the third section of [seemingly] unrelated songs, and the last second of first person Ayu again. Maybe this album is a bit autobiographical? *shrug*

[tenshi no hane]

I don't like Thank U with all its lalala's, but I love the other album tracks

like a doll + do it again are my favorites, but November and sending mail are really good as well <3

I'm happy I like them, because I wasn't expecting much at first XD

The tracks are a bit repetitive but I think it's not that bad if you actually know Japanese (or at least read a translation).

And, the lyrics are beautiful <3

November's arrangement reminds me of a Final Fantasy tune though XD I just can't remember which

And insomnia's first 15 seconds instantly reminded me of tune played in FFX-2 when you meet Shuyin in that cave (I'm not saying it's ripped off or anything, it's just interesting to me)

[emi♡]

Originally Posted by lumieregrl

7) Like A Doll - The music here is like Eurythmics and Kanon Wakeshima had a child song together.

You're officially AWESOME lol


About the ratings...I mean, no offense to people and their opinions, but I do have a hard time seeing this as the best album she's ever had...

but whatever. If people believe that, then they believe it. There are worse things they could believe lol

I do think it's the most cohesive album she's ever had, probably since A song for XX lol

But then again, I never really cared for cohesive-ness, because for me, that usually means, a bunch of songs that are really similar...and as easily bored as I get...that is just, album killer for me.

And tbh, I never really understood why it was so bad for her to have albums like (m)u, secret, guilty, RcRC, etc, where she's got the rock songs, and the pop up beat songs, and then the ballads.

That's waaayyy more diverse and entertaining imo, and the songs always went together for me.

But I do think what DaisukiDayo said is true, I think this album manages to do it without being boring...so, that's cool.

Oh, and I'm extremely happy there was a lack of album ballads. omg. I would have died if she threw more sweet sappy ballads. yeah, the singles were killing me.

[AyUmIXx]

lumieregrl, WOWWWW ur review is AWESOMEEE!!
it makes me love the album even more!!!
i can't stop looping the whole album now... thanks so much for the review!