LOVE again thoughts?

[TotsuzenAyumi]

OH, I LOVE IT MORE! As figured we got a little R&B taste- heheheh... well only for the interludes... it's more of a bittersweet and tragic theme.

[Tony G]

After a few days with this album, it has grown on me and I'm comfortable to give each song a score.

1. Wake me up - 9/10
2. Song 4 u - 9.5/10
3. Missing - 9/10
4. SAKURA - 8/10
5. Melody - 8.5/10
6. task'n'bass - 8/10
7. Bye-bye darling - 9/10
8. Snowy kiss - 7.5/10
9. Sweet scar - 8/10
10. petal - 7/10
11. glasses - 8/10
12. untitled for her... story 2 - 5/10
13. Gloria - 5/10
14. Ivy - 5/10
15. You & Me - 7.5/10

I think the first run of 7 tracks is brilliant. Especially Song 4 u. In the context of this album, that is by far the highlight song. From tracks 8 to 11 the standard goes down somewhat, and the end of the album is its weakest moment. You & Me strangely works well as an ending track, I wouldn't have liked Ivy to finish things off.

SAKURA really grew on me. I think it's placing before Melody is perfect. Bye-bye darling is the best of the new tracks. petal, gloria and untitled are all somewhat disappointing.

I think a lot of the disappointment surrounding this album comes from the fact that most of the new tracks are mediocre. But the mini album songs are strong statements on their own, and had this been the first time I listened to every track on LOVE again I probably would have felt, overall, more impressed. But given I'm familiar with all of those songs, the new songs really drag the overall "newness" of this album down.

And I don't like to blame the boring aspects of this album of one single thing, but I think it's safe to pinpoint Yuka Nakano's incredibly boring and uninspired arrangements didn't bring the full potential of many of these songs out, especially from tracks 10 to 14. Even Melody to a degree, though I now love that song. More CMJK and tasaku please, Ayu.

PS - did anyone notice that SAKURA is technically the first Japanese title to an Ayu song?

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by Tony G

PS - did anyone notice that SAKURA is technically the first Japanese title to an Ayu song?

HANABI.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

HANABI.

Damn, I stand corrected. Well, 3rd song apparently. *bad ayu fan*

[Delicious n Bold]

^ hanabi beat you already lol

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Delicious n Bold

^ hanabi beat you already lol

Hana.
Take that!

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Hana.
Take that!

Aw damn! Nice one!

Originally Posted by sugarbasil

I finally got around to listening to it and all I have to say is that this is the most boring CD I've ever heard from any artist anywhere ever.

Lol.

[sugarbasil]

I finally got around to listening to it and all I have to say is that this is the most boring CD I've ever heard from any artist anywhere ever. I'm going to pretend that it was never even released. Which won't be hard since I couldn't remember a single song on it even seconds after I listened to it. Like, seriously, Ayu. Seriously. This is utterly disappointing. From the covers to the songs to the PVs. JFC.

[taskinillusion]

Originally Posted by sugarbasil

I finally got around to listening to it and all I have to say is that this is the most boring CD I've ever heard from any artist anywhere ever. I'm going to pretend that it was never even released. Which won't be hard since I couldn't remember a single song on it even seconds after I listened to it. Like, seriously, Ayu. Seriously. This is utterly disappointing. From the covers to the songs to the PVs. JFC.

It's a great album......

to fall asleep to.

[happiholic★]

Its alright. I don't love it like some of her past albums, but I don't hate it like some of her past albums

[pepper]

I don't get the structure. And two rock electro interludes in a ballad album... The whole album sound like "pick something from every album". It doesn't sound like a whole. Bye-bye darling should be somewhere near Wake me up / You & Me.

But overally, I like most of the tracks.

1. Wake me up - 9/10
2. Song 4 u - 7/10
3. Missing - 7/10
4. SAKURA - 6/10
5. Melody - 5/10
6. task'n'bass - 10/10
7. Bye-bye darling - 7/10
8. snowy kiss - 4/10 (one of the most irritating song I've heard...)
9. Sweet scar - 7/10
10. petal - 8/10 (my second fav)
11. glasses - 8/10
12. untitled for her... story 2 - 5-6 maybe?/10
13. Gloria - 9/10 (my favorite new track!)
14. Ivy - 9/10
15. You & Me - 5/10 (her english ruins everything)

[C+R+E+AYUMI]

after a few listenings, it's hard to say i prefer intros to songs..god save tasuku.
it seems like a try to repeat a sort of LOVeppears concept to me in terms of sound but with less electro beat. I'll go with votes too.

1. Wake me up - 7/10 it's the more upbeat of the album at least it catches attention
2. Song 4 u - 7/10 not bad but not memorable
3. Missing - 9/10 the best song
4. SAKURA - 4/10 never been so bored
5. Melody - 3/10 boring
6. task'n'bass - 10/10 so nice
7. Bye-bye darling - 7/10 maybe the best non-single song
8. snowy kiss - 3/10 quoting pepper

(one of the most irritating song I've heard...)

9. Sweet scar - 5/10 flavouless
10. petal - 3/10 can't distinguish it from Gloria
11. glasses - 8/10
12. untitled for her... story 2 - 6/10 I probably prefer this to the previous
13. Gloria - 3/10 can't distinguish it from petal
14. Ivy - 4/10 annoying
15. You & Me - 6/10 but lyrics ..OMG

Guys there's no beat in this album

[channy]

Originally Posted by Tony G

PS - did anyone notice that SAKURA is technically the first Japanese title to an Ayu song?

Originally Posted by Zeke.

HANABI.

Originally Posted by Delicious n Bold

^ hanabi beat you already lol

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Hana.
Take that!

Originally Posted by Zeke.

Aw damn! Nice one!

Lol.

I'm inclined to add "Sotsugyou Shashin" to this fight but it's just a cover

[Delicious n Bold]

^ yumi beat all of us.

[pepper]

It's just like it's Love songs ~part II~ but not really SIMILAR WITH SONGS genres. But I "meh'd" the album in a same way... And Ls had better structure (also better pv's) Too ballad massive, too much of pinks and whites, too much "love" in general (even if the love is kinda sad and unhappy...) It's like alternative version of it, but as I said, the songs are not SIMILAR to Love songs. I just don't dig that "massive" ballady albums, I still prefer her in edgy/poppy style (like Bye-bye darling and Wake me up - both sound like Party Queen leftover) and the album misses "main strong track" (like Love song in Love songs)

This album isn't bad, cause songs separetely are on VERY high level. But in a whole, it's a yawnfest, they put me to sleep (just like Love songs :>)

[waterballoon]

Wake me up - 10/10
Best song in the album, even my casual Ayu fans friends tell me this song has "her old flavor" back.

Song 4 u - 10/10
Simple, short, wonderful. I love epic songs like these ala progress and Mirrorcle World but those are really long so this length is even better for me.

Missing - 10/10
One of her better ballads... also one of the more unique ones. Wonderful arrangement in this song so it's actually quite a joy to listen to and pick up the little sounds. Lyrics wise I shouldn't need to say they're amazing.

SAKURA - 6.5/10
I think it's good... in a sense it's not a garbage song. However something feels really draggy here and there's a really "flat" sound throughout that makes the song longer than it already is... Not to mention I think the arrangement is way too simple (in the worst way possible). The last minute was the saving grace for this song but I'm afraid not many would pull through to that.

Melody 8.5/10
I think this song has the best melody (No pun intended) in the album... there's a very "gazing at the sunset and reminiscing about the past" feeling in this song... something that's re-occurring in this album very often.

But I kinda detest the arrangement... way too harsh for a sweet song like this. The acoustic piano mix of this in the again mini is my preferred listen.

task'n'bass - 2/5
After taskebab, I think this is a disappointing interlude considering what we had previously was really awesome. Still worse than taskinlude (and taskinllusion was way too predictable).

Bye-bye darling - 9/10
The opening guitar riffs remind me of Maki Goto's "EYES"! Something feels so old-school about this it's almost addicting to listen to. The definition of female solo singers' pop - sassy, catchy, fun to listen and sing along to... it's interesting how Ayu has sang a song like this.

snowy kiss - 7.5/10
Long. Long. This song is really long but luckily not annoying so. I have to say the best part of this song is the bridge where the guitar really shines through... the verses are really good too, but the chorus has some horrible harmonizing going on.

Sweet scar - 10/10
I may say 'Wake me up' is the best song on the album, but only because it screams 'ayumi hamasaki' from start to end. Now Sweet scar is my definite favorite off the album; its existence is a way of proving Ayu can do other genres without failing at all. The very blues feel from this song sets the mood perfectly and I can't exactly find a flaw in this perfect composition. Think Sweet scar as a present from the scars of what we had with "the next LOVE" and "Eyes, Smoke, Magic" in the Party Queen album.

petal - 10/10
Now this is the best album track we have in this album. Continuing with that blues feel in Sweet scar, this song adds a very waltz atmosphere, similar to "Like a doll" in the Love songs album... but this arrangement is way more interesting than the aforementioned. I like that you don't get to hear such songs often in pop music these days, and kudos to Ayu for bringing a different kind of sound.

glasses - 1/5
Honestly I didn't pay much attention to this interlude; I don't exactly remember how it sounds like or what its point is in the album... the songs before and after it aren't exactly very different in tempo or anything, so...

untitled for her... story 2 - 10/10
Okay no lies I give this song a 10/10 because of its lyrics. Everything pales in comparison to its preceder.

Gloria - 10/10
Now remember I said Melody gives off a "gazing at the sunset and reminiscing about the past" vibe? Gloria does the exact same thing except it doesn't leave it at that, it also says, "Let's also look forward to the sunrise". And that's what i love about this song. It's a song you wanna sing to the victims of a disaster; to someone who has just broken up; to people who feel lost... because you believe so much it will lift everyone's spirits up, and it honestly does. And I think it's a huge feat for Ayu cos she hasn't had a good 2011/2012.

Ivy - 10/10
Ivy has really the same feel as Melody and Gloria (honestly put all 3 songs together and you probably could have a song each for your 30th, 40th and 50th year respectively). But Ivy isn't just that... it's a diary in my opinion, and it's a song that makes you think of your life... and Ayu sings just that; every step you've taken from the day you were born to who you are now, and everything that happens around you... I thought it was amazing how she penned such mundane everyday thoughts and feelings into beautiful songs.

You & Me - 8/10
So they used the orchestra version which didn't make much of a difference to me. I thought this song is cute and it's great to dance along to but -2 points cos seriously Ayu? *facepalm*

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by waterballoon

Wake me up - 10/10
Best song in the album, even my casual Ayu fans friends tell me this song has "her old flavor" back.

Song 4 u - 10/10
Simple, short, wonderful. I love epic songs like these ala progress and Mirrorcle World but those are really long so this length is even better for me.

Missing - 10/10
One of her better ballads... also one of the more unique ones. Wonderful arrangement in this song so it's actually quite a joy to listen to and pick up the little sounds. Lyrics wise I shouldn't need to say they're amazing.

SAKURA - 6.5/10
I think it's good... in a sense it's not a garbage song. However something feels really draggy here and there's a really "flat" sound throughout that makes the song longer than it already is... Not to mention I think the arrangement is way too simple (in the worst way possible). The last minute was the saving grace for this song but I'm afraid not many would pull through to that.

Melody 8.5/10
I think this song has the best melody (No pun intended) in the album... there's a very "gazing at the sunset and reminiscing about the past" feeling in this song... something that's re-occurring in this album very often.

But I kinda detest the arrangement... way too harsh for a sweet song like this. The acoustic piano mix of this in the again mini is my preferred listen.

task'n'bass - 2/5
After taskebab, I think this is a disappointing interlude considering what we had previously was really awesome. Still worse than taskinlude (and taskinllusion was way too predictable).

Bye-bye darling - 9/10
The opening guitar riffs remind me of Maki Goto's "EYES"! Something feels so old-school about this it's almost addicting to listen to. The definition of female solo singers' pop - sassy, catchy, fun to listen and sing along to... it's interesting how Ayu has sang a song like this.

snowy kiss - 7.5/10
Long. Long. This song is really long but luckily not annoying so. I have to say the best part of this song is the bridge where the guitar really shines through... the verses are really good too, but the chorus has some horrible harmonizing going on.

Sweet scar - 10/10
I may say 'Wake me up' is the best song on the album, but only because it screams 'ayumi hamasaki' from start to end. Now Sweet scar is my definite favorite off the album; its existence is a way of proving Ayu can do other genres without failing at all. The very blues feel from this song sets the mood perfectly and I can't exactly find a flaw in this perfect composition. Think Sweet scar as a present from the scars of what we had with "the next LOVE" and "Eyes, Smoke, Magic" in the Party Queen album.

petal - 10/10
Now this is the best album track we have in this album. Continuing with that blues feel in Sweet scar, this song adds a very waltz atmosphere, similar to "Like a doll" in the Love songs album... but this arrangement is way more interesting than the aforementioned. I like that you don't get to hear such songs often in pop music these days, and kudos to Ayu for bringing a different kind of sound.

glasses - 1/5
Honestly I didn't pay much attention to this interlude; I don't exactly remember how it sounds like or what its point is in the album... the songs before and after it aren't exactly very different in tempo or anything, so...

untitled for her... story 2 - 10/10
Okay no lies I give this song a 10/10 because of its lyrics. Everything pales in comparison to its preceder.

Gloria - 10/10
Now remember I said Melody gives off a "gazing at the sunset and reminiscing about the past" vibe? Gloria does the exact same thing except it doesn't leave it at that, it also says, "Let's also look forward to the sunrise". And that's what i love about this song. It's a song you wanna sing to the victims of a disaster; to someone who has just broken up; to people who feel lost... because you believe so much it will lift everyone's spirits up, and it honestly does. And I think it's a huge feat for Ayu cos she hasn't had a good 2011/2012.

Ivy - 10/10
Ivy has really the same feel as Melody and Gloria (honestly put all 3 songs together and you probably could have a song each for your 30th, 40th and 50th year respectively). But Ivy isn't just that... it's a diary in my opinion, and it's a song that makes you think of your life... and Ayu sings just that; every step you've taken from the day you were born to who you are now, and everything that happens around you... I thought it was amazing how she penned such mundane everyday thoughts and feelings into beautiful songs.

You & Me - 8/10
So they used the orchestra version which didn't make much of a difference to me. I thought this song is cute and it's great to dance along to but -2 points cos seriously Ayu? *facepalm*

Isn't it the original version on the album and the person who ripped it on the internet changed for the classic version because he/she personally felt it fit the album better? Or are you listening it from the album?

[waterballoon]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Isn't it the original version on the album and the person who ripped it on the internet changed for the classic version because he/she personally felt it fit the album better? Or are you listening it from the album?

I didn't listen to the whole thing but I remember the beginning was strings... and I downloaded this. interesting... gotta listen to it later

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by waterballoon

I didn't listen to the whole thing but I remember the beginning was strings... and I downloaded this. interesting... gotta listen to it later

Originally Posted by tokyoxjapanxfan

I finally got my album yesterday haha. I had to pre-order at Akihabara, where I rarely go.

I was surprised that You & Me was the original and not the classical version.

The photo book is nice, but I think they could have executed it better. Several of the pictures are right at the spine of the book and the only way you can clearly see them is to fully open the book, which ruins the spine... but lovely none-the-less.

[BlackSilence]

just a little thought, i was reading through the comments on LJ comms entry...and i erealized i wished these comments would be from Ayu's fandom instead:

Listen to that voice, world.
And rejoice.

;________________________;

SO BEAUTIFUL.

Be still my heart .... ;___; <3
Thank you for uploading this ♡

Wow...this was amazing!

<3333333 that's all.

My heart is warmed. Needed this. Thank you. TwT

and pretty much the whole post had only these type of comments....actually like every post has these type of comments....GACKT's fandom is really way more um relaxed and just enjoying the stuff...on this forum people should do the same, we think too much on here, compare and so on.