Your Love Songs reviews!!!

[love in music]

Originally Posted by Rody!

Side-note: The more you listen to the album, the more you begin to REALLY hear and appreciate the unique compositional structures of the new tracks. It's NOT like her usual work~

yeah! it's so interesting to me. I'm beginning to realize this whole album is totally different than any other album she has ever released.. I can now understand why some ayu fans would be put off by it.. it's very un-ayu.

[AyUmIXx]

^ that's true!
it feel the same way right now..
i've been listening to the songs from the very 1st track til the end...

[ayumint]

it's got 9.5 out of 10 from me ^^ the lack of 0.5 is that there are no dance song which i expected.

it's really really PERFECT. normally, i didn't really like new additional track in each album
but additional songs in this album are very glow on me.and I love almost single tracks
So that,i never skip the track in Love songs

[waterballoon]

the arrangements indeed are lovely,... it's just so. different lol, i'm amazed <3

@all.night.raver: thank u

[jbrat2219]

Goodness waterballoon, you weren't lying when you said you're review was long! I think I'm going to wait to hear the album and then read it~ <3

[SunshineSlayer]

^ I definitely noticed that too, the drums in all the songs basically sound muffled to me. I thought it was just my speakers.

[Zeke.]

You know, I would totally love this album more if someone else sang it. I think Ayu's voice is just too... strong for these songs. Take November, I am in love with it but her voice is still a little too rough for most of it. The last few lines are powerful with her voice but I would like to see someone with a softer voice do a take on this - maybe Hikki's breathy vocals.

But yes, I do really like this album but I would like it more if someone else sang the songs, or if Ayu wasn't singing at all. Lol.

I mean, her voice sounds much better in this album I have already said but I still think it's a little too harsh for the softness of some of the songs.

[thatstacey]

Adding to the chorus that "cohesive" is a really good way to describe this album. A lot of the tracks, like "Sweet Season" and "sending mail," don't really stick with me as individual songs (which I think makes including "Sweet Season" on the single a mistake but whatever), but they really work together to create a holistic listening experience. Then you have songs like "Love song," "do it again," and "November" that are completely different than anything she's done, pull all the stops, and are just generally amazing.

(am I the only person who likes "blossom" more than "MOON"--or any other singe released this year? )

Originally Posted by all.night.raver

You know, I would totally love this album more if someone else sang it. I think Ayu's voice is just too... strong for these songs. Take November, I am in love with it but her voice is still a little too rough for most of it. The last few lines are powerful with her voice but I would like to see someone with a softer voice do a take on this - maybe Hikki's breathy vocals.

But yes, I do really like this album but I would like it more if someone else sang the songs, or if Ayu wasn't singing at all. Lol.

I mean, her voice sounds much better in this album I have already said but I still think it's a little too harsh for the softness of some of the songs.

I had the exact opposite reaction to the album. I came away from it thinking that I would probably hate most of the tracks if the compositions were given to any other singer. I guess I'm just not a fan of TK, so, for me, it needed Ayu to elevate the album above the usual radio-ready J-pop. Because I needed this exception to the rule, I can see why you--and a lot of people, I imagine--would want these songs to be recorded by a different singer (like Hikki, whose "breathy vocals" I can't stand but Japan obviously loves. So there's that lol). That's one of the reasons I'm really curious to see how the album's received in Japan.

I definitely agree that her voice sounds much better on this album. She sounds more confident in her own vocal abilities on this album than she has on any other album she's released since announcing her hearing loss.

[Melodie]

So, this album I had not listened to in full until I received it.
Here's how I feel about it.

First of all, the packaging is absolutely gorgeous, the booklet, the colours, the softness and the wonder that the words Love songs portray – it’s perfect, especially the alternative cover, Ayu is so beautiful.

Now, the music.

1. Love song – the piano is what I hear first; I like it, and it does a lot for the song, the guitar also sounds very relaxing, a nice start. I think it’s an interesting composition that feels like one continuous melody, which isn’t divided into parts. I’ll give it a 6.5/10, because I feel that I might grow tired of it after a while.

2. crossroad – I loved this one from the start, no buts whatsoever 8/10.

3. MOON – I remember loving MOON when the single was released, I believe the play count on iTunes was around 264 when this downhill feeling came over me as it usually does when I lose interest in a song. Back then I would have given it a 9, today I give it a 5, because I feel that I'll skip it in the future many times.

4. sending mail – oh my, quite repetitive are we. But I'm intrigued, the beginning makes me want to know more, the rushed vocals almost make me feel the anticipation, and I'm waiting for the climax. I can slowly breathe when the chorus ends, but then I'm tensed when the second verse begins. I like this one, especially the violin at the end, that was a surprise! Props to Ayu for rising some excitement in me in the morning 8/10.

5. Last Angel – this one's always been 50/50, the beginning is great, and I like some parts of the song, but not so much as a whole, too much lyrics perhaps? It may feel too long, but now I see that all of the songs are quite lengthy. 4/10

6. insomnia – hmm... it's quite good to be honest, the piano reminds me of the scenes in the Last Angel PV where Ayu is wandering on her own at night. Yes, it feels just right after Last Angel, especially with the finale, and the sound of the rushing wind, or the car driving off, whichever it is. 7/10

7. Like a doll – what a simple tune the piano is playing at the start. But 0:30, oh Ayu, your voice sounds strained. I'm not bothered by the English phrase at all, I love the violin, the bridge builds up nicely and the chorus? – God how I love the strings before it begins, but it sadly fails to deliver. This song never reaches its full potential, it could have been much more powerful – yes that's the problem, it doesn't convince me, though the parts where she repeats "like a doll" are supported by the best of the melody. Nice song, will listen to it, perhaps it was intentional to have it composed/arranged in this way, but I can't be sure of how long it'll last in my library. 5/10

8. Aria – another interlude, and so soon? How relaxing is it, I can almost picture being in the country, surrounded by green meadows and fresh flowers, birds flying by, chirping away, that's the type of image it paints in my mind. It's lovely. 8/10

9. blossom – I've never liked it much, it was just so boring. At one point I enjoyed the remix, but I don't listen to electro pop nowadays, so no longer. It feels like Aria's twin song. 3/10

10. Thank U – starts interesting, this and Aria fit the bright side of the Victorian style, but not for long... Lalalala... this is too much, how I lived through this song is beyond me. It's painful, so painful. 1/10

11. Sweet Season – pretty, but that's about it. Boring, how unfortunate, but better than blossom, 4/10

12. overture – I like how the piano is so simple and yet beautiful throughout the album. There is no over the top, exaggerated playing, just relaxed fingers caressing the keys of the most wonderful instrument, accompanied by the strings and the woodwinds. I want to close my eyes and doze off~ 10/10

13. do it again – more English, but the music video I absolutely adore. This is going to be RnRC's equivalent of count down for me, seemingly a simple song that absorbs me entirely. Sing, sing, sing, do it again, dance, dance, dance do it again, Ayu are you confronting our demands? But the song is magic, the dogs that would want to run off and are too big for your hands, just as the industry that's using you, and the charts, which you're trying to dominate, in hopes of reaching the hearts of as many people as possible. God, how this one has captured me. 9/10

14. November – starts of quietly, modestly, Ayu's voice trembles from the emotion that she's sending towards us. It's so beautiful, my legs feel weak. It's different from BALLAD, which was my favourite recent ballad. November leaves me helpless, tears gather under my closed eyelids, because I don't even want to see anything whilst listening to this, let me get lost in the sound... 10/10

15. Virgin Road – one of her most amazing choruses ever, but it's too long, the rest just feels too long. 6/10

Wow, I didn't expect this, I've really enjoyed it. Forget the unimpressive tracks, they're invincible under the light of those that are so wonderful. I'm not bothered by them, because the album is cohesive, though the songs might not survive on their own, but it sounds professional. I'm grateful for the excess of the classical influences, thank you for that Ayu.
You've outdone yourself, LA does you good, Mannie clearly does you good, visit more countries in the future

[Didz-19]

Originally Posted by thatstacey

(am I the only person who likes "blossom" more than "MOON"--or any other singe released this year? )

Hey! I LOVE blossom as much as I LOVE MOON!!

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by thatstacey

am I the only person who likes "blossom" more than "MOON"--or any other singe released this year?

No - blossom is my favorite song of hers released this year and probably my favorite on the album.

[Zeke.]

I love RPGs but I could never stand the battle music in the games. I thought they were so ANNOYING and really boring and predictable as well.

[Sirea]

I noticed that with RnRC. I got a really bad rip, and everything sounded quiet and muffled. I think that's one more reason to wait until the album is actually released before hearing it - you get to hear it in the best quality possible (save for microSD ;_; )

[jbrat2219]

I'm NOT good with reviews, so one word: perfection

As far as how I rank the new songs... November = do it again = Thank U, Love song, sending mail, like a doll.

I honestly adore Thank U! If Ayu does do cute songs, I hope they're like this. ANGEL'S SONG and HONEY are terrible compared to this song, as if they weren't terrible enough already!!!

[TITANIC]

in my opinion this is one of her best and solid album after I am.. with planned theme like I am... MY STORY, LOVEppears. thats all,
1. Love songs - 9/10 great song but not really memorable for me
2. Crossroad - not my favorite 1/10
3. MOON - absolutely 1 of the best single she ever rlease 10/10
4. Sending Mail - love this rock tune but its too repetitive 8/10
5. Last Angel - the song that I want for sooo long ago from Ayu 10/10
6. Insomnia - I would love this track for number 5 before Last Angel. 4/10
7. Like A Doll - this is the highlight track for this album. really inspirational track 8/10
8. Aria - it's like 1 of Bond's song (the most popular quartet strings) 6/10
9. Blossom - boring summer track 5/10
10. Thank U - I hope Ayu choose this song for the ending of her CDL LIVE. really love this track because its really refreshing although is just lalala 10/10
11. Sweet Season - very sweet and happy. nice choose after Thank U 10/10
12. Overture : boring but it made me feel like a sailor 4/10
13. Do It Again - nice upbeat track 8/10
14. November - warm lyric and very sad. one of the best track of the album 10/10
15. Virgin Road - very emotional lyric and the song. I love this song alot 10/10
16. SEVEN DAYS WAR not very Ayuish 4/10

overall : 8/10
Crossroad and the instrumental really killed this album

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by TITANIC

Crossroad and the instrumental really killed this album

HOW DARE YOU! Take that back!

LOL j/k

[TITANIC]

^ hahaha. I cant help. I real dislike Crossroad. it's one of her worst single ever,.

[Mirrorcle Monster]

1.Love song 8.75/10
2.crossroad 8.75/10
3.MOON 9.3/10
4.sending mail 9/10
5.Last Angel 9.2/10
6.Insomnia 7/10
7.like a doll 8.75/10
8.Aria 6/10
9.blossom 8.5/10
10.Thank U 4/10
11.Sweet Season 8/10
12.Overture 5/10
13.do it again 7/10
14.November 8/10
15.Virgin Road 9.7/10

Conclusion: 7.5

[JesA]

Okay, so now that I've had a few days to listen to the album and digest it, I shall write a full length review of each song. Granted, I still don't really like this album, but a couple moments have grown on me.

First off, there's Love Song...definitely my favorite song on the album. It's right up my alley, simply because of the lush progression of the song as a whole. For me, this song is the gem of the bunch. I especially love the strong vocals of the verses, but it get's slightly watered down with the slightly boring chorus composition...anyway, all negatives aside, I give this song an 10/10.

Next up, Crossroad continues to enchant me. Even though my knowledge of Japanese is limited, I can feel a lot from this song, and ultimate relate to it...which makes it an awesome song in my eyes. I'm not particularly bothered by the loud background vocals, because I always love some good harmony. Again though, the chorus is slightly boring and repetitive. It gets a 6/10.

Moon.....ehhh, this is a primary example of how I don't particularly favor her last few singles. This song just ends up sounding forced and unimportant. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty...but it feels, to me, a lot like Duty-sounding album track. I'm not a big fan of this one.. 4/10

And then comes Sending Mail..I actually like this one, even though I don't understand the concept at all...it feels a bit too epic for a title like "Sending Mail"....apparantly, she's really excited about pushing those envelopes :p It feels a bit like Mirror/Mirrorcle World, which is one of my favorite songs from the past few years. I give it 7/10.

Then there's Last Angel. This is another song that I just don't like, even though I don't know why. The mix of pop and techno in this form just sounds awkward. I just really don't have much love for the L songs. The chorus melody really bothers me :p 5/10

Hooray, an interlude! Insomnia continues my undying love for interludes, especially since it's really dark. I love how it transitions smoothly into the next song, beginning the better half(ish) of the album. 9/10

Like a Doll...HERE WE GO, Ayu! The tease in the beginning of the song is what initially sucked me in. The string/techno aspect of it is something I reeeaally love. When Ayu meets violins, gold is born. This one rivals Love Song to me. 8/10

Weeee, another interlude...only Aria isn't as good to me. It's pretty, but it doesn't stand out to me. It's not an interlude that I'll listen to with the thoughts "Ohh, I'll listen to Aria." To me, it's only function is to transition to blossom. 4/10

Speaking of blossom, here's another track that I adore. It's the only single track of the entire album that I actually LIKE! To me, it's like a flawless version of Crossroad. I feel like this is the stongest single track of the album, even though it sort of gets brushed to the side...it's the 2nd A-side curse, I tell ya :p Just like Is this Love, Pride, or Sparkle. Ahh well, it gets a 9/10

Ugh...then there's Thank U. I'm not a big fan of the cutesy songs near the end of the album, and I particularly despise them live.. this song ends up being a carbon copy mash-up of Everlasting Dream from RAINBOW and Honey from My Story. This is the ultimate pitfall of the album for me...3/10

Sweet Season..I've skipped this song everytime after the first listen...it's just so bland and unnecessary. I detest this song as much as Thank U. It sounds like one of Tomiko Van's awful solo songs. 2/10

Overture is just another pretty interlude to me, too...it kinda sounds like God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen to me :p I don't really like the fake medieval-fairytale sound of it. I don't think it transitions well to Do It Again, either. 2/10

Do It Again is the one song of the album that I'm REALLY confused about...I don't know whether to love it or feel lukewarm about it. I utterly detest the english in this.. I have no qualms about English in Japanese music, unless it serves absolutely no purpose. This song wouldn't have been any weaker if those lines were Japanese. It makes the song a big campy to me. The verses are very strong, and I like them...and I adore the harmony in the chorus, even though I don't like the chorus itself. Since I'm in the middle on this one, 5/10

Aha, then's there's November, another treasure nestled in the mess. It's a very close 2nd place to Love Song in my book, simply because it's incredibly interesting. The arrangement is unique, breaking the mold Ayu has kept for a year or so. It's refreshing to hear something so whimsical, folksy, and powerful all at the same time. 10/10

Last, AND least, there's Virgin Road...another song I view with contempt...it's just another recent single track that I don't favor at all. It doesn't interest me, and I don't feel much raw emotion from it. It's too light and minimalist to do that for me. The part before the chorus truly kills it for me, as it attempts to build...the chorus is the only part of promise in the song. That's not saying I like it though....as scathing as it may seem, I'm giving this wallflower a 2/10 as well.

And finally, an overall summary. First of all, Ayu never needs to work with TK ever again...almost every song on this album (save for the single tracks and the interludes) are incredibly repetitive and forgettable. Years from now, I wont look back and listen to Do It Again or Sending Mail like I do with Kiss 'O Kill or It Was. I'm not in any way saying the album is bad, but I'm saying it's weak in my opinion. I'll go ahead and wager the only songs I'll continually listen to are Love Song and November. As a whole collective work, I'll give it a 6/10..

Pros: It's cohesive, the songs function well together and transition well in most places, there are some signs of stylistic experimentation, and it introduces a folksy sound in songs like Love Song and November that work REALLY well for her.

Cons: It's really repetitive, from a composition stand-point. I miss the intriguing breakdowns and guitar solos of albums like NEXT LEVEL and Rock'n'Roll Circus, to interrupt any chance of repetitiveness.

I'm a tough cookie to please, but she still remains the most amazing Jpop performer I've had a chance to follow the career of. Her albums are consecutively splendid, and many of her songs have become part of my childhood/teenage years. She's truly an artist, and even an album like this that feels lukewarm to me can't shake that up for me.

[Michan]

I'm still in love with the album. I just can't stand November. I still don't get what people loves about this song. I listened over and over again but I don't think there's anything special.
For me is her best album since Guilty ^^ (sorry I think I'm the only one here who adore Guilty). Just like Guilty I don't like one track and still can't skip any track. I'm really happy how her vocals are more stronger and confident. It's like I can feel her passion for music and she really believes what she's singing. Over the time she lost it somehow and now she have it again =D
My favorites tracks: Sweet Season, Love Song, Sending Mail and Thank U (Turned to be my favorite happy-cute song of ayu. Because is so soft and isn't annoying and forced "LET'S BE HAPPY FOVERER AND EVER UNTIL THE VERY END" like her previous).
Overall I give 8/10 for the album =). I can't give a higher note 'cause this album is a bit repetitive. For example, I love do it again but is so repetitive that give me headache if I listen more then 3 times.