exactly my point: Music!
Big sales doesn't mean better music and I love what she's doing right now

Don't act like y'all wouldn't be pleased if Ayu released an album of the same calibre and "this could be a single" quality as I Am....

He wrote later that she disgraced her family and stuff like that. I know that Japanese society loves to make a big deal about any "misbehaviour" but... She was good person and now she's bad and vicious, really?

When she tried to "return to her roots" with "Love songs" fans wasn't happy either. She'll never be able to satisfy everyone so she should do whatever she likes and don't feel sorry for her actions.

This was my first thought after reading that comments.

I think for some people it's something more than music, they're just obsessed about her.

I'd love if she'd release album with own compositions again but I can't say that what she did after "I am..." is worse quality.

She's had plenty of good stuff since I am..., it's that these people listen to something once and then compare it to something that came out 15 years ago like Ayu hasn't done anything worthy of their ears since then.

I think her songs are better since I am... Those songs are remarkable and great.


JEWEL
CAROLS
Dearest
NEVER EVER
Heartplace
everywhere nowhere
HANABI
Voyage
(Miss)understood
Rainy Day

Also there are some really awful songs, but Good songs > Bad songs.

I just don't think she should have to apologize for living where she wants. :shrug It's sad that anyone would stop respecting her just because she needed to get away. Sometimes people just don't see the other side of things.

Considering I find I Am... to be a messy and that I don't think it aged all that well, I would actually be really sad if she did something like that again. :P

I love "I am..." but it's been a long time ago. She tried different music styles during past 10+ years and it's fine if somebody don't like the results. I'm not a big fan of "Party Queen" or "Colours" but it's doesn't matter. She's still able to releasing catchy songs and write deep and meaningful lyrics - she's still herself even if she has changed/grow up (whatever you'll call it).

Blue sky gym
#run
#until the end of the so island
#water running low
#don't have towel
#mobile radio don't work
#I came back in half crying
http://i.imgur.com/Ddw9eIdl.jpg

I don't really appreciate I am... To me that album is overrated as fuck, just like Final Fantasy VII.

^ Yeah, (miss)understood is better for me, like Final Fantasy VI.

^Haha loving the FF references guys (I completed VI for the first time this year and am now replaying VII for the first time in years)

IMO Memorial address is the most concentrated "Ayu" album ever. A little bit of everything!

You don't have to like songs from "I am..." but you should appreciate the fact they were composed by Ayu herself (what makes this album her most personal release). She proved she's not just a singer but the artist.

I feel like RAINBOW had more interesting tracks than I am... tbh.

That is true for me. I also prefer the atmosphere the album gives off as a whole. I think that's also an appeal of MY STORY for me. I think other people may have found RAINBOW not to flow but I always felt like I was listening to something with a complete and distinct mood. RAINBOW is just too cool

I am... is not the same. It just feels like a collection of really great and powerful songs sometimes so I usually never listen to that album straight through but rather I pick songs I'm in the mood for. But I guess it's still kind of epic in a way with how strong so many of the songs are and the way it's set up from the beginning. I get the mood of it sort of but I guess maybe it's just something I don't prefer. evolution and Unite are overrated. So is Dearest. Naturally, still alone, Connected, and M are truly the gems from that album and it's unfortunate for me that she doesn't have many songs like them. I will always love A song is born for the feelings it gives. I always cry lol.

^I will never forgive what they did with endless sorrow on that album... :P

no more words is probably my favorite on I am....

Was probably one of her most vulnerable songs at the time.

I think "you could" would've been a better way to phrase that, "should" sounds like forcing your opinion.

As for the better albums, I've found RAINBOW, Memorial address and (miss) understood to be her strongest. Rock N Roll Circus and Next Level are below that tier, along with Duty.

I am... has some really strong singles, but unite! and evolution were never my favorites. I've found that the album tracks are either very good when they're good and very boring at their worst. It IS the FFVII of Ayu's career when it should be FFXII :P

Honestly though, anything from I Am... could be released today and still do really well, and sound current. I don't think you can say the same about any of her other albums. It has the most fantastic production value, and it is so polished in the right way (while I like them, (miss)understood and secret are TOO polished to me, like they sound scrubbed clean).