They are nice! I like her outfit.
Can't wait for the songs though!

At least they are a bit more creative but still kinda... blah. They remind me of misono's covers that were similiar. Ayu's hair is atrocious and the look on her face... :shakehead
Here's to hoping the music is good. I think I'll give up on having good covers from her ever. Lol.

OMG, and no bumpin' remixes!? All Acoustic Orchestra crap :( I have a feeling this is gonna be a slow single. All ballads? Mmmm hot. :rolleyes

I like the top left cover the best. I generally like these covers, but her hair's kind of ugly and whattttt is going on with her lips again?

I like how the masks look more like her real face than her actual face in these covers. No duck lips and her nose looks normal on the mask, too. Hahhh.

Interesting song titles... each title has a word in it that was used in a previous song title. Virgin Road = winding road/crossroad, sweet season = SEASONS, Last angel = Angel's Song/Last Links, Seven Days War = Pieces of Seven, Days (Yeah I know the song's a cover, but still).

By the way, I highly DOUBT that all of the songs are medium ballads. Ayu said she was filming a PV with lots of action, so I assume one of these songs will be upbeat/rock. Maybe Virgin Road...

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM!

Loving the new covers!

I like all them, especially Jacket B.
L covers reminds me of ourselves PV with the masks :D

i want to cancel my CD+DVD version B for buy the CD only version A,i love this cover D:
*crying*

I'm VERY much in love with these covers, especially the CD+DVD-versions (which makes me happy, because I ordered these two versions! ;) )

I like Ayu's make-up very much and the dress looks cute too. The hairstyle looks a bit strange, but still okay.
The idea with the mask is reli nice!

And the tracklist sounds great too, especially "Last angel". I hope, it's going to be a rock song or a dark song - dark rock song would be best :D! The other two songs sound like ballads or summer songs.


Wahhhh! I can't wait for these two new singles to come out. I will go crazy, if I can't listen to the new songs and watch the new PVs soon! :thud

She looks really old with that hairstyle... >_>

^Haha just what I thought.
Then I wished they have added some more colour to it. Both crossroad and L feels pretty cold/colourless/empty/classy in a way. Two in a row was a bit overkill.

But over all I actually like them. They are okay. Better then crossroad, better then A COMPLETE (I was so afraid that she would pull something like that again) even with those things I don't like about them.

I say, thank heavens for that mask. If it wouldn't be there I would have dissliked them sooooo much more.

And btw, I don't think they all will be medium ballads. Not with the action-ish PV and all. But IF all of them are, I will buy the single just because I'm a fan, not because I want too.

I cancelled my CD only jacket D, I really don't like this cover at all :no
I bought the jacket C instead <3

Yes, me too. However, I like the way Ayu's doing it MUCH better!!

I'm SO excited for both of these singles!!

And it's only next week that "crossroad" releases. Then "L" one week after that.:D:D:D:D

Oh and the tracklist for "L" sounds pretty neat. *giggles* Last angel. Sure it won't be anything like Kuu's one at all. :P

:weep PLEASE COME SOONER RELEASE DATES!!

I feel guilty for hating the covers. I know it's stupid, but I was sooo looking forward to this release, so happy that there would finally be another 3A single as amazing as my two all-time favorites, }{ and &... of course I haven't heard the music yet and I'm sure it'll be amazing but I think those covers are really, really bad and that's something I DON'T say often. And no HANABI~episode III~.....

I don't know if anyone said it yet.
Why jacket C have 8 tracks while jacket D have only 7? I don't understand it lol
And CDJapan didn't update their website so I'm a little confuse because I wanna preorder jacket B and C

I wish there was a more interesting background, and a more dignified facial expression, but otherwise.... I love them.

that's really reminds me of the opening screen of Arena Tour 2005-MY STORY
Chon-nan look's really cute in here with that shhort hair and tutu (^-^)

I'd imagine they should have the covers posted up by Wednesday at latest. They've been SO slow lately though. They still dont have Kuu's Universe Tour DVD posted up either.... I dunno whats up, cause usually they're quick about this stuff. You would expect them to be anyways as they'd get news quicker being located directly in Japan.

Oh and I hope we get images of the posters real soon. I wanna see. Please be something creative and not just all the single covers pasted side-by-side on a grid sorta thing.

Finally !!!!!
I love both CD+DVD covers more than the cd only ver .
:luv2:luv2

The covers are okay.

They could've been little better since it is her 50th single.

As for the tracklist, they sounds intresting. Looking forward to hear more about them.

For now, I probably just going to pick up the cd-only single with the Orchestra mixes only.

Hey maybe i missed this, but is there any news on what type of first press packaging comes with these yet?

I can't help but lol at Last angel and Virgin Road titles. What the hell is she thinking? :D These titles sounds more like Kuu songs than Ayu songs xD

GOOD LINK! The Poker face 12 years ago appears on this 50th single :-)

^good point of view!

Hey true! I forgot to ask about this.
Maybe digipack? I don't want another colored case, I want something more special like 10th anniversary singles

I'm in minority... I LOVE ALL COVERS. :heart Songs names sound interesting.

Umm...what am I thinking about?

And I'm agreeing with you.:D Also, I think that Ayu knows what she's doing. Many don't like "crossroad" covers on here as well, but it seems Japan loves 'em.

They look so good, I love them :) Her hair surprised me but it really fits, and to me the overall feel is 'classy'!

the website now doesn't say anything about any first press packaging.
originally it only said it was "planned"--and now it says nothing at all, just information about the serial numbered card.

so I'm assuming the limited package was cancelled (or it's still undetermined and will be updated later.)

^i hope they go ahead with having it. Will probably help sales.:D

The official site never mentioned anything about the special packaging, but the first press limited edition thing on the mu-mo site still says "special packaging"~

http://shop.mu-mo.net/avx/sv/item1?seq_exhibit_id=27841

It's in red.

Is the special packaging for all versions...? I'm going to get a CD-only but I want to know about packaging and final tracklists first.

^ Team Ayu originally said there was a special packaging planned, the same thing mu-mo said (it just wasn't in red)

we all knew about the planned special package before the mu-mo links were even up :P

I LOVE the covers! They are beautiful, and they seem to have a bit more something else than Ayu just standing there looking pretty. And finally we're getting the tracklist! Last angel and Sweet Season sound interesting, but I have to say, "Virgin Road" wtflyingf? :roflmao

well what can I say.... I like the covers, the "full body" ones are better in my oppinion, um I'm not fancying the simplicity much but I kinda like the colors, even though I'm more of a bright/contrast ones. The concept... I'm glad that there's a concept at all :laugh at least something with a little message...

however I think the best cover with this concept for me is this one:


um Ayu looks very nice and... girly XD as usually.. um and the names of the songs... Last Angel just reminds me of GACKT's Lost Angels for some reason... blame my fangirl side..lol however they do sound interesting :yes

Looking forward to the videos and songs!:innocent

Many people here on AHS will NEVER be fully satisfied with anything Ayu releases. People should be happy we get such quick releases and Ayu is still producing a high quality of music and not disappearing for 2 - 3 years like some other J artists.

^ yea.. at least we should be grateful that Ayu has been so active til today... and we should just enjoy for any releases..good or bad~

wowwww gackt actually has the cover with that mask on hand too! WOWW..
interesting!

Best covers since Days. Ayu you've resurrected my love for you again. :heart

Earth_maiden, true, but people will still keep expressing their oppinions, however I don't think anyone is unhappy about that :P I mean I really love this about Ayu, that she's releasing stuff almost every month, while western musicians and some of the japanese after the album realise dissapear for 4-5 years... :headache I mean disscusing the covers and traclists is one and discussing the song is different thing, at least for me :yes

AyUmIXx, yeah, he did that in 2005 :innocent I mean it's really not a new thing in an artistic world.

I like her look but I wish they'd put something in the background. Just gray is really boring.... :/

^
^ and i mean that somehow..the mask looks kinda the same shape like ayu's haha XD
it's definitely a new thing for ayu haha..
at least Ayu is not just posing..but she adds something on it..

It's for all four versions.

That was actually the first thing that came to my mind when I saw these covers :laugh

I actually love them, simple & elegant :heart

if we pre-order through CD Japan..
will us get the special packaging too?

lol maybe they used the same template XD just added their own closed-eyed faces XD

it is new thing for Ayu, and this is something I like about the covers, that the photoshoot isn't just plain magazine-like :yes

^ totally.. thanks God that Ayu has come with different idea this time even if it's not original concept anymore~~

Yeah, I don't mind constructive criticism, and I agree I miss covers like Blue Bird and glitter/fated, but it seems the same group of people just attack everything Ayu does, and it makes me wonder why they're on here. Why not start up an Ayu hating forum and whinge about her with fellow complainers?

But without having heard any of the previews all we can go on is the covers and tracklists, so I guess we'll have to see how far it goes.

OMFG THEY'RE ALL ****ING GORGEOUS.
I HAVEN'T LOVED SINGLE COVERS THIS MUCH SINCE.. BLUE BIRD? IDK.
i love that mask idea so much and wow her body in that tutu thing :thud
i couldn't ask for better covers for her 50th single, these are just.. amazing.
now the titles.. "Virgin road".. lol.. i'm not sure what i could imagine that to be, but from the titles this seems like it could be another all ballad single. we'll see!

I wish one of the covers showed her in a ballet pose or dancing. That would be icing on the cake.

I like the concept, I'm just not a fan of that expression on her face so much, kind of takes away the prettiness of it a bit.

WOAH!!! :thud This is what I get for going to school and missing all of this ayu news! X_X But I loooove the covers! <33 Though, the first (shown on the official site, anyway) CD+DVD cover stuck out to me! It's very lovely! :luv2 "Virgin Road" sounds like it could suprise me! :laugh

not even the lips bother me this time

these are gorgeous!

the covers do look good.. but i really hope it is without the mask thing.. it looks a bit annoying, somehow. i just hoped that something more to be added to the background or something. Look, the pink dress looks so adorable and nice, but the background just can't make it. :grumpy

i have a feeling that these covers from moon to this L single, it looks really like a rush job. quite dissappointed TBH. :no

Wow, the close-up covers are gorgeous. :O She really needs to hire people who know something about text placement though 'cause her covers always have the worst.

The song titles are... weird, particularly "Virgin Road."

well, i'm not going to say that they are the best ayumi covers ever, but they are pretty good!!! after the awful crossroad covers i am very relieved to see some decent ones!

but now i have to go find the tracklist, i don't see it in the first post. :(

EDIT: after seeing the titles...i feel kind of weird. those are some pretty awful and cheesy titles. i hope they aren't all ballads.

I need to recover....i LOVE everything!!!!

OMG...

this is BEYOND PERFECT!!! :luv2

LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!!!! :heart
i reli love this balerina concept~ :heart

and btw, where's the tracklist??
i'm sure this single will ROCKET much much more than Mirrorcle World!!!

i love 50th single anniversary!!!

ayu REALLY rocks 2010!!!! :D:D :D :yes

i don't love them............:(

^ misono's one is just waaayyyy worse than these gorgeous ayu's photos~~~ :D :D

Abaolutely perfect that's my Ayu TvT
I'm so proud of her

FYI to anyone who doesn't know what Virgin Road is:
It's said to be a phrase that Japanese uses for a bride's walk down the aisle. (http://from-japan-with-love.blogspot...rgin-road.html)

I'd heard of something called Maiden Road in Lucky*Star before but that was an otaku-related play on it, I think?

Just like crossroad, they're nice but not mindblowing. Despite awkwardly holding the mask, she looks good. I was hoping for something really amazing for L ala Mirrorcle World but whatever...

I think it would be easier to update the first post.

and please stfu about misono because gackt did it first.

^gackt do this?woo!!could you post the photo?

IDUSIUHDAHAJDHJONDJAHAGDOMHOMGOMGOMGDJAHJHDGJHAJDH JDHHDJ

DAMN
IDIED

JEEZUS
I KNOW, THE LIPS

I KNOW
BUT

HOLY *****

THIS IS FREAKING PERFECT
EVEN THOSE LIPS

JEZZZZZZZ

^^ I don't mind misono and I love Gackt but the comparisons are not necessary. (speaking in general of course)

just the fact that gackt did this too makes me love the covers more lol

Last angel = koda kumi (that's the first thing in my mind. lol) I hope it's as amazing as that song. I also hope this single isn't fast paced ballad #1, mid tempo ballad #2, and slow ballad #3. haha

I want Last Angel to be rock and Virgin Road to be just unique

I love the covers. :heart :heart :heart :heart they're gorgeous!!!

I have no complaints :D

LOL ME TOO. God Ayu, i love you and all...but oh my gosh that mask honestly freaked me out XD :thud

Oh hey, I like them! Nice

Might be the best of her recent singles/album covers yet.

I wonder if some of these songs are composed by CREA ＼＾o＾／

What is with Ayu, Kumi and now misono lately? This is really starting to freak me out...

I feel the opposite.. lol

how unoriginal the cover is! gosh...I am just disaapointed with this ideas.

The mask thing has already been used for a few times in art creation.

Like in Nakashima Mika's Seppun PV back til 2001-2 sth, they have already used this concept.

I am looking for more avant-garde thingy, nonetheless I hope the songs are good^^
Fingercrossed

http://pics.livejournal.com/caitscosplay/pic/0009kr4g

Ayu looks very pretty *-*

but i think it would have been varied if she had used differnet expressions...

thx for posting!!!

It's so unexpectable ! I love them ><

I feel the exact same way. I literally gasped when I saw them because I thought "Ayu copied misono!" >_<

She looks pretty though, I'm just bother by her face expression that looks like it appeared in two of the covers.

where's the tracklist?

Even though it's simple, I really like the concept of the idea and I also find these better than the crossroad covers!

OMFG GORGEOUS! I totally love it!

i find that even more disturbing! i was hoping it was just bad engrish for a road that has not been travelled before.

now i fear its about marriage. maybe ayumi is getting married. :lech

Ok we found 3 TIMES it was used the idea of mask, what's wrong with it? LOL there are ideas used a lot more and we don't mind. Gackt cover is great :)

Virgin road, i thougt it would talk about the road she's walking on, the one is comming from the future. She use many times that concept for songs, the path we chose to take, and about how the future is not made but we have to make it, that would be the "virgin road" I didn't know about that japanese name for the church part.

At first, I was so gazed by Ayu that I didnt realized that there's a masks of her face lol

Ooh I like them! Great covers!

I like the covers. The mask idea is a little creepy but interesting.

To me, the mask thing reminds me of Chichiri from Fushigi Yugi! :laugh

Awwww Chichiri! :luv2

i just noticed the dress is kind of like this one she wore
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2...snap579375.jpg
it's not exactly the same though~

The covers are nice, but not my favorite from her.

i f'n LOVE IT! the best in a long tiiiiime!!!! thank you so much for these! aaaah i love 'em. i wanna buy this single so bad now!!!! that's how good the covers are!!!

and another thing: her lips. i think the relaxed lips on the masks balance her puffy ones out, LOL. so i'll survive this cover.

LOVELY! :heart i really like the mask idea. i prefer ayu with long hair, but that hairstyle looks really adorable anyway.

i love the tracklist, as well. although i know it's been mentioned, "last angel" reminded me of kumi, lol. i especially like the title "Virgin Road", so i'm excited for the PV of that and "sweet heaven".

Pardon!! Couldn't help it! ^_^"
I guess it's just normal that something pops up in your mind and you just want to share that...:yes

I like them. I love the idea, I love her dress, her expression is nice as well. But..sadly it doesn't blow me away. Waiting for HQ pics!

EDIT: Just saw the tracklist. I looooove all the titles:heart Hope "Virgin Road" is something special, the title sounds promising. And "Sweet Season"..aww, so nice. And I am already thinking that "Last angel" will be one of my all-time favorite songs, I already imagine a memory in my head:laugh If it will be as epic as kuu's LAST ANGEL with THSK then....:luv2:heart:heart

Thanks... they're finally out! ^^

I love the idea...but I'm kinda dislinking the fact that...they're almost the same pic D=
And...:( lately her lips seem to be just... there...:thud


Anyways...love the tracklist :yes

Once again, these lips are in fashion right now. Open a Japanese fashion magazine and you will see some fish lips, lip plumping, open mouths, teeeeeeeeeeeeth. Ayu isn't the only one, Kana Nishino seems to be the new queen of fish lips and fish lips are all Kumi does lol. It's just the way it is. :laugh

^They need to get out of fashion, quick. :laugh

Meh... was hoping that maybe after getting some sleep and waking up I would be able to maybe see something I missed in the covers before but bah... still don't care for them at all. CD-only Jacket D is still the least 'meh' so I guess I'll get that one.

That's a pretty interesting tidbit about Virgin Road... perhaps a M pt. 2? :luv2 That'd be too good to true though and I know some people consider momentum to be M pt.2 but I still don't agree with that haha.

I love it. I think they are stunning. Yes, the idea is repeated but I think Ayu does a great job of it.

I love these covers a lot more than MOON and Crossroad, finally a cover which is beautiful but also conceptual. :) The mask makes the cover interesting, instead of her just sitting there looking pretty. +1 point from me. :D