^ Agreed.

But, I also think that this release shouldn't be promoted as a mini-album. However, my assumption for why she's doing this is to postpone the release of a new full album so she may continue to promote Love Songs during Countdown 11/12 (and possibly next year's tour). Love Songs + FIVE gives her nearly a full set list to perform, whereas if she released a new album, she'd be forced to promote newer material and ditch any ideas for had for Love Songs' tracks.

yeah, it's like A single, which was considered as an album by RIAJ

I think, ayu decided to release one mini-album instead of 2 or 3 singles. I think she's doing right, though the release has a bit rushed feeling, cause she could divide this mini-album into 3 singles and then release a full album in the end of year as she usually does.

That's true. She'll probably only release singles until the Love songs tour ends and have a full album out sometime after...

When FIVE become a singles, i believe some people will complaint about the other thing later.

Such as: why in the new album only have 5-6 new songs?

100% truth. There is always something.

EP = mini-album in Japan.

So if there's enough tracks for an EP, there's enough tracks to term this release a mini-album in Japan.

This is definitely not a single. "single" is supposed to mean one song. The Japanese tend to slap the term "single" on any release with 1-2 original songs, then "maxi-single" is there's 3-4 original songs, and mini-album for 5-8 songs.

Don't really see what's so controversial about it. She had enough material for 5 songs this time around, why not release all at once? She releases for her fans now, not to make fantastic sales. 5 songs, 5 PVs, I think it's a pretty sweet package.

My bet would be that she is taking some time for herself... So, she can finish the tour, do the cdl as usual and have a low profile schedule to see her husband or whatever she feels like doing...

I guess her contract makes her release one album a year, so, a mini album is a way to have some free time..

It's not a controversial release to me.

I am already satisfied enough as she didn't "Fish mouth" anymore on the cover. lol
And so far "Progress" and "Beloved" are good...

Love the cover.Looks like a photo that could be used in vogue magazine.

yeah she deserves some rest.

she'll release this album, in September she'll be busy with TV and magazines, in October she'll have to finish her tour. And in November she can have a rest with her husband in LA or somewhere else. And in the end of December she'll be back for Christmas shows, Kouhaku and CDL.

and then it will be new year, new singles, new album.. oh, how I wish she'd give a birth to a child instead of a new releses :think

think so too >.<

the only problem ayu's releases have is her fans, which most of them are members of this forum.

hahaha, oh well ...

Two weeks for the release!! I can't wait for the songs and PVs!! We know (well, heard) completely nothing on how the collabs and BRILLANTE sound!

^You just can't imagine how eager I am to hear BRILLANTE, this song intrigues me so much ! I'm also eager to see the PV, which was not really the case for Ls !

Sort of regretting that I bought the CD version when I saw the CD+DVD, but at least I'm getting the orchestra version of "beloved" :3 <3

Sorry, I'm new at AHS, so I thought that FIVE was being very polemic between her fans. I didn't know that this is a common situation. xD
I'm amazed in how many people drove crazy because of the collaborations or even because it's a mini-album.
I was expecting a single, so I'm pretty much satisfied with what I have now.
It's just so strange see people treating Ayu as a slave, who needs to do what her fans wants to and not get a rest sometimes or try something different...

Yawn but universally true. However, that makes this forum with lots of people. Otherwise this forum would be boring.

:love I was able to listen to the chakuuta's of Why... and ANother Song.

They both sound really really good. I like Why... a bit more than Another song, but ANother song is beyond my expectations. Why... was composed by Kazuhiro Hara (Sparkle, Lady Dynamite, STEP you, Startin', glitter, Marionette, criminal, Born To Be..., You were..., curtain call, and more)

^ That's great news! I want to hear them ;_____;