YESSSSSSSSS :yes

omg! NO...okay look, I always thought you were a girl! And then...maybe it was someone else...but they kept correcting me saying they were a guy, and I guess I mixed them up with you lol

Sorry :laugh

I absolutely love the refrain in NEXT LEVEL! It's the best track from the album - the rest sounds rather random...

The only thing that bothers me is when some people start talking about how bad and not emitional her music is now and how good it was before... I (and a lot of other people) prefer her actual moment than her past one... I hate Fly High, Boys & Girls and Audience to death (even if I like B&G on concerts) 'cause to me it's just a overly happy song with immature girlish lyrics.... I can see myself when she is singing Mirrorcle World, Alterna, Raining Day, Sparkle much more than when she is singing her "classics" and I like how her creative lyrics are much more mature now (even if she never stops writing about the smae things in most of her music).

And I can feel emotion in most of she is singing now (and I can't feel it in some... but I can't feel it in some of the older ones too)... Some people said that GREEN lacks emotion... to me is one of her best ballads ever! And I'm not talking only about music, I'm talking about the lyrics, her voice and all the emotion I feel from this song, even before reading the lyrics (that I really like too)... A lot of people that don't like GREEN loved Days, and to me, Days is another wintery ballad like the ones she releases every year...

If you don't like NL, thats not a problem... but when people starts talking about how bad this album is and how much she needs to rest... then, I don't like it... Because these people is saying that the songs I like are not good and are not respecting that sometimes it's not about how good the songs are... It's just about being or not being someone's cup of tea...

I like everything except for the interludes. I was expecting more. Ayumi needs to just get rid of interludes altogether. This is just annoying now.

But then you just said that you hate songs like Fly High and Audience and that they are immature, so aren't you doing the same thing? There are always going to be people on either side either criticizing the new era or the old era. That's not likely to stop anytime soon.

@SunshineSlayer: Okay, I get what you mean. I agree with you that she honestly needs a long rest though... I really like this album, but I've never really agreed with the release date.

Anyway, what I meant in that quote where you were "What?", was that you made it sound as though you're enjoying something like Fly high just because it contains a lot of 'regrets' in it (in the lyrics), as compared to another song of similar style but with lyrics that are extremely confident and positive (EnergizE), which makes me wonder if a happy-sounding song needs to have a tinge of regret/negativity to be enjoyed. But I doubt you're such a person, though you're a sunshine slayer. :D

In any case, I so disagree with what someone said about Fly high/AUDIENCE/Boys & Girls have immature lyrics! Omg! That is quite a bad song to say, because those songs have really amazing lyrics. I don't think her lyrics from any era is 'better' than lyrics from another era... they are all the relate-able and heartfelt lyrics from Ayu.

For me, I enjoy albums ever since RAINBOW, as in I can listen to these recent albums at one shot and enjoy them a lot.

For her earlier years, I find it hard to listen to them in albums (except Duty), her earlier songs are really stellar as songs, but I don't like listening to them in their albums.

I don't know what that means, but I know I enjoy both the old and new Ayu.

lol, yeah I totally didn't mean for my name to be taken in this context when I chose it, haha. In my early days as an Ayu fan it was actually ironic, because I was always super positive about everything, haha. And no, I don't think lyrics need to have regret in them to be good, but its hard to deny the brilliance of her happy but regretful songs though. :)

Nice that we can agree on some things and disagree on others nicely. :yes

Oh I know right! Like glitter is a good example of happy songs with regret, but again the songs in NEXT LEVEL have happiness/hope that she hasn't really written before, so it's pretty cool.

Yeah, I'm an old fan and I never felt any strong emotion from songs like Fly high, Trauma, or immature (to name a few). I mean, if you never had access to the translation of those lyrics, would you even know what they were about (if you don't speak Japanese)? To me, emotion in a song transcends beyond words, it can be the power in one's voice. To me, she sings songs like Who..., A Song for XX (A BALLADS version), Together When..., (miss)understood and GUILTY (to name a few) with tremendous emotion which is why I enjoy those songs so much.

But emotion doesn't only have to be about sadness. When she sings songs like independent, or July 1st, I hear happiness in her voice despite whatever the lyrics may say. I haven't heard this album yet because a certain postal worker decided to just leave a note saying "we were here" instead of KNOCKING while I was waiting nearby! <_<;;.... But anyway, from what people say it sounds like this album has distorted her vocals a bit? But from what I hear in songs like GREEN, Rule and Sparkle, she sounds so confident! I get such a "HELL YEAH!" feeling whenever I hear those songs. And Days sounds just soooo sweet! I love the way she sings it, before evening knowing what she was saying I could tell it was a sort of love song.

So when people ask me which era of Ayu's music I like more, I can't really say because there is so much I like about the old and new. But I can say that I feel more in her newer works than her older ones. I'm not saying they lacked emotion or whatever, I just didn't feel any particular vibe because her voice, in my opinion, sounded the same for each song; happy or sad. It wasn't until she redid a few of her songs that I felt what she was talking about without reading the lyrics (i.e. A Song for XX on A BALLADS, talk about WOW). Anyway, that's my two cents for now. When I finally get my copy tomorrow morning, I'll give it a good hard listen.

^ The problem that people have with NEXT LEVEL is that her vocals are too over-produced that they lack emotion. I mean I'm not so sure of that, but hey, that's feedback from the fans too.

One thing I'm super sure of is that if she were to take a break, her vocals would be back in good condition, and she wouldn't need to rely on "layering" or whatever.

But yes, 100% agree with you! A lot of her newer songs (let's take newer = from (miss)understood onwards) contain strong emotions in her voice... fated and Together When... are like prime examples.

That's why Ayu is so important to me... her voice, however un-powerhouse it may be, always contains a lot of emotion.

In NEXT LEVEL, the techno songs might have been a little robotic, but in songs where her voice are not tampered (with vocoders), I feel emotion too, like in NEXT LEVEL, GREEN, Days and Curtain call.

This album really is good to me. REALLY GREAT

I think that album's theme is electro-pop and that expains the use of vocoder

me, personally, wouldn't like these songs so much if they had "natural" Ayu voice I guess
this voice effect adds smth extra to album's sound for me :D

The album is good,but it's ayumi,so it's a disappointment.
GUILTY was so much better album and is her best ever IMO.

I guess it's again my unconditioned love for Ayu's music that talks in me, but I think NL is great. It's creative and somewhat provocative and it is a next level for our ever-changing Ayu.

Well I listened to the the whole thing one time, and I must say, there isn't a terrible amount of "emotion" per se. But there's definitely a lot of attitude, which is something so new from her! I love it.

For those of you who disagreed on my statement that Ayu has lost her writing spark, that "as if i could write better lyrics", i must say, it's not like we think under the same light bulb and i've never said i could've done better. I've listened to Ayu since the summer of '99 mainly for her lyrics and genius music arrangements and i know for an obvious fact that her lyrics aren't as captivating as before. She still writes great lyrics, but they're aren't THE best anymore, just ONE OF the best nowadays.

But i'll list the few that actually stuck out lyrically to me from NEXT LEVEL:

NEXT LEVEL (especially the line "even the scar in my past is dear to me now")
rollin'
identity

these remind me of her I Am... era, maybe b/c of the arrangement and the lyrics. these sink deeper than the rest of the songs on the album. and i'm not referring to how she doesn't write certain kinds of lyrics. i'm saying writing in general. now let's go have some ice cream, sheesh.

And this is where I go and tell everyone to watch her sing all those old songs live.

Sometimes I think some people mistake the style she sings in, as emotion. Not saying you, just some people.

Just because her older works had to sound a certain way, doesn't mean that there isn't emotion put into them. When I watch Ayu's old concerts, I'm reminded of why I'm an Ayu fan, because she was just awesome when she was singing, even if she sang a wrong note lol.

But I guess it's just people's preference. A lot of newer fans prefer her new way of singing and performing...I personally don't....I wish she'd go back..at least to AT05.

I really disagree where people think her old songs don't contain emotions like the new ones...if anything, for me, they contain more, because for me, they feel more sincere. Like it was just her...now it's very different in the way she writes, records, and performs.

Maybe it's just the evolution of an artist.

i don't understand why people say that. like you can't be an older fan and prefer her newer stuff? i'm not that older of a fan but i've been listening to her since mid 2001 and definitely prefer her singing style now (minus the vibrato) than her older singing.

^No, it's just the impression I get from reading all the new threads where people post their thoughts about stuff.

You just don't see many newer fans that like her old way of singing.

I wasn't implying anything about her older fans. They seem to be all over the place in how they feel.

I've been thinking that too. It seems like most people who love this album are newer fans, and people don't like it so much are her older fans. :shrug

Well I'm listening to it right now and I think it's great!!
I'm really looking forward to listening to this album all the time!!
My favourites (of the new tracks) are definitely rollin', identity, and LOVE n' HATE
and ALL the interludes sound amazing!
And I officially love Yuta Nakano, she can use him all the time if it was up to me :)

And just for the record some newer fans do like her voice from her early years!
(like me)
I think it's a matter of musical preference and what particular musical style she chooses for an album.
If you don't like electro-dance music then, you might not enjoy an album like NEXT LEVEL.
Personally for me, I like all her albums :)

Fantastic album!!! Love NEXT LEVEL, EnergizE and Curtain call. Is it just me or does it remind the song Without You by Badfinger or more well known by Mariah Carey, just the piano intro.

Actually, if I listen without any interludes I like this album more. They're very annoying. EnergizE reminds me a lot of independent and her old songs. This album is refreshing, but the interludes are too much.

Also : Idiotic when people feel the need to say her old albums are better than her new ones. As if her old albums were just oh-so-epic. Maybe if you're a depressed loner.

There's a huge diference in saying "I think this album is bad, I like her older works better" and "this album is bad, she is losing her spark! Her songs aren't as good as they used to be and her new songs will not be remembered by anyone this time"

Even if I'm a new ayu fan (started being a fan in Memorial Address era because of the Because of You video and the AT03-04), I'm not new to jpop nor to Ayu's music...

I'm a fan since 2003 (Close to Memorial address era) so I guess it's in between old and new (and maybe it's the reason there is a good balance in my liking of ayu's old and new works).
The first songs that made me love ayu are mainly from LOVEppears (which is my favorite album by her). Except for LOVEppears, I am... and Duty though I like NEXT LEVEL more than the rest of her albums (and I love them all, of course nothing is perfect and I have my own preference in albums and songs etc.).
I think a lot of old, new (or middle) fans can have this balance too but everyone should repect both ayu's old and new (not saying to like, but just respect) and respect other people's preferences. feelings and likings. For some examples:
If for a person ayu's older voice is better, than that's how he feels we should repsect it, if someone feels that ayu's latest style is the best for him, then we should respect it.
If someone says that he feels that some of the new lyrics are better than the old ones, we should respect him (and of course we have to get respect in return).
The whole thing is subjective and even if most agree on one's opinion and there is still that one that feels differently we should respect him and he should respect the others.
We are discussing about music, not about if the sun is yellow and the skies are blue, therefore nothing is a fact but it's how everyone feels towards something, songs, voice, albums, appearances etc. I do think that harsh words and sentences opinions are giving people legitimate to negatively argue about things and opinions so people should share their opinions in a less harsh way and covney it better.

still the vocoder hate? xD that's really something subjective. I never found songs with vocoder less emotional or something. actually, I like that slightly distant, cold sound it produces.



ah, I still haven't got excited for this album. I'm whoring right now kuu's DRIVING HIT'S and it's like fantastic. the whole thing is just a disco mess from a lot of mediocre songs which I totally love. the thing makes we want to shake my ass and get ****ty and all that, but NEXT LEVEL totally leaves my like :yconfused after some minutes.

I guess she can't make good albums ALL the time. I don't really like I am... or MY STORY as a whole either. may be one of those albums I loop some songs (the singles in this one) but leave the rest alone.

I think the problem comes in when people start talking about lack of emotion, in any of her works...

which is also subjective isnt it? I personally think there's certain things Ayu does with her voice that people say is emotion when...it isn't really lol She's just singing in a certain way. For me, emotion comes off through the music and the lyrics...

but feeling emotion and from where is also subjective lol

How interesting it is...the different ways people see music.

@ayumisrael: I'm surprised you have been a fan since Ma. I thought you're newer (well not that new now but two years ago I thought you're a new fan after STEP you lol).

For me, it's not about her old music vs. new music. It's more about how she recycle her music. I think I've said it before that I wasn't too fond of her during I am... to RAINBOW era, cuz her music styles/arrangement (esp the single songs) were practically similar to each other. Don't ask me why I thought they're similar, but if you were a fan back in 2001 or 2002, you should see lots of posts about M vs. Free & Easy, evolution vs. Naturally, July 1st vs. Greatful Days, etc. I didn't buy I am... because it was lame to me (lots of singles, those few album songs aren't that great), and I bought RAINBOW at that time because the cover was shockingly pretty. I didn't head back to ayu until Ma.

And then I see the similar thing again. Secret and GUILTY are pretty similar in sense (well this is subjective. Probly lots of you dun think in that way. But when I listened to GUILTY I just felt that's quite similar to the previous album). So for me NL stands out more because she tries to do something else instead of those rock/metal/loud music.

I dunno what you're implying (yeah actually I'm a bit confused when reading this message lol... my brain is slow at this point). I was reading your last post about the emotion part, and I find it quite right. We don't need to deny that ayu's singing skill is getting better nowadays, and the way she handle the "emotion" should be better in some ways. The thing is, I just don't feel the "natrual tone" (or "sincere" from your post) in her newer songs.

For example, she resang End roll in A BEST. Technically her vocal in A BEST version is better, but at the same time she lost the "raw" feeling that I could hear in her LOVEppears (or A) version.

Another example. Judging from the comments that were made a few months ago, at least 85% of people preferred LOVE~Destiny~ 10th anniversary version. I dunno I dun even think the vocal sounds good at all. And the way she sang it in the 10th version totally dumped the original feeling of the song. I love she used the softness to handle to old version (and I really think it matches the lyric). Whenever I listen to the song I feel like she's telling a story. The new version can't even hit my brain at all.

Except nobody is talking about Driving hit's. Save the Driving hit's review for the kuu thread. Koda Kumi is NOT relevant in discussing thoughts on Ayumi Hamasaki's new album.

^what is relevant in this discussion is certainly not upon you to decide. there's a context. it's called COMPARISON.

I LOVE THE ALBUM AND I HAVE BEEN A FAN FOR MORE THAN 7 YEARS

how would you explain that?:lech

There is nothing to compare, so drop it, nobody cares.

That would kinda be me :p Though the first Ayu songs I've heard were Hana and Dearest around the time MY STORY was released, I've became a fan when STEP you was released. It took me a year or so to fell in love with her pre-I am.. stuff. LOVEppears is one of my fave Ayu albums and I have to say that even though the changes to her voice are really obvious I wouldn't change a thing when it comes to the way she sang on each of the albums. I even enjoy her live performances (I think that she has done a wonderful job singing For My Dear.. and everywhere nowhere on PCDL). I really equally like all of her "voices".

I really love 98% of the songs that Ayu has done so far and even though some are of a similar genre I could never possibly mix them up in any way. I don't think NEXT LEVEL actually brings anything THAT new to Ayu's music, as besides the 3 electro pop songs the others are pretty much the mix of the stuff she has already done in a way. I don't think Secret and GUILTY were similar in any way, as Secret was a rather popish album with rock hooks and it had a variety of songs on it, while GUILTY was dark&depressive and mostly consisted of rock stuff and rock ballads. Over all NEXT LEVEL is an ok album, but I simply don't think it's better than any of her previous studio albums.

I totally agree with that. I've been very underwhelmed by all of her rerecordings of the old songs actually.

hehe, yeah I'm a fan of her since October 2003 and the first song of her (and my most favorite song ever) is Depend on you =D and yeah I grew to like and know her mainly with LOVEppears (and then I realized she has a new one coming which is Ma) so that too ^^.

I joined AHS like almost 3 years later xD.

For me the weakest 10th anni song is Depend on you (which was a bit dissapointing since it's my favorite song) but my only problem with it is the flat new arrangement... I really like LOVE ~D~ and TO BE's 10th anni versions the best, but I don't know which one is better for me in comparison of 10th anni ver. versus original versions.
Also I do like the fact that the 10th anni songs convey ayu of now along with the old songs, since I don't think ayu should convey the feelings of ayu of the past since she is a different person now, that would be a recycle of the same LOVE ~D~, TO BE etc. therefore I am content with them (still I'm not bettering the 10th anni versions or the original versions). Both have their touches and I wish Doy's would have a better arrangement. =D

On that note I can't stop playing NEXT LEVEL. Will make an orange juice with it tomorrow, that's exactly when I need energy lol :D

I don't think so.

I quite like the album and I'm more of an older fan. I think NEXT LEVEL is an album that splits fans down the middle. You either love it or hate it.

you are being incredibly rude.


on the flip side, thanks to everyone who commented and gave their feedback!

There's lots of nice opinions on this page :)

^Actually the reason I came here is to post my thought about NL (yeah received it today, but cdjapan didn't gimme any prize at all :cry).

Like usual, there are some songs I dun like after the first listen. I don't find rollin' of identity interesting. I'm kinda surprised to myself that I actually like EnergizE and LOVE 'n' HATE. Like many others have said, GREEN is really out of the place. Probly I like Days, so I think it kinda fits into the album (especially it's placed next to Curtain call). To be honest, Bridge to the sky seems to be the weakest introduction from ayu's albums, but again I have just listened to this album for once so probly it will grow on me later on. Overall I think this album is pretty good, suits my taste (as I prefer techno over noisy rock/metal music).

Yeah I agree that GUILTY was darker comapred to Secret (except for the cover and arts :P). But you know, I really feel that she should dump her bands at least once in a while. NL is techno but you can hear some rocky feelings within (unlike LOVEppears, which was 90% techno). I won't put NL as one of her top albums, but I do like she's trying into another directions other than rock, even maybe she is just trying a little.

Oh I do have similar case. I joined AHS about 4 yrs after being an ayu fan. I can't remember why I didn't join AHS in the beginning.. I knew this place back in 2002 I think..

Even tho we have different ideas to the 10th anni songs, I do like the idea you look at those songs. The reason I particularly didn't like LOVE~Destiny~ (10th) is that the new style is too far away from the original. And I still think that the song should be softly like a blanket sheet. Whenever I listen to LOVE~D~ (original), I feel warmth and soft. She could have used a different softness to resing the song. But all she did is just using her nowadays usual strong emotional vocal to perform it. It really kills the song. I do like the arrangement of the 10th tho. It give freshness while maintaining the feeling of "have no choice but to follow the destiny" sadness feeling.


Actually I think every single ayu album split fans down the middle :P

the USB is freaking HEAVY!!! hahahaha.

I understand where you're coming from with the live performances, I've seen a few of her older ones. But I'm talking about strictly on CD. I don't hear it come across on CD, which doesn't mean it's not there. I think live performances are different than recorded vocals anyway. There's almost always more emotion live than on the CD (unless you're just dull).

For example, I've listened to Koda Kumi's moon crying plenty of times and never cared for the song. But when I saw her perform it live, she had so much emotion during the performance it really made me take notice of the song. I still don't listen to the CD version though.

Also, I think the "older fans only like her older works and newer fans only like her newer works" is just plain annoying. I mean when I got into Ayu around her I am... era, I did my research and checked out all her old stuff and loved it (in fact I think I even bought so much of her older stuff I couldn't afford I am... lol). I love her new stuff too, I love this album despite it's faults and it has nothing to do with the date I became an Ayu fan (not saying anyone said it in particular). I think people like what they like and they dislike what they like. As long as they have an intelligent reason behind it, it's all good.

despite the flaws i mentioned earlier like messed up tracklist and too different music styles thrown together, interludes and blablahhaaaah, i enjoy next level much more than secret and guilty together.

it's good :)

No, I don't hate the vocoders. You don't know how much I agree with you! rollin' sounds so freaking cool when her voice is all robotic!

In any case, the recent lives of Ayu (especially from AT 05), have been very visual... and she's going for that "all-rounded" route for a performance.

Coming from a symphonic band myself, my conductor once told us that in a performance, it's not only the music that counts, visual effects are important too.

I get the feeling that Ayu wants to bring more visual effects to her concert, thus all its flashiness since AT 05.

Well, I don't know what basis is the comparison of her old way of performing and her new way of performing, but I can only say that it's obvious she has sacrificed a little of her vocal performance for the visuals/dance.

And about the lack of emotion... I don't know. I'll try to give what emotion I feel from the songs in NEXT LEVEL that do contain emotion.

NEXT LEVEL - There's this ethereal of serenity, and I cried to this once... it's just so moving. I mean her voice has that "Don't be afraid, I'm right here with you" kind of tone if you ask me.

GREEN - This one has melancholy. Like, her voice is kind of like "There's hope around me, but I don't know if I should approach it". Kind of like the timid voice in I feel in GUILTY, but perhaps in a stronger manner.

Days - Her voice here is just stunning. Enough said... it's just cry-able, omg :luv2

Curtain call - I sent the link of the PV to a friend, and he told he doesn't like it cos "it doesn't sound depressing". Lol, well I told him I can hear nostalgia and hope in her voice, and he agreed with me on this one.

Of course, this album doesn't contain as many raw emotions as previous albums, but I guess it's due to the new direction that she's going.

I mean I know I'm a new fan, and perhaps I fit the stereotype of new fans (okay maybe because I hate the I am... album), but I certainly respect and like her old works too.

For example, LOVE ~Destiny~ is a very beautiful song... I like how another user here has said that the softness works very well, and it feels like she's telling a story. With the 10th anniversary version, it's definitely louder and more layered... but I don't know. It'll be hard for her to convey that same emotion in her voice that she did in 1999... nevertheless, it's still a good 10th anniversary (for me at least).

But definitely agree with ayumisrael here that we should all respect each other's preferences to Ayu. We are all Ayu's fans anyway...

And oh @ panda87: Yes yes yes, I agree! There are some I am... arrangement influences in this album. But one thing I don't like about I am... is that the arrangements are so layered and complicated that they're noisy. In NEXT LEVEL, however, it feels like it's very layered too, but somehow in a more contained way. identity and LOVE 'n' HATE are both so arrangement-based, yet they work so well!

That's.. me rite? LOL :P.

I truly understand the fact that she can't be the same person 10 yrs ago. I was actually hoping that she would be using her now improved skill to perform the song SOFTLY. But oh well it's ok, people who love the new version can listen to the new one, and people like me who love the original version can just grab the A BEST cd and listen that one :).

I feel like I'm going to repeat what other people's saying, but...this is my 2 cents I guess...

:love I agree with you so much on this.

As for emotion...it's so subjective that I feel there's a neverending debate just because like Emiko said, emotion is a very subjective thing. What makes me indifferent (for example, I'm fairly indifferent to most of the LOVEppear songs, but others might feel the exact opposite) is another person's emotional rollercoaster, and vice versa. it's interesting to see what people sees as emotion (for me, for example, the overall arrangment of the song plays a huge aspect in what I feel from this song and that's why I love the Secret/Guilty-era orchestral rock songs so much).

Exactly. I'm one of those people who prefer her "newer" voice (CD-wise, post-Rainbow, Live...I didn't like her 2003 live voice, so I'm thinking more post-2005) and in all honesty, I can't really explain (I'm also one of those people who loves her more all-out, theatrical tours). There's probably a complex neurological explanation..:laugh but I do see where the "older" voice people comes from and I do respect them for that. I guess the wonders of music is what sound good in one person's ears sounds horrible in another person's ear, and in a way that's a blessing, because it allows music to be diverse and develop into so many different genres and arrangements (there's also probably a complexed anthropological explanation for this too...)

SHUT UP this is a good album !!! LOL

Okay! Now that I've listened to the album more than a few times, I think I can give my honest thoughts on each track.

Bridge to the sky: A nice way to start the album, though it sounds like a lot of other intros/interludes she's done before with the dreamy, trancey sound. Overall, it does its job as a way to get things set up. (3/5)

NEXT LEVEL: I actually think this song is really good. I like how she's incorporated more of an "Asian" sound into it, and the way she sings the chorus sounds different than her other upbeat songs. It seems more "chanted" rather than "sing-songy," if you get what I mean. (5/5)

Disco-munication: Why isn't this a full song?! I've wanted her to do Ami Suzuki-like electrpop for a long time, and it really suits her. Maybe this interlude hints at a growing interest? Bonus points for the weird noises at the beginning and the 8-bit game sounds. (5/5)

EnergizE: Ah, the token deranged cutesy pop song! I normally skip past these, but I haven't really felt the urge with this one. The snappy arrangement saves it, plus she sounds so happy and into it that you can't help but sing along. It's still one that you have to be in a certain mood for, though. (4/5)

Sparkle: This was, hands down, my favorite song she released as a single before the album came out. She really went back to her (LOVEppears) roots for this one, and I love the explosive bridge and chorus. I'm so happy to see her making songs like this again that I'm almost willing to forgive that horrifying PV! :p (5/5)

rollin': Here we have more of the electropop that "Disco-munication" hinted at! Unfortunately, I'm not too thrilled with the melody or how she sings this (especially on the chorus). I really like the music, though, so I'll give the composer some credit. (3/5)

GREEN: Here's the opposite problem: I absolutely love the melody and how Ayu uses her voice on this, but I'm not that into the composition. When I first heard this, I got excited about all the "Chinese" influences in it, but the arrangement sounded a bit too similar to other songs she's done lately. (3.75/5)

Load of the SHUGYO: Awesome title, though it's not my favorite interlude on this album. It's a bit loud, and it seems like a space-filler. (3.75/5)

identity: This song is crazy, but I love it. The fast singing on the chorus is awesome, and the "hip-hop" part toward the end is definitely my favorite moment on this album. I'm sure that this song will be performed on the upcoming ARENA TOUR and that it will be a standout for sure! (5/5)

Rule: It's an enjoyable enough song, but I don't think it really stands out much when compared to some other tracks on this album. I can't really complain about it, though. (4/5)

LOVE 'n' HATE: This was one of my favorites the first time I listened to NEXT LEVEL, and it's still up there. The aggressive string arrangement is new for Ayu, and parts of it remind me of Namie's "Violet Sauce." I'm into it! (5/5)

Pieces of SEVEN: My favorite interlude! I really like the nostalgic feel this one gives off, especially at the beginning with all those 90s-style synth sounds. I'm also impressed with how it goes through a few different "stages," and thus sounds more like an instrumental track that can stand on its own rather than just an interlude. (5/5)

Days: I never liked this one much, since it sounds like every other post-MY STORY rock ballad she's put out. There's not much that stands out about it, and it's a shame to put it after the awesomeness that is "Pieces of SEVEN." (2/5)

Curtain call: Also a rather typical Ayu ballad, though I enjoy this one a lot more than "Days." Her voice sounds crystalline and delicate on the verses, but the chorus has a lot of power. (4/5)

Overall rating for NEXT LEVEL: 4.5/5

NEXT LEVEL, unlike Secret and even GUILTY, really seems to work as an album. What I mean by this is that although some songs stand out as better than the others, most of the fun in listening to this is hearing how well each track fits together into the whole. I was a little scared about how this album would turn out after hearing Ayu play it safe and repeat lots of her own cliches on singles like "Days/GREEN," but I'm glad I was proven wrong. I hope she continues to experiment with her future work and that she won't be afraid to step outside the box of what people expect from Ayumi Hamasaki.

Personally, this might be my favorite album from her since MY STORY.

far better than guilty.

My feelings are mixed... in fact I don't know if I've got any O_O
I really don't know if I like it that much. I really don't have any general opinion on it. Some things are nice, yeah, but well, it is clearly NOT the "next level".

Or it has always been the case for ayu's previous albums. Not all of them (Secret and GUILTY would be tagged "same level"). So it is not really suprising, quite normal to have an "original" album if you have been a listener for a long time I think. Just that since 2006 it has been almost the same thing all over again...

Moreover the tracklist is weird-made (ballads don't flow that well).

So it may end up being an average/good or very good album for me. Yet I still really don't know... adnd I can't explain it.

omg...I just watched the making ofs...shitmomura's unbelievably annoying as hell in sparkle. What the hell is with him??!!

^ he was like that in mirrorcle world too iirc, he's a little.. out there. i think he's really into trying to make her look sexy fierce hot

The last statement was meant to be self-describing and not to put down anyone's seriousness when it comes to Ayu's music.

I never said anything in my post about how her voice didn't have anything to do with analyzing this album. I just said the human body changes. It's in a separate paragraph.

The main excuse a lot of people gave about this album being not on par was that it was rushed. And I repeat my point: I don't see how the time it took to make a work of art has anything to do with the quality of the art itself. Whether it was "rushed" out of inspiration or "rushed" to meet some sort of deadline, artistic value is found only in the final product and not what it took to get to that final product.

With regards to being connected to the songs, subjective readings are helpful, but I'd rather read someone talk about the form, content, musical structure, instrumentation, and lyrics of the album and how all these attempt to work together as an artistic whole. What is Ayu trying to do with this album? Possibility: she might be trying to explore new music ground. How is she trying to explore new musical ground?

Personally, value judgments (i.e. I like this, I don't like that) are not enough for me, so it's always a pleasure reading people developing their ideas.

things i like about this album

- the nuanced arrangements and the new textures. Harder beats and darker sound palletes really anchor down songs which may have been too grating otherwise like Energize and rollin'. Some really interesting stuff with disco-munication as well.

- I like how the song structure and arrangements aren't so chorus-centric. I feel a lot of her songs were increasingly made just to highlight a strong chorus and everything else was just buildup. Nothing wrong with that type of structure mind you but it just gets so pointless when you can tell where the whole song is going after a 5 second listen

- Less electric guitar. Is it me or did she use that for every song since I am?

- Now, if only the first 2 and last 2 songs were cut, I could have an album I could listen to front to back for the first time in my 9 year history of Ayumi fandom.

I like the nuance of this album, too! I haven't been able to stop listening to it! I'm sad to hear you didn't like Curtain Call though ;_;... I feel like I'm falling more and more in love with that song and PV....

After listening to the album over and over. Here is now my new opinion on it

Bridge to the sky - I still don't really like this introduction. I like her ad-libbing and the ending when the beat goes crazy, but that's about it. It just sounds too similar to Not yet at parts.

NEXT LEVEL - I like the chorus, the verses are lacking though. And a lot of the song reminds me of BLUE BIRD

Disco-munication - The beginning bothers me, I hate the beginning. But when it picks up it gets interesting. I like the video game sounds. However Ayu's voice is so scary in this interlude xD I would have liked a full song though

EnergizE - I love the arrangement, and English lyrics. That's about it though, not too catchy. And I don't really like how Ayu sings in this song

Sparkle - I still love the beginning, the way Ayu sings the first verse, and the instrumental bridge.

rollin' - This song grew a lot onto me. I love the beginning, but I only like it when Ayu's voice is really distorted in the verses. Since it's kind of interesting to hear

GREEN - Like I said before, lost it's magic as time went by.

Load of the SHUGYO - I never really liked this interlude. It's unmemorable.

identity - This song, I still think is too similar to 1 LOVE at times. Unmemorable to be honest.

Rule - Grew onto me a lot. Love the chorus, verses are ok, don't like the ballad part that comes out of nowhere in the song.

LOVE 'n' HATE - Still one of my favorite new tracks. The violins are awesome, but the counting could have been better left out. Kinda gets in the way of the song

Pieces of SEVEN - I love the ambient introduction, but then it gets kinda boring after that beautiful introduction.

Days - Another song that grew onto me a lot. Love it

Curtain call - I like the piano, but Ayu just doesn't sound good with that by itself. Because her vibrato just goes crazy. I do like it when the choir joins in though

So, this album is a grower. Defiantly. I'll most likely just get the 2CD+DVD on Ebay if it shows up there for really cheap. The album + PV's is not worth 60 for a collectible USB.

copied from my lj, didin't even bother to change the beginning xd


Well, my NEXT LEVEL came on Friday and I'm finally ready to review it... Being a BIG and I mean HUGE ayu fan I feel kinda disappointed with this album... but I like it nevertheless. Although, I recently came to a nice conclusion, that I'm going to like everything she releases simply because it's ayu. I know, I suck.

Bridge to the sky - very nice intro, builds tension and excitement
over listening to the rest of the album. But it should have had more lyrics IMO. 7/10

NEXT LEVEL - I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised with this song.Over the preview I was expecting happy BLUE BIRDish song, but fortunately this is just the chours. And even despite this, they are still fun to sing along. 9/10

Disco-munnication - It should have been made into full song, honestly. It's just great. It's just short and no lyrics... 7/10

EnergizE - the beginning is superb *_* then the English part is not. then the song gets terrible and yet after this the bridge is wonderful. The chours AGAIN get a bit worse but are still fun to sing. This song definitely gives me a headache. 5/10

Sparkle - it's just sparkling on this album *_* I love to listen to it, sing it and, hopefully, see it on this years tour. 10/10

rollin' - yet another superb beginning... and has electro-feel! that's a plus. It has too much edited voice though. Doesn't quite sound like ayu. Musicaly wise, I mean. Lyrics are one of the best on the album. And the chours lack something I can't place my finger on... 6/10

GREEN - why all single songs aon this album are great? dunno, but this one is really special. I love the traditional feel to it. Well, I'm an asian gig, whats of it :P

Load of the SHUGYO - nice, but nothing special. And an interlude. 6/10

identity - finally a great song! Superb beginning, again, and thank God it's still great after it. The lyrics are nice too 9/10

Rule - I like ayu rockish songs and it also applies to this one. Not very special, though. 8/10

LOVE'n'HATE - I really love this violin (at least I think it's a violin...). It's quite catchy, reminds me somehow of MY STORY.The countdown is great, especially the end 8/10

Pieces of SEVEN - Nice interlude... but what can be really said about interludes? They aren't horrible. And the ending reminds me of some old techno song... 7/10

Days - I didn't like this song at first... But it's just so lovely it was bound to grow on me *_* Now I find myself humming it all day 10/10

Curtain Call - I was really anticipating this song due to various opinions about it. The lyrics are really simple but quite nice nevertheless. Her voice sounds quite nasal at the beginning but get better later on. I like musically simple ballads even tough I think this one needs more upbeat parts. I like it but don't really feel it. Looking forward to seeing it at the concert though. 7/10


The booklet is quite disturbing. Crouchgrabing, tit-squeezing ayu is a bit too much for me. And it still remains mystery how come she has gloves and tips on them o_O

The new pvs are nice, don't have any plots but ayu looks really beautiful (and quite original for her - Sparkle) and I have to tell I was watching them with real pleasure. They are so esthetically done, that I have to like them.

Overall, I really like the album. However, the is not a song (except of the singles) that really catches my attention and makes me want to play it over and over again. Also it as too many interludes...if they were doing something, I wouldn't mind. But I didn't noticed tat the songs flow better with or without them. I'm still happy to have this album in my collection. 7/10

^now that u mention..LOVE 'n' HATE doesnt feel appropriate with MY STORY...maybe cause it has a little of my name's Women's attitude

I love this album! Some of the songs were so surprising, they just made we wanna dance O_o and they still do! I cannot listen to EnergizE without dancing! it's great!

I love the other songs as well, but GREEN and Days feel very out of place. I wouldn't have minded if she pulled a mirrorcle world on those and hadn't included them.

I can understand why GREEN doesn't fit, but I don't see how Days doesn't fit. It's a ballad, like Curtain call... in fact Curtain call is more 'far away', cos it's a completely acoustic ballad, while Days still has synths like the rest of the album...

01. Bridge to the Sky
Sometimes I think "Why all those "aaah" sounds?". I don't really like that. But anyways, it is a amazing interlude to NEXT LEVEL, and it's like it is a part NEXT LEVEL. Sometimes, I actually pick Bridge to the Sky before I hear NEXT LEVEL, and normally I skip ALL interludes. So it's all fine!
Rating: 9/10

02. NEXT LEVEL
So amazing! The only song I have ever heard where I can just.. Smile. Without any meaning, It's just such a nice song, and it is MUH better than I thought from the CM preview! It just can't be descriped!
Rating: 10/10

03. Disco-munication
The start.. Ugh. It's sooo bad, and it actually get me to skip it everytime I get to the third track of the album. But when you are some time into the interlude, it is like "Woaw.. Why isn't this a whole remix?". Then it's just amazing. Too bad that the start really ruins this!
Rating: 7.5/10

04. EnergizE
This reminds me so much of High School Musical that I could be mad to it! (lol) The start with the english words, it's so nearly something they could sing in a HSM song, and sometime in the song is the exactly same melody as in the SONG HSM. And because of it (Most because of the english) I don't really like it, but when you have heard about 2 minutes of it, you are just somehow in the glad rhythm.
Rating: 4/10

05. Sparkle
It like.. "Saves" EnergizE's wannaba-techno thing! It's a great song, but also a bit booring to me. But really amazing that Ayu can sing it! I can't, no matter how much I try, but her vioce is just amazing to it, and it's the only "real" techno-song on the album, as the rest is more rocked. And I like it.
Rating: 8.5/10

06. rollin'
I wonder if any japanese people do even understand what she says in the start. I like the idea of the technical voice, but i think it has to much rhythm for it. Then, when her normal voice appears, it's too much "normal" compared to the start. But it is really the only bad of the song! It isn't "amazing", but really catchy and good anyways. When the chorus begins with "Sekai" (Probably the only word I understand of the song lol), i'm just sold!
Rating: 9/10

07. GREEN
This song was probably released before Ayu had the idea of the "NEXT LEVEL" album, 'cause it doesn't fit in anything else lol. The start isn't as loud as from the single version (I think.. I have only downloaded it, I get both album and single tomorrow), and it's something that has changed it much - in a good way! It's such a great song, and I love the japanese theme in it!
Rating: 8/10

08. Load of the SHUGYO
I don't ever really realize that this is in before identity. It's like.. Something I never hear, even if the computer plays it! But well.. It's way to orginal for a interlude, just like from her old albums, way to booring to me.
Rating: 4/10

09. identity
Probably the best track of the album! When I read the lyrics before I heard it, I was like.. ID ID ID ID WTF? But it isn't in a way that I thought, it is better than I could imagine! This song is just over way to fast!
Rating: 10/10

10. Rule
Due to that I really, really loved this song when it came out, I thought this would be one of the best songs of the album. I still really love it, but there is so many much-better tracks! Now this is just like.. A song. Not anything special compared to every other track. But, it has high ratings anyways!
Rating: 8/10

11. LOVE 'n' HATE
OMG, OMG.. Oh my god.. It sounds like she has lost creativity and just found it easier to take the "No no" part from Sparkle, and make a countdown for it.. But well, it's a really, really good song, and those two things can't destroy it!
Rating: 9/10

12. Piece of SEVEN
Guess the name comes from the countdown of L'n'H? Who knows. This reminds me of either something under the sea or in the jungle. Lol? But it's what I feel. When I heard it the very first time, I was like "I scream if this is going to be rock, it will destroy it". And then, it was ending out in rock, but in a really lovely way, and it still had the same melodies as in the start!
Rating: 7/10

13. Days
I had actally never heard this loud before, and before I did it, I found it very booring. But now, I actually really like it, but still only to hear loud. It has 2 rating, if I'm listening to it loud or not. But in the end, it's a very good song.
Rating: 8.5/10

14. Curtain call
Many fans said such things as they cried to this song. Why? I find it a bit booring, and it's only like 2 minutes in the song it's beginning to be interresting. A good end for an album , but well.. I skip it close to every time.
Rating: 5.5/10

The whole album
Even if a lot of my rating ins't that high, it is comepared to the other tracks of the album, but compared to other tracks from older albums, it's all very good! It is really the NEXT LEVEL, and a great step to a new style, that is amazing! The best album to date!
Rating: 9.5/10

The singles are good (besides for Rule) but the rest of the album is the worst Ayu has ever done. It depresses me to say that, but that's how I actually feel. =\

The songs are so mediocre and I don't see it as a "next level" at all. There were too many interludes. I am so tired of those things. The title track sounds like BLUE BIRD + glitter more than any of her other songs sound like others. EnergizE is annoying. I swear I've heard identity's guitar part elsewhere and the lyrics sound repetivie. LOVE n HATE is okay, but the style is not right for Ayumi and I think it sounds awkward. Curtain call is good, but that's because it was just her voice and piano... And rollin' sounds like it's trying way to hard to be like Sparkle and failing. >_<

I'm just so depressed because I was so excited for new Ayumi material and now I've gotta stick it out til her next new single, which probably won't be until after the tour. x.x

^ Wow, the worst she's done...? It's weird you say that and I'm posting after you because I LOVE IT.

Ranking albums as a whole (since I've been an Ayu fan)
1. MY STORY
2. (miss)understood
3. NEXT LEVEL
4. Secret
5. GUILTY

I like all of Ayu's albums but it seemed that every album was just a little below the prior. I'm happy because NEXT LEVEL jumps Secret and GUILTY in my book.

The album style is great. It's perfect for Ayu and I love electronic stuff. It's also a big plus that this is probably the album I am going to remember that has AMAZING interludes.

Ranking:
Sparkle
Days
identity
EnergizE
LOVE 'n' HATE
Rule
NEXT LEVEL
rollin'
GREEN
Curtain call

I agree with you and it saddens me too. :( I was disappointed with ayu's changing vocals over the last year, but I got to accept it more esp when I saw her singing Over in the CDL and all. But this is definitely the worst she's done. I can't believe people say it's their 2nd favourite tied with (miss)understood :tired

NEXT LEVEL gives you a very false first impression of the tone for the rest of the album. It's soothing and nice, but repetitive. And it's actually a mash-up of ayu's "BLUE BIRD" and Brian Addams' "Boys of Summer". :rolleyes

Discomunnication...:tired that's the worst interlude in the history of interludes. Energize sounds cutesy, but it's so empty somehow :/ it really lacks the "ayu factor".

Concerning Sparkle, I do like that. It still has the old Ayu in there somewhere and it's catchy.

The rest of the songs have catchy elements, musicwise. Such as the opening of LOVE n HATE. And the disco/techno elements I usually really like, in trance or others songs, but Ayu just made the new songs terrible. Also the vocals are many times distorted or overpowered by the background music... >_>;;

Then comes out of place ayu-factored-GREEN. Well GREEN is totally and completely out of place, but is SO soothing for your ears after the rest.

I just can't believe nearly everybody's saying "I _LOVE_ IT!!!:luv2" every year, with every album it's the same. Everybody always LOOOOOVES Ayu's stuff. That's really the influence of the product hamasaki ayumi huh? Because (miss)understood was a great album and people are comparing NEXT LEVEL to that album. I think you can only say after a few years of NEXT LEVEL having been around if it's as great as (miss)understood or not. At the moment many people are listening to it, but will they in ...3 years? For me there's no catchy elements in the new songs (save for Sparkle) or something that makes me actually want to hear a song.

I remember people saying RAINBOW was terrible, but RAINBOW definitely pwns NEXT LEVEL. But this is just my opinion, I'm almost scared to post since everyone's always so positive about ayu's stuff. No matter what it is. (save for a few of you)

ps. the poster above me says the interludes are amazing. Can't say disco-munnucation is anywhere near the class and unique element of well, "tasking" for example, or "Not yet".

^ OUCH. Lol.
I understand what you are saying about people loving the albums each year. For me it's always "yeah I love the new album" too but like I said, I actually felt this album placed higher for me than GUILTY and Secret, probably because it's so different. It's weird to think I was so dissapointed by (miss)understood when that was released but looking back I actually really like it. Lol.

But yes; if people are comparing this to (miss)understood, I agree.

lololol, that's because we're her FANS!! :D :p
i didn't enjoy secret or guilty as much as NL, and also for these albums people were swooning!! :D can't be helped. i like NL despite of its flaws and too many interludes. you hate this release, but you might love the next :) it's not like you have to wait too long for new ayu material.

this album is really good, the albums tracks are outstanding, even better than the singles. the only bad thing about this album is lack of ballads.

what do you mean mediocre music? I absolutely love the new music she's been releasing. So its kinda selfish in my eyes for you to want her to "take a break" just because you deem her music now as "mediocre." Some of us like whats shes been releasing and apparantely she does too, if she keeps on singing

agreed. her music is so far off from mediocre. and i think this album is better than both Secret and GUILTY. i think i've mentioned this before but this is the first time since the release of RAINBOW that i've loved every single track on an ayumi album. so i think ayumi did a great job on this album and haters well, you know where you can go. (see left)

^-That's pretty contradictious, what you say. You say people who don't love this album can **** off and call them haters.

Then you say this is the first album since RAINBOW that you're fully loved and think NEXT LEVEL is better than Secret and GUILTY.

So, to put is this way: for me GUILTY was a really great album and I've loved every album of hers from ASFXX-GUILTY. I'm not really into NL.

Now, what if NL was released when GUILTY or some other album was released and GUILTY or some other album was released now? You surely would be dissappointed because you expected so much because you loved the previous album. Then we all GUILTY/other album lovers would be like "This is such a great album. Seriously, you HATERS can go you know where".

So yeah I think you should try seeing where other people are coming from before making such comments.

eh wot? i've liked her albums after RAINBOW but i was saying it's the first time i've loved every single track on an album since then. and i didn't say for haters to **** themselves. :o i just kindly directed them to the left... (it's not serious, don't take it so hard)

^-**** off (meaning: go away, leave, go "you know where") and to **** themselves are two completely different things..... -____-;;;

But good if you're not meaning anything bad, I just got that impression from your posts. And that wasn't directed only at you but also those people who call non-NL lovers haters and so on so don't you take it so hard either ;)

I still don't know why people keep trying to fins the old ayu nowadays... she has changed (luckily for me) and growed up... she's not the same person so she can't do the same as before... I mean.. don't expect her to release anything similar of her earlier albums... it's basicaly imposible... And well.. for who thinks it's a rushed album, mediocre songs, etc... well... ayu doesn't need to put out an album for money, i mean... she release music because she wants and she love to keep doing it... if she didn't like the songs on NEXT LEVEL sure she wouldn't have released it.

Well.. my opinion of NEXT LEVEL... Since it's the unique album I love all the songs without exception, nowadays is, for me, her best album. (m)u or memorial addres are also great... if memorial were a full album i would rank it the first... and (m)u... well I like almost all of the songs, but i only LOVE with passion few... Secret and GUILTY were good when they were released, but time has passed and Secret has lost A LOT and GUILTY... is okey, but I only keep listening continuosly mirror, t2m and marionette.

So because of thay NEXT LEVEL is for me her best album... my ranking of eahc song...

Bridge to the sky: 6/10 it's good, but after all only an intro and not so special as Mirror was.

NEXT LEVEL: 10/10 one of the best, the good feeling it gives me is priceless! I love to listening this song and makes me smile during 4,30min without stop.

Disco-munication: 4/10 I don't really like this interlude...

EnergizE: 7,5/10 I don't feel a lot happy songs, but I really like this song... it's good because the only happy songs I like are evolution, unite, and some other, because she keeps on singing them one time after another... so is a good point that without any live I love this song.

Sparkle: 9,5/10 First I didn't liek it a lot... but it has growed inside me and now is one of my favourites, i realy like it and i find amazing to sing it!

rollin': 6,5/10 without counting the interludes, my least favourite song of the album. I don't really like this excesive electronic voice, but I find amazing the chorus. and the lyrics are awesome!

GREEN: 7/10 (after the shock to pass from rollin' to GREEN~ xD) well... it was firstly my favourite from the single D/G but it has changed (like R/S), i don't know, it has lost its magic... but even that, it's still a beautifull song that I enjoy listening, not as much as before tough.

Load of the SHUGYO: 5/10 well I don't liek to rank high the interludes... because are only interludes... (only Mirror deserve that XD) it's good, better than D-munication, but not special...

identity: 10/10 absolutely in LOVE with this song! Is somethign I cant descibre! this song and its lyrics ar eimpresive! I can't stop listening to this one! for me THE BEST song of the album (also with NL, L'n'H)

Rule: 8,5/10 while sparkle has gained some pints, Rule has lost some... firstly I found it awesome.. but although I still love it a lot and I think tis amazing... i don't know... is like somethign is missed...

LOVE 'n' HATE: 10/10 also in absolute LOVE with this one.. not as identity, but almost. IMO this song has the BEST lyrics of this album... I lvoe the melody I find it really original in her discography ^^

pieces of SEVEN: 6,5/10 IMO the best interlude of the album. Although I think the Rock part wouldn't have to be there... I mean... is also a shock to pass to Days after that XD

Days: 8,5/10 As I've said, it has become better than GREEN IMO after its release. I really love this song, I fell the lyrics a lot, I find it really emotive... a lovely sweet ballad ^^

Curtan call: 9/10 I find this ballat absolutely awesome! Is extremely simple but its emotional power is amazing! I really enjoy this ballad!


In conclusion, i'm in love with all the album, I love all the new textures it has, and the new sounds she has included, I fell a lot the majority of the lyrics and I'm in love with almost all the songs, and the rest are still awesome!! I rank the album with a 8,5 ^^


So this is my opinion.... ^^

01. Bridge to the sky
i'd say good for an opening. not my most favorite. maybe if ayu wasn't singing it'd be a little better. for me, it feels like she's singing in it to make up for there being four instrumentals and thus sings random stuff. but then again, not the worst.
6/10

02. NEXT LEVEL
okay, i get it: ayu's going to the next level in her life -_- the pv's boring and this track is skippable and maybe a bit out of place? seriously, with this album being the most techno-ish and electronic since maybe LOVEppears (hell maybe even since ever), NEXT LEVEL, GREEN, Days, and Curtain call seem to just be shoved in there for the album's sake of having 14 tracks.
4/10 (good driving track maybe, hence pv)

03. Disco-munication
i had high hopes of this being a vocal track but it has a good beat and it keeps me interested in the whole thing. i could do without the ayu voice beat thingy a little bit, but it adds something.
8/10

04. EnergizE
HATE this song!! ayu, sing your age.
1/10 (for effort)

05. Sparkle
this song is slowly growing on me and so is the pv. it's very different and dare i say a bit britney spears-ish but WAAAY awesomer XD it has a danceability, sexiness and bit of creepiness that the pv captures pretty well. anyone else think of lady gaga when we see ayu in the shades?? O_o
9/10

06. rollin'
love the beginning of this one!! i was hoping for a Marionette pt. II when i first heard it but then i'm like: "aww...:(" when the beat starts. love the verse, the bridge, and the chorus throws me a bit off course (sounds a bit cutesy) but me likey
7.5/10

07. GREEN
this song is growing on me as well. when the single came out, i preferred Days way over GREEN; and while i still love Days, GREEN is getting up there. i thought ayu was trying to be too chinese or something so maybe that's why i had a grudge. but without the video i don't get that vibe. i say it's a good rest from all the electronic-ness.
8.5/10

08. Load of the SHUGYO
pretty cool. it reminds me of a samurai like running through the woods and fighting and stuff haha XD i love songs that give me that kind of imagery.
7/10

09. identity
again, LOVE the beggining!!! and then all of a sudden POW! comes the beat and i'm all "aww...:(" but i admit it's catchy and different.
7.5/10

10. Rule
i have to like this song since this is a big step for ayu in the western market and i clap for joy for her. sometimes i feel there are too many instruments, but from the bottom of my heart, i do like this song.
7/10

11. LOVE 'n' HATE
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7....0 hmm, wonder where she learned to count. i guess it makes sense. most of all i like the orchestra and the electric guitar. it gives me a fresh breath of pure ayuness.
9/10

12. Pieces of SEVEN
LOVE this interlude. we go all pure moods at the beginning and then go into the cliche ayu interlude and then all techno-y and it's all fun.
8/10

13. Days
love the pv, love the song. i always want to cry when i hear it. i would totally include this into her epic ballad list. i am reminded of No way to say when i see the pv (i guess it's the snow), but ayu's sooo much cuter in this one. i enjoy the 8-bits of tears remix, too.
10/10

14. Curtain call
such a sucker for ballads. i like how there's just piano and nothing else. and the lyrics are so simple yet it says so much. *content sigh*
10/10

overall, i give this album a 7 for now (not the average of the scores from the individual tracks). it's different and i like how ayu took risks (identity and LOVE 'n' HATE) and i also don't like how she took risks (EnergizE). but i can see myself listening to this album a lot more and liking songs better. so we just wait... >.>

This I agree! I can't stop smiling while listening to NEXT LEVEL either... it's so light, serene and feel-good... dayum!

First impressions from just watching the PVs:

Days - Heard it all before. And she's done it better (Together When...). Still the PV is kinda cute and in comparison to Curtain Call this is way better.

Green - Love! Wish there were some more street shots in the PV though!

Rule - need to listen to it more to decide. Definately not as good as my favourite Ayumi rock song which is Guilty, but I didn't expect it to be. I hope to enjoy it as much as Talkin to Myself.

Sparkle - Again not sure what to think yet - still have to find the chrous. But definately interesting!

Next Level - nice and the PV has some nice scenery too. I did think she was going to start singing Blue Bird at on point. Think it's a grower

Curtain Call - yuck! Songs like these are the reasons I used to hate ballads! Doesn't sound very Ayumi-ish at all. Boring.

mi|kshake~

I've finally listened this album...today. It's the first time that I feel for some Ayu's album to be a little weak. It's good, but I still don't like it completely. My opinion might be changed later, I'm not sure. Some songs are very strong, while the others seem to be out of place.

Anyway, the songs I really enjoy and like are:

- Bridge To The Sky (It reminds me of Catcher In Light, although it's not the best opening for an album)
- NEXT LEVEL (Catchy with nice lyric)
- Disco-munication (cool)
- Rollin' (Ayu's voice is awful, but the beat of this song is awesome)
- Identity (I like it, but it still lacks smth)
- Love'n'Hate (cool)
- Days
- GREEN
- Rule
- Sparkle

The songs that I don't like/feel out of place are:
EnegrizE, Curtain Call, Load of the Shugyo, Pieces of SEVEN = BORING.

It seems I like all songs except EnergizE, Curtain Call, Load of the Shugyo and Pieces of SEVEN. It's more than good and NEXT LEVEL as album really misses some ballads! :(

Is she working with the same composers/arrangers as always?

^ According to the credits, most of her arrangers are HAL... usual gang.

Her composers, however, were kind of varied IMO. Days was composed by Kunio Tago, GREEN by Tetsuya Yukumi, most of the other songs were composted Yuta Nakano though, and this person kind of joined Ayu's team like since GUILTY onwards.

And my apologies if I spelt anyone's name wrongly, because I can't exactly remember...

After listening I am a little disappointed but I'm not gonna write the album off yet cause I think I always feel a little disappointed when her new album isn't as consistent as (m)u. With Guilty it was alright at first - enjoyed a few songs - but have really grown to appreciate it recently. Her last few albums have had great intros and opening tracks but NL doesn't.

It is it me or is the album not that easy on the ears? A lot of the tracks sound quite angry to me lol. Still Green <333

And it actually does feel quite short. The interludes are a little weak too. Pieces of Seven is quite odd - Ayumi dreamy sound/techno/rock. A bit much going on lol.

mi|kshake~

Bridge to the sky
Composer & Arranger: Yuta Nakano

NEXT LEVEL
Composer: D.A.I
Arranger: H/\L

Disco-munication
Composer & Arranger: CMJK

EnergizE
Composer: Yuta Nakano
Arranger: CMJK

Sparkle
Composer: Kazuhiro Hara
Arranger: CMJK

rollin'
Composer: Yuta Nakano
Arranger: CMJK

GREEN
Composer: Tetsuya Yukumi
Arranger: tasuku

Load of the SHUGYO
Composer & Arranger: CMJK

identity
Composer & Arranger: Yuta Nakano

Rule
Composer: Miki Watanabe
Arranger: H/\L

LOVE 'n' HATE
Composer & Arranger: Yuta Nakano

Pieces of SEVEN
Composer & Arranger: H/\L

Days
Composer: Kunio Tago
Arranger: H/\L

Curtain call
Composer: Kazuhiro Hara
Arranger: Yuta Nakano

Wow Yuta Nakano composed most of the album!

I hate people who hates Curtain Call:)

I totally didn't realize that until you mentioned it (boys of summer). I always thought that the music of Next Level was reminiscent of something but I couldn't quite remember. Now though, when i think of Boys of Summer, it is indeed very similar music wise and then the vocal melodies are rehashes of at times Blue Bird and at others Beautiful Fighters.

For the record though, Boys of Summer is Don Henley, not Brian Adams. :)

I am all for "Love 'n' Hate"

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 0

LOL this is funny said.

^I guess they hate me because that song is all kinds of unoriginal and boring lol

it is kinda unoriginal, cuz its too similar to without you sang by mariah carey.
but i still like it ^^

well not just that...its too similar to a lot of ballads from back in the day...

i dont know, maybe thats what they were going for...but it just annoys me a lot because its like ive heard it before on certain radio stations here lol

I feel like Ayu made an album that was refreshing and new, but that also incorporated lots of positive elements from her previous work with NEXT LEVEL.

1. Bridge to the sky - this is a simple, primarily instrumental piece with short lyrics that hint at NEXT LEVEL (the song). It brings me back to everlasting dream, but the end of it nicely ties in some electronic elements that become the running thread throughout most of the album.

2. NEXT LEVEL - This is what Ayu has been perfecting every year with fairyland, BLUE BIRD and glitter. Finally, she got it right - beautiful lyrics with background music that instantly takes me to a sunny day at the beach. This time the chorus is interesting, and not full of cheap pop hooks that jump out from the verses; the whole song is solid as a whole. Since I love the melody and lyrics so much, I can even overlook that she still has the strange vibrato she's been doing since GUILTY.

3. Disco-munication - While I thought this should have been the title for a full song, I was pleasantly surpised with this. I love how it builds up from the initial beat to a nice electro-rock sound by the end. And bonus points for the Mario mushroom sound effect.

4. EnergizE - The drum beats at the beginning are cool, especially with headphones. It's a driving 80's inspired pop song, and has elements that remind me of songs from the soundtrack to Flashdance. The lyrics are nice and encouraging, and I like the way she sings this one. She uses a higher pitched voice, but not the cutesy voice of songs like HONEY. Her vibratto is also more under control here. The English is rather distracting to the song as a whole, however, as the line "keep your heads up together" is Engrishy without being real Engrish. Even so, it's fun and catchy overall.

5. Sparkle - I was in love with this as soon as it came out, and even if the lyrics are much more direct and sensual that her normal work, it's like a breath of fresh air. I also don't believe that this song was written solely for the sake of being sexy. It seems as though Ayu is trying to say "Be brave and take a step forward, merge your actions with your thoughts!" This is one of the highlights of the album for me.

6. rollin' - This is my new favorite song of the moment. When it started I thought "hmm, marionette part 2?" but I was nicely surprised with electro-rock. I like the use of vocoder in relation to the lyrics - it's like a robot slowly waking up from the excesses and comforts of life and seeing our current reality - that we can't continue to live the way we've become accustomed to. And yet, the world keeps turning. The way it ends is a little bit odd, but the song deals with confusion as a theme, so I can overlook that part.

7. GREEN - It's a nice concept, it has Chinese influenced music and the lyrics are nice. I have problems with her vocal performance in this song though, it sounds like she has a cold and her crazy vibratto is back. That being said, in the months since this song came out, I've come to like the song as a whole more and more.

8. Load of the SHUGYO - this interlude is a necessary transition from GREEN to the rock songs on the album. In terms of album flow, I really appreciate that it didn't open up with the rock songs, because I finally feel ready for them when Load of the SHUGYO starts. This interlude reminds me of Mortal Kombat, as others have mentioned. Plus, the sound of the beat of the beginning has a very nice asian influence to it before transitioning to rock, the perfect bridge between GREEN and identity.

9. identity - Some have mentioned (d)lma as the predecessor of this song and I agree, but I think identity is better. The lyrics speak to more universal themes, and the music has a danceable undercurrent leading to the breakdance friendly bridge. The first time I heard that bridge I kinda went :shakehead but actually I like that element of surprise in front of the guitar solo.

10. Rule - I thought this song sounded like very generic rock when I heard it the first time, but like GREEN it grew on me. The lyrics again speak to more universal themes and are the strongest part of the song I believe. I like the contrast of vocoder ayu and natural ayu during the verses. I feel like the album reaches the peak of it's build up with this driving rock song.

11. LOVE 'n' HATE - I like the false opening for this song, followed by the strings. And even though this is a song dealing with love, a theme I normally find overdone and boring, I find these lyrics to be more complex than typical. Rather than a 'why don't you love me' this song is about the difficulty of making the right moves when you are trapped in unrequited love. And musically, just when you're starting to think, "this is nice but I need more" the guitar comes in. Nicely done.

12. Pieces of SEVEN - Although this starts off like other etherial HAL interludes, the streak of electro-pop and rock running through it makes me love it. From the beginning, you can feel something building up to a breaking point. It's like a light rain that builds up into a ferocious thunder and lightning storm. It's just too bad Days is the wrong song to follow it up with. Of course, I'd much rather have this interlude than Days...

13. Days - This song comes out of nowhere after Pieces of SEVEN and is probably the weakest of Ayu's winter ballads. The overly christmas-y synth combined with pretty sappy lyrics make this the worst song on the album for me. I think this song was simply created to win the Japanese public back after the dark themes of GUILTY and Mirrorcle World. That being said, I would have loved if the YMCK remix had been included on the album in place of the Original mix. The only song on the album that makes me want to skip it.

14. Curtain call - It is a bit of a throwback to the 90's, but I like that it's very simple. A piano and Ayu's voice. The lyrics are also appropriately simple, and honestly I prefer this straight forward love song after the flowery language used in Days. It winds down the album nicely and has an appropriate feel for an ending. The only problem for me is Ayu's vibratto, which is out of control at the end of some of the lines.

Overall, this album has jumped to No. 1 in my Ayu album ranking because I feel like it incorporates the lyrical awareness of I am... with a blend of music from her early and later work and a refreshing electro-pop flare. I love songs like NEXT LEVEL, Sparkle and rollin' so much. I feel like Ayu really thought about the flow of the album this time and it's nice to have a change from the Rock-Pop - Ballads - Bubblegum-Pop formula of every album from MY STORY to GUILTY. Days is the only blemish on the album for me.

A separate issue from the album for me is her use of vibratto. In the past year and a half or so, I feel like Ayu instantly uses vibratto and doesn't try to hold out her notes very often. I hope that she can find a balance again, like she had back in 2004-2005. :yes

Finally got my copy today. So what should I say about it... ???
AWESOME ALBUM!!! So different from all her previous works!!! I really LOVE it!!!
I wish there was one more video clip and having 15th song would be very nice. But still album is FANTASTIC!!! Ayu didn't disappointed me with this album!!!

Now I only need to get three more versions including FP USB. :D

I'm usually quite tough on Ayu's albums.. but damn!
I freakin' love this album!
:O
It makes me want to dance.
I love 'Identity'.

Curtain Call is a bit.. blah though :/

I can see myself listening to this a lot :)

Oh I also must say that I am disappointed about this album's lyrics. I like only GREEN and Days as long as I remember. Rule is ok too.

Well, I guess Ayu doesn't have always to make lyrics with 'deep meanings' :)

I agree, actually it reminds me a lot of the remix by DJ sammy (I know, the hypocrisy! LOL but I love his arrangements). I do find NEXT LEVEL to be a very typical DAI composition for ayu though, it reminds of like blue bird and several others (Ugh, I don't have my piano anymore, it's hard for me to do these comparisons.. >_>).

I cant say its my favourite Ayu album but I do appreciate the gems it contains. I like that the music and singing style seems fresh and funky. I also love love love Sparkle and Days and Next level is the kind of song that only Ayu can sing. What I hate is the placement of the songs on the album, espicially since Next level and Green compliment each other in their sound and should have been placed in succession but the many interludes stand in their way.

NEXT LEVEL is definitely one of my favorite albums!
the only thing I dislike is the two interludes, which is disco-munication and LOTS...
but other than that, I think the album is wonderful...

i'm epicly pleased with rollin' because these are lyrics she hasn't written before. and it is about the world's problem NOW. :)

i just don't think the beginning and ending are fitting (beginning sounds like marionette, then ends, at the ending this cheap swirly sound all of a sudden... it could have done without...)

It's a nice album, but not her best. I still need to listen to it a few more times before I write my full review.

I think I've listened to this cd like at least twice a day every day since it came out! I really can't stop listening to it, which is funny given how much I rejected her other experimental albums at first. It took me several years to like RAINBOW and I had to play (m)u quite a few times to appreciate the whole even though I loved some songs like alterna and Will. rollin' remains my strong favorite from NEXT LEVEL!

This album has the same feel as a Lady Gaga or a recent Britney Spears album for me: the instrumentals are AWESOME, and the lyrics fit really nicely, very catchy, but the lyrics also have no substance. I guess, I can't relate to what she's feeling in the lyrics now; maybe I haven't reached that stage in my life.

On another note, I love having D.A.I back as a composer! His tracks are the best!