^ yeah, that break is janky
I love the PV version with the harp/flute after the chorus. Bliss~

Yeah, that's gold

I decided to watch the short version of Missing, and it's nice, both the video and the music, but the clarity of her voice is what I'm pleased with the most. I rather like the chorus, and the slight change in arrangement towards the end. I won't listen to it again until a good mp3 file of the full song is available, because I want to enjoy it in its entirety when the time comes. I might just order LOVE after all.

According to Weibo/rongayu there will be two versions of song 4 u. One is 4:39 and the other one 2:47

That post refers to these.

Rearranged versions of Song 4 u that are on the ToX2 OST and in the game.

i will assume that the 247 is the Xillia cut.
but the 439? What could that one be?

Melody is actually amazing!! I thought that it lacked something but it really gives me Key ~eternal tie ver.~ vibes + melancholic/Jade Valerie (lol) feeling. I LOVE it. The thing is that ayu is the one in jpop that can repeat on a style thousand times and still bring it with awesome lyrics, melodies and arrangements.

LOVE is one of her best singles, er, mini-albums. I actually love Missing and Melody more than Song 4 u (which is surprising since I usually tend to go for the more up beats), ayu did it!

I want Melody PV.

I want to put LOVE on repeat, now now now.

^ It leaked??

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDcwMjMzMjQ4.html - Melody

Kanakawaii@jpm

Wow thank you so much Ayumisrael!
Melody is actually surprisingly good. Much better than i expected, very Duty meets Love Songs era.

OMG SOMEONE PLEASE RIP IT!!!

her vocals are :love So natural and beautiful! I love it, the arrangement is very very very good! One thing i love about Ayu's song arangements is that quite some ballads have guitars blended into. It gives even more powerful feeling to the whole mood.
I somehow also think I'm gonna love Melody and Missing more than Song 4 you. this is an aamzing release, really!

I just want to kick Avex's asses for not promoting this properly, it deserves a number 1 for sure!

This song is surprisingly good !!! and vocally flawless who has say she cant sing anymore ?

me too ^^

I like it but do the songs on this mini-album sound kinda unfinished/demoish to anyone else? They seem more "live" and less overproduced than usual.

the beginning is pretty bland to me.. It's almost seems Christmasie...
it might grow on me, but so far this is the weak link of the mini-album.

I cannot understand, how can Avex leave LOVE without promotion.. It has the potential, but casual listeners need to know about that!
Unfortunately PQ made a bad impression, some people said that the "classic ayu" is gone..
NOW SHE IS HERE.

Ayu is responsible too..Idk understand why she's on the side of the world when she has an album coming out in a matter of days but we should be used to it by now

Oh god must resist listening to it...
Never mind.
I hear acoustic guitar. It was badly used. tsk tsk. Me and acoustic guitar rarely mix, cept with Last Links and Be My Last.

It still feels like a watered down CAROLS with an awful instrumentation. It feels like I'm gonna like it on repeated listen. I get nostalgic at around 3:20... Just like CAROLS. And that electric guitar was nice. And the ending was lovely. Hoshino did good for those parts, i think. I still can't get into it 100% because it STINKS of beloved and that's one of my top 3 hated Ayu songs. It's like your fav song and your least fav song had a child and you just don't know what to think. At times it sounds like CAROLS AND Christmas and i get hella excited. Then I hear beloved and i wanna listen to ASfXX.

Love it! <3

The verses of Melody made me smile :)
i love the guitar music and it really reminded of Key~ :D
The chorus has that farewell feeling..and that..i dunno..japanese countryside feeling to it haha. Ayu's voice is so amazing!!!! She doesnt have the vibrato and its just clear and clean. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! <3 <3 <3
Sounds like a great sound to just listen with friends when chilling and maybe against the sunset hahha
(i hear no christmas in it at all..lol)

do i hear piano, strings and guitar in one song again? :D

Cute but very boring ! :\

^ I know right, it means about 33.33% of the album is now boring, lol.

she does have vibrato, but it's very subtle, natural and spot on i'd say.

i also don't hear anything christmasy there either.

We still got the dubsteb remix! It can erase anything and everything that Hoshino did :P

^ that is true... but of the new original songs its a little disappointing.. lol..
So this is Hoshino's work... I do not like, lol.

I like Melody.. not as good as Missing.. but I like it.

Thank you very much for the link.
Yes, it reminds me of beloved. But while I hated beloved (too cheesy and boring IMO), Melody works for me. Her voice is great as in the 2 other new songs. The arrangements are nice too, unoriginal, but nice. I can't resist accoustic guitar.

This new single is quite solid! Something I will want to listen contrary to FIVE or PQ.

boring as hell but the vocals are gorgeous

^ pretty much sums up my rant.

On Melody - I like the verses a lot more than the chorus. I think that overall the song actually sounds a little Over produced. If they had pared down the arrangement I think the chorus would have sounded a lot prettier and less "cluttered", which kind of works against the frail little melody they have going on.

I wish she would really put out a good, solid ballad soon. The last good ballad was "beloved" which was such a long time ago. =/

I actually thought that Melody was more raw"er" compared to others of its style in ayu's discography.

i liked beloved, but never thought of it as a great ballad, but it's a good one for my ears, however looks like if something like beloved poped out anytime soon, half of AHS give up on Ayu xD

i actually doubt i willever dislike any song of hers, i just simply don't give a damn about some, and wouldn't listen but could never say i hate this one or other...

I'm liking the sound of the three songs. Seems like a leak is coming fast.

I like all three songs so far. Hoshino's last composition that I really enjoyed was 'blossom' but 'Melody' is fine.

Oh, did he do blossom? I rather enjoyed that song, too bad he didn't bring yhat into it.

Melody certainly has a very concert-ender feel to it or maybe even the feeling the finale track to a movie leading into the end roll of credits. It's a very well crafted track I think and feels very "Japanese". I tend to like songs like this a lot, as rather than 'boring', they're 'moving' or 'touching' like beloved.

I feel people always underappreciate these sorts of tracks compared to tracks like say Sparkle or Microphone until a year after release.

because she made like a tons of em?

I don't really see the problem with that since her primary market is Japan, and they usually eat this kind of thing up. (which is probably a small reason as to why they're made in the first place)

Well, I hope she does even more. It was the ballads that drew me to her. However, I give Sparkle a 10 out of 10. That song is incredible and I usually don't like aggressive tracks.

I don't see the problem either, I just answering the post u made about people who unnepreciate these kinds of tracks. :>
and we're are not japanese (mostly.) so some of us could be bored.

I just feel that most of her ballads (that are not "A side main track" like Virgin Road) are just filler tracks.

I personally believe Ayu's never really had 'filler tracks' which most artists tend to be guilty of making. Even tracks ('true' B-sides basically) like Life are really rather nice. Makes me wonder how many people who are fans of Ayu have not heard of it, ever free, or theme of a-nation '03 (though theme of a-nation '03 was on A SUMMER BEST recently) because of their status in her discography.

Hmm, to compile a list of these 'underappreciated because they're filler-y' tracks (on original albums at least), I think it would look something like this. (Starting from RAINBOW, anyway. This is for no reason in particular... but it is rather difficult to say what is 'filler' in her first 3~ years in the industry since it was all pretty strong)

- everywhere nowhere
- Close to you
- ANGEL'S SONG
- Replace
- winding road
- Beautiful Day
- It was (though this was a leftover from (miss)understood so it could arguably be called 'filler' but Secret was also a mini album before evolving to what it turned into)
- Last Links
- meaning of Love
- RED LINE ~for TA~
- Thank U
- Sweet Season
- all of FIVE except BRILLANTE
- Eyes, Smoke, Magic
- the next LOVE
and now... Melody. (or at least it's definitely looking like it will turn out that way)

Though this is just how I feel about it based on what I've seen over the years. Most of these are also my personal favorites from their respective albums.

I can't really recall any of those boring ballads...99% of Ayu's ballads are awesome, in so many different ways.

The bold ones are some of my fave tracks ^^ Close to you is among rare tracks I never listen to.

It really does exists? I thought it was just a mirage in her discography :innocent

But, sincerely, even this track isn't that bad at all.

The lyrics to Melody are beautiful, and extremely poetic...I have a translation almost done but there are a few spots in the romaji that I can't make out, and I don't want to post an incomplete translation. Anyone want to compare transcriptions?

melody is better than beloved, but is boring

Melody is so lovely. But I believe that one PV for this song would be probably boring to hell :P

Missing is still my favorite s2

I have not check out "Melody", but I will wait until I get the album~~ :)

All of the tracks on this mini are so strong. However, I felt the same way about FIVE. Maybe she just has a laser focus on tracks when it comes to her mini albums?

Melody is so boring and repetitive. Definition of filler track. Wish she wouldn't do that on Mini albums..
Missing is such awesomeness though :heart I see people comparing it to momentum but I think it is 1000x more interesting than that snorefest of a song. :P The instrumental sounds soo beautiful.

I never really considered ayumi having filler tracks...
I will say that I do not like some of her tracks and find some of them weaker (cough Melody cough ), but that doesnt make them filler.

Oh wow....

I love melody more than both song 4 u and missing! :thud


I find the composition way more interesting. Although song 4 u's chorus still kicks ass.

I'm super in love with 'Melody'.

But then again, I usually love her "filler" tracks like Wishing, Life, winding road, meaning of Love, Letter...

It doesn't sound that filler to me! It has all the makings of a great ayu track!

It doesn't to me either. But any Ayu song that doesn't sound "epic" or "grandiose" usually gets reduced to the "filler" label by AHS.

from what I bolded, I don't consider them as fillers (or I consider them, but I feel something diffrent from em), cause they are "unique" on the album (they fit within the album structure) Especially ESM and the next LOVE. They are like, nothing she ever made (maybe tnL is a LITTLE like Pride, but I can't really compare this to that)

There are some "category" for filler tracks (just IMO, don't be angry with that)

(I won't count AsfXX cause it's kinda impossible since halth of the tracks are on the same level - maybe more than 50%...)

ballads/slower tracks:
LOVE ~refrain~ (the remix made it sound like a random boring track)
no more words
Close to you
Over
Dolls
Secret
untitled ~for her~ (still my fav "filler" ballad, with Curtain call)
Curtain call
meaning of Love
crossroad (I KNOW it's a single track. But it stills bores me to death)
beloved
how beautiful you are (but still, it stands out cause of english chorus...)
Melody
Days (jesus, I'm maybe the only one person in this fandom that feels this song like a filler track)
Together when...
November

cheesy cute:
Party queen
Thank U
Beautiful Fighters
Beautiful Day (maybe a little... but still this song screams "i'm kinda diffrent")
HONEY - Replace composition. If they weren't together, it would sound better.
Audience
immature
EnergizE

edgy rock/acoustic/electronic/pop rock/other:
call - Letter - reminds me composition. (same situation as HONEY - replace)
count down
Last links
Lady Dynamite
Red Line - Life - MY ALL - I don't remember how they sound. Not even a little.
LOVE 'n' HATE - this song IS unique. But it feels like someone doesn't completed it.
GUILTY
Heartplace
appears (it bores me so much ;/ I can't believe it's a single, but the times were diffrent, lol)
momentum
It was - (miss)understood - they do sound like filler tracks, but they are like my favorite

BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T like em. Some of them (like (miss)understood) are tracks I REALLY love) But they are some I don't, lol

To me, ayu doesn't really have "filler tracks." Or at least not a whole lot of them. I think every one of her songs has their appeal.

because it changes when you're them and you start to imagine your own picture of this song, I guess.

i like melody

leaaaaak
i keep checking back to see if anything has leaked..
I'm praying for that "AHS in unavailable" message.

^ hoping for sunday..
want to jam to some of those remixes!

nooo
I can't wait till sunday ~~~
Or maybe I can.
Holy, the CD comes out next week. Time is FLYING.

Tell me about it! I still gotta preorder again!

^ Again? what happened?

^ no no no... the next mini album, again. lol
that can be confusing, cant it. lol

:banana1 full album's gonna leak XDDD(plz refer to Chinese Time)
http://ww4.sinaimg.cn/large/6850f51ajw1dyhrmj3p30j.jpg

CD-only cover is just gorgeous. I hope it leaks soon.

I'm usually not a huge fan of songs like melody on first listen, but this time I am. It's just a really nice, sweet song.

We've heard the new songs but I bet most of us are excited to hear Song 4 u (Orchestral mix) now.

Oh my, I LOVE Melody! Her vocals are great there!
Never expected that.
On the other hand I'm not a fan of Song 4 u, it's boring.
Still high hopes for Missing though, so far I like it.
Leak please! :yes

God I hope this album leaks by tonight!

**** the booklets = =
only 3 photos and similar poses
full album is gonna leak in the next 2-3 hours

Good xD Once I am back from the swimming pool it should be there T_T I have tons of choirs to do >_> so at least I'll listen to it~

OMG LEAAAAAAAK~~
The obi, I can't wait to see what the colour of ayu's name is gonna be!


Edit: @TeamAyu2004: I read your post at an ungodly hour, so I was like 'what?' XD

rongayu shared a pic from the booklet


He's saying that the 3rd release won't be a mini-album?
Google Translation

Beautiful :luv2
AND YASSSS LEAAAAAK NOWWW

Edit: read the post wrong, sorry.
So it probably won't be a mini? I'm okay with that. Why couldn't all the albums be full albums? Ayu's a workaholic after all.

But holy Mowly. I don't care. Even if I dislike melody, I want it. I can't wait no more. I need this cd. Them instrumentals... Never wanted an instrumental more. Maybe fairyland...

Melody sounds ok for me, but I'm still jamming Song 4 u and Missing, I hope it leaks like 1 minute ago :grumpy

Melody is a beautiful song, and IMO it's the kind of song she'd sing at the end of a concert. I need the album to be leaked right now!! :O

Maybe January 8th is AT12 DVD?

I need it to leak and i want that booklet now lol

she won't release a single on that date coz she cannot get #1
so A WINTER BEST or A BALLADS II plz don't = =

Or a DVD ? Hotel love songs !

This pic is... DDDDDD': <3

i hope 3rd project is the release of the ARENA TOUR 2012 DVD!! :(

SONG 4 U ~TALES OF XILLA 2 4 MIN VERSION~

Yes! she can release anything she wants as long as i have A BEST 3 on her 15th anniversary (April 8th)! and i hope for another classic cover like A BEST!
btw, i ordered Love CD ver! i just can't miss Missing!^^!

^
^ it might be epic.. but midi sound ruin everything %)

I would rather they hold this back a bit further more. A 3D2 would be a more appropriate release.
Personally I feel that the tours DVD are lacking in quality. The past tour DVD comes with more content and are properly packaged. Don't know is it due to the time constrain or they're just lacking in creative personnel.

^ I completely agree with everything you said.

The content has been slowly decreasing through the past few releases. I wish there were more behinds-the-scenes videos on recent DVDs, more special screens... just more bonus content. Even the CDL~HLS~ cover could have been a whole lot better.

I do hope they release A3DII as well. It does seem a bit appropriate, seeing as it's about to to (or has aired?) on TV. I'd love to own it on blu-ray, I loved seeing it in theatres! (And I'm slowly upgrading my Ayu collection from DVD's to blu-rays, and I need AT10 in general on blu-ray :P)

Missing is just.....i have no words....T.T
so amazingggg esp that piano tune before the 2nd chorus.
You can feel the emotion in Ayu's voice just coming out...really superb work

edit:
Song 4 u (Orchestra Version) is heavenly :D :D :D

Listening RIGHT now!
Holy moly.
Missing is just wow.
its kinda weird to listen to the whole thing cuz i overplayed the snippet (200ish times). but its so nice~
But why does Missing go quiet for a second at 4:09? I can't handle that.

And I'm kinda glad that You & Me is "on" the album. I was dying for an instrumental long taimu. I love that cheap song! :love

^
omg I thought to be the only one.
It's like the same annoying break on the Youtube ver. :/ WHY? Missing is too amazing T_T

Actually all three songs are amazing. Even Melody :heart
LOVE screams Ayu everywhere.

Still disappointed because "Song 4 u" is so short but whatever... :rolleyes At least the whole song makes the last chorus even more epic.
"Missing" is gorgeous ! The cut before the last chorus is really weird, it kinda breaks the flow...
"Melody" is nice... I probably won't listen to it a lot just like "beloved" but it's a cute & happy song !

I don't like remixes and these ones are pretty bad... Missing + dubstep is a really weird mix :laugh
Song 4 u's orchestra version is gorgeous, MORE !

physical CD credits:cknjoshua

ALL 3 photoshoots from booklet credits :rongayu

official Lyrics credits:cknjoshua

"O" from LOVE on the CD and DVD is very special XD
and for 2 PV the Director is Masashi Muto
Photographer :Kazutaka Nakamura

The CD/DVD Jewel case looks so unusually thin.
They're usually so thick, even with CD/DVD singles.

oh.. my ears...
If I thought Melody was bad I should have never listened to that horrible remix... :thud
I think Im in love with Song 4 U Orchestra version :love
It feels like Im playing the game.... :weep

the sad part is, i kinda like the original version of Melody. the remix made me appreciate it.

^ Im the same way.
Its not that the song is bad.. its just, boring. The remix makes it look exotic, lol.

over all, I'm a little unimpressed with this mini. we have 2 strong songs (Song 4 U, Missing), 1 okay song, Melody. The You and Me remixes we had a while ago, the dubstep one is fine till all that 'dubstep' crap, and then the ungodly awful Melody remix.... then finally, the best remix of them all the Song For U... the saving grace of the remixes... :*).

I find this single to be extremely uninspired. "Song 4 u" and "Missing" are OK, the two "You & Me" remixes are very sweet and the best part of this release, the Orchestra version of "Song 4 u" is good too but the instrumental sounds like something I've heard on countless Orchestra remixes before.

The remixes of "Missing" and "Melody" are unbearable to my ears. Uninspired, predictable, obviously made without any passion. Whose DJ work is this after all? Shame on them xD

The instrumental versions I won't judge, because they are always just as good as the Original mix.

i love the break part...made the song sounds very dramatic and unique