Alright. Catching up, part three. Rock 'n' Roll Circus. Pre-listening thoughts: I don't think Ayu and I have the same idea of what rock 'n' roll is. This could be a major disappointment. I hope it's not.

Suitably, we start with THE introduction. Let there be no question - other introductions need not apply. THE introduction has been found and it features here. What is that, other introductions that are not featured? You call yourself introductions? Ha, think again! Seriously, what a stupid title, if just for the type setting. OK-ish intro that reminds of both a circus and, as I saw someone mentioned, old school VGM.

Off to the first actual song: Microphone. It rocks in a way that is neither unpleasant nor actually very rock or roll, but alright. For the purpose of this review I'll refer to this particular branch of rock music as 'pebble'. Quite frankly, I like this sound, so this works for me. The arrangement is pleasant, the composition ace. Another song I'd classify as 'vintage Ayu'. It has the timeless quality to it that only the best Ayu material has - wonderful opener. count down shifts down a few gears. Certainly not as vibrant as Microphone, but alright. Decent power ballad, but those guitars need to rock more, girl. Arrangement is unremarkable - the sound of the snare is awful, even. Still, fairly ok.

Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ is pretty. For some reason it feels like an album closer. It's a good song, though I'm finding fault with the album's sequencing, here. Microphone kicks off well enough, but the album then immediately seems to slip into Ballad Mode. Not the best of choices, I think. Makes it feel slightly lethargic. Unsurprisingly, BALLAD is a, yeah, eh, it's a ballad. Would've been a world of fun if it punkrocked the heck out of us, but it doesn't. Too bad. Pretty song. I'm not yawning. I'm not I tell you! Last Links takes us back to the pebble. It rocks in a very polite manner. Decent song. Nice strings. I feel like this could be a favourite, but it's not the balls-out resolution to the previous trio of sleep-inducing balladry I wished for.

Interlude time. Of course. Where would we be without interludes? (About four minutes further down, I reckon.) montage has a pleasantly sinister tone to it here and there. It's a fine interlude indeed, I think. More circus moods. Nicely done. Don't look back is okayish. Unremarkable. I don't like the arrangement. It's flat, it emphasizes the wrong sounds, it's not good. Nothing special overall. Jump! is the ninth new interlude I've heard today and it's too much. Sorry. I fail to see how this thing helps the album. Plus it's awful. Oh my. What bitterness. Lady Dynamite does nothing for me. It's okayish, again. On the plus side, nothing here is as awful as Party Queen. In fact, most of it isn't awful at all. However, most material fails to strike any chord with me. All I can say is that I don't mind it, but honestly, that's not really good, is it?

Sexy little things is a quirky tune, I guess. I don't like it. It doesn't feel very Ayu, at all. Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ provides a pleasant change of pace. The way the chorus breaks out in this nice pebble fashion is cool, and when the multitude of voices joins in I'm reminded of independent and girlish a bit, too - neither of which is not the worst of comparisons in my book (in fact, both rank among my favourites). meaning of Love is an epicish ballad which I dig. Not the best I've heard, but one of the better cuts on the album. You were... is, surprise, another (power) ballad. Again, nicely done, but do we really need this many ballads on a single disc? I think A Ballads had more balls (and fewer ballads) than this. And, oh, the irony, it's called Rock 'n' Roll Circus, too. Well played, max... RED LINE ~for TA~ is alright. Sort of lost interest at this point.

In conclusion, Rock 'n' Roll Circus isn't really bad - that dubious honour goes to Party Queen. However, it's unremarkable and uninspiring for almost its entire length. For an album that's euphemistically titled Rock 'n' Roll Circus there's surprisingly little rocking going on here. (I thought my pebble joke would make for some good quips here and there, but alas, there's so little rock I could barely ever drag it out.) Just barely alright.

THE introduction
It's alright. Nothing too special. I like how it slowly builds up, though. 6.5/10

Microphone
This is a beast of a song. It's one of the very first Ayu songs I ever heard. I felt like going to iTunes Japan just for the heck of it and this song was no9 or something. Then I was like "oh I know that chick. She sang that sparkle song and dearest". So I downloaded it (from somewhere else) and just fell in love. Nostalgic too (bonus points). 10/10

count down
At first, I found this song to be quite a drag. But then I grew to love its chill piano at the beginning and just the chillness in the song in general. And the chorus is just cool. The breakdown is fun. I don't know, but the song is one of the few songs that fit the 'rock' theme. It works well. Me gusta. 9/10

Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~
I ain't gonna lie, I LIKE this song. It's not a song I choose to listen to, but when it comes on, I never change it. Must be the piano. I'm a piano suck. I also like how Ayu sings the song. It's a shizzy, sappy song. But I like it. I like the chorus long time as well.8.5/10

BALLAD
I love me some angsty ballads. I love me some oriental arrangement. It took a while for this song to click. But when it clicked, it CLICKED. 9/10

Last Links
I hate the acoustic guitar with a passion, but I like this song. The chorus is alright, not good. The arrangement, however, is the shiz. Not the best shiz. But way better than above average. 8/10

montage
Sounds nice. I kinda like it. Sounds weird just before the next song. 7.5/10

Don't look back
The song itself drags, but I love love love the arrangement and melody. 8.5/10

Jump!
They saying "jump!" or "chug!". Lordy, this is a "love like you can't sleep/breathe" thing all over again. I don't even know who sings the "jump/chug" line. At least ayu's english is better. No more "full moon hit me like a log". I'd rather have Hikki, angela aki, or even CK use english in their songs. They sing in english CORRECTLY. 7/10

Lady Dynamite
Hot song. Nothing much I can say. If I wanted a more hotter song, I'd listen to sparkle. Feels like a dumbed down version. 7/10

Sexy Little things
The lyrics are great. The song itself is alright. Nothing too special but I still listen to it even now. 7.5/10

Sunrise ～LOVE is ALL～
It's alright. I don't like the chorus. Still better than You & Me. 6/10

meaning of Love
It's a bit shiz. Basic, boring. Wait, it is shiz. I actually forgot how the melody went. I didn't listen to any song on the album for a month, but I remembered every song but this one. 4/10

You were...
I don't know what to say about this song. The chorus can make me cry. I think it's the emotion in the song... Other than the chorus, it's pretty meh. I prefer CAROLS to this (for a winter ballad). Bonus points for the chorus. 7.5/10

RED LINE ～for TA～ [album version]
I can live without this song (still better than You & Me). 5/10

Overall, the album was a sloppy good time. It didn't flow and the Rock concept was a bigger flop than CK's latest album. But what is in the album is great. 7.5/10

wheres your count down love?

count down is like, the best song on the album :P

^ Oh yeah. I'll edit my post right now. I like the song.

^interesting...still find CAROLS one of hour most boring Ballads and the only one on MY STORY that I have to skip....but You were... :heart I just love that song. Idk why.