Spotify isn't that popular in Japan, they are more into Apple services (and AWA is the avex flagship, so...). But I guess it will be available there too, as all demos were released in Spotify.

I hope they do it right and PROMOTE it in streaming platforms, with banners and putting it in the main page, inviting people to listen to it.

There are five songs on it. Do you have 199,000 friends?

and also on the other hand people who aren't so sure about purchasing the album (because they don't want to buy without knowing if the music is good or not) might listen to it on subscription, like it and decide to buy it after all

one person can stream more than once tho

I'm happy about it because it'll be on my birthday. :love best present.

Don't know what to say...
I think that #1 first week is a dream now.

omg I can't wait! I hope they put it on Spotify too

It's not really a dream (possibility-wise). They could easily put her in a week where she would get #1. Kuu managed it too after all, with not so high sales. It's just that they don't really care for it anymore. Even without digital pre-release (which I don't think affects the sales that much, as someone said, the people who want to buy it physically will do so anyway), Perfume will most likely beat her.

I think it is wonderful. At least to me: because I wanna be sure that the album is good before I buy it.

You shouldn't. I order it last week and that announcement didn't impact me at all. People who buy music do it for them and to support the artist. We all know you can get everything for free somewhere and it will probably leak/be out before the release date.

^I haven't ordered this time , but I usually download an album as fast as I can. I only buy albums for collection purpose and the DVD/extras.

I don't understand the opposition to streaming. Maybe it's just because I've been around since 2004, but albums back in the day used to leak a month in advance and people would clamor to download it, completely for free. At least streams get the artist monetary support.

I am happy to get the chance to listen to the album earlier ;- ) If I was buying the album it wouldn't affect my decision. And I am not buying it due to financial reasons only.

I wonder if we’ll get the official track list by then.

It is more of a cultural thing in Japan than in the US I think. Of course people do it in the US too, but it's considered rude, bullying etc. People talk about people's weight to their faces over there and it is considered normal. It is pretty harsh actually. Also, it's not just weight. In Japan people will ask how old you are in their first conversation with you, whereas in the west asking someone's age is often considered rude, etc.

Don't feel bad for us :rolleyes I pre-ordered and this announcement didn't affect me at all, in fact it made me happy to get the new music 1 week before.

I don't get the problem with this release specifically. People who bought Deluxe Set is having a DVD/Blu-Ray of a tour and a lot of goodies. The album per se is secondary.

Totally agree, especially about age. Japanese TV programs always indicate people's ages next to their names in parentheses haha. Imagine doing that in the US

They actually do it quite often already. I just went on "People"s website and opened up the first celebrity article and there you have it : https://people.com/movies/nicole-kid...r-ailes-movie/

It was never a dream to begin with since that week is also a Perfume album release week, iirc.

I don't really see why this was necessary. They said something similar about M(A)DE IN JAPAN within 3 days. The rough mix of the weird demo got around 20k streams on AWA in about two days.

The eye rolling isn't necessary.:rolleyes
My point is that it would have been a great exclusive bonus to those that are already paying so much money for a 5 song album and a concert in a fancy box. They are paying the premium price after all so it would help add value to the experience.

The exclusive parts are the concerts and the fancy box set.
The music was never exclusive.

Right, the music itself is not exclusive. Didn't say it was or should be. I was talking about how if they had decided to give those who preordered the deluxe set early access it would have been a great exclusive benefit.

Ah yes - that actually makes sense, I am with you now.

That's awesome we're gonna be able to listen to TROUBLE earlier, but I wish Spotify was included in the digital platforms for the release on the 5th. My Apple Music subscription ended a few days ago and I didn't renew it :weep

If it's not on Spotify it's not a big deal. Someone will be the real MVP here anyway and rip it for us lol

If it doesn't come to Spotify then I won't be able to listen to it. I only have Spotify and Amazon Music Unlimited right now. Amazon doesn't even have Ayu though. I need the lalalalalai rock and roll song.:luv2

I have Amazon and Apple Music. Amazon only 'cause its free with my Prime subscription. Apple because... I dunno. I like Spotify :laugh

Excited to listen to this album. I'm not really a big fan of Ayu's music anymore, but for some reason this release has me jazzed!

I don't use any streaming service so I'll marry whoever rip it :laugh

In the original Japanese message it says AWAやApple Musicなど - so it's AWA, Apple Music and others.
Pretty sure Spotify will be used as well.

Btw. I found a statistic about the use of paid streaming services from a Japanese magazine through Baidu.
The current top service in Japan is indeed amazon, cause it's coming with their Prime service.
Don't know if free accounts are counted in the numbers for services who offer it.
Services like Line Music only offer paid services.



Tho digital share (streaming plus donwloading, it's about half/half right now) only makes 21% compared to 72% physical share in 2017 in Japan, have to had that in mind.

If Spotify really is just used by 200k Japanese like the news reported - well, numbers of users can't be that hight for the other services except amazon Prime as well.

Even if it's not available on spotify, you can get a free 3-month trial on Apple Music, and even AWA as well, it worked for me without vpn or anything, i just had to download an apk file (android) to install the app itself. iPhone users can temporarily change their country to Japan, type a fake address, download the app and then switch back to your original cuntry

Important to point out that Prime Music is not the same thing as Amazon Music Unlimited, which is the equivalent to Spotify/Apple Music/Google Play Music. Prime Music is really just a collection of songs that are available for listening for Prime members. It's an extremely limited selection compared to the Music Unlimited service.

Good, thanks for the explanation! :yes

Also, that chart about the most-used streaming platforms is really interesting. I never thought Amazon Music would be so popular. Even though many people in the US have Amazon Prime, I feel like Prime Music doesn't get much attention... Or this might be the case only in my social circle. :laugh

I wonder if its gonna come out at 12midnight JP time

US are more for spotify, apple music. https://www.statista.com/statistics/...d-by-audience/

At least when it comes to Spotify here in Brazil stuff get available only at local midnight, even if it's already out in Japan/Korea

Yeah, that’s what I thought—absolutely everyone I know uses Spotify. Thanks for the link! :D

I don't really enjoy Amazon Music Unlimited that much to be honest. They don't have the selection that Spotify has and the computer app loads very slowly. But it does stream at a higher bitrate than Spotify.
I feel it would be weird to not put it on Spotify after uploading all those demo tracks.

^On one hand, they some Kalafina songs to listen to for free, so at least there's a plus. XDDD

https://preview.ibb.co/meg9Oz/IMG_6635.jpg

Taiwan releasing it's exclusive CD+DVD edition, they never mentioned the DVD content tho... hmm....

in the beginning I was super disappointed that trouble isnt a full length album but from day to day, i really like the whole concept of the mini album. ayu has always been the queen of mini albums, so, im super excited now!

The DVD should be the concerts. Think it will just be reg CD+DVD casing and not with the goods.

And when is it released? The 6th August? Before the Japanese release? If not, what is that date for?

That's great news for me!
I really hope that we can get cheaper TAI version with at least one concert, so I just need to buy one box from mu-mo XD

Sweet! I can definitely get the dvd now :)

They just mention that TROUBLE will get an early release digitally on August 6th.
Physical version is not listed yet on Taiwanese sites (5music, books tw, ccr...).

uta-net seems to have already put up The way I am's lyrics (the song she sang on Insta Live)
>> https://www.uta-net.com/song/252732/

I repost it here

AX_YUKU_0592 NKN_arr#2.5

ひとつずつ返したい
たくさんのありがとう達を
ひとつずつ許したい
置き去りにして来た過去達を

泣いたりしたね　憎らしいほど
それでも最後の小指外せなかった

輝く未来が　この腐敗の中に
もしもあるのなら君と見てみたい
こんな願いが　まだ許されるなら
なんとかもう少し歩き続けるよ
こんな時代を

ひとつずつ叶えたい
祈っては隠した夢達を

やっと笑えた後は決まって
残酷な現実が頬を　叩きに来るね

それでも未来は　明るいものだって
君が信じていたいと言う限り
僕はここに居て　叶え続けるから
必要なくなった時にはどうか
きっぱり捨てて

輝く未来が　この腐敗の中に
もしもあるのなら君と見てみたい
こんな願いが　まだ許されるなら
なんとかもう少し歩き続けるよ
こんな時代を

それでも未来は　明るいものだって
君が信じていたいと言う限り
僕はここに居て　叶え続けるから
必要なくなった時にはどうか
同情しないで

きっぱり捨てて

きっぱり捨てて

CM for trouble
https://www.facebook.com/ayu.officia...8028674548574/

Are there even any ADs in Tokyo? Seeing Ayu all over the town again whould be so awesome but will stay a dream I think.

^haven't seen anything. I saw a few adds for Koda's new album though.

I think those aren’t really there. Loving the CM though.

I know that they are CGI and not rly there... that´s why I ask if there are some in real.

I love her voiceover, it sounds so authoritative.

and yet, despite the CM, we still don't have a confirmed track list :laugh

As if they would doing this for real... :laugh

you don't need to produce real billboards if you can draw them in video

https://i.imgur.com/3C5LPNml.jpg



do we know what time album will appear at streaming platforms? Maybe in next 4 hours?

I hope to get the new songs in couple hours.
Hope someone would share.

I instantly thought of Namie's Feel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4fVrM5o4yA

I wouldn’t say it’s impossible

We have to believe that her 20th anniversary means something to Avex lol
But I’m not getting my hopes up

Yeah it means enough so they faked the billboards lol

I very much doubt she'll be all over the city like in the CM.

As most of the people have their nose on their smartphone more than staring into space, it's better to make virtual billboards.

Could be at 12am jst, but also MIJ was released at 10am jst, so they might do the same this time around

The album is officially leak.
Saw it China site to download

please share the site!

Omg it is happening

Yes, it's up on Baidu:
https://pan.baidu.com/s/1gCjmh75MfAj...#list/path=%2F

Password is qqdu.
Big thanks to the uploader, 滨崎步与蔡依林.

^ thanks babe!

Can someone reupload it OMGGG its happenig

W is amazing omg...

has We are the Queens a new arrangement?

At the time it was released, I found it so horrible that I only listened to it once... but now I like it so I'm not sure if something has changed hahah

no

aeternal is such an AMAZING song! I love that the anticipation worked very well for me, I'm listening to the final product now and I'm almost crying! What a beautiful song T_T

And sorry ayu for listening to the album before the release ahaha but I promise I'll listen to it a lot on Apple Music later, so you'll have money for lunch next week

Felt the same despite the fact that the arrangement remains the same. Maybe knowing that something else is coming up after this album opener helps to set up the track nicely

I can sense that for the upcoming tour OPENING hahaha

I was really hoping they would've fixed the horrible mixing on WATQ. The distortion is really just next level bad.

But otherwise I'm happy.

æternal is love

W is worth all the waiting

so “W” is the confirmed title now?

W is like "lol" for Japanese netizens btw

01. We are the QUEENS
02. æternal
03. WORDS
04. W
05. The way I am

These all sound a lot better than the demos. Is it me or does WORDS sound better mixing wise.

OMG, YES.

I guess æternal is my favorite. it sounds like NOW & 4EVA and I love it. I hope miusiq posts a better rip when it's out on AM because this one is very low quality.

W and The way I am are so good. I think WORDS is still my fave as I've been listening to it a lot over the year. aeternal is nice, I still feel nothing for WATQ. I am so excited for the new songs. The girl never ceases to amaze me, as much as we tend to doubt her.

I was trying to write up my dissertation but ...I guess that's out the window now.

What's confusing for me is that in LINE LIVE she was like "because the upcoming tour is based on new album, of course I'll be singing a lot of new songs". I mean 5 songs aren't "a lot":-)

Available Now
 

AVAILABLE NOW @ Apple Music

it's out on AM Japan

https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/trouble-ep/1413180345

plus WATQ isn't new at all and she performed it at TeamAyu tour and CDL, WORDS were performed a lot during JTB
So it's only 3 new songs

while I like all the new songs, the order of the track list is a little bit weird to me. I always feel it's more intuitive to group the more rockish/upbeat songs and then transition as smoothly as possible to the slower/more laid-back ones. that's certainly not the case here. oh well. I notice this in some of her other albums as well.

apart from that, this is a very decent album.

The way I am the the best imo
It sounds the most, complete?

W is a bit messy for my taste. It’ll grow on me I’m assuming.

aeternal is interesting. Seems more raw and less perfected which I kind of like

Really glad with the results! I just looove W!

She usually picks the song order based on the lyrics...

I tried not to download and instead patiently wait until my CD arrives to listen but I can never control myself when this woman releases something. I love all three of the new songs especially W (my jam! :woohoo:) and aeternal!

tracklist is still not updated at official site :/

miusiq sis... I need the AM version because after listening to the HQ previews there I can't listen to the previous rip anymore

W sure was a weird and fun ride lol I think i'll need a few more listens to get used to it, but I liked it! Actually I loved the whole album :love

01. We are the QUEENS
As trashlicious as ever. Ayu's Pop Diva! xD

02. æternal
Sounds like half of her summer singles, but I'm in love with the bridge.

03. WORDS
I didn't remember how this one sounded like. It's GORGEOUS! The chorus OMG!

04. W
Hi Shiina Ringo! What are you doing here in Ayu's album? :V Really loved this one too.

05. The way I am
I had already liked this one from the a capella live. Still loving it.

Overall, I'm satisfied. Better than Sixxxxxx for me.

I'm really pleased with the new EP. As much as I wanted 5 new songs, I really like that We are the QUEENS and WORDS got a physical release. Especially We are the QUEENS since it is such a good song. I also feel that it sounds better here, but maybe it is because I was excited.
I really like the attitude in W. I hope she opens her a-nation show with it or WATQ.
aeternal sounds like momentum summer ver. which is a good thing.
The way I am is nice too but I really liked the version that they did live.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

TROUBLE is really good. I was kinda surprise with W. I thought it would have been as her other pop-rock songs but W is truly Jrock sound not pop-rock. The rhythm and the melodies are different from her songs (except the la la wo oh part that is so Ayu). I can't wait to read the translation of the lyrics.

The way I am is sooo good and the arrangement is somewhat new. There is this usual vibe that Ayu conveys with this kind of sounds but here and there you can hear little pearl of melodies. I'm glad that Ayu chose to sing a ballad for this title and not a pop rock melody such as WARNING because It really defines our Ayu. Our ballad girl who love us and who want to follow her path with people who want her as she is. That's why an angry song wouldn't fit this emotion. Ayu is a woman of love. ♥

aeternal surprised me by it's raw and deep voice. It's not my favourite song of the album but it's the kind of song that can grow on me.