'again' mini album covers
 

again
1080x1080 textless

960x960 2 covers

CD+DVD
http://ww2.sinaimg.cn/large/67ac7c65tw1dyx75obb1kj.jpg
CD ONLY
http://ww2.sinaimg.cn/large/67ac7c65tw1dyx75pbvgzj.jpg
official site ver
CD+DVD
http://ww3.sinaimg.cn/large/4b034f65tw1dyxs5iecl1j.jpg
CD ONLY
http://ww1.sinaimg.cn/large/4b034f65tw1dyxs5jf84fj.jpg

http://ww1.sinaimg.cn/large/4b034f65tw1dyxsbdq61ij.jpg
450x450

With Maro? lol.

Nice though. A bit "cheap" imo.

Loving both versions! :heart

Edit: Yes, I am indeed not a big fan of her "relationship stories" but you definitely have to admit that she's never done a similar cover shot before. Those look quite unique and extremely unusual when compared to all the other covers of Ayu's discography!

Love them!

Seriously?
That was like a screencaps taken from You&Me PV. Where's the art and packaging director? Need to smack his/her head. Its for December release! Need winter touch! Not summer.

:innocent

So much about showing off Ayu's creativity...I am really getting tired of the love theme.

pretty covers ♥

Perfection.

yup...LOVE again Break UP :P

I love them <33

Wow, covers that have actual image composition!
These are wonderful photographs/the best she has used for covers in a while) - if they are really suited as covers depends on the songs included.

:love like it so much!

Not what I expected but I like the covers.

THIS also confuses me!
anyway i still love the covers!

I LOVE IT!!

She kissed him in You & Me PV and didn't make their relationship public. Honestly, I think that's far more reason for speculation, this could just be any guy for a photoshoot. Knowing they are together makes it 100x cuter though.

I hate how she puts her relationship onto carrier. It should be their own buisness >.>

Covers are nice, though I HATE the placement of 'again' title on the second one. "HEY LETS PUT TITLE ON MARO'S HEAD" lol

What's funny is that they aren't even trying to hide it. lol

I think that she didn't expect it and since she knew (obviously) so she had so post it in public before the covers release. Anyway they are really cute. ayu looks really good =)

lol, terrible covers and this makes her relationship seem even more fake and attention whorish

I can't tbh

Ayu only became popular because she used her personal feelings for her lyrics. If she didn't put her relationships into her career we'd have a completely different, much less personal artist.

yeah, maybe i don't think that drastic, but she is like a little puppy who wants to show everyone's her new ball... 'lets put my husband on next 2 pv's... let's put maro on covers, pv's' etc.

lyrics and boyfriend are totally two diffrent things :P

It's the pop business. If you're no attention ***** you're a flop. :P And even the biggest attention *****s grow less popular over time - Kuu is the perfect example. If a pop artist stops doing controversial things they have to be uber-generic - and in this case it's controversial for purely idiotic reasons, which is the best controversy for artists.

Don't like the covers at all.

Her music is always inspired by her emotional state, nothing influences one's emotional state more than being in a relationship - as long as Ayumi is with Maro much of her music will thematically be connected to him, so it only makes sense to use him in videos and photoshoots. Remember he's a dancer/model anyways, so it's not like she's using somebody that has nothing to do with it. He appeared in so many concerts and videos, he is used to it and can work with it.

Yeah^ I think it will be "weird" if she uses someone else like shuya when maro is just there and available.

i like the covers! not too bad, but nth i will go crazy over..

its true. since Love songs in 2010, its been the love theme till now.. -.-

PoM having the heart shape logo and HOTEL Love songs for both CDL1112 and AT2012. -.-

new mini album , LOVE. covers of again. ayu and her lover. wth.

agree! Cover-wise, this is something quite special in ayu's discography. (another similar one may be H)

i think the covers are so different from what i expected. definitely didnt expect that from the idea of beach cover but it really looks so romantic and beautiful. Ayu looking good is all that matters to me...it's so natural!

people are hating because she announced it and this came out. then what if she didnt announce it? would you judge it the same way? For once ayu has someone to be with in her cover...since when was the last time that happened?

Just hoping the songs dont reflect how soft and ethereal the cover is.

nice shots, and actually exacty what i would have expected (my expectations weren't high at all lol) summery covers exactly that... even color theme is predictabale.... one thing tho, i hate her hairstyle... ><

I don't have anything against LOVE theme but Ayu you need to finally settle down with them and start looking for more theme's than that....there's not ONLY LOVE that makes a life, life.... :rolleyes where do i have to draw my inspiration for dreams, not giving up and life in general when my fave artists are throwing out love themed songs one after an other? :weep

not sure about this, but perhaps Maro's head wasnt meant to be seen? haha

with Maro :laugh

^ i kinda agree, i've got to say i don't quite believe in coincidences, but it might be just a bad timing....

i think they intentionally did that, since the focus still goes on Ayu. However his face is barrelly visible anyway from the sunlight so, it kinda bugs me too xD

Im annoyed how relationships are whats becomin an Ayu era now. I think it puts people off, and they want actually people to be interested, not the other way around. for real fans (fans of her music) its getting pretty annoying cuz people cant distinguish music and that cheap promo anymore, like Party Queen... ~divorce era~ I dont see any new fans, if someone can inform me about any positive impact of this feel free to share cuz I dont feel comfortable with this rn! :no

covers as covers are pretty, but I dont want Ayu eras to be remembered as marriages and failed marriages. its like kim kardashian level.

i love them...coz it's very simple theme, but unexpected male model there, Maro haha~~

Amazing. Love them! <3

Haha, looks so sweet... Ayu is an attention seeking b**** lol

Yea, it's really ironic when she tries to keep her relationship on low profile, yet her album cover is she and maro.. Which is attracting so much attention...

covers are very pretty and romantic, not at all winterish, lol, I still hope for good old cry winter Ayu ballad thing to happen, soon, I hope :)

the lighting is really good too. natural and pretty. happy with Ayu covers again :D

I LOVE THEM!!

Just seen this after reading the blog post and oh God. They look okay (though given my situation when seeing them I think I couldn't afford an objective assessment). I'm not a fan of her hair there (looks too similar to A SUMMER BEST hair and Lord knows how much I hate it). And Maro's there. Um. Yeah speechless and bug-eyed here. Bye world.

Sweet!!!
CD only version always get better cover..

I would not use ANYONE in first place.


I'm pretty tired of LOVE-theme, because Ayu is one this artists, I look forward to listen in that deep statement (not just for enterteiment.) I read lyrics, I think about her song meanings. And it's pretty hard for me to be happy with her lovey-dovey life right now, when your boyfriend broke up with you after 6 years XDDDDDDDD I'm not moaning right now (yes, I AM jelous! XD), but her music was just not-about-love back then, and I'm missing it. It's "I love you so much" or "I miss you so much" mostly. Even Song 4 u is STILL A SONG FOR SOMEONE CLOSE etc. I'm not a fan of love-showing. I hate when my friends shows off "how happy they are" even back then when I was in happy relationship. I think it should be in their personal space.

I don't see the big deal about covers you make guys :shrug.
Maybe they took advantage on gossip magazines. You know, You&Me PV where she's kissing Maro and now this cover.. everyone would be suspicious they're in love for real LOL. Better say the truth before magazines will do.
Call me naive, but I wouldn't scream market strategy so soon.

Both covers looks really cute though, still prefer LOVE ones but they're not so bad.

Loving these covers! It's nice to see someone else in the picture for a change. Reminds me of one of Koda Kumi's covers.

this cover remember me LOVE destiny... very beautiful and different from the other covers from 2012

Lovely covers, I really like them <3

ayu can't help but put her private life in her work, that's how she is :)

She continues to look more natural I like it.

I wake up and see 269 posts?
Something MUST have happened.
Time to view the covers~~

What sweet covers...
CD DVD it is.

i really really like the CD only cover...
the CD+DVD... is nice... truing away to look at us...

I think over time I will come to REALLY like these covers...

I don't like the fact these cover will make speak about them otherwise they are pretty !

Hm, not a big fan of those covers, don't like them.
And Maro and Ayu are together? Really??
Hm, leaves a weird feeling for me. :(

I'm trying to look at it from another point. May be now ayu treats her music very very personal and thinks like "this is my album, these are my songs, this is my life and I want to have a cover with my dear man and me, this is how I am, take it or leave it". May be now she doesn't understand where "ayumi hamasaki" ends and ayu begins. She used to divide them well in 00s.

these photos look really nice. but tbh I'd love them more if she were alone. not sure if her male Japanese fandom will like it, but she doesn't seem to have big male fandom so I guess it's OK :laugh

and I'm also not sure if it's appropriate to have covers like this in winter. but since she was filming some PVs in Hawaii, I guess we'll have a summer hit in winter :laugh

Totally agree with Koumori..

Guess this cover is something totally new compare to her previous covers ^^ love it even thou its maro =x

*how i wish they could swap the covers. i actually prefers the CD's cover but yet im only buying her CD+DVD T.T nooo.....

These covers leave me totally disappointed. Wtf Ayu...

Agree!

yep :yes :yes

I'm still completely overwhelmed of the fact that these covers look more like photos, as in real photos, rather than photoshop close-ups, which we were used to before.

Like I said, it's something completely different for a cover. Let's see how those will work in higher resolution.

Of course I'm loving it!

I quite like these covers, especially cd only, I always like her natural smile when she is truly happy and her smile with Maro is beautiful.

Has the tracklisting changed?

They're gorgeus! Was expecting a more "wintery" cover, but still love it (:

Come to think of it that's like her first cover with someone. that's true, I wished she didnt use someone but now if there is any one to be used, its going to be Maro. I guess we are just going to see Maro everywhere like Timmy . DANG

I'm ready for HQ covers! These covers make me feel peaceful. Still waiting on that epic rock song, Ayu!

What if they break up in the end and the picture will remain for this mini album forever? Ayu needs to make a smart move!

that's my point actually lol
that's why she shouldn't mix private life with music carrier.
and tbh it's better for relationship to stay private, you know what happened with mannie :P but I'm no wizard, so I wish her luck.

Awww, so beautiful! :) I love the covers. Even if Ayu and Maro do break up, it's not like Maro is very visible in these shots, so I don't think it'll be a big deal.

Like I said the weekly magazine and gettyimages showing up for paparazzi was all Avex. Ayumi never has paparazzi following her. They call the press to setup interviews inside a hotel even when they're in Tokyo. Paparazzi never shows up at any place she announces she will be. The whole thing is publicity, Avex needs to quit making a fool of the best singer they ever had.

And after reading 3 pages of people now agreeing it's publicity, I don't mind throwing in, I told you so.

Do people in Japan actually care that Ayu got divorced? like I don't mean some people on line but a lot of the population in Japan? cause I know there are times when I literally forget that she was married/divorced and It doesn't even seem that scandalous to me.

^ well, she was never divorced in Japan... so I dont think so.

they added the remixers

CD+DVD is really nice, she looks stunning.. i like how she's keeping it so simple right now.
CD Only is a mess though, the photo is nice but not really cover material.. and the placement of the text? no.

Where was that posted? Didn't see it. Post it here for me!@

Ayu and Mannie are divorced, but he's in three of her PVs. But, Ayu's music is a reflection of who she was at the time, so it she shouldn't regret it. Her music has always been personal.

The covers are pretty and different for her, but nothing sensational.

LOL... Pieces... its sooo hard there are like 3 threads going for again! lol

ill try!

@ Pieces.

07. Wake me up (Remo-con rmx)
08. snowy kiss (Shohei Matsumoto remix)

http://ahsforum.com/forum/showpost.p...&postcount=158

its on 'again' mini album out December 8th, 2nd of five 15th anniversary releases [II] page 8

I love the CD+DVD! CD-only is ruined by the text though :\ Ayu's team really needs to learn about proper text placement~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's a shame these are kinda cheapened because of the whole ~publicity~ thing because these are the some of the best covers. I love the colors and the candidness but I wish the man was more of a mystery like the Love Destiny cover.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md...s1j7o2_250.jpg

I much prefer the CD+DVD one, because unless you know its Maro, it could just be any random guy. I really do like the covers, they're gorgeous, but I can also appreciate them being kinda... tacky.

she needs some new PR people...
the news, then these covers and if they would have kept silent... man... lol..

people would be dying.

i think not everything has to be sensational..
LOVE and again have one of the most minimalistic tones and subtle feelings Ayu has in her covers (especially when just earlier this year, she had a bombastic Party Queen concept)

is it that different to judge a cover objectively? pardon me, but someone mentioned how this reminded himself/herself about Kuu's covers. Yes Kuu once had cover with a male model did she not? And the concept is just about the same here. Male model not thoroughly shown and there is intimacy. Just that here, we have something more soft and romantic.

there's always disagreement with ayu's works everytime just because she uses someone that she's close to. Shuya, Mannie, Timmy, Ishii, Leslie Kee, Shimoko..and recently perhaps Masashi Muto and now Maro. Everyone she works with closely is propelled into the spotlight and gets slammed. It's no wonder she calls herself a Lonely Queen. (guess what, all males above)

im not targetting this at anyone. but really, if they weren't in a relationship, how would people judge this differently. Imagine Shuya was the on the cover...then would that make more sense since he has been her love target in majority of her stage works? Why issit something so real here gets ridiculed? If these were honeymoon photos, would it be so wrong?

I hate these covers

Well... Considering this covers were made a while ago, there's actually a chance they expected people to see Maro as a random model she used at the time to represent her lover (as Shuya did for years). Without the relationship announciment, we wouldn't really care for it being Maro (aside from the usual "She puts her dancers everywhere!1!" *****ing)

But it also could be a publicity stunt to reveal it's Maro just before releasing the covers... I don't really care to be honest... Knowing she is dating Maro doesn't make their relationship less private, having him on the cover doesn't make their relationship less private, seeing paparazzi pics of them both together doesn't make it less private... In the end of the day, 100% of what we know about them, is that they are dating, period. She has no good reason to hide from anyone who she is seeing... She is a grown woman, and pretending you are not on a relationship is a huge waste of energy.

edit: Utada's hiatus is over and her new song ***** all over Ayu, her minis and her love life. Ayu could paint herself green and implant horns on her head and I wouldn't care right now <3

remo-con! YES!

Has shohei matsumoto done any other ayu remixes before?

CD+DVD ist just a really bad photo for me.
CD only is sweet, but that text placement... Also again such "lighter" colours.
So that's why I don't like them.
I'm happy it's another attempt for an Ayu cover though.

Ohhh I mentioned this a few wks ago.. somewhere.. maybe twitter.. "LOVE again" hAh~.. Maybe the others will form a sentence as well ;).

I like these covers.. They`re good. They could be better, but they`re good. They`re very natural, which is fresh to see, and compliments the [LOVE] cover well. I don`t get why they chose to put her name and title in the top left corner for the CD only..

I`m still surprised that many of her covers (not all of them recently) still heavily concentrate on her face (more-so looking at LOVE).. Normally, when artists are new to the scene labels are more persistent on head shots, so their image becomes recognizable to the public (marketing).. She`s well established in the industry where they can zoom out and involve more environment shots, that still look amazing and aesthetically pleasing.. and will probably sell just as well. Apologies, a small rant..

I`m looking forward to seeing the larger versions of these, for they`re probably much better in a higher resolution.

OHHHH Shohei has done the Grateful days remix on ayu trance 4! AWESOME!

she keeps simple from NEXT LEVEL-RnRC era lol. The only thing that stands out was FIVE covers.

I love both but I prefer cd version.
The problem is I will buy cd+dvd version

I wish it was more christmas-ie... but this cover is nice.
It grows on me more and more...

and
LOL... listening to Utada's new song and looking at the covers... it makes it more beautiful... (both song and covers)

SO glad I preordered both versions...and it seems like the remixes of wake me up and snowy kiss will be trance!

Maybe people should be grateful that she didn't use Timmy, since I know that was probably everyone's greatest fear. :mischief

Trance remixes give me LIFE

You guys never have anything positive to say:shakehead
If the Maro thing is a stunt so what get over it, she needs to stay relevant somehow to the public. As long as she's happy and releasing music that's all I can ask for :yes

http://blog.jpopdb.org/media/ayumi-n...vel-2cddvd.jpg

Simple? xD

The covers are nice, I wish she would do something more creative though.

hopefully!!
Ill have to go back and listen to greatful days to see if i truly like it..
as for remco... he is either a hit or a miss for me...

+1
it doesnt effect me in the slightest.

also she hasnt had a simple cover in the a long time... there is always so much going on...
LOVE, again is simple. its grand. they are amazing.

Really nice photos for the covers. If Ayu wants to use Maro, that's up to her as long as she is happy then I'm happy :) Maybe she wanted the affection shown in the covers to be more genuine which gives a soft, warm feeling