People upset about the Ayu mini album!!
 

i am having mixed feelings as are alot of people what do you think went wrong with the studio production? or was this planned?

hmmmm...yes i am sad but i think Ayu just wants to take it easy this year so i'm fine with that :yes just ganbatte Ayu!

A mini-album may be a wise decision, since we don't want Ayu to feel pressured to push out a full album every year. Don't want her to rush the album releases. Perhaps she's busier this year anyway. :shrug

I'm just happy that she's still releasing decent stuff. Doesn't matter if it's a full album or mini album really.

I have absolutely no problems with a mini album at all and i'm surprised people can complain about it. End of the day, we're getting a new album (albeit mini) but look at other artists... sometimes you won't get an album for 2+ years so really we have no reason to be unhappy. Also, Memorial Address was a great mini album, and i think when My Story followed, it benefitted from it. (less songs to improve upon, more time to work on the new tracks, a "possibly" more relaxed Ayu)

i agree i was just in shock at the outburst that occured in the chat rooms. I mean i was shocked then happy then felt let down then happy again lol its weird but i am anticipating this album very much plus i dont listen to half the songs on full albums anyway lol

^ lol i listen to all the songs on full albums, but i'm fine with a mini because apart from anything else... i don't listen to ayu's singles :laugh

lol that makes it easier for you to accept a mini album i mean it cant be all that bad i am excited now its almost like when "Memorial" came out but we get an new track i think memorial address take 2 was leaked a month before the album came out lol but the photo book inside should be colorful and plus her concert DVD released so late in the year that could be a reason for a mini album also

yeah i am disappointed because it is not wat i expected.. 2 singles den a mini album. thats worse than 2003. but i am still happy that ayu is releasing an album ... we need not wait anymore..

yeah i know how u feel i guess the s new songs may be excellent that is what i am hoping for because alot of people are losing faith in Ayu i appreciate her work of back then but now its so stale it seems i am hoping this mini album does somthing and is arranged right

Well it's disappointing because I guess we've been waiting for so long for some news of something big to come out and yet all we get is a mini album. It's kinda a let down. Hopefully the content will make up for it.

i hope there are surprises in it but Ayu doesnt do that anymore....

i just hope that this mini album can sales pretty well...
i really feel that its the time for ayu to release her 2nd best album, and i REALLY SURE that it will sales VERY-VERY WELL...
but just see next ayu action

ya!! I am really disappointed!! Cause there will be only one ballad in this mini album which is JEWEL!

Give me a winter ballad single ayu!!!

^i dont know that you love ballad song very much
i was a ballad sucker too..haha

yeah just hope the best for ayu and i definitely BUY this album

Can't always get what we want :shrug

Although she IS making some "interesting" decisions :innocent

I'm not upset at all!! I'm actually kinda relieved there's a new album!!

let's see ( possibly an 8 track album again :shrug)

Startin'
Born to be...
BLUE BIRD
Beautiful Fighters
1LOVE
JEWEL
new song

Since we're not hearing full versions of 1LOVE and JEWEL yet that's 4 new songs to balance out the other 4 mediocre songs.

edit: forget it, just read it's a 7 track album.... now I'm sad :(

Maybe its Avex...o well...i m disappointed..3 new songs out of which 2 are known...

I dunno...u have hi hopes..i hope she doesnt disappoint...we'll see tomorrow...BUT its an albm afterall, so i cant wait....

i think Ayumi is having a mariah carey breakdown

i hope Ayu can have a chance to slow down and make better music
that's what i am looking forward for

I just don't know why she diden't rather wait? Is this some contractual matter,is she legally bound to avex to release an album once a year and since she already know she won't manage to put out a new album in time she decided to go with a mini?

I like the songs and on the one hand I´m happy she is amking a mini album...but on the other I thinlk the songs don´t fit with each other like Memorial Address one but expectation are on the same level XD Memorial Address was a fully fitting album of songs and cover and art etc. it was...round....this one is so ixed...I even can´t think of an cover...it has to be poppy...but on the other side my not XD

well, I think a mii-album is about 8 songs...and some American artists will pump out a CD with 11 tracks...so it's like missing 3 songs. big whoop, ya know?

I'm just thinking about sales right now. Will it be like an (m)u or less, or be a Memorial Address again and have another mini album sell 1 million+?

Basically I only wanted a lot of new songs.

I'm not upset, but it could for sure have been better news than those :).

No one (besides ayu and avex) so far can tell whether it was planned to be a minialbum from the beginning or if it was a spontaneous(sp) decision, but maybe a minialbum is the best solution after all. It's sure somewhat disappointing (everyone probably would like more songs), but I think a full-length album wouldn't put ayu further as an artist. Just like "Memorial address" wouldn't have put her further if it had been a full-length album.
Maybe ayu feels that there's no overall theme that would fit the songs altogether. So after releasing these "new" songs on a minialbum, ayu can think of themes for her next album - where she wants to go with her music.

PS. Hope ayu will include a secret track! =3 Hadn't one since "RAINBOW" (which wasn't THAT secret as it was somehow stated in the tracklist).

I'm just happy she's releasing something! I'm pretty sure that the mini album will be good.

That is very true. She's been busy this year, at least by what I recon, so maybe she's been taking it easy on the songwriting front. Whatever she did it was most likely her very own desicion, which in a way is what I always expect from her. I mean, if it's what she wants to give us, I'm fine.

There's got to be an endless amount of theories what lies behind this.

That would be awesome, haha, I'm more or less expecting one :).

what has she done this year???? i think she has had a very relaxed year.

She started off with promoting and releasing Startin'/Born To Be..., then the rehearsal for AT06 probably started. After AT06 she went over to promoting BLUE BIRD and it was released shortly after, then it was most likely time for a-nation '06 rehearsals, a-nation didn't end much more than a month ago (I think?) and during that time she's been busy in the US, working on the new album, and now, with a new album coming, new photoshoots and new TV performances to practice for, she'll probably be kept quite busy.

Or who knows, maybe she slacked through all of it.

On much of her free time she's probably been working on songs, while relaxing.

but this year only 2 single
whereas last year she had 4 singles released
thats mean last year was busier
since she also had AT05 and a-nation 05 ~

I think that Bold & Delicious was officially a 2006 single, that makes it 3 singles for 2006.

But there's only 2 singles for the upcoming album, and those two singles already make up more than half of the tracklist, which I think is silly :P.

I don't mind if the new songs and pvs on the mini album are good....better than the 2006 singles! Please no more of that luis stupid guy and bring back that wataru guy!!

memorial address:
angels song
greatful days
because of you
ourselves
hanabi ep II
no way to say
forgiveness
memorial adress (bonus track)

I like 5 songs out of the 8. (Dont like angels song, greatful days, forgiveness) Memorial address has a darker/ sad theme

new mini album:
Startin
born to be
blue bird
beautiful fighters
JEWEL
1LOVE
*new song
*hopefully a bonus track

So far this album gives me a happy pop feeling. (I dont like) and the songs don't really go together...I'm really hoping the new song will be a ballad and if there is a bonus track, that will also be a ballad but a powerful one like memorial address.

I think that this mini album will be way too happy-ish, nothing too negative with that, but I usually like listening to her darker themed songs more.

Let's hope that the new songs will be another dark-ish ballad and something like Because of You.

I guess she's not aiming on creating a new Memorial address, which she would sort of do with my suggestions, but I'd actually want that.

Well... I'm really sad because I won't have instrumentals for 1LOVE and JEWEL, to sing. =/
But... Ayu wants this way, so, let's hope she sells a lot of these, and get a lot of rest for the next year's album.

Maybe she'll go for a LONG christmas vacation, and a marriage?

at first i didnt like it because the singles werent really that great..but then i realized id rather have a mini-album with not-so-great singles, that way by the next full album, she'll start over and the songs wont "ruin" the full album :D and when i say ruin, i mean...take away from..haha

marriage is a huge specualtion especially since 2005 i think it could happen maybe this mini album makes way for a newer album i dont get it she didnt do crap this year. Team Ayu always said she was recording new material and it doesnt take 11 months to record 3 songs unless you suck. STARTIN was done way before "Miss Understood" was over they just decided not to put it on Miss Understood it would have flowed as an opening track pefectly it was to be coupled with "Rainy Day" those two songs flow well because they are opposites its weird but we would have a ballad and a pop rock tempo song. Koda Kumi has been doing stuff all year long she did A-nation, the closing of the best first things tour, the 12 single release, three singles and two compilation ones. This Shitake was planned from the get go i bet that other bonus song was from Blue Bird Avex is so cheap i don't think Ayu did this i think it was her company but she could at least said somthing. All i think is this album is just a slop of already released songs and a few extras they better rearrange some vocals or somthing cuz that is so messed up and they wonder why people lose intrest in Ayu alot. Ayu needs to watch her career Koda is taking over!!! i hope a single comes out in January or December that will take the pain away i hope for alot of fans i as an artist would never do this!!! its not fair! Avex is indeed doing what they intended to do...
kill Ayu' s reign as Queen of JPOP and putting koda on a pedestal..because she is in demand

I can't wait until Ayu gets married, she's not getting any younger :love

Yeah! I'm kinda pissed by it. Cause i think Ayumi haven't done anything amazin' this year after Startin' single. BLUE BIRD is alright, but didn't even bother to buy the single cause it doesn't gimme that excitment to get it! *Shrug* Oh... Well... Maybe i just didn't see this comin' . Hopefully, next full album gonna be sweet like MY STORY! :D Heehee...

Agreed, but hey, she's still young!

I was at the start, and pretty much still am, but youget over it when you think about it, sort of, haha.

Startin' was definately the top of this year, it sort of bugs me that it was supposed to be a track on (m)u.

I don't think many expected this, but yeah, after Memorial address we had MY STORY, hopefully something GREAT will follow on this years album.

the only thing i'm mad at is the release date.. why the 29th.. stupid ayu T_T

Really, I'm not at all that disappointed. I don't see what the big deal is.

I just think it's stupid how she has 7 albums, then mini album, then 2 albums, then mini album. It's gonna get old. Why doesn't she release a full album in spring of next year instead?

What's up with that date? Too soon? Too late? Simply a bad date?

its clear us as an ayumi forum have all been let down it has seriously shaken everything up doenst mean the end of the world or anything like that just a bad taste in everyones mouth. I am looking forward to the concert now just that

its just a bad date.. its Rip slyme's come-back album release date too.. and i wanted for them to have the number one.. thats it... other than that i really have no problem

I just look at the this way. Memorial address also started out as a big disappointment because of track listing. It ended up being one of the best albums. Just think about that way with this. It could be the next "Memorial address". Im really excited about it.

^I will pray.

Ah... she has like, no chance VS rip-slyme?

For some odd reason, I'm feel that they're doing this to release another best album next year. its weird. Its a trend thing but i could be wrong. it just popped into my mind how she hasnt had a real best album since 2001. A BALLADS didn't count. Its more of a remix album. hope this is true. and with a big tour to follow.

Considering how avex treated Koda's best of albums it wouldn't surprise me if Ayu has another.

It's pretty much about time anyway. Hopefully there'll be both a BEST and a new full studio album next year in that case.

is the other way around... RS has no chance againts ayu... and RS really deserves a number one... not saying that ayu doesnt.. its just .. they have been through alot this past two years.. but eh..

Merciless move from avex's side ... that's just how it is in their business I guess :/.

Well, I must say, that I was waiting for a new Mini Album!

yeah.. even tho Ayu and RS are friends since years ago...still i just want to have a nice RS album.. doenst matter if it doesnt rank in the # 1... the same goes with ayu

I am a wee bit disappointed but I haven't heard any of the songs so I still have 7 new songs to look forward too. And she does need to take it easy sometimes!

mi|kshake~

Yes I am disappointed with the mini album. I was really hoping that with a full album, it would make up for (IMO) weaker single songs. BLUE BIRD & Beautiful Fighters seem weak to me and from what I here, so is the previews of 1love and JEWEL. I just pray the single songs have an alternative mix or something (i.e. like monochrome, alterna, etc)

I'm not really upset with it at all because I really like the change of pace that Ayu is doing. If she always did the same pattern in her work, she might have a slight decline in fans.

Last years pace was good. (Although they could've changed the Bold & Delicious/Pride release date to be earlier than the album, or not have it at all.) She wasn't releasing much last year either, but she was still "visible." I think now that Koda Kumi has become popular, she's using the oportunity to duck under the radar a bit. I'm glad she's enjoying her time though :D

(but new songs please!!!)

me likey!

Honestly I would've liked an album, but a mini-album is fine by me. Just as long as it isn't another single...

As long as the 3 new songs are REALLY good, I'll be very happy!!! :P

Though, so far, I don't like the 4 other songs.

There's not a doubt in my mind that the 3 new songs will be good.

I'm really anticipating this album the more we talk about it :P

I'm still in love with the singles.

Pile on the material, Ayu! <3

FEBRUARY SINGLE PLEASE WOO WOO
-waves arms to Born to Be..-

To quote the time when Memorial address was still set to come out: -ahem-
Quotes from Memorial address' anticipation thread:

http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showth...ght=mini+album

And that album was a masterpiece to many :)

I'm not in love with the singles myself, but they're still pretty decent songs IMO. I feel sorry for the people who really don't like the singles, that's more then half of the album they're going to hate, lol.

I don't feel sorry for them, as it is their tastes. It really depends.
Some people would enjoy a rock / ballad-full album, and some won't.

That's life for you.

im not upset about it...i just hope it comes in CD+DVD form so i dont have to buy the singles' CD+DVD versions...

of course it's coming out with a CD+DVD form :P

It will, the album will feature PVs for all 7 songs. It's confirmed.

wow today has been such a BIG info boom.wait a second......NO AYU ALBUM??!!!!!!this mini album is going to replace the ALBUM album??wow i didnt no that.well i gues this year she didnt have too many songs or not enough to have a whole album.oh well what ever Ayu comes out with ill be happy :D :yes
ok i still dont fully understand this whole mini album thing.
first question-therer 2 of these??
second and last question-theres another song not released yet??

No.

There's a CD version and a CD+DVD version.

And there's a song we have no idea what the title is.

Ha. I never thought Memorial address was a masterpiece. For me, it's one of her 'okay' albums along with Duty and I am...

This one will no doubt be added to that list. Of course, I don't know for sure yet, but it's kind of a gut feeling.

I was also quite disappointed when i heard about the mini album but i am looking forward to it now.

we are just all spoiled! That's all! We want it all! lol

My idea is that she really feels that her popularity isn't as big as it once was, besides, I think that this release is because (miss)understood hasn't sold as much as her previous albums so she doesn't want to waste new material so quickly, but the thing I fear the most is that this new mini album (from the 4 songs released by now and the preview of JEWEL that seems to be a bland ballad) doesn't have a lot of strong songs like Memorial address did nor has good PVs, the best of the 4 yet has been Startin' and it's just a parody of Toxic. So who knows, we'll have to wait less than 2 months...

People really shouldn't be trying to discover reasons for why they released what they did and just be happy that she's releasing anything at all.

Would you really be happy if she made you wait two months longer of this like.. 'deserted AHS' just for a few more songs?

I'd rather get this mini-album now so that we can expect new songs to come out.

Well.... I don`t know what to think anymore o.o I just hope that JEWEL/1love wont be released before that mini album! Or else.. It wont be interesting if there are 1 or 2 new songs :(

1 LOVE and JEWEL are definitely album tracks.. :D

Yep! think so too :D

Actually back when Memorial address came out, people didn't think they were that strong.

People said it was a very slow and unproductive year or something.

I liked Memorial Address, but it gotta admit I probably wouldn't if I was there tracking Ayu's career before its release, when Moments came out... and one more single, or was there just one single before MA?... whateva xD

She might release a maxi single after the new album - JEWEL/1LOVE/-that new song-, although that would a bit stupid [yeah, a bit!], since those would be practicaly the same things, the mini album and the maxi single - both including 3 new songs...
But on the strategic/marketing point of view, I bet that could be a good solution. She would release the minialbum with 3 new songs, so some people would pick the album, and she would release the maxi single with 3 new songs, so that others would pick the maxi single. Adding the sales of both minialbum and maxi single together could make a really nice sales number - which means nice income [which is what Avex really wants after all].

It's always the ones that aren't satisfied that are the loudest.

In the end her albums end up selling more or less as much as they usually do, which means that many people can't really have hated it.

I'm fine with the mini album. It's a really cool decision. No qualms about it at all. It's just that her material this year haven't exactly been strong, so I really don't know how well this mini album is going to sell.

I think people said the same things about Memorial address' singles back in 2003 [why I don't know. Were people blinded by their I am.. or something? LOL]

x.x

Whatever Ayu releases there's something that'll blind us and make us whine on it.

Well known fact proven over the past 8 years, heh.

actually, i'm fine with anything :D as long as there is quality :yes

I tought this over and now think of she would combine all songs on a normal album...that would be trash! they don´t fit!

O_o

-doesn't get it-

Yeah. The same thing happened with (miss)understood. People were like "I'm not buying this" and it winded up selling 800,000+ copies and it is certified by the Japanese record industry of sellion one million copies. I have high hopes for this album (just don't disapoint me Ayu!)

i just dont understand why she coulndt make a full album
during the memorial address year, it was because she had ayu-redy and was really busy with other stuff
but look at this year, most borin ayu year yet,
this isnt going to be good for her popularity

I'm not sure how I feel.. Ayu needs a really great song. Songs like "Startin'" and "Blue Bird" seem so generic to me.. I think she needs a good, genuine song like one of Kou Shibasaki's singles! If she did something like "Kage" or "invitation," it would be a much needed breath of fresh air for her career!

Well she had to do 4 months of touring + do 2 singles within the 4 months. Plus a-nation, album promo, CMs and an eye injury happened right after or right before her tour...

Ayu wants to give a christmas gift for all her fans. She loves Christmas. That is the reason why she always release an album at the end of year. Another words, she uses an album to conclude what she has done in that year.

During her eyes problem in August and September, she couldn't work and had to stop everything. JEWEL/1LOVE should be a single but there is no time for release if she releases an album at the end of year. The gap between releasing single and album would be too close and affect the sales. Remember what happened B&D and m(u)?

Before, I throught it was a mistake if ayu releases a mini-album in November, but now, it is reasonable.

This is my summary for the new mini album and compare to Memorial Address (Edited from my post in the thread "ABOUT JEWEL"

ANGEL'S SONG - BLUE BIRD (Sounds like ANGEL'S SONG)
Greatful Days - BLUE BIRD ( Both songs have the theme of summer.)
Because of You - 1LOVE (don't know yet)
ourselves - 1LOVE (don't know yet)
HANABI ~ II~ - ( I cannot find any songs to compare with, an unique song for this album.)
No way to say - (I cannot find any songs to compare with,an unique song for this album.)
forgiveness - JEWEL (somehow the style is similar, I think.)
Memorial Address - ( I cannot find any songs to compare with in new mini album yet)

And We have one more song "Startin' ", "Born To Be..." and "Beauitful Fighters" that cannot compare with. They are a bit new styles for ayu and couldn't find any songs from Memorial Address to compare with.

Conclusion : The new mini album will be 30-40% similar to Memorial Address. 70-60% are new either good or bad style.

We will see. :D One and a half month left :D

I am looking for these two singles.. Where can I find it, please? :thud :thud

Thank you!! Don't you just hate it when this happens? I notice that people do this everytime Ayu releases something new and more severe when Ayu releases an album. During the m(u) era, people kept saying that the album is going to suck. After listening to the previews of the album, people complained even more. This is getting irritating. Why can't people judge after listening to the album?

no problem just she'd releasing somthing make me gone wild like crazy.Why do people care so much a bout album or mini album,just we got the new songs so wat to worry?

DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.

Ayu's first mini-album - "Memorial address" is one of my most favourite works by her. I'm very sure second mini-album will be superb, no doubts at all.

BraiNz: I think you should use one of the sets I made from here:
http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42188

That forgiveness one is so old :P