Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai - FIVE (V? 5?) Review

Well, I'm out of meds so here we go, rite?

Um, the mini album came out in 2012(?) in like September or something, when Ayu had a monchichi fetish and had short hair that hadn't been flattering on her... and she can pull that off. Maybe she was feeling her nail polish fumes a bit much... oh well. After Love Songs and the (sad event of) the reactor disaster in Japan, Ayu scrapped Hotel Love Songs (to support the awesopmely coherent Love Songs album) tour... for Power of Music, which was stripped down an more intimate a concert. Her image was much more downplayed too...
FIVE feels like a much more organic release. That whole era felt like it for me. No extravagant Ayu, no fishlips Kazuyo*****... *****... she felt honest and truthful. Even the text on the album was chosen by Ayu nd had "HOPE" hidden within it, which alluded to the disaster. Before I start stanning, I'm going to start this gd review.

Track 1: Progress

I feel this song is at its best during the piano intro during the 1st minite and a half. It sounds like, vulnerable but strong (hope you have wine to balance out that cheese). And then the poseur rock kicks in... I think Ayu pulls off pop rock and her sound works best with anime-ish style songs, but the strings and guitar are so muddled. The arrangement sucks and detracks from the song. Song 4 u is a gem (IMO, ~drama is all~!!!), nicely polished and brief. Progress feels like a demo. And I don't care if you disagree. Its a good song and has a killer bridge but it sounds a bit rough... I'll end on a positive note and say its uplifting.

3.7 singles-disguised-as-mini's out of 5.

Track 2: ANother Song

Um.... I'm not listening to this ****, okay? Its a ****** song and doesnt fit Ayu and does Naoya's failing career no favors. It sucks that and I didnt even have it in my library before the review, during, or after. I need to not hear it again. This song is such a flop that no one cares for it. Like, I've not ever heard its in anyone's top 99 Ayu songs because it sucks harder than Avex milked Ayu in 1999-2003. Next!

0.9 singles-disguised-as-mini's out of 5.

Track 3. Why... feat. JUNO

JUNO is effin' sexy and he's my husband so back off, kay? Um... yeah, srry. The lyrics in this song are pretty good, but I'm kinda drunk right now so I can't remember them '^o^ Ayu and sexy ass JUNO's voices sound good together. They actually fit (unlike Naoya's >.>). The music's this R&B ballad, but it feels lush and layered. It's pretty good.

Track 4: beloved

This song is really sweet and nice, so f you, AHS! It feels honest. The lyrics are about somebody's boyfriend or something...? All i remember is no mention of a "wing" or "that day of summer" or "tears fell" or.... any lyrical cliche. Its simple and builds up. The video has the AHS world is one thing with the hand to the sky bit.... that was sweet of Ayu. She's A HBIC and doesnt need to do this crap but she cares enough to do so. The fandom should be more grateful she even recognizes their collective asses.

4.0 singles-disguised-as-mini's out of 5.

Track 5. BRILLNTE (<---lolz)

This was composed by Timmy, Ayu's much fiercer, much more annoying onstage... friend. Its pretty good. A moody track that builds up, a bit mysterious. Its good, blah.... lets talk about the video kiddies!

Ayu in like... a half assed Egyptian outfit that looks like bad cosplay. She's watching sexah guys shower. Apparently they're boxers or some crap. They hit. Then Timmy comes in looking like a dreaded Bill Kaulitz. Some crap happens, sexy men then end up killing Ayu.
That's you, AHS + Japan (i'm impartial).
Ayu resents her fans to a degree. Not saying she hates us, but her dying and crying blood means something. The men worship her to a further degree. She's a human beeeing! LEAVE AYU ALOOOOOONE!!!

5 singles-disguised-as-mini's out of 5.

Its a soplid-ish release. Im tired so I won't concluyde this nicely.
This album was about losing love.... like after the "honeymoon" phase of a relationship. PQ was awful, but seems cynical about love. Its almos like since Love Songs --- Love Again there was a.... quadrilogy (lolz) in the making. While I think Ayu's a stunt queen nowadays, this was pretty good. Sad that PQ was a pile of ****.