[RebornLS]

I decided to made a song by song review for Memorial Address (one reason is because theyre are only 8 songs hehe)


So if you have the time on your hands indivually review Memorial Address' songs.


I will also say I purposly stayed away frm the singles so it would be like an album of 8 brand new never heard before songs for me. Unfortantly I heard Greatful Days and Ourselves.
Another note: I listened to every track while writing this. So yes this took me 40 minutes to write....meaning I was very bored!!!!!!

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Track #1: Angel's Song
If you are a well known artist, it is a smart movie to put your worst song first, reason being first impressions is what people expect for the rest of the album .(if that makes since) Thus is the case with Memorial Address. This song feels rushed. I dont really like the chorus or the verse. The little intro was very unappealing. Still the song is listenable. It is by no means awful, but is sounds like 'run-of-the-mill' j-pop. Which for the most part is watered down and bland. The only real positive aspect of this song is the bridge between chours 2 and chorus 3. Besides that the best way to describe this track is bland.

Track #2: Greatful Days
If Greatful Days was going to be a food, it would be candy. That is what this track is. It is a fun song/summer song. A perfect song for driving with the windows down, wind blowing in your face with the sun shining. One thing I will point out is the harp; it really adds alot to this song gives the song a smoother feel. One could imagine this song being played in heaven. Production on this song is really well done and the bridge on this song between chorus 2 and 3 is WONDERFUL!!!!!!! Very good song, but still...it could of been better. It is overall an average Ayu track.

Track #3: Because of You
The first really really good track. Props to Koji Morimoto for his mixing job on this song. It has above average production values. Values that other j-pop artist should do, but rarly do.(How many times have you wished Hitomi's vocals were turned down and music turned up a bit.) HALs solo was good and not to heavy in the mix. Ayu's vocals were perfect for this song. Overall above average Ayu track.

Track #4: Ourselves
The hero of this song is the beat. I wont deny it, for some ungodly reason I LOVE IT. This song has a WONDERFUL begining. The melodies and note arrangements I LOVE!!!!!!!! As you can tell I just like this song. Yes, I know it has a western sound to it, but it is still better that most western pop artists(lemme correct myself: better than all western pop artists). The break beats are wonderful. Ayu's overdubs are the only complaint they are good but something about them doesn't sound right. Overall an above average track. I like, I like!

Track #5: Hanabi ~episode II~
The original HANABI would get in my head for days and days at a time, I really didn't fancy the song that much, but it was catchy. This raises the question; Why is episode II so forgetful? I have had this album for a week and with out listening to the song I can't hum a tune off of it. The back-up vocals are HORRIBLE (the yeayeaooowhoaoa). They got on my nerves. But Ayu's voice really saves this song from being bad. Guitar tone was interesting, not bad not good. Overall the second worst track on the album.

Track #6: No Way To Say
Aside from the title, everything is good about this song. Not amazing, not phenominal, just good. No real mistakes made on this song but then again nothing done above average. I'm sure when people remember Ayumi Hamasaki in 15 years people won't think 'No Way To Say' (unless it was their first Ayu song to listen to.) Overall this track is average.

Track#7: Forgivness
The song Forgivness is hard to digest, but when understood it is like a gem. This song really kicks my butt. Dynamics used like they were in this song have never been used in a Ayu song.(to my knowledge) The time changes are nothing short of genious. The most beatutiful thing about this gem is the prduction towards the end. I dont even know how to begin to praise Yasuo Matsumoto for this. Ayu's vocal production on most all her songs stay the same but the music production on this song...OMG OMG OMG! The arrangement is wonderful. The backup vocals again wonderful! The string section....wonderful. The only problem I have with this song is the ending. It needed something more to go with that Piano arpeggio. Overall an above average Ayu song.

Track 8: Memorial Address
GAAAH! I hate the begining of this song! When the song does finally pick up it is good. Ayus low vibratos were somewhat funny. Back-up vocals were nice. I love how the bass drives the more upbeat part in the song.(as opposed to the guitars). This song runs into the problem that Forgivness had: an awkward ending. This is overall an average song.

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There ya have it my unimportant two cents. So what did you think of Memorial Address?