i think "NEXT LEVEL" is a pretty decent album. i think it's great in a sense that it's different from her previous works post "Memorial address" (though "(miss)understood" was different too). it's very positive/uplifting, electro-influenced, & contains very few heavy-rock songs we've been hearing since "MY STORY". however, the only true downfall of this album are her vocals. i really think she's needs to rest them, but with her touring & whatnot, i don't think it's gonna happen anytime soon.
_TRACKS:
01.
Bridge to the sky: i don't think it's my favorite album intro ("Mirror" probably is...), but i really like it!
02.
NEXT LEVEL: finally! a very cute title track. i think it sets the mood of the album. you know this isn't anything like "GUILTY". this is probably her most laid back title track. all her other ones have been...heavy or like...depressing-sounding, lol (A Song for XX, Duty, GUILTY, etc.)
03.
Disco-munication: WOW. i think this my favorite interlude of the album. i just love the electro-vibe to it.
04.
EnergizE: lol. it's sooo cute. but that's pretty much it. it would make a good concert song, though. i prefer "HONEY". xD
05.
Sparkle: UMM. THIS IS LIKE MY FAVORITE SONG FROM AYU IN A WHILE. it's pure hotness.
06.
rollin': i think this song is one of my favorite album tracks, if not my favorite. i like the creepy intro. xD
07.
GREEN: if "Sparkle" wasn't released in a single, i would've said that this was my favorite single track on the album. i love the oriental sound to it.
08.
Load of the SHUGYO: i like the vibe of this rock-type interlude. it sets off the mood to the only rock section of the album. i likey.
09.
identity: hmmmm, this is like the only song on the album that sounds like it could've been on her previous albums. not a favorite, but somewhat decent.
10.
Rule: i think it was her weakest single track, imo. however, i don't think it's the weakest track on the album.
11.
LOVE 'n' HATE: it's definitely a rock track, but i love the inclusion of beats & synths. it's definitely one of the standout tracks, IMO.
12.
Pieces of SEVEN: ahhh, the usual "LABYRINTH"-ish interlude. ngl, i love these interludes, lol. i was surprised at the end though. i wasn't expecting it to explode the way it did.
13.
Days: i love "Days"! it's a sweet ballad.
14.
Curtain call: i don't think it's my favorite album closer (...that will always be "Memorial address"), but i do think her vocals suffer here. it's pretty though.
i think "NEXT LEVEL" will be somewhere clumped in the middle if we're going to rank by favorite albums. "Duty", "Memorial address", & "Secret" are forever my favorite albums from Ayu.