01. Bridge to the sky
i'd say good for an opening. not my most favorite. maybe if ayu wasn't singing it'd be a little better. for me, it feels like she's singing in it to make up for there being four instrumentals and thus sings random stuff. but then again, not the worst.
6/10
02. NEXT LEVEL
okay, i get it: ayu's going to the next level in her life -_- the pv's boring and this track is skippable and maybe a bit out of place? seriously, with this album being the most techno-ish and electronic since maybe LOVEppears (hell maybe even since ever), NEXT LEVEL, GREEN, Days, and Curtain call seem to just be shoved in there for the album's sake of having 14 tracks.
4/10 (good driving track maybe, hence pv)
03. Disco-munication
i had high hopes of this being a vocal track but it has a good beat and it keeps me interested in the whole thing. i could do without the ayu voice beat thingy a little bit, but it adds something.
8/10
04. EnergizE
HATE this song!! ayu, sing your age.
1/10 (for effort)
05. Sparkle
this song is slowly growing on me and so is the pv. it's very different and dare i say a bit britney spears-ish but WAAAY awesomer XD it has a danceability, sexiness and bit of creepiness that the pv captures pretty well. anyone else think of lady gaga when we see ayu in the shades?? O_o
9/10
06. rollin'
love the beginning of this one!! i was hoping for a Marionette pt. II when i first heard it but then i'm like: "aww...
" when the beat starts. love the verse, the bridge, and the chorus throws me a bit off course (sounds a bit cutesy) but me likey
7.5/10
07. GREEN
this song is growing on me as well. when the single came out, i preferred Days way over GREEN; and while i still love Days, GREEN is getting up there. i thought ayu was trying to be too chinese or something so maybe that's why i had a grudge. but without the video i don't get that vibe. i say it's a good rest from all the electronic-ness.
8.5/10
08. Load of the SHUGYO
pretty cool. it reminds me of a samurai like running through the woods and fighting and stuff haha XD i love songs that give me that kind of imagery.
7/10
09. identity
again, LOVE the beggining!!! and then all of a sudden POW! comes the beat and i'm all "aww...
" but i admit it's catchy and different.
7.5/10
10. Rule
i have to like this song since this is a big step for ayu in the western market and i clap for joy for her. sometimes i feel there are too many instruments, but from the bottom of my heart, i do like this song.
7/10
11. LOVE 'n' HATE
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7....0 hmm, wonder where she learned to count. i guess it makes sense. most of all i like the orchestra and the electric guitar. it gives me a fresh breath of pure ayuness.
9/10
12. Pieces of SEVEN
LOVE this interlude. we go all pure moods at the beginning and then go into the cliche ayu interlude and then all techno-y and it's all fun.
8/10
13. Days
love the pv, love the song. i always want to cry when i hear it. i would totally include this into her epic ballad list. i am reminded of No way to say when i see the pv (i guess it's the snow), but ayu's sooo much cuter in this one. i enjoy the 8-bits of tears remix, too.
10/10
14. Curtain call
such a sucker for ballads. i like how there's just piano and nothing else. and the lyrics are so simple yet it says so much. *content sigh*
10/10
overall, i give this album a 7 for now (not the average of the scores from the individual tracks). it's different and i like how ayu took risks (identity and LOVE 'n' HATE) and i also don't like how she took risks (EnergizE). but i can see myself listening to this album a lot more and liking songs better. so we just wait... >.>