THE introduction : ehh... I really was bored and disappointed by this track. I think it is definitely THE (worst) introduction she's had in years. It actually kind of sounds fan made to me too. I really don't like it.
Microphone : I
LOVE this track. I didn't think I'd love it as much as I do when we first got the preview in the Honda commercial, but as soon as the full track leaked I fell in love. This song really made me think, "Hamasaki Ayumi has returned!" It's not her absolute BEST rock track, but it's definitely up there in my opinion. This is definitely one of the album's standout tracks and it's got a wonderful video!
count down : When I first found out this was a full track and not an interlude, I was shocked; especially when it was revealed to be a ballad following Microphone. I thought, "There is no way a song can link Microphone and Sunset properly" and although the transition to Sunset is still a bit odd, I really like this song a lot and it follows Microphone really well. It's a really, really great track with powerful lyrics. It's just great!
Sunset : I don't hate this song nearly as much as I used too, but I still think it's one of Ayu's worst ballads ever. It feels so forced. The melody definitely doesn't work for a ballad at all. It's just such a boring song, but there's something about it's spot on the album that makes me not want to skip it.
BALLAD : I absolutely love this song. I loved it when it first came out back in December and I still love it now. It's definitely going to be a classic. It's so powerful and the lyrics are absolutely wonderful. I've heard this song so many times, but there last chorus still gives me shivers. I can't wait to see this live (hoping it's on the setlist for the tour!)
Last Links : This song is another one of the stand out tracks of the album! It absolutely blew me away. I love the raw sound of it so much and I can feel that classic raw Ayu emotion! I love the beat of this song too. It's one of the best new songs, I think!
montage : I'm really not sure how I feel about this interlude. I either love it or I think it's complete ****. I haven't decided yet. It's so weird and different, but if you ask me, it's definitely a suitable lead-in for Don't look back.
Don't look back : Agghhh! This is a really amazing song too. I love it so much. It's something new and different Ayu, soundwise and the lyrics are so empowering and in your face, I think. It's really quite addicting, and the music video is by far her best video ever ever ever, but all of the new music videos this time around were great!
Jump! : ehh... I can't think of much to say about this interlude. The first half is nice, but typical. It's actually a pretty tolerable interlude and I like her vocals on it, but I do find the part where the people are yelling "Jump!" kind of annoying. I was glad that this was the final interlude.
Lady Dynamite : This song is really not what I thought it'd be like, but it's a really catchy little tune that makes me just wanna dance! At first listen, I was somewhat indifferent to it, but I've grown to like it quite a bit now! The video is hot as hell too!
Sexy little things : Okay, so if Lady Dynamite wasn't what I expected it to be then I might as well not have made any preconceptions about Sexy little things. I was really expecting something like Sparkle, but this is so totally different from anything she's done before. At first listen, I wasn't really sure how I felt about it and I'm still kind of unsure. All I know is when I hear it I want to dance and that the chorus is very catchy. Another good, new video, but nowhere close to Microphone or Don't look back!
Sunrise : While being fairly different from past summer singles musically, melodically this song really isn't anything different so I never really loved it, but I do enjoy it. It's a really fun song and watching it live is so fun. I still wish that either it or Sunset (or both) had been excluded from the album. They feel so old now. I think the more summery it gets outside, the more I'll appreciate both songs being included on the album.
meaning of Love : As soon as the song started I was reminded of Secret and rainy day. It definitely sounds similar to both of those, but ends up a lot more upbeat than those two songs. It's one of the weaker new songs, I think, but it's still pretty nice. It just feels like I've heard songs like this a million times. Not bad though.
You were... : I kind of feel the same way about this song as I feel about meaning of Love. I feel like I've heard it done by Ayu so many times before. Another thing, this album has a lot of ballads and You were... is the only one that has a strictly wintery/Chirstmasy feel, I think, so I'll probably be skipping this the most of any of the tracks on the album. It's not a bad track, though.
RED LINE ~for TA~ [album version] : I was excited when I found out we'd get a new version of RED LINE cause I didn't really like the original that much. This one sounds like it has new vocals and a new arrangement? While it's still not my favorite, it's MUCH better than it was on the single-- and the new ending to the song with the acapella is a perfect ending for the album. I really liked that new addition!
Overall, this album is very good! Much better than NEXT LEVEL was, for sure!
There is a little something I can't put my finger on that feels wrong with it, but compared to all the things right with it, it's nothing! I'd give this album something like an 8/10... It's really very good!
Heck, maybe I'd even give it a 9!
Best tracks:
Microphone, Don't look back, BALLAD, Last Links, Lady Dynamite
[edit]
I think the reason it feels a bit weird, is because this really feels like a new beginning for Ayu, to me. It's almost like I just can't compare it with her older albums at all. It's just a very different feeling from her this time around, even if some of the sounds are the same. Don't look back conveys that feeling the best, for me, and I think that's why it's stand alone in the middle of the album.
She seems to definitely not be "looking back" on this one.