TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO WRITE THIS SO READ IT LOL
So I FINALLY got my copy of RnRC and I just finished listening to it the whole way through! And I'm not really good at reviewing things but here are my thoughts.
THE introduction: laugh out loud. That's how weird it is, I had to spell out exactly what I did when I first heard it. I know a lot of people do NOT like it and I have to admit my first listen I didn't like it either (especially after hearing montage!). However, I've grown very quickly to like its weirdness and how it was surprising not as explosive as I thought it was going to be. I love how it is called
THE introduction and it has to be the weakest piece of **** I've ever heard lol. It's almost like Ayu was making fun of it. Some might argue it doesn't have a place on this album - or any album for that matter - but I like it. Although I can definitely see why most hate it.
Microphone: What else more can be said about this song to be honest? It's amazing! But what I love the MOST about it is how it is the yang to Sexy little things ying. Not only are the PVs polar opposites, the songs themselves represent the album's polar opposites. Microphone being the rock 'n' roll and Sexy little things DEFINITELY being the circus. It also is more apparent by the fact that they both sound the most like what they're suppose to represent.
count down: I absolutely LOVE this song. I love the arrangement and I adore the chorus. This is easily my favorite non-single, non-PV accompanying track on the album lol. It's so dark, creepy and somber. It's like the GUILTY track of the album. I think I heard some say that it also sounds Western? Well I don't listen to a lot of Western music but I can actually hear it. I don't think it makes it any less amazing though.
Sunset ~LOVE is BORING~: Is boring. xD; To put it in better terms, it is one of those songs that only sounds good in certain situations. A nice quiet evening at home, relaxing, reading a book with a glass of wine just before bed kind of song. Not something I'll find myself listening to all the time. But it does have its place to me.
BALLAD: Beautiful, I love the arrangement. Bad point against this song, it sounds the LEAST unique to Ayu to me. It sounds like an alan song to be more specific and if alan had sung it herself it probably wouldn't make a bit of difference to me. Of course alan has her own share of songs that sound "Ayu-ish" well this song sounds "alan-ish." I love this song so obviously the bad doesn't bother me.
Last Links: I was pretty excited to hear this song after all the praise it got but I wasn't really captivated by it really... It felt like it was constantly moving and despite it being over 4 minutes long it sounds like it was only 2 minutes. It is a nice song and I certainly enjoy it but I find count down to be much better. I also don't enjoy the chorus that much but maybe it will grow on me. One thing I DO like about it though is how the song starts off with only the right ear being audible symbolizing her left ear issues I suppose that would have been better suited for count down yet it was only used for Last Links. Very interesting twist there Ayu!
montage: I was disappointed this wasn't a full song and after hearing it I'm even more disappointed! I love orchestra music so if Ayu makes another orchestra album it'll make up for this not being a full track lol. I also love how this should have TOTALLY been the intro yet was not. Further accenting the "circus" theme of the album in how everything is mixed to hell.
Don't look back: I LOVE THIS SONG! I ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT LOVE THIS SONG. By far my favorite song not only on this album but of hers in general in forever (technically since Sparkle). Since GUILTY, Ayu has had that ONE song on an album that totally stands out and outshines everything else (GUILTY - Marionette, NEXT LEVEL - Sparkle, RnRC - DLB). No wonder it's sandwiched!!!
Not only does the song stand out, the PV does to. A lot of people argue that this song isn't that great because it feels like its missing something or there's no climax or it's flat whatever. But I think that's what makes this song even better because it truly doesn't need it. I think over producing it would have hindered the song instead of helped. Not gonna lie, much like BALLAD the song depends heavily on the arrangement. But think about it, isn't that what makes both songs so great?
Jump!: Thanks Ayu for having another interlude with the "needs to be a full track syndrome." Like her past two albums, she includes interludes that actually has us wanting an "interlude turned full track" compilation lmao. Ever since what happened to Mirror I have been HOPING AND PRAYING SO HARD YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW for tracks like The Judgement Day and Disco-munication to be transformed into full masterpieces. UNLIKE her past two albums, she has TWO interludes that need to be full tracks this time.
Lady Dynamite: I love this song! It's such a fun song. I always feel like dancing when I hear it and I love how Ayu had so much sass in the PV. It's not a club thumper like Sparkle but it's still pretty good! Yay Lady D ;D
Sexy little things: It's no secret I was not as impressed with this song as everyone and their moms seem to be. However, I luckily found out the source of indifference to this track - the PV. This is the first time I heard the song without watching the PV and I am absolutely IN LOVE. It's strange how a PV can make or break a song for you. I won't be watching the PV again for a while but I'll definitely be jamming to this song for days to come.
Sunrise ~LOVE is GREAT~: I don't want to offend anyone but I think people who think this sounds like "just another Ayu summer song" needs to go back and relisten to Ayu's earlier summer jams. It was almost like she was practically telling you this song is different by putting a mesh up of her old summer songs together on the single!!! In my opinion it is far superior to her old summer songs which seem to be continuations of each other. It has reminiscent of independent but still
remains independent of all her summer tracks.
meaning of Love: Not a bad song, but I don't care for it. It is my least favorite song on the album next to Sunset (but still better than Sunset). I think the reason I can't get into it is because everyone said if I like Days I'd like this. NOT TRUE. Not true at all. Days is far better than this to me but I can see DEFINITELY see why the Japanese love it. Drama/Anime ending song anyone??? This song seriously should have had a tie in. I think it would have been a better pick than Last Links. Seriously, whoever her PR person is should be fired for not figuring that **** out. All in all, a very sweet song! Maybe after a few more listens I'll love it.
You were...: You were... gets a lot of flack from people but I really LOVE this song. It's probably my favorite ballad on this album and has my second favorite PV on the album. It's just so appealing to me. This song reminds me of No way to say the most and I absolutely adore that song. I also like the guitar in this song, gives it a rock n roll feel.
RED LINE ~for Jorge~ [album version]: Not much difference from the single is there? The acapella at the end is GORGEOUS. Outside of that I don't really see too much going on with this version. Definitely beats out MY ALL (hope it replaces it too!) and it is definitely a song made for FANS. You can tell, it has everything us fans love in it.
Overall, I've heard a lot of mixed reviews from a lot of people. On one side people say it's not really bringing too much new to the table outside of SLT and on the other side people saying it's the best album since MY STORY. I've come to the conclusion that both sides are absolutely correct. No side more than the other. I think people who are looking for the "revolutionary Ayu" are kind of deluding themselves. I think at this point in Ayu's career, it's not about what songs sound revolutionary or not so much as do you enjoy them? Ayu seems to be making "enjoyable" songs with this album. Not too much stands out because they all stand together much like with NEXT LEVEL. I think that's scary for some fans because they want Ayu to be pushing boundaries constantly and I think she's kind of done with all that. I wish I could find the source, but I remember her saying she use to make music for herself and now she's making music for fans. And it's totally obvious. Look at the recochoku charts? Days is practically immortal, Sunrise is widely accepted, meaning of Love is climbing the charts, Microphone debuted #1 and the PV is still #1 etc etc. I'm not saying it's the first time this has ever happened, but these songs aren't that "revolutionary" and yet they still appeal to the masses.
Another thing I want to point out is how everything is so mirrored and random and out of place in this album it's mind blowing. Microphone/Sexy little things, Sunrise/Sunset, count down/Last Links (with the ear issue mentioned above). Also with that wack ass introduction versus the should-be-introduction montage. The fact that all the dark songs are at the beginning and light (non-dark) songs at the end. With the EPIC and probably best song of the whole album being SMACK in the middle of the two sides of the album. Even more oddly enough having a dark and light interludes to accompany it. The "flow" is non-existent in this album and nothing is where it should be which really does make it like a circus. I personally think some people don't appreciate this being the point of it all and why some things are the way they are.
I don't believe in grading albums or whatever because I'm really really not good at that. But I definitely love this album and I can definitely see - now much than before - why some people don't like it. But then again it goes along with my point: love vs. hate. Ayu has us mirrored.
I bet you didn't even notice.