[truehappiness]

About RAINBOW: People still hate it. That hasn't changed. Though MY STORY was one of those albums where older (overseas) fans left at the time and newer fans embraced that album. It's kind of weird, imo.

I think Ayu is just really comfortable with her staff. They understand her and are able to create whatever she wants to her liking. I'd prefer that she work with more than 3 or 4 arrangers, but I think that because they're so versatile, (the good ones anyway) she doesn't feel the need to switch things up. Same thing goes for composers too... I mean the only new face that composed something for the latest album was Hana Nishimura, and that was just for one (two) song(s).

To be honest though, I don't know if she's ever been all that adventurous with her composer/arrangers. She has many where she has only worked with them a few times. You know, I kind of wonder if one day she'll get a tape of random composer demos (that she likes) a la Liar and use a bunch of relative unknowns, haha.