1.(miss) understood
A true masterpiece. Versatile, with some of her best songs. (miss) understood, Pride, Heaven, In the Corner, and Bold&Delicious are some of her absolute best works. A good genre mix of pop, ballads, and rock music.
2. I am...
Definitely her most revolutionary album! Every song is raw and emotional, while some are upbeat and inspiring. Beautiful album cover (2nd only to RAINBOW), fitting interludes, and gorgeous music. Some of her best work, including still alone, I am..., A Song is born, Naturally, UNITE!, evolution...
3. RAINBOW
Ethereal! Wonderful interludes mixed with a few upbeat tracks and a very soothing sound. There's something about RAINBOW that's very unique and nostaglic... I can't really say much bad about it. Gorgeous cover art. The single tracks and album tracks actually mesh (Free & Easy next to Heartplace!)! And her ballads are beautiful here, never boring, yet always calming.
4. GUILTY
Even though many didn't like this upon release, it really showcases Ayu's deeper range and new vocals. The vibrato is perfect for the tone of the album, which is generally dark and powerful. Another new side of Ayu. The only complaint I have is the random change out of the rock and power ballads into happy, upbeat music!! Too abrupt.
5. Memorial Address
Because of You, ourselves, and Memorial Address have always been some of my favorite songs! Again, very raw and powerful. Memorial Address is my favorite power/rock ballad, and Because of You is one of my favorite rock songs of hers. Simple album art and well put together.
6.My Story
While I like this album for it's great rock songs, I'm not a huge fan of HONEY, Replace, and a couple of other tracks. The interludes are fitting, and the PVs are some of her best, but it's so hard to place this one above RAINBOW, and the others.. CAROLS will always be one of my favorite ballads and so will HOPE or PAIN and HAPPY ENDING. A very solid Ayu album.
7. Duty
I never really appreciated this album fully until recently!! I gave it a full listen, and I can understand why so many people like this classic! The songs were the beginning of the Ayu we know today. Seasons and Scar are wonderful ballads, while End of the World, vogue, and Duty are classic power songs.
8. Secret
I don't want to give this one #8! A pretty solid album. Startin' is a great pop song from Ayu. The album cover is gorgeous, and a bit of rock and dance genre is thrown into the album. My only complaint is I don't understand the flow... momentum to taskinst and then to Born To Be... is a tad random. Born To Be... is good, but feels too much like a rip off of Bold & Delicious for me. (no one can trumph my favorite B&D!!!! haha)
9. LOVEppears
I have to admit, I really never liked this album. Until yesterday, when I actually gave it a full listen through. I guess I never really gave it a chance. While I'm not a fan of the cover, Boys & Girls, End Roll, WHATEVER (Dub's 1999 mix), too late, Fly High, appears, and monochrome are all great. Though this is offset by the House and EURO mixes and some of her vocals. It takes me a while to appreciate her vocals in this album... still a bit squeaky, but definitely better than A Song For XX.
10. Love Songs
Great album track standouts, like Rock'n'Roll Circus, with some decent singles that seemed to water it down! Love Song, Sending Mail, Last Angel, Virgin Road, Like A Doll, and Do It Again were particularly fresh. It had an improvement in "flow" over NEXT LEVEL and a consistent sound that improves over Rock'n'Roll Circus.
11. Rock'n'Roll Circus
Not her best album, but not quite a weak album either. Fantastic album tracks like Microphone, count down, Last Links, Don't Look Back, Lady Dynamite, and Sexy Little Things!! But the singles were out of place... The album suddenly transitions from party to ballad with no transition. I like the album's concept! A circus filled with different, new genres for Ayu.
12. NEXT LEVEL
Truthfully, I really don't think this album deserves #12, but I don't feel like any other album should have a low position like this. But I have no choice! It's not a bad album by any means, and I'm a fan of the electro genre. Interesting concept! But, the PVs were not up to her usual par, and the tracklist's arrangement was offputting (rollin' to GREEN? NEXT LEVEL to Disco-munication??).
13. A Song For XX
To me, her voice was just too small and sharp for me to listen to! While A Song For XX turned out to be a great song from A Best, I'm not a fan of the genre of this album.