To be perfectly honest...I wasn't that impressed with these remix albums
...The only one that I did
actually like a bit was the trance one. Now that album did have some really solid remixes. I'll just pick & choose what I liked from the albums overall & explain why I did/didn't like the album.
∙ ayu-mi-x 7 -version Acoustic Orchestra- :The only arrangement I liked was HANABI...& that could very well be because it's one of my most favorite Ayu songs that I have ever listened to, & no matter what it almost always still holds its beauty. But over all, I found the arrangement to be very well-done...kudos to Shingo Kobayashi for taking a masterpiece & creating another one
.
Why did I not care for the others? I don't know it just seemed like their arrangements were really boring imo. It was like they took a bunch of Ayu songs & turned them into ballads (at least the ones that weren't originally ballads in the first place) that weren't even fully orchestra. The way I looked at it was this, "If this was my first time hearing this song as if it was the original, would I like it?" & without fail, all of them kind of bored me. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore orchestral music, & I usually do enjoy the re-arrangements we get from the singles, but this album was just not for me. I think what threw me off the most was the inclusion of non-orchestral instruments.
∙ ayu-mi-x 7 presents ayu-ro 4 : Okay, I am really not a eurobeat person
. I did like it better than AO & occasionally, I do find a remix or two that I find kind of catchy when it comes to euro...so here's the ones that I did find to be pretty cool:
SURREAL (DIMA EURO remix 2011)
Startin' (EUROGROOVES 2011 rmx) - This one was probably my 2nd favorite. It was awesome
. Super catchy!
INSPIRE (AKBK 'valle blanco' remix) - Imo, this song is perfect for a eurobeat mix...it's just got that euro sound to it.
talkin' 2 myself (EUROGROOVES fashion mix) - Surprisingly, this one translated into a eurobeat song very well
...it really took me by surprise! This one is my first favorite by far!
Free & Easy (Plum mix) - I actually am not a fan of the original (other than when she says 'konna konna' in those high notes xD), but I did like this mix because it cut out the boring parts & really honored the awesome parts
! But over all, it is a really nice remix with a sick little beat to it.
Depend on you (EUROBEAT GoGo's remix) - I just love this song...it's like HANABI it just sounds so good no matter what form it's in! It has such a beautiful melody to it.
∙ ayu-mi-x 7 -version HOUSE- : Eh, the only remix I found to be outrageously amazing was the
Mirrocle World (Johnny Vicious Club mix). It had such a good beat & I loved how it included that little sound in it from the original song, plus I love it when that echo effect is added on the voice in remixes. It was really well-done club mix...as for the rest of the album, these are the other ones that I found to be just alright:
No way to say (Sugiurumn remix) - This is one of those songs where I don't really like the original, but only because I find the music to be cheesy. I actually adore Ayu's vocals in it
SO much. This remix isn't that amazing, but I still find the music to be a little better than the original mix.
appears (Shinichi Osawa remix) - This remix has a nice little beat to it. It gets kind of boring after awhile though.
Bold & Delicious (Dub's Standard House remix) - This one is probably my 2nd favorite after Mirrocle World. I love what was done with this song! It still maintains that funky feel to it, only with a club beat added to it. It's very good!
M (Remo-con mix) - This almost reminds me of a Deadmau5 song in an odd way (which isn't a bad thing at all). It's a solid remix for the most part.
UNITE! (EK's Big Room remix) - This one also kind of had a Deadmau5 vibe to it in a way. I guess that's what attracted me to it.
crossroad (Johnny Vicious Club mix) - There's that down & dirty sound again xD! Very good! It brought a whole new feel to this song...especially when you consider what the original sounds like.
∙ ayu-mi-x 7 presents ayu trance 4 - Okay, maybe this one was my most favorite because it was the only one I was most hyped for, & of course, I am a pretty big fan of trance. Plus, the ayu trance albums are really the only remix albums of Ayu's that I've really enjoyed, other than the orgel albums & My Story Classical. I liked all but three of the remixes:
Days (Aly & Fila Remix) - I hate the way they slowed down her vocals it made her sound so lazy ugh
...
MOON (Clokx Remix) - Ayu's vocals didn't match the trance music at all imo. I feel like her vocals sound almost out of place in the song.
Rule (Public Domain Remix) - Man, this was disappointing. It just seemed like it didn't translate well into a trance song. In fact, this remix tends to get on my nerves a little
.
Like I said I liked all of the others, but here were my
absolute favs:
Endless sorrow (Dance Nation Remix) - Omg this remix is to die for! I felt like they synced Ayu's vocals in so well with the trance music!!! Plus, I felt like the song still held that beautiful, kind of sorrowful feeling that the original had to it! Very very well-done! I don't know why but I just love Ayu's vocals in this song, & they sounded so beautiful in this trance remix as well.
Far away (Alex M.O.R.P.H. Remix) - It reminded me of the original a lot. I love it cuz it felt like a different take on the original mix, rather than a totally new song.
Greatful Days (DJ JOKER vs HEAVEN WiRE Remix) - Ooh man this remix was so awesome! It made Greatful Days sound so surreal & dreamy-like! Plus I adore that part with the synth & the heavy beat...so awesome!
vogue (Groove Coverage Remix) - This one has got to be my absolute favorite! I am so addicted to this remix! I feel like this song translated into trance the best out all of the songs. To me, it truly sounded like an original trance song.
YOU (Ramon Zenker Remix) - I always love Ramon Zenker remixes
. This one didn't cease to amaze me. This remix really took a plain, yet sweet song, & made it into a hardcore trance piece.