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I wish I could just let everyone be happy, but...
I really wish everyone would stop chalking this release up to be "one of her bests" - that is said about every single album release.
Yes, some of her recent songs have been better by comparison to the songs that came right before this era. However, they really are not on the level that everyone seems to build them up to be.
You & Me: Generally, not very good. Very "dated"/"cheap" sounding compared to her more "lush" compositions and arrangements from her best songs and eras. Childish lyrics.
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Song 4 u: Vocals are pretty nice on this one, but overall, what a bore. I never understood the love for this song. So far off from the type of music Ayu should be doing and is known for.
Missing: Wonderful. This song is the closest thing to everything that has been missing (no pun intended) from her in recent times. Some say it's "typical", but it's pretty much the sound and quality many of us have been yearning for.
Melody: It's alright... Verses nice, but it becomes a drag during the pre-chorus - what an unnecessary addition to the song. I know Ayu releases songs like this often (can be put in same category as winding road, Replace, etc.) but it's definitely at the bottom of that genre. Some of those songs are very sweet sounding and may have not been high on the roster during their time of release, but they definitely outshine MANY of the releases that came years later.
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Wake me up: Finally, something that gives off that "fierce" power Ayu used to be able to portray so well in her music. Sexiness, modern, has a sure-fire "kick" to the chorus... Finally something that is on par with other POWER tracks (although the end of the chorus isn't so wonderful with the awkward english but overall I will accept this song as a gem).
Sweet scar: Do not like. Do not like. Do not like. The instrumental is nice - I love the arrangement... but, it's just a drag to listen to. I wish it evolved more toward the end at least. But overall, this song is a pass. It had promise, but still needed a lot of work to make really make it excel in it's category.
Snowy kiss: The overall sound is superb. It's fresh, yet it's somehow slightly familiar - the perfect combination. However, this is one case where a "longer" track does not necessarily mean a better track. Many of Ayu's best tracks I feel I want to play over and over again after hearing them, but after listening to this one JUST ONCE, I feel like I had it on replay for 4 times. It's quite exhausting to listen to. I wish there were more variation in the chorus itself.
Ivy: This one sounds nice but again feels repetitive the more you listen to it.
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Overall, this era to me is the era of "promise but does not quite excel to the level you expect"... Maybe this is all leading up to her NEXT era in music, or at least I hope so. She's improving, I'll give her that. But it's nothing to get caught up in for the time being. I shall sit back and await the full album. There's better to come, but this stuff is definitely not "THE BEST" it could be. And the fact that there is very little chance for some of those POWER rock tracks in the full albums release already works against the release.
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