[Kanzaki]

I actually stayed away from listening to any previews before the entire album was out/leaked, so these are all equally "fresh" to me. Idk if that in any way alters my opinion of them, but I like to think it makes a difference that they are all new to me.

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Feel the love
I'd heard beforehand that this album was a bit of a dance-off. As this song opens, my head snaps up and within a minute, this album has already kicked off with a very catchy, dance-pop beat and Ayu's voice clearly singing 'feel the love - we can dance all night'. And there ain't nothing wrong 'bout dat shit, tbh. While I'm not blown away, I find nothing about this track I dislike. Ayu's vocals are strong, not over the top screechy-strained as they've been before and the melody's just above average.
5.5/10

XOXO
It doesn't slow down with this next track. A synthy-pop track starts, with Ayu's voice fading in - more catchy, upbeat english. "Girls just wanna haaave fun". Oh, gosh. Didn't dislike it in the 80's when Cyndi jumped around with that same message (in her thirties then, too) and I'm not about to dislike it now either. It just makes you happy, hearing something lighthearted like that to a catchy beat. It works. The japanese portion of the song really saves it from becoming overly repetitive - honestly, it would've done very well with more of her native language. Yet again, it's unremarkably catchy and fun.
6/10

What is forever love
Feels like roughly the same BPM, but this is a different genre - pop. Ayu is joined by a male voice in this duet and they do compliment each other very well. If not for the extra vocal in this track, I fear it would've fallen very flat. The melody is average, and honestly I'm very bored by the end of it. Ayu's english is cute in this track - "what is forever love" does make me chuckle a bit though.
5/10

Hello new me
I wish I liked this song, I really do. There's little to no build-up, but the chorus just still doesn't do it for me. Lovely message and her voice is fine (although not struggling per se, I really don't like it in the more high-pitched parts). This has both brought down the tempo and flow.
4/10

Pray
Sounds interesting as it begins, but it really starts to shine when the chorus comes along. There's no mistaking that feeling. This is a genuine, future concert tear-jerker. It sounds so bittersweet, it's slightly heartwrenching, and sure, I've heard melodies like this from her so many times, but...it has that unnamed Ayu-quality that makes it go straight to the repeat-list. The emotion in this is very reminiscent of a past Ayu, and I even think I can hear her peaking through at about 3:40 in this song. She proves that her voice still is strong here.
7.5/10

Terminal
Oh, goodness. We're in da cluuub again. This beat really is something. I'd say a tad more fierce that the dance tracks. It's like this holds an even bigger promise of awesomeness. I'm happy to hear her sing in a mellow-low key japanese that beautifully transforms into a higher pitched song. Starts to sound a lot like Last Angel, then has a beat drop like none other. Holy crap. Dat melody. Yeah, might actually drop my laptop if I keep rocking like this while sitting. There's a limit to how much she actually sings in this, but it's a good call; the melody speaks for itself. Wow.
9/10

Angel
This song starts and the dub-step influenced melody and her voice really could have worked. But it doesn't. The song is great. Her voice isn't bad. The way she sings just doesn't get this track up to where it belongs. It's like I can hear where she wants to go with it. I remember dancing my ass off to similar tracks where the artist really nailed the voice, but she falls flat here. It's a shame, because it's the one missing key factor that would've made this song amazing.
7/10

Merry-go-round
It's all slightly boring pop until the chorus where some male vocals makes it stand out a bit from some of the other tracks. It still doesn't quite get up to epic heights still, but nevertheless, a good song. I think the different elements could've been mixed together a bit more seamlessly.
5/10

Lelio
Isn't this Singlish for 'radio'? Ok, screw that thought, because this shit is fantastic. Repetitive, engrish, silly or whatever, I don't care - it sounds effin' great. So many different elements are in this song that were all present in previous ones, but this is perhaps the only one where it all blends together and really works. Yeah, I'm still not annoyed by this. In fact, I want more. Can I have a Lelio pt. II please?
10/10

NOW & 4EVA
a pop track - a genre which I don't feel like she's done too well on this album, yet this begins and immediately catches my attention. That's nothing compared to my very audible 'ohgodyes' by the time the chorus kicks in. There's just power and conviction to it. Plus is sounds nostalgic. The good kind of nostalgic. And yaaaassss, the guitar riff. Isn't an Ayu pop-rock track without the riff. Ok, my day is now complete.
8/10