[waterballoon]

oh God I love this album so much...

1) tasky

YES. YES. YES. There are intros I still like better, like Catcher In The Light and Not yet, but this comes so close. I love the traditional Japanese instrumentation flowing into this dance atmosphere, almost like a mix of para para and dragon dance!

2) FLOWER

YES. YES. YES. I never heard Ayu so angry before and lyrically some stanzas remind me of (don't) Leave me alone. Everything is great, I love this song except the vocal layering in the chorus is a bit jarring at first but still good.

3) Mad World

Damn. my favorite track in the whole album. The chorus really tugs at my heartstrings; this is classic Ayu but with her taking full control of her vocals, it's such a great thing to be alive to listen to this song, and it makes me sad at the same time.

4) Breakdown

YES. I love this as well. I love that after the anger and confusion of the previous 2 tracks, we slow down to this song where she kinda thinks and wonders about stuff; the electric guitar meltdown at the end leading to her final, "Kono mama..." left me chils.

5) Survivor

OH HELL YES. I do get INSPIRE and BRILLANTE vibes from this and I love the energy so much. Love the "concrete jungle" imagery and this whole African safari realness going on; it's so vibrant and what a joy to listen to this song. I Visualize fire, dancers, this queen sitting on her throne telling everyone to fight and try again. dayum.

6) You are the only one

Oh my God this was the biggest surprise to me. I was ready to write this off in the first 5 seconds for being generic but damn it the arrangement is beyond beautiful and the verses have a very Disney vibe to it (I'm thinking Land Before Time); so ethereal. and the chorus when her falsetto kicks in, I got chills. SO GOOD. The breakdown at the end with her siren wailings are so good too. yes yes yes.

7) TODAY

I don't really remember how this sounds like despite running through the album 6 times, but I remember liking it.. will go back and listen to this a few more times but I'm sure I don't hate it.

8) Mr. Darling

weakest link of the album for me. it's cute and she's happy I get it but HONEY is a better showcase of a song dedicated to her love.

9) Summer Love.

WAIT DID THE FIRST SECOND REMIND ANYONE OF THE SHOW MUST GO ON??? it's the exact boomsound! lol. but i love this song, it's catchy and fun, but sounds like a Colours/sixxxxxxxxxxx/A ONE leftover, doesn't mesh too well with rest of the album but still nice.

10) Many Classic Moments

it's my first time listening to this song and her cover and I like it. I actually really like it; it's sad EDM and enjoyable listen!

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overall, this is her strongest work since Love songs. i hear effort, i hear vocals, i hear arrangement, i see well-written lyrics, i see her writing as an Adult and thinking like an Adult, and it's so fresh and different, and for many fans here who are probably in their mid/late 20s already I think this perspective is even more relatable than ever!