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I'd probably say 2000-2005/6 are the "golden years" for Ayu, but not all equally so. In hindsight, there's a lot of really great stuff from that time from tours to albums to videos, etc. However there's almost always been SOMETHING that didn't sit well with everyone...when Rainbow came out, her decision to use English was a really polarizing thing for people. I also remember thinking how hoarse her voice sounded vs. I Am, for example - it was a huge sonic change for her.
I think Dome Tour aside, the first half of that period is where her music really was the strongest - unique, strong lyrics, quality productions, cohesive albums, etc. The latter half is when you see her transforming into more of a stage performer. My first Ayu concert was CDL 04-05 which was her last "scaled down" CDL. Arena tour 2005 My Story was really the start of her grand shows with lots of stage value, in my opinion.
I like (miss)understood and secret, and they both have tons of gems on them. However, to me, they didn't age well, and they're almost too over-produced. I compare them to Mariah Carey's E=MC2 album - everything was super high quality, but it lacked a certain rawness to it.
Since then, Ayu has had a ton of highs and some lows for me. But I don't think she's ever done anything that's just straight up bad, and that's really a feat for 20 years in the industry.
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