thoughts on miss understood album

[js_surrealism]

Haha, which works for me, have been in a bit of a retro romp of late, synthesizers and sequencers and whatever you call em never sounded better for me.

[marionette]

Well... now I've heard all the songs.

I still think this hasn't been the best Ayu-year and that her new style isn't my favourite one. But as I said, I do understand, that she has to try new things. If she would always keep on making songs that sound like another M, Evolution, Rainbow and so on - it wouldn't be good either. That's what I think. I also think (miss)understood isn't a letdown, even though some of the songs are from my worst nightmares. :P

I really liked STEP you, Rainy Day, (miss)understood, Alterna, Will, Is this LOVE and Fairyland.

There are only two songs that I can't listen to. Those were: in the corner and Criminal.

I was going to do my own track by track review, but now that I read SunshineSlayer's review I don't have to. I totally (well... maybe not totally, but almost!) agree with her!
Except that I think Criminal is passionless and a boring song. I was very disappointed... but maybe I'll start to like it a bit more later. I'd give Criminal 6,5/10. I'd also give (miss)understood 8,5/10 or even 9/10. :) But otherwise I agree with her.

[TeamAyu]

You owe me a cookie Sunshineslayer.

Great review btw, I'm glad you came around.

[atenza]

Those long instrumental sections in her songs have been reduced a lot compared to her older songs, that what I miss the most.

Beautiful day tune sounded like a Gwen Stefani song.

[AyuGAME]

its really GREAT!!!
you must buy it
i just love her new style
i have been her fans from 1998 and if i want to choose
i choose her voice, her song in her new style like this new album

[elvis810]

Bold & Delicious: One of my favourite in this album, an excellent opening to a versatile album, kind of arousing 9.5/10
STEP you: another good track, as well, good arrangement 9.5/10
Ladies Night: special song but repetitive 7.5/10
is this LOVE?: Good Passion and melody 9/10
(miss)understood: usual pattern of ayu songs, rock style, but to me, it's nothing really special, i don't know why many of you like it so much , it may grow on me 7.5/10
alterna: Best track of this album, i guess it's recorded again, very rockish and well arranged 10/10
In the corner: Very sexy! i like it very much 9/10
tasking: I love how the violin sounds 9.5/10
Criminal: I like ayu's small voice at the beginning, very emotional 9/10
Pride: I like it more than b4 when i listen to the whole album all over, a suitable song in this album, though 8.5/10
Will: Wonderful track, nice melody 9.5/10
HEAVEN: Beautiful Ballad, I like the Chinese-type arrangement very much 9/10
Are you wake up?: Good interlude and a good transition to fairyland 9/10
fairyland: Wonderfully blended with are you wake up in the beginning, but the track alone is not promising , i like the summer feeling of the arrangement though 8.5/10
Beautiful day: a happy and warming song, plain arrangement, the style is like winding road, which i dun like 8/10
rainy day: i like it the most among all the new tracks, especially the 'ding ding' sound, soothing and emotionally presented, the best ending song of ayu's album, coz i hate either flower garden, more than or Humming 7/4! This song even changes my overall impression of this album, bringing the album to a higher rating~ 10/10

ayu tried many styles in this album which i appreciate very much, all the songs are completely different from the others, each has its own character, which is why it stands out from her albums~
There's a weird feeling of this album, it sounds like every track on it is very short, i dunno y
overall: 9.5/10
and i post my rating on pervious album:
A song for XX: 7/10
LOVEappears: 8/10
Duty: 8/10
I am...: 8/10
RAINBOW: 8.5/10
Memorial Address: 9.5/10
MY STORY: 8/10

[Mirai Noah]

I'm going to wait until I actually get the CD to listen to the tracks. But from what all you guys are saying, the album sounds good!!

[shinji1698]

its an ok album--this years singles were good--and theres some good new songs on there. I can sense some influence from gwen stefani in there. Way better than my story!

[elepop]

@ SunshineSlayer: Great review! I agree on most points but i'll give 10/10 for "(miss)understood" and 8/10 for "In The Corner".

Originally Posted by Ryoko

I don't remember reading anywhere that (miss)understood (the title track) was composed by CREA though...

>>> http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37505

Originally Posted by momobean

On a happier note I -think- (miss)understood is a CREA composition.

&

Originally Posted by TeamAyu

I BELIEVE! It says that Ayu composed "(miss)understood". I am darn excited now! I hope it is as good as her past compositions because Humming 7/4 was lacking something (like originality).

[ruixiong89]

Wow, I think the interludes are like NOTHING you've ever heard in Ayu's previous albums before ... I think the interludes are just really a menage of techno, retro, this new Ayu style that I don't think I've heard before!

Yup, great reviews you've got going up there! I think (miss) understood is really Ayu's best work since I am ... Of course, there are great songs in between, but as a COMPLETE album listening experience, (miss) understood rocks absolutely!

[momobean]

asongforxx: Now, I'm not too sure. Someone at Ayunite said that the song just represents Ayu and all that. :/ Sorry

[Ryoko]

Originally Posted by asongforXX

@ SunshineSlayer: Great review! I agree on most points but i'll give 10/10 for "(miss)understood" and 8/10 for "In The Corner".




>>> http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37505



&

That article says that the song is basically Ayu's theme song, it represents her, etc. (I can read and understand Japanese somewhat).

[Coelacanth]

Yeah, so basically it doesn't mean she composed it. It does seem like a CREA composition though. I'd be more impressed if 'criminal' was CREA.

[minkAYuko]

CRIMINALis the BEST SONG EVER!!!! in the whole album and ever since the I am...album PERIOD.! so Still alone-ish and Hearplace-ish! hahah I LOVE THIS TRAAAACK!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

This'll sell more than "I am..."....
It's amazing..
The songs "Criminal" and "(miss) understood" are gold.
Actually, i'd say more than gold. If i had to chose between these songs and a golden ring, there's no doubt i would chose this.
-Unless i chose the ring, sold it for a couple thousand dollars, and bought 15 copies of this album -
GOLD I TELL YOU!

[Paper Bear]

I think it's a great album. I hope it'll sell well or at least more than MY STORY.

(miss)understood and HEAVEN, I think, are some of the best songs on the album. I love them. <3 I can't wait to buy it!

[bpulse]

okay, O M G!
When I listened to the previews I was like: this is going to be a boring and generic album, but now??? The only new song I don't really like is Beautiful Day, but it is still okay. Criminal and (miss)understood really surprised me in an amazing way. In The Corner is really growing on me, Ladies Night is just FUN and rainy day is a good track. The interludes are just the best Ayu has ever had. God, I wish Tasking was a full song.

Her best album since I am...

[kristen]

Originally Posted by bpulse

God, I wish Tasking was a full song.

Me too!

[happytoadstool]

Bold and Delicious - it's ok. got used to it already and i do think it is a fun song. however due to the sheer bulk of quality in this album, this one isn't as good as the others. 7.5/10

Step You - really good pop/rock tune. very addicting and the song easily gets stuck to your head. one of ayu's best single songs in recent years. 9.5/10

Ladies night - very new genre for ayu. and she sounds amazing in this genre! very 80s and disco-ish. i was reminded of the crazy frog songs with the "danger" parts but this song is just fresh and fast and amazing! also reminiscent of fly high at some parts 10/10

is this Love? - an amazing rock ballad. one of my 2 favorites from ayu this year. can't say anything else about it. this and step you combined make for the best single of ayu since evolution (well, IMO at least) 10/10

(miss)understood - good rock song, but it's lacking a certain something which makes it not reach the heights of greatness. 8/10

Alterna - i was pleasantly surprised with this song when i first heard this. it's amazing, but through time, the shock factor worn out and eventually this became a solid rock song, though it is not something i would listen to regularly, unlike will or is this love or ladies night 8.5/10

in the corner - i like this song. it's a simple pop song. i love the strings in this song 8/10

tasking - i love the interludes in this song!!! they're soooo amazing!!! this one is my favorite of the two here. it has violins too! personally this is my favorite interlude ever :p

criminal - i like how it starts out slow at first, but suddenly becomes a rock song. the melody gets repetitive a bit, though. i like this more than (miss)understood. good song. 8.5/10

Pride - decent ballad. i love the intro and the verses, but the chorus is a bit stale. very emotional. of the ballads here, this one is my least favorites, though. 8/10

Will - the other favorite track of mine. i can't stop listening to this song because it's so fresh and relaxing. i love ayu's songs which have a touch of traditional japanese music in them. 10/10

Heaven - nice, grand ballad ala voyage. this would've been the best ballad in this song because of the soft verse and that part which ascends towards the chorus (very powerful). i love the traditional instrument placed in there as well. sadly, the chorus is a bit of a letdown. 9/10

are you wake up - another great interlude! very good because it;s a good transition from heaven to fairyland. 9/5.10

fairyland - this one's like alterna, in that i love it at first because of its simple and relaxing tone, although there's a certain sorrow in it but eventually grew old in me. however, it's having a bit of a resurgence in me. good pop song. 9/10

beautiful day - my least favorite track of the album. it's a bit boring. i like the chorus though, except for the parts with the "it's a beautiful day". it's a song which remind me of a day with the sun starting to appear. wish this were given a little more attitude. 7/10

rainy day - i love this song as well. it's relaxing and soothing to the ears, and the pv shows how sad the song is. it's like a lullaby. nice way to end the album. 9.5/10

overall, it's a great album. i prefer this over my story just a little because this has more really great songs than my story, although my story has a bit of an edge with the ballads (moments and carols are her best ballads, and walking proud is really beautiful as well. thetrio of liar, hope or pain and happy ending are also beautiful sorrowful ballads).

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by TeamAyu

You owe me a cookie Sunshineslayer.

Great review btw, I'm glad you came around.

I wouldn't say that I "came around" exactly. My original fear was that the album tracks would be subpar and it's true that Beautiful Day and in the corner are probably her two worst album tracks ever IMO. But the interludes and Criminal help make up for it. I would say that this album has some flaws - one being those tracks and two that it is all over the place styalisticly and I tend to prefer albums that have more of a cohesive flow to them. So I wouldn't rank this in say, my top 3 Ayu albums, but it wouldn't be at the bottom either. I'll have to think a bit about how I would rank Ayu's albums.

Originally Posted by Phantoma

Yeah, so basically it doesn't mean she composed it. It does seem like a CREA composition though. I'd be more impressed if 'criminal' was CREA.

Ah, that would make more sense because to me Criminal sounds like CREA more than anything else - it's like a mixture of I Am's most rock oriented songs and Heartplace.