NEXT LEVEL album thoughts

[waterballoon]

Originally Posted by Catzi

This album has the same feel as a Lady Gaga or a recent Britney Spears album for me: the instrumentals are AWESOME, and the lyrics fit really nicely, very catchy, but the lyrics also have no substance. I guess, I can't relate to what she's feeling in the lyrics now; maybe I haven't reached that stage in my life.

On another note, I love having D.A.I back as a composer! His tracks are the best!

Which lyrics have no substance?

[TakaSama]

Originally Posted by Catzi

This album has the same feel as a Lady Gaga or a recent Britney Spears album for me: the instrumentals are AWESOME, and the lyrics fit really nicely, very catchy, but the lyrics also have no substance. I guess, I can't relate to what she's feeling in the lyrics now; maybe I haven't reached that stage in my life.

I disagree - I feel like this is Ayu's first album in a while that has dealt with things that are lyrically applicable to people in general rather than herself or people in love. rollin' is basically about the state of the world right now, and I applaud Ayu for referring to such universal topics!

[rusuke]

LOL. I'm listening to Energize right now. The intro makes me feel so Britney Spears and Lady GaGa!! I thinks It's great.. I think I'm going to buy this album.

[Catzi]

Originally Posted by waterballoon

Which lyrics have no substance?

EnergizE, Sparkle, identity, Rule, GREEN

But again, I think it's because I haven't reached that stage in my life to fully understand what her lyrics are trying to express.

Originally Posted by TakaSama

I disagree - I feel like this is Ayu's first album in a while that has dealt with things that are lyrically applicable to people in general rather than herself or people in love. rollin' is basically about the state of the world right now, and I applaud Ayu for referring to such universal topics!

rollin' does have good lyrics. As does, Days, LOVE n' HATE, and Curtain Call. But for the most part, I didn't like her lyrics too much this time around. The instumentals were much better.

[waterballoon]

Hahaha I see. Well, I actually the lyrics. This is a first time for me where an Ayu album has lyrics that outshines the songs themselves. Maybe except for Sparkle.

[Lady_Eowyn]

Originally Posted by Catzi

EnergizE, Sparkle, identity, Rule, GREEN

But again, I think it's because I haven't reached that stage in my life to fully understand what her lyrics are trying to express.

rollin' does have good lyrics. As does, Days, LOVE n' HATE, and Curtain Call. But for the most part, I didn't like her lyrics too much this time around. The instumentals were much better.

LOL

Just because you may not identify with the lyrics doesn't mean they've got no substance.

SHUT UP this is a good album !!! LOL

Originally Posted by My Rainbow

I hate people who hates Curtain Call

Don't get mad guys, they are just saying what they think In the end, your opinion is all that counts


Oh, and i loved your review of NL Takasama, your arguments are sooooo good and so consistant, you should write on magazines!!!! i especially gree with your review of NL the song

[Tom Punks]

Originally Posted by Lady_Eowyn

LOL

Just because you may not identify with the lyrics doesn't mean they've got no substance.

LOLOLOLOLOL

[Catzi]

Originally Posted by Lady_Eowyn

LOL

Just because you may not identify with the lyrics doesn't mean they've got no substance.

It's got no substance to me. That's all that matters in an opinion.

[Ayumi27]

My review

Bridge to the sky nice one, a good way to start the album and perfect prelude of NL. I like the sound but I'd wish it had lyrics...
NEXT LEVEL A bit boring for me, but helps me relax somehow. Perfect to hear it while driving
Disco-munication One of her BEST interludes ever! It's perfectly placed in the album too!
EngergizE Best non-single track of the album, specially since ayu is using more english than ever! Powerful and funny
Sparkle Meh... two loud and experimental for me... don't really like it, I would have used EnergizE or identity instead for the single
rollin' Average track, still doesn't convinces me
GREEN I freaking LOVE it!!! The oriental sound is excelent as well as the arrangement and lyrics!
Load of the SHUGYO A typical boring interlude
identity GREAT song, specially the catchy chorus!
Rule Good one, but nothing special... she should have used something more unique as a theme song
LOVE 'n' HATE Interesting song, although too western for me. The best is the intro and the arrangement
Pieces of SEVEN Good interlude, specially the first two minutes. It would have been perfect as an intro to GREEN though
Days Another generic winter ballad
Curtain call Nice way of ending the album, better than Days. Although I don't like two consecutive ballads in an album

Bridge to the sky 8/10
NEXT LEVEL 7,5/10
Disco-munication 8/10
EnergizE 9,5/10
Sparkle 6/10
rollin' 6/10
GREEN 10/10
Load of the SHUGYO 5/10
identity 9/10
Rule 8/10
LOVE ‘n’ HATE 7,5/10
Pieces of SEVEN 7/10
Days 7/10
Curtain call 8/10

[YuriChan]

I thought that NEXT LEVEL was a so/so album. My least favorite track is LOVE 'n' HATE... That is one of those songs I kind of like and I don't like. Although, my most favorite track on it is identity! LOOOOOVE that song! It's a song that I can see Koshi Inaba doing! <333 That and the song also reminded me of Aya Kamiki. When I listened to the song's preview, it gave me a B'z meets ROCK STEADY feeling.. So yeah, NEXT LEVEL ranks 3rd as my favorite album.

[Sironigous]

OH WOW... I got my copy just today!...

Right now I'm up to rollin'... and... it's absolutely AMAZING... I think that's my favorite up to that point...

[rian_hamasaki]

i love it

but GREEN and Days seem out of place

[sailorseraphim]

Upon first listening to this album, i wasnt a big fan, but after listening to it a few more times, i love it!!! i totally dont regret buying it, support Ayu!!!!

[Sironigous]

OK, after first listen...

This album is absolutely amazing...

The only new song I really don't like is Curtain Call...

...My favorites are identity, rollin', and LOVE N' HATE...

I don't see why this album has so much hate. o_o

[happy_ai]

I think NEXT LEVEL is probably her most forgettable album...
Its just not her strongest album, and its doesn't really come close to any of her older ones either

1 - Bridge to the sky - Is a decent opening to the song NEXT LEVEL, nothing really to wow over

2 - NEXT LEVEL - Despite the PV lacking in... everything-the song opened pretty well, the chorus is light and catchy and her voice sounded less force. But 2 minutes into it, it already lost any excitement the opening was trying to build. And is it me or are her bridges sounding more and more alike?

3 - Disco-munication - Sounded very 80s... which isnt a bad sound but lacked something.

4 - EnergizE - Ah~ ayu and english has never sat with me well (well, RAINBOW was always an exception for me) Another 80s sound, Disco-munication did its job with and introduction to this. Voices an sound failed for me. Its sounded like a song more for Morning Musume than and empress of Pop like Ayu... Dont get me wrong, I love MM. This might be a hit during concerts though, hm?

5 - Sparkle - Now this song I liked! Its aggressive lyrics, smoking PV and hard yet soft sound is just what she's being up since she starting having a rockish sound. And I completely understand why its after EnergizE-lyrically, its a continuation of being strong instead of being 'uncool'

6 - Rollin' - A soft, quiet start... an interesting build up... taking forver but lets give it a shot... then some weird sound (her voice in some filter I guess) and finally you'd hear her voice--synthesized and sort of... what's the word... cluttered? Yes, thats what it was. It definitely gives the next level level feeling but it was unwelcome to me.

7 - GREEN - A dramatic shift from Rollin'... this album really needed more fluidity! Amazing start, the traditional sound is very nice to hear. Vocally, its very natural-vibrato and all and even though it might take some time you really like/love its worth it. Songs like this take time to appreciate.

8 - Load of SHUGYO - I like this... starts off pretty slow but its perfect for what comes after.

9 - identity - Haha, the beginning sounded like something from a concert of hers "YEE-AAH YEAH YEEAAAHHH!". It got my attention though. I really liked this one too. The rock sound reminded me of something could have been a leading track on her (m)U album. Its a very cool song.

10 - Rule - At first I didn't like this song when I bought the single. The beginning just jumped into the song... there's something about the sound of it that I didn't like. Maybe it was the voice filter. The best parts were when you'd hear her voice clearly. And I have to say the bridge rocked my world... its the only thing I really look for in this song now... which is a shame. I think if I just heard an instrumental of this song, without her vocals- I'd be just fine.

11 -LOVE'n'HATE - Nice title, very different. The opening with the violins were amazing to hear the counting would have been cool if she suddenly hit zero after saying seven. Lyrically, Im satisfied... not floored but not bored. Not the best song of the album but not the worst.

12 - Pieces of SEVEN - I agree with some of the other people here... why did it start slow and end with rockish/techno? the transition was not smooth at all and was probably the worst interlude Ive heard from Ayu.

13 - Days - I got a No Way To Say feeling at first.... but its quickly went away--finding its own identity. Its a sweet ballad-ish type song. It wont go wont as one of her best ballads but Days is amazing.

14 - Curtain call - At first, while the piano was playing, I got the sense it was a cheap HEAVEN knock off. lyrically, its sort of lazy... her voice is ok but not really expressing any emotion through it. Its nice to listen to, especially toward the end where the choir backs up Ayu's vocals. Its goes back to her voice and then its end with a shaky note--Im not impressed with much but I listen to it.

Overall... hm, Guilty is probably a step or two better than Next Level....
Buying the singles would be better than buying the album
The songs dont move well with each other--random this and that all over the place
smh, not really happy with it

[TakaSama]

Originally Posted by Lady_Eowyn

Oh, and i loved your review of NL Takasama, your arguments are sooooo good and so consistant, you should write on magazines!!!! i especially gree with your review of NL the song

Thank you! I wasn't sure anyone read it because it was so long.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by TakaSama

Thank you! I wasn't sure anyone read it because it was so long.

I really liked your review of rollin'!^^


My review:

Bridge to the sky: Does not have the impac of her last two intros (Mirror and Not Yet), but flows really well with NEXT LEVEL and it really shows the feeling of the album IMO

NEXT LEVEL: Welcome back DAI! A bright, poppish track with a feeling of summer, and very good lyrics about going almost fearless to the next level that is the theme of this album...

Disco-munication: Amazing and very agressive interlute, makes an amazing transition to the eletro-pop songs of the album

EnergizE: It's like ayu saying "let's go foward together, follow me!" and this kind of thing is very interesting in a album with this thematics! Really like the blend of 50s rock and 80s eletro-pop! Really liked the english lines too^^

Sparkle: Ayu's fierce side is my personal favorite one, seeing this acting like this made me a fan of her and I think that I will aways fall easy when she does something like that. "If you want it go and get it" in a very sexy way!

rollin': My favorite album track from NL... it starts pretty much like marionette, what I think it's reflecting the way the world is on ayu's perspective... To her, the world never appears to be a nice place on her lyrics... Most of my opinion on this track matches with TakaSama's... But I think I'm the only one that like the ending... it's like the world rollin' and still never going to anywhere different... LOVED the lyrics^^

GREEN: this is my favorite single track of the album and one of my favorite ayu ballads! The chinese sounding music and the lyrics go really well together^^ Taking the PV in consideration, I think that this song is about homosexuals (and another kinds of "forbiden" loves), with the ending going like "when society changes, I will stop to hide my feelings". To me, GREEN is placed here to break the album flow... something like "wake up!"

Load of SHUGYO: from oriental to rock, with a "battle" feeling... fighting to the next level? The next 3 songs are about fighting against something... So... I think it's a good interlude^^

identity: agressive rock track about being yourself and taking care of your own life... Really liked the eletronic sounds that appears somewhere in this track, in the end, this is her eletro-pop album =)

Rule: The DBE theme! To me this sounds like a mix of generic anime themes and ayu rock songs (in a very good way), here she is fighting against the rules, what is something that Ayu kind of did during all her career. It's not amazing, but is catchy as hell, what makes this a nice international tie-in^^

LOVE 'n' HATE: sounds like a rpg dungeon theme :O The lyrics are nice, like a angered version of Step you (even with de numbers ), have a very epic sound... Even if this is my least favorite album track, I have to say that IMO this song have a very powerful feeling, something that can be amazing live^^

pieces of SEVEN: I would like to now if the number seven means anything in japanese culture, really liked this interlude, another break in the album flow... this time again, to me is something like "wake up! the album still has another songs!" again.... this would be an amazing concert intro^^

Days: To me, it sounds like ayu's winter ballads with a "fresh" feeling in the arrangement that make it sounds more like the songs she is doing after Mirrorcle World... Sweet love song, but not my favorite of hers...

Curtain call: Piano+voice ballad... very simple song with very simple lyrics... To me it sounds like... "well my fans, we are together for more than 10 years now... I don't really need to use many words for you to know what I feel about this anymore, I love you all"... doing something simple and good it's way harder than doing anything complex and good... and IMO, ayu could put this out very well with this track^^


-----

To me, the songs are placed over their themes, even when they have similar music styles... It's a very agressive but mature album and I feel the first half as "we are preparing ourselves to change things and go to a next level" and the second half as something like "we are fighting our ways in order to get to this next level", with a soft but optimist conclusion... As a whole, and as a concept (i see this album this way), I thinks it is her best album to date (her older ones had outstanding tracks algo and stuff, but to me, they don't sound like a whole like NL does)

I'm still impressed^^

[SheFliesHigher]

After having more time with the album, I'd probably upgrade my prior rating of 7/10 to 8/10.

Energize is still kind of lame, though. Haha.

[jbrat2219]

Is anyone else's favorite track rollin' >_<; Or am I alone in the world.

[TakaSama]

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

Is anyone else's favorite track rollin' >_<; Or am I alone in the world.

Don't worry, you're sooo not alone. It my new favorite Ayu song!