[News] New Album TROUBLE on August 15th ~III~

[Aga-chan]

^More music as in new music? Before the official release of TROUBLE? People would just complain why it isn't on TROUBLE.

Originally Posted by voltron

It's interesting that she hasn't had a title track since Party Queen - something that had previously been very rare in her discography has now become the norm.

In my head, I hear her talking about the title TROUBLE in her normal vague way of "Certainly you must all now understand why I called this album TROUBLE? TROUBLE has many meanings, doesn't it? It is something you can cause, or something you can be, something others can case for you, or something you can find yourself in. Maybe you need help, or maybe you need to be stopped."

lol I said it before, but she RELI needs to communicate herself better. Things like "You're TA, so you'll understand" just don't cut it.

Another "I said it before", but I would've really liked songs titled Colours and TROUBLE. ;_; Will we ever get title tracks back?

[inspire_rmx]

pretty disappointed with this release. not really fond of her voice for all of the songs. best track imo is WORDS.

[Deep snow]

having listened to what I believe to be the iTunes version with my good headphones, the motherf[REDACTED] [REDACTED] mastering really, really bothers me. like, in no way am I a professional, but the album sounds so ill-put together.

I didn't notice any change with We are the QUEENS (which I think was OK to begin with, mastering-wise), but æternal just sounds sooo jarringly different because it's so much louder—you can tell right away from the first verse. and then motherf[REDACTED] WORDS? that [REDACTED] still sounds as shitty as the version we got in 2017. I'm so disappointed because I really like these two songs (especially WORDS). thankfully I don't think I notice the same thing for W and The way I am.

ayu, babe, whomst the [REDACTED] is doing your mastering the last four-five years? fire that [REDACTED] and report their ass to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. I want to [REDACTED] that [REDACTED]'s [REDACTED] until [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and [REDACTED].

---
EDIT: re-reading this ten minutes after I posted it, I'm no longer as angry, but the main argument stands.

[ストロボ・EdGE]

I don’t think I have ever felt this vicariously embarrassed. This might be her coup de grâce, her equivalent to Michael Jackson’s last EP.

I give it two “releases” from now and Ayu will be selling four-figures in copies, then forced to unceremoniously retire or release digitals exclusively, an apropos mirror of the quality and disrespect of this “album”.

[Katsuyuki012]

^if some artists can still put out physical copies with 1k and less, ayu will be just fine

[indigochild]

Originally Posted by ストロボ・EdGE

I don’t think I have ever felt this vicariously embarrassed. This might be her coup de grâce, her equivalent to Michael Jackson’s last EP.

I give it two “releases” from now and Ayu will be selling four-figures in copies, then forced to unceremoniously retire or release digitals exclusively, an apropos mirror of the quality and disrespect of this “album”.

If there's anything you should be embarrassing about it's this post.

[ストロボ・EdGE]

Originally Posted by indigochild

If there's anything you should be embarrassing about it's this post.

Never mind that your intended quip is an incomplete thought, but what I’m really self-consciously embarrassed of is that I literally cried for the first time in a long time all because my favorite and only pop singer that I still follow could have such a poor release. No, I don’t have displaced emotions. I love Ayumi.

And about “flopping”, I don’t care for the term. It’s only that with her trajectory it’s such a painful parallel to her quality and creativity.

And MA is what it presented itself and IMO her best release ever.

[love in music]

Originally Posted by ストロボ・EdGE

Never mind that your intended quip is an incomplete thought, but what I’m really self-consciously embarrassed of is that I literally cried for the first time in a long time all because my favorite and only pop singer that I still follow could have such a poor release. No, I don’t have displaced emotions. I love Ayumi.

I'm honestly curious though, why did you cry? What is it that's so sad about her having a release you dislike? I've actually seen 2 forum members mention seriously crying over not liking a release and I just don't understand. I've absolutely hated tons of her songs and music videos and been embarrassed of things she's done but I've never cried over it. There are so many more important things in the world to cry over. I think there's something deeper going on here and it has to be more than just crying over a bad release..

[Akutenshi]

Honestly, this album is bad. aeternal is an uninspired track that she's done 50 times and each one better than this. The way I am has a nice melody but is again ruined by the bland and bad arrangement with the stereotypical "emotional" piano, chimes, and flat generic drums.

W - now that's a track. Something full of life and interesting. I missed this Ayu, and the entire album should have had this energy, even the ballads.

Overall, this safe sound she continues to go for does nothing for her discography at all for me personally, and it's tiring to listen to entire bodies of work just to find one good track. I think I will stop checking for new releases from her for good and just continue to enjoy all of her material up to Colours (with the occasional tracks from AO and MIJ)

[wednesday]

Originally Posted by ストロボ・EdGE

I don’t think I have ever felt this vicariously embarrassed. This might be her coup de grâce, her equivalent to Michael Jackson’s last EP.

I give it two “releases” from now and Ayu will be selling four-figures in copies, then forced to unceremoniously retire or release digitals exclusively, an apropos mirror of the quality and disrespect of this “album”.

Where the hell have you been?!?!?

For me Memorial address >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> everything in life.

[Lilly]

The only thing I dislike in this album is its size. I love the songs, I love Ayu's 'generic' ballads, I love W and Words might become one of my favorite Ayu's songs ever. By the way, someone posteed somewhere there's an announcement coming on 8/13. Any idea what it might be?

[Andrenekoi]

^I'm guessing there will be music videos released in streaming services

[maxikot]

The announcement is here:
https://twitter.com/AWA_official/sta...21329852837888
Different online translators say about the last question: "What? It may happen again in AWA to 8/13!? / Will it happen again on AWA on August 13?"
Maybe somebody who speaks Japanese could help.

[xLuna&1LOVE]

Originally Posted by maxikot

The announcement is here:
https://twitter.com/AWA_official/sta...21329852837888
Different online translators say about the last question: "What? It may happen again in AWA to 8/13!? / Will it happen again on AWA on August 13?"
Maybe somebody who speaks Japanese could help.

Well, whatever it is --- it makes me curious!
I kinda love it. I am all about Ayu since July, and I am looking forward to all upcoming announcements, performances, festivals and tours.

About the album; I am surprised, because I was totally upset about just having 3 new songs; but the album sounds really good. If there is one thing I could complain about is how I don't like the backing vocals in aetarnal. Especially in the verses, when they repeat Ayu. It sounds so robotic.

But I am totally loving The way I am (definetely my favourite on this album) and yesss also aetarnal. Also I am back into We are the QUEENS and WORDS and I am happy I could buy now a release where the two songs are included and fit well in the concept. The only song I have to get into is W. I like the arrangement, but somehow it doesn't grab me like WARNING or 1 LOVE did (it reminds me of these songs). I am sure I will like it over time.

I am really torn if I should buy the release or not. I will wait foe a while, because I can't trust Ayu. I am a bit anxious she will release a full album including these 5 songs. Probably not... but it is Ayu. You never know.

Bit random but how do you guys pronounce aeternal? I say it like 'eternal' but it makes no sense somehow considering the other songs start with a w.

[owlflight]

Waiting for the album to be released on iTunes USA!

[Tomoyo]

Originally Posted by owlflight

Waiting for the album to be released on iTunes USA!

it's on apple music, that's how i am listening to it

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by maxikot

The announcement is here:
https://twitter.com/AWA_official/sta...21329852837888
Different online translators say about the last question: "What? It may happen again in AWA to 8/13!? / Will it happen again on AWA on August 13?"
Maybe somebody who speaks Japanese could help.

Yes, that's basically it. It says "Eh? On 08/13 on AWA something may happen again!?"

[Yagami Raito]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

Yes, that's basically it. It says "Eh? On 08/13 on AWA something may happen again!?"

"You think this is everything?
Uh- wow uh- wow
Sorry, but this is merely a slice, you know?
Uh- wow uh- wow"

She maybe tried to let us know something with these lyrics

[dumbellz]

Originally Posted by maxikot

The announcement is here:
https://twitter.com/AWA_official/sta...21329852837888
Different online translators say about the last question: "What? It may happen again in AWA to 8/13!? / Will it happen again on AWA on August 13?"
Maybe somebody who speaks Japanese could help.

Hoping for more music but that's unlikely

[roxaskh2fm]

Ok, now with better quality i like TROUBLE a little bit more. W is really a masterpiece.