Flashback ten years ago..how do you feel about I Am... and RAINBOW?

[lumieregrl]

RAINBOW might be my second favorite album behind Ayu's Love Story, and I think they are quite similar. There's a consistent feeling and atmosphere through both albums. It's made, imo, to be listened to as a whole album.

I Am...I love about half the songs. Naturally is my favorite Ayumi song (although I prefer the dolly remix). The rest I just don't think about and rarely listen to. I've never understand the love people have for this album (much like My Story).

I have to admit I'm more partial to albums like RAINBOW and Love Story.

[jang-kun]

Love Story, um not sure if MY STORY or Love songs

Anyway, I am... is easy to love. Although it's not that cohesive like LS or RAINBOW it has a really smooth flow, well for me. I would've easily loved Ayu only for this album.

[Jawdarna]

I really don't care about cohesiveness.

Each of the songs from these albums are so well composed, that even completely unrelated to each other, they still sound bloody good together. What I really enjoy, is that each one of them stands out. It's not the kind of 'blur' I feel that occurs with albums that contain too many songs that sound similar. Height of Ayu in my opinion (2000 - 2002).

[jang-kun]

^I see. But for me cohesiveness is important if you want your album to tell a story to the listener, which is my preferred type. But yes, good thing about I am.../RAINBOW is what you pointed. Songs here stand out from each other.

[MeltingCORE]

I like both albums but I prefer the sound of I Am... over RAINBOW. : D

[Jawdarna]

Originally Posted by jang-kun

^I see. But for me cohesiveness is important if you want your album to tell a story to the listener, which is my preferred type. But yes, good thing about I am.../RAINBOW is what you pointed. Songs here stand out from each other.

Yeah, that is true about importance! I think that was one thing I legitimately enjoyed about Party Queen. It did in fact tell a story! (and would have been a disaster if it did not) I think coherence is something that MY STORY does very well. But yeah, with Ayu's earlier albums, their lack of coherence is something that has never bothered me. I can see how it can be a factor though. Especially with RAINBOW.

Yeah, it's something I really miss. I feel like Ayu only has very few songs on her recent albums standing out.

[zellyx]

I'll be leaving a track by track review soon.

I went back to listen to them and was absolutely blown away by how refreshing they sound, especially because of the mainstream I've been listening to lately. Easily these 2 are in my top 3.. I just haven't decided in what order.


I am... ---- vibrant and raw. Nothing is held back!! Just such a strong album. It doesn't feel contrived.
RAINBOW ---- tranquil, ethereal, and beautiful. It flows so nicely and I can listen to it at anytime.

[TITANIC]

I Am... is still her best album to date. IMO RAINBOW is such a downgrade from I Am... only the singles are major highlight of the album. different from I Am... the album title track, No more words, still alone are my favourite tracks beside the singles. never get tired of I Am.... I can listen to it every single day but not with RAINBOW

[jang-kun]

lol i just remembered when PQ came out, some people were saying that PQ somewhat resembled MY STORY, in the sense that they are both coherent, and they both tell a story. especially the call-tell me why section, some already compared the two and said "omg PQ is like MY STORY!" but some can't accept haha. that's quite expected for an album "like" Party Queen. but i like still.


RAINBOW though is an album of deeper approach. maybe because I am... focused on very heartwarming themes like peace and love, while RAINBOW is like a very delicious food but hard to digest.

[shinji1698]

I Am is her best album...every song is outstanding--even the minimal a song is born.

I don't get how people say its not cohesive? I think it moves beautifully, and that remix of enless sorrow is gorgeous.

Rainbow is alright--the album tracks weren't the best and there's too much filler at the end. Love Heartplace and Everywhere Nowhere though.

[R_Hikki]

RAINBOW grows on me more and more each year. Some of the arrangements need some time to fully appreciate but are absolutely breath-taking. At first I only really listened to the upbeat songs but now "Dolls" is one of my favourite songs ever.

[Delicious n Bold]

Originally Posted by jang-kun

^You lost pup F&E is, in a matter of debate, considered the best CREA composition ever. That sudden boom is just perfection

Oh I know LOL.
I'm not TOO fond of the sudden boom, but the arrangement is just amazing on every track (including F&E)
I need to own this album.

[jang-kun]

^I see, but you love progress, yes? I love progress because it reminds me of F&E.

[Leaf King]

RAINBOW is my favourite album, end of story.