'LOVE' mini album out November 8th, 1st of five 15th anniversary releases [III]

[isthisLOL?]

Originally Posted by Uemarasan

Seems like she's on the right track in her recovery from the double debacle that was Party Queen and A Summer. And here I was thinking this would be the worst year Ayu would have musically.

Yeah, it's only an opinion, but I don't think all opinions are created equal or deserve equal respect. There are good opinions, bad opinions, dumb opinions, intelligent opinions, enlightening opinions, dangerous opinions. It's just frustrating when an opinion is automatically beyond criticism or given some worth because it's an "opinion".

I agree that not all opinions are equal when it comes to art. Every form of art is a craft and therefore has an objective aspect to it. (An objective aspect, I am not saying any art form is 100% objective) But not everybody has the ability to judge opinions. I think you need to have extraordinary theoretical knowledge to be able to judge, the kind of knowledge you would earn by studying the subject for example. And in an art form combining several different forms into one, like Pop music in combining music, lyrics, photography, design, performance and film, that can get overly complicated as expert knowledge of all of them is required to fully give a judgement.

From your post I am assuming you consider my opinion that PQ is her masterpiece to be a dumb opinion, is that correct? If so, which qualifications do you have to give you that authority?

I will admit that I have only limited musical knowledge and have only taken music theory classes for a couple years in school, therefore cannot fully objectively judge music. I do have some knowledge in the area though, enough to tell that none of the songs on Party Queen is a bad composition or overly generic, but not enough to objectively call any part of it great. I have sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge in the Film department and Photography department, but those are of course irrelevant when only looking at the songs itself and only come into play when also looking at the booklet and PVs.

[krtman2002]

Originally Posted by isthisLOL?

I agree that not all opinions are equal when it comes to art. Every form of art is a craft and therefore has an objective aspect to it. (An objectively aspect, I am not saying any art form is 100% objective) But not everybody has the ability to judge opinions. I think you need to have extraordinary theoretical knowledge to be able to judge, the kind of knowledge you would earn by studying the subject for example. And in an art form combining several different forms into one, like Pop music in combining music, lyrics, photography, design, performance and film, that can get overly complicated as expert knowledge of all of them is required to fully give a judgement.

From your post I am assuming you consider my opinion that PQ is her masterpiece to be a dumb opinion, is that correct? If so, which qualifications do you have to give you that authority?

I will admit that I have only limited musical knowledge and have only taken music theory classes for a couple years in school, therefore cannot fully objectively judge music. I do have some knowledge in the area though, enough to tell that none of the songs on Party Queen is a bad composition or overly generic, but not enough to objectively call any part of it great. I have sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge in the Film department and Photography department, but those are of course irrelevant when only looking at the songs itself and only come into play when also looking at the booklet and PVs.

I don't think PQ is her musical masterpiece, but for me it is a very well done album and I enjoy it everytime I listen to it.

Everybody has his/her opinion and they are equally respectable, but I have to admit that there is a person in this forum I CAN'T STAND! XD. I don't know why he is still following ayu and her material because he is ALWAYS complaining about EVERYTHING! hahaha

Of course, I won't say who he is, XD.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by isthisLOL?

I will admit that I have only limited musical knowledge and have only taken music theory classes for a couple years in school, therefore cannot fully objectively judge music. I do have some knowledge in the area though, enough to tell that none of the songs on Party Queen is a bad composition or overly generic, but not enough to objectively call any part of it great. I have sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge in the Film department and Photography department, but those are of course irrelevant when only looking at the songs itself and only come into play when also looking at the booklet and PVs.

I think you're on the money here - and also doubles as the reason why others didn't like PQ. For Ayu, it was quite an experimental album. But not a perfect one - sometimes the experimentation worked, and sometimes it didn't. It did what it set out to do right from the release of the covers - cause a little controversey and divide fans.

LOVE on the other hand, judging from the previews, is the total opposite of experimental. It has that "familiar Ayu" sound that many Ayu fans have come to love, regardless of whether she's done that sound time and time again. The Japanese fans love "familiar Ayu" and "familiar Ayu" is what sells.

But experimental Ayu initially created those traditional Ayu sounds - if it wasn't for songs like "M" (which were so different to her discography prior to its release), we wouldn't have got many of the pop-rock-strings songs she's released since then and become fan favourites.

I like a balance of both - traditional Ayu + Ayu pushing the boundaries of her sound. I think her output in 2012 has done that quite nicely.

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by Uemarasan

Yeah, it's only an opinion, but I don't think all opinions are created equal or deserve equal respect. There are good opinions, bad opinions, dumb opinions, intelligent opinions, enlightening opinions, dangerous opinions. It's just frustrating when an opinion is automatically beyond criticism or given some worth because it's an "opinion".

Of course different kinds if opinions exist. But not when it comes to such simple things like "Do you like Party Queen?". If you're able to argue why you like or don't like it I don't see why any opinion concerning this simple question could be dumb or dangerous.

[js_surrealism]

I thought Party Queen was a pretty darned good album. The only albums that I can think of off the cuff that are better are Loveppears, Duty and My Story.

The new songs are also quite wonderful. I like that she's milking the nostalgia card by revisiting the sort of sound that launched her career in the early 2000s. I think her voice sounds best like this.

[maikaru]

Originally Posted by js_surrealism

I thought Party Queen was a pretty darned good album. The only albums that I can think of off the cuff that are better are Loveppears, Duty and My Story.

The new songs are also quite wonderful. I like that she's milking the nostalgia card by revisiting the sort of sound that launched her career in the early 2000s. I think her voice sounds best like this.

Definitely agree. Her voice in Missing is one of her best vocal performances in a long time. Party Queen had improved vocals, but the shouting in the rock songs really put me off... They sound like Love songs rejects, recorded either during Love songs, FIVE, or before her vocals improved once more. call and Letter could have been great songs vocally, but they suffered what Last Links suffered the most, the vocals were not good at all. I have a hard time understanding why people like Last Links, it honestly sounds so horrible vocally.

She's sounding more and more like her I am... era, but better. Same tones, but stronger.

I also think Party Queen is a good album. It doesn't suck, but I have a hard time listening to the vocals... they come in at a close second for most annoying vocals, following only A Song for ××

[Beauty4123]

the covers are so beautiful! the PV previews are pretty good, too. totally looking forward to this release and i also can't wait for the other releases that are coming, as well. it's amazing that's there so much music to look forward to!

[emi♡]

you guys take my responses to exodus so seriously lol

[JackieRos]

there was alot of hate for pq. myself included

[freedreamer]

can i just ask..are there any comments floating around about the full PVs for Song 4 u and Missing???

[truehappiness]

tokyoxjapanxfan saw the full PVs and posted his thoughts.

http://ameblo.jp/taepyon33/entry-11390557661.html

Caps of the finale of the Song 4 u PV are here. It looks very nice imo thought kind of underwhelming.

[freedreamer]

omgawddd.........i can already imagine AHS burning in agony when everyone sees it. LOL i was totally imagining the queens going at each other like that XD

[Delicious n Bold]

My friend thought the song 4 u preview was very artistic.
Proof that casual fans are less harsh, but that's the case more than often

[TeamAyu2004]

well, it is very pretty and very artistic.

It doesnt change the fact that I think its lacking in many things.

[Yoake]

I love the full version of song 4 u.

[miki_beland]

Could someone please tell me when oversead editions are usually announced?

[Aderianu]

^few days before japanese release

[YUKARI]

I can't wait to get this album!!!

[TeamAyu2004]

Agreed.. Love the direction of her voice right now...And the I am comparisons are nice.

[jyujiw]

If she never returns to the voice of ASFXX I'll be thankful xD