LOVE again thoughts?

[Jawdarna]

I finished listening to it a few minutes ago.

I have to say, she's really outdone herself this time. Best album since GUILTY for me. That's a big call, I know, but I thoroughly enjoyed this album.
I felt like I knew where she was going with it. It feels like a completed piece of art. My primary qualm with Ayu albums released in the last five-six years is that they sound like a Grade Eight's Home Ec project: completely random, made with all sorts of different fabrics, and overall coming together as one huge mess. Some songs of the past few years have even sounded incomplete.

To me, LOVE again:
Cohesive, but integrating various sounds.
Vocals are above average, and when you hear a phrase that is sung brilliant, it is delightful. She's really playing to her vocal strengths.
Lyrics are heart-felt, and although she has recycled the usual themes, they just seem...fresh? Like grapes picked straight from the vine?

The only negative I have is that some of the ballads drag on a bit and some vocals (such as that on petal and Gloria's verses) seem slightly awkward (but I correlate this to the arrangement of the songs). But aside from that, this album is nearly flawless.

This is what I needed from Ayu. An album that doesn't sound like a conventional (despite similar sounds from the past appearing) Ayu album, yet could only be made by her.

[Kirshwasser]

Originally Posted by Jawdarna

I finished listening to it a few minutes ago.

I have to say, she's really outdone herself this time. Best album since (miss)Understood for me. That's a big call, I know, but I thoroughly enjoyed this album.

Cohesive, but integrating various sounds.
Vocals are above average, and when you hear a phrase that is sung brilliant, it is delightful. She's really playing to her vocal strengths.
Lyrics are heart-felt, and although she has recycled the usual themes, they just seem...fresh? Like grapes picked straight from the vine?

The only negative I have is that some of the ballads drag on a bit and some vocals (such as that on petal and Gloria's verses) seem slightly awkward (but I correlate this to the arrangement of the songs). But aside from that, this album is nearly flawless.

This is what I needed from Ayu. An album that doesn't sound like a conventional Ayu album, yet could only be made by her.

i like how u changed your opinion from "I don't even want to re-listen to them. :/" to "This is what I needed from Ayu" .. honestly, i do

[x-megumi-x]

It sounds like "Love songs part 2" to me and that's not a good thing since I didn't like Love songs... It's not terrible, I just think it's boring.
It's too homogeneous, there are too much ballads / mid-tempo tracks, some songs sound dated and I don't like Nakano's bland arrangements.

On a positive note, I like "SAKURA" the most and the lyrics of "untitled for her 2" are really touching. I also enjoy "Melody" better in the album than in the mini.

I need fierce Ayu to come back as soon as possible!

[freedreamer]

Originally Posted by Jawdarna

I finished listening to it a few minutes ago.

I have to say, she's really outdone herself this time. Best album since GUILTY for me. That's a big call, I know, but I thoroughly enjoyed this album.
I felt like I knew where she was going with it. It feels like a completed piece of art. My primary qualm with Ayu albums released in the last five-six years is that they sound like a Grade Eight's Home Ec project: completely random, made with all sorts of different fabrics, and overall coming together as one huge mess. Some songs of the past few years have even sounded incomplete.

To me, LOVE again:
Cohesive, but integrating various sounds.
Vocals are above average, and when you hear a phrase that is sung brilliant, it is delightful. She's really playing to her vocal strengths.
Lyrics are heart-felt, and although she has recycled the usual themes, they just seem...fresh? Like grapes picked straight from the vine?

The only negative I have is that some of the ballads drag on a bit and some vocals (such as that on petal and Gloria's verses) seem slightly awkward (but I correlate this to the arrangement of the songs). But aside from that, this album is nearly flawless.

This is what I needed from Ayu. An album that doesn't sound like a conventional (despite similar sounds from the past appearing) Ayu album, yet could only be made by her.

I could say the same thing. definitely her best since GUILTY for me too. I rarely put forth such statements but this album really got me thinking.
Yes she has amazing songs since that but most songs in the albums really died on me. THIS album has that timeless J-Pop classic sound. It's really beautiful