new album "A ONE" 2015.04.08 in stores II

[Tom Punks]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I know, but this is Ayu we're talking about here. She's never really not had new ballads or midtempos on albums. Her fewest is probably NEXT LEVEL or FIVE.

Party Queen too!!! Tell me why, the next LOVE, and hbya are the only ones I'd really consider ballads there. And isn't FIVE basically all ballads? lol I mean the only one that isn't a ballad starts off ballad. I don't mind the midtempo stuff, it's the bloating of generic ballads that reeeally grinds my gears

[Coelacanth]

I wish Last minute would've gotten the same treatment as Out of control. It got way too digital after the first chorus.

Out of control has CMJK written all over it.

[pepper]

Okayish, listening to previews.

The GIFT sounds NOTHING original. It sound just like beloved/untitled/untitled2/random ballad.

WARNING is pretty awesome, I even like "lalalai~" part, I don't dig the "circus" atmosphere of guitars, but still, it's a strong, huge track

No future is very catchy, is pretty like Like a doll ~part 2~ but more uptempo and more emotional. This track sounds like LOVEppears/Duty era, really. Very oldschool feeling!

Out of control... The verses sounds pretty boring/forgetable, but I like rocky-emotional chorus which reminds me of Letter/call (yeah, I really like whole Party Queen album which) When I will hear music in HQ, i should appriciate it more

Show must go on really sounds like snowy kiss 2. I almost sang ANATAAAAAAAAAAA WO.... lol. It's not bad... I don't have feelings about it because snowy kiss is TOO LONG and it bores me.

Story sounds like another sappy ballad ~part 293918273821738~

the main problem of them are those songs are pretty much SIMILAR to some from her past albums. But WARNING and NO FUTURE have pretty strong catchy melodies.
and ballads are pretty weak... LOVE again had some pretty memorable ballads - Sweet scar is one of her original ballads since BALLAD on RnRC... Also Ivy and Melody had pretty much catchy choruses. Those two are pretty forgetable. Same instruments as always, emotional chorus etc.

[Coelacanth]

when has Ayu NOT released an album comprised of mostly ballads/midtempo pop-rock tho? NEXT LEVEL is really it. An album full of STEP you's is NEVER GONNA HAPPEN. It didn't even happen with Colours, an album full of Western producers! the only true upbeat songs were XOXO and Lelio, the rest of the songs had ballady/slower tempo sections.

[pepper]

Originally Posted by Coelacanth

when has Ayu NOT released an album comprised of mostly ballads/midtempo pop-rock tho? NEXT LEVEL is really it. An album full of STEP you's is NEVER GONNA HAPPEN. It didn't even happen with Colours, an album full of Western producers! the only true upbeat songs were XOXO and Lelio, the rest of the songs had ballady/slower tempo sections.

well, Party Queen had only ONE typical "sappy-crying" ballad and it was kinda unique bcause of lack of those songs.

also when (miss)understood was realased, it only included rainy day as a new ballad track, and I can't even call it a typical sappy-ayu ballad... (mainly bcause its a cover/adaptation of sweetbox song). (miss)understood also is kinda lackish of ballads - HEAVEN was so strong, she didn't have to put another one XDDDD (ofcourse people can argue about Will/Pride/criminal but for me, these aren't ballads.)

[Tom Punks]

@js_surrealism: They ARE generic though lol. They're basically as by the numbers as ballads can come and tbh at this point they're all just starting to sound really contrived. It's really hard to call these anything short of generic when she has such unique or intricate ballads like RAINBOW, HANABI, Moments, etc. in her arsenal. Mind you, I'm not expecting EVERY song to be a RAINBOW/magnum opus/masterpiece, but I would really appreciate it if, if she REALLY has to release 80% ballads and only 2-3 upbeat tracks per album, they at least could be differentiated and didn't sound like they were picked out of the "how 2 basic jpop ballad!!!" guidebook. Ballads like Tell me why or even Sweet scar at least bring something a little different to her discography. But I can't think of much else in recent years that wasn't just a run of the mill strings or piano arrangement sweeping-melody contrived-empassioned chorus affair and it just gets so old.

My problem isn't ballads in general (MY STORY is my favorite album for example). It's the type of ballad and the fact that she's basically just recycling the same song over and over again. I mean, even Show Must Go On is basically literally snowy kiss. Just because she has a huge discography doesn't mean she has to release the same song over and over again, when she's already shown she can still deliver new sounds.

I feel like she's just getting too complacent and DESPERATELY needs new composers.

[hidekirby]

Originally Posted by Tom Punks

@js_surrealism: They ARE generic though lol. They're basically as by the numbers as ballads can come and tbh at this point they're all just starting to sound really contrived. It's really hard to call these anything short of generic when she has such unique or intricate ballads like RAINBOW, HANABI, Moments, etc. in her arsenal. Mind you, I'm not expecting EVERY song to be a RAINBOW/magnum opus/masterpiece, but I would really appreciate it if, if she REALLY has to release 80% ballads and only 2-3 upbeat tracks per album, they at least could be differentiated and didn't sound like they were picked out of the "how 2 basic jpop ballad!!!" guidebook. Ballads like Tell me why or even Sweet scar at least bring something a little different to her discography. But I can't think of much else in recent years that wasn't just a run of the mill strings or piano arrangement sweeping-melody contrived-empassioned chorus affair and it just gets so old.

My problem isn't ballads in general (MY STORY is my favorite album for example). It's the type of ballad and the fact that she's basically just recycling the same song over and over again. I mean, even Show Must Go On is basically literally snowy kiss. Just because she has a huge discography doesn't mean she has to release the same song over and over again, when she's already shown she can still deliver new sounds.

I feel like she's just getting too complacent and DESPERATELY needs new composers.

I have some trouble clearly explaining my thoughts here (my english...). You just said everything I want to say as regards her recent work!
She also DESPERATELY needs new arrangers too. The songs sounding the same is also because of them.

[Delicious n Bold]

^and it may not be the case that the show must go on could top snowy kiss. I've been waiting for snowy kiss part 2 but now I know that some things are better left not touched (just because you can doesn't mean you should).

[NintendoHTF1242]

WARNING - It's alright; but her voice sounds awful when she does the "La-la-lai's" lol

The GIFT - zzz

NO FUTURE - Pleasant on the ears

Out of control - zzz

The Show Must Go On - This is literally snowy kiss lol

Story - zzz

From the fun and fantastic Colours to basic-ass A ONE. Meh. I'll still buy it cause I want my CD collection to be complete lol and I kind of dig Last minute so there's that.

[pepper]

My friend is a huge fan of Bz, he told me that the new recording (ayu said: not for the album) is Bz duet. He showed me promo pic in a store with handwritten kanji, i cant post cause im on a phone, anybody know the news? Is it comfirmed?

[Aderianu]

Originally Posted by pepper

My friend is a huge fan of Bz, he told me that the new recording (ayu said: not for the album) is Bz duet. He showed me promo pic in a store with handwritten kanji, i cant post cause im on a phone, anybody know the news? Is it comfirmed?

Ololo I know few people who will faint just after reading news

[truehappiness]

Mm.. it's not fake..

"And... B'z's first collaboration single partner in April... that utahime?!"

I dunno who else they call 'utahime'.

[pepper]

I cant upload the pic, arghhhh
Edit yyyyep thats the pic, thank you!

[DonkeyKongRemix]

You mean you guys don't like it when all of her songs sound the same as one another?! Holy smoke!

[Zeke.]

Originally Posted by nalini-dahlia

You mean you guys don't like it when all of her songs sound the same as one another?! Holy smoke!

lmao.

I guess the best way for me to describe it is with Ayu's rock songs. They all have VERY distinct personalities, all of which are able to convey who Ayu is as an artist, without sounding "the same" and without going too far over the edge to the point that it loses the "Ayu" flavor.

[Heavenly]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

lmao.

I guess the best way for me to describe it is with Ayu's rock songs. They all have VERY distinct personalities, all of which are able to convey who Ayu is as an artist, without sounding "the same" and without going too far over the edge to the point that it loses the "Ayu" flavor.

^Exactly.
Rock Ayu is what caught me.
Rock Ayu is what's keeping me at her sides.

If she ever stop doing rock songs, I think I quit.

[DonkeyKongRemix]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

lmao.

I guess the best way for me to describe it is with Ayu's rock songs. They all have VERY distinct personalities, all of which are able to convey who Ayu is as an artist, without sounding "the same" and without going too far over the edge to the point that it loses the "Ayu" flavor.

See, I totally and completely understand everyone's concerns/complaints. I think what you just said and what others are saying is totally legit.

BUT...For me, I am just a sucker for her music. Even if I know that technically it's not up to the same par as some of her greater music, I typically can still listen to it. Granted, there are still some songs of hers that I do not care for. But, her "generic" ballads work just fine on me since I think they're pretty. XD

There is pretty much only one song of hers that I absolutely refuse to listen to...Teens...I cannot STAND that song. There are a few others of hers that I can't stand listening to but I think that's the ONLY one that I refuse to give my time.

[Zeke.]

I think the real problem is that, for the longest time, I loved her music for it's music. I mean, sure I loved Ayu, but I loved her BECAUSE of the music she made. Say if someone else had been making that music, I would have loved it just as much. It was the MUSIC that was so damn good - Ayu just happened to be the one who made something of such substantial quality!

Now, I pretty much just listen to her because I've already established my connection with her as a fan. I listen to the songs because of her. She is the main attraction and her music is just kind of there for me to consume. If anyone else were to release half the shit she's put out, I wouldn't even give it a second thought.

I think, ask yourself that question. Are you truly listening to her for the music, or are you listening to it for the simple fact that she's the one who is making it? The fact that her name is tacked onto it. I think really that's what it's all about. If you have not asked yourself that question, then you really need to, and I think you'll finally understand the divide between AHS'ers.

[douggn]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

I think the real problem is that, for the longest time, I loved her music for it's music. I mean, sure I loved Ayu, but I loved her BECAUSE of the music she made. Say if someone else had been making that music, I would have loved it just as much. It was the MUSIC that was so damn good - Ayu just happened to be the one who made something of such substantial quality!

Now, I pretty much just listen to her because I've already established my connection with her as a fan. I listen to the songs because of her. She is the main attraction and her music is just kind of there for me to consume. If anyone else were to release half the shit she's put out, I wouldn't even give it a second thought.

I think, ask yourself that question. Are you truly listening to her for the music, or are you listening to it for the simple fact that she's the one who is making it? The fact that her name is tacked onto it. I think really that's what it's all about. If you have not asked yourself that question, then you really need to, and I think you'll finally understand the divide between AHS'ers.

its usually her lyrics that attract me, and the tunes of her songs and after being robbed a few years ago (just moved and it was all in a few big boxes) and losing all my collection of hers (i buy most of her stuff too, not things like nail books, but I had the huge ViVi book) I started from scratch and I would start all over again, though now I back up everything now of hers. Her songs just have a way with me that can help me cheer up or help when times are bad

[DonkeyKongRemix]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

I think the real problem is that, for the longest time, I loved her music for it's music. I mean, sure I loved Ayu, but I loved her BECAUSE of the music she made. Say if someone else had been making that music, I would have loved it just as much. It was the MUSIC that was so damn good - Ayu just happened to be the one who made something of such substantial quality!

Now, I pretty much just listen to her because I've already established my connection with her as a fan. I listen to the songs because of her. She is the main attraction and her music is just kind of there for me to consume. If anyone else were to release half the shit she's put out, I wouldn't even give it a second thought.

I think, ask yourself that question. Are you truly listening to her for the music, or are you listening to it for the simple fact that she's the one who is making it? The fact that her name is tacked onto it. I think really that's what it's all about. If you have not asked yourself that question, then you really need to, and I think you'll finally understand the divide between AHS'ers.

I sometimes have a biased towards her music simply due to the fact that her name is tacked onto the song. It totally makes her seem like a product, when you think about it.

But, my reasons for listening to what I listen to differs depending on my mood. For the most part, I like to play her music because I like to have it in the background while I draw. That's the main reason why I listen to music in the first place.

Recently, though, I've learned to constructively listen to music. I know this is the case because of my undying biased towards Girugamesh. I may seem like a devoted fan to Ayu, but Girugamesh is the one I throw my money at whenever possible. AND YET, I can't bring myself to buy their latest music because I don't care for it. I learned then that my ears are starting to hear more than just the name of the artist.

I love music. Simply put, you know? I like to find people I can stand to listen to. I honestly do love most of Ayu's music and it's not just because it's her writing it. I am just that much of a fan of what she sings. I'll even think I hate one of her songs, but it'll grow on me.

The main case of something not growing on me is Party Queen, though. It's the odd ball in her discography that I could never quite come to love. I don't hate it but it's not really my thing.