[News] New mini album 'sixxxxxx' out August 5th, 2015 V

[DonkeyKongRemix]

Originally Posted by Coelacanth

There's something about her recent "rock" songs that make them sound way too... digital. I'll need a HQ version to judge, but it sounds like "Sorrows" is another highly programmed "Last minute" type track.

Will we ever get another "arena rock" track like "Heartplace"? Or perhaps a song that has a fantastic balance of both organic instrumentation and synthesizers like "fated" and "Because of You"?

I feel you on this. I don't understand the appeal of using synthesized guitars and drums. Bleh, it sounds pathetic. I like these tunes in a way because...they could have a lot of impact. But they just are missing a certain realness to them that I miss so much.

Her lyrics and melodies are fine to me, though quite basic. It's just that her music is sounding so freakin cheap. I would never have been the person to lose interest in Ayu back when. I even liked certain elements about A One and I thought it was a step into the right direction but after a while, the whole album killed all of my enthusiasm for Ayu's music. I just can't handle the low-budget quality her music possesses these days.

It bums me out because I've been holding in there for a pretty decent amount of time and I almost never had any complaints about her music but now I find all I do is complain. I respect Ayu as a writer, an artist, and even as an inspirational figure but I have been extremely disappointed in the quality of her music.

I look back on a few years ago and miss the LOVE again days. That's sad. XD It makes me wish I had been more grateful before. Because, while the quality of those songs was...sad to say the least, they were very catchy and interesting to me. Now, I don't hate her newer music but there are only a few songs I love or even really like from Colours, A One, and Sixxxxxx.

BUT

I am extremely glad that plenty of people seem to be looking forward to this mini album, so I can't complain beyond that.

[RealLight]

Tbh, I can live with if she decides to stick mostly to the J-Pop sound, what I don't like are the arrangement and/or melodies, nowadays they aren't as good as before, that's it.

[truehappiness]

I think the melodies are fine but the mixing/arrangements can be a little iffy lately.

[Chibi-Chan]

The reason why I can't stand A ONE at all, and to be honest hate it with passion, is that most of its songs mixing/arrangements are so damn fucking cheap, it's not even funny anymore. A ONE even managed to kill my interest in Ayu for quite a while, something I thought would never happen.
I mean, I never was a big fan of SEASONS, for example, its kitschy as hell and its composition isn't really special. But one can't deny that it's a well crafted pop song with a great arrangement. Most songs on A ONE on the contrary feel as if someone with no real interest in and passion for music arrangend them.
Over all those years I NEVER had a problem with her music and even if there were songs I didn't liked I just didn't listened to them. A ONE really managed to kill a bit of my fandom and some of my respect for Ayu as a musician. I probably will like sixxxxxx better than A ONE, but I don't think this mini will bring anything back for me.

[miki_beland]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

The reason why I can't stand A ONE at all, and to be honest hate it with passion, is that most of its songs mixing/arrangements are so damn fucking cheap, it's not even funny anymore. A ONE even managed to kill my interest in Ayu for quite a while, something I thought would never happen.
I mean, I never was a big fan of SEASONS, for example, its kitschy as hell and its composition isn't really special. But one can't deny that it's a well crafted pop song with a great arrangement. Most songs on A ONE on the contrary feel as if someone with no real interest in and passion for music arrangend them.
Over all those years I NEVER had a problem with her music and even if there were songs I didn't liked I just didn't listened to them. A ONE really managed to kill a bit of my fandom and some of my respect for Ayu as a musician. I probably will like sixxxxxx better than A ONE, but I don't think this mini will bring anything back for me.

same feelings here

[My Rainbow]

So now everybody hates A ONE...

Welcome back real AHS, that "positivity" lately lasted a few minutes too long to be true.

[truehappiness]

I dunno, I think it's just people who hated A ONE initially who hate it now, lol.

[melissalove]

I agree with most people regarding ayu's shitty sound on sixxxxx. But A One was a decent album, I'll fight anyone who disagrees hahaha. At least with A one I fell in love with some tracks. At least some tracks poped out individually. But sixxxx though sounds bland bland bland to me. Hopefully it'll all come together in the end

[JinHamasaki]

The album isn't even out and people are already pre-judging the album? All we have are some LQ previews.

I'm in the agreement and miss the "Because of You" "Humming 7/4" "GAME" "NEVER EVER" "INSPIRE" ayu. The arrangements and mixing were fantastic and they really hold against the test of time.

Her newer rock songs are a lot more generic and don't really show much progression in her tastes as an artist. It's possible they were recycled tracks from the past that she chose to use now. It's also possible that dirty avex cut her budget (and probably everyone else's) and that's why she had to use them.

[jbrat2219]

The only ayu song that ever sounded "cheap" to me was beloved. I don't understand where this cheapness you guys are talking about comes from? I find her arrangements to be pretty consistent overall. But I guess I have different ears...

[freedreamer]

i can tell a slight difference but it doesnt bother me. I guess it really depends on the OTHER music people listen to. So comparatively, there would be a difference

[Coelacanth]

ANother song sounds embarrassingly cheap. I truly believe it was made in FL Studio!

Last angel is another cheapie. The intro is atrocious.

I get the sense that her arrangers and sound engineers try to pass off the cheaper sounding production as trying to evoke a kind of "JPOP nostalgia," when it's really just making her music sound less and less dynamic.

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by freedreamer

i can tell a slight difference but it doesnt bother me. I guess it really depends on the OTHER music people listen to. So comparatively, there would be a difference

I guess, I find ayu's music to be lightyears better than the majority of J-pop already. I can't even make it through one song of other artists now a days (sans Koda Kumi). I'd love to hear some suggestions of who's music would be considered better.

[oaristos]

I love Last angel, sounds like something globe would record if they were still active.

[Beauty4123]

The longer preview of "Sorrows" absolutely rocks! I'm totally loving the sound of this song & cannot wait to hear the whole thing.

[Coelacanth]

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

I guess, I find ayu's music to be lightyears better than the majority of J-pop already. I can't even make it through one song of other artists now a days (sans Koda Kumi). I'd love to hear some suggestions of who's music would be considered better.

I do agree with this. I absolutely cannot sit through most J-POP made after, say, 2006.

I believe Ayu is a pro at picking the melodies she wants to work with. Honestly, and considering the current state of J-POP, my hunch is that most of the current demos she receives from both veteran and newbie composers are probably garbage and this is why she tends to resurrect old Yukumi/DAI/Hoshino compositions from 2004...

[attractive nausea]

Spoiler:

Backcover from weibo

[ayumint]

My copy is in shipping process from CDjapan, yeahhh!!!

[aliceshields]

Oohoo~ mine too, in shipping process...

[Honey_Jae]

I can't hear the longer preview of sorrow...had to wait :/

I'm in love with A one. It's such a great album and I enjoy listening every minute from it. For me it's Party Queen I don't like so much. I think everyone has an album he/she loves more or less and that's ok. I'm excited and want to listen to full sixxxxxx album.