Tracklist for MADE IN JAPAN on AWA, regular ver. out June 29, Baidu uploading tracks

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

And to think, I was going to just go to sleep after getting off work. But something told me, "Go check AHS real quick."

I know my opinion is invalid because I'm probably the only veteran ayu fan left who still thinks she shits gold, but this album is truly amazing.

I was surprised to the extent she experimented with not only the arrangements but the melodies also. The album feels very cohesive and not just because it is following a theme but because it is telling a story. I feel like everything from COLOURS onward has been leading up to this album. You can hear many influences from COLOURS, A ONE and sixxxxxx on here; each album better than its predecessor leading up to the climax which is MADE IN JAPAN. As always, I'm excited to see where she goes from here, but I have a feeling it won't be easy to top this album.

I think she shits platinum, silver, and gold!

[kalikagai]

^c'mon guys, she doesn't shit at all - she's a saint!

[primavera♥]

Mad World has weirdly put me on a j-rock kick and now I'm like revisiting my favorite visual-kei bands.

It's something about the way she sings in that song. And I can't place what specifically or who specifically it reminds me of, but it's a general feeling.

I just really love how ayu expresses her feelings

[Aga-chan]

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

I know my opinion is invalid because I'm probably the only veteran ayu fan left who still thinks she shits gold, but this album is truly amazing.

I would like to know, who qualifies as a veteran fan?

[truehappiness]

I want to say someone who has been around for probably 8-10+ years?

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by Aga-chan

I would like to know, who qualifies as a veteran fan?

Eh, I don't really think there is a qualification. I guess it's just a way of saying I've been a fan for a very long time (since 2001).

[Aga-chan]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I want to say someone who has been around for probably 8-10+ years?

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

Eh, I don't really think there is a qualification. I guess it's just a way of saying I've been a fan for a very long time (since 2001).

I thought it means people who became fans from her debut until like her peak in 2001/2002.
Well, I'm also a veteran, then. ^^

[ExodusUK]

The opening noise of Summer Love reminded me straight away of Snowy Kiss. Anyone else?

Originally Posted by jbrat2219

Eh, I don't really think there is a qualification. I guess it's just a way of saying I've been a fan for a very long time (since 2001).

I would consider a veteran to be anyone that is still a fan now and has been for more than half of the duration of Ayu's career up until this point. (so about 10 years?)

[RealLight]

Originally Posted by ExodusUK

The opening noise of Summer Love reminded me straight away of Snowy Kiss. Anyone else?

I'd say The Show Must Go On

[ExodusUK]

Originally Posted by RealLight

I'd say The Show Must Go On

That's right, but then again according to the music masters of AHS - The Show Must Go On and Snowy Kiss are identical to each other.

[pepper]

I have a bad feelings she will give us PV for Summer Love.

Its almost summer...


The worst part is I AM STARTING to really like Summer Love.

Oh, oh, oh, oh~~~~~




but still, I want PV's for FLOWER and Survivor T__________________T

[RealLight]

Originally Posted by ExodusUK

That's right, but then again according to the music masters of AHS - The Show Must Go On and Snowy Kiss are identical to each other.

lel

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by Aga-chan

I thought it means people who became fans from her debut until like her peak in 2001/2002.
Well, I'm also a veteran, then. ^^

I've been around her since like 2000/2001 but it took a while to become a fan since the Internet was still developing at that time, lol.

[SKYia]

Originally Posted by RealLight

I'd say The Show Must Go On

I'd say neither, whoever mixed that came straight from the 90's and it's not a compliment, it's the only song I don't like although the pre-chorus is good but once the "so I love you starts"I don't like it.

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

I've been around her since like 2000/2001 but it took a while to become a fan since the Internet was till developing at that time, lol.

Hard to believe the internet was just a baby back then! I was fortunate enough to have a friend who went to Japan during ayu's peak and brought me back a CD because she was the hottest artist at the time. Been maxing out my mama's credit card on YesAsia ever since lol.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by SKYia

I'd say neither, whoever mixed that came straight from the 90's and it's not a compliment, it's the only song I don't like although the pre-chorus is good but once the "so I love you starts"I don't like it.

I think they purposely did that since the song has retro J-Pop meets modern J-Pop written ALL over it.

[DogboyShugo]

tasky - Beautiful intro
FLOWER - Excellent powerful rock song
Mad World - Decent ayu song. Reminds me of her older works which is nice. (I think I had higher hopes for the song because of the title)
Breakdown - A powerful rock ballad, but I felt was kind of dull
Survivor - Another classic great ayu song. Loved it all the way through
You are the only one - ayu's vocal's are absolutely beautiful in this piece. A classic Japanese ballad. I'd like to hear some remixes of it.
TODAY - Defiantly an ending concert song, but I'm not a fan
Mr.Darling - Reminds me of something nice by Michelle Branch. It's enjoyable
Summer Love - I'm absolutely in love with this song. A great dance track. It sounds like Live It Up by Jennifer Lopez. Go compare the two. (Big J-Lo fan)
Many Classic Moments - It's a pleasant house track for the most part. The drop defiantly picks it up.

Overall - A decent album. I was hoping more Japanese instruments were used in songs to make things unique. Combined with dance and such. The sounds of tasky mixed in with the majority of the songs would be neat.

Cover art (I think it's official) - https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Chx_UEDUkAAgh0A.jpg

[truehappiness]

It is not official. That image is from the pamphlet of the tour book. So far we have reason to believe they didn't shoot the cover yet for this album.

[Akutenshi]

I have to say, I've been a fan of hers since fairyland's single came out, so almost 11 years? My first album was (miss)understood, so I've been around for a while and seen a lot of different things happen for Ayu both artistically and personally.

I loved every album between (m)u and Party Queen, but ever since LOVE again, I've been mostly disappointed with her artistic output. A handful of songs here and there have been really great in my opinion, but every album since LA is one I have not been able to listen to very much, and most of their songs have been forgettable to me.

Why am I saying all of this? Because this is the first time in 4-5 years where I can say I get that same spark of passion and emotion from an entire Ayu album.

This is definitely a rebirth, as somebody said. I'm so ecstatic to love an entire Ayu album again. All of the tracks have something redeeming about them, even my least favorites are miles above even some of my favorites from A ONE, Colours, etc.

I'm overjoyed right now.

[truehappiness]

I think Ayu herself criticized the way she did things for a period of time because she felt lost and you could kind of hear that in the music. I believe that from 2009-2014 she was looking for herself or running away from something but has stopped doing so since then.