[News] NEW ALBUM March 2009

[GRACE]

I don't want my favorite singer to spearhead the next part of the movement to make CDs extinct, it's just not something I can get behind. Dammit avex, I knew you were braindead, but SERIOUSLY

[Melrose]

The title sounds really fake..

And what? USB stick? Lol what?

[love in music]

no rain, can't get the rainbow..

[GRACE]

Originally Posted by part of Me ♥

no rain, can't get the rainbow..

It's not raining, it's storming.

[Zeke.]

Regarding the 2nd CD...
Someone mentioned it's a PCDL Live CD. Audio from the concert.
I would think a ~10th Anniversary BEST~ would be better, you know? All the 10th Anni. versions on one CD?

[Zeke.]

^Omg, they officially announced it already!?
Why would they do that with Rule/Sparkle not even out yet!?
Damn it. I wanted Life on the album. Now I don't.
It better be "Days, Green, Rule, Sparkle"...
1 interlude. 8 FULL LENGTH SONGS.

[Coelacanth]

Originally Posted by all.night.raver

1 interlude. 8 FULL LENGTH SONGS.

Hey, it could be possible.

I think for sure, that they'll leave out MW at least. If you look at past album patterns, all of them included exactly 3 new PV's on the album's DVD [besides (m)u but that album already had a bunch of PV's from the singles]. This album is going to have 6 music videos, so that leaves Days/GREEN/Rule/Sparkle(most likely)/[new song]/[new song]. Hopefully she'll continue that pattern.

Life, I think has a 50/50 shot of being put on the album. One reason I think she won't include it is because it might not fit the album's theme very well.

As for the possibility of only one interlude... Duty, her shortest album had exactly one interlude, but NEXT LEVEL has one more track than Duty so I'm thinking she might include at least two.

But if there's more than two interludes and the album includes MW and Life... WHACK.

[♥ you!]

I hope it's just a translation error. I can't see them making the CD versions limited edition. But 6800 yen for a usb? NO THX, and only 13 ****ing songs?
COME ON AYU.

oh and the title sucks too.

ugh

[Creamy Ayumi]

For me, the source is the T.A site.^^

[ohsixthirty]

this has been announced on TA? can anyone else confirm?

here's a better translation of the info:

http://ayunews.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/next-level/

The First USB Album

Singer Ayumi Hamasaki (30), will release a new album on USB which will be included in the memory. As digital distribution is accelerating away from CD sales, the new package was designed as a work plan. This is the first attempt in the music industry. Along with the regular CD, it will be released on March 25th in limited quantity.

USB memory storage device is designed to assist in reading and writing data to the PC by plugging the terminal. The data included in this CD is designed to encourage people to listen to the PC capture. This was tried with the indie artists, and is the first in the majors.

The Album “NEXT LEVEL” is her first original album after her 10th anniversary. It shall be sold in 4 versions, CD only, CD and DVD, 2CDs and DVD and a CD and USB version. All that is recorded on CD includes 13 songs and 6 music videos to be included with the booklet and lyrics.

Memory capacity is 2GB (gigabytes). Using the data recording capacity is 0.8 GB for the remaining capacity of 1.2 GB can be used freely. Price is 6800 yen (tax included). USB Memory 4000-5000 is usually distributed around the circle, “bargain” price was set. CD case is included in the same case size, to be displayed in the record store shelves. In addition, the USB shall be added on the Oricon sales data memory.

Many young people buy songs or singles in digital distribution sites and the songs imported to a PC. They listen to music on their PC, copy them to iPod and listen to music in the music player. Hamasaki “The style of listen to music has changed, and we decided to launch this product in the listening position.”

As digital music management have become commonplace, CDs are quickly dying out. The work package was devised only to Hamasaki “I want to leave a form and try a new one.”

Rough translation from Japanese to English by Rinoa.

Sources:

Empry at Jpopmusic
Sponichi

[Raleigh]

Mainichi posted the same article. Seems it's true then...

[Creamy Ayumi]

Sorry for quality, i'll make caps quickly

[Raleigh]

Also Ayuangel posted more details about the album.. I think she's from Team Ayu so it's pretty official. At least the USB looks pretty

[GRACE]

Okay good, the USB version is the limited one, this is starting to brighten up a bit.

[ohsixthirty]

can't wait to see the USB stick more closely. it looks gorgeous!

[Ayumiko]

the usb looks really nice...o_O...I want to get the 2cd+dvd and the usb version. Too bad there's only 13 songs...please no more than 2 interludes!

[Melrose]

6800?

Isn't it 4800? Judging from the picture.

Btw, MIRRORCLE WORLD IS ON THE ALBUM.

Noooooooo. >_<

[Tom Punks]

Originally Posted by Melrose

6800?

Isn't it 4800? Judging from the picture.

Btw, MIRRORCLE WORLD IS ON THE ALBUM.

Noooooooo. >_<

WAIT, source?!

[Raleigh]

Originally Posted by Tom Punks

WAIT, source?!

Yes I'm curious to know since TA didn't mention any hint of the songs to be included.

[daniel9]

Originally Posted by Melrose

6800?

Isn't it 4800? Judging from the picture.

Btw, MIRRORCLE WORLD IS ON THE ALBUM.

Noooooooo. >_<

from the looks of it the memory stick with limited edition cd is 6800. the 2cd/dvd is the normal 4800