Ayumi ~ The Anything Goes Thread 5 ~

[microphone]

Glad to see all the praise for LOVEappears. too late and TO BE are the gems on that album.

[NintendoHTF1242]

Duty has some hidden gems on that one too, like End of the World and Key and teddy bear OMG I always forget she made a song called teddy bear.

[rainbow_smile]

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

Duty has some hidden gems on that one too, like End of the World and Key and teddy bear OMG I always forget she made a song called teddy bear.

Yeah, there some really nice songs on Duty, buut I don't really like this album as a whole

[sugarbasil]

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

Duty has some hidden gems on that one too, like End of the World and Key and teddy bear OMG I always forget she made a song called teddy bear.

I always forget that Duty exists haha. And it's such a good album, especially if you listen to it all the way through in sequence. Although I just can't get into Vogue... that song just annoys the hell out of me. It's like a bad INSPIRE.

I have never been able to figure out if I like LOVEppears or not. Sometimes I feel like it's a good album, but other times I feel like all the songs are irritating (with the exception of TO BE, which will forevermore be one of my favorite Ayu songs ). IDK.

[Delicious n Bold]

Teddy Bear >>>
and Key >>>

[280301]

Duty is the best for me. I don't think I need to go into detail why. XD

I think all her albums are great really. Some are better than others, but if you compare them to some other artists, she really is an amazing artist to keep pumping out quality for this long.

[primavera♥]

Lol LOVEppears just has so many songs. Some are gems that are some on my forever favs like And then and monochrome. And then there's songs I don't listen too or are too played out for me lol. I am and rainbow are better albums from her early discography. Though, I get some fans are older and that used to compromise most of what they had, and will forever have a place in their heart lol.

I've been listening to Duty lately. I just love the feel. I love coming back to music I decide to not listen to for a bit. Vogue, end of the world, surreal....solo much awesomeness lol.

[marty]

Duty and I Am... are for me the Ayu best of the best. Duty for the lyrics and the amazing images Ayu can convey, I think nothing can beat the strong emotions in it, it's just SO EPIC. I Am... is what really simbolizes Ayu as a artist, it's the album that reflects her the best, 'cause I feel it's the one she worked at the most completely as possible. Lyrics, compositions, ideas, messages, everything: I think if someone want to have a pretty good idea of Ayu -as a singer and as a person- they should listen to I Am... straight away.
But then, for me everything before GUILTY is SO perfect in its own uniquess that it's really difficult to make toplists, lol. Not that what it follows isn't amazing anyway. I think Ayu can loosen up after a decade and more of thoroughly gorgeous albums, but sometimes I miss the crazy perfectionism she would put in her early works (or avex would put on her).

[NintendoHTF1242]

Wow I always forget Ayu has a song called INSPIRE. I straight up don't like that song. And I agree with that ever free comment. That song is absolutely stunning.

[Benikari47]

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

Wow I always forget Ayu has a song called INSPIRE. I straight up don't like that song.

I agree, her weakest summer single for sure.

[marty]

I can't believe someone can dislike INSPIRE, it's so flawless! But I hated the single cover, I recall, lol.

[NintendoHTF1242]

Originally Posted by marty

I can't believe someone can dislike INSPIRE, it's so flawless! But I hated the single cover, I recall, lol.

The verse melodies are dreadfully boring; and the music arrangement was awful. I do like the chorus to an extent but I just prefer Ayu's fluffy summer songs to her hardcore rock ones. And I agree with the comment about GAME. It's way better than INSPIRE lol

[marty]

^
I instead always found INSPIRE so sensual and fierce, without being rockish! That's what I really liked about it, it was a summer song but different from the happy, fluffy ones. It's energic in a different way than sugary songs like Greatful Days for example (which I love too, btw, but INSPIRE was so amazingly fresh and irresistable when it was out!).
And I'm not gonna deny GAME is perfection, lol.

[TeamAyu2004]

GAME, the b-side/whatever you wanna call it is SOOOOO much better... lol

[Corvina]

It's funny, how different tastes can be. I love both Inspire and Game, the single is one of Ayu's best imo!
Also the PVs for both songs are great as well. And Ayu with straight black hair...
I'd die for another single (or mini, lol) like that!

[TeamAyu2004]

LOL... at the time I thought RAINBOW was a poor imitation at what she tried to do with I am... it didn't work and was just all over the place, as with the lead single Free and Easy... its like she couldnt decided what she wanted so just blended everything together into one song... on every song. LOL...

but I find it funny you mention that the songs on I am remind you of demos when RAINBOW rushed right after I am... to the point the title track couldn't even be completed to be put on the album...

Now however I love Rainbow in its own right and is in what I consider the golden age of Ayumi (I am - Memorial Address). She has done no better then this in her career for me... I still enjoy her and like most of the stuff on her albums and what not... but everything for me during those three albums were just... perfection.

[ComatoseBunnySnatcher]

Originally Posted by TeamAyu2004

LOL... at the time I thought RAINBOW was a poor imitation at what she tried to do with I am... it didn't work and was just all over the place, as with the lead single Free and Easy... its like she couldnt decided what she wanted so just blended everything together into one song... on every song. LOL...

but I find it funny you mention that the songs on I am remind you of demos when RAINBOW rushed right after I am... to the point the title track couldn't even be completed to be put on the album...

Now however I love Rainbow in its own right and is in what I consider the golden age of Ayumi (I am - Memorial Address). She has done no better then this in her career for me... I still enjoy her and like most of the stuff on her albums and what not... but everything for me during those three albums were just... perfection.

Haha, I can sort of see why if you're a fan of I am...
The reason I prefer RAINBOW to it is because I feel like Ayumi didn't know if to make a pop or a rock record and just mashed THOSE together xD
Free & Easy (the shortened version for the lives) is much more a coherent song, the single version is a hot mess.

I know RAINBOW was pretty rushed, but the way they seem like demos is chalked up to arrangements. Still Alone (for example) was gorgeous in its CM, but the end product sounded really bare bones and flat.
Not that it didn't work for some songs -I am... is an example of doing that sound right IMO, but it just didn't do much for me on the other tracks.
RAINBOW was worth the wait, that song is perfect ...and perfectly underrated.

Hm... I used to think that, but now in my mind she has really good albums sprinled throught. The top 3 for me though are (miss)understood, Memorial Address and Duty/RAINBOW. I do love the singles off I am... though.

[khan5]

basically i love every single ayumi album except for love again, there a few songs in her discography i dont like, but i absolutely love inspire and dislike game because it had unneeded auto tune and cheap effects to it

[Dream]

omg you guys have to STOP
INSPIRE is a great song and the performances for it are absolutely flawless and iconic.

I agree that 2 of her best albums are LOVEppears and RAINBOW. I really like (miss)understood, but it has B&D which I can't stand. BTW, we should make a thread where we could post short reviews of all ayu albums, highlighting our favorite songs and stuff.

[NintendoHTF1242]

Originally Posted by Dream

I agree that 2 of her best albums are LOVEppears and RAINBOW. I really like (miss)understood, but it has B&D which I can't stand.

lmao B&D is amazing