The Moral of "CAROLS" Single - Real Instruments

[Exile]

The majority of Ayu's songs tends to have only keyboards and guitars performed by people, whereas other instruments are computer-programmed and can be annoying (to me).

I've just received my copy of "CAROLS" and am pleased because the booklet (see attachment) credits the musicians, suggesting the employments of real instruments, especially the drums and bass.

I have always been hoping for Ayu's music to incoporate real instruments, not just because the arrangements are inherent to using them, but they also sound a whole lot better.

To me it is one of the good changes (such as making copy control cd optional) undergoing at Avex, as Max Matsuura is gaining greater authority in the compony.

I personally prefer arrangements that are more real-instrument-oriented, although I am not sure how many of you actually care.

[ohsixthirty]

Wow, I think that is really interesting. I honestly had not noticed a difference, I don't suppose I am a very discerning listener in that respect. But it does show that they are willing to put more effort into things it seems, because I would think that hiring live performers is more expensive than simply using a computer. I'm all for it either way.

[kournikova]

yep... agree with you... the booklet is nice ^^

[HanabiChick]

Good to hear real instruments are used on it... hope this is worth it when I eventually get my copy.

[asterix]

wow. i hope to get my hands on the dvd audio. i don't really fancy the pv as it's not that interesting like ourselves or because of you.

[gakkun]

I don't think this song was 100% acoustic...there were still some computer effects used, albeit alot less than some of her other songs. But then again, having some effects makes every song sound a lil different from each other. If every ballad from now on used only the same instruments they are bound to sound like other songs (actually, instrumental-wise, CAROLS wasn't a whole lot different from No way to say). Some of Ayu's best hits (M, evolution) wouldn't have been as good if they were purely acoustic.

[luminaire]

gakkun: But just think about it. "evolution" or "independent", with real drums, bass and guitars. I drool at the mere thought of it. And "GAME" - it would be a hell lot better than the current somewhere-near-rock-but-not-quite-rock state it's in. And I don't agree - the instruments may be the same, but it's the arrangements that make them different. Like Onitsuka Chihiro - most of the instruments on "Sugar High" are the same, yet "Tiger in my love" sounds NOTHING like, say, "King of Solitude".

Anyway.

Dear Lord. Real drums and bass. I love you, CMJK.

Honestly, only her ballad singles had real instrumentation outside of guitar. But this is the first time I'm seeing live drums in one. I'm pleased with that - just makes me want to get the single more quickly now. I've always preferred live instrumentals to synth - music is meant to be performed properly, in my opinion. Not just because of the difference in quality but it speaks volumes of how money-minded the company really is, instead of being a platform to allow the artists to develop to their fullest. Granted, they do need to make some money in order to survive, but if it's at the expense of quality, like what Avex has been doing for so long, then it just speaks volumes about their management and their priorities.

I agree with you that these changes that Matsuura are bringing to the company can only be for the benefit of the company. Seeing as how I was getting sick of the synth-heavy instrumentals that Avex repeatedly released, this is really interesting and might just revive my somewhat waning interest in Avex musicians. (Of course, you do have the newer artists like Sasagawa Miwa and Ando Yuko who use live instruments like nobody's business, so that's good as well.)

[sxesven]

Dear Lord indeed. This is just brilliant. I was just talking to my friend Terence (known here as Chrono) the other day, ventilating my frustration about computer-music. I find a number of Ayu songs plain unlistenable because of the horrible programming. The percussion is often the first thing to suffer, and I'm thrilled to see there's some actual drums here. Awesome. Keep it up.

[Larisa-chan]

Dolls, Forgiveness and Voyage also used a lot of real instruments too...

[Exile]

Pretty good points from touchedstar, luminaire and sxesven. I totally agree.

gakkun: I don't mean that there shouldn't be any sythesized/programmed effects, but at least giving the drums, guitars and bass (those crucial instruments) some real sounds.