Track Listing
-
starting over
-
Duty
-
vogue
-
End of the World
-
SCAR
-
Far away
-
SURREAL
-
AUDIENCE
-
SEASONS
-
teddy bear
-
Key ~eternal tie ver.~
-
girlish
1. starting over
starting over is the album’s opening track obviously…While it’s a bit ethereal and there’s a stock vocal present, it’s strange to hear this album open up the way it did. You also hear Ayu ad-libbing as well which threw me off as well. For a minute and 37 seconds, it’s not too bad of an opening.
2. Duty
I was wondering what we’d get from the original version of Duty because it’s remixes back on “SURREAL” were crappy as all hell. Unlike them, this has strings, latin guitar, and some chanting right from the start. In a way, Duty sounds a whole lot better than the remixes. I’ve also noticed that it seems to bridges into “vogue” pretty nicely since they both are like one another a bit.
3. vogue
vogue started this era in a way I didn’t expect it too. With it’s Indian background and Ayu’s singing obviously getting a bit better, vogue was a great way to began the era. I still think it’s rather dated because the music feels 90’s-ish if you know what I mean XD. Still a great track though.
4. End of the World
Calming down from bhangra land, End of the World marks the first ballad of the album and it has a pretty depressing arrangement. Then again, once the chorus pops up, it becomes this hard ass song before going back into itself for another verse. It’s something new for Ayu and I quite like what we ended up with here.
5. SCAR
Oh SCAR, how I love thee. While I’m not the only person who noticed that the arrangement is rather folkish, bearing the melody from “Scarborough Fair”, Ayu (in this point of her career) this was pure genius of her. I don’t understand the answering machine thing that opened up SCAR, but damn the rest of the song is just beautiful for me. It’s definitely her best ballad (once again, during this time).
6. Far away
Entering as the 2nd single of the era, Far away is when I started to notice that she’s definitely a great artist here. Nowadays, Far away is a bit dated like a good portion of the album, but it’s a rather nice nostalgic feel to remember this tune. That ~now~ part does bug me here and then, but it’s nothing to fully blame the song on. Still good for me.
7. SURREAL
The final single before the album, SURREAL is rather fitting after “Far away” for some reason and made me like it a lot more than the single cut. It does seem like it’s a reversed version of “Far away” since it’s more rock-like and less ballad where as “Far away” was completely the opposite. Still a pretty damn strong tune.
8. AUDIENCE
Chosen as the album’s re-cut single, AUDIENCE was a pretty good choice IMO from Ayu….then again I don’t ever wanna see 3 re-cut’s of one album ever again Ayu!. While it’s rather nothing new to the repotoire of the album (basically another “SURREAL”). The dance style is nice and Ayu is sounding more fun as with the song’s arrangements. Good but I think “SCAR” would’ve made a better re-cut single.
9. SEASONS
Ahhhh, SEASONS the albums ballad-y A-side. Y’know, right now, I’m liking “End of the World” & “SCAR” even more than this. I know it’s treason, but seriously SEASONS is rather oldish and the other two can stand the test of time. However, I still do enjoy it’s relaxing nature and the acoustic guitar and small synth parts that accompany it.
10. teddy bear
The last three tracks of the album, always ALWAYS fly by my head because they just aren’t that stand out for me. teddy bear should be one I need to remember because of the title right there. Now teddy bear is actually Ayu’s first piano-only ballad and I thought it was nice because it doesn’t sound hollow as most songs do under this. It sounds honest and Ayu sounds like she’s brinking tears, pretty nice ballad.
11. Key ~eternal tie ver.~
I know this is the main version…but what’s the original version like honestly. Also another ballad, but this time with guitar, Key isn’t too bad of a track but with two ballads beforehand I started to get bored here. At least it gets fleshed out into an epic-like ballad. I still don’t think it should’ve been place near the end though because some of this song is sleep inducing and I don’t want that.
12. girlish
The final track of the album, girlish sounds more like eventual track “Life” and I’m not sure if I like this song as at all. It is different from the tracks here because it’s pop/rock and nothing mixed with any synths, but I felt her vocals were really bad here for some reason. I thought “Key” did would’ve done a better job closing this album rather than girlish but it’s just my opinion.
Tracks Recommended
-
SCAR
-
teddy bear
-
SURREAL
-
End of the World
Of all the albums Ayu released, Duty is one album that I don’t like. It’s also the album I forget to associate with Ayu as well. I don’t know why, but there’s just something that was missing here…I mean last album, “LOVEppears” was more exciting than this and made me go WTH at how this album came to be so meh. SCAR though was like the gem of the entire album IMO. Let’s hope “I am…” fixes things up.
