Ayumi Hamasaki – A July 6, 2009

Track Listing

*regular pressing

1. monochrome
2. too late
3. Trauma
4. End roll
5. monochrome “Keith Litman’s Big City Vocal Mix”
6. too late “Razor ‘N Guido Remix”
7. Trauma “Heavy Shuffle Mix”
8. End roll “HΛL’s Mix”
9. monochrome -instrumental-
10. too late -instrumental
11. Trauma -instrumental-
12. End roll -instrumental-
13. End roll “NEURO-mantic Mix”
14. monochrome -Dub’s full color Remix”

1. monochrome

Ahhhh, monochrome was basically what made me think Ayu was heading towards a new and more greater sound.  Not only does it sound completely different with a more percussion heavy sound, the music seemed to combine Ayu and piano with an otherwise stronger musical arrangement.  I still find it funny that at the end a guy says something in mid-chorus and shuts the door and that’s what ends the song right there.  The album version cut that out for some reason and just ends out of the blue.

2. too late

too late is more focused on the synths than the guitar which is pretty cool.  I actually really enjoy the song’s more dance-like sound despite the whole song sounding like Ayu’s stressing hardcore.  The best part is the interlude in the middle where the synth melody takes over and just makes it more epic. 

3. Trauma

Trauma does sound a bit like “too late” but things reversed and well, it’s not the most interesting original track on the single, it still gots its positives like the verses sounding so 80’s-ish.  I still somehow manage to like it alot, bu that’s mainly because of it’s tie in to Chobits.  C’mon you’ve got to give it to her that she’s gotten better clearly because of how powerful the final held note in the chorus just radiates.  Trauma is a good track.

4. End roll

End roll just looks wrong on this single.  I mean it’s a ballad of all things and the beginning melody sounds like “A Song For xx” which kind of turned me off, if it was going to be somewhat closer to it.  It still is the worst of the four A-sides because we already had enough meh ballads this era and this was just adding gas to the fire.

5. monochrome “Keith Litman’s Big City Vocal Mix”

The first of the remixes, monochrome gets put into a more house-like sound with Ayu’s vocals messed around with.  Being 9 minutes in length, you’re going to have to wait before the song really gets going anywhere and it kind of doesn’t until a minute and a half.  Even then, no vocals….talk about a useless track since it goes everywhere after a while…they do add Ayu but late in the song so not good for monochrome.

6. too late “Razor ‘N Guido Remix”

Another 8 minute remix, too late’s comes in next and well kind of suffers from the same problems the last remix had which was the song takes up a while to get going.  When it does it makes Ayu ss worse in the vocals department because it’s like she’s screeching.  Another remix that I disliked.

7. Trauma “Heavy Shuffle Mix”

Now this was more of something I’d be interested in because this remix sounded so different from the others.  It’s kind of funny that the song isn’t as hardcore as the other two previous remixes, but this is nice and chill.  After Ayu’s lines there’ a pretty cool synth melody going that I really like.  Better remix on the single actually ^_^

8. End roll “HΛL’s Mix”

See now this is where HΛL gets things right because his remix of End roll sounds more like an original track, but it does still have its awkward sound to it because it’s not forceful enough to me.  There’s a lot of darker and grittier sounds going on until the verse where it disappears.  Another OK remix, but nothing too amazing here.

9. End roll “NEURO-mantic Mix”

Then again, it’s easily overshadowed by this remix which IMO reminds me of the “PSYCHEDELIC ASSASSIN” back on the last single….I wonder if it was remixed by the same person/group.  I do love how the verses has a cosmic-like sound to it and then the bridge and chorus brings back to harder trance sounds of the remix and it’s amazing.  Sweet remix

10. monochrome “Dub’s full color Remix”

Ending off this hellishly long single, monochrome gets another remix as well and of course Dub is tacked onto it which means it’s time for a love or hate situation to start up.  I’m once again on the field that it does take too long to get things going, but when they do the song becomes a lot more better especially with the synth line.  Wish there s more Ayu, but what can you do huh?

 

 

Ayu’s first quad A-side single came off as a bit different.  I mean I do like how the remixes weren’t heavy on just one track (such a godsend).  Now all of the tracks to make it onto “LOVEppears” even tough monochrome’s ending was oddly cut from the album.  A shows that Ayu is steadily becoming one artist not to be messed with.

Ayumi Hamasaki – Boys & Girls July 6, 2009

Track Listing

1. Boys & Girls (MAD FILTER MIX)
2. Boys & Girls (AUBE Original Mix)
3. Boys & Girls (Higher Uplift Mix)
4. LOVE ~Destiny~ (TODD’S LOVER COVERSION)
5. Boys & Girls (HΛL’s Mix)
6. Boys & Girls (Melt Down Dub Mix)
7. TO BE (Bright Mix)
8. Boys & Girls (D-Z PSYCHEDELIC ASSASSIN MIX)
9. Boys & Girls (Dub’s club remix)
10. Boys & Girls (AUBE Original Mix Instrumental)

1. Boys & Girls (MAD FILTER MIX)

So Ayu begins this long single with a remix?  I guess it opens the single up in a pretty funky way.  It has a lot of interesting things going on as there’s strings here and there and Ayu’s vocals muffled and repeating the same lines over and over again.  I mean it’s alright, but it seems like one of those songs that really just pay attention to the music and nothing much more. 

2. Boys & Girls (AUBE Original Mix)

Or I like to call, the one with the PV.  Now this original mix sounds a lot more better than that remix.  I’m still not the biggest fan of the song because of her irksome vocals back on the chorus.  There’s parts of the song that I really like, mainly the bridge though.  I do think it does kind of ends in sort of odd place where it fades off, but still the song has grown a little on me since the album review.

3. Boys & Girls (Higher Uplift Mix)

Now this was more of what I was expecting of a remix.  This one starts out with a heavy enough beat and even though it’s one of those songs that warm up until it gets more interesting, it actually quite is.  It’s funny that she sings the chorus in a different way as she sounds monotone as she singing it.  Even the piano interlude was cool, but the length will get to you reaching almost at 10 minutes.

4. LOVE ~Destiny~ (TODD’S LOVER COVERSION)

The only remix of said song, LOVE ~Destiny~ got more of an R&B touchup rather than a trance remix.  It does throw the listener off after that last one.  There’s a rapper present in this remix, and well it doesn’t too well an Ayu and R&B together again FTW.  Besides the guy, this version sounds quite nice. 

5. Boys & Girls (HΛL’s Mix)

This is the first of many times we’ll see a remix from HΛL and sometimes he gets it right, other times he misses it completely and screws it up.  For his first remix though, he actually kind of des both.  I love how dark the beginning is and then it slows down to absurd levels.  Then he comes back to a more cooler sound as Ayu starts the first verse off.  The guitar in the song reminds me of AIMI from Stereopony for some reason XD.  It’s alright.

6. Boys & Girls (Melt Down Dub Mix)

I like the name of the mix for sure, but this isn’t a good remix at all.  It kind of sounds somewhat like the “MAD FILTER MIX”, but a lot more emptier and less memorable because of the song.  Then it gets comical and strange as time flies by.  Yeah, not a good remix at all.

7. TO BE (Bright Mix)

Wait….didn’t we already have our reggae remix for TO BE?  Why do we have another one, is it trying to replace the one from said single?  I’ll just say it, this remix doesn’t do anything unlike the one from the last single.  It might be an even more watered-down version of said remix.  So much for originality xD

8. Boys & Girls (D-Z PSYCHEDELIC ASSASSIN MIX)

I thought the most impressive remix was this one as it was basically full of synths and one of the more aggressive remixes Ayu had in the era.  I like how there’s just a lot of sound all around and the song wasn’t ripped apart and repetitive.  5 minutes is also a pretty good time for the track as it showed more of it colors than some of the other remixes.  Best one off the single.

9. Boys & Girls (Dub’s club remix)

Just like HΛL, Dub’s remixes are hit or miss with me as well.  “TO BE” was a hit for me, but I’ll say that they messed this one up and dragged it out too long.  Yeah….it seems to move through whenever Ayu is singing, but otherwise the rest of the track is just for filler purposes.

 

 

Ayu begins this whole craze of having so many remixes it’s crazy.  Boys & Girls is an alright track, but the remixes given to the song kind of made it seem worse for me…Except the PSYCHEDELIC ASSASSIN remix, now that was a good remix.  The LOVE ~Destiny~ remix does kind of stand out in a bad way when it’s surrounded by trance song while TO BE’s remix was just not needed at all…oh well

Ayumi Hamasaki – TO BE July 6, 2009

Track Listing

1. TO BE
2. TO BE (Dub’s cool wind Remix)
3. TO BE (Instrumental)

1. TO BE

Well, we finally get back into normality with TO BE since it brings back a more refined sounding Ayu who doesn’t sound like crap like her last single.  It’s nice to see acoustic guitar appearing here and even though once again, it sounds more like something that belonged in the last era, TO BE did get rearranged on “Days/GREEN” which was definitely the touch-up it needed, but it still remains pretty low since I can barely remember anything about it in the era (with all the other tracks coming up).

2. TO BE (Dub’s cool wind Remix)

Now to be picky yeah it’s the first “remix” Ayu’s ever had so this was something I liked about the single (yeah, previous singles had “version” tagged, doesn’t mean it’s a remix).  Back to the track at hand.  TO BE basically got revamped into a reggae-styled track.  It sounds totally strange, but fitting for some odd reason.  As with the reggae beats, it sounds oddly dark for one and mysterious as well.  I kind of like this.

 

 

TO BE is the final single before Ayu goes on her remix craze….grand.  Now TO BE is a good track, but I can never remember how it goes after time passes by.  I actually liked the remix more than the original because TO BE sounds a bit more together as a reggae/ballad than just a regular ole ballad.  Strange how that works eh?

Ayumi Hamasaki – LOVE ~Destiny~ July 6, 2009

Track Listing

1. LOVE ~Destiny~
2. LOVE ~since1999~
3. LOVE ~Destiny~ (Instrumental)
4. LOVE ~since1999~ (Instrumental)

1. LOVE ~Destiny~

After the dance-infused “WHATEVER”, LOVE ~Destiny~ took things in a more calmer fashion making it as a ballad.  What’s so special about the track is that Tsunku was a part of this track composing it and such.  I can tell her vocals are trying to be emotional, but they come off as being whiney and it’s not a good thing IMO.  There’s this guitar solo here and I thought it was just wrong to have in the song…oh well.

2. LOVE ~since1999~

Then the unthinkable happens.  Reusing the previous tracks melody again, This track is a bit more upbeat in nature, but the problem here is that Tsunku is singing here with Ayu.  Now you might think that it’s quite cool right?  Empress of J-pop with H!P founder….Well it’s not because Ayu is easily being overpowered by Tsunku, not to mention Tsunku sounds horrible and the can’t harmonize at all.  Worst track ever? yeaaaah.

 

 

Ayu’s 2nd of the era came off as something that would be more simpler, being arranged by Tsunku and such.  Sadly, it didn’t come off as planned because Ayu sounded otherwise worst than she did on “WHATEVER”.  Seriously though Tsunku & Ayu was a terrible combination that just renders this single to be the worst already.

Ayumi Hamasaki – WHATEVER July 6, 2009

Track Listing

1. WHATEVER (Version M)
2. WHATEVER (Version J)
3. WHATEVER (Version M) -Instrumental-
4. WHATEVER (Version J -Instrumental-

1. WHATEVER (Version M)

Now if you’ve followed Ayu right from the start, WHATEVER will definitely surprise you.  Ayu ditches her pop/rocks roots for a bit of some eurobeat/dance and it actually sounds really chill for being one.  Now the song is actually quite catchy exept for the horrible descending ad-libbing she does in the song.  It might be a little too tame and doesn’t exactly make any sort of climax, but it’s still a good early Ayu track.

2. WHATEVER (Version J)

Unlike the main version, this version sounds more like what was on her last album, but also sounded more like an original version, so this was pretty nice to hear.  There’s still traces of synths amd such and it comes off as a little too empty to listen to.  Maybe I would’ve liked it more if it was on her previous album….Luckily it’s not the path she chose for this single.

 

 

WHATEVER begins the “LOVEppears” era with well….something that actually sounds fresh (at the time).  Though both don’t really get onto the album, Version M gets extended for the album and stuck with a different remixer, but it’s still Version M though.  Version J does harken back to her previous era with the pop/rock, but here it sounds already dated and boring.  Oh well.

Ayumi Hamasaki – A Song for ×× June 27, 2009

Track Listing

1. Prologue
2. A Song for ××
3. Hana
4. FRIEND
5. FRIEND II
6. poker face
7. Wishing
8. YOU
9. As if…
10. POWDER SNOW
11. Trust
12. Depend on you
13. SIGNAL
14. from your letter
15. For My Dear…
16. Present

1. Prologue

It’s pretty understandable to begin an album with an introduction to this album and Prologue is one of those tracks that makes you wonder what it’d be like if it was an actual vocal track because I really like the fantasy-like sounds and the piano combining together to make a soothing opening.

2. A Song for ××

Our first track is the title track for the album.  I expected the song to be a ballad of sorts and I was kind of right, but then it became a pop/rock filled with a nice arrangement and guitar riff.  The verses are the ballad-like parts of the song while the chorus is the more aggressive side of the song.  That’s actually the best part of the song IMO.  Great way to begin things.  Ayu though kind of gets worse when she starts the wailing…

3. Hana

Yikes, talk about cheesy pop in the days, Hana is like that with the funk riffs and the wild brass that’s in the song.  Ayu’s vocals sound alright, but they aren’t in good shape still, but I can’t get this song into my head, it’s just not that interesting IMO.

4. FRIEND

Meh, I would’ve rather not have seen this on the album as it still is boring as hell to listen to and there’s just nothing that exactly makes it stand out in anyway shape or form.  Then again it did come from her avex debut “poker face” which shows that it’s not that good in the first place.  PASS

5. FRIEND II

That’s where FRIEND II steps in.  Clearly this track was a bit more eventful that the previous track and there’s like somewhat of emotions written throughout.  Then again the arrangement isn’t something amazingly new which surprises me, but at the same time it’s Ayu what can ya do at this point of time?  Her vocals are a bit meh here as well, so don’t expect something extravagant, but still it’s way better than “FRIEND”

6. poker face

We get back to horrible vocals from Ayu with her debut song which nowadays sounds terribly aged and I still can’t say I enjoy it much since Ayu is just way flat and out of place here.  I can feel for her that the song is special to her, but c’mon you need to spruce this track up and badly I must say.

7. Wishing

Is this our first actual ballad?  I keep forgetting this track was on this album and not her sophomore album, “LOVEppears”.  Now at this point on the album, a ballad is kind of strange and yet makes me smile because it’s nothing cheesy.  All it is is percussion and piano which is nice.  Her vocals do sound better than it did on “poker face” which is a good sign for sure.  Pretty good ballad.

8. YOU

I’ll admit it, I fell in love with this track even though I still feel it’s ridiculously slow and awkward.  Like I said in my single review, the remixes and various touched-up versions make the original sound bad, it’s still not that bad of a song and even then there’s just a lot to like about it.  OK, her vocals hit the slumps again, but seriously, it’s not thaaat bad.

9. As if…

Did Ayu just go valley girl on us?  Anyways, the song once again fails to make an impression on me because well, it’s too basic.  I mean there’s parts I do enjoy like the low synth beats and chorus, but other than that there’s just not a lot going for it.  Typical pop song IMO

10. POWDER SNOW

Another song that’s less liked than it’s remakes and remixes.  POWDER SNOW is our next ballad, and at that a wintry-based ballad.  The first thing I noticed about the song was the a good portion was just piano and Ayu’s off vocals.  It does eventually gain some guitars and drums and that’s bad cuz it’s typical….

11. Trust

Trust also seems pretty meh, especially since it was a single…Like “YOU” it’s amazingly slow for a track that I think was meant to be a bit faster.  Remixes definitely make this song sound worse as it is….hmmm It’s luckily not the worst on the album.

12. Depend on you

I think overall, Depend on you is the best song off the album because even though it’s vocally unstable, it actually manages to keep my interest through the entire song.  It’s also more rock than any other song off the album with it’s awesome guitar riffs and synth inclusion.  It’s got a lot of energy, especially for a song on this album.  Still IMO one of her best songs.

13. Signal

Just like our last track, Signal is quite energetic and sort of reminds me of said track because of the similar guitar riffs in the verses and use of the synths.  I can’t say vocally if it’s any better, well she does really hit those high notes in a very nasally way.  It still is a lot more interesting than most of the tracks off the album.

14. from your letter

Of all the songs of this album, I honestly think this song has aged the worst as it sounds very 90’s-ish and I mean like early 90’s.  The beginning with the magical sparkling was just odd since the other tracks usually just got into the song right from the start.  It’s a little boring, but at least the beat is keeping it from dragging entirely.

15. For My Dear…

Ending off the era, was actually one of her worst sung songs.  First things off, her vocals are uber pinched right from the start, that just doesn’t give hope to the rest of the song.  She actually keeps it for most of the song.  I don’t know, but once again I feel like she could’ve raised the tempo a bit to have made a more cohesive track, than a borefest with bad vocals.

16. Present

Ending off the album is another wintry track?  If there was one cheesy track, it has to be this one because it’s one of those songs that make you feel giddy around the holidays, with joyous piano and brass playing.  It’s not that bad of a track actually because Ayu isn’t stressing her vocals to parts unknown unlike the other songs…Not the way I would’ve finished the album, but ok.

Tracks Recommended

• Depend on you
• A Song for ××
• YOU
• FRIEND II
• Wishing

Everyone has said this, but of all her avex albums, this is her worst vocally and well it’s true.  Over time, she’s gotten more control.  Her avex debut was kind of bland overall using the same techniques with some surprises here and there to make it look more varied, but most of the time it came out way too typical and useless.  My least favorite album of hers actually.

Ayumi Hamasaki – Depend on you April 24, 2009

Track Listing

1. Depend on you
2. Two of us
3. Depend on you (instrumental)

1. Depend on you

I’m not sure why, but everytime Ayu re-sings this song on the newer releases I usually never like it.  I mean the one found on “Mirrorcle World” was nice and all, but it just doesn’t hold the charm and power that the original had.  I think of the whole era, Depend on you was one of the most amazing tracks I heard and can stand pretty much.  It’s different from the other tracks because it’s borderline rock (pop/rock).  Even though she does have her moments, she carries the tune in a such a fun way. 

2. Two of us

However, the fail comes along as a B-side and Two of us definitly was disappointing.  The song does harken to some light R&B, with some synths here and there with acoustics playing vacantly.  Ayu’s vocals though are better to swallow, but the song is just very bland and sometimes, makes just wanna play “YOU” instead.  Why does it end so soon though…ugh!

 

 

Ok, the final single, Depend on you was an amazing to song to finish things up with.  The rockish song is to me one of her best songs in her entire collection and luckily there wasn’t no acoustic version to bother the single with.  Then again we do get a B-side which turned out to be as bad IMO.  avex is just giving her bad ballads so far except with “YOU” every other ballad has been bad on her so far.  BTW Two of us is one of the four forgotton B-sides, the other 3 includes “ever free”, “Theme of A-nation ‘03″, and “Life”.  Now they should put them on an official release other than the singles IMO

Ayumi Hamasaki – For My Dear… April 4, 2009

Track Listing

1. For My Dear…
2. For My Dear… (acoustic version)
3. For My Dear… (instrumental)

1. For My Dear…

As much as I loved “Trust” and “YOU”, For my dear…has got to be one of Ayu’s worst A-sides of the entire era.  I mean her voice was just terribly off and the acoustic guitar forward of the song just took me outta the song really quick.  The song does sound pretty melancholic and dark, but Ayu pleasssse get better after this lol  (rolling sarcasm).  Nah, not a good track.

2. For My Dear… (acoustic version)

Even the acoustic version couldn’t save the song from being mediocre at best.  It kept the vocal issues that were profound in the original mix, but replaced the guitar and band with piano and xylophone.  Actually this version showed more of Ayu’s vulnerabilites than any of the past acoustic version…Worst way to showcase it Ayu!  The only thing I can say that was good was the xylophone solo near the end…that was nice

 

 

Ayu’s 4th single is the worst one of the era hands down.  The song did not do Ayu justice at all and her vocal ability went down hardcore with the track…If it helps, it’s the only A-side of the first four eras to not have gotten a remix of any sort (strange as it seems).

Ayumi Hamasaki – Trust April 4, 2009

Track Listing

1. Trust
2. Trust (acoustic version)
3. Trust (instrumental)

1. Trust

I think she’s doing better on releasing A-sides since Trust is definitly a ballad I would listen to except for the obvious fact that she couldn’t keep in tune for the life of her.  If she resang this track I know it would loads better because I really do like the track.  Pretty good track overall, but with questionable vocals.

2. Trust (acoustic version)

Just like how “YOU” was changed into an acoustic version, Trust also got the magical touch and honestly I thought this was another one of those tracks that sounded even better than the original.  It might be the production value, but Ayu also sounds a bit more better here as well.  Damn, she can make acoustic tracks sound so damn good hahahahaa.

 

 

Ayu finally found a track that I do enjoy with Trust.  I do prefer the acoustic version over the orignal.  Not to say the original mix was bad or anything, both were pretty good.  A lot more stable than “YOU”

Ayumi Hamasaki – NEXT LEVEL March 21, 2009

Track Listing

1. Bridge to the sky
2. NEXT LEVEL
3. Disco-munication
4. EnergizE
5. Sparkle
6. rollin’
7. GREEN
8. Load of the SHUGYO
9. identity
10. Rule
11. LOVE n’ HATE
12. Pieces of SEVEN
13. Days
14. Curtain call

1. Bridge to the sky

Bridge to the sky opens up the album in a pretty synth driven way.  It’s kind of got a pretty soothing feel to it and the whole ad-libbing from Ayu sounds heavenly, it might not be a fan-worthy for it’s own track like “Mirror” was, but this really showed off the whole synth side of things which is nice.

2. NEXT LEVEL

Our first new track is also the title track and it actually got a PV to promote the album.  To me this also feels similar to the previous track with it’s breezy dance beats and lively sound.  Some points I thought she over accented the words, which was a bit of a turnoff, but I have to say this is one of her best title tracks in her career.

3. Disco-munication

It was very disappointing to figure out that this was an interlude.  I really like the synthetic beats and rushing.  Though I’m not exactly fond of what they did with Ayu here because it was a cut n’ paste kind of sound and it just didn’t fit the mood at all.  I do like the 8-bit stuff though, that was pretty cool.

4. EnergizE

EnergizE continues this whole synth thing and oddly the clapping thing and weird 80’s new wave synth sound was interesting at the least.  When Ayu first came in, her voice reminded me of Kuu’s for some reason.  Then things from there just go downhill from there because the chorus was so lifeless and not full of pep.  I don’t know why the song is called EnergizE is she herself isn’t hyped up…whatever Ayu, just whatever…

5. Sparkle

I’m still flabbergasted at Sparkle.  I mean if the song wasn’t already fierce enough as it was, the PV just 1-upped that thought and this song is one of her best tracks she’s had in the last few years.  If, you want me to be exact, this is the “Marionette” of the album and it was actually an A-side as well.  As I’m listening to this song, I’m getting a feeling that this album is heavy on the synth this time around.  GREAT SONG!

6. rollin’

rollin’ is the albums longest track (one second over “Days”).  Anyway, rollin’ also reminding me of “Sparkle” becuase once again the song uses a more darker electronica style as well which surprises me because the initial thought is that, did she work with Nakata?  Like I hear the similarities because she’s under vocoder and the whole sound just seemed cool.  I don’t but this song is really good too.

7. GREEN

Then things start to get strange when “GREEN” pops up.  Like the whole album so far has been synth-driven and then BAM!!! we get Chinese Ayu…Now representing 1/2 of the first single of the era, GREEN came off as a surprise to many of her fans because of the whole Chinese sound implemented.  I really like how epic it sounds with the arrangement given, but that chorus still bugs me.  Weird rhythm of sound IMO.

8. Load of the SHUGYO

Oh the naughty things that you can really think of the title.  Now doesn’t “GREEN” seem to stick out in the worst way?  Anyways it starts out like the other tracks beforehand and then it stops and it turns out into a mix of electronica and hard rock which surprised me because I love the guitar wailing here and it translated easily to our next track.

9. identity

identity starts the rocker phase of the album.  I don’t think I’ve heard a raw rock song from Ayu in a while so I’m quite happy with this.  It seems if I took “(don’t) leave me alone” and focused more on the rock side, this is what I would closely get.  What’s with the breakdown in the middle of the track though?  Lulz for the squeaky synth part.

10. Rule

Rule still kicks ass being here.  I think she let loose more out of this track than the last which kind of means she paid more attention to the singles rather than album tracks.  Everytime I hear the chorus it just makes go wild, it’s so feral and just awesome.  Definitly when paired with Sparkle makes a really epic single (just forget the remixes).

11. LOVE n’ HATE

First off this song is really different for being a rock sound.  I mean there’s a little bit of that Timbaland sound that’s usual, but I can clearly see she’s trying to calm the rock sound because it works in this case.  I love the way she’s counting to different parts.  It’s wild, but not in the way “Rule” was a fun kind of wild perhaps and I like it.  The ending was random though after she says ~Zero~ this loud synth line plays in the random of times…why is it there, who knows?  LOL

12. Pieces of SEVEN

Our last interlude shifts gears for us to the last two tracks off the album.  You hear even more synths appear to play along with a woodwind instrument and then a keyboarded synth plays a melody and the tracks gets more ethereal which made things so nice.  Then things get weird when it goes into a dance sound which throws the listener off at first listen…really random…She should’ve put some lyrics to this though, I quite like it.

13. Days

Though they should’ve ended it through the ethereal part because it just doesn’t sound good going into Days, the wintry A-side that began the era.  Now since the single, I’ve grown to somewhat like it more because it’s been a while since, well “Together When…” so it’s nice to see a new winter track.  Seriously though, I think the YMCK remix back on “Rule/Sparkle” would’ve fitted more after the interlude.

14. Curtain call

I think she ended off every album she’s had with a ballad and Curtain call is of course a ballad and it also got a PV to go along as well.  Though I think this was a little too boring for me because she’s had way better ballads *cough* untitled ~for her~, fated, HEAVEN *cough*.  Anyways the chorale group was a nice addition and to me this was like a gospel song, but it felt too short to end the album like this…

Tracks Recommended

•  Sparkle
• rollin’
• Rule
• LOVE n’ HATE
• NEXT LEVEL

NEXT LEVEL showed a pretty new side to Ayu with all of these new synths and hard sound.  Though I feel a little disappointed that half the songs aren’t really that memorable, but the album as a whole flowed so much better than GUILTY did, but then again…GUILTY had better tracks to begin with.  It’s alright, though c’mon Sparkle and Rule just owned this album like it was nothing.