Ayu's new album "Love Again" has come out.
I was not super excited for this release since 8 songs were featured on her mini albums aptly named "Love" and "Again" and two of the songs were interludes. Thus, there was only five new songs on this album. Still a decent amount but a little disappointing. I can't help but think that I wish she didn't release the mini albums. It was weird listening to the album knowing I've already listened to most of these songs a lot. I think it would have been nicer to discover them all at once. When I listen, all I can think "Oh, these are mini album songs, these ones are new" and not just a whole new experience.
Overall, the album is pretty.. boring. It has a slow pace and there's no real variety among the songs. Wake Me Up is still a great track but then it leads straight into Song 4 u which I am not a big fan of. Missing is still a good track but it's not super amazing.
Sakura, Gloria and Ivy are three ballads on this album that sounds very similar. They have a very similar pace but I think they are all lovely. I'm glad that I enjoy some of the newer songs. Ivy was one of my favourite songs from the mini album and Sakura and Gloria are lovely to me.
Melody is still super boring. I don't think this song will ever grow on me. It reminds me of songs like Sweet Season which I never liked as well.
The two interludes "Task n Bass" and "glasses" don't fit this album at all. Adding electronic elements on an almost purely ballad consistent album is a little strange. The funky glasses leading into "untitled for her story 2" was one of the worst offenders.
Bye Bye Darling is a bit of a generic album filler song for me. There isn't anything really great about this song and it also sounds somewhat dated. Snowy Kiss is by far amazing. I love this track and it's one of Ayu's best in a long time. Though this track is longer than any other one on the album, it still doesn't feel nearly as long as others. Sweet scar is still very lovely and I enjoy listening to it. Petal is ... nice. But not anything really outstanding. I think it will end up growing on me.
I already mentioned the strange funky esque beats of glasses and by itself it isn't a bad interlude. Both the interludes would've made some pretty good songs. Untitled for her story 2 is really slow and I'm not a fan but I think if I get ahold of the lyrics I may like it more.
Of course, I already mentioned I like Gloria and Ivy. I think Gloria or Ivy should have ended the album. I was never a fan of You & Me so I am not digging it ending this album. Even if it is the orchestral version.
Overall, this just feels like one of Ayu's weaker albums. There isn't enough punch and I feel I was just spoiled too much since she already released over half of the songs prior to this. Not enough new material and it's everything that I've listened to a lot of times before. The new songs aren't super amazing so it feels underwhelming. It's still a nice album and I'll listen to it but most of her others I would pick over this. It somehow feels too mature/dated for me to enjoy and there's not enough power in the music. Without listening, it's hard for me to distinguish any of the new songs. With time, my opinion will probably change. The one plus is that her vocals sound great. I hope she experiments more with her next album.
Here is a digest for this album.
