Next Level

ロック色が強い曲のファンの私には残念だけど…作品として申し分ないので満点です！テクノポップなんていう流行りまっただなかの要素を入れて一見ダサイんですけど…よく聴くと12小節ブルース進行みたいになってたりして驚きますね☆ポップスターの彼女としては本当に最高のサウンドプロダクションで作られていると思います。

Ayumi’s 10th album came as a new chapter for the 11th year of her career. From 2005 to late 2008, she remained faithful a beat-pop style that can be simplified to ’summer-ballad-rock’ songs. Now, she broke up with that, doin’ some new stuff. ”NEXT LEVEL” shows that in an eletro-rock fashion. The album is divided in ”two sides”, the first one is the eletronic part, and the other one contains the rock songs. Starting with ”Bridge to the sky” and the title track, ”NEXT LEVEL”. Both these tracks express the feeling of change that the whole album will have. ”Disco-munication” introduces the electric face of NEXT LEVEL and ”EnergizE”, like the title suggests, is a song to feel energized and dance from the begining to the end of the next track, ”Sparkle”, an awesome dance song; ”rollin’” keeps the harmony, and adds an 8-bit influence with a techno atmosphere. ”Load of the SHUGYO” and ”GREEN” prelude the rock level, ”Rule” does it well, allying a powerful chorus and Ayu’s strong voice, followed by ”Identity”, we can see how the rock songs of the album are expressive, finally we hear ”LOVE ’n’ HATE”, Ayu ends the scene with an epic song that for sure would give a great live performance. Ending the album, ”pieces of SEVEN” announces the ballad-tempo tracks, which are in the right place, for they leave a calm and soft feeling lingering in the air. ”Days” is one of Ayu’s typical romantic songs, similar to a ballad off her last album, ”Together When...” but not as dramatic, ”Days” is more intense and lively. ”Curtain call” is the last one and shows a resembles a large distance between itself and other ballads, exploring Hamasaki’s vocals, this song is only performed on the piano, and when listened to, people will surely feel the kindness shining through this simple and memorable song. Overall, ”NEXT LEVEL” is an album of change, Ayumi’s producers tried hard and made this release sound like a gift to her fans and listeners, leaving behind the dark and sad lyrics of ”GUILTY”. Being happy and standing strong are words expressed in all the 14 tracks. If Ayu’s goal was to put a smile on listener’s faces and make all the listeners of ”NEXT LEVEL” dance, she certainly made it.

何回か聞いてるうちに、いいなって思えてきました。アレンジが凝ってて面白い！ 曲の雰囲気とあゆの表現力が上手く重なって曲のイメージが分かりやすく伝わってきます。９、１０、１１の３曲が好き！あと、Ｄａｙｓもいい曲だな?って思います。あゆちゃん頑張ってね?☆