Pick of the day: 安室 奈美恵/Namie Amuro The Speed Star

Girl Talk/The Speed Star was Namie Amuro's 34th single and was released on October 14th 2004. The Speed Star was not included on her 7th studio album Queen of Hip-Pop but Girl Talk was and since then many fans have questioned wthether this was the right choice. Read below and see if I believe The Speed Star should have been left off!

The song starts off with the sound of a car being turned on before an electropop/hop beat is played. The beat immediately makes you want to move your legs, Namie begins to sing around the 0:31 mark over what sounds to be an electrorock beat. Once the chorus kicks in Namie begins to sing more and the beat become faster as an electro sound is played over the beat. Namie's voice sounds as it always does, good but not amazing. I personally prefer her voice in Break it/Get myself back (http://jpopobsessed.blogspot.com/2011/04/single-review-namie-amurobreak-itget.html) but it's not terrible in this song. The breakdown is catchy, she sings more softer and slowly and the beat has slowed down too, it leads up to the final chorus being played. The PV is nothing amazing, you can watch it but in my opinion it's not something you will be wanting to watch again. The lyrics talk about how she doesn't care what people think of her, she enjoys having fun and that she is ""The Speed Star"! She ends the song by singing "Now it's time to prove i'm The Speed Star".

"I really don't care who and what I was, now it's time to prove i'm The Speed Star"


Overall I prefer The Speed Star to Girl Talk and if I had to pick one for Queen of Hip-Pop I would have picked The Speed Star. The song isn't that great though, I don't find myself listening to it much but it isn't terrible (Break it/Get Myself back are better than this though). I find Namie's songs are always hit and miss (especially pre-Style) and whilst this song is alright it definitely isn't one of her best songs, anything from Play and Past Future in my opinion pretty much beat this song.

Reviews coming soon!

Hi everyone, I am sorry for my lack of updates as of late but rest assured I will be doing more reviews soon and below is a list of some of the albums I will be reviewing within the next two months!

Ayumi Hamasaki Loveppears: http://jpopobsessed.blogspot.com/2011/05/album-review-ayumi-hamasaki-loveppears.html
 Ayumi Hamasaki Rainbow,
Ayumi Hamasaki Memorial Address,
Ayumi Hamasaki Love Songs,
Namie Amuro Past Future,      
BoA Identity!
Plus more!


Keep checking back as I should be starting soon and if you one want to see when one of these albums is reviewed keep checking this page as I will update it when I have reviewed one.
Thank you to everyone who has read my blog so far and don't forget to leave a comment^_^

Album review: 浜崎 あゆみ Secret

Secret was Ayumi Hamasaki's eighth studio album and was released on November 26th 2006. At the time Ayu called it her best album (I don't know if she still counts it as her best) and was one of her most personal. After the amazing (Miss) Understood album Secret had alot to live up to and with her calling it one of her best did it live up to expectations? Read my review of it below and please leave a comment^_^

The introduction to the album is Not Yet, a song which starts off softly and quiet. Ayu begins to sing over an almost trancey sound but as she begins to sing faster the beat becomes faster and more dancey. "HIMITSU O" comes out of nowhere over a fast dance beat. Ayu begins to sing "Himitsu o, kiseki o" continually over the beat whilst at the same time sounding a little trancey, I could imagine a PV with her lost in space to go along with this opening. After singing that the beat slows down again until once again becoming fast at the end. It is a good way to start the album off, she sounds reved up and will get the listener in the mood for the album. As I stated in my Next Level review this introduction reminds me of a more mature version of Bridge to the Sky (the introduction to Next Level). There arent' alot of lyrics in this song but the lyrics there are talk about finding the secret the listener doesn't yet know.

"I'll show you my secret, you don't yet know"

Unfortunately the first full track on the album is a lowpoint to the album, the interlude turned full song Until that day. The song starts off with an electro pounding beat before guitars are heard playing. The first time we hear Ayu on this track her voice has been tuned to sound electro. The guitars continue to play during the verse whilst an electro Ayu is singing. At the 1:14 mark we hear Ayu's real vocals and as always they sound clear and on point. Throughout the song her voice changes from electro to real (similar to the song Rollin). Once the breakdown kicks in the electro sound goes away for the sounds of just Ayu singing and the guitars being played, however the electro returns just before the chorus is replayed. The problem with the song is that it drags on and I don't find the beat that good to be turned into a full song (I would have preferred if Not Yet was turned into a full song), the chorus isn't that strong either though the "Uh-la, la, la's" are catchy. I think Startin would have been a better way to start the album and I prefer Rollin to this song. The lyrics talk about that besides what she may do only she knows the true her and she doesn't care about what others may think.

"Whenever and however I may sell this body by the piece, but I never give over my heart alone to anyone else"

We then hear one of the first songs that was released from this album, Startin! The song starts off with an electro beat before being played over a rock beat. Ayu begins to sing over the pop/rock beat until her voice becomes echoed in the pre-chorus. Once the chorus kicks a new pop/rock beat is heard, Ayu's vocals mould well into the song and whilst the chorus might not be "massive", it is catchy and recognisable (a much better song that Until that day in my opinion). The electro sound returns during the breakdown until the pop/rock sound returns for the final chorus. She ends the song by singing "Lalalala" as the electro beat once again appears. Whilst I do like the song and find it better than Until that day I still don't find it amazing. When I listen to it I think of Step You 2.0 even though it doesn't sound like Step You and when you finish the album if you are like me you probably won't find it one of the highlights of the album. The lyrics on the other hand are strong and are definitely a highlight by a lyrical standard. She talks about not hesitating ones self, we shouldn't be ashamed of ourselves just because we may be different.

"You are the only one in this world, no one can replace you"

Finally we hit one of the highlights of the album, the rock track 1 love! The song starts off with guitars being played until a dark and mysterious sounding Ayu enters the song. Her vocals as always suit the song and as the pre-chorus begins she begins to sing faster as the guitar beats prepare us for a build up. Just before the chorus starts she sings "Just 1 love". The chorus is strong and the guitars go insane as Ayu sings faster and with a more passion sound than was in Until that day and Startin. She slows down for the second chorus but picks right up where the first chours left off the second time around. The breakdown is just guitars being played and don't be surprised if your feet tap along during the song. The PV was one of my favourites from this album, the dark underground atmosphere and the circus tinge just added more to this already strong song. 1 love is defintely one of the songs you will remember from this album and is definitely a highlight to watch out for. Rock and Ayu just go hand in hand it seems^_^

"It's my nature to always get out of a line somehow"

We then head into our next song, It was. The song starts off with a quiet guitar sound until a quiet Ayu begins to sing. Her vocals aren't fast but they are clear, at 0.48 mark when the chorus kicks in she begins to sing faster and the beat becomes a little more rock tinged. Once the second chorus begins it slows down and becomes more calm again. The breakdown is calming and sounds very much like a summer song, the guitars sound calm until fastening up during the final chorus. The lyrics talks about how one season she spent with someone was the most fun yet quickest and she wishes it could happen again, they however are no longer/currently not in the picture. The song is good yet it was the one song I couldn't remember the sound of when I looked at the tracklist again. Unfortunately I didn't find it a highlight but it is far from being a bad song.

"The season I was with you was the most dazzling one, everything we saw was full of brilliance"

We then head into the first interlude to the album, LABYRINTH. It starts off with quiet Winter sounding bells being rung. The interlude is nice and calming and prepares us for the next stage of the album. It reminds me of a tad faster version of Jewel (the next track on the album). Listening to this and Jewel on Christmas Eve will definitely put you in the Christmas mood^_^

We then head into the next highlight of the album, the ballad Jewel. The song starts off with the piano being played softly and with a Winter sound until Ayu beings to sing softly. Her vocals (as always) sound great and if anyone doubts her ability so sing then they should listen to this song. Once the chorus kicks in she begins to sing a little louder and faster however even during the chorus the piano isn't being played any faster. Instead of a breakdown Ayu continues to sing however the piano has become quieter and it is almost just Ayu singing.  Ayu's vocals make the song sound emotional and the song is definitely a treat to the ears. The PV (one of the most expensive in the world) is enjoyable and is worth watching, it will put you in the Winter mood. The lyrics talk about even in a world of temptation (not always good) there is light in her eye and there is someone who is innocent and trustworthy, her treasure. This song is definitely a highlight and shouldn't be missed, especially if you are a fan of ballads.

"Under the grey and square sky, is filled with all kinds of desires today"

We then head into the next highlight of the album, Momentum. The song starts off very airy until a clear Ayu is heard singing over a piano being played. The piano sounds more uplifting and more Summer-like than in Jewel however Ayu isn't singing fast. Once the chorus kicks in she begins to sing faster as the beat turns more dancey, it reminds me of Next Level (the song), the beat is dancey but not very electro, almost an organic dance beat if that makes sense? Despite the song sounding like a Summer ballad at times the lyrics paint more of a Winter ballad picture, she talks about how she longs for the times when she would spend Winter not alone and with the one she cares about. I count Momentum as one of the highlights of the album, it sounds "refreshing" and the song is catchy, I even found myself humming it after listening to it.

"The season when everyone longs to be around people, has come again this year"

Next up comes the second and final interlude to the album, Taskinst. The interlude starts off a catchy beat, its hard to describe it but it sounds like a song you would find in a babies music box. That is until the 0.39 mark when the song becomes a full fledged rock song with guitars being played before ending the same way it started, the sound of a babies music box. Listening to the introduction and these interludes its a shame Until that day was the interlude made into a full song, any of these in my opinion would have made much better full songs.

The song coupled with Startin is now heard, Born to be. The song starts off with an echoing sound of a gospel choir singing "Born to be free" until the echo stops and you can hear them full on. Drums are heard in the background as Ayu sings, listening to her in the verses I can't help but feel she is having a fun time singing this song, at the very least this song feels very close to her. Once the chorus kicks in she sings faster and sounds like she is having even more fun. The hook is the gospel choir singing "Born to be" and quite a hook it is. It fits with the songs sound and makes this song sound even more uplifting than it already is. The breakdown is a crowd cheering until just before the final chorus is played we hear island drums being played. The lyrics talk about keeping a promise she made as a child and even though at times that promise seems distant she will continue to follow it. I didn't think it at first but the song is definitely a highlight of the album, it may take more than one listen to convince you it is a highlight but it is worth it at the end^_^

I terribly made one mistake after another, but i've lived so to as not to regret my deeds" 
After a string of highpoints we now head into the second lowpoint of the album, Beautiful Fighters. I use to enjoy this song but after listening to the album in full a few times I find this and Until that day as my least favourite tracks on the album (though they are far from rubbish tracks, just not as enjoyable). The song starts off with a whistle being played as well as an electro sound being played. Ayu beings to sing over a "cute" electro sound (cute/soft is the only way I could describe the instrumental). The beat begins to fasten as Ayu sings "We are beautiful fighters". The chorus is actually catchy and Ayu sounds great but the thing that turns me off the song is the electro sound which is played after each chorus. It's hard to describe why I don't like it but I don't find it enjoyable, it's a shame considering Ayu sounds to be having fun singing this track and the chorus is catchy. The breakdown is pretty much a whistle being played with this electro sound being played as well. The lyrics talk about girls who can fight past hard times without stopping or giving up are "Beautiful Fighters".

"I wonder, about what time I noticed, that a fairy tale is no more than fairy tale"

We then head into the Summer single, and what could potentially be one of Ayu's most popular Japanese singles if itunes Japan is anything to go by, Blue Bird. The song starts off with soft dance sounds being played (they sound like Summer) until Ayu begins to sing at a medium-to fast pace over the quiet sounds. Just before the chorus begins the beat slowly begins to fasten and Ayu begins to sing with more excitement. Once the chorus starts the beat becomes a more fast, dance beat and Ayu sings faster as she sounds like she is having Summer fun. The breakdown is relaxing after the fast dance beat, it is a mid-tempo dance beat that starts to get faster and make you more anxious as to whats coming next. She begins the final chorus with the beat being quieter than usual, that is until the beat explodes once more. The lyrics talk about her and the one she cares about flying across the blue sky looking at the beautiful land below them. The song is enjoyable and once again sounds uplifting, however I wouldn't call it a highlight of the album and I preferred the previous Summer single from (Miss) Understood, Fairyland.

"Words were not necessary, my place was always here"

As we draw closer to the album close we are once again hit with another album highlight, Kiss o' Kill. The song starts off with the sounds of echoing children chanting until Ayu sings over the sound of strings being played. At the 0.42 mark the beat becomes more orchestra/rock influenced before once again becoming quiet. The chorus really packs a punch as the orchestra/rock instrumental from before returns and Ayu begins to sing faster and with more emotion, she almost sounds angry and sounding like she wants revenge. The second verse's instrumental is more rock influenced and the second chorus is packed with more punch because as you listen carefully a drum sound is more clearly heard. The breakdown is music to the ears, the orchestra sound as well as the playing of guitars make this song more "epic", a way I would describe this song. As she begins the final chorus the instrumental is replaced with the sounds of the children chanting from the beginning as well as guitars being played. As always the lyrics are worth a read, she talks about however far she may be from someone she will always be close to them and they don't have to act different in front of her, she'll accept the real them. It's a shame this song didn't get a PV but the song is definitely one of the highlights of the album.

"The more you pretend to be strong, I see your weakness, the more you bare your fangs, I see your pain"

We now head into the final track of the album, the ballad title track Secret. The song starts of with the sound of a piano being played softly. Ayu begins to sing softly and quiet over the beat (this song sounds more quiet than Jewel). Once the chorus kicks in the piano starts playing more notes but it isn't much louder, Ayu begins to sing a little louder and faster but the song is still quiet. Her voice sounds perfect for this song (as it does for all her songs) and as I said about Jewel, if you doubt her singing abilities then you should listen to this song. The breakdown is a piano being played with other instruments being played on top. The lyrics talk about how she wants to leave a dark place and fly to a lighter/happier place. Secret is again one of the highlights of the album and is a song i'm sure you will enjoy, even if ballads aren't you type of music.

"Even if I search for a light place over the darkness, spreading the only wing left for me, I can't reach the truth alone"

Overall Secret is an enjoyable and worthwhile album for any new or longtime Ayu fan. The albums highpoints are really high (e.g. 1 love and Secret etc), but the album suffers from having even songs that don't provoke an emotion (It was) to disappointing tracks (Beautiful Fighters). Maybe the fact it came after (Miss) Understood put to much pressure on it to be good but the album lacks something other Ayu albums have. One thing which I enjoyed about this album (and i'm sure you will too) is the fact it sounds so personal, Ayu albums are always personal but this one feels very emotional and I give it props for that. Another thing I have noticed about Ayu albums is that they are hard to rate from favourite to least due to the fact each album brings something new to the table (which is good) so I can't say I hate any Ayu album but of the albums I own of hers Secret is the one I feel the least to replay which might hint at me not hating the album, just not enjoying it as much as others. One thing I have learnt from this review is that there are some songs I have just re-discovered (Born to be, Momentum). Overall give this album a listen to, it might not be my most played of hers but it might be one of your most played^_^ I hope you enjoyed this review and please leave a comment^_^

Pick of the day: Hikaru Utada Show me love (Not a dream)

Pick of the day is when I pick a song (usually a non-single) of any singer and review just that track. Todays pick is Hikaru Utada's Show me love (Not a dream), a song that was featured on her recent Single Collection volume 2 which was released on November 24th last year. In the past the only Japanese single of hers I had heard was Boku wa kuma and this song is alot different to that. Read below my opinion on this pick of the day song!




The song starts off softly with the sound of a piano being played, her voice then comes in slowly and softly. She sounds right on point and clear. The instrumental sounds somewhat electro but once the chorus kicks in that completely goes as the sounds of guitars and drums being to play. Her voices hits higher points and the chorus gives off a dark vibe, it sounds like something emotionally bad has just happened to her. The hook "It's all in my head (show me love)" is dark yet catchy. The second verse continues the rock sound and as the song goes on she continues to sound more "involved" in the song, I wasn't expecting the song to turn into a rock song when the song first started and i'm sure it will catch you off guard as well. The song was written apparently when she was deciding to go on hiatus and the lyrics reflect a dark and lonely vibe. A PV was not made for the song.

"I suppressed it, but it didn't fade."

Overall I found this song to be a surprise. Not only did the rock tinge come out of nowhere but I didn't expect myself to like it as much as I do and the hook is catchy despite what the song overally sounds like. A dark rock sound, completely different to the happy and brightful Boku wa kuma (though that was a childrens song). Show me love (Not a dream) is a must listen for any Jpop fan, especially those who are fans of dark rock tracks.

Single review: BoA I See Me

I See Me was a single released on December 6th last year, it was released as a digital single only. After the hit/miss of Woo Weekend (see here: http://jpopobsessed.blogspot.com/2011/04/single-review-boa-woo-weekend.html) I was interested to see if I See Me would prove to be a good single or a simple cash in for Christmas. Read my review below^_^

The song starts off with the sound of a piano playing before BoA begins to sing over a mid-tempo beat. Her vocals during the verses and not loud but are present and they sound well polished (much better than her vocals on No dance, no life). Once the chorus kicks in BoA's voice becomes a little quicker and the beat turns into a soft but faster beating sound. Personally I believe her vocals sound better in the verse than the chorus but overall she sounds better on this than anything on Woo Weekend. The lyrics talk about how the way she thought her life would be in her childhood haven't come out as she would have hoped. Unfortunately the song didn't recieve a PV.

"I see myself in the faraway scenery. I see me, I see me"



Overall I find this single to be weak, besides her great vocals the song drags on and halfway through you forget the song even is on, it becomes just background music. The chorus doesn't live up to expectations, when the chorus starts it sounds more like a pre-chorus and doesn't hit as high as I would have liked/thought. I wouldn't recommend buying this single.

Review of preview: Namie Amuro Fight Together

Namie Amuro has been chosen to sing the opening to the popular anime One Piece, with this she gives up Fight Together. Whilst we haven't heard the whole song yet I had high expectations and read below if it lived up^_^

The song starts off with a fast dance beat before she starts to sing slowly. During the verse it sounds like people are thumping their feat, at the same time a quiet sound is heard in the background, it is hard to describe what it sounds like but fits in well with the song. During the chorus she starts to sing a little faster and the beat becomes a tad louder, she then sings the hook "We fight together", it's a hook which is surprisingly catchy. The lyrics talk about how she and an unamed person may be seperated but they will always be together, "fighting together".

When I first heard this song I was disappointed, I expected a fast rock track but after a few listens I have come to enjoying it, its calm yet exciting at the same time. Whilst Break it/Get myself back were better suited to Play than Past<Future, Fight Together would be much better suited to Past<Future (also, Fight Together is produced by Nao'ymt). We probably won't hear this song in full until July when it will probably be released as a double A-side single.

"We’ve never hurt each other,

We’ve come a long way"

Single review: Namie Amuro Break it/Get myself back

Break it/Get myself back was Namie Amuro's 35th single and was released on July 28th last year. Being one of the most anticipated releases of last summer I/many Jpop fans were interested to hear what it would sound like, especially after the change of sound in Past<Future. The single may live up to expectations, especially if your a fan of Play and read below why^_^
The first track on the single is Break it. The song starts off with Namie singing "Break it, break it, break it all" over a fast rock beat, at times the beat almost sounds a little Middle Eastern. The verses continue with this rock sound before slowly becoming more danceable and once the chorus kicks in the beat becomes an electro/rock fused sound as Namie starts singing "Break it, all break it". The chorus is catchy, simple and effective and will make you want to hum along/dance. Her voice throughout the song also sounds good. The lyrics talk about how she wants to break down the walls which stand in her way and do what makes her happy. The PV does the song justice but isn't anything special, to me its just there, I neither hate nor like it.

"Clouds close down maze
The stalemate finally breakthrough zero"

We now head into the second track of the single, the summer ballad Get myself back. Get myself back in my opinion is the standout track of the single and you will surely enjoy it if you love summer ballads. The song starts off with a piano being played before a soft, thumping beat is heard. Namie starts singing soflty before the pre-chorus kicks in and she starts singing a little faster. Once the chorus kicks in a soft electro/jazz sound is heard in the background and Namie starts to sing a little louder. The hook to the song is "oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh". It is soft yet effective. Namie may not have loudest or strongest voice in the buisness but she can sing and this song sounds as if it was made for her. The PV is worth watching. Screenshots of the beach, grassy fields and the sunset going down continue to make this song even more of a summer single (and I believe it was shot on her home island of Okinawa). Once the breakdown kicks in the song starts to slow down before slowly getting faster until the final chorus kicks in. The song ends the same way it started, with a piano being played.

"I was always so stubborn
I even lied to myself
No destination is printed
On my unrolled, white map"



If you were a fan of Play then you will probably love this single for the simple fact both songs are produced by Nao'ymt (and these two songs are much better than the ones he produced on Past<Future in my opinion). Both songs are good (or great in Get myself back's case) and are worth the buy. They don't push the envelope on sound and won't revolutionise the music scene but they do the job and are effective^_^

Single review: BoA Woo Weekend

Woo Weekend is BoA's 30th single and was released on July 21st last year. Now I wouldn't call myself a BoA stan, rather a casual listener so when I heard BoA had a new single I was interested to see what it sounded like. I was surprised from what I heard below you will understand why^_^
The title track of the single starts off with BoA singing "Just can't get enough, Woo Wee", as she sings this electro/jazz sounds are heard in the background. The verses instrumental sound like people thumping their feet but once the pre-chorus and chorus kicks in we are thrown an explosion of dance, jazz and electro which give us an happy and danceable tune. The hook "Just can't get enough, Woo Wee" is insanely catchy and I even found myself humming/singing it months after I first heard the tune. Her vocals mould well into the song and she atleast sounds like she can be bothered to sing the song (which I can't say for the next song). The PV was ok,  BoA look tired and bored and it felt very forced which seems to be the general concensus of her career currently, especially in Japan. I found myself surprised with this song because whilst I wasn't overly thrilled when I first heard it I ended up enjoying and buying it.

"Take me to the top (Woo Wee)"

Next up is the b-side to the single, No dance, No life. Now we all know how much of a fan BoA is of Michael Jackson so the obivous Michael Jackson sound of this song isn't a surprise. The song starts off with a dark 80's type tune before BoA sings "I want to dance tonight". This 80s sound is heard throughout the whole pre-chorus before it becomes faster during the chorus. B-sides aren't meant to be amazing but the song was boring, she sounded like she was recording it for the sake of recording a b-side and I don't enjoy her vocals as much on this song. The breakdown is ok but her vocals don't mould well with the beat. Overall I didn't enjoy this b-side, feeling as if it dragged on. However, Woo Weekend is enough to make up for this miss.

"Baby bounce with me tonight"

Overall I find this single to be 50/50. Woo Weekend is enough of a reason to buy the single but No dance, No life is just not an enjoyable track in my opinion. This wasn't the strongest Jpop single released last summer but it for sure wasn't the worse.

Introductory Review: 浜崎 あゆみ Next Level

Hi everyone, welcome to my first review on Next Level: Jpop music reviews.com. The first Jpop singer I heard (and my favourite Jpop singer) is 浜崎 あゆみ or better known as Ayu by her fans. Her Next Level album was the first Jpop album I ever bought so I thought it would be best to make this as my first review. I hope you enjoy reading and please leave your comments after reading^_^

We start the album off with the introduction Bridge to the Sky, it starts off with a calming, airy sound but quickly turns into a euro-dance number. Even when the song goes more dancy it still feels very summery and light, it reminds me of a softer, younger version of Not Yet (the introduction on Secret).

We then head to the title track of the album (Next Level). The song like Bridge to the Sky starts off very summery and airy. Once the chorus hits in it becomes a little more fast paced however the beat isn't as thick as Bridge to the Sky's was and is alot less of a shock. It's the type of song that you could imagine listening to on a trip to the beach, down a long road (just like how the PV was set). The songs lyrics are uplifting and talk about how we all are on the same path in life and we aren't as different as people make out. As the first full track on this album i'm sure you will be left satisified, especially if you enjoy the summery sound it gives off.

                                                             "We keep on walking, On this endless, straight road"

Disco Munication is the first interlude on the album and the song immediately makes your legs start to move and once the chorus kicks in you feel like jumping up for a bit of a dance! An electro, distorted voice is played throughout the song and whilst there are no lyrics you could easily imagine this interlude as a full song. However, I prefer Bridge to the Sky but if the songs we've heard so far are any indication then we shouldn't be needing to sit down for a breather just yet, we have alot more dancing ahead!

"Put your hands together, keep your hands up together, let me sing forever, dala, dala, dala, dala"! EnergizE starts off sounding a bit like a video game but quickly turns into a sing along pop/electro number. I have seen this song has got a bit of flack in other reviews but I personally believe this is one of the best songs on the album, you can sing along and it feels like she had a great time singing it! On the Next Level tour during one of the interludes there was a video where she was playing through a level of Super Mario, jumping up and down and having a great time, thats the type of scenario I could imagine as a video for this song. It's sad this song and Love "n" Hate didn't get a PV but overall its a fun song to sing and dance along to.
                                                     

                                                                     

"If you say you are happy, And give me a smile tomorrow, I feel like somehow, That everything goes well"

 "No, No', No"". The first song I ever heard by Ayu and the first PV I watched of hers was Sparkle, which is why this song has a special place in my heart. The song starts off with a laser shooting type of sound but then turns into a more disco sound before once again changing into a thumping electro beat. As she sings about losing yourself for the night to the beat you can't help but feel this song is darker than the songs earlier on the album, whilst Next Level and EnergizE we're happy, summery types of songs Sparkle feels more like an wintery electro, robotic number. The PV was probably my favourite PV of the Next Level era (closely followed by Next Level and Rule) and everything about this song feels epic, the breakdown is music to the ears and the chorus lives up to the verses expectations. If it wasn't for Rule being in Dragonball Evolution I feel that Sparkle would have been a much better lead in song. Sparkle to this day is still one of my favourite songs by Ayu.

   

"Hey, cute boys and girls
Idling your times away there"

Our next track Rollin starts off with a quiet, mysterious sounding introduction (reminds me of a Circus) but at the 0.27 mark it slowly becomes more electro (the full intro goes for 1:03). When I first heard this song I was told I would like it because I enjoyed Sparkle and that this song has a similar electro sound,that information (atleast in my opinion) is wrong.  Whilst Sparkle had the dark, alluring electro sound Rollin has more of a happier, robotic sound. The song is the most electroish track on the album and at the same time is my least favourite electro sounding track, infact, Rollin and Identity are probably the low points of the album. The song goes from hearing her vocals clearly to sounding robotic in an instant and whilst I didn't find it annoying the track does sound like it wants to be alot of things, (I will admit, the chorus is catchy though). Despite sounding alot more happy then Sparkle the lyrics paint a different picture as she sings about the world continuely changing and how she/the world won't ever be able to go back to the places/times we hold dearest. Overall, this track is a bit of a mess but at the same time its still listenable and far from being an awful track you can't listen to.

      

"That we expected was Just the beginning of failure" Don't say such a thing with a cold look Staring into my eyes"

    We now head into one of the first songs heard from the album, Green! Gone has the electro sound as we welcome, an organic, Eastern style sound. The verses are laidback, calm yet exciting and as stated above sound very organic. Once the chorus kicks in you hear an uplifting, refreshing type of sound as she sings about being shy around her love and covering the real her up. The Eastern Asia sounds on this song are strong (and not just a coincidence as the PV showed), it sounds like it could have come straight out of the 60's-70's. Whilst being called a ballad I would call this more of a mid-tempo song and definitely one of the high points of the album. The song sounds like magic has been thrown over it (if that makes sense) and shows the great vocals Ayu has. It reminds me of some of her earlier songs, that is if they had been released in the current time and will be sure to be in your list of favourite songs from the album^_^ The organic sound of the song also suits the title in my opinion, you feel refreshed after listening to it^_^

"When the trees come into bud again
And the leaves are freshly green
I want to show my smile
More natural than now"

Time for the second interlude on the album. "Load of the Shugyo" is alot more rock sounding then the previous interlude and signifies we are now heading into the rock part of the album. During the hook of the song horns can be heard in the background and guitars start playing, reminiscent of Mirrocle World though not as strong.

The first full rock song on the album is Identity, it starts of quiet and mysterious (similar to alot of the songs on the album) before quickly turning very rock with quitars playing. Ayu sings "Yeah, yeah, yeah" and whilst this is catchy I find this the weakest rock song on the album. The chorus is fast paced and makes me want to be excited but the song just feels weak compared being near Green and Rule on the albums list. As I said with Rollin, the song may be weak but isn't unlistenable. The songs breakdown out of nowhere turns more electro (maybe in reference to the albums overall sound) before turning back to a rock sound. Overall, the song is better than Rollin and I have to admit the lyrics are some of the best lyrics on the album so the song does have things going for it.

"Hey, you there
Who take the trouble to share time and space with someone else"

We now come to the Dragonball Evolution theme song and probably the loudest rock song on the album, Rule. The song has a thumping beat and is a vast improvement over Identity, I have always found that Ayu sounds most comfortable on rock sounding tracks and this song proves it, it sounds like she is fired up and having a great time recording the track. The song talks about how she is sick of following the rules and how she and the one she trusts can make their own rules. The song is a highlight of the album and you won't be disappointed by the PV. Rule/Sparkle are one of my favourite Ayu singles so far.

"I don't need the Rules
Decided by someone else
Because we are the Rules
I can't give way in that matter"

We now head into the final rock track of the album, Love "n" Hate. We hear orchestra strings quickly followed by guitars being played during the opening few seconds. As she counts to 7 you can't help but feel out of the three rock songs on the album, atleast in sound this is the most emotional of those three. The song is about how she only wanted to dream about being with the guy she liked but forced herself to stay away from him and whilst in the process of this movement she discovered it hurt more than she thought it would. Definitely one of the highlights of the album and the strings make the song even more catchy, shame it didn't get a PV.

"I only wated to dream
That my dream would come true
Just for a moment"

We now head into the final interlude of the album, Pieces of Seven a sign that the album is nearing an end. Like the opening few seconds of Bridge to the Sky the song sounds very airy and light and at 0.51 we hear a somewhat dancey/upbeat Eastern sound. However, at 1:36 the song turns more into a rock interlude whilst a mysterious dancey beat is heard in the background. Overall the introduction/interludes on this album have been some of the best she has ever done so far^_^

The song coupled with Green is now heard. Days is a ballad with elements of Christmas theme music. The verses are quiet with Winter type sounds heard, her voice sounds great and once the chorus kicks in you feel a strong Christmas presence as bells are heard in the background. The song talks about her love for a guy who she believes has someone else in his life, but as long as she can talk and see him she gets through the pain. A Christmas love ballad this is and if you enjoy her Winter singles then I am sure you will enjoy this song.

"Each word you casually exchange with me Is such a precious treasure to me But I myself feel a bit embarrassed about this So if you knew, you would surely laugh at me"

We now head into the final song of the album, the ballad Curtain Call. The song starts with the piano being played before Ayu starts singing, alot more softly and quieter than in Days. The chorus whilst still quiet is sung a little bit faster. At 1:11 the song becomes faster again before becoming quiet again. Once the second chorus kicks in a gospel choir is heard in the background and makes the song seem even grander before at just before the song ends it becomes quieter, just like it started. The song is a love song sent from her heart to the one she loves. Overall I prefer this ballad to Days and to me she sounds more relaxed yet sounds like she is singing from somewhere more personal.

"A love song sent to you, my dear
From my heart"

 Overall I find Next Level another great album by Ayu, whilst some say its her worst I find it one of her strongest and one of my favourites by her. If your new to Ayu you will enjoy this album and even if you we're already a fan of her i'm sure you will find parts, if not the whole album to enjoy and one of the good things about her is every album she changes her sound so you never know what each album will sound like? I'm sorry this review went a bit long but a I hope you enjoyed it and please leave a comment^_^