Ayumi Hamasaki Prepares Eleventh Studio Album, Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus

by Bradley Stern
filed under: Ayumi Hamasaki

ih6wc8 1024x864 Ayumi Hamasaki Prepares Eleventh Studio Album, Rock n Roll Circus

It’s another year, which means it must be time for Ayumi Hamasaki to release a new album.

The Empress of J-Pop will be releasing her eleventh studio album on April 14, entitled Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus. The tracklisting is as follows:

01.THE introduction
02.Microphone
03.count down
04.Sunset ～LOVE is ALL～
05.BALLAD
06.Last Links
07.montage
08.Don’t look back
09.Jump!
10.Lady Dynamite
11.Sexy little things
12.Sunrise ～LOVE is ALL～
13.meaning of Love
14.You were…
15.RED LINE ～for TA～ [album version]

I’m not a fan of either album cover (CD and CD/DVD), nor did I find anything particularly impressive about the singles (“BALLAD” / “SUNRISE ~LOVE is ALL~“) that have been released from the album thus far. Actually, they’re terrible.

I feel like she’s been in a rut of generic balladry and cheap, faux-rock bland fests since 2006. Bring on dancey Ayu again–”Fly High”! “UNITE”! “WHATEVER”!

Disappointment city.

Click here for more details on the release.

pixel Ayumi Hamasaki Prepares Eleventh Studio Album, Rock n Roll Circus

  • http://www.theprophetblog.net The Prophet

    UTADA IS STILL THE TRUE QUEEN!

  • anon

    I totally agree about being disappointed with Ayu’s recent singles and would LOVE it if she went back to the earlier sound she had with Fly High, Unite!, evolution, Whatever, etc. I still have hopes for this album though.

  • Anonymous

    It’s not entirely accurate to say she’s been only doing faux rock and ballads – her last album was at least trying to switch up genres and she still puts out some feel-good summer pop and such, but it’s all pretty bad. It’s gotten to the point that I’m barely interested in her new releases. I didn’t even put Next Level on my iPod :( I want to like her again though, so I’m hoping against all odds this album is good.

  • Brett

    First of all UTADA and her music are very bland generic pop genres. Ayumi actually does have amazing beats. I found her last two singles “You were… / BALLAD” and “Sunrise/Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~” great successes. I think people just want to see her fall. She has a powerful voice and powerful lyrics. People should give her more credit than that. I personally have all her albums and find every song unique and stylish. People judge her music the same as they judge Britney Spears (Not that I’m a fan of her at all). It’s meaningless. The DVD+CD cover is beautiful. Long live Ayumi Hamasaki Queen Of Japanese Pop!

  • http://thetruedarkness.deviantart.com/ Ayu Fan 999

    I absolutely agree with Brett on this one, just because her sales aren’t as hias they were before doesn’t mean her music is bad.

  • http://www.muumuse.com Bradley Stern

    @Ayu Fan:
    You’re literally making up an argument that I didn’t craft: I don’t care how much her sales are up OR down, the music has been full-fledged generic since 2006.

    You actually can’t listen to “CONNECTED” or “I Am…” and then listen to “Sunrise” and tell me that they’re on the same level.

  • taokaTOKiin

    Why does everyone fight over absolutely EVERYTHING ugh…

    You cant judge her skill be her sales, moron…. =______=”’

  • Tiffaney

    I actually have to say she is on a better level lyric wise and her voice has compencated for her ear going completely deaf. I will always be a fan of ayu no matter what anyone else says about her. Her music is deeper than a lot of American crap out there. In fact all of it. Brett is right. Along with Ayu Fan. Her music is beautiful. If you listen to Microphone on youtube. You’ll find it is very much amazing and sounds like herself. I LOVE her. Went to her asia tour for GUILTY and NEXT LEVEL and she was simply amazing. Haters can just gtfo.

  • vanessa

    I must say I really love her new style so in music as in fashion. I think she was great from the very start its just that she is grown up now and so is her music. But that is just my oppinion.

  • Dalia

    ”Disappointment city” Ouch….
    For a 31 year old?? These covers look amazing! I wish I could look like that when I reach my 30′s.
    I litterally enjoyed every song she’s ever released because of the varieties she keeps on offering and this Jrock/Jpop is not so bad…
    Now that i listened to 4 of the new songs on this album its pretty impressive how awesome she sounded. Even the videos were like eye candies to me: the fashion, the art, the vision… ALL OF IT!!!

    Probably your interpretation of ”cheap, faux-rock” is her deffinition to her “pop-rock”…. Thank god for different opinions =p

    Maybe you should give it a couple more listens or something… or post up her vids and show everyone her creativity and see peoples responses (and i don’t want to bring gaga up as ayu has been around for wha like 11-12 years now?)

    I guess it all ends up on how much your taste in music changes or evolves along the years…

  • lolled

    well personally i think her music has gone a bit downhill, starting with Secret in 2006. :D There are still times when she releases big hits that I love and then there’s times when her releases are a complete disappointment for me. For example NEXT LEVEL didn’t get my love, not did Secret. But about Rock n Roll Circus, I probably will listen to it through. I did like the singles quite a lot, BALLAD was a amazing song and I really love it. It’s probably her best since Together When… in 2007 imo. :D