I wouldn't be surprised, didn't she say a few years ago she could only see herself performing for another 5ish years before focusing on the behind the scenes aspect of the industry?

A lot of Namie songs have been registered lately too so perhaps we will get an album this year after all

I think it was confirmed to be false, but I'd rather her retire in the coming years than end up like those grandmas before her who keep releasing subpar material and sell best albums at fable-like prices, ruining their legacy.

An album might be released before the tour in August, Checkmate 2 too.

Mint is really good, I love the visuals!

OMG GUYS IM BACK

So much has happened

Utadas songs

Made in Japan

Welcome back! Did you like them?

Finally listening to this Ayu album. This intro is really hype!

welcome back from banland! share your thoughts on these!

I can't get enough of You are the only one, ugh. I hope I don't overplay it

The Pagan Poetry

The way it builds

Really should've been a full song

I discovered this total bop whilst in JPN, let me download his discography.

Wait what?! What do we know about the next tour?! Isn't it the classic LIVE STYLE? And I think that Red Carpet is gonna be included anyway tbh.
I don't want her to retire, she's literally one of the few artists who release quality music in the industry, she's way too good to retire, she's a gift sent from Heaven

Anyway tasks should have been a full song, it's such an amazing intro

Tasky is cute, probably one of the better of her ~task~ stuff.

Introduction ~Japonesque~ did the whole Japanese instrument themed album opener better though. And it's lowkey better than 80% of Japonesque.

I wish Namie would release an album full of songs like tasky & Introduction ～JAPONESQUE～.
A japanese influenced and upgraded version of WANT ME, WANT ME

Isn't Want Me, Want Me more Bollywood/Indian Influenced though? I swear it's a sitar that opens it and not a shamisen.

Tasky works as a good opener, it should have been a full song instead.

I think Ayu's album might grow on me. I love Summer Love and You Are the Only One and Survivor (On Oricon) are nice, the other tracks I'm very :| about.

That's why I said "a japanese influenced and upgraded version" of it, I know it's not typical japanese yet it includes some typical instruments which give a Bollywood-ish vibe. I think it would be cool to have a 2.0 version of that kind of song with typical japanese instruments

I'm still kind of pressed JAPONESQUE was mostly visually inspired by the traditional culture because the first j-pop (if we avoid those terms used to describe its earlier forms) singers were geishas and if she'd properly paid homage to them by incorporating more traditional elements into songs while staying to true to herself or with one-era reinvention, it would've been epic, a cult album etc.

Tldr, JAPONESQUE had a cute concept that could be explored further. Meanwhile, I still can't grasp the concept behind MADE IN JAPAN, seems a bit disjointed on the musical side, though I'm yet to delve into lyrics. Just some thoughts as I'm trying to review some of the important albums this year (MIJ included because there's more to it than music).

Tbh.

Introduction ~Japonesque~ is easily one of the strongest album openers ever and So Nice kinda continued the Japanese theme but with her typical style yet after that it was kinda typical all over the place disjointedness. The traditional feel should have been delved into further instead of just like 3 songs.

Mess I didn't like anything from the Ayu album, guess I'll never get into her except for a few songs