Album arts & tracklisting: Ayumi Hamasaki - Colours

Bless this woman. She really is trying to act brand new with this album of hers. Ayumi Hamasaki's 15th full length studio album Colours (British English spelling duly noted) features a couple of career firsts. Colours marks the first album of Ayu's to feature production from a range of non Japanese producers, not to mention two of which are big US producers: Red One and Rodney Jerkins, both of whom had two of their biggest hits with Lady Gaga's "Bad romance" and "Telephone" respectively. Colours is also the first Ayu album to not feature an intro or any interludes, making it her leanest album yet at just 10 tracks.

1. Feel the love
2. XOXO
3. What is forever love
4. Hello new me
5. Pray
6. Angel
7. Terminal
8. Merry-go-round
9. Lelio
10. Now & 4eva

Ayu has become somewhat proficient in the art of looking like a blow up sex doll. But ever since Party queen flopped and backhanded her back handed her back to reality, she has been toning the fried wigs, collagen bloated lips and contact lenses down. The ultimate result being the album covers for Colours. I can not lie. Ayu looks good. Really f**king good. I don't think she has ever looked THIS good.

Whilst Ayu is sporting a slick new look and a super lean album track list, the music itself still leaves a lot (or nothing rather) to be desired. Ayu took two steps forward, but leaned right the way back. If it is any consolation to Ayu fans, one of the Team Ayu editions of Colours comes with a candle which you can burn in memory of Ayu's career.