понедельник, 27 февраля 2012
These two albums were both released in February so I was going to make a double review right from the start but soon I realized there are actually quite a few similarities between them so it must be fate. I mean just look at the covers! They both have 11 songs, but while in case of Laruku 7 of the songs have PVs and 4 are brand new, with Alice Nine it's vice versa - with 4 PVs and 7 new songs. Seriously, I've been listening to both albums lately and there are some melodies playing in my head that I'm not sure which album they're from.
And now the in-depth analysis.
I like 'em plain, manly covers XD
REVIEWSL'Arc~en~Ciel - BUTTERFLY
In short: It's amazing. Laruku has done it one again. Surely there wasn't much of a surprise since only 4 songs were not released previously, but listening to the album as a whole is different. This band rocks so hard. Each song is great, each song is a hit. Laruku are too cool to do b-sides, they just write singles right away. At first I was quite suspicious of new songs like XXX and Chase but now I absolutely love them. They're somewhat different from earlier songs but still so unmistakeably trademark. 20 years, 12 albums, not a bad song. Laruku are my heroes. That is all. 
Alice Nine - "9"
The long-awaited 5th album. All the fandom is going crazy over it but my case is different. Even though I listened to it several times I still can't grasp it. I mean I can't really see it a whole. Many people say it sounds mature but I got the impression that they attain maturity with GEMINI but didn't stop at it and instead continued looking for something. Basically most songs sound not bad but very raw and messy, like they were trying too hard. I can't even put my finger on it, it just feels something is missing.
It was really hard to pick a favourite and least favourite because for me all the songs on the album can be divided into 2 categories: 'pretty good' and 'not really'. Basically with all the previous albums there were songs that I absolutely loved. Even GEMINI was far from perfect, but it had GEMINI and that alone is enough to make it awesome. Which is not to say I'm disappointed because I tried not to get my hopes up from the start. But the fandom's general exaltation made me wonder if I'm too picky.
Not going to do full track-by-track, just the ones I have something to say about.
HEAVENLY TALE - pretty good but I'm not sure it's complimenting to say the best thing I like about this song is back vocals.
THE ARC - I quite like it, especially the chorus but to be honest with all this pumping rhythm and showy guitars and subtle strings - as a whole it seems too pretentious and unbalanced. Also I really don't like the way it gives way to Gallows. It only emphasizes the impression that the other song was done just by changing the pace a little.
花霞 (KASUMI) really reminds me of Laruku. In a good way. And Shou's vocals are really good. I think he's become even better at high tones and that's probably the only thing about his voice that I really like.
BLUE FLAME - liked it since it came out, but I never really listened to it without the PV. This song has many layers and really deserves to be listened to carefully.
ハロー、ワールド(HELLO.WORLD) - I don't orgasm at the sound of Saga's voice like the rest of the fandom but I quite like the song. It's really unusual and even experimental sort of. I would have thought Saga composed it, it's so atypical for Tora, but I'm glad he got more varied.
虹の雪 (NIJI NO YUKI) - sorry, Shou darling, but I still don't like it. It was also voted as least favourite song by the fandom. But it's just a first attempt so it's ok.
APOCALYPSE [IT`S NOT THE END] - Tora, Shou, it's not nice to steal from Ricky Martin! 
すべてへ(SUBETE HE) - it sure is an interesting song and I think it was a good idea to make it into a PV to represent the album. I like how it begins like a ballad and the breaks into rocking full speed! A 2 in 1 kind of. It's kind of epic without being too pretentious. Well, that's Saga for you.
I suppose this review sounds pretty harsh but the truth is it does't make me love the band any less. In a way I'm even glad it's not that good because I already love the guys to an extent that scares me a little. Anyway, it's the first time I'm actually checking Oricon site daily to check how an album's doing. Even if I'm not digging it I know they worked very hard on it and I really want them to succeed.
@темы:
review,
L'Arc~en~Ciel,
Alice Nine
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28.02.2012 в 22:09APOCALYPSE [IT`S NOT THE END] - Tora, Shou, it's not nice to steal from Ricky Martin!
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28.02.2012 в 23:16Надо же, и так бывает.
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29.02.2012 в 00:22-
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29.02.2012 в 00:52-
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29.02.2012 в 09:10-
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29.02.2012 в 14:23