L'Arc~en~Ciel: KISS *****
Mega popular J-rock sensation L'Arc~en~Ciel strike back in 2007 with their 11th original album enitiled "KISS"... Being a HUGE L'Arc fan even though this came out last month I wanted some real time to listen to it & really soak it in before I posted a review. "SMILE" was Larku's epic raw-edge return album & will always hold a special place as my fave album of their's due to the Otakon concert in 2004. "AWAKE" was the proper follow-up that boasted many powerful singles & some of their best writing to date... after a year off, how would "KISS" stack up? It was evident by the early singles like "Seventh Heaven, My Heart Draws a Dream, & Daybreak's Bell" that this album was going to have a retro L'Arc feel to it, which it does. And in all honesty I prefer some of the album tracks to the singles (which is rare) ...although this album's songs are more joined in flavoring than alot of L'Arc's later 90's work, it is not as conjoined as "SMILE" (which almost sounds like it was written in one session,) or as polished as "AWAKE" (which has some real song mastery on it), but hold's it's own as one of L'Arc's stronger albums. Song's like the catchy "Pretty Girl", the moody "The Black Rose", or the epic ballad "Yuki no Ashiato" are some real jems in L'Arc's entire discography...and will have you going back for repeat listens immediately. The only somewhat "off" song is the final single from this release "Hurry Xmas" which is an over the top Christmas big-band ballad released for the season, & even though winter themed material is nothing new for L'Arc, this particular number is a bit rich to be an album track (thankfully the last on the album) as it will be one after Xmas you will probably pass... This song IMO should have been a single release only. The boys should have included the anime "Moribito's" AWESOME opening theme "Shine" ..which sounded like it would be one of the best songs on this album, yet it has not been released as an album track or single release despite being attached to the period martial arts anime early in 2007. Their next release is yet ANOTHER single that is not "Shine"... when is this song going to be released??? I thought for sure when it wasn't a single, it would have been on the album, & then when that proved to be wrong, that it would be the "after single"... & again that failed to be true... @_@
Where is "Shine?" I want that song!!!
All in all L'Arc delivers another great album that will have their fans very pleased with a strong 2007 effort filled with much greatness! Check it out, you'll love it!!
L'Arc~en~Ciel from their new album KISS (ALSO available on iTunes):
"Pretty Girl"
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/L%27Arc%7Een%7ECiel%20-%2002%20-%20Pretty%20girl.mp3
"Sunadokei"
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/L%27Arc%7Een%7ECiel%20-%2004%20-%20Sunadokei.mp3
"The Black Rose"
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/L%27Arc%7Een%7ECiel%20-%2009%20-%20THE%20BLACK%20ROSE.mp3
"Yuki no Ashiaro"
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/L%27Arc%7Een%7ECiel%20-%2011%20-%20Yuki%20no%20Ashiato.mp3
LUNA SEA TRIBUTE: Memorial Cover Album -Re:birth-
Some of your favorite acts came together this December to tribute one of the BEST Visual Kei bands ever, the legendary LUNA SEA... & even though the tracklist changed a bit from the 1st released tidbits, there is truly some real justice served on this album covering the aforementioned Visual Gods... from the likes of MUCC, MERRY, HIGH & MIGHTY COLOR, NAMI TAMAKI, ABINGDON BOYS SCHOOL, KANNIVALISM, MARTY FRIEDMAN, & more!!...
For your LUNA SEA cover listening pleasure:
MUCC: "Deja Vu"
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/01%20-%20Dejavu.mp3?
MERRY: "Precious"
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/04%20-%20PRECIOUS....mp3
NAMI TAMAKI: "Storm"
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/03%20-%20STORM.mp3
HIGH & MIGHTY COLOR: "Rosier"
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/05%20-%20ROSIER.mp3
MARTY FRIEDMAN: "Shine"
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/10%20-%20SHINE.mp3
***Other Cool NEW Stuff***:
12012: "Screen Out" (from their new album "Diamond")
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/03%20-%20SCREEN%20OUT.mp3
ACID BLACK CHERRY: "Aishitenai" (new single)
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/01%20-%20Acid%20Black%20Chery%20-%20Aishitenai.mp3
ANGELA: "End Of The World" ~remaster (from their new Best 2CD set "Treasure Box")
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/03.%20The%20End%20Of%20The%20World.mp3
THE BRILLIANT GREEN: "Enemy" (new single)
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/01.%20Enemy.mp3
DUEL JEWEL: "Buller x Star" (from their new album "Bullets" ...finally ^_-)
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/04%20bullet%20x%20star.mp3
GO!GO!7188: "Poloroid ~live bootleg @ the Knitting Factory NYC 8.2007"
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/04%20Polaroid.mp3
HIZAKI GRACE PROJECT (Hizaki & Juka): "Mizerable" (from their album "Dignity of Crest")
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/03%20Mizerable.mp3
NANA KITADE feat. MARTY FRIEDMAN: "Alice" (from her new Best album "Berry Berry Singles")
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/Nana%20Kitade%20(feat%20Marty%20Friedman)%20-%2011%20-%20Alice%20~Tsubureta%20Berry%20Ver.~.mp3
NIGHTMARE: "Dirty" (new single)
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/01.DIRTY.mp3
***Bonus track from Guitar Hero III ~Steve Ouimette "Devil Went Down to Georgia" ^_-
http://cultureshockjapan.googlegroups.com/web/11-steve_ouimette-devil_went_down_to_georgia__guitar_hero_original_.mp3?gda=5yWRSXgAAAAgMIm1j-dtsN5eNf-coMVV7v06L63vf2FBHD9wnXXmLGG1qiJ7UbTIup-M2XPURDQMBsl0dae1q92-0COSJ9qTKtrAW9yVRulHGai0wVUAukunoKNU4q4VaWCVljBcanz0wMmGVBFlhCAne-0GsXWi8sRAzm5UXyllIosOsu_D-g
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