paperclippy

In case there is anyone here who doesn't already know, L'Arc~en~Ciel is my favorite band. They're Japanese and recently celebrated their 15th anniversary. Their songs are used a lot in commercials and as theme songs for anime, movies, and video games. My commentary refers a lot to other L'Arc songs, so chances are that nobody on my friends list will know what the heck I'm talking about. I'll try to give references to songs you might know to give you an idea.

Okay, so the album came out in November, but I just got it the other day. It's an interesting mix of songs in their older style and their newer style. Some of the songs sound more like their stuff from the True era -- think "Lies and Truth," or for the anime fans among you, "The 4th Avenue Cafe" (one of the ending themes for Rurouni Kenshin). Some sound like their most recent album. Some are just kind of in between.

My thoughts on each track after a few listen-throughs of the album:

Seventh Heaven - I really love this one. I downloaded it a while before I got the album, so I've been listening to it for longer, which may or may not have influenced my opinion. Mostly it just sounds like my favorite L'Arc songs -- New World, Neo Universe, and the like (or for a song you've heard of, like U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name"). Super upbeat, with a ridiculously catchy chorus, and it just occurred to me that all three of these songs have lyrics talking about flying into a new world.
Pretty Girl - Not as much of a fan of this one. It's a little more . . . punky. It reminds me of some of my less favorite songs from Real. On the other hand, I do like the parts where he goes up to his higher range in the chorus.
My Heart Draws a Dream - I love this one too. It's interesting -- in the beginning Hyde's voice sounds like it did back in songs like Blurry Eyes and Vivid Colors. The style of the song reminds me of Vivid Colors too (song you've heard of: Clay Aiken's "Invisible", only not really, and better), except like the others that remind me of old songs, it's much more modern and Hyde's voice is much richer.
Sunadokei (Hourglass) - Similar to My Heart Draws a Dream in that it's another moderately paced song with soaring vocals. I <3 Hyde's vocals!
Spiral - This one is okay. It's music is by Yukihiro, and his songs are usually my least favorite, but this one's pretty good. It sounds a little bit angrier than their other songs.
Alone En La Vida - This is probably one of their more unique songs. It has almost a Latin beat/guitar in the intro. I feel like you could dance a samba to it if you really wanted to.
Daybreak's Bell - I didn't like this one at first but it's growing on me. I am definitely realizing that a lot of L'Arc songs have an intro that's in a minor key which transitions to major when it picks up the beat. This song seems to transition in the middle of the verses and chorus. There is one melodic aspect of the chorus that kind of reminds me of George Michael's "Careless Whisper."
Umibe (Seashore) - The piano intro almost makes me think of No Doubt's "Don't Speak." No similarity other than that though. :) I like this one -- it has kind of a dark tone to it with some distorted guitar to back it up.
The Black Rose - This one has more of a dark metal feel. Not my favorite on the album but it's starting to grow on me.
Link - This one sounds a whole lot like the songs from True. It has an upbeat orchestral background with some jazzy influences. It does have more modern instrumentation and a more modern intro though.
Yuki no Ashiato　（Footprint of Snow) - This is the slowest song on the album. My main complaint with it is that some of it sounds almost whiny. Other than that it's okay.
Hurry Xmas - Probably my least favorite song on the album. It sounds like it could have come off of their second album (don't get me wrong, I like a lot of their second album). If I had to pick one of their other songs it most reminds me of, it would definitely be "C'est La Vie." The main differences between then and now are that Hyde's voice is much more mature, the rhythms are more modern, and they have an actual orchestra in the background instead of a synthesizer. Actually it is a little bit like "The 4th Avenue Cafe" and "Singin' in the Rain" too. The sort of music that makes you think of a big dance number for a musical that takes place on a street in Paris.

Anyway, my mind will probably change on some of these songs as I listen to it more. I still think my favorite L'Arc albums are probably Heart and Ark.