“Earth in the Darkness~Aozora ni Mukkate” TOSHI

IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS IS NOT A SINGLE BY X JAPAN BUT A SOLO SINGLE BY THE LEAD SINGER TOSHI. HOWEVER I DON’T FEEL LIKE EDITING THIS SO I’M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT ANYTHING IN THIS REVIEW STATING THAT THIS A SINGLE BY X JAPAN IS INCORRECT. SORRY FOR THE MISTAKE.

So even though they broke up around 1997, X Japan, seem to be staging a comeback which will include a concert in Paris along with some other fellow Rockers. And this is there latest single. I’m not sure if it’s been released yet seeing as it’s still on pre-order for May 25, and some people have claimed to already gotten there copy, i don’t know. But it’s out there…somewhere.

Though i haven’t heard a lot of there songs, this one is already my favorite. It starts out sort of calm and mellow, of course with the strings (i love the combination of rock and classical.) It’s about 7 minutes long but it takes it’s time building. This song is song in japanese, and i haven’t been able to find any translations . It’s mostly a ballad, the drums kick in, but there’s very little guitar involvement, really it’s mostly just the orchestra and Toshi’s soaring voice that steal the show. It’s very emotional, there’s a sense of longing in his voice and in the melody. It’s a really perfect ballad with some rock elements.

The single also features an “Orchestra version” which should be fun.

Strongly reccomended.

“The Art of Life” X Japan

Hokay. So  I stand before you as one of the world’s greatest Hypocrites. Oh no yes, it’s true. I was reading the latest issue of Otaku USA and they had a two page spread about basically J-Rock. and i said to myself, “Why are anime/manga magazines always trying to push these crazy ,frequently Visual Kei, rock bands on us?” I skimmed through the article, noting the names and then got online and registered at their forum, with the specific intent of complaining about this. After creating a great deal of Drama over there (mostly over a misunderstanding) I ran and hid for a little while. However, i was browsing my forum when i ran across a thread dedicated to who your favorite bands were. One list was comprised entirely of the people mentioned in the Otaku USA article. So i went through and youtubed each and every single band. It wasn’t as bad as i thought i was going to be.

So there! I am currently in the process of Discovering X Japan an extremely popular Visual Kei band. Ofcourse they were popular a decade and some years ago, they are very influential, and also i like them a lot.

My first review is of their album “The Art of Life”. This album consists of one song. Yes one song that is 29 minutes long.  It made me think instantly of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Not because the styles of music are the same. But for the sheer epic grandure of the song. There’s the 80’s metal guitars (though the song isn’t that old), the change in pace and intensity and the melodrama of the lyrics. There’s an Orchestra and the use of a robot sounding like Woman who speaks several verses. Also about 8 minutes is a piano solo that goes from pretty to clanking and crazed after a while, then the main chorus kicks back in and the song rocks out till the finish.

I think it’s rather ambitous, and i admire them for making one song an entire album. The song seems to deal with mortality, how we fight against time and our own fragility to find meaning in this life. This very basic human issue seems to drive the leader crazy! Some the lyrics are really out there, example:

Through my eyes
Time goes by like tears
My emotion’s losing the color of life
Kill my heart
Release all my pain
I’m shouting out loud
Insanity takes hold over me

Turning away from the wall
Nothing I can see
The scream deep inside
reflecting another person in my heart
He calls me from within
“All existence you see before you
must be wiped out :
Dream, Reality, Memories,
and Yourself”

I begin to lose control of myself
My lust is so blind, destroys my mind
Nobody can stop my turning to madness
No matter how you try to hold me in your heart
Why do you wanna raise these walls
I don’t know the meaning of hatred
My brain gets blown away hearing words of lies
I only want to hold your love

Stab the dolls filled with hate
Wash yourself with their blood
Drive into the raging current of time
Swing your murderous weapon into the belly
“the earth”
Shout and start creating confusion
Shed your blood for pleasure
And what? For love?
What am I supposed to do?

And that’s not a translation. However, as out there and confusing as the message/lyrics can be at time, a strong power chorus and the arrangement/production is what really makes this song. I think it’s pretty good. But not my favorite. I’ve only listened to it once, but i can see myself giving it another try!