Gozen
1. ayashi no hikari
We open with the sound of electric guitar, which could in this case be easily mistaken for the Japanese koto. Isshi begins singing, and you'll probably think you've been transported back in time about 500 years. It sounds that traditional. This song has kind of a dark edge and is very mysterious. The chorus is, by contrast, explosive and totally memorable. Isshi's voice sounds great! The thing I love most about this song is the fact that all the instruments are made to sound more "Japanese" than usual. What a wonderful way to open the album!
Rating: 10
2. fuusetsu
If "ayashi no hikari" was sublime, then this song just rocks. It opens with lots of fast guitars and percussion. The first verse tone things down a bit, but quickly speeds up again. All these changes in tempo keep things interesting. Isshi's voice is brighter here, almost happy, and the beat is a little bouncy. The chorus isn't quite as unique, but still very good. Then there's a bridge section that slows way down and totally changes the mood. The percussion here is also very good. Then we go back to the chorus. This is masterful songwriting and shows just how talented Kagrra is.
Rating: 10
 Nao, the bassist. |
3. Ihoukyou
This is probably my favourite song on the album. The opening guitars play a traditional sounding melody, even if they are crunchy and modern-ish. The vocals are extremely fast, punctuated by great percussion. The bridge/chorus of this song, however, is one of the best I have ever hear. It's almost a straight progression from the lower notes to the higher, then turns into a traditional Japanese melody. You have to hear it to realize how awesome it is. Isshi doesn't use his falsetto here as much, and the result is a song that seems a little more like "rock." When he does sing falsetto though, it is very clear and on-pitch. Yes, I really love this song, and you should too! ^_~
Rating: 10
4. Kisen
About this time, you'd think the album would slow down a little. Not so. This song moves along pretty quickly, even though the mood is darker again. It's almost a little sinister. It has some nice, heavy percussion, and the guitars are less dominant. The melody seems a little repetitive, but has its share of innovative parts. Isshi's falsetto also seems a bit less strong, but it's still an awesome song. The guitar solo absolutely kicks ass.
Rating: 9
5. Hizou
This song opens with some strange synthed percussion overlayed on traditional Japanese instruments. It continues the darker feel of the last track, but is a little harder. The intro goes on for a long, long time before Isshi begins singing. The melody almost seems like random notes, but for some reason it works. The chorus is another great one, with Isshi jumping from low notes to impossibly high ones. He is such a talented singer. Unfortunately, he doesn't get to sing much in this song. There really aren't a lot of vocals. The track does add to the overall mood and tone of the album though.
Rating: 8
6. Gen'oku
Finally, things calm down and we get something more mid-tempo. It begins with Isshi singing lightly over some traditional harp-sounding instruments. His voice is so pretty here. Then, the song picks up the pace a little until it becomes a a nice, brisk track. The percussion is very persistent and seems to be more prominent than even the guitars. I think that gives the song a unique feel, since most bands rely on their guitarists more than the drummer. Isshi sings almost the whole song falsetto, and for some reason this never gets annoying. I can't find a single thing wrong with this song.
Rating: 10
7. Mukuro no toride
Ooh, creepy sounds! And guitar! Lots of guitar! And keyboards? As you might have guessed, this is another fast, dark song with a very mysterious melody. I mean, no one other than Kagrra consistently writes melodies that seem so mystifying. Then we get a shouted section!! What the...? That drops out for a few moments of silence, then we go to a slow, falsetto section. Wow, this song just keeps you guessing. Because then it speeds up again! I can't type fast enough to keep up with all the changes. In a way, this song feels a lot like a journey, and the scenery keeps changing. I hope that makes sense. It's also the longest song on the album, so maybe Kagrra was going for an epic kind of feel. Either way, it's an awesome, creative track that keeps the listener interested from beginning to end.
Rating: 10
8. hiren kidan
Isshi begins singing in his lower register (!) over some acoustic intrumentation. Then, as the song crescendoes, the notes get higher until he has hit falsetto. I like the way that the song builds gradually; it seems smoother than the previous tracks. More great percussion here, as well as some nice, steady guitarwork. Overall, the song might be a little boring at first, but I think it is a nice change of pace. I also like getting to hear Isshi sing by himself as it shows what a nice voice he has. Um, that's all I can think to say.
Rating: 8
9. mikoto
Loudness! This song comes as such a shock after the subdued beauty of "hiren kidan". Not that it's incredibly hard or loud, but it's definitely more reminiscent of earlier tracks on the album. The melody seems a little more modern, but not much. I especially like the harmony at the end of the verses. For some reason, the chorus makes me think of a L'Arc~en~ciel song, which is of course absurd. But it does. Go figure. The bridge is a perfect example of Kagrra's "neo-japonesque" theme; too bad it is so short. This is a great song that is lots of fun. ^_^
Rating: 10
10. Shuuen no kisetsu
Ah, the last song on the album. I'm almost sad to see it end. As you'd expect, this is more restrained, though definitely not a ballad. There were no ballads! Wow! This song is so melodic, and it kind of just floats along. Isshi's voice is perfect for this style of music. He knows exactly when to use his falsetto and when to sing full-voice. This song is almost entirely acoustic, very easy on the ears. When there is some electric guitar, it complements the arrangement perfectly. *sigh* This is what good music is all about. Every aspect blends to form a complex tapestry of sound.
Rating: Yes, another 10
Notes: As you can see, the majority of tracks on this album got a perfect score. I don't normally do that, and it's been quite a while since I have an album a 10. However, I felt that it was justified in this case. As a concept album, this is one of the best I have ever heard. However, sometimes when you examine a concept album track-by-track, it falls apart. This one does not. I urge every jrock fan to go out and buy this album! You won't be disappointed.