GAIA
1. GAIA
Intro tracks always seem to set the mood for the rest of the CD. A bad intro can detract from an otherwise good album, while a good one can really add to the flavor. 'GAIA' is one of the latter. It opens with some nice, upbeat acoustic guitar and understated percussion. Overall, the track is relatively mid-tempo. For the first minute and a half, there are no vocals. When Yasu does begin singing, it's kind of surprising. The melody is simple, yet Yasu's voice makes it seem rich. The chorus is faster and really gives Yasu a chance to show off his acrobatic style. This track has a fresh, organic feel to it, and is a really strong way to start off the album.
Rating: 9 out of 10
 You is so cute. |
2. CELL
While 'GAIA' might have been somewhat mellow, 'CELL' is a complete 360. This song features a driving drum line and some impressive work by the bassist. The chorus is one that very well might get stuck in your head for days at a time. The thing that impressed me the most about this track was the slightly dark feel that is somehow still catchy. Toward the middle, there is a strange bridge section that features a female (?) backup singer and a bass solo. You don't hear too many of those anymore. This is followed by a very cool solo by guitarist You. My one question: "Lies and truth in the halation"? What in the world is halation? Someone, please enlighten me.
Rating: 9 out of 10
3. Sister
Now we come to one of my favorite songs on the CD. I don't know what it is about this song, but I just love it. The verses begin relatively soft, then build toward the chorus. The melody seems very familiar and yet completely original at the same time. The chorus rushes by at a fast pace, but it's incredibly fun. One thing I really enjoy here is the percussion; it really adds to the mood and pushes the song forward. Oh, there is another pretty cool guitar solo. Yasu's singing really began to impress me here; I think he is seriously underrated. He belongs in a list of the top 5 jrock vocalists. Seriously.
Rating: 10 out of 10
4. Feel the Wind
From what I've heard, JDA fans really do not like this song. I can understand why; it's definitely more pop oriented than the previous tracks, which were relatively hard and dark. This is a bright, happy song that reminds me at times of "Lies and Truth" by L'Arc~en~ciel. The line "I'm feeling the wind in the sky without your love" might be a bit much for hardcore j-rock fans. The slightly disco-esque string section is another touch that most people will either love or hate. Personally, I think this is a really fun song, but it does feel a little out of place. However, it does lighten the mood and keep the album from being TOO hard. Yasu does get bonus points for the key change, which takes the song almost out of my range. He handles it beautifully though.
Rating: 8 out of 10
5. Curse
Ooh, it's always nice when a song starts with some hard, crunchy guitars. This is songs rocks so hard. The verses don't have a very strong melody, but that is made up for in the chorus. However, could someone please explain to me the allusion to 'milk and frustration"? That is a very strange combination. One thing that really stands out in this track is the work by JDA's keyboardist. Most jrock bands don't have keyboards as a major instrument. (hide with Spread Beaver did, but then hide did everything different.) Yasu gives his voice a nice growling edge in this song that I really appreciate.
Rating: 9 out of 10
6. Guilty Pain
More interesting sound effects here. Only now, they can get a little annoying. There is a lot of percussion and bass here, which should please those of you that like to blare the music. The verses are pretty typical, but again the chorus really shines. So does You's guitar work around 2:25. He really is a phenomenal talent. It's a shame more people don't know about JDA. Really, I would probably give this song a 9 if not for the sound effects, which are even more annoying with headphones.
Rating: 8 out of 10
7. Zero
Normally, I'm not much of a fan of interlude tracks. However, 'Zero' is a special case. This is an acoustic guitar solo by You, and let me tell you, it is amazing. It starts off pretty basic, with some strummed chords, then grows more complex. This is probably the best guitar work I've heard since hide, and that is saying a lot. You easily matches up to guitarists like Sugizo. I can't say how impressed I was by this track. Too bad it's only 2 minutes long.
Rating: 10 out of 10
8. Still
I suppose this counts as the album's ballad, even though it is pretty mid-tempo. The verses are really beautiful here, followed by an annoying bridge with a deep voice singing. The chorus returns to Yasu's usual, gorgeous voice, but is way too short. This is the first track to have some really noticeable vocal harmonies during the verses, and I like that. The drumming here definitely reminds me of Yukihiro from L'Arc~en~ciel. Going back to Yasu's voice for a second, I would like to say that he has incredibly pure tone and wonderful intonation. It's so refreshing to hear a rock singer that can actually sing. This is a really great song.
Rating: 9 out of 10
9. AGE
Time to rock again. This is a pretty fast song, but it's a little too reminiscent of earlier tracks on the album. It's not as hard or dark as 'Curse' though. I do like the way that Yasu stays in the middle of his range for the verses, and then sings higher in the chorus. This song is dominated by guitar, even more than vocals, which seems a bit different from the previous songs. There is some nice piano/keyboards if you take the time to listen for them. This is a good song. It's just not as good as some of the others.
Rating: 8 out of 10
10. Seed
Okay, this song feels a LOT like 'AGE'. Yasu's vocals are more driving and have more punch here though. I do love the way the word "kagayaku" leads into the chorus. (Followed by "kirameku" a moment later.) The keyboard work is a lot better here, and more noticeable. Ditto on the drumming. This is a rare track where you can pick out every element of the music and then see how they all mesh together. Janne Da Arc's music tends to be deceptively simple when you first listen to it, then grow more complex with each new listen. I like this song better than 'AGE' even though it feels derivative.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
11. Plastic
Neat! Chimes! Sorry, but I like stuff like that. This is a mid-tempo ballad type song very much in the same vein as Still. The guitars are much less dominant here, allowing the keyboards to take center stage. The melody is simple and instantly hummable, which I like. This song never really builds into anything amazing, but is sweet and enjoyable. The beat has this slight funk edge that is kinda fun too.
Rating: 9 out of 10
12. SYLVIA
The strings at the beginning of this track made me think I was finally going to get an emotional, sweeping ballad, but no. This song is very close to 'Feel the Wind' in mood and style. It's a little more pop than the other tracks, which is not a bad thing. However, it does feel more serious than 'Feel the Wind.' The chorus gives Yasu one last chance to show off his amazing range. I like the way his vocals are much brighter in this song. The lyrics aren't anything special (Let's fly away to the sky), but this is another happy, addictive song that you should enjoy.
Rating: 8 out of 10
