1. get out from the shell -asian version-
This song, composed by yukihiro, starts off with some weird synthy guitar-ish noises. When hyde starts singing, he uses his lower, dark range, which gives the song an almost sinister edge. The lyrics are in English, but most are kind of unclear. You should at least be able to understand "dream is still a dream that never changes." After the first verse, Ken finally enters on guitar. The second verse adds more instrumentation, but it's still pretty sparse. And boring. The chorus is much, MUCH LOUDER, but it doesn't have that Laruku flair. This is probably my favourite yuki song, but that's not saying much. I could really do without this song. I do like the line "destroy illusion with your hands" though.
Rating: 5

What is with Hyde's hair?

2. THE NEPENTHES
It took me quite a bit of internet research to find out that nepenthes are flesh-eating plants, like venus fly-traps. Weird. This is another loud, harsh soung that's not as melodic as other Laruku songs. It is better than "get out from the shell" though. Hyde is still using his low range, and hasn't given us even a glimpse of his falsetto yet. This song doesn't really annoy me, but I do skip it about half of the time. At least it's short and upbeat. And has dirty, English lyrics. =P
Rating: 6

3. NEO UNIVERSE
Finally, we come to a song that I really love. It opens with some futuristic but clearly Laruku type instrumentation, including some nice keyboards. Hyde's voice is much smoother and sounds 100% better than in the previous songs. This song has the most soaring, uplifting chorus I have ever heard. It just makes me smile. It really does sound like a "bird flying free." Hyde takes this chance to use his range, and it's just so gorgeous. Ken has a nice, laid-back guitar solo in the middle. Nothing fancy, but perfect for the song. This is certainly one of the best songs on the album.
Rating: 10

4. bravery
I've always liked this song. The guitars have a crunchy, hard sound, but the melody and tempo are so laid back. Hyde sings with his falsetto a lot here, proving that he still can use it. Whew, I was relieved! His voice sounds slightly filtered here, but it's not incredibly noticeable. This song has a really catchy chorus, but it's not as memorable as, say, "flower." Lots of signature Ken guitar work here, and fair percussion from yukihiro. I guess this isn't the most standout song, but it adds to the album, and is a nice change of pace. I really do commend hyde for his performance here. "The truth will never hurt you anymore." ^_^
Rating: 8

5. LOVE FLIES
This was a single, and I guess I can see why. It's not particularly upbeat or melodic at first, but it has a good, solid feel. The chorus is pretty cool, especially the backup vocals. Hyde again shows us why he's one of the best vocalists in jrock with long, high notes. The best part of this song is actually Ken's guitar, which pushes the song forward and adds a lot of flavor. Tetsu also sounds pretty good here. yuki's drumming is average but appropriate. Like "bravery" I've always enjoyed this song, but it's not Laruku's finest.
Rating: 8

6. finale
Not only is this one of my favorite songs of all time, it's also one of my favorite PVs. Ken standing on a barren cliff, playing a red guitar, is just about the coolest sight ever. Of course, Ken doing anything is cool... Anyway, the song. It opens with some lonely guitar notes and synthed organ. That drops out for Hyde and a cello (?). Soon, violin and percussion joins in, and you realize you're listening to something special. Hyde sings delicately, fragilely, as if he is afraid of breaking. Bass and more guitar enter, giving the song an even darker edge. The chorus has hyde singing desperately, as if his heart is absolutely shattered, and it sends chills down my spine. Yes, that's the word for this song: chilling. It never gets fast or particularly loud, but it doesn't need to. All the emotion is already there. Ken has a wonderful solo half-way through that leaves me breathless. Wow. I adore this song. You have to hear it. This song single-handedly turned my friend Kat into a Laruku fan. Really.
Rating: 10

7. Stay Away
Another of my favorites from this album. "STAY AWAY" has a funky, almost Beatles type beat. This is one of the times that yuki's drumming really fits the band. Hyde's vocals are perfect, not too loud, just nice and easy. The falsetto harmonies really add to the whole Beatles illusion. Well, so do the haircuts in the PV. hehehe I guarantee, the chorus "causes stain, stay away" will get stuck in your head whether you like it or not. There's an awesome guitar solo in the middle, and then the amazingly fun finish. New melody, change in tempo... it is so much fun. In the PV, the Laruku boys DANCE! Yes, dance, and it rocks. This is a great, rollicking song.
Rating: 10

8. Route 666
This song opens with some very... rock-a-billy guitars and percussion. Like an Elvis song, only 90's-ish and Japanese. Yeah. Luckily, Hyde sounds nothing like Elvis. The melody just sort of wanders along at a good pace, but it's not very memorable. Similarly, Hyde's singing is good, but not as refined as in the better songs. I really only like this song for the guitar and bass work. Well, and yuki sounds pretty good here. I can't think of anything to say about this one. It's just so average. It's rock enough that the country aspect shouldn't bother you, but it definitely is a new direction for Laruku.
Rating: 7

9. TIME SLIP
This is a laid-back type song very similar in style to "bravery." Incredibly similar, in fact. Except I think "bravery" is a little better. To his credit, hyde sounds good here, and of course Ken's guitar sounds brilliant. Of all the songs on the album, this one sounds perhaps the most like "old-school Laruku." Again, it's an okay addition to the album, but it feels too familiar. The harmonies during the bridge are pretty nice. Um, yeah. Did I mention that it kinda drags?
Rating: 7

10. a silent letter
Finally, FINALLY we get a ballad. I mean, they are usually at the end of the album, but man it felt like a long time. Hyde sings very nicely, and his voice has a rich, full tone. He also really shows off his falsetto here. I wish I could still hit those notes. *die-hard alto here* I like Ken's gently strummed chords; they seem mysterious to me. This song just sort of meanders along without a lot of purpose, but it is beautiful. The female singer in the middle is really haunting. It's not the best Laruku ballad, but it adds a new dimension to a pretty bland album. I like this song, but there are ones I like a lot more. Oh, at 6:39, it's way too long.
Rating: 8

11. ALL YEAR ROUND FALLING IN LOVE
Now, we get to the last song, which should tie everything together and wrap up the album. This song does that pretty well. It's mid-tempo, like "bravery" and "TIME SLIP". Also kinda old-school feeling. I sort of like it. I feel like I've said that a lot in this review, but this album is just so painfully average. I mean, it has some amazing songs, and it has some clunkers. I never thought I'd be giving a Laruku album 6's and 7's. Anyway, this song has that Ken style, but it is pretty boring. I would have ended the album with "a silent letter" and called it quits.
Rating: 7

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10 (well, 7.8, but I rounded down)