1. In the Air: words & music by Hyde
This song, which opens the Tierra album, starts off rather quietly, with Hyde singing alone with a guitar. It quickly becomes more upbeat and rock-sounding. The chorus continues this theme by being both sweeping and hard, with Hyde’s vocals alternating between light falsetto and scratchy half-screaming. After the first chorus, Ken has a nice, if somewhat brief solo, which echoes throughout the rest of the song. The end resolves into a softer sound, with Hyde singing in a way that makes me think of an angel. All in all, this is a very strong opening track to the album, and showcases all of Laruku’s strengths, particularly lyrical phrasing and Hyde’s amazing voice. Rating: 9 out of 10

Hyde-san ^_^

2. All Dead: words and music by Hyde
Just when “In the Air” has lulled you into a false sense of security, “All Dead” begins, melting seamlessly in from the end of the previous track. This is a much harder song, with wonderful guitar by Ken and drums by Sakura. As always, Tetsu’s bass playing is superb as an underlying force to push the track along. As wonderful as Hyde’s singing is, the real star of this song is the background music. The lyrics are rather repetitive in places, but not so much that they get annoying. As you may imagine, the words are dark in a kind of gothic way, which befits Hyde’s usual style. This is really an excellent, harder song from Laruku. Rating: 9 out of 10

3. Blame: words by Hyde, music by Tetsu
This is a great song for fans of slightly more 80’s style rock. It begins with Hyde singing over an acoustic guitar, then the bass and drums cut in, including some keyboard type synths. The song then kicks it up another notch at the chorus, only to back off again for the next verse. Hyde’s voice really gives a lot of power to this track, which could have been rather unremarkable otherwise. Ken’s guitar solo in the middle also gives it a unique touch. As long as you can overlook the fact that Hyde is really singing “Prease don’t brame it on me,” the lyrics are well-done, as is usually the case with Laruku’s songs. Maybe this song isn’t as remarkable as some of their other efforts, but it is certainly enjoyable. Rating: 8 out of 10

4. Wind of Gold: words by Hyde, music by Ken
I adore Ken’s opening solo to this song; the beautifully strummed guitar chords are so soothing and gentle. The song picks up a bit when Hyde begins singing, but maintains the same mellow feeling. The lyrics are haunting and romantic, but without being sappy like so many American love songs are. Hyde’s soft voice and phrasing are perfect for this type of song, as his words seem to float along on top of the music. I would also love to point out that both Tetsu and Sakura are just restrained enough that their playing adds to the beauty of the song rather than detracting from it. Sakura has a short drum solo (if you can call it that) at the end that seems at first like an anti-climax, but is actually perfect for the style of the song. This is definitely one of Laruku’s best ballads, even though it is one many people might not think of. Rating: 9 out of 10

5. Blurry Eyes: music by Tetsu, words by Hyde
There is something about the opening chords of this song that let you know it is special the first time you hear it. Accompanied by phenomenal bass by Tetsu and drums by Sakura, it is one of the best known openings of any Laruku song. Hyde’s singing is absolutely perfect, very tender and yet just hard enough in the right places. The song is insanely catchy and upbeat, but the lyrics are of someone who is longing for their love. As the chorus says, “Through the changing seasons, our promise fades away. Even though I open my arms to you, your heart still turns aside.” Even though the lyrics are not as mature and poetic as some of Hyde’s later works, they are still very heartfelt and emotional. I also cannot stress enough how perfect the guitar and bass are in this song. Ken and Tetsu seem as if they know exactly what the other is feeling and thinking. This is a classic song by Laruku, and one that is worth many, many listens. Rating: 10 out of 10

6. Inner Core: words by Hyde, music by Sakura
For a change of pace, Laruku follows “Blurry Eyes” with the much darker, harder “Inner Core.” This is a very typical kind of song for Laruku, with lots of drums and bass. Somehow, Hyde’s singing manages to be very hard and yet emotive. He is perhaps the only singer than has the ability to display so many emotions at once. However, the high point of this song for me is Ken’s guitar solo in the middle, which is far too short for my taste. I also like the chimes and keyboards that give this track a more 80’s feel. As is often the case, the lyrics of this song are about truth and discovering one’s inner self. This is certainly not one of Laruku’s most original pieces, and it suffers from following the remarkable “Blurry Eyes,” but it is a good song that is great to listen to when you just want rock and roll. Rating: 7 out of 10

7. Nemuri ni yosete: words by Hyde, music by Ken
Talk about changes of pace!! I had forgotten the placement of this song on the album until I sat down to review it. It sounds like the kind of song you would hear on a cruise ship or at a vacation resort. Well, maybe not that cheesy, but it does share that relaxing, mellow tone. That is, until the guitar kicks in. There is so much going on in this song, it is hard to pick out all the various elements. It changes theme every thirty seconds it seems. Hyde’s voice is quiet and blends perfectly with the music. The chorus is wonderful, with the gritty guitar and light piano forming a wonderful musical tapestry. Another great solo by Ken follows. I haven’t found a translation for this song, so I can’t comment on the actual lyrics themselves, but as always the phrasing is exquisite. It’s nice to have a chance to breathe after “Inner Core.” Rating: 8 out of 10

8. Kaze no Yukue: words by Hyde, music by Ken
This song was a single off the Tierra album, and like most of Laruku’s singles, it has a wonderful uniqueness. The verses are very melodic and feel as if they are building toward something, and the chorus is the payoff. Hyde’s singing is at its most emotional, and he showcases his incredible range. Ken gets a solo as always, and as always, it is too short. Just once I’d like to hear him cut loose for a good 2 minutes. Anyway, this is the kind of song that gets into your head and plays over and over for days at a time. Tetsu’s bass is a nice background touch, and Sakura proves again what an excellent drummer he was. Too bad he was stupid enough to take drugs. The combination of elements in this track make it one of the best songs on the entire album. Rating: 10 out of 10

9. Hitomi ni Utsuru Mono: words by Hyde, music by Ken
One of Laruku’s defining features is their ability to write both hard-hitting rock and soft, poetic ballads. “Hitomi ni…” is one of the later. Hyde sings over a tender piano, and his expression is one of heartbreak. He sings “Even though the dried leaves will soon change into snow, from someday on I’ll come here, and it will remain the way it is in my eyes.” The lyrics are about pain and the loss of a happier time, and Hyde expresses this exquisitely. The piano solo at the end is an extension of the mood created in the verses, and then dies out. This song seems much shorter than its almost five minute running time, and I always wish it were longer. It is one of those rare songs that can bring tears to my eyes. Rating: 10 out of 10

10. White Feathers: words by Hyde, music by Ken
I never noticed before how many collaborations Hyde and Ken had on this album. It seems like the later albums have more from Tetsu (and the obligatory tracks by Yukihiro). Anyway, this is another slightly 80’s sounding effort from Laruku. I really enjoy the piano and chimes in the opening, not to mention the great guitar work by Ken. This song sticks very close to the theme set by the rest of the album. It has a very steady beat, and seems to soar from the verses to the chorus. I also really like the backing vocals in the chorus. (“Please tell me the way to the sky.”) The style fits very well with the sky imagery in the lyrics, as you can almost feel the sun and clouds in Hyde’s singing. (I hope that makes sense. You’ll know what I mean when you hear it.) This is one of those songs where the lyrics are perfect for the music. Hyde and Ken always seem to understand each other so well. In the middle of the song, there is a strange drum/bass bridge with a guitar solo that doesn’t really seem to fit, but it’s only a minor complaint. Overall, this is one of my favorite songs on the album, and I highly recommend it. Rating: 9 out of 10

Overall Rating: 9 out of 10