GACKT – The Next Decade August 11, 2009

Track Listing

1. The Next Decade
2. T.N.D Orchestra Attack Ride
3. The Next Decade (instrumental)

1. The Next Decade

Another single?  Is GACKT ever going to release his long-awaited album?  Anyways, The Next Decade is a lot like his last Kamen Rider single, “Journey through the Decade” besides the familiarity of the titles.  They both also have a harder rock sound than previous recent entries.  GACKT is doing a better job in the vocals as well and having some BKGD support doesn’t hurt the song a bit.  The only thing that bothered me was the times in the chorus where he says ~the next decade~ and it just doesn’t sound right at all, but this is way better than “Journey through the Decade”.

2. T.N.D Orchestra Attack Ride

Like the other Kamen Rider single, The Next Decade gets an orchestral piece to make it more epic sounding and it works because while it does leave out GACKT, the melody of the song is still there and it sounds really good as an orchestral piece altogether.  I wonder if they did use this for the movie as well, because it’s really good….though GACKT not being in it, once again is disappointing, but I think he would’ve brought this down if he was.

 

 

Ok GACKT, it’s been way to long since your album and we need it badly.  The Next Decade might not be as powerful as the other singles of the era, but it’s not a bad track at all.  The Next Decade could be one of the better rock-affiliated tracks he’s had and the orchestral piece was amazing.  Ok, altogether, it’s better than his first Kamen single by a long shot.

Gackt – 0079-0088 July 16, 2009

Track Listing

1. Ai Senshi
2. Metamorphoze
3. Kimi ga Matteiru Kara
4. Mind Forest
5. Suna no Jyuujika ~interlude~
6. Dybbuk
7. Dears
8. Love Letter
9. Meguriai

1. Ai Senshi

We begin this concept album with a new track from Gackt.  It’s pretty cool that there’s a new track and it did serve as a promotional track for tha album and for its GUNDAM tie-in.  It’s your typical fare of your normal epic Gackt sound.  The problem I have with the song was that it seemed so cluttered together and just messy.  I do like the solos in the song and Gackt’s quite parts, but other than that, I was pretty turned off from the track.

2. Metamorphoze

Released previously on “DIABOLOS”. Metamorphoze was a good track to include on the album since it doesn’t sound messy when compared to “Ai Senshi”.  It sounds more appropriate to the GUNDAM series as well, giving a more space-like sound and Gackt’s vocals here just fit.  Even the flute part in the song was pretty epic in itself.  I think it’s one of his best tracks he’s done in recent times.

3. Kimi ga Matteiru Kara

Released previously on “Crescent” and not the track from the “Metamorphoze” single, Kimi ga Matteiru Kara is a lot more serious sounding as there’s a sense of dread.  Then again it could be the strings that are making it sound so depressing.  His vocals are messed around with a little bit, but it’s not like “GHOST”.  The acoustic interlude in the song was a nice touch as well.  Another strong track.

4. Mind Forest

Also returning from “Crescent”, Mind Forest is a interesting track, especially the opening the’s all covered in flutes and such.  After that, I’m kind of dreading Gackt’s overuse of his vibrato and defintely took me out of the song.  That chorus was just ugh+.  I guess it it wasn’t for the nice arrangement, this song would’ve been downright suckish.

5. Suna no Jyuujika ~interlude~

A 3 minute interlude?  It’s odd to see one on a Gackt album, but nonetheless, it sounds like a guitar interlude that sounds like it was filtered a bit.  It’s a bit too long-winded, but it does sound like music you’d picture the desert would have…so I guess that’s good.

6. Dybbuk

Another track from the “Crescent” era?  It’s funny because it was also in the single leading up to this album.  Dybbuk is clearly a hot mess of a song mixing the hardest rock sound of the album with the cold, electronica feel in the bridge.  The verses between Gackt and Ju-ken is a bit strange and well…fast.  Though when Gackt goes under vocoder and hits the synth, it’s just amazing how it flows and takes you in before the in-your-face chorus comes it.  That’s why I consider this is one of my favorite Gackt tunes just because it forces you to change emotions so fast….Genius.

7. Dears

The next two tracks are off his “Love Letter” album and starting with Dears, I can tell why he enjoys this song so much that he named his fanclub after this song.  It’s a ballad, but once the chorus comes in, the rock returns in the track and yes, it’s just that good and more carefree than normal.  It’s a pretty song I’ll give it that.  Another good track.

8. Love Letter

The single that really represented the era, Love Letter still is one long borefest for me.  It makes “Dears” Look like the best track he had on the album.  Love Letter is more closer as a ballad track, but once again he drags the song across the entire time.  It is leagues better than “No ni Saku Hana You ni”  I can admire that fact, but Love Letter is nothing too special and he’s had better ballads.

9. Meguriai

I’m pretty sure this is a cover track, but whatever.  Meguriai is not surprisingly another ballad with a twist.  At least this one is a bit more interesting because it’s all piano and the song sounds a little mysterious.  After a while, the strings fade in the song and well adds more to the effect.  Then he enters the chorus where it goes all-rock and it’s loud….I didn’t expect it….Once it ends though it cuts off back into the piano-ladened part…It’s like “Dybbuk”, it makes you switch moods almost immediately.

Tracks Recommended

• Dybbuk
• Metamorphoze
• Meguriai

Gackt’s concept album did come in three versions.  One is the regular version (one I reviewed) and the other two were based off of two characters: Amuro Ray & Char Aznable.  They have speaking parts here and there on the album, but other than that same tracklist, just a little longer album time.  Even though two “new” songs were on the album, Meguriai was the only one really worth it.  The rest were already previously released material, so it was a bit more of like a best-of in some cases.  It’s alright and it did fill in the space when Gackt was on his hiatus.

GACKT – Flower June 30, 2009

Track Listing

1. Flower
2. In Flames
3. Flower (Instrumental)
4. In Flames (Instrumental)

1. Flower

Who would’ve expect GACKT (now penned as) to release a hard rock track in the name of Flower?  I thought we were going to get a more softer track.  I was kind of happy with what we got here because it loud and stronger than a good portion of the tracks released in this project.  There’s just a lot f everything in this trac GACKT sounds good here.  Good track in its own respect.

2. In Flames

In Flames actually brings out the more experimental side of GACKT again.  In Flames is quite the mysterious track in this collection with it’s distant sounding piano and guitar passages.  After a while things start getting crazy with a heavier rock sound.  It kind of has this epic factor just like how “LOST ANGELS” had, but even more creepier.  I think he saved the best for last.

 

 

GACKT ends this off his month-long project with the best single of the four.  Flower shows off what he’s best known for and his rock sound continues to be surprisingly amazing.  In Flames though was clearly better and I loved how eerie it is then it turns hardcore and stuff and goes back and forth.  Wow, he did live up to the end.

GACKT – LOST ANGELS June 23, 2009

Track Listing

1. LOST ANGELS
2. No Reason
3. Suddenly
4. LOST ANGELS (Instrumental)
5. No Reason (Instrumental)
6. Suddenly (Instrumental)

1. LOST ANGELS

I’m pleasantly surprised that LOST ANGELS begins with a beautiful orchestral opening that kind of goes back to what Gackt started out with, but then kind of a mood killer happens as the songs becomes a rock track from Gackt.  I mean I’m all for Gackt rock songs, but it would’ve been nice to have something from him that wasn’t rock since well the last 3 singles had rock tracks.  I do have to say the verses were nice as it was back into the piano + orchestral sound.  The chorus was all rock.  It seems like easy Final Fantasy music since it’s written in a nice epic way.  Good A-side.

2. No Reason

I was surprised the No Reason was even more hardcore then “LOST ANGELS” just for the fact it reminds me once again of “BLACK STONE”.  I do have to say that I enjoy there’s a hook to it and pretty steady and heavy on the beats.  Still, it’s kind of meh to me right now, so I can’t say I enjoy this track as much.

3. Suddenly

Suddenly oddly begins with a quiet instrumentation and in the background you can hear a dial-up tone like the one used in Ayu’s “Mirror/Mirrocle World”.  Then it becomes another rock track, but it does make itself stand out with it’s medium-paced feel to it.  It still feels a little less memorable and maybe somewhat boring as well.  I think it’s a track I have to get myself to like it.

 

 

Yeesh, Gackt’s 3rd of the project isn’t any better than “Faraway ~Hoshi ni Negai wo~ which is unfortunate especially since it has two B-sides tacked on it.  LOST ANGELS is really good, showcasing the epic sound that he usually puts out and could be the best of the 3 A-sides.  No Reason and Suddenly are alright, but they both have flaws that I’m pretty sure any fan of his would instantly pull out.  Hope “Flower” will end this right.

GACKT – Faraway ~Hoshi ni Negai wo~ June 16, 2009

Track Listing

1. Faraway ~Hoshi ni Negai wo~
2. Oblivious ~Kao no Nai Tenshi~
3. Faraway ~Hoshi ni Negai wo~ (Instrumental)
4. Oblivious ~Kao ni Nai Tenshi~ (Instrumental)

1. Faraway ~Hoshi ni Negai wo~

Faraway was pretty far off from last singles style.  Faraway is a bit more of an alternative rock song.  I do like the different kind of sound that separates itself from the rest of the songs, but it does sound a bit mundane and quite forgetful, especially if Gackt isn’t sounding too good.  It does sound like a good ending to a concert.  I do wonder what’s with the clapping and yelling.

2. Oblivious ~Kao no Nai Tenshi~

I thought at first it was going to be another electronica track, but it turns out the song is more of a ballad and of course this era has been full of fail with his ballads, “Love Letter”, and “No ni Saku Hana You ni”.  I was worried that this was gonna fall into that list as well, but it’s quite nice and the chorus has a great epic sound.  I do think he’s stressing his vocals at various points still, but it isn’t as glaring in the previous singles.  I actually like this track.

 

 

Gackt’s 2nd release in this project, Faraway is actually worse than “Koakuma Heaven” because it just sounds very boring especially after all of these singles in the era.  Oblivious though does stick out since it’s an actual good ballad from Gackt and I quite like it alot.  Wonder if “Lost Angels” will step it up.

GACKT – Koakuma Heaven June 7, 2009

Track Listing

1. Koakuma Heaven
2. My Father’s Day
3. Koakuma Heaven (Instrumental)
4. My Father’s Day (Instrumental)

1. Koakuma Heaven

If you thought “GHOST” was odd for Gackt, Koakuma Heaven is just downright strange.  It’s kind of like the former single because Gackt is heavily under vocoder and/or autotune.  Though on the opposite of the coin, Koakuma Heaven’s arrangement is lighter than “GHOST” and upbeat featurinng brass and strings together.  “Vanilla” this isn’t, but this is oddly kind of catchy and fresh.

2. My Father’s Day

If you were missing rock Gackt, My Father’s Day fills that void up pretty well.  It’s more of a heavier rock track that kind of reminds me of “BLACK STONE”.  I mean it doesn’t have that exact punch that track did and it isn’t as loudspoken as like “Jesus”, but this is definitly a step up from “Journey through the Decade”.  He’s also singing a bit in English, but it’s hard to decipher what the hell he’s saying in the song…I thought he did well in “GHOST” what happened here?  It’s kind of cool that he ends it with ~Thank you, dad~.

 

 

Beginning this 4 week of releases, Koakuma Heaven is an odd way to start things off since it’s like electropop and rock all mixed into one.  I mean he did it well in “GHOST” and he’s done it actually pretty well here as well.  My Father’s Day was a nice track to write to his dad about, but the arrangement isn’t exactly new since “BLACK STONE” is rearing it’s head out from the last album xD  It’s a good single, just a bit strange.

Gackt – Journey through the Decade March 24, 2009

Track Listing

1. Journey through the Decade
2. J.t.D. Re-Mix RIDE “Distort”
3. J.t.D. Re-Mix RIDE “Symphony”
4. Journey through the Decade instrumental

1. Journey through the Decade

It’s nice to see Gackt going back to his more original sound (whatever that might is questionable..)  Being said, this song is a bit of a letdown because of all of the other tracks in this era has been all different for him.  So hearing this being a rock track, but not crazy as “Jesus” is a little saddening.  His vocals here are also a bit off as well, like he’s stressing too much.  PV was cool though.

2. J.t.D. Re-Mix RIDE “Distort”

I don’t think he’s had an actual remix since the beginning of his career so seeing them threw me off quite a bit.  The first remix is definitly for the fans who really enjoyed “GHOST”  because there’s a lot of guitars and synths found in the song.  The beginning was a little too drawn out then after a while, I was like why does this sound like an instrumental?  Turns out it is and Gackt isn’t singing.  Why must you tease us Gackt?

3. J.t.D. Re-Mix RIDE “Symphony”

Of course he didn’t forget the fans who loves his work with the strings and just like the last remix this is basically an instrumental, but with more feeling sprung out to make it seem like it’s an ending.  Of course you hear the brass and strings and some chanting in the BKGD.  Once again, I would’ve liked him to actually sing with the song but oh well…

 

 

I really hope this is Gackt’s final single before an actual release because it’s been so long since “DIABOLOS” and those two concept albums didn’t help at all.  Journey through the Decade is luckily not the worst of the era, but it’s far from being the best as well.  It might’ve been to bland at some points, but being a Kamen Rider track did help out…

Gackt – GHOST January 20, 2009

Track Listing

1. GHOST
2. Blue Lagoon ~Shinkai~
3. GHOST (Instrumental)
4. Blue Lagoon ~Shinkai~ (Instrumental)

1. GHOST

Who knew Gackt can do electronica!  Anyways this has a pretty big tie-in to the Sarah Conner Chronicles so it’s pretty obvious that the track would sound so robotic and techno.  Gackt is under some vocoder which finally shows he can do what Nakata can’t.  Put dudes under em.  How he did the bridge though was amazing though so cold and empty and yet wow.  Sadly, comes the sad part.  This song is pretty short, like Jesus short.  If it wasn’t full of music instrumentation, he could’ve done so much more with.  Still one of his best tracks for sure.

2. Blue Lagoon ~Shinkai~

Finally we get a true B-side and not live versions of past songs.  Blue Lagoon continues this cold robotic sound, but without the vocoders being in the song.  Gackt sounds pretty lifeless in the verses and isn’t until the chorus where he sort of gets better.  I think he’s done better rock-like tracks in the past IMO, this was just alright.

 

 

I don’t know why he didn’t lengthen GHOST for the single, I mean it was just felt too short.  Blue Lagoon finally returned the B-side to us since the last two single were just live performaces…It was OK at best, wished there was more fire in Blue Lagoon too.  hmmmm.

 

Gackt – RETURNER ~Yami no Shuuen~ January 5, 2009

Track Listing

1. RETURNER ~Yami no Shuuen~
2. Cube (DRUG I ver.)
3. Birdcage (DRUG I ver.)
4. RETURNER ~Yami no Shuuen~ (Instrumental)

1. RETURNER ~Yami no Shuuen~

Gackt is obviously prone to different styles of music like rock, pop, and epic songs.  RETURNER ~Yami no Shuuen~ is a more traditional song but with a touch of Gackt’s rock side.  What’s more interesting is that the song is sang as if Gackt was in the woman’s perspective of her man going to fight.  Definitly interesting nonetheless.  I really like the shakuhachi doing the instrumental parts, made seem so unique to Gackt.  Middle of the song is crazy but at least it isn’t too long.  So much better than his last two A-sides.

2. Cube (DRUG I ver.)

Cube is originally from his” Kimi no Tameni Dekiru Koto” single as a B-side only track.  Now I love the original and hearing the live version is even better.  Also being a rock track the crowd was crazy. I do dislike how the crowd just overpowers sometimes, but it’s great to hear that many people loving the song as well.

3. birdcage (DRUG I ver.)

Another live song but this time a track off of the “Crescent” album.  I actually also love this song as it isn’t terribly boring like the previous singles.  It’s great to hear Gackt sing ballads live though cuz he adds so much more emotion throughout.  The real difference here is that there’s a little speech before he actually starts the song, which is cool, but they could’ve cut it and I wouldn’t have missed it.

 

 

RETURNER was the last single before taking a nice break to release a concept album.  People I know had mixed feelings for the new track as it abandons a lot of stuff we knew and taking a more traditional sound.  The live versions were great choices to use since they both are great tracks.  I got to say though people are also split on the recent preview of GHOST, so his fans are one strange bunch, make up your damn mind!

Gackt – No ni Saku Hana You ni December 10, 2008

Track Listing

1. No ni Saku Hana You ni
2. No ni Saku Hana You ni (Minna no Uta)
3. No ni Saku Hana You ni (pf. style)
4. No ni Saku Hana You ni (instrumental)
5. No ni Saku Hana You ni (pf. solo)

1. No ni Saku Hana You ni

Well, we get an acoustic ballad from Gackt again.  “Love Letter” failed because of how boring and off it sounded.  Gackt continues to make this mistake because this song was so much boring.  At least Gackt tries to make the song better because it’s a song about his Graduation from his school, so I wasn’t surprised it’d be a ballad.  It still doesn’t save the song from being so boring. 

2. No ni Saku Hana You ni (Minna no Uta)

This version is a minute shorter than the main track, but it’s still basically the boring ballad continuation.  So unless you want a shorter version, this version is for you. 

3. No ni Saku Hana You ni (pf. style)

I’m surprised at this.  This version does seem a lot more better because instead of acoustic guitar leading this song, it’s piano.  Even though Gackt didn’t really resing this, I thought this version was a lot more memorable than the previous and it so worked.  I still think it’s boring after a while.

 

 

OMFG was this single lame.  I mean “Love Letter” was boring, but at least it had “Dybbuk” to compensate it.  This single only had the A-side, and it was so damn boring.  Wow, this couldn’t have been worst for him.  Prolly worst A-side of his career perhaps.