Gackt – Jesus November 23, 2008

Track Listing

1. Jesus
2. Sayonara -ЯR II ver.-
3. Jesus (Instrumental)
4. Sayonara -ЯR II ver.- (Instrumental)

1. Jesus

We actually get a pretty hardcore track from Gackt which is nice and all the yelling is pretty cool.  Gackt sounds pretty good and even though the chorus is a little repetitive, it still comes out pretty well.  Gackt’s yelling of ~Maria~ and ~Jesus~ is so hot and sexy and I don’t think I ever heard him yell like that.  The only downside is that the song is pretty short…

2. Sayonara -ЯR II ver.-

Sayonara is one of Gackt’s older tracks being from his 2nd album “Rebirth”.  I’m not sure what the original sounds like so don’t mind me not knowing real old stuff from him, but this version is very close to being very boring.  I mean his voice sounds kind of empty and with just the piano playing it starts to bore me.  Later in the song, a pretty strong Cello pops in and surprises me with some very intricate playing.  Quite the thing Sayonara needed at this point.  Still, the first half is so boring.

 

 

So, we finally get a new release from him.  It’s been at least a year since last single “RETURNER ~Yami no Shuuen~” and people were definitly waiting on something new.  Jesus finally brings back hard-rocker Gackt in full force.  Sayonara however kind of got boring for the single, but it does have a great instrumental middle.  Stronge how that works.

Gackt – Love Letter November 8, 2008

Track Listing

1. Love Letter
2. Dybbuk

1. Love Letter

I’m not sure if this is the same track as from his 6th album of the same name, if it is then it’s a recut song single.  Totally a departure from last single “REDEMPTION” as it is a ballad.  Gackt’s caramel voice oozes by and while the music isn’t anything to write home about, it’s all about his awesome voice.  I guess overall, I was liking more of his voice than the music itself.

2. Dybbuk

Static sounds enter the fray for our next track and it really wasn’t surprising me until the hard guitars push his way in.  There’s rapping and this space-like chick voice (which is actually Gackt) that starts the vocals.  Gackt sings very unemotionally in the bridge and the chorus is a little strange and hardcore.  Sad that Gackt isn’t mostly in the song fully.  For being connected to GUNDAM it’s pretty cool.  I looove the part where Gackt morphs his voice during the bridge.

 

 

This re-cut single was definitly where opposites attract.  Love Letter was a ballad, albeit a boring one but Gackt’s vocals helped me through it while Dybbuk was crazy rock at it’s best.  Definitly a strange ass single if you ask me. 

Gackt – REDEMPTION October 19, 2008

Track Listing

1. REDEMPTION
2. Longing
3. REDEMPTION (Instrumental)
4. Longing (Instrumental)

1. REDEMPTION

I was obviously surprised when this track was announced to be used in Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus.  I always think FF vocal tracks are awesome, so I had high hopes and I was right.  The song just screams hardcore rock and represented the game in a great way.  Gackt’s voice is very strong and very spooky at the same time.  His profound wavering can throw you off, but other than that, it’s a real awesome track.

2. Longing

Longing is just as rockin’ as “REDEMPTION”, but there’s more interesting things happening.  Like Gackt’s voiceis filtered and deeper until the chorus.  The use of synths in the chorus really gave the song a good spark and totally caught my attention.  Then the song goes into this pipe organ moment and sounded quite unusual and freaky.  A great compliment to “REDEMPTION”.

 

 

Gackt’s 1st single of the era is well, for a video game.  Luckily, this was a pretty good single overall.  Both songs are rock hard and very relative to each other.  REDEMPTION is probably one o his best tracks he had in a while, while Longing was just the at the same calibur.  to be honest, I don’t know which one I like more.