Dahlia [Import]

1. Dahlia

2. Scars

3. Longing (Melody)

4. Rusty Nail

5. White Poem I

6. Crucify My Love

7. Tears

8. Wriggle

9. Drain

10. Forever Love

Tracks:

Built For Sin
I'm Charming
Flies
Statutory Ape
A Vulgar Picture
Novelty Crosses
Dave Goes To Hollywood
Miscarriage
Spite Suicide
Miasma

Album Description

Hard-core influenced death metal.

Customer Reviews:

Pushing metalcore forward.......2007-01-16

The Midwest seems to be spinning out a lot of original metalcore acts these days and Black Dahlia Murder is one example. Not only is Black Dahlia murder is heavier than a lot of the metalcore out there, but vocally they're original as hell. I'm glad to see vocalist Trevor pushing heavy lyrics forward into some fresh and more genuine territory.
BDM has for some time been in the grip of a fairly merciless touring schedule which is finally beginning to pay off in terms of CD sales (I saw them and loved them which is why I'm writing this review). If I give this album four stars it's because I expect an even greater effort to crush our heads on the next one. I might add that I met Trevor after a show in San Francisco and he's also pretty cool to talk to.

Brutality can be so fun!.......2006-08-11

What really makes this album so sweet is the context in which it was written. These guys party hard and don't take anything too seriously, which allows you to fully immerse yourself in the absolutely sick soundscapes of drum patterns and screeching vocals without guilt or restriction. The drum patterns often times veer off and create their own canvas of textured, orchestral chaos, leaving the guitars to maintain the barely there beat. It's effect is astonishing. Some might say terrifying. Get this with Darkest Hour's Undoing Ruin, and you've got 2005's best wake up calls to the metal scene.

Damn good US Metal!!! Great Vocals!!! Great Music!!.......2006-08-02

First off, LAMB OF GOD ruined my metal palate as they are/have been my fave band for a while... so when I listen to bands like TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, SHADOWS FALL or the lot of Metalcore bands (which isn't my thing), well they just sound stale, or like they try to hard (or usually, the vocals suck). Now I'm regretting not picking up "Unhallowed" years back (again, to busy listening to LOG), but now hearing MIASMA, and have heard "Unhallowed" damn... right up my alley man. Those of you who know what I'm talking about and LAMB OF GOD has been one of the main bands doin it for you for years, pick up the two latest BLACK DAHLIA MURDER albums, they ain't no LOG (yet), but they friggin' smoke!! Viva La Musica De Metal!!\m/

WARNING: THIS ALBUM WILL BEAT YOU TO DEATH!!.......2006-07-31

Words just cannot describe how brutally vicious and intense this album is, I just love it. The Black Dahlia Murder are without a doubt one of the best new metal bands out there today, and they are a breath of fresh air from metalcore as well. The way I see it, these guys definately have a very bright future ahead of themselves. BDM to me sound like a combination between Carcass and At The Gates (a couple of my favorite bands). Their latest album entitled "Miasma" which was released in 2005 last year was the first BDM album I ever bought, and I must say after listening to this album, I instantly became a fan of these guys. "Miasma" is also the excellent follow up to the band's 2003 breakthrough debut "Unhallowed" which is a great album as well. This album is nothing but pure solid intense melodic death metal that beats the listener half to death. The musicianship on here is absolutely solid. There's deadly brutal vocals throughout, mad shredding guitar riffs, crazy but melodic solos, sick nasty insane blast beats and bone rattling double bass drum patterns that destroys everything in it's path. The album starts off with a brief instrumental called "Built For Sin" and has a heavy riff which briefly leads up to the next track "I'm Charming". Don't let the song title foof you, this song is just brutal and in your face throughout. Other great standouts including "A Vulgar Picture", "Flies", "Statutory Ape", "Dave Goes to Hollywood", "Novelty Crosses", and "Spite Suicide" are all fast, brutal, nasty, and all out intense numbers that will get the adrenaline going in a hurry. On here, you've got awesome vocals from Trevor Strnad that go from nasty vicious shrieks to killer death growls. There's also awesome solos on here from John Kempainen, nice rhythm guitarwork from Brian Eschbach, good bass from David Lock, and sick insane drumming from Zach Gibson. Plenty of vicious blast beats and bone rattling double bass kicks throughout. If you think As I Lay Dying, Atreyu, Avenged Sevenfold, and Bleeding Through are brutal, this band will shatter your ears and beat you half to death. If you're a fan of Carcass, At The Gates, or even The Red Chord, Despised Icon, Dying Fetus, or Misery Index, you'll definately love The Black Dahlia Murder. Buy this album now along with Unhallowed as well.
Jeremy's song ratings:
1. Built For Sin - 5/5
2. I'm Charming - 5/5
3. Flies - 5/5
4. Statutory Ape - 5/5
5. A Vulgar Picture - 5/5
6. Novelty Crosses - 5/5
7. Dave Goes to Hollywood - 5/5
8. Miscarriage - 5/5
9. Spite Suicide - 5/5
10. Miasma - 5/5

If you like this album, you'll also like these as well:
"Unhallowed" by The Black Dahlia Murder
"Heartwork" by Carcass
"Slaughter of the Soul" by At The Gates
"The Healing Process" by Despised Icon
"Clients" by The Red Chord

Best Album.......2006-07-17

The guy below me doesn't entirely know what he is talking about. For one there are 2 vocalist, they just print that Trevor is the only one. You can listen to "I'm Charming", "Flies", "Spite Suicide", and "Miamsa" with backup vocals. I've seen the band 3 times live to prove it and Brian E. is the one doing them. Another, what makes this album so great is how all the songs DO have melody. BDM is called MELODIC death metal. No melody would = Cannibal Corpse, they are good but very straight forward, brutal riffs coming from CC. The drums on Miasma are incredible. Zach Gibson did an extreme job with the writing. All drummers should learn to appreciate him a lot more. The vocals are one of a kind, ranging from high screams to low growls. The guitars are INCREDIBLE. I recently talked to the ex drummer Zach Gibson..he claimed Brian doesn't know how to write music, I beg to differ. Brian and John know what they are doing and created the best album ever!!!

Average customer rating:

One of the best in its league
This is Metal
My 2 cents
Insanity
Awesome

Unhallowed
The Black Dahlia Murder
Manufacturer: Metal Blade
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00009N1YN
Release Date: 2003-06-17

Tracks:

Unhallowed
Funeral Thirst
Elder Misanthropy
Cantagion
When The Last Grave Has Emptied
Thy Horror Cosmic
The Blackest Incarnation
Hymn For The Wretched
Closed Casket Requiem
Apex

Customer Reviews:

One of the best in its league.......2006-07-15

The Black Dahlia Murder is one of the best up and coming bands IMO. They fused the unforgettable sounds of At The Gates and early In Flames with elements of brutal death metal and grindcore as well. Trevor Strnad's duel vocal assault makes you wonder if there is a backup vocalist? Nope.

And don't believe people that call this metalcore. That's ignorant. Now, I'm not one of those elitists who's like "m3t41Xc0r3 15 1t3h 5uXXX0r". Believe me, there are plenty of great bands under that genre that stand out and don't bore. The Black Dahlia Murder is melodic death metal/grind all mixed in one whirlwind.

Also, check out Vehemence, Beyond The Embrace, Arsis, Enforsaken, Through The Eyes of the Dead and Becoming The Archetype for bands like TBDM.

This is Metal.......2006-05-14

Umlike many modern metal bands, BDM doesn't do the Underoath style punk vocals that can turn what seems like a good metal band into nothing more than a relative of Fallout Boy. This is pure American Metal at it's finest. I have seen some reviews say that this band isn't unique and that they are too cliched. Well, I'll ask this, how many metal bands aren't changing into high punkish vocals? Yeah, thats right, they don't Change. They attack from start to finish and show no mercy whatsoever. If you remotely like metal, buy this album, it's BDM's best.

My 2 cents.......2006-05-08

Well with this many reviews on a cd I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said. And some have said more than I could have (read General Zombie's review). I loved this band as soon as I heard them 3 years ago, they became a favorite right away, which is saying a lot since death metal wasn't my thing at the time and now, thanks to these guys it is. Since I have sang in a good bit of metal bands I have to say something about the vocals. Trevor is fu@#$%& sick! For about a year I just thought they had 2 singers, but its just Trevor's voice looped. He is nuts, and an inspiration to many metal (especially death metal) vocalists. While this music may have been done before its never gotten this kind of exposure, especially in the US, and there's a perfectly good reason for it. These guys do it with more "kickassness".

Favorite song: Funeral Thirst

Insanity.......2006-03-03

I just saw these guys last night in philly insanity buy this cd get your own opinion amazing live thats all i gotta say

Awesome.......2006-01-23

Yes, everyone will tell you this cd is incredible, it is. But I wanna show off someone real quick. This band is a deathmetal band influenced by At The Gates, they practically meshed that thrashy sound with the american death metal scene and created a killer album, now i'm gonna bring up a band that does the same thing but sounds nothing like this album. Maybe a few of you know who "Defleshed" is... Well, they are a death metal band that fuze the At The Gates element as well, but in a totally different manner. This album is melodic because of it's riffs, as Defleshed's album is not at all. Just really thrashy adn awesome, they also sound nothing like the black dahlia murder, and still went in the very same direction with the influences, no corny repetative stuff this metalcore generation has been making. It's as brilliant as The Black Dahlia Murder and still retaining the elemnts of a differnt band. Give their "Fast Forward" album a listen, and you'll completely understand, and will probably buy it, (or dl it) immediately. Don't you just love metal?

Average customer rating:

Looking for Black Dahlia music?
Melodious, seductive, and etheral
Beautiful. Listen to this with headphones.
Soundtrack for the Film Noire movie that never was
A Life Story

Black Dahlia
Bob Belden
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000059Q88
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Tracks:

Genesis
In Flight
Dawn
City Of Angels
Dreamworld
Prelude To Love
Danza D'Amore
Zanzibar
Black Dahlia
The Edge Of Forever (Last Night At The Hacienda)
Freeway (101 North)
Elegy (City Lights, Prayer. Procession & Ascension)

Amazon.com

Composer, arranger, and tenor saxophonist Bob Belden's 12-part orchestral tribute to Elizabeth Short recalls her as the "Black Dahlia," the dark-haired Hollywood actress who was killed in 1947. In this moving and moody work Belden evokes Miles Davis, Henry Mancini, Chico O'Farrill, and Shorty Rogers. Belden employs an impressive cohort, including trumpeters Tim Hagans and Lew Soloff, tenor saxman Joe Lovano, and pianists Marc Copland and Kevin Hays. In this sprawling score they move from the hyper-speed tempo of "Genesis" and the Sketches of Spain tinges of "Dream World" and "Zanzibar" to the misty Billy Strayhorn-like title track and end with "Elegy," which features a rare tenor sax solo by Belden that recalls the elliptical phrases of Wayne Shorter. With this opus Bob Belden begins this century with inspiration and imagination. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Looking for Black Dahlia music?.......2006-08-10

Love this idea. Creative, self contained vision. I found a pop/rock song about Beth that you can find on Amazon under the artist name: "James Tipper" on his latest album "Haunted Mind" . Throw this album and Tipper's in your changer and you have the story told from different angles. Pretty cool.

Melodious, seductive, and etheral.......2003-03-04

Belden's tribute to Elizabeth Short (The Black Dahlia), an aspiring actress who was brutally murdered in the late 1940s, is an amazingly-crafted work that also mirrors the dreamlike music of Chinatown and other film noir pieces. A soundtrack without a movie, Black Dahlia instills a mythical and fantastic world around Short's difficult and lovelorn life, creating moods and atmospheres with some of jazz's top talent.

Beautiful. Listen to this with headphones........2002-09-19

I have listened to this CD over and over. I listen to it at
work with headphones. It's very beautiful, haunting, mysterious.
There are lots of levels to the songs; lots going on. The
percussion, the strings, woodwinds, piano, etc. fit together
perfectly.

Soundtrack for the Film Noire movie that never was.......2002-04-30

As is stated below, Elizabeth Short was a real life actress who came to L.A. with big dreams, and less talent, in the late thirties/ early forties. A striking beautiful, pale woman, she always dressed entirely in black. She had some bit parts. She was out of work. She descended into to twilight L.A. demi-monde. She met a gruesome death, a bizarre murder, still unsolved.

Bob Belden's music is quite successful at evoking the dark mid 40's, murky, moody, boozey environment that surrounded her life like a thick fog. The CD has the feel of a soundtrack for a film noir movie that has yet to filmed. Like "Chinatown", or "L.A. Confidential". But real soundtracks don't have the substance of this set of pieces on a common theme. Evocative. Similar to work by Charlie Haden & The Quartet West.

The trumpet part, as is said elsewhere, is reminescent of the lost-in-a-crowd melancholy of classic early Miles Davis. The orchestration doesn't overwhelm the solo voices. The earlier music starts out perky and upbeat, goes down tempo quickly. The end of the album is a fast Cuban/Latino song, she was last seen at a bar that featured hot latin Jazz, but most songs are dark and moody.

Read up on Elizabeth Short, The Black Dahlia, turn the lights down, close your eyes, turn on the music and watch your own movie in your head!

A Life Story.......2002-01-07

This CD is the musical story of Elizabeth Short. The composer became fascinated with the life of a woman who, seeking love and the fulfillment of her dreams, found despair and an early death instead. This story is passionately told.
Although the CD has a music noir feeling running through it, especially cuts 1, 4,5 and 9, there is a lot of other interesting jazz. "In Flight" and "101 North" are real burners. "The Edge of Forever" is a high energy orchestral celebration. "Zanzibar" has a distinctly African flavor. And "Danza d'Amore" is a chance for Joe Lovano to showcase his considerable skills.
All of the cuts have a distinct theme and are there to tell the story. Each has a musical message. I really like the music on this CD and highly recommend it. It's one of my top ten jazz CD's of 2001.

Average customer rating:

Jealousy [Japan Import]
X Japan
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000KEF1H8

Product Description

Out of print 1991 release by one of the most legendary groups in hard rock/heavy metal history, the now defuct X Japan. Sony records Japan (SRCL-2001) 10 tracks in total, including tracks like the top selling "Silent jealousy", "Desperate angel", and more. Out of print.

Average customer rating:

They didn't include k d lang's 'Love for Sale?' ???
GREAT MOVIE, GREAT SOUNDTRACK
Lackluster film, lackluster music
The Black Dahlia.....Did I spell that right
better than the movie itself

The Black Dahlia (Original Soundtrack)
Mark Isham
Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000HWXRAG
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

The Black Dahlia - The Zoot Suit Riots
At Norton And Coliseum
The Dahlia
The Two Of Us
Mr. Fire Versus Mr. Ice
Madeline
Dwight And Kay
Hollywoodland
Red Arrow Inn
Men Who Feed On Others
Super Cops
Death At The Olympic
No Other Way
Betty Short
Nothing Stays Buried Forever

Customer Reviews:

They didn't include k d lang's 'Love for Sale?' ???.......2007-06-15

"I wish that [k d lang]'s sultry interpretation of 'Love for Sale' was included on the cd." I can't believe THIS was left off! Somebody was certainly an idiot. *thumbs down* I WAS going to buy this CD... and, obviously, NOW I'm not going to buy it. :-(

GREAT MOVIE, GREAT SOUNDTRACK.......2007-04-04

I listen twice this soundtrack and i fall in love. I found music superb and stylish. When i saw the movie the music gave me emotion as Pride and Prejudice (Marianelli) and Volver (Iglesias). Book, movie and soundtrack i think you must have in your house for understand well a movie a book. GREAT! For everyone loves soundtrack.

Lackluster film, lackluster music.......2006-12-20

"The Black Dahlia" was a massive cinematic disappointment for me. The film was about anything but Elizabeth "the black dahlia" Short. I was also disappointed in Mark Isham's film score as well and I have enjoyed Mark's work in the past from "The Cooler" to "Crash". I didn't particularly care for "The Zoot Suit Riots" track because it was loud and bombastic but I guess it was created that way to coincide with the opening scenes when the riots were going on. I definitely liked it when Mark took it down a few notches on "The Two of Us" and for most of the cd. I wish that KD Lang's sultry interpretation of "Love for Sale" was included on the cd. My personal favorite tracks on the soundtrack has to be the lush, orchestral sounds of "Madeline" and the seductive ballad "Dwight and Kay". Unfortunately the songs tend to sound alike and listening to "The Black Dahlia" feels like one long extended track. I hope for his next project, Mark Isham won't create music as dreary and monotonous as what I heard on this soundtrack.

The Black Dahlia.....Did I spell that right.......2006-10-05

Now I like a good Mark Isham. Sometime hes good like with Rules of Engagment to Eight Below and sometimes I dont like him like with Crash. But thats my opinion. This soundtrack falls as an oscar worthy score. Mark has outdone himself from beginning to end with this piece of work. The best track is the opener The Zoot Suit Riots. But I have to say this has got some stiff compitition. All The Kings Men and this could be the Oscar contenders but there could be stiffer compitition if Flyboys score is good

better than the movie itself.......2006-09-24

A very enjoyable score quite reminiscent of music from old film noirs. Listening to this, I can pretend "The Black Dahlia" was a much better movie than it was.

Average customer rating:

Jealousy (Special Edition, 2CD)
X Japan
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000NPBONY

Product Description

Officially Released only in Japan and Korea. Special Edition of Japanese Rock Act's 3rd Album Coming with Bonus CD. (CD-2/Instrumental Tracks) 01 Silent Jealousy 02 Miscast 03 Desperate Angel 04 Voiceless Screaming 05 Stab Me In The Back 06 Joker 07 Say Anything

Average customer rating:

good times
sooo freakin fun!

Night of 1000 Ex-Boyfriends
Holograms
Manufacturer: Teenacide
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Product Description

fun, youthful pop/punk

Customer Reviews:

good times.......2007-05-13

I heard the Death boy song on KEXP's sonic reducer show and had to hear more form this band. Everything about this CD is so wrong and great give it a listen you wont regret it...

sooo freakin fun!.......2006-10-13

I love this record! Everybody who hears this tries to steal my copy!

Average customer rating:

X Japan - Dahlia review (first part)
X Japan - Dahlia review (second part)
Crossroads
"DAHLIA": The final offering
as Japanese, I want to hand down the legend band to world.

Dahlia
X-Japan
Manufacturer: Wp
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

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Jealousy [Japan Import]

ASIN: B000059O1I

Tracks:

Dahlia
Scars
Longing (Melody)
Rusty Nail
White Poem I
Crucify My Love
Tears
Wriggle
Drain
Forever Love

Customer Reviews:

X Japan - Dahlia review (first part).......2006-04-25

X Japan - Dahlia

First,before I start this review, there are 3 things I would like to say in order to make this review more simple and easier to understand. First of all is very simple and even very rude, but simply put, this is the best record ever, by any artist, throughout time. It's that simple.

Basically,that's all you would need to hear, and not need to read the following pages and instead just go listen to it, but I'm afraid that wouldn't be quite enough to convince you, and besides just stating that doesn't give me much credibility, does it?

The vast majority of you wouldn't believe me anyway because this is the kind of statement you hear everyday; someone saying "this is the best album ever!" and when you finally give that album a chance, it didn't really come to your liking. So, to avoid such a misunderstanding and to actually prove this IS the best ever, and most of all invite you to a great record, I decided not to make the short version above, and instead explain in detail of what I hope to become a helpful review.Also,I'm not going to be objective in judging this album, in fact it's going to be heavily subjective. I'm not even going to try not be biased, because I can't!How can I critisize something that just is so perfect, so flawless as this one is? "Dahlia" and "X" does have a fair share of advantage because of another subject too; this is a band I listen to about 4-6 hours e v e r y day for almost 5 years. No, I'm not joking or exaggerating. They're' that good, I keep listening to it because I never find anything better and I'm perfectly happy here with it, that's probably why. If I did listen to something else (alright occasionally I do) I would have broaden my musical experience and so on but what for? I'm happy!

For what it's worth,I'm also going to tell you that I'm a person that judges music critically. I only give out good scores for good albums. This is my first review, despite being here for a long time, there are many albums I love and want to review, but I decided to write about the best first. For a long time, I even refrained from started writing, until I felt I was fully ready to try express my feelings for this piece, and making the words come out right. I had to know exactly how and what to say, it took time but it was the only way.This also gave me the chance to see different sides of this album, to explore it even more and see if it became worse with time.

It didn't.

The title "best record ever by any artist" should not be used lightly. Looking back at the history of music and all the ever growing numbers of albums and artists, all different kinds of types, people's difference of opinions and perspectives on songs, different lives and lifestyles, from the age of classical music to the pop idol scene we have today, it takes quite much balls to make a statement to say that "this record is the very one". Fortunately, "X Japan - Dahlia" does just this, it is the best and lives up to all expectations and that's also why I feel so perfectly comfortable giving it this honor. In my opinion, of course. This is what I think, of course you might not feel the same. Everyone has different opinion on music, some of you might actually agree with me, most of you probably won't. But I'm quite sure that almost of all of you could enjoy the wonderful music of X Japan - Dahlia.

I'm not a musician myself. I don't play guitar, I don't know how to play piano, I don't play drums. Would I know more about music if I learned to? Would I change my opinion on the greatest album ever? Possibly, but probably not. You see, outstanding guitar solos (Yngwie Malmsteen), amazing arpeggios (Jason Becker), extremely advanced piano plays and anything else that's regarded as skill, it doesn't interest me much. I don't own a record collection of tens of thousands of cds, neither listened to thousands of them either, so I can't say I'm a "music coneasseur" but I do know that of everything I've heard and probably ever will, what I'm writing in this review is what I truly think. Also I'm by no means any "pro" regarding X japan, I'm just another simple fan (ok, slightly more enthustiatic perhaps :) as I think there's nothing better in life than X).

What I care about is the feelings and emotions a band or record can bring me, be it the most technical advanced music ever or a simple rhythm, what I enjoy is the feelings it gives me. For those of you that worry about this part, I'm quite sure X Japan is one of the more talented and skillful musicians out there.

The second thing I'd like to say is, as you maybe already noticed, I'm not from an English speaking country, so I hope that any further grammar/spelling errors won't annoy you too much, I'm sorry. I thought it would be better to write this in English, despite me not being fully capable of doing so, because more people could just find this beautiful hidden gem in the world of music. Fortunately, the music of X doesn't care about culture, language or English grammar errors, it's all universal there is no need to worry. So does the world need another review of X Japan - Dahlia? It's a 10 year old record... hasn't everyone already discovered this by now? Well, believe it or not but the answer is no. I didn't find out about X until year 1999, even less listened to them. And wow, even way back then they had already broken up... such a long time ago, and still I've found nothing better! I wouldn't want anyone to miss this opportunity, I'm forever grateful for finding them.

Third, this is going to be a long review, so for all of you looking for a short summary, just read the first couple of lines and listen to the cd :-) The world of X japan, and especially "Dahlia" cannot be explained easily. If you're new to the band and have no idea of what I'm talking about and interested to explore a new universe, or already somewhat familiar with the band or even highly experienced with them, there's still reason to read on. I'm trying to write so both new and old fans of X can enjoy. I hope I can write at least something interesting for everyone and I'm positive I can give you some new thoughts by giving my perspective on it. The album "Dahlia" itself is a lot different from the other records X released, and their career was very long and in order to understand "Dahlia", certain comparisons between this and their earlier efforts, stories and facts about their career must be mentioned, and comparisons between X and other bands/albums is also interesting, sometimes neccessary, which causes the review to become longer. But of course, focus will always be on reviewing this album! So sit yourself back comfortably, open your mind and let your ears guide you instead of your eyes. Because if you do, you will find something you've never felt before; a new path to the very meaning of life itself! Yes I WILL get a lot of flaming, hate mail and various spiteful comments about this, (maybe enemies for life, who knows!) but yes I mean it, this cd is THE MEANING OF LIFE!!! The answer to the question of what humanity has asked itself ever since our first days. HAHA!

That was very funny huh? I'm glad you enjoyed it, because it wasn't a joke! :-) I assure you, this is what I think, I'm serious. Is this guy really stupid, insane and a true fanatic? Maybe he's even dangerous? Can people really be so devoted that their entire life depends on one single music album? Why is he worshipping 5 random guys, that he's never met, and they're even japanese to boot? (A struggle X and many other bands had, they tried to breakthrough in the US but culture and language factors stopped them from any success). "He must be overrating these guys a lot, I mean a group of 5 people can't change the world", you might be thinking. Well, these 5 weren't just anybody. I can't tell you who and how they are, because they only know that themselves but try listening to their music or read a little about them on the internet. I can't blame you for thinking I'm an idiot, but for me, this modest little cd and its case is the portal to life. It just sets my soul on fire and I feel that I'm living, not just being alive, you know what I mean? Feelings such as these are naturally impossible to explain, especially by writing, it can only be felt. And this is exactly what X japan is; feelings. If you're not an emotional person, and have more of a down to earth attiude, I still recommend you to check out this album. You might find it to be over dramatic but I'm still confident you can enjoy it.

We're all different, with different principles and ideas. A lot of people don't find music important, some of us find it amusing, others take it very seriously, and I'm sure I'm not the one who's the most devoted to it. Some like "mainstream" more popular stuff, others only want rare and not so commercial music. Personally, I tend to like the "not so famous kind of music". Not because of the image either of them brings, but as the successful progressive rock band Tool says "We've got nothing against popular music or artists that focuses on image and the superficial part as long as they make good music, that's cool with us. BUT, for every minute, hour and days someone spends on their image, they could have used that time to worked harder and the make the music better. That's all what we care about; the music. As long as that is good, we're happy. Odds are it becomes better if you spend more time and work with it instead of focusing on something else." And I think that's quite an accurate explanation, and because of that and many other factors I tend to like not so popular music. Funny, as it is, X japan is actually a commercial hit. It was (and still is) very popular among teenagers and persons that care a lot about their image. X was one of the first few bands that VISUAL But as Tool said, "as long as the music is good we're satisfied" and this is exactly how X is. It's good, even if it's famous! So, now when you finally know how good I think this album is, let's get started!
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The 11th December 1996, japanese rock band X Japan released their final and highly awaited album Dahlia. At this time, X was a very established band, with millions of fans and the top selling artist of the nation. Worshipped by many, their fame and fortune had reached the peak; they were the unquestioned number 1 rock band. It even went so far that prime minister Koizumi Junichiro has expressed his joy for the music of this beloved band (and I believe not just to earn popular favor among the people of the country, which he could, but I think he actually does like them. He's met several times with frontman Yoshiki). X had EVERYTHING they ever dreamed of; and yet, there was several signs of chaos in the band. Perhaps this was just normal because X was just that; chaos. Difficult to understand for the non-initiated listener, X is a lot about feelings; death, suicide, joy, happiness, sorrow, jealousy, love, hatred, longing, destruction and much more. Frontman Yoshiki Hayashi has always been the very core of the band. He was described as a troublesome ruffian in his youth, with not too good grades and a careless boy. His endless pain has been shaping the band and their music from the very beginning.
At this time when Dahlia was created, there were rumours that within the band there were schisms and inagreements. Despite this (or maybe because of it) "Dahlia" rose as the masterpiece. Many fans of the band didn't like the direction the music that X (or rather Yoshiki, because he was the one who managed the band and firmly created and decided what the music would become) had taken.

Dahlia was unquestionably more experimental, cloudy, newer and different from anything X had done before. The old rock sound of angsty punks with weird hairdos, sex pistols-similar clothes and Kizz-make up was gone, all of the band members had cut off their hair or changed their image entirely, or toned down the previous wild, rebellious punk image. Because X was in the early days of the 80s the pioneers and founders of a style called "visual kei", which is a famous type of music in Japan. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, visual kei is using "visual elements" to create a more unique style that would add more effects to the live shows and most important; the band's image. This visual element could be anything from pink colored hair with extensions so that the hair would reach down to the waist or longer, or punk hair or anything that would make them look more extreme or different. Make up and lipstick were more of a habit than exception. Visual kei is obviously very comparative to what "Hair Metal" and "Glam Rock" was in the western part of the world. It is very obvious that "Kizz", the old 70s American rock band, has been a big role model of X (as a sidenote, Yoshiki himself has expressed that he likes them many times, he even wrote the cover song "Black Diamond" as a tribute). Visual kei is indeed similar to these previous installments, but with japanese style, more easternized and more proffessional. This was of course a good marketing trick as it brings a lot of attention, and people liked it (especially younger women, fan-girls!).

X Japan started this movement by exploring and testing this area, and it was quite fast accepted within the japanese population. Japan has always been rather tolerable to costume and role playing as a part of their culture history, where male actors have dressed as females in different plays (kabuki). Yet, their shocking image gave them a troublesome reputation among the society and at first they only attracted rebellious kids or metal fans. At the mid and end of 90s, many popular and famous bands in Japan used visual kei as an important part of their image. It wasn't just for fun any longer, bands started making big bucks using this make up and looks. It was not uncommon that the members of the bands (all male) would be mistaken for females by foreigners or unknown people, which is not strange at all because the make up, clothes and hair does indeed add to this androgyne image. Many other famous bands such as Malice Mizer, Dir En Grey, Luna Sea, and hundreds, probably thousands of bands used this image to incorporate in their stardom. Some used it to their advantage, others failed to do so.

Eventually, in my experience (and this debate continues to rage on, and everyone has their own opinion) many bands took this image too far and started to focus more on their looks, used energy, money, time and enormous effort in trying to look cooler, more shocking or beautiful than any other band. This is fine with me, but when it affects the musical aspect, that it's more important to look good than fix that drumming section or guitar scene, it's more of a model show than music. And I like music! To me, music is always in the center and always will be. Maybe that's exactly the secret key in why X was so sucessful; they played visual rock but in the center there was ALWAYS THE MUSIC. And these boys weren't just only looks and no brain... Yoshiki himself had been under very hard pressure from early days to practice music, he started playing piano when he was 4 and his mother was a musician. Many fans of X (and Yoshiki, because there's no denying that Y. Plays a huge part of X, he's the one who wrote the absolute majority of the songs, lyrics and created the melodies, he also owned the record company and the studio) they proclaimed him as the new Mozart, the 20th century musical genius, a statement I can understand and somewhat agree to. Just as Jimi Hendrix was a master on guitar, Yoshiki is a musical genius, his music is "beyond his own time". Funny comparison by the way, Hendrix was playing his rather rebellious music as a black man in a shaken up country, and Yoshiki (and X) playing rebellious rock music in a strict and formal society, earning their way to respect. Many members of the band have also wrote their own journals or books about this band and what it meant to them, it's quite nice to read their personal words and opinions of how things were so check it out if you're interested. The legend says that even before he was a teenager, Yoshiki made the first plans and formation of what would become X, the band that would change so many people's lives, with his childhood friend Toshimitsu (Toshi) Deyama. Of course, at this stadium it was all fun and games, but it would all soon become more serious. Yoshiki's father died when he was very young, and this has been a part of him ever since (a sidenote: the ballad "tears" is dedicated to him).

They started looking for other band members that would join them, a couple of members came and went for the tryouts, little information is known of this as it happened in the early years (1979-1983) where recording sessions were not saved as it is today. No computers, no internet, hell not even cd-players. But of what little info there is, a few musicians (or maybe more accurately punks :-) who was hanging out with the band was Hisashi "Jun" Takai (who's now a solo artist and holds guitar lessons). He chose to leave the band on his own due to that he didn't like celebrity and stardom (maybe it was good that he left then! Because that's what X just became, but in a bigger scale than what they all ever imagined!) A couple of other members were Hikaru, who now owns a rock bar in Tokyo, and a few other tryouts were Eddie, Hally, Satoru, Tokuo, Izumisawa, Zenon, Ogata, all in the early 80s. It's said that totally about 20 persons came to auditions, before settling down to the current line up.
Rumor has it that the reason why it took so long to find a first line up and release their first album was that Yoshiki just couldn't find enough skilled musicians to play his music. Finally, in 1983, the first real line up of X was formed and their first official song "I'll kill you" (which was speed metal) was released. The members of the band were Yoshiki Hayashi, who simply used the artist name Yoshiki. He composed the songs, played the drums and piano and any synthizors that were used. Vocalist was Toshimitsu Deyama (Toshi), bassist Taiji Sewada and two guitar players Hideto "hide" Matsumoto, and Tomoaki "Pata" Ishizuka. All of these members have had their own solo careers and projects.

hide had the most successful, which even some fans like more than X. hide quickly became the member of X who was most "visual" of all, he always had the longest hair and wore most make-up. His solo band was named "hide with spread beaver" and his tours across Japan were huge, selling millions of records and profiling himself in the world of rock. On the contrary to X, hide played a more relaxed, more easy listened, catchy, superficial and happy and almost hippie/drug influenced type of music, whereas X was complicated, filled with sadness and torment, Yoshiki always worried about life, but hides style was partying and celebrating which appealed the mainstream fans, and this was a huge success with the younger audience. I will try not to comment too much on hide's solo career (unless neccessary) and maybe write about it later, but this is neccessary to say (sorry all hide fans!) but in my opinion he's quite overrated, focusing too much on looks and too little on the music (therefore gaining lots of popularity among people who are not as serious about music as others). It should be known that hide also got a lot of focus due to his death in 1998. (Hmm I wonder how things would have been if it was actually Yoshiki who died and hide was alive? Scary to think of, and rather unpleasant and useless anyway so let's not stay at that any longer).This created a "hide hysteria" and it often causes fans to forget that hide was human--and that not everything he touched turned to gold. He can't compete with Yoshiki at all. His stuff is enjoyable, but if you're saying hide is better than Yoshiki, you haven't paid enough attention or listened enough. When going deeper into the music and listening to it for a long time, I get bored with him, his music is very predictable and he's not as talented as Yoshiki.

Pata, the other guitarrist, was the most calm and least bold of all the members, he just smiled and played his guitar. He's had a modest solo career, and is now playing in a band called "Ra:IN".There were actually two bassists, Taiji was the first one during the first three albums. He usually dressed in westernized clothes and easily recognized thanks to his cowboy hat. He liked music that was more western than the others, and in a conflict with Yoshiki at the time of making "Jealousy" (1991), Yoshiki undeliberately broke Taiji's arm and after that and some more conflicts he was fired. Now, Taiji is having his own band called Otokaze. He was replaced by Heath (Hiroshi Morie), who joined in late 1992, who also had a small solo career with Pata in the group Dope HEADZ.

X Japan is indeed something unique. A formation of 5 persons, each with their own talent and skills, united into a group with all their hearts beating as one. They changed the music industry in Japan, and helped many to find their dreams. Today, X japan is since long gone, the sands of time have washed away a bit of their glory and many of music's younger fans today know very little or nothing about the band or are just uninterested as it is too old, and the people in their own generation have moved on with their own lives, creating families and so on. Still, the songs of X remains and for me, this is truly eternal. It's also important to note the factor of X in the studio and X live. If you haven't seen any live concerts with them, do it now!
It's interesting to look at how the band's sound changed with the years. To see how "Dahlia" became what it was in 1996, a short summary could be useful. To be able to compare and understand why Dahlia is better than the previous albums, let's look at the musical progress the band has made, because throughout X Japan's life span, they did it all, speed/trash metal, ballads you name it. In Japan, especially at this time, discography is a bit different than it's over here... the normal standard of regular albums isn't applied, instead singles, mini/maxi album and EPS are much more common. Regular albums exist too, but not at all as wide as here. That's why X's most songs are first released on singles and then maybe later on an album, which also means songs on "Dahlia" had previously appeared. I can understand how people find this disappointing, I feel the same, if a new album is released I don't want it to contain the same songs as before. But looking at Dahlia, I can only see a composition of absolutely heavenly songs, even if they've appeared before or not. Most of the songs are ballads, even if a few ones are rock. Before and during the "Vanishing Vision" (first album) era, X was a thrash/speed/power metal band. It was just mostly about "fun and rock as hard as you can", but still with a slight importance and contemplation. The album was all guitar and drums, no fancy digital sounds or distortions. It had classics such as "Kurenai" and "Sadistic Desire". Even though well written and produced, X still had much to improve. With the release of their second major album "Blue Blood", X still kept their image of hard rockers but had started to slightly be influenced by softer sound and wrote the classic ballad "Endless Rain". "Blue Blood" is the record that made them breakout, and it sold very well. It was the most easily listened and straight forward album they released. Just a simple album, with regular rock songs. Many fans regard this as their best album, but actually I think it's their worst! "Blue Blood" is full of questionable tracks such as easy fight rambling, celebration and weekend. These are songs you enjoy in the beginning, but after a long time I grow very tired of them. This is not the case of "Dahlia".

In the early years, before and during the "Vanishing Vision" (first album) era, X was a thrash/speed/power metal band. It was just mostly about "fun and rock as hard as you can", but still with a slight importance and contemplation. When "Jealousy" came out, it was all much more apparent that X was of serious nature. "Silent Jealousy" and "Say anything" was truly a step up from the monotonous "Blue Blood" and a huge improvement in content. Whereas songs as "Weekend" meant nothing, "Silent Jealousy" had a deep meaning. X had become moremature, which really showed in the songwriting and they were so much more dramatic now. Originally, the next release, "Art of Life" was supposed to have been included in the "Jealousy" release, but due to it's length and obvious size, it was released independantly in 1993. Interestingly enough, this means parts of "Art of Life" was written in 1991 or even earlier! After "Art of Life", X japan had nothing to prove. They had already showed their excellent musical talents, their masterful control of different genres, metal, symphonic music, pop music.... and yet, they created something like this. To fully understand why "Dahlia" is their best work, I can only say keep listening, listening and listening to their music over and over and over again.

Before actually talking and analyzing the songs, let's look at the cover for a second. The cover of the album is a picture of Yoshiki, sitting in the middle of a street, with cars rushing by but he's just sitting there, not caring about what happens around him, uninterested in the all regular stressful society system we're all a part of. He's dressed in grey silver-white jeans, a black shirt and sitting on a boquet of dahlias (it could also be roses, roses have always been a bit of his gimmick, by the way, but it's most certainly dahlias as that's what the album is about). I just find this picture adorable, it describes freedom and strength, a bit of insanity I guess (sitting in the street), and that his whole life is riding on... whatever he is up to, probably the one he loves.

Okay, so... you're ready? For full maximum effect, put on your best equipment, best speakers available, focus deeply and listen in headphones to hear all details. Click play, start the record and another world opens:

Track 1: Dahlia
Ok, so we are right onto it, it starts out right away with the best, no time to waste. And you will soon notice that this song takes it all so serious. This song is of huge importance to the album, maybe that's why it's first on the cd. It's very important, not just because it's one of the best songs ever, but also because It really shows the changes of X's sound and the newer generation of the band.This is such a perfect song, it just blows my mind... it blows me away and I don't know what to say. However, this song took me quite a while to get into. The first couple of times I heard it, I didn't like it at all. The distorted, almost computerized and strange voice of Toshi at the beginning through me off, the guitars sound just too strange, almost like garbage, the drums were in a weird rhythm and the song just didn't make sense. BUT, given time, this song grew something incredibly. It started with me reading the lyrics, finding the message and understanding it, and after that the highlight mysterious break at 03:18 enticed me just enough to find out just what kind of song this really was. The mysterious drum break is very experimental and almost psychadelic, at that moment there are no guitars and no vocals, nothing like X had ever done before. When I hear this, even now, after listening thousands and thousands of times to this song, the feelings overwhelm me and I feel like and envision as if I was in a forest, I see this vision of an autumn forest, I'm walking through it and different lights, resembling strobe or disco lights, in colors of green, yellow, orange is shining down through the leaves, reflecting on the leaves that are falling down, and as soon as it started the melody of the song changes back and drags me back into the real world, just like as if I was in a dream, like waking up in your bed. I'm quite sure of that in this drum break, this is where Yoshiki's real dreams of Violet UK started.

After the drum break is gone, the tune of the song carries on and the melody continues, just as it was before. It's hard to describe the song of "Dahlia", but somehow it symbolizes "life". To me, the entire song Dahlia, from the first second to the last is about life and the road everyone is walking on, your journey of life, from the moment you're born to the day you die, this is what "Dahlia" is about. Regardless of what life you're living, the story of yours is inside Dahlia. The moment you first fell in love, the beautiful boy or girl you loved and she loved you, the time you spent on the beach with her, the warm, passionate kiss under the bridge, the joys and hardships of life you've been through, the lonely nights under the sky, the cold snowy nights of winter, your most successful moment and your worst mistakes, your dreams and nightmares, your abstract dreams of whatever they may be (in my case, I see a vision like a glass palace, made of mirrors I'm walking through it, similar to the Bruce Lee Dragon movie :P), old, ancient mountain passages in an era long forgotten and Neon cities with high skyscrapers, flowing rivers and green flower paradises, it's all inside DAHLIA.

At 05:56, the song calms out and all there is is some soft sound, with classical strings and Toshi's very light voice. When I hear this part, I imagine Toshi standing atop of a mountain with both his hands raised and singing out at the landscape, as green valleys and flowering fields are blooming below him, almost as if it was a movie and the camera is moving around him, in circles. Right after this short period, the rhythm comes back but the pace has quickened and "gone up" one step, which makes it clear that the ending of the song is coming close, but also as a reminder that life is closing in and moving close to end. At 07.07, a very important highlight begins. First there's a guitar in the background (while the strings plays) and then comes the distorted guitars that are playing like the final part of life, like you're about to die and the end is nigh, and at the very end of the song, the song ends with a striking but fading end, slowly but quickly disappearing just like life itself. When I hear this, I get the image of a glass or a cup of coffee falling to the ground and in multiple replays the glass breaks, again, again and again over again, just like life itself is shattered.
Throughout this song, all sounds are so incredibly synchronized, the small "clinging" detail sound at the background, the drums are in such a motion of a possessed demon, the guitars are fast and determined and the vocals speaking so clear. There are so many emotions and moods throughout the song that it's impossible to explain. Especially the drums are in such a great rhythm, if you listen carefully you can also note that they play so great very lightly in the background. Let's not forget about the lyrics, which plays a big part in the song:

"Do nothing but cry day and night. I'm still alone between the past and the future, even though I convert unchanged heart of mine into a beautiful lie. Embracing tears flying across never-ending sky in the night, once again
Oh my Dahlia. Sorrows soaked in my heart turn their shapes into countless consternations. You don't know where you are going to, once you spread the wings of loneliness in your undecided mind and go across the sea of tears.
You will spread your wings against wind of tomorrow even if the voyager ends up with shapeless dream (hoping that) you will see blue sky
Time after time, you try to find yourself drifted by wind of sorrow
You try to find yourself even in passing time with holding continuous pain
Don't display tear which drops in a second of eternity, ever again.
Oh my Dahlia. Rain falling to scars that everyone has in his heart is....
Blown by cold wind, birds that still can't fly away hold their dreams, in the sky of dawn. A Flower of fantasy blooms along the trace of tears, making time stop flying."

(Note:This translation could vary compared to others, I have found this to be one of the more accurate as Japanese lyrics and music can be very complex because it's usually structured as poetry or poems, and also there are certain emotions and feelings we in west can't comprehend and then it gets even more difficult to translate. I do believe this one to be accurate as I had a very strong source for it). Why is this song better than the famous "Art of Life?"

X Japan - Dahlia review (second part).......2006-04-25

(see mini album with the same name, released 1993 by X japan) Doesn't Art of Life describe the road of life as good or maybe even better than "Dahlia"? Isn't the spectacular length, grand design and effort of Art of Life even better than Dahlia's? Well... without being as epic as Art of Life is, Dahlia still manages to present its purpose. Art of Life loses a bit of it's perfection by being just a little too long. It's really nice and I don't dislike it's length, if it wasn't as repetitive as it is. Dahlia incorporates all of these elements, with an even more emotional side. (Art of Life also has a few weaknesses and that is that I find the female voice that's telling a story quite disturbing and to be honest the piano solo yes it's emotional but it does disrupt the musical element. However, it's a near perfect song). I can't just bring myself to even try to understand how someone could even write something such as this. Dahlia also gets better, and better and better for each time you listen to it... it's never bored me, and I've listened to it constantly for 6 years now! (at least 6 times every day). The only thing I regret is not finding it earlier :-)

Scars:
This is, without a doubt, the weakest track on Dahlia, and possibly the weakest of all of X Japan's songs. It's written by hide, which is quite easy to figure out with the other kind of tune and mood than the other songs. Hide had his own kind of style, acting and trying to look different, cool and dark... which he succeed to be, to a certain degree. Scars is, I assume, meant to sound self destructive and show the bitter side of life, but this song just sounds uninteresting and too empty without content to be of any value. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE depressive music (almost all of X's music is sad!) and wide known rockband Alice in Chains is my other favourite band, which plays solemnly dark, depressive music, but it should be with some kind of content! Scars isn't, and the melody isn't well constructed, only the guitar solo is decent, and Toshi's voice is fine too, adding some fragrance of despair to the song. It's slightly better live actually, but it doesn't save it from being one of X's worst songs. This song is a disappointment, and always hits the skip button. Let's move to the next one.

Longing~togireta melody:
The most anonymous and quiet ballad of X. It's rarely appriciated as much as Endless Rain or Forever Love, but it still acquires it's fair share of good comments. I think it's a beautiful song, though just not exactly as good as the previous ones that were mentioned, but it's good! Toshi's vocals makes it more interesting as the melody is rather plain and simple, sometimes slightly too repitive though. The line "I sing without you... I'll sing without you, can't you feel my heart, falling through the rain?!?" is beautiful. There's a nice guitar solo at 3:40 (that reminds me much of endless rain's!) It's a decent ballad, well orchastrated in the usual X fashion, not just my top10 X song.

Rusty Nail:
The first 11 seconds of this song truly shows what a masterpiece this song is, why it's the best song ever by any artist and what a true genius Yoshiki Hayashi is. This is THE VERY DEFINING sound of X japan, and the very defining sound of existence and life itself!!! So short, so beautiful and so...full of energy... it transmits the feelings of empty space and a room of absolutely nothing, just space like outside in the atmosphere, a vacuum. Whenever you hear this sound, whoever wherever whatever you are, you can be whoever you want to be. This is the sound somewhere out of space, where nobody can find you, where you are free and your spirits are living. Where nobody can hurt you. This is the life you were never born into, this is you with a different face, a different name and a different place. This is the memory of your unconsciousness of a life you lived before this one, this is the moment when you can breathe forever under water, this is when your eyes can see things in another dimension than your eyes usually see. This is every secret of you that nobody else knows and every good thing inside you. And all this is in the first 11 seconds. When I die (because someday I will), these 11 seconds will flash before me and play the moments in my life, replaying everything that has ever happened to me. This sound is the sound of dreams, and dreams are what we are made of.

These 11 seconds can only be explained as Rusty Nail.

When this song was released as a single, the cover was an arranged picture of Yoshiki (see my profile picture), with a half picture of his face, no eyes are showing and his lips have a blue color with a drop of it dripping down his chin, with a broken fingernail next to his face. And where the eyes should have been, there's just the text rusty nail. Right after the intro, the song kicks in rather rocky, with a very nice rock riff and Toshi's voice comes soon after. What's also so incredibly great with this song is the lyrics. Here is an example:

"(I am) Looking at the rose drawn in the pieces of memory.
Rusty nail is sticking to unchanging memory made of fragmented feeling of mine
How many tears can let me forget you?Just tell me my life
I can't see tomorrow for tears covering my eyes no matter how far I walk. Even though I forget the pain of weekend ended just as a prelude, even though I try to let myself flown in the stream of passing time, Rusty nail is still sticking to my heart. How many tears can let me forget you, leaving a sleeping and bloomed rose whose color is vanishing?Living life with honesty casts away night in the eyes leaving only bright dreams and brings morning. Living life with honesty finishes nights that I used to spend time crying with holding red wrists. Pain decollates my heart even now. I can't still forget you."

The lyrics of this song is so beautiful and tells the story of all our lives. At 1:14, the synthisor sound kicks in again, this time with the guitars. At 2.17 us the moment of soul's journey to heaven. This is what it would feel like to go there; your soul ascending to the sky... Yoshiki's perfect sense of whispering lyrics here "I can't die, I can't live, I can't die just set me free" is what defines life. It's what we all feel or felt as teenagers, trapped in life and death. It can't be explained, just listen to it and you'll see. Soon after, a break appears, the sound lifts and Toshi is singing from heaven.

At 3:43 hide kicks off with a nicely timed guitar solo with a waha pedal, that summaries the song. The tunes keep going for a while, and the song ends with a drummed out, and the mysterious sound of synthizers, guitars and at 05:24 they finish you off with a slash at the guitars. The song ends, It's all over! *falls down*
No western band can make a song like this. There is just something about Rusty Nail that truly defines asian music... maybe it's the tempo, the crystal clear sound which only asian artists use (for example, see Dir en Grey's hoturabi, it has the same content). Interesting to note too is that during a live show, Rusty Nail gets even stronger and a more powerful tune is applied, very recommended to check out too. It's great music to drive car to as well, pump it into your stereo and you'll see why. While driving through the landscape the raindrops smash towards your window, or the sun is shining and you smile with all your face, the road lamps keep moving behind you as the car drives forward... it's all so perfect. The best song ever, live or on studio album it has it all. Let's say it like this... after I found this song I could die happy.

White Poem I:
Can someone say dream?!? Oh, this is such a dream. This is the dream and visions of Yoshiki, a corner in his mind and heart nobody has ever seen before. This mysterious, eluding, unorthodox, elegant song is very interesting! As "Dahlia", White Poem I is more experimental than the earlier efforts of X. Only Yoshiki could write something like this (I'd like to see hide write something like this! Oh wait, he can't he's gone :/ ) and the song is screaming out Violet UK all the way, with future visions of something special. The whispers of Yoshiki and Toshi's vocals make a great job. This is as dreamy as a song gets. If I was female, i could imagine this to be a very seducing and sexy song... Yoshiki's lips pouting out, with a dreamy aura... It's a mysterious song, not rock not ballad... it's just different. The slow piano playing throughout it is also very nice, with a beautiful touch of Toshi's voice. Great song!

Crucify my love:
The most sad X ballad? It's a great song, good lyrics and again, perfect vocals and piano. Heartbreaking and sad, moving with a slow pace and nice string arrangements. No surprise, this song is about love and pain. I tend to like the live version better, it brings more emotion. Good song!

Tears:
Another huge hit, and an instant classic. Very popular ballad Tears have a special place in a lot of fans hearts. The intro is really good, relaxed but serious, and Toshi's vocals, beautiful as always. This is probably the song where he sings the very best, he carries the high tunes so good without a problem. At 2:10, the drums come in and the melody continues. This song is very easily listened and chances are you'll like it immediately. The lyrics are great, the guitar solo is splendid and the vocals, the vocals is SO good! Then, why, is this song not my personal favourite? Well, you see... it's a good song, but time has taken it's toll on it... unlike Endless Rain and Forever Love, I have somehow got bored of Tears. Not bored that I dislike it, just that I always listen to other songs :-) The chorus "Dry your tears... with love" works.... but after 6 years of intensive listening, it just doesn't get to me anymore. I feel it's also slightly too long (especially the outro) and not as interesting as the other two ballads. It's a great, great song though and this is only measured by the standards of X... any other band doesn't even come close to this song.

Wriggle:
An interlude, stopping at 1:25. It's a heavy song, with a very digital sound, almost industrial and nothing like normal guitar. Again, very experimental and nothing like classic rock. This is more of an intro to the following song, Drain. So these two belong together.

Drain:
Most controversial song of X, I would say. It's usually a "hate or love it" song; whereas the older generation of fans does not like it. "Drain" is full of electronic sounds and remixes, with a distorted guitar line and strange drum beats. It cannot be explained as neo/new/Nu-metal, but neither it's the old type of rock sound. It's more of a flirt with electronica/industrial, but not entirely. Some find this song just silly, others pretty cool and intense. Whatever your thoughts are, there's no doubt "Drain" is different. Actually, I don't find this song to be bad at all. If you listen closely in headsets, you'll hear some cool whispers in the background, which are pretty intriguing. Toshi's vocals are pretty intense and the song transmits energy, it's like a feeling of you're going on a roller coaster and it's moving fast, the wind is in your face and you're falling down, flying with the air. Not one of the best, but not one of the worst either! I feel though that it's dangerous making a song such as this, as electronica/industrial music is quite dependant on newer technology as the noise sounds should try to be modern (as a part of the music scene) and Drain is about 10 years old now.

Forever Love~Acoustic Version:
The best love ballad in the world, turned into an acoustic love ballad. It couldn't go wrong, it's good. If you haven't heard the original yet, and you're starting with this, I strongly suggest you to check out the original version, it's quite important. The acoustic guitars on this one brings feelings of more comfort, warmness and almost like a goodnight tale. I used to play this song before I went to sleep, as the acoustic version was far more relaxed. I do prefer the original though, but this is great as well. Toshi's performance is again extraordinary, reaching for the stars. And this song is indeed the song to play on your wedding day, just like I've heard of that a woman once did =). Nothing to complain about, just a great song!

Bonus Track Longing and Forever Love:
These two songs are just instrumental, for you to sing along or to be able to listen more carefully at the instruments. No comments to make, they're just extra tracks.
- - -

The two definite strongest tracks on the album is "Dahlia and Rusty Nail". Those two are such masterpieces that they changed my life forever. I'm grateful forever for finding these two songs, and they mean so much to me. After that, the rest of the album is solid, with no filler songs and all quality work. X's career stretches over almost 20 years, in all this time they have made speed metal, thrash metal, power metal, ballads, rock, hard rock, pop, techno/electronica, they've done uncountable number of live shows and so much more, but nothing as good as Dahlia. Yoshiki and X truly spent their hearts in souls of making this record, making a true masterpiece, something that will remain on top forever. He was a true perfectionist and he achieved it but the price was high (you fans know what I'm talking about). For all of this, X Japan, you have my endless forever love, thank you for everything. You will always be in mine and many hearts'.

It isn't just music. This is the greatest mankind has ever made. It's all like a dream. Have you chased your dreams lately?

Crossroads.......2005-09-16

This album is the last official studio album put out by X Japan. It is a departure from their last studio album "jealousy", which was more progressive metal. This album sounds like a mix of techno, industrial, and metal. You can tell the direction all the musiciains are going to go in their respective solo careers when listening to this cd since its more diverse than previous releases.

Its my least favorite X Japan CD, but I think its underrated at the same time. My favorite tracks are "Dahlia" and "Rusty Nail". I would suggest getting "Blue Blood" and working from there. If you like the harder stuff, get "Vanishing Vision" as well, and if you like the progressive stuff get "Jealousy" and the "Art of Life" single.

"DAHLIA": The final offering.......2004-09-22

What else can be said? "DAHLIA" is the last studio album of the infamous X Japan, the essential founders of J-Rock and visual kei, released only a year before their dissolution in late '97. Exactly three years in the making, it reflects well their growth as a musical unit, and also as individuals. Any comparison made to earlier albums will find "DAHLIA" fills in the minute cracks trembling through the resonance of X Japan's awesome reign--"Vanishing Vision", their first (and overtly offensive) release, is heavy with morbid verse and violent ambition. "DAHLIA", while still retaining a bit of that Blood & Roses ideology, transforms it into something much more palatable: a despair at the human condition within the desperate individual. Yet while there are a handful of Yoshiki's signature metal-esque epics to be found, this disc is not overweight with such perfection, having balanced itself effortlessly through the artistic placement of dynamic and unforgettale ballads--the caliber of which only X Japan could craft. Yoshiki's obsessive, infallible direction is found throughout the entirety of this final presentation, with

***The Metal: DAHLIA, SCARS, Rusty Nail
"DAHLIA" opens with its namesake, a vaguely industrial-influenced epic that pushes the clock at eight minutes. This is the frenetic perfection that fans have come to expect: heavy, lengthly, and overflowing with classic presentation and transcendent ability, "Dahlia" lets the consumer know instantly that this album means business, and it is more than worth their money spent. However, an interesting bridge in the middle prior to Yoshiki's spiritual voice-over gives both hide and Pata time to experiment and produce some funky, electric tones rather graduated from X Japan's familiar, sweeping style.

"SCARS" immediately follows "Dahlia" in the lineup and shatters all previous conceptions of just what X Japan's speed metal is: this is sharp, angsty, and angry music. Toshi's vocals are perfect for this piece; and while most fans will immediately listen for hide's skillful guitars, I believe that Pata's exceptional rhythm as Second Guitar (not as much "Twin" here) is what makes this song as driving as it is.

The last of the great metal giants, "Rusty Nail", is an 80's-ish powerhouse more than capable of figuratively standing toe-to-toe with such legendary epics as "Kurenai" and "Silent Jealousy". The fans were not disappointed with this final offering, and after more than 200,000 votes were tallied online, it ranked #4 as X Japan's "Best" song ever. Catchy, memorable, and with solos by hide and Pata that will leave your head spinning--and your heart aching for more--"Rusty Nail" is one rock song NOT to be overlooked.

***The Ballads: Longing~togireta melody~, Tears, Forever Love
Admittedly, it took some time for me to fully appreciate this version of "Longing"--but "~togireta melody~" grew on me over repeat listens, and now I find myself humming to it playing in my mind at the oddest times. It's your standard ballad by X Japan: moving and perfectly orchaestrated. Yet compared to the opulence of "Tears", a masterpiece that only truly should be heard with Yoshiki's poetic voice-over at the end (the radio-edit lacking it I find to be surprisingly incomplete, and almost mundane), "Longing~togireta melody~" means nothing. The agonizing sadness of "Tears"--a very personal song written in memory of Yoshiki's father, who committed suicide years ago--translates as a stunning saga of emotion and unbelievable musical passion. While "Forever Love" as the single release is nearly as moving, albeit not as spiritually overwhelming, as "Tears"; the "Acoustic Version" (orchaestral version) that concludes this disc is a quiet, dignified piece that would almost be better without Toshi's vocals: against a backdrop of classic rock elements as presented on the "Forever Love" single, Toshi's lyrics are appropriately pleading, but standing alone with cello and violin, they're almost whiny and too nasal.

***The Experimentation: White Poem I, CRUCIFY MY LOVE, WRIGGLE, DRAIN
Perhaps some fans of X Japan may disagree with me, but upon repeat listens of "DAHLIA", I have to say that "White Poem I" continues to impress me with its elegant simplicity as one of Yoshiki's later compositions, and I think it's one of his best. Not because it's one of his most energetically passionate--because it's not. And not because it's one of his most painstakingly-crafted--because it's not. "White Poem I" was essentially written, programmed, and performed entirely by Yoshiki himself; and but for Toshi's strange, ethereal vocals of love and longing, he could take singular credit for its very existence. Yoshiki's "White Poem I" gives his fans a glimpse at the musician not often seen: the Yoshiki past his drumset, past his piano. I love to think of Yoshiki picking up a guitar again (reminiscent of the Extasy Summits back in the early nineties) and moulding that talent for this piece, and his sultry English voice-over for this song--too sexy for words. "White Poem I" is vague, light, and disorientingly quiet, a piece so underrated and emotionally moving that a listen of it would most likely conclude in the bedroom.

Yet, the melancholy of "CRUCIFY MY LOVE" turns the stage around again by placing Toshi nearly in command; perfecting lyrically a composition that is not quite a ballad, but very much a love song. Yoshiki on piano is amazing, however he somehow never outshines his vocalist, who manages the English lyrics surprisingly well and with very little accent.

"WRIGGLE" is an unusual piece for X Japan, very electronica and much more industrial than "Dahlia", with guitars by Pata and programmed by bassist Heath. Too short, if you ask me. Edgy, dark, and mysterious, I would have liked it if they had toyed with its conception some more--and the same could be said for the last dark song on the album: "DRAIN". I would not consider "DRAIN" to be the metal that some others have labeled it, although it is an amazing song of raw guitars and harsh lyrics. All in English, and sans Yoshiki's incomparable drumming (and Pata's presence at all), "DRAIN" brings forth memories of an X Japan younger, less restrained, and much more aggressive, with sharp lyrics reflecting spiritual quandry as well as personal despair.

To complete this massive review, I will maintain that Yoshiki, hide, Toshi, Pata, and Heath remain unparalleled in musical structure and performance until the very end: as an album, "DAHLIA" rounds out the joint career of five legendary musicians flawlessly, and gives their fans a glimpse into their personal growth and maturation in the process. It goes without saying that it is a staple to any fan of J-Rock, and anyone of distinctive musical appreciation.

as Japanese, I want to hand down the legend band to world........2004-03-10

X Japan, off course in Japan even now it is legend band. Since one of the band, that is, Hide(guitar) was death shockingly, all the Japanese have known about the wonderful band again.

The most wonderful thing of XJAPAN will be the combination of hard rock and classical music. In the world, there are a lot of bands that can play wonderful rock, but there is not the bands that can play with beautiful classical style sounds except XJAPAN. Why could XJAPAN play such beautiful combination music? The answer is YOSHIKI(drums and piano). Since boy, he have studied many music instrument professionally(classical piano, violin, trumpet etc)thefore he knew about the beauty of classical music and the composition skill.

About the beautiful sounds you must know in music[endless rain][say anything].
The album is the latter term for XJAPAN. Terefore the composition ways changed to diffrent way as compared to former style, that is, a lot of ballade songs and in composition YOSHIKI used computer when make song.

As Japanese, I recommend XJAPAN. I think that the band is NO1 now.

Tracks:

Stardust
Love Is Here To Stay
Ill Wind
I Want To Talk About You
Brazil/Aguarela Do Brasil
Night And Day
In The Still Of The Night
Penthouse Serenade (When We're Alone)

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Smetana: Piano Works

Manufacturer: Supraphon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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General | Classical | Styles | Music

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