Happy Glass Skin Day! (&Review)
GLASS SKIN
Review & Assessment
So, the awaited Glass Skin single has finally arrived today (yesterday in Japan) and has received steady variations in its reception. Opinions have been cast along with a plethora of accusations... but here is my own, personal, drawn-out review of Glass Skin (detail included).
Track #1: Firstly, the title track, Glass Skin. I heard this song about a weak ago via the PV on youtube (of course) and was, in all honesty, a bit worried. Hell if I didn't love the song, but I was still a bit worried... I took into account the low quality of the video, which was pretty evident in the static and noise that came with it. This is mind, the song immediately struck me as epic, but definitely a little off. I would have given it, then and there, probably about a low 4 out of 5. It didn't seem very fluid to me, kind of sporadic, and the chorus irked me a bit, for reasons I'm not sure of.
The song represents a few weak points in Kyo's live singing ability. By this, I am not at all insisting the stupid shit that's been strewn across the internet all week: "Blegh, Kyo can;t sing anymoooore! I'm a cunt-monkey, balgh..." Yeah, you probably know what I mean... In recent lives though, Kyo has had a tendency to start off a little weak with songs that don't utilize the strength of his voice right off the bat (if this makes any sense). Weak as in, you can't understand and/or hear him over Kaoru and Die's instrumentals... (See the Dozing Green of the "Ajinomoto Stadium, Hide Summit"). I really have no idea whether the PA or Kyo is at fault for this, because he levels out eventually as the song picks up, however... Beyond this, I really enjoyed the song: instrumentals as well as Kyo's heightened vocals and english "Prayer" especially, towards the middle.
Now, though, that I've received the actual single and high quality track, my opinion of the song changed greatly. Having time to sit in the dark with it and reflect... Even though the song loses a bit of its "epicness" from the PV, the high quality track sounds about twice as good. The vocals fit with the instrumentals better, it flows, and is overall structurally very well put together. It may seem uneventful to some due to its low-key nature and the fact that it has less energy than some of Dir en Grey's recent releases, but it's overall a great song. Not on the tip-top of my "Dir en Grey Ballad Favorites" list, but a very good song. The only negative notion I could muster was that I hope Kyo doesn't force himself into high toned melodies in Uroboros as he has in Dozing Green and now Glass Skin. Kyo is the kind of vocalist who always strives to challenge himself, even if he sounds best at high-mid to low-mid range.
Overall Score: Very High 4 out of 5
Score One Week Later: 5 out of 5 (This song is...amazing.)
Track #2: undecided
Love. undecided is one of my favorite Dir en Grey tracks, and I was therefore very anxious to hear a revised B-Side adaptation of the track. Note that, as it is a B-side in principle, the track is somewhat undeveloped in comparison to those B-Sides made for album. Instrumentally, the song is nothing like what I expected. The first time that I heard it, for some reason, it instantly reminded me of Die's "Jessica Wave Mix" from back in the day. The songs aren't really similar at all, but, you know, have a bit of the same feel when it comes to the acoustic guitar. ~ I really, really enjoyed the plaintive, almost somber feel of the beginning of the song, and was a bit caught off guard by the beginning instrumentals because of the difference in comparison to the song I've had in my head for so long... Needless to say, I had no idea what to expect with Kyo's first "Hanarenai." I'm not dissapointed though... the acoustic guitars contrast Kyo's low and plaintive vocals with a kind of laid-back whimsicalness. Speaking of Kyo's vocals... fucking awesome. Unusual, and very different for him in style... apparently different from the original track, an improvement, in my opinion. The maturity of his voice stands out in comparison to the former vocals, even if he sings a bit higher, and are just plain skilled. I can't exactly explain the difference in the way that he sings... but it's just... good, though a little less intense (I especially loved the lift circa 2:27...fucking cool. ). ~ The changes in lyrics are very evident, but I was happy to see my favorite lines still intact. Also, loved how Die kept his bit the same at the end...
This is definitely one of those songs that makes you think, "Shit, Kyo is good."
Or at least... I think so. :}
Overall Score: 5 of 5
Track #3: AGITATED SCREAMS OF MAGGOTS -UNPLUGGED-
Summarily to say...this song is kind of like Kyo's version of "wailing on a guitar," minus the guitar... Overall, though the beginning of the song is kind of...daunting, I think the song is kind of... cool. Especially the end half, where an eerie falsetto(?) takes precedence as a background to Kyo's screams. Kyo is the KING of eerie acapella...his voice is perfectly suited for it.
The Agitated Screams unplugged pretty much serves to instate "Hey, Kyo can still scream!" ... which we all pretty much already knew... yeah. A lot of screaming, which facilitates another fun thing about this song upon hearing it for the first time: deciphering the actual lyrical portions. Hey...I think Kyo's "I'll Rape Your Daughter on Your Grave" skillz have improved since two years ago... :D
The song presents some of the most intense screams/growls Kyo has recorded as of now... so, if thats your piece of pie (as is mine) you'll be sure to enjoy it. Loud and hard, the gratuitous screaming is sure to bust many a eardrum.... wait, that's it... THAT'S KYO'S MASTER PLAN! Lull you into a sense of high-volume security with undecided and then bust your skull with his re-recorded, highly infectuous, distorted (and maybe even agitated) screams! He wants everyone to become a half-deaf gimp like him! Haha....I finally understand!
(Uhh...jk. :-/)
I love this song...
Overall Score: 4 of 5
Track #4: Ryoujoku no Ame [LIVE]
Not too much to say about this track, because everyone has already heard its MASTER. A decent live in comparison to those that the DeGs usually pick for their singles (which usually aren't their best, for some reason)... Not a live to be too ecstatic about, but good nonetheless. Nothing too noteworthy.
Overall Score: 3+ of 5
Specifics:
Single: Glass Skin
Release Date: 09/10/09
Eventfuls: 24th DeG single, "Agitated Screams of Maggots" makes record of only song to be featured on 3 relatively consecutive singles (ASoM, Dozing Green, Glass Skin).
Overall Score: 4 of 5 (A good listen, and very promising.)
I plan to translate Glass Skin and the new undecided soon enough. So, if anyone's interested, keep an eye out.
Note: For those of you who are new to the fanbase or have only recently become a dedicated enough fan to experience the release after release process, don't be disheartened or disillusioned by bad reviews or people disliking singles... this doesn't mean that Dir en Grey is falling or becoming 'less good' as some people tend to claim...oddly enough. There are always going to be people that adore and despise new releases, something that occurs no matter how amazing the band. People will always have their various opinions, and that will never change (hopefully).
Download Link (Via Mediafire) available soon...