Ryojoku no Ame single review
I got my limited edition Dir En Grey Ryojoku no Ame single Monday. On Tuesday I actually got a chance to listen to it; as can be expected from most Japanese singles, only one song on the single was new--Ryojoku no Ame--and the others--Mr.Newsman, The Final, and Higeki Ha Mabuta Wo Oroshita Yasashiki Utsu--were all from previous mini albums(The Final, and Higeki Ha Mabuta Wo Oroshita Yasashiki Utsu are both on Withering to Death).
Mr.Newsman, The Final, and Higeki Ha Mabuta Wo Oroshita Yasashiki Utsu are all live tapings from concerts. I, honestly, can't give much commentary on these since I am not a fan of songs from lives. I don't see the point in putting them on cds because, in my opinion, we go to concerts to see the band more than listen to them, since we have cds to listen to them. So, live songs usually don't have much quality to them--usually--because the bands are more interested in performing(giving a good, lively show) than simply singing perfectly.
On another note:
Ryojoku no Ame is a very impressive song. The instrumentals are alluring and are more than worthy of beign the main focus of the track(i.e. the song would be perfect even without vocals). The most interesting part about the instruments is the range of experimentation that Dir en Grey is using but without going overboard. The guitars echo with a wave of continuous sound that rises up and down. There are faint distortion in the background that aid in the almost eerie feeling that the music, coupled with the drums, begins to make. Then, of course, the sound is complete with Kyo's vocals. His voice is refreshing because he's not only singing in the way we know and love, but the range of his voice is also vary in a way to keep the listener interested. Everything ties in perfectly, with the patented "Kyo gaunts and snarls" coming into play later in the song without overpowering the music, or vice versa. This is definitely one of their best new songs that I've heard in a while. It definitely makes me want to hear more of their new music.
If I had known that most of the songs were live songs I liekly wouldn't have bought the single, but since most of the live songs are on their album it works out the same. However, I don't regret buying it. If Ryojoku no Ame had been the only song on the single than I'd still have paid $16 for it, because this song is that good. So, if you haven't bought it yet but don't care for live songs, buy it just for Ryojoku no Ame.
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