026 4 I love the music . Its a really good bunch of songs but to be honest it gets a little old kinda quick if you don't know the lyrics . That doesn't mean don't make the purchase , just look up the english lyrics first so you can get the most out of the music . Enjoy !
031 4 The cd was great . Ok so Japanese music might not be your thing , but if you enjoy a good rhymth then you'll love this . Amazon could have given me a track list though cause I didnt get Drivers High , but other than that it was great .
047 4 I have to say , this is a great album to come back with after that break . I think the time apart really helped them to grow individually and also come back with a fresh perspective on their collaborative efforts . This album is so addictive . No matter how I try , I can't keep the CD out of my stereo for very long . Tetsu , Ken , and Yukihiro play as masterfully as ever and Hyde's vocal range is well demonstrated . This is an album I'd recommend to new and seasoned Laruku fans alike .
016 4 I bought this album when I got tired of listening on the radio here in the US and needed something new . This CD was an excellent start and I'm begining to become a strong fan of the band and finding out just how musically talanted they are with all the other projects they do . It is definitly one of my best CD buys . Hope that helps you .
018 4 I just recently got this CD , I instantly loved it , I listen to it all the time in my car , as high as it can go ! My favorite tracks are Ready Steady Go , Loverboy , and Revelation . I loved this cd so much I got their live concert dvd , it was wicked ! I would recommend this cd to anyone who wants to get into jrock , or for anyone who is already into it . Great CD !
a return to the business of invention for a band that had a 4 year break from each other's influences .
The album opens with the thick , slow Zepplin-esque crunch of Kiss ; a dirty , grungy little track that rocks with a familiar hard rock flame that L'arc sometimes seems to be forgotten for . An interesting and textured opener that highlights each of the bands merits fairly well , especially Hyde's ear for melody .
Not too far afterwards is the album's energetic highpoint in Ready Steady GO , an obvious single choice and already well known track for being the opening of the TV show Full Metal Alchemist . Much like the show , it's fast , child like , and uplifting , a masterpiece of pop campyness and L'arc's typical theatrics . Tetsu , one of the world's finest bassists , particularly shines here during his pre-verse gymnastics .
Lover Boy keeps the flow going from the previous track , a sex and blood covered rocker that throws back to L'arc's early days of straight-forward , thick garage rock .
Breaking the consistency , the album explodes with a pop-hook throwback of it's Heavenly and Heart days with Feeling Fine , an infectious , sappy track with more candy coated hooks then you can shake a stick at . A sure reminder that L'arc's taste for quick , pop jabs has never waned .
Quick on it's heels is the mellow Time Goes On , which is at first a slow guitar introspection , then becomes a thick U2 - like coffee shop jive , with it's prefect honey-sweet chorus and carefully layered studio tweaks .
Out of place and unwelcome immediately afterwards is the almost entirely English sung Coming Closer , an absolutely ridiculous throwback to 80s over-the-top schlock . The chorus is laughably bad and the hook itself is about as painfully cheesy as Hyde's uncharacteristically bad lyrics . This is the weakest spot on the album , and it's the only clear-cut indication that the band really was on a 4 - year hiatus .
Forever follows afterwards , a quirky , angular rock piece that throws backwards to Ark and Ray ' s experimentation . An interesting track that follows in the footsteps of noisers Sonic Youth , which can either serve as a means of alienating or attracting certain listeners .
REVELATION is the only track written by drummer Yuhriko , and it shows : it bounces with a NIN / Skinny Puppy industrial skin , but it gets over coated in the L'arc desire for detail and description . It's core gets lost in the poor over production of the guitar , an effect that is brought out much better in their live show . Regardless , it's an excellent track , and an excellent reminder of why Real ' s opening , Get Out From The Shell , was so good in the first place .
Near the end of the album now , Living In Your Eyes is a soft , classical guitar adult contemporary pop song , littered with sparse orchestration and Hyde's beautiful croon . This track is a flex of L'arc's muscles - Hyde puts his vocal talents into a range few others can hope to achieve , Tetsu straps on his notorious six string bass , and Guitarist Ken trades his electric riffs for well precision classical plucking . A new , obvious single , it's a track that may not be instantly appealing at first amongst the thick rock on this album , but repeated listening allows the track to reveal itself and reward the listener with a beautiful pop piece . The only detraction from the song is the bridge - Ken's guitar gets significantly lost behind a wall of orchestration , when careful listening shows which was more impressive .
The last track is already 3 years old , and was a terribly intelligent inclusion ; Spirit Dreams Inside is one of L'arc's finest songcrafts , and any inconsistencies are laid to rest in this arguably perfect rock piece . Hyde's English lyrics can be a bit campy , but the message gets through regardless , and really , only serves to help the song in it's power . A wise inclusion and a perfect wrap up to Smile .
The Hydeless version of Ready Steady Go at the end of the track is an American only track , a bonus version for those wanting to karaoke .
Smile does exactly what it set out to do : it introduces a new audience to select time periods in a straight forward , easy to digest manner . ( The album is almost disappointingly short , even for L'arc : it clocks in at just under 45 minutes , not counting the bonus track ) Nothing more , nothing less . With this approach , it gives L'arc the opportunity to , if they should desire , to push a US tour and give the opportunity to a new audience to explore their past , and superior , achievements , and then snag them with a later release . Which , of course , gives them time to reacquaint themselves with each other .
Either way , it looks like L'arc has a lot to Smile about , so long as they stay focused .
001 4 This album completely surprised me . I'd heard plenty of good things about L'Arc , and I'd liked the theme they did for the Final Fantasy movie , but I was never in any hurry to learn more about them - - I've been burned too many times by promising Korean and Japanese groups that turn out to be more of the same .
But after seeing L'Arc in their first U.S . concert at Otakon in Baltimore , MD , I'm a complete fan . Their concert rocked - - and their album rocks even harder . Hyde , the singer , is equally good live and recorded , and his range ( and control thereof ) is astounding . Smile is absolutely brimming with energy and lyrical beauty ( even if you have to go hunt down translations ) .
The U.S . release of Smile has two more tracks than the Japanese version : the FF movie theme Spirit Dreams Inside ( good move , as that's how most U.S . listeners know them ) , and a Hyde-less ( karaoke ) version of Ready , Steady , GO ! ( the opening theme to the soon-to-be released in the U.S . anime Full Metal Alchemist ) .
Beautiful vocals , energetic melodies , and a complete joy to listen to - - whether you're from the East or Western hemisphere .
002 4 After over a decade of releasing incredible music in Japan and Asia , L'Arc ~ en ~ Ciel is now releasing a North American version of their highly anticipated 9th album , SMILE , for North American audiences to enjoy ! Complete with the original 10 tracks from the Japanese version of the album , along with a bonus track of a Hydeless READY STEADY GO , SMILE is an album that will not disappoint , especially for first-time listeners of this awesome band .
The CD opens strongly with the first track Kiss ( originally called Kuchizuke ) , which features Ken's impressive guitar-playing as well as an introduction to Hyde's different , coarser vocal tonality . The song gives the impression of more of a rock sound at the beginning before slowly building into a softer , calming crescendo . The balance between the two opposing sounds is well crafted and incredibly enjoyable to listen to .
READY STEADY GO brings back an edgier , more frantic pace that does not let up throughout the entire song . It revitalizes the senses with it's enormous energy as well as highlights Yukihiro's drumming , Tetsu's bass playing , as well as Ken's amazing guitar skills very well . It's a perfect lead into the third song on the album , Lover Boy .
Penned by Ken , Lover Boy is full on rock , and the bass solo as well as the guitar solo done by Tetsu and Ken respectively show just how talented this band really is . Although the lyrics need some slight getting used to , it's an awesome song overall .
The rest of the album is just so awesome that it would take me more than the allowed space to describe . Tracks that you've definitely got to listen to in addition to the aforementioned are : Time Goes On , Coming Closer , REVELATION , and Living In Your Eyes ( Originally called Hitomi no Juunin , which has to be one of the best tracks by far on the album ) . This CD is well worth the investment , and this band especially deserves all the support they can get . With Hyde's amazing vocal range , Ken's superb guitar playing , Tetsu's amazing bass skills , and Yukihiro's very much improved drumming , L'Arc ~ en ~ Ciel is a band that North American audiences should feel lucky to have had the chance to hear . And with the price it's selling for here in the US ( fans have had to pay at least $30 to have it imported from Japan ) , it's definitely well worth your money .
003 4 When L'arc ~ en ~ Ciel , one of the sustaining rock pioneers of Japan's early alternative rock scene in the 90s , released the obscure and very underrated Real in 2000 , ( whose only real financial support came from the hit singles Neo Universe and Stay Away ) , the band seemed all but together . Every member was distracted with a side project of sorts , and the otherwise supremely loyal fan base seemed divided with needless accusations of what direction they wanted L'arc to take their music . L'arc then , probably weary of 10 + years of innovation and individualism , seemingly broke apart .
So it was with great elevation that , 4 years after the fact , that they got back together , made a album in the period of only a few months , and then appeared at the last minute in Baltimore for the first US show in the history of their career , coinciding the concert with the first official US release of a L'arc album . Smile is that album , and while it's quite obviously not the epic or masterpiece that several previous L'arc releases are , it IS exactly what it should be : a return to the business of invention for a band that had a 4 year break from each other's influences .
The album opens with the thick , slow Zepplin-esque crunch of Kiss ; a dirty , grungy little track that rocks with a familiar hard rock flame that L'arc sometimes seems to be forgotten for . An interesting and textured opener that highlights each of the bands merits fairly well , especially Hyde's ear for melody .
Not too far afterwards is the album's energetic highpoint in Ready Steady GO , an obvious single choice and already well known track for being the opening of the TV show Full Metal Alchemist . Much like the show , it's fast , child like , and uplifting , a masterpiece of pop campyness and L'arc's typical theatrics . Tetsu , one of the world's finest bassists , particularly shines here during his pre-verse gymnastics .
Lover Boy keeps the flow going from the previous track , a sex and blood covered rocker that throws back to L'arc's early days of straight-forward , thick garage rock .
Breaking the consistency , the album explodes with a pop-hook throwback of it's Heavenly and Heart days with Feeling Fine , an infectious , sappy track with more candy coated hooks then you can shake a stick at . A sure reminder that L'arc's taste for quick , pop jabs has never waned .
Quick on it's heels is the mellow Time Goes On , which is at first a slow guitar introspection , then becomes a thick U2 - like coffee shop jive , with it's prefect honey-sweet chorus and carefully layered studio tweaks .
Out of place and unwelcome immediately afterwards is the almost entirely English sung Coming Closer , an absolutely ridiculous throwback to 80s over-the-top schlock . The chorus is laughably bad and the hook itself is about as painfully cheesy as Hyde's uncharacteristically bad lyrics . This is the weakest spot on the album , and it's the only clear-cut indication that the band really was on a 4 - year hiatus .
Forever follows afterwards , a quirky , angular rock piece that throws backwards to Ark and Ray ' s experimentation . An interesting track that follows in the footsteps of noisers Sonic Youth , which can either serve as a means of alienating or attracting certain listeners .
REVELATION is the only track written by drummer Yuhriko , and it shows : it bounces with a NIN / Skinny Puppy industrial skin , but it gets over coated in the L'arc desire for detail and description . It's core gets lost in the poor over production of the guitar , an effect that is brought out much better in their live show . Regardless , it's an excellent track , and an excellent reminder of why Real ' s opening , Get Out From The Shell , was so good in the first place .
Near the end of the album now , Living In Your Eyes is a soft , classical guitar adult contemporary pop song , littered with sparse orchestration and Hyde's beautiful croon . This track is a flex of L'arc's muscles - Hyde puts his vocal talents into a range few others can hope to achieve , Tetsu straps on his notorious six string bass , and Guitarist Ken trades his electric riffs for well precision classical plucking . A new , obvious single , it's a track that may not be instantly appealing at first amongst the thick rock on this album , but repeated listening allows the track to reveal itself and reward the listener with a beautiful pop piece . The only detraction from the song is the bridge - Ken's guitar gets significantly lost behind a wall of orchestration , when careful listening shows which was more impressive .
The last track is already 3 years old , and was a terribly intelligent inclusion ; Spirit Dreams Inside is one of L'arc's finest songcrafts , and any inconsistencies are laid to rest in this arguably perfect rock piece . Hyde's English lyrics can be a bit campy , but the message gets through regardless , and really , only serves to help the song in it's power . A wise inclusion and a perfect wrap up to Smile .
The Hydeless version of Ready Steady Go at the end of the track is an American only track , a bonus version for those wanting to karaoke .
Smile does exactly what it set out to do : it introduces a new audience to select time periods in a straight forward , easy to digest manner . ( The album is almost disappointingly short , even for L'arc : it clocks in at just under 45 minutes , not counting the bonus track ) Nothing more , nothing less . With this approach , it gives L'arc the opportunity to , if they should desire , to push a US tour and give the opportunity to a new audience to explore their past , and superior , achievements , and then snag them with a later release . Which , of course , gives them time to reacquaint themselves with each other .
Either way , it looks like L'arc has a lot to Smile about , so long as they stay focused .
005 4 After being an anime fan for a few years , it was natural for me to get into the music as well . Question was : how do I start ? Thinking of the songs I knew from my favorite shows , I ended up picking SMILE by L'Arc ~ en ~ Ciel because it featured READY STEADY GO from Fullmetal Alchemist . After listening to the entire album the first time , I realized I had made the best possible choice . Now I am a huge Laruku fan and have even bought the concert DVD ! Any fan of true rock music will be able to appreciate this album as the treasure it is .
1 ) Kuchizuke ( Kiss ) : The opening track is a fine example of what's to come . Ken's excellent guitar work starts us off before Hyde comes in to demonstrate the incredible range of his voice .
2 ) READY STEADY GO : With a fast and furious pace , you can't help jumping around to this song ! The instruments and vocals work together to make READY STEADY GO as addictive as the show it's used for .
3 ) Lover Boy : Here we have another great fast rock song . In Ken's big contribution to the album , Tetsu gets to show off his skills with a brief but very cool bass solo . It's another song that just makes you feel like dancing .
4 ) Feeling Fine : It's almost impossible to resist singing along with this one . Even if you only know the English parts ( Are you feeling fine ? and She said , ' Loving you made me happy every day ' ) , you're going to want to belt it out . Very , very catchy .
5 ) Time Goes On : This Tetsu-penned song is considerably more mellow than any of the previous ones . The softer sound offers a nice break from the high-energy tunes you've just listened to , and it's really quite pretty .
6 ) Coming Closer : Going back to a heavier tone , this one sounds a little bit angsty , but in a good way . And I really like the drums in this one . Yay , Yukihiro !
7 ) Eien ( Forever ) : This is probably my favorite song of all time . Even if you don't know Japanese , you can tell by the way it's done that it's romantic . One of the slower songs on SMILE , Hyde does an amazing job of bringing the emotion to this track . The addition of church bells in the background really adds to the sound as well .
8 ) REVELATION : If Eien is my favorite , than this is my second favorite . The combination of powerful bass and drums with a cool guitar line makes it absolutely infectious . This is the only track on the album that Yukihiro wrote the music for , and it has a definite edge to it . One might call it a rock anthem , and wonder why he doesn't write more often .
9 ) Hitomi no Jyunin ( Living in Your Eyes ) : Slowing it down again , Laruku pulls you in with another love song . It's a bit softer than Eien with violins playing in the background . Again , Hyde gets to show off his amazing voice with vocals that range from soft to strident in a matter of seconds .
10 ) Spirit Dreams Inside : This track , written by Hyde , is completely in English and gives equal importance to each member . No one instrument takes precedence here .
11 ) READY STEADY GO ( hydeless version ) : Basically , this is the karaoke version of READY STEADY GO . Without Hyde's vocals , you can really hear Tetsu singing backup in an incredibly high voice . It's really fun to listen to and get a feel for the instrumental ( and vocal ! ) intricacies you may not have noticed before .
All in all , this album is amazing ! Yukihiro's drums and Tetsu's bass provide a solid foundation throughout , while Ken's blistering guitar and Hyde's versatile vocals are a source of amazement . L'Arc ~ en ~ Ciel is an astoundingly talented group , and SMILE is a prime example of that .
006 4 What a thrill to me to write some thoughts on a new release by one of the greatest pop-rock bands in the world ( mark my word - - IN THE WORLD , not only in Japan ) .
Here's the deal .
If you're merely a quality pop band or even a J rock pop culture student , yet HAVE NEVER COME ACROSS this edgy , provocative , notorious yet sophisticated and genuinely seasoned pop rock band , then you've not been there done that . Well , here's your sigh !
SMILE not only serves as another step taken by L'Arc-en-Ciel ( The Rainbow ) , but also renders both hard-core fans / quality pop music aficionados and fair-weathered fans who just want to try something UNfamiliar ( L'Arc-en-Ciel's music , to the Western European and North American ears , IMHO , should be considered as UNCANNY ; that is , something both STRANGE and FAMILIAR at the same time ) a perfect dose of cool tunes throughout .
If you've been a loyal fan from day one ( like myself ) , you would recognize the fact that RARUKU ( as they're called in abbreviated form in Japanese accent - - from the word L'Arc ) has for always evolved and developed in some way everytime they released their new albums . Think RADIOHEAD ( one of the great bands ) , for instance . So quite a safe bet , chances are whether you like this album or not , you might be gonna like others .
SMILE showcases Raruku's contribution in neatier , less scattered ( not that it's not good ) yet still high-quality set of new tunes ( except their Billboard smash hit - - Spirit Dreams Inside - - that also included in the OS Sprit Dreams Inside ) that , seems to me , were also intent for AMERICAN market - - IMHO , I believe this album was quite formulated and tailor-made in ways to please American ears , in particular .
Hit singles like Spirit Dreams Inside , READY STEADY GO and Asia-oriented Hitomi no Jyuunin ( Living In Your Eyes ) surely wouldn't let you down . Plus the contagious , beautiful , orchestral ballad Hitomi no Jyuunin ( Living In Your Eyes ) practically showcases Hyde's dramatic vocal capabilities and pitches an average professional singer wouldn't dare try it at home .
Also check out their other older albums . If I would have to recommend only three of them , I'd go for ARK , RAY and REAL ( not counting their 4 BEST's ) .
Once in a lifetime , we would get so fortunate to have such DREAM-TEAM band as this - - HYDE , one of the greatest pop rock vocalists ; TETSU , one of the greatest bassists who always come up with some complex , melodic yet unpredictable bass lines ; Yukihiro , with his complex and firm rhythms ; and last but not least , Ken , with his contagious guitar riffs and rhythms .
If you have never given any listen to any J Rock bands , L'Arc-en-Ciel's music should be a safe bet for you .
Roughly comparing , just to give you some ideas , if you like U2 in 80s and early 90s , RADIOHEAD and such , you should like L'Arc-en-Ciel .
009 4 This album is a must buy . If you are apprehensive about getting a Japanese bands album , this is one you must get . The sound is very refreshing and varied - if you are sick of the crappy pop music that's been released that all sounds the same , pick this up . Even if you don't understand Japanese it still sounds good enough to make it past a language barrier .
I like all of the songs , but the best ones are Kiss , Feeling Fine , Ready Steady Go , Loverboy , and Spirit Dreams Inside . I have the Japanese release , but you lucky Americans get an extra track , which I'll be getting the USA release too . Please please please buy this album and support L'Arc en Ciel so that they'll release more albums here as well as other great Japanese bands .
010 4 I began getting obsessed with L'arc when I first heard READY STEADY GO from a friend . When she sent me many other L'arc en ciel songs , I became quickly a huge fan . This is the first L'arc CD I have bought , and it is AMAZING . All the songs are catchy , different and awesome to sing along to , whether you know Japanese or not !
L'arc-en-ciel are Hyde , the vocalist ( who is amazing and has a very wide range and a lovely voice ! ) , Tetsu , the bassist ( and also the leader of the band . He created L'arc ) , Ken , the guitarist ( he writes most of the songs on the CD ) , and Yukihiro , the drummer ( he's a lovely drummer , who is always ignored by fans . . . which is sad , because he's so cool ! ! )
KISS - An awesome start up to the CD . I love the range of genres in this song's vocals .
READY STEADY GO - The song that got me obsessed . So incredibly catchy , I could listen to it all day long .
LOVER BOY - I don't like this song all that much , but that's not to say it's bad . It's more rough sounding and rocky than the others .
FEELING FINE - An adorable song I was obsessed with a while ago ! It's SO cute and so catchy !
TIME GOES ON - Listening to this song as I write this review . It's really cute , and very peaceful sounding . I really like it .
COMING CLOSER - This song is very nice . I love the vocals in this one . Hyde does a fantastic job in this , and I love the sound . Not one of my faves , but very nice !
FOREVER - I love this song . It's really catchy . . . I love the tune . It gets stuck in my head so easily ! !
REVELATION - This one's very rocky , and one of my faves . It sounds like a rebel anthem , and it's incredibly catchy . Especially the chorus .
LIVING IN YOUR EYES ( Hitomi no Jyuunin ) - My favourite song on the CD . This song has so much feeling , it's incredible . Hyde's vocals go incredibly high here , and he does an amazing job at this . This song is so amazing , I love it .
SPIRIT DREAMS INSIDE - This song is alright . It's in English , which is always fun , considering Hyde's English is not COMPLETELY bad . It's understandable .
I love this CD , I suggest everyone to buy it .
011 4 After 2 long , long years , L'Arc en Ciel ( Hyde , Tetsu , Ken , and Yukihiro ) has once again released a great CD . SMILE is a little more rock oriented than we are used to for L'Arc en Ciel ( namely REVELATION ) , but that only adds to the diversity and range of music they are able to produce . Their first song , Kuchizuke , is one of my favorites on this album . The intro is incredible , and the remainder of the song is just as exciting . . . not to mention Hyde is absolutely smoldering in this song . . . ^ . ^ Next is the super popular READY STEADY GO . There isn't much to say about this song because it has gotten so much acclaim already that the best thing to do is just listen to it . . . over and over again . . . Anyway , I really like the song LOVER BOY . . . It is a really catchy song . The English lyrics are a bit strange though . . . FEELING FINE is another good song , however , the Are you feeling fine ? does annoy me sometimes . . . This song is one of the more pop oriented songs , and a good one at that . . . TIME GOES ON is yet another solid song by L'Arc en Ciel . It is considerably slower than their other songs ( not a particular favorite of mine ) but solid nonetheless ( Hyde sings very well in this song by the way . . . ) . The next song , Eien , is another slow song . . . a really good ballad for all you romantic / angsty types out there . . . Hyde puts a lot of emotion into this song , which makes it all the more touching . . . REVELATION is one of L'Arc en Ciel's more rock oriented songs . Written by drummer Yukihiro , this song has very heavy drum and guitar aspects to it . Good song , real popular , but gets a little redundant with vocals and instrumentals at times . . . Hitomi no Jyunin takes us back to the ballads . . . I for one really like this song . It is so beautiful . . . and Hyde hits some really , really high notes . . . and does so skillfully and tastefully . . . Lastly , Sprit dreams inside . The lyrics are all in English . . . however , Hyde's English is pretty good in this song , and he is understandable . This is a very nice , mellow song to round out SMILE . . .
So . . . though this CD is great all around ( Songs were well written , the vocals are perfect , and all all the instruments are skillfully played ) , L'Arc en Ciel has a TON of other great CDs and songs under their belt . Going strong since 1991 , they have released a bunch of other great songs . . . namely Blurry Eyes , Kasou , THE GHOST IN MY ROOM , and Anata no tame ni to name a few of my favorites . . . So , I highly recommend that you not only try SMILE , which is a great come back CD for L'Arc en Ciel , but also take a look at L'Arc en Ciel's earlier CD's ( which I also highly recommend ) . . . Enjoy this CD ( I absolutely did ) , it's a real treat !
012 4 Some people may call this CD overrated simply because the second track is the opening to the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist , but there are many other songs on here that surpass Ready Steady Go and make this CD worth its money .
Kuchizuke , for example , starts off the CD with Hyde's lower , grittier voice ( attributed to his smoking habit ) and sets the bar in terms of variety - whether it be vocals , guitar , or subject matter . Another favorite of mine is track eight , Revelation , which immediately attracted my attention when I first listened to this CD because of the introduction ( strong guitar chords followed by an underlying techno-ish beat ) . About half of the songs are more rock , and there are also rock ballads , such as Hitomi no Jyunin ( Living in Your Eyes ) . There are even a couple of songs that sound , for lack of a better word , peppy . Ready Steady Go is one , with bright guitar chords and a catchy beat , and Feeling Fine is another .
Overall , I greatly enjoyed this CD and it's already become one of my favorites . Even the inside cover made me smile - pictures of the band wearing boxes on their heads with the trademark smile on the front cover . Smile is a must-have for any Laruku fan .
013 4 This album was L'Arc ~ en ~ Ciel first album after taken a break from the music scene . It is such a fitting return to the music seen . It showcases everyone's talent in composing : Tetsu's Ready Syeady Go , Ken's Lover Boy , HYDE's Spirit Dreams Inside , and Yukihiro's Revelation . It is an album that you can't put down and there isn't a single track you don't like .
014 4 I have to say it . L'Arc-En-Ciel ROCKS ! Of course , I'm a HUGE fan of JRock and JPop and such , but these guys are awesome ! MY favorite song would probably have to be Ready Steady Go , since I've known it longer . They are a great band , and I HIGHLY recommend L'Arc-En-Ciel to anyone who likes JRock , and REALLY catchy , toe tapping music !
017 4 Wow ! This was my first L ' Arc en Ciel and after 5 minutes I was completly in love with it ! ! At first it took me a little while to get used to it but , in the end it was all totally worth it ! ! My favorite song on this cd was . . . um . . . CAN'T CHOOSE ! ! THEY ARE ALL SO AWESOME ! ! L'Arc en Ciel ROCKS ! !
020 4 I was first introduced to L'Arc en Ciel when I began to watch the anime Full Metal Alchemist . In that anime , they do the opening theme , READY STEADY GO , which is included on this CD . This is an AMAZING song . Hyde , the vocalist , has an exccellent vocal range and his english pronunciation is very good . There are awesome guitar , bass , and drum solos as well in the song . From there on out I was , and still am , a dedicated fan . Even though at that point in time I had very little idea who they were .
It turns out that L'Arc en Ciel has had a long career , and they do several anime songs . Rurouni Kenshin's 3rd end theme 4th Avenue Cafe is one . However , until recently I thought that that was the extent of their careers . Until I began to get the anime network , that is .
On the anime network there is an area called Bento Beat Box . This area showcases the latest J-Pop hits , and who should show up but L'Arc en Ciel . I listened to the song on there , Jiyuueno Syoutai , and by doing so I realized thre was much more to this band than a bunch of pretty boys singing cartoon themes .
Their lyrics have depth , and can range from happy-go-lucky to downright gothic . The range of the two singers ( Hyde and the backup Tetsu ) is simply amazing . It is obvious they enjoy what they do , and they want you to enjoy it as well .
If you are into J-Pop buy this CD and listen to it straight through , without stopping . It is simply amazing , and very few western bands I can think of compare in that regard .
021 4 Because somebody had to say it . . . Alright , so here's the truth away from the squealing , obsessve L ` Arc newbies that are clamoring over this album .
Now , I love L ` Arc , don't get me wrong . They are by far my favorite band , period . Even this album I consider superior to work by many other artist out there , but this review is for those who have already been fans for sometime . The fact of the matter is , when comparing SMILE to their previous works , Laruku falls short of my expectations for their long-awaited comback . While there are a few fun tracks on the album such as Lover Boy , Ready Steady Go , and Feeling Fine . . . it's just not L ` Arc . Certinally throughout Ark , Ray , and REAL we've seen them experiment and toy around with a wide variety of styles and sounds , the songs have always kept something about them that is mostly indescribable , but without a doubt distinctly L ` Arc . ( Like I said , this is for the old , long time fans . )
Hitomi no Jyuunin is a beautiful ballad , but Eien seems to fall short of the band's other B-sides . ( Most of which I really like . ) Spirit Dreams Inside was released on the Final Fantasy : The Spirits Within soundtrack and is completely written in English . Unfortunetely , if seems the group chose not to re-record and Hyde's English is noticably lacking compared to Coming Closer in the way of pronounciation . Oddly enough , I actually prefer Hyde being un-intellegable in his English , but probably rate Coming Closer over Spirt Dreams Inside . The difference probably isn't radically important , but it does contribute to the album seeming slightly out-of-balance in my opinion .
Now , this review is being written after the release of the Awake album , and just to show that I'm not a close-minded bigot who was prepared to attack any comeback by the band ( as some older fans are known to do ) I have to say I'm infinetely more satisfied with Awake . While I only occasionally flip through a few songs on SMILE , I could listen to the Awake album all day and never tire of it . While SMILE seems to be satisfying the new wave of L ` Arc fans ( many which seem to have stumbled on to the group after hearing their single Ready Steady Go used as one of the opening themes in Fullmetal Alchemist ) , the older fans are gonna want to go with the Awake album over this one . ( Or , if you're new to the group and want to get to really know them at their best , I'd suggest Tierra , Heart , or even the later Ray . : ) )
028 4 This is one of the best L'arc en ciel cd's I've ever heard . Some of them are aggresive and some are soft and melodic . Let me give you my opinions on each track .
1 . Kiss-Kuchizuke ( 4 : 24 ) ( 5 stars ) : Pretty awesome song . I like how the solo of the guitar goes . Kinda hard and in some ways touching at the same time . Great for a background or ending song of an anime show .
2 . READY STEADY GO ( 3 : 45 ) ( 5 stars ) : This is one of the opening theme song of an anime show , Fullmetal Alchemist . It's fast and aggresive that it makes you wanna listen to it again !
3 . Lover Boy ( 4 : 45 ) ( 5 stars ) : Ken sang on this track . He's pretty good actually . I like how the bass guitar sounds when all of the instruments went silent . Great background music for an anime show .
4 . Feeling Fine ( 4 : 16 ) ( 5 stars ) : I love Hyde's voice . The electric guitars are rockin ' in this track ! It's kinda melodic and fast at the same time . Great ending theme song for an anime show .
5 . Time Goes On ( 4 : 41 ) ( 5 stars ) : Pretty slow and melodic at the same time . I love Hyde's high pitch voice somewhere in the middle of the song . The solo is totally great . Great for background or ending theme song of an anime show .
6 . Coming Closer ( 5 : 14 ) ( 10 stars ! ) : Now this is what I call hard rock ! Hyde is very fluent in his english here . The solo is totally great ! I love how the electric guitar sounds at the beginning of the song . Great for an intensive battle in an anime show !
7 . Forever-Eien ( 4 : 39 ) ( 5 stars ) : Somehow , this is kinda aggresive and slow at the same time . The solo is not really that bad though it kinda sounds out of tune a bit . Hyde's voice sounds so emotional here . Maybe good for an ending song in an anime show .
8 . REVELATION ( 3 : 18 ) ( 5 stars ) : This is pretty hard rock . The electric guitar tunes kinda sound the same in track 6 . I like how the guitar goes at the end of the song . Maybe great for an intensive battle in an anime show .
9 . Living In Your Eyes-Hitomi No Jyunin ( 5 : 55 ) ( 10 stars ! ) : This is very melodic and emotional at the same time . You'll love the piano sounds in this track . The solo is so great . I love Hyde's voice and I feel I want to listen to this track all over again . You'll never get tired of it . Great background music for an anime show .
10 . Spirit Dreams Inside ( 3 : 43 ) ( 5 stars ) : Nothing much to say , but I'm very proud of Hyde . This track is sung in english . If I can remember , this is an ending song for a Final Fantasy movie . I forgot what is called , but I'm sure you'll like it .
11 . BONUS TRACK : READY STEADY GO ( Hydeless version ) ( 3 : 46 ) ( 5 stars ) : In this track , you'll be able to hear the guitars , basses , and the drums more . Including some other instruments . I always wonder who's that person who sang the line , Ready steady can't hold me back . Ready steady give me good luck . Ready steady never look back . Let's get started Ready steady go ! , in the beginning of the song ? Great for a background music in anime show !
029 4 This CD is one most will probably get because of the second track - - READY STEADY GO , which was featured as Fullmetal Alchemist's theme song . However , the CD has even more ( and even better ) tracks that are highly listenable to even my anti-Jrock sister . Feeling Fine is lively and upbeat , starting off with an awesome drum riff ; Coming Closer is desperate and epic ; and Hitomi no Junin is by far one of the most beautiful L'arc ~ en ~ Ciel songs ever . I have most every album of theirs , and this is * probably * my favorite ( albeit their most formulaic . . . ) . Even if you aren't into Jrock , give this a chance . It's a good piece to listen to on a day that calls for ENERGY ! !
030 4 The first album of Laruku after 4 years of being working on their solo albums . I totally loved it ! Kind of dark sometimes , especially on the lyrics ( Coming closer ) and really touching at others ( Living in your eyes / Eien ) . But the last song I think it's the best . Not only for the lyric , which I personally think , we can relate to , but the music too . My favorite song of the album , altough Hyde-sama's english could be better U_U . Anyway if you are a fan of Laruku you should have this album , a collector's item ^ _ ^
032 4 I love this CD and Ive shown friends who have never even heard Jpop / rock and they have begun to listen to it too . . .
I like almost all the songs on the cd they are all great . . track 5 and 7 arent quite what I like in music but they are still good
My personal Favs are READY STEADY GO ! ! and Coming Closer . . . Ive listened to READY STEADY GO so many times I can almost sing it myself . . . no matter how stupid it sounds coming from me lol
035 4 I may be one of the fans with high expectations of this band but this CD doesn't betray those expectations . Its a great CD with awesome songs and a few soso ones . Laruku is a great band and when they come back for a CD like this fans get excited . As comeback CDs come this one is a great one .
READY STEADY GO : Great song . . . hyper and lets you get a taste of why Laruku is popular . Just for the sheer awesomeness of Hyde's voice and funness of the song .
REVELATION : Show cases what I love about the band . A : Hyde's awesome voice B : A wonderful chemistry in the music C : the different styles the band can perform w / o being cliche
Spirit Dreams Inside : Awesome song . All in english ( or engrish ) . But this song is just so pretty and showcases the feeling Hyde can get in his voice .
Time Goes On : Cutesy song . Shows off their other stylish type thing . Its one of the soso tracks but it is still a great song .
Coming Closer : My favorite track on the CD.Shows why I love Laruku . Its got great lyrics , great feeling , and just a great sound to it .
Feeling Fine : Clappingish stuff in the beginning . My least favorite track and what I think is one of the soso tracks .
Forever : Another soso track . Its still good and shows why lotsa people love Hyde . Its a good song with a good sound but its not on par with some of the other tracks on this CD .
Kiss : what to say about this song . . . . I don't know I like it . Just the english in it gets you hooked and his voice gets to highish notes and returns to normal with great percision . Fun song
Living in your Eyes : Great song . . . . just great . One of the pretty ballads on the CD and just showcases his voice's power with effortlessness
Its a great CD so go ahead and buy it . Its not their best but its still a buy worthy one .
036 4 I LOVE L'Arc ~ En ~ Ciel ! They are so AWESOME ! Hyde-sama is so amazing ! He has a very powerful voice ! ^ _ ^ Ken ( the guitarist ) , Tetsu ( the bassist ) , and Yukihiro ( the drummer ) are amazing ! They all make L'Arc ~ En ~ Ciel a wonderful part of the Jrock world ! ^ _ ^ The following are rated out of 5 :
1 . Kiss - 5 This is a really amazing song ! It's got a lot of depth . ^ _ ^
2 . Ready Steady Go - 5 This is the song that started it all for me . If I hadn't heard this song . . . I may have never gotten into L'Arc ~ En ~ Ciel . It is the opening theme for the AMAZING anime Full-Metal Alchemist . I get this song stuck in my head ALL the time , but I'm not complaining . ^ _ ^ Oh . . . and it has English in it too !
3 . Lover Boy - 5 I LOVE this song ! It's so funny ! ^ _ ^ I just love how it's played . I think it was written by Ken . * scratches head * Oh well . . . he's so awesome ! ^ _ ^ This one also has a little English . ^ _ ^
4 . Feeling Fine - 5 This song is AWESOME ! It's got a really awesome feel to it . Hyde uses his amazing vocals to give this song an amazing outcome . I love it ! ^ _ ^ It has English too ! ^ _ ^
5 . Time Goes On - 4.5 I love this song . It's so peaceful . I think it was written by Tetsu . He's AWESOME ! ^ _ ^
6 . Coming Closer - 5 I love this song as well ! It just has a really awesome beat , and it's just played so well . It's very powerful ! ^ _ ^ And yet again . . . this one has English . ^ _ ^
7 . Forever - 4.5 This is another slow song . It's amazing and very beautiful . ^ _ ^
8 . Revelation - 5 Ok . . . this is the only song on the whole CD written by Yukihiro . It also happens to be ( in my opinion ) the rockiest off the entire CD . It's AWESOME ! It's really catchy ! I love it ! XD I just wish Yukihiro would have written more for the CD . ^ _ ^
9 . Living In Your Eyes - 5 I love this song . It's so amazing ! Hyde has really proved himself on this song . He gets his voice really high on some parts . It's amazing ! ^ _ ^
10 . Spirit Dreams Inside - 5 This song is so cool ! It's the only song that is completely in English . I like it a lot ! ^ _ ^ I do like listening to Japanese more ( though I don't really know very much Japanese ) , but I still really like this song . ^ _ ^
11 . Ready Steady Go ( Hydeless Version ) - 4 1 / 2 This song is so funny ! My friend calls it The Helium Song . Without Hyde the voices make it sound so hilarious ! This is a good song if you're in the mood for a good laugh . XD
Well . . . there you have it ! This CD is amazing ! I have no idea how many times I've listened to it already . I just can't put it down ! ^ _ ^ I can't really begin to tell you how amazing it is . You just have to buy it . If you're a fan of Jrock / pop . . . then you should definitely get this CD , and add it to your collection . I hope you do ! ^ _ ^ And remember . . . L'Arc ~ En ~ Ciel really are The Arc Into Heaven . ^ _ ^
~ The Gackt Obsessor ~
038 4 I give three stars to this particular release of Smile , not the album itself . The album itself is amazing , a showcase for the seasoned musicianship this band possess .
After driving all over the greater Chicago area for nearly ten hours trying to find a copy , this version of Smile proved to be a disappointment . An unasked for and uneccesary bonus track ruins what was an amusing end to a long awaited album , a song ( Spirit dreams inside ) already previously released years earlier but rerecorded for this album .
Aside from that were the transliterations that were previously mentioned in another review . These transliterations are horrible , incorrect and unprofessional . They are hardly useful to anyone who is used to reading romaji , because the words are mispelled or lacking spaces between . And most of those already loyal to this band are used to looking at romaji and few have found the transliterations to be anything other than an insult , both to their own intellegence ( like we wouldn't notice some of glaring mistakes ) and to the work of L'Arc ~ en ~ Ciel themselves .
I recommend buying the Japanese version , unless you're really strapped for cash . Yes , it's not as cheap , but it's hardly listed at a high import cost on Amazon ( it's about $8 above retail , which isn't bad at all ) . I especially recommend trying to find a copy of the first pressing , as it came with a DVD as well ( Tofu Records decided not to release the American version this way , for whatever reason ) .
039 4 I have a history of getting into a J-rock group just as it seems they're breaking up , or someone dies , or they're already broken up . And it had been quite some time since a Laruku release , while Hyde and the others were quite busy with their own side projects . It's just good enough to not be disappointing in comparison with their previous works . I was irritated ( as other reviewers seem to be ) with the ' bonus ' track . If this problem could be eradicated , I'd love to see U.S . releases of their other 8 studio albums .
042 4 L'Arc ~ En ~ Ciel had taken a leave of absence after their REAL album , and went on an extremely long hiatus ; many felt that the album signaled the end of their illustrious career . However , their big comeback in 2004 was dampened , by the release of this album .
First off , some head notes are in order . By a superlative review , this would have marked quite higher , but as a comparative analysis against other albums , this doesn't come close to matching the quality and care put into their previous albums .
Furthermore , I realize some songs on this album will inevitably be overrated , especially by Western fans of the music , simply because this marks the first L'Arc ~ En ~ Ciel released in the US ( I assume READY STEADY GO will be the most of these overrated songs due to it being the opening theme to Full metal Alchemist ) . With this said , onto the review .
The versatility that this band was famous for in its glory days has taken an unwonted absence ; the songs that leapt between genres were replaced with straightforward and repetitive rock songs . Hyde's voice is scratchy and lusterless , Tetsu's bass simple and unassuming . The only redeeming quality is Ken's guitar , which remains complex , albeit distorted ( reminiscent of his solo project , S.O.A.P . ) .
Ken's guitar is apparent in the first song , Seppun . This track is abound with uninspired percussion , simplistic singing , highlighted only by Ken's extremely affluent and capable guitar work . The effects of Hyde's smoking can be seen extremely clearly here ; his voice struggles many times to reach the high notes of past times .
READY STEADY GO could possibly become the most overrated song in L'Arc ~ En ~ Ciel's career . While there are definitely more qualified candidates , READY STEADY GO is not the worst song that laruku has produced . The percussion is nice and fast , and supports the song well , as Hyde's voice goes much deeper than seen in previous times . Tetsu brings fresh backup vocals ; the only problem is the composition ; the song is straightforward , and doesn't display the true talent of the band .
Every time I hear Lover Boy , Feeling Fine , and Coming Closer , I am reminded of Ken's solo project , S.O.A.P . Each of those songs holds the same distinct quality present in SOAP . These are probably some of the better songs on the album ; while not necessarily destined for greatness , they show some variation from the boring old songs held on this album
Hitomi no Jyuunin is definitely the best song on the album ; finally deviating from the mindless rock on the album , Hyde finally gets his voice in order and belts out some of the highest notes ever ( I'm sure he was feeling the pain from this song for weeks to come ) . This is followed by Ken's beautiful guitar notes , as he finally tunes down the distortion of his axe . Tetsu's bass is very reminiscent of past works , smooth and constantly fluctuating , it holds the entire song together .
Thus ends SMILE . While not necessarily a bad album , every time I listen to the album , I think why couldn't they have done this like they did ray , which is also a rock album , but with class , variation , and style . However , I have heard AWAKE , the subsequent album released by laruku , and it is leagues beyond SMILE . The future looks bright for this band ; I personally can't wait .
044 4 Don't buy this version . Buy the original Japanese version because it doesn't come with useless and annoying bonus tracks . It doesn't have bad romaji in the booklet either , nor is it made from shoddy materials . The US version blows . The original is worth the extra money .
As for the music , SMILE is going to be overrated because most people learned of the band through this album . But , as someone who knew the band from BEFORE their hiatus , I can say this is not their best album , at all .
The first five tracks are quite stellar ; the first three songs rock , Feeling Fine is a really catchy number , and Time goes on , written by tetsu , is a really nice listen . All of tetsu's songs on here are great .
But after that things fall apart . The next three are the worst three on the album . Coming Closer tries to be really dramatic but falls short . eien has potential , but is squandered when hyde tries to be alternative . REVELATION is by yukihiro , so it repeats itself far too often . It might be easy to rock out too , but as a song it just doesn't compare with the rest ( like all of his songs ) .
hitomi no juunin is a beautiful , sweeping ballad by tetsu . This is his third one and I like it much more than anata or Pieces . It's become my favorite L'Arc ~ en ~ Ciel song now , I can never forget the melody .
The album rounds out with the really old Spirit dreams inside . It's always been a decent song , and fits in strangely well on this album despite the age difference . The only problem is that after hitomi no juunin it just feels really insignificant in comparison , like sort of an anti-climax .
Because of the more modern production and arrangement of this album ( almost all the songs are a simply guitars / bass / drums / synth arrangement , except hitomi no juunin ) , people unfamiliar with the band might want to start here . It's a decent collection of their work but is not their most impressive . As a band they have definitely matured , and their progress made in the last three years is obvious , but the album just can't compare with some of their older ones . Old fans will of course love the new music , and new fans may be more open to it at first than say , ark or heavenly .
050 4 OK , L'arc en ciel did Ready Steady Go On Full Metal Alchemist ,
and . . . I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE FULL METAL ALCHEMIST ! ! ! ! ! ! !
READY STEADY GO ROCKS ! ! ! I KNOW HOW TO SING IT IN JAPANESE AND ENGLISH ! ! ! ( i sing good . ) AND I PLAY IT ON THE PIANO ! And by the way , I happen to be the Full Metal Alchemist #1 fan !
Link , Lost Heaven , Ready , Steady , Go ! and Promised Land . Which are excellent songs and are what made me go and buy this album . I wasn't entirely sure if the band would be as good as they were when they made the music for Fullmetal Alchemist , so , I listened to the album with a anxiety , but my doubts were null and void , so , far , I like the outside music . It has a nice soothing undertone , and some electric guitar solos too . The song Lover Boy has some harsh sounds to it , but it softens later in the song . And Feeling Fine has a great smooth guitar throughout the piece . All the songs vary from hard rock to being gentle , it's well balanced . It's also a good CD to listen to while riding in the car , it has some fast paced songs if you want to tap your feet to it as you drive . For my first album of L'arc en Ciel , I loved it !
The CD includes the words to the songs on the inside packet , with the lyrics in Japanese and English . And some pretty funny pictures of the band wearing boxes like the one on the front of the album on their heads . ( If you don't like the music , that part will at least make you laugh ) .
The Songs Are :
1 . Kiss - Kuchizuke
2 . Ready , Steady , Go !
3 . Lover Boy
4 . Feeling Fine
5 . Time Goes On : A Soft and relaxing song to listen to , it's good a good rock song , but not loud .
6 . Coming Closer
7 . Forever-Eien - Also a soft song , even a little more so than some of the others .
8 . Revelation - A fast paced song with a catchy beat
9 . Living in Your Eyes - Hitomi no Jyunin - Gentle and somewhat magical tune , like Spirit Dreams Inside .
10 . Spirit Dreams Inside - My personal favorite , the entire song is in English , but the vocals and entire song is well crafted .
11 . Ready , Steady , Go ! ( Mostly instrumental Version )
So , if you liked the music from Fullmetal Alchemist , and the song Ready Steady Go ! or the opening and closing themes from the movie , stop sitting on the fence and buy this CD ! You will not regret it !
Excellent Album !
004 4 My very first J-pop CD was Ray , by L'Arc en Ciel . This is my third CD by this group . It is easy to see that they like to mix it up with different styles from each CD , usually starting with a hard-rock song and ending with a ballad showcasing Hide's vocal range . This album is definitely their best , though . Although a bit mainstream for sure , the depth of their songs is increasing more and more . I bought this album for my younger bro since he loves the Anime Fullmetal Alchemist , and the theme song Ready Steady Go ( which is excellent ) is on here , but after the song played - track after track just caught my attention . I found myself standing in the doorway listening , rather than walking off to do the chores I was formerly focused on doing . I also ended up keeping the CD for myself instead ! My favorite song is Hitomi no Jyunin ( Living in Your Eyes ) . It begins with Ken playing the digitally delayed solo guitar like a flute - it literally sounds like a flute ! My other two favorites , in order : Time Goes On ( very soulful singing from Hide , and from the heart ) and ( ultra-catchy chorus ) Feeling Fine . What is unique about J-pop - and this group , is that 90% of all songs are done with acoustic / rock instruments , but have melodies and choruses as catchy as a pop song .
007 4 I was very excited to find an ad for Smile in Newtype magazine saying it was being released in the US . As a fan ( though not a rabid one ) of L'arc ~ en ~ Ciel and Hyde , I was so happy that I would finally be able to walk into a music store in my town and pick one up , without the hassle of buying one online for outrageous import prices .
The music on the cd is excellent . My favorite is track 2 , Ready Steady Go ( though I love Fullmetal Alchemist , so maybe I'm biased ) . The lyrics and the music are just amazing . Track 3 , Lover Boy , is also very cool , with its mix of Japanese and English .
What I really enjoyed about the whole album is that it comes with lyrics , both in Kanji and the romanized version , so non-character readers can look at the lyrics and sing along .
This is a great CD for any collection , whether you want to add to your Japanese collection or try something new . L'arc ~ en ~ Ciel is a great band to start off with . Their talent is just . . . amazing .
008 4 I've listened to this CD at home , at work , in my car and on my portable music player so many times that I've lost count . And I've still got the urge to listen to it right now as I'm writing this review .
I cannot stress enough on how good this CD is - the music is excellent , the vocals are top notch , and there's plenty of variety ( while maintaining l'arc's trademark sound at all times ) to keep the listener interested .
First-time listeners of J-Rock might get a bit disoriented with the mix of English and Japanese in the lyrics ( something that X Japan did frequently as well ) , but will get used to it after a while and find themselves listening to this album over and over and over , and over again . . . !
015 4 L'arc en Ciel ( Rainbow ) did several songs for the Fullmetal Alchemist series and movie , including : Link , Lost Heaven , Ready , Steady , Go ! and Promised Land . Which are excellent songs and are what made me go and buy this album . I wasn't entirely sure if the band would be as good as they were when they made the music for Fullmetal Alchemist , so , I listened to the album with a anxiety , but my doubts were null and void , so , far , I like the outside music . It has a nice soothing undertone , and some electric guitar solos too . The song Lover Boy has some harsh sounds to it , but it softens later in the song . And Feeling Fine has a great smooth guitar throughout the piece . All the songs vary from hard rock to being gentle , it's well balanced . It's also a good CD to listen to while riding in the car , it has some fast paced songs if you want to tap your feet to it as you drive . For my first album of L'arc en Ciel , I loved it !
The CD includes the words to the songs on the inside packet , with the lyrics in Japanese and English . And some pretty funny pictures of the band wearing boxes like the one on the front of the album on their heads . ( If you don't like the music , that part will at least make you laugh ) .
The Songs Are :
1 . Kiss - Kuchizuke
2 . Ready , Steady , Go !
3 . Lover Boy
4 . Feeling Fine
5 . Time Goes On : A Soft and relaxing song to listen to , it's good a good rock song , but not loud .
6 . Coming Closer
7 . Forever-Eien - Also a soft song , even a little more so than some of the others .
8 . Revelation - A fast paced song with a catchy beat
9 . Living in Your Eyes - Hitomi no Jyunin - Gentle and somewhat magical tune , like Spirit Dreams Inside .
10 . Spirit Dreams Inside - My personal favorite , the entire song is in English , but the vocals and entire song is well crafted .
11 . Ready , Steady , Go ! ( Mostly instrumental Version )
So , if you liked the music from Fullmetal Alchemist , and the song Ready Steady Go ! or the opening and closing themes from the movie , stop sitting on the fence and buy this CD ! You will not regret it !
Excellent Album !
019 4 I've listened to this CD at home , at work , in my car and on my portable music player so many times that I've lost count . And I've still got the urge to listen to it right now as I'm writing this review .
I cannot stress enough on how good this CD is - the music is excellent , the vocals are top notch , and there's plenty of variety ( while maintaining l'arc's trademark sound at all times ) to keep the listener interested .
First-time listeners of J-Rock might get a bit disoriented with the mix of English and Japanese in the lyrics ( something that X Japan did frequently as well ) , but will get used to it after a while and find themselves listening to this album over and over and over , and over again . . . !
024 4 This album is amazing , it totally rocks , there are just so many wonderful things in it . I really hope that they never break up . But anyway y'all would really like it , because I know I did .
025 4 This review is from :
Smile ( Audio CD )
I love the music . Its a really good bunch of songs but to be honest it gets a little old kinda quick if you don't know the lyrics . That doesn't mean don't make the purchase , just look up the english lyrics first so you can get the most out of the music . Enjoy !
027 4 Do not read Crow Winters Review of l'arc en ciel . It is one of the most unaccurate words put together about L'arc En Ciel . They were never even close to breaking up , for the band members just went to do their solo projects . The Smile Album did really well , and was a new sound compared to their earlier albums . L'arc released an album called awake a year later , a single called link after that , a new single this year called seventh heaven , and are planning on releasing a new album soon .
The only L'arc en Ciel moment that looked bad was after the album True , when the drummer got busted for heroine possessson . The drummer left the band , L'arc was in the shadowed for awhile and then they got a new drummer and released the album heart in 1998 , which was followed by a double release with the album ray and ark being released at the same time . The album released in 2000 was Real which did really well .
This album smile as listed above was the start if a new sound L'arc En Ciel created for themselves after being on their Solo albums for a few years .
033 4 I only hear rock , and up until this point all I heard were
american bands . unlike the crap we have to listen to here in
the USA , this whole album is worth listening to . Usually I would
just listen to two songs on a CD and leave then leave it collecting dust . I think that L'Arc-en-ciel has a very unique style of music . Some of the songs sound like pop rock , but then again other songs are more edgier . I recommend this album to anyone no matter whether they listen to Jrock or not . And if you just started to listen to Japanese artists this is a great CD to start with .
037 4 The first tune I heard from L'Arc-en-Ciel was ' Spirit dreams inside ' which can be found at the end of ' Final Fantasy The Spirits Within ' movie . I loved the last tune at the end of that movie and took the chance to listen to the band that made the tune in the first place . After listening to the album I was not disappointed . Though they do not speak english through most of the tunes they play I still found the tunes enjoyable and I found myself listening to them over and over again . Trust me you will enjoy this album .
040 4 I love this album . To me this is one of their best albums . After for almost 4 years they came back and release this cd .
041 4 Wow . I really can't recomend this enough . Take a look around , and you'll quickly realize that most J-pop / J-rock is not , shall we say , cheap . This CD features fantastic j-rock at a very reasonable price .
For any who have seen the anime Fooly Cooly ( FLCL , FuriKuri ) , or have heard the sound track for it ( which , by the way , is another excellent purchase ) , this reminded me of that . Sometimes bubbly , at other times , a harder sound .
Oddly , the first time through , I didnt think I liked this all that much . . . I really dont know why . Now , I listen to it constantly , its definately a favorite . My favorite track is
043 4 This group has some really amazing songs . I for one think they are the most popular Anime j-rock bands out there . Like this CD includes the opening theme song for Full Metal Alchemist ( Great anime , Recommened ) Also this group has songs from opening theme songs such as GTO : Great Teacher Onizuak , and Kenshin . ( Not all on this CD )
Overall i recommened this CD , and this group .
045 4 I really liked Smile by L'Arc-En-Ciel . I originally bought the CD because track two was the theme from Fullmetal Alchemist . But , after listening to the whole CD , I liked it ! They have a great group of songs and the beat to the whole thing fits the CD . No matter what language you speak , you will get hooked on their music . In conclusion , I think if you have an open mind to listen to a variety of music , then I think you will like Smile .
046 4 I'm not as aggrivated by the US release as some other reviewers and I don't think you should go buy the original version ( which costs more by the way ) because this one is just fine . The music is great , although L'Arc en Ciel has done MUCH MUCH better . There are about 7 really good songs in all and the others aren't bad . . . they're just not something I could listen to more than a few times a month . ( Eien , and Feeling Fine for example ) This CD seems more rock oriented than their usual string of pop flavored songs . But with L'Arc en Ciel , that's not a bad thing . I highly recommend buying this album . . . though I'm sure you could find it cheaper elsewhere . . .
048 4 I love Ready Steady Go ! it's the best full metal alchemist opener ever created . cd highley reccommended .
049 4 I really like this album , but I can definately say that some songs are better than others . There are some songs on here that I don't like . I skip them on my CD player whenever I listen to it .
I like spirit dreams inside . . . not only because it's in English , but because it's so great . It sounds like the type of song that could catch on with US audiences .
Most of the songs have really good bass , background vocals , etc . I think that hyde's voice just floates on top to create a wonderful sound .
Very j-rock . I love it .