Search - L'arc-En-Ciel :: True

L'Arc in their prime.

kuusou kagaku shounen | US | 10/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a showcase of the band's talent as I see it. Some of their most diverse and unique songs came from this album and all the songs are fantastic. It'd be their best album if it weren't for "Tierra" (surprisingly even better!)



However, this is the band at their lightest and most playful. Many of the songs are quite "pop" and some go a little too far perhaps ("I Wish", I'm looking at you). But nonetheless, the quality and care in every song is astonishing. Even the b-sides to the singles for this album were all really good - it was like the band just couldn't screw up at this point.



While all the songs are good, the three singles are my favorite. "flower" is absolutely classic and one of their best songs ever; the melody is simply timeless. It received the most votes of any song when fans voted for their favorite singles for "Clicked Singles Best 13", meaning it's probably the most popular L'Arc song ever.



"Lies and Truth" has an extended ending on the album and it's even better than before. This is a really catchy pop tune by ken featuring string and horn accompaniment, making for one of the most memorable melodies the band has ever put out. "kimi ga mienakute, mienakute, nando mo yobikakeru yo..."



"kaze ni kienaide" has been altered as well from the single. The sound has been cleaned up a bit and the guitar intro was removed, for reasons unknown. I really loved that intro, I wish they would've kept it. But otherwise, this song is as great as ever. In an otherwise dry time for him, tetsu made this one masterpiece of a song.



Of the non-singles, "Caress of Venus" is my favorite. This is a really catchy dance number, but with serious tones overlapping it (like all L'Arc songs that seem happy at first). Melody is not forgotten and this ends up being one of their finest pop songs ever. Way to go ken.



The rest are all great, too. It's hard to go without mentioning "good morning Hide" or "Fare Well", but I'll try to keep this short. Basically, this IS L'Arc~en~Ciel. This is them at their peak. Even though it's almost an entirely pop album, few of their "serious" albums have the same high level of quality.



Whether you're a new or old fan make "True" a part of your collection. You simply can't go without it and call yourself a L'Arc fan."

One of the best L'Arc albums

Sophie Chen | Ellicott City, MD USA | 05/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own every CD by L'Arc~en~ciel and True is definately my favorite. It is the last album with Sakura still in it as a band member, so it has a little bit of their earlier music style. Personally I like the earlier L'Arc songs better--like the albums Heavenly and Tierra (Dune is ok), I prefer them over Ark, Ray, and Real. True is sort of in the middle chronologically, so L'arc is more developed as a band, but not quite influenced as much by new pop styles that they've developed recently. Kaze ni Kienaide, Fourth Avenue Cafe, Caress of Venus, Flower, and Lies and Truth are great songs. If you like L'Arc, you definately have to get this CD!!!"

Quite beautiful !!!!

KOHEI KANKI | AL, USA | 12/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you got here by accident, you are so lucky to know a great Japanese rock band, L'Arc-en-Ciel. This album, True, is one of the coolest CDs which they produced ever. All songs will let you know how beautiful their songs are. I would recommend "Fare Well","Round and Round","flower","Lies and Truth" and you will like more!!! Hyde(Vocal) sings softly and sometimes powerfully. He uses quite beatiful falsetto in the songs. "True" will take you to a visionary world with its beautiful melody. I can assure you that it is "true".

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