J-rock doesn't do it for me! (X Japan - Dahlia)

Member Name: dangaroo

Product:	X Japan - Dahlia
Date:	11/01/09 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good musicianship

Disadvantages: Bog standard J-rock that is too long winded

The album Dahlia is an album from 1996 by X Japan a Japanese rock who dabble with long guitar filled balads, a few hairmetal like tracks and some rather standard rock tracks. One thing they all have in common though is Toshi's vocals.

Anyone who has ever listened to J-Rock knows that whether it's J'eanne D'arc or X-Japan the vocals are all very similar, with a slightly muffled throaty sound the lyrics are nearly always sang in tune but the Japanese sound, at least to my ears doesn't really endear it's self to heavy rock music. It is this that puts me off listening to more Japanese music.

Dahlia is actually my least favourite album by X-Japan, as the songs tend to get rather long and repetitive, the musicianship is pretty good but as I've already stated I don't like the vocals and therefore the last thing I want is the song to be progressive! If you enjoy the vocals then this may be for you but otherwise the sharper, faster, shorter and all-round more metal sounding albums of this band like Vanishing Vision and Blue Blood may be more up your street.

The title track Dahlia is possibly the best song on here although Rusty Love is more slow and smoochy (if you can describe prog rock in such a manner lol)

1. Dahlia
2. Scars
3. Longing
4. Rusty Nail
5. White Poem I
6. Crucify My Love
7. Tears
8. Wriggle
9. Drain
10. Forever Love (Acoustic Version)
11. Tears ('93 Tokyo Dome Live Version)
12. Week End ('95 Tokyo Dome Live Version)

Summary: Nope..