Vinushka

Sa Bir
While I don't think it will pump up the crowd nearly as much as G.D.S. did, it has a certain mood to it... one that I think sets the overall feeling for the album quite well. The kind of haunted, almost morbid feeling of it fits what I think they're trying to work toward in the end. I could grow to love this intro song better than G.D.S given that they use it right during the tour. Guess I'll find out December 5th, now won't I? XD It's a song that makes me want to listen to it on repeat and write to it (this is never a bad thing, right?).

Vinushka
The start of it, my first thought was that Kyo is using his voice so well. When the guitars start, it gives me chills. The way Kyo sings follows well with Sa Bir, continuing the almost haunted overall feel. Even when it ramps up, it maintains that feeling that just grabs your heart and rips at it. If the boys were truly going for (as Kaoru kind of said) the sounds of their despair, heart ache, anger, and emotional plunges... it worked. It's like a roller coaster ride through life; all pushed into nine minutes and thirty-seven seconds. Hey, maybe that's why it's the third longest song they've ever put out. It takes longer than four measly minutes to show the world who you really are, right? Right.

Red Soil
I already loved it from the US premier of it on Chaos radio. Granted, it took more than one listen to be on the 'songs I love' list, but once you really listen to it... it grabs you and suckers you in. If I didn't know better, there's one part where I'd swear Kyo became possessed by his own inner demons and showed them to us. I really hope they play this one live, because I think it will be one hell of a show if they do. This is a song I personally love the guitars off of and hey! I can hear Toshiya, even though part of my bass-level hearing is completely gone!

Doukoku To Sarinu
Not the best song off the album, but unique in its own ways. Makes me wonder if the others are helping Kyo out with vocals at points, like they have in some earlier songs in their careers. On a more basic level, the song overall speeds my heartbeat up and I suspect if played live, it will induce lots of moshing. Even within this song itself, I can feel a certain evolutionary process - almost like progression and then regression. Not sure if that's what they were aiming for or not, but it's there.

Toguro
Definitely a song I can listen to on repeat and not get tired of. Kyo's voice is perfect for the feeling of the song and Shinya... lovely, lovely Shinya. I'm usually not much of one for drums (by nature, sorry!) but I love the drums in this song.

Glass Skin
Already a song I fell in love with, just from the single. (Gorgeous PV in my opinion, as a side note.) The piano and Kyo's voice lends to the general feel of the entire thing very well. It's eerie and beautiful, all in the same breath. The guitars provide that something extra that without them, the sound wouldn't be complete. I have to say, the transition between instruments is phenomenal, the way it all blends together so seamlessly. Kyo's voice around 2:45 is pure sex (yeah, I know... hush). - Even my husband liked this one, saying he enjoyed the way Kyo's voice wasn't the forefront of it all, how they all took equal parts for once. And mind you, he's not a Dir en grey fan like me!

Stuck Man
(On an off-beat start for this one... I wish they'd kept the original name: Third Time Does The Trick. But, their decision, not mine, so I'll hush.) Wow... Kyo... that's about the lowest I've ever heard you growl! The odd little high-pitched noises in the background of it... I actually thought I was hearing someone's phone or something else rather than the song. But then I listened to it a few more times, in other places and it was still there. Interesting overall composition. I can't say it's real high on my list of liking songs off this album, but frankly, it's no "Sea of Retards" either. (No offense to anyone who actually liked "Sea of Retards", but I personally view it as the-song-that-does-not-really-exist... you know, kind of like he-who-must-not-be-named.)

Reiketsu Nariseba
I love the change of mood of the song about halfway through. The oriental feel Kaoru talked about really does come out quite vividly here. Overall, it gives a sense of finite confusion... like something concrete and yet changing. Does that even make sense? It does to me... hopefully you understand what I mean.

Ware, Yami Tote...
Favorite song so far on the album. Kyo's voice and all the instruments weave so well together, each creating their own mood, yet not clashing. The rhythm of it, everything, is stunning. I can almost positively say I will be writing a story using this song on repeat as my background music. I'm in love all over again.

Bugaboo
Shinya... drums... hell yes. *grin* Kyo's voice is so smooth for the beginning and then the growls... wow. I particularly like the higher-pitched almost-screams-but-not-really bits. I don't understand at all why people don't like this song. I think maybe because they're looking at it from the surface rather than what they can actually feel from it... I dunno. I like how it all blends together here - voice and instruments. Great effort on that.

Gaika, Chinmoku Ga Nemuru Koro
The intro is very nice to this one. It's a really fast-paced, hardcore kind of sound. Around 3:30, I love the feel of it. I think this live would really get the crowd going for that methodical-wavelike feel, if you know what I mean (the surge forward and then back, over and over).

Dozing Green
Already loved it from the single. Kyo's voice is amazing - the mix of everything between the members just gets you right into a groove listening to it. When I close my eyes, I can just see Kyo on stage; how he'd move, the sway of his body and his hands in the air. *cough* Yes, back to the song.... Guitar = uhm, damn! And the things Kyo does at the end with his voice... I love it to death when he does that. *melts*

Inconvenient Ideal
Hands down, my favorite song off the album. The bass and drums fill me to the brim, seeking and finding the exact right parts. Kyo's voice is so gentle, soothing in a way. The guitars blend so wonderfully together (especially with headphones on, the mix from each ear is phenomenal). I just... I can't even describe half of why I love it. It just pulls the right damn pieces of me inside and holds on for dear life... you know?

Bonus CD, Unplugged

我、闇とて・・・
Kyo's vocals are flat-out amazing. The piano goes so damn well with the feeling of the song. It almost makes me want to go back and learn how to play piano all over again (I used to when I was a child, gave it up in middle school though).

INCONVENIENT IDEAL
Uh... guys... I feel like I've been transported to Phantom of the Opera zone. *snickers quietly in corner* Not saying this is a bad thing whatsoever, I'm just amused. Again, Kyo's voice is love - but then it always is in the bonus unplugged tracks lately, ne?

RED SOIL
The whispering/singing plus the piano is a great combination. I liked the original version of Red Soil a lot and this one is no exception. Honestly, it feels like a completely different song. The contrast of the screaming and whispering Kyo does throughout provides the song with that little something extra that we've all come to expect from Dir en grey over the years. Around 2:20, I love the gaspy thing Kyo does; it gives me the chills. I was unsure when I heard it the first time, but now I like it, I really do. I guess third time really does do the trick (*giggle snort*)!