Customer Reviews

Art of Life

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Art Of Life is a 1-track mini album featuring X Japan's notorious song Art Of Life.

The reason for the "Mini-album" title is open to 2 popular theories: (1) The track is nearly 30 min. long, making it longer the standard "single" length. (2) It was the bands 4th album, and in Japan the number 4 is considered unlucky (like the number 13 in USA).

The song features every aspect of X Japan's amazing musical talent, from the depths of the bands breathtaking ballads to their high-wire, drum thrashing rock. The lyrics are nothing short of spectacular; meaningful, poetic, unique...defiantly one of the best songs Yoshiki has written.

If you've never heard of X Japan or their music, here is a CD that will basically sum up every aspect of their music (if you can listen to the whole thing). If your already an X fan...than you already know that it's about!

I was just recently introduced to X Japan by hearing there was a progressive metal band playing at Lollapalouza this year. I had never heard of them so I checked them out and was immediately impressed. This album summarizes X Japan in one incredible song; capable of rocking hard and fast and playing slow ballads and mixing them together wonderfully. And this whole song is in English whereas most of their other stuff is in Japanese.

The composer, Yoshi, who plays percussion and some piano parts, created a masterpiece with this album. Any fan of bands like Dream Theater, Symphony X, Rush, etc. will like X Japan, even if you have no idea what their singing about most of the time.

Art of Life. Get it.

This is X-Japan's magnum opus. Yoshiki spent 4 years writing this song and it payed off. This is an amazing lyrical journey through yoshiki's inner soul.An amazing cd, 29 minutes of greatness!!!!

I have always admired X Japan for their musical talent and their unique sound, but this is by far their most impressive piece so far. I was fortunate enough to see them perform a part of this 29 minutes masterpiece live at the concert they recently had in NYC, and was deeply moved by the emotional piano solo. But when I listened to the entire song on this album... wow... I was blown away by how beautifully the heavy/fast metal sound is intertwined with the full orchestra symphony along with the guitar and the piano solo in between. It is just pure genius. I heard Yoshiki (who plays both piano and drums on the song) composed this song while on bed rest in excruciating pain from a spinal injury (caused by his excessive drumming), and the song is about learning to live life through many struggles (he has also lost his father to suicide at the age of 10). You can hear so many complex emotions in this song. From sadness, loneliness, pain, frustration, anger and insanity to calmness, strength, hope and inspiration. Everyone shoud listen to this song at least once in their life.

XJapan is an amazing band and some of the best written ballads anywhere by anyone. Try the songs Forever Love, Say Anything or Silent Jealousy. If you like well crafted music you will like XJAPAN.