True [Japan Import] [CD]

L'Arc-En-Ciel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Original Release Date: 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: CD
• ASIN: B000M0XN70
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,154,645 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Out of print, original 1st issue from Japan from 1996 (deleted in 1998), on Sony/Ki-Oon records Japan. Catalog: KSC2-165. 10 tracks in total.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars L'Arc in their prime., October 19, 2004

By 

kuusou kagaku shounen (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: True (Audio CD)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best L'Arc albums, May 20, 2001

By 

Sophie Chen (Ellicott City, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: True (Audio CD)

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!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars L'Arc~en~Ciel's True, July 12, 2010

By 

. .:ophelia:. . - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: True (Audio CD)

L'Arc~en~Ciel has to be my favorite band and this was another great album... It gave me a little taste of nostalgia for their old days. Most of the songs on the album have a sort of poppish-rock flavor without being too sickly sweet... ^_^" Pretty different from their newer stuff but it's all great. Hyde's voice especially stands out and I would argue that he's one of the best singers I've heard (regardless of language or country). I thought the very best songs were Farewell, Flower, Kaze ni kienaide, and I wish... and then I was completely captivated by Dearest Love. Right from the beginning, it grabbed me with its ethereal quality and dazzled me through the incredible vocals (no surprise), the violin solo, and the gorgeous falsetto at the end. *____* Probably my favorite L'Arc song to date... This is a great album, with some of L'Arc's classics... don't miss it!