A tribute to the legendary band LUNA SEA.
The release of the tribute album to LUNA SEA coincided with their one night reunion concert, and it brought the confusion among the fans. They wondered which bands would take part in the project and how the songs would sound. After December 19, 2007 everything became clear. The album, containing twelve classic LUNA SEA songs, is a collaboration between many of the big names in the current Japanese music scene.
MUCC fans already had the opportunity to hear their cover of Dejavu in one of their clips. Unfortunately, the musicians show nothing special with this cover. Their version of Dejavu is very good, with heavier guitars and interesting background vocals, but it doesn’t differ much from original. Tatsurou even seems to be trying to sing in the same way as RYUICHI, even though this song doesn’t fit his voice.
Sweetest Coma Again is covered by abingdon boys school, and it is the first of the several appealing moments on the album. This LUNA SEA classic sounds catchier and lighter with the abingdon boys school’s interpretation. It’s played in a classical rock style and features really nice guitar solos. Tamaki Nami covers STORM, and the instruments we’re used to hearing are replaced here by electronically generated sounds. It makes the song lighter and gives is a pop sensibility. The vocalist’s voice - good and exceptionally attractive - is a large plus on this song, adding a new quality to it.
One of the older LUNA SEA songs, PRECIOUS, is redone by Merry. Their interpretation sounds really powerful; the driving melody is not only emotional due to Gara’s voice, it's also fun, with the jazzy guitars characteristic to their music. This lively and energetic song differs a lot from the original and could be successfully featured on one of Merry’s album.
The remake of ROSIER by HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR ends with the band taking on more than they could chew. Despite of interesting effects, like synthesized vocals and electronic sounds, HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR's version lost a lot of its attractiveness and originality and became a bit tiresome. The next track, I FOR YOU, is another iconic song. Morishige Junichi, vocalist of ZIGGY, presents a more romantic version. His melodious and impressive voice, as well as the piano melodies, give this song a dignified character. The idea is quite interesting, but in the end, the song gets a bit boring.
LM.C does a surprisingly enjoyable rendition of IN MY DREAM (WITH SHIVER). By adding synthesized vocals and sounds, creating a fascinating soundscape, IN MY DREAM (WITH SHIVER) takes on a new light. These elements underscore the parts of the song you never paid attention to in the original. It’s undoubtedly the best and the most attractive cover of the album. Following is END OF SORROW by YU-KI & DJ KOO (TRF). Once more, the traditional set of band instruments is replaced with electronic rhythms, and the whole song is sung in a monotonous way. At the beginning, the listener receives this idea as an interesting change, but after some time, it starts to feel tiring.
Another band that seemed to have no trouble with their song is kannivalism. They chose LOVE SONG, a song with character similar to their own compositions, so it’s obvious that they were comfortable playing it. Ryo’s voice fits ideally with this warm ballad, but it can’t be said that the musicians brought a lot of innovation. Marty Friedman vs LEGEND feat. SHINICHIRO SUZUKI does a decent rendition of SHINE. Megadeth's former guitarist’s influence is clearly visible here, as the song features some oriental guitar motifs. Despite that, the whole song – in comparison to the original – isn’t satisfying. The monotonous vocals are boring, and it lacks the playful mood in the original.
Unlike the preceding band, SID does a very good job. Their interpretation of WISH is played and sung superbly. Although there are no fireworks, the whole song is an elaborate affair and leaves the listener in a bright mood. The final track on the album is Tsuchiya Masami's cover of MOON. His version of the song really impresses as it sounds so different from the original. Tsuchiya may not be the best vocalist, but he manages to create a melancholic mood. He also shows off his superb guitar skills – his solo is definitely worth listening to. This song is a very good end of the album.
Not all the bands and artists participating in LUNA SEA MEMORIAL COVER ALBUM -Re:birth- coped with the songs of this legendary band. This album has bad and good moments, but most of all it shows how influential LUNA SEA was and how diverse their songs are. LUNA SEA fans should enjoy it, but they aren't the only ones who should listen to it because some of the participating bands were able to shine, too.
