[NIHON BUNKA KENKYUU] BUNKEN 101: Reviews, comments, and insights on Japanese pop culture.
Second only to the late, great X JAPAN, LUNA SEA was at the forefront of the great VK boom of the 90's. Five years since their break-up, it's clear that their influence can still be seen on the current j-rock scene. Popular groups such as DIR EN GREY attest to the enormous impact of this pioneer band on their own music, a groundbreaking band whose career spanned a decade of hit singles, best-selling albums, and sold-out arena tours. Fast forward to 2005, and RYUICHI (V), SUGIZO (G), INORAN (R), J (B), and SHINYA (D) continue to roar through the scene as solo artists or unit members, changing the face of Japanese pop music as we know it.
To new listeners, the prospect of immersing themselves in the music of such an influential band could be a daunting task, which is why BUNKEN has decided to introduce the band in nice, bite-sized pieces. Instead of plowing through twelve albums and fourteen singles, let's start off with a quick rundown of six of their eight live DVDs.
IMAGE OR REAL (SHIBUYA KOUKAIDOU last indies concert 1992): An excellent, excellent first effort; it features rare live performances of MECHANICAL DANCE, SUSPICIOUS, and CHESS. The picture quality still feels lacking in certain aspects (it has a strange yellow, washed-out tint -- but this is possibly due to the age of the footage), but strangely enough the camera work is visibly better than SIN AFTER SIN. The sound also feels bolder and more solid; J can be clearly heard in every song, and not just in the heavy bass parts. On the verge of going major, it's worked out in the band's favor; a better support staff assured the band that they can go all out without worries. The improvement really shows when you listen to this live's versions of IMITATION, BLUE TRANSPARENCY, TIME IS DEAD and DEJA VU. Even later renditions can't compare to the raw power of these performances. If you're going for an early LUNA SEA release to add to your collection, this DVD is is a better purchase than SIN AFTER SIN.
SIN AFTER SIN (NIHON BUDOUKAN tour final 1993): For a young band who just signed with a major recording label, LUNA SEA already has a surprisingly solid and characteristic sound, making them easy to pick out and remember in a scene littered with mediocre acts that start to sound like each other. Even with the dodgy camera work and not-quite-cutting edge audio set-up, the live cuts spill with intense vibe and furious energy. RYUICHI, SUGIZO, J, INORAN and SHINYA ceaselessly tease and play with each other, as well as strive to outdo each other in whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Check out one of the most inspired performances of WISH ever, as well as rarely heard live versions of ANUBIS, etc. While the concert tracks ooze with professionalism, it's in the image tracks that you can tell how young this band really is. It is an established fact that all VK bands, in at least one point early in their lives, did a movie-esque montage piece featuring the band members acting out various scenarios in certain states of undress. This happens to be LUNA SEA's. witness J's early fascination with fire, SHINYA without his love handles, RYUICHI's evil eyebrows of doom, and many more. This DVD is a genuine collector's item, and not for the faint of heart.
LUNATIC TOKYO (TOKYO DOME tour final 1995): There are so many things to like about this release: the inspired performances of the LUNA SEA members, the solid set list, the unparalleled sound quality, the flawless camera work, the waves of undulating fans, the massive scale of the concert itself, the shameless flaunting of J and INORAN's relationship. There are no words to describe how truly, truly excellent this DVD is -- a must for all LS fans. If you're a JxINO fan, I can't begin to comprehend why you don't own this. This is where the term guitar sex was born; there's so much fan service going on it should be given an adult rating. But I digress. even if you're not a JxINO fan, there's still more than enough fun to go around. LUNATIC TOKYO is the live video to own; it's worth three thumbs up and a box of pocky.
REWIND (live documentary): REWIND was released to commemorate LUNA SEA after their first break-up; it was consequently considered a documentary after they had briefly gotten back together (and then broke up again late 2000). It contains live tracks from different LS lives, sometimes as an entire rendition from a particular live, or as a collection of cuts from different lives featuring the same song. It also has several "making of" shorts for their PVs, as well as outtakes from rehearsals and recording sessions. REWIND is a well-put together omnibus of LUNA SEA works prior to the 1996-1997 hiatus. If you can afford to purchase only one item from their DVD collection, i'd say get this. while LUNATIC TOKYO is their best live DVD ever and THE FINAL ACT is their most emotional performance, REWIND's perfect mix of live tracks and behind-the-scenes footage makes it the item to have for your collection.
ECLIPSE I&II (PV collection): As the title says, it's a PV collection of all their singles from BELIEVE to LOVE SONG. if you love the PVs, then I really don't have to tell you to get this. Okay -- I will; get this. Other than being an excellent collection of videos, it's also a document that shows the evolution of LUNA SEA as a band. From their indies days to the STYLE PERIOD and up to THE FINAL ACT, you can see how the band reinvented its sound, look, and feel, while still managing to maintain the very essence of LUNA SEA. You can also see how the members' personalities have developed as they matured with age and their musical tastes changed. Evolution is a bitch, and very few artists have pulled it off succesfully; LUNA SEA is undoubtedly one of the best of them. Get an education; get this DVD.
THE FINAL ACT (TOKYO DOME last concert 2000): I am not afraid to admit that even though I own both the DVD and the limited edition SLAVES boxed VHS set, I haven't seen this in its entirety. I'm so afraid it'll break my heart. Reviews to follow when I finally screw up the courage to watch this. And find someone to hold my hand. Anyway, I'd still recommend this; good for manic-depressive days and those times when you just want a good cry.
Their latest DVDs, REVIVE [MANATSU NO YAGAI] was released in 2003, while UNENDING STYLE [MAFUYU NO YAGAI] was released in 2004. A full review of these DVDs will also follow in future issues of BUNKEN.