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I would not be saying so if all such works sounded like a rumination of a handful of successes but I have yet to hear a song from this band that reminded me of another. With over eight albums and twenty-seven singles released, keeping their sound fresh and varied is quite a remarkable accomplishment. This is where their band name, "GLAY" originated: a deliberate misspelling of "grey" representing the wide range of genres a band can fit into without being classified as "black" or "white."
 Takuro
is a musical genius, no question about it. Composer of nearly all of GLAY’s
music and lyrics he is also the band’s founder and a proficient
musician. He goes beyond the chestnut "rock" image and includes
whatever instrument fits well in the masterpiece he wants to create.
Violin, piano, harpsichord… right on cue and sometimes very subtly to
maximize the effect of the song as a whole by not bringing too much focus
on a particular aspect.
The only facet that occasionally supersedes the others is the singing since it has both poignant lyrics and a suiting voice going for it. Takuro’s words are the reason I started searching for translated lyrics on the internet and are interpreted perfectly by Teru. His voice is quite hard to describe. Albeit a bit hoarse and troubled by high notes, these imperfections bring into being its most respectable attribute: sincerity. An overly clear voice will often sound artificial and forced while a natural one will bring about more substance and feelings. And if there’s one thing this ex-drummer’s voice is famous for, it is that faithful substance; I doubt his good looks alone could make so many girls faint. Takuro and Teru cannot single-handedly account for the band’s success. Hisashi and Jiro do provide visual support with audacious style but they are still great instrumentalists. They show-off their skills without taking too much space, which, I believe, is an underestimated portion of music playing. When they all come together, this is a band that exudes exceptional energy and fun to the delight of any J-Pop, nay, music lover.
Making only small waves on the underground scene, they were officially discovered by none other than Yoshiki from X Japan who came to see them in concert. He signed the band under his label, Extasy Records and with financial patronage, the band’s popularity skyrocketed to their true assessment and finally experienced sold-out concerts and sold-out records. It's not like
they are slowing down or anything. I am guessing that when you get that
big everything requires more preparation. Their tours now always
incorporate parts of Asia and are the most expensive in Japanese history.
Jiro also teamed up with Yamanaka Sawao of the
pillows to form The Predators. Takuro has been lending his
plume to many artists and, him and Hisashi performed cameos in the
wonderfully sound-tracked blockbuster Casshern. All this to say: new album
January 31st, 2007. |
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Hai to Daiyamondo
Eenie, Meenie, Mynie, Moe... all of GLAY’s albums have something to offer. This one is technically rougher than the others but counter weights with an amalgam of some of their most original and beautiful tunes such as Two Bell Silence and Manatsu no Tobira. There is also the element of surprise. Close in second is Heavy Gauge with its unprecedented diversity. |
Who could resist this song? Even if it is from their underground days, the play on vocals and the completely different partitions for the verses, pre-chorus and chorus are typically GLAY and it is what I like most about them: the diversity present in a single song.
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Official Site: http://www.glay.co.jp The Predators (starring Jiro)'s Official Site: http://www.thepredators.net (Tip: use AltaVista's Babel Fish translator)
English Fan Site: Greatest Shadow: http://www.morning-junky.net/greatestshadow
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Here
is the unavoidable quartet of the Japanese music scene and one of
Japan’s most popular bands. This is not always true but in GLAY’s
case, their popularity is perfectly synchronized with their excellence.
And they do not limit themselves to a few reused hits; this has to be the
hardest "top 10" list I ever had to write due to the sheer
quantity of incredible GLAY songs out there. 
Kubo Takuro first set up what we now know as GLAY when he
started a band with his childhood friend, Kobashi Teruhiko (Teru) on
the drums. He then later convinced Hisashi Tonomura from his high school
to leave his own band, Ari, to join the team. Jiro
finally made the same decision a few years later and gave in to
Takuro’s cry for help leaving his band, Pierrot,
behind.
