GLAY - G4

GLAY is a powerhouse act that has a knack for topping the charts. It is so beloved by fans that everything they release is considered "amazing" even though sometimes, to casual listeners, it comes off as "nothing special". That's because their music can sometimes wander through many different genres, ranging from hard rock to pop ballads. The harsh reality that some of their supposed "hooks" just don't hook at all also doesn't help. Some of their choruses fail to hit their target after launch, which is unfortunate because the will-power and the experience is there.

But hey, isn't that the case with 95% of the bands out there? Yes, yes it is. With that in mind, it's easy to see why GLAY can still pull everything off: talent. The musicianship throughout their performances is awe-inspiring. Each member has mastered his instrument and the audience can feel it. So, even though the refrains won’t grab you like something the B’z might put out, the techniques used throughout GLAY's material is enough to make these guys the stars they are.

Alright, enough talk. Let's see what G4 brings to the plate. Swing, batta-batta swing!

01-Rock N Roll Swindle
A great rock song to start things off with! The entire band is performing at full strength, especially Teru who sounds like he's in the prime of his life. Jiro's bass even seems to have more presence than it ever did, giving the song an edge it wouldn’t have had otherwise. The whole thing leads to the chorus which, while being fun to listen to and somewhat memorable, fails to live up to expectations set earlier in the song. The verses, which gave the listener a feeling that they were about to be blown away by some all-powerful culmination, are more exciting than anything the chorus can provide. It just doesn’t hook like it should, pups.

However, before anyone shoots me down, this song still manages to amaze thanks to the band’s stalwart performance and an incredible, if not short-lived, solo. It is beyond excellent.

So yes, this song rocks and is worth your listening time. Sure, the chorus is not as awesome as it could have been, but the band more than makes up for it with the energy it provides.

02- Dare Ka no Tame ni Ikiru
This is the pop-rock song on the single, chock full of ambient guitar that can be heard during the opening and its verses. The chorus on this one is a bit more memorable than the first track, enough for it to lodge itself in your cerebrum for a few hours. Takuro and Hisashi kind of get the shaft in this one, however, seeing as they don’t get any solos ... except near the end where they get to muddle around with the main melody for a split second. In my opinion, that doesn't count. There could have been one around 2:30 and it would’ve made the song glow so much more.

A cool song that fails to surpass the first in terms of "awesomeness", although it does sport a better-sounding chorus. The lack of a solo deducts points in my book, seeing as it could only have added something more to this song. We aren’t living in the grunge-era anymore people! Fans want their solos!

03- Koi
The almighty ballad! Something all GLAY releases come equipped with! Teru whips out his honey-voice on this one and lets the whole thing slowly seep into the listener’s ears. Of special mention is the great background melody created by the guitarists, able to add a slight sense of "cool" to what some rock enthusiasts might label as a "sappy love-song".

The chorus follows the same formula present in every one the band's ballads, a tradition of excellence that has yet to come to an end. It even has some harmonica, something fans should be familiar with. They've also added subtle hints of piano here and there, kind of like sprinkling salt over a fine roast: it isn’t overpowering or noticeable, but it’s just enough to add a little "oomph".

A winning ballad that will make any fan happy. Especially those last thirty seconds: enough to give the most hardened criminal goosebumps.

04- Layla
Alright, back to the pop-rock. This one sets the mood with some fast-paced acoustic strumming that leads into one of the "poppiest" riffs I’ve heard in a while. The opening verse is almost haunting as the drums barely make a sound (save for the bass drum). As they "wake up", Takuro rips into what can only be described as pure ambient guitar, a la Luna Sea or U2. The piano also makes an appearance once again, creating a melody that should appeal to any audiophile. This all leads inevitably to the chorus: once again, the band has created a refrain that, while not on the catchy side of things, still manages to mark its territory and grab some attention. Then again, it might be its simplicity that makes it so lovable. The guitarists get an awesome shared solo around 3:50 that is over way too soon. It had so much potential and got shot down before it could even go anywhere! Ah well, it’s still enough to get your blood flowing.

This song exudes happiness like the sun exudes shine. A good listen for any kind of mood!

I'm going to keep this brief: this maxi-single is a great listen for any kind of music lover. It has elements that will appeal to rock fans and pop fans alike. It isn’t their strongest material but it will definitely continue to push their name in the right direction.

OVERALL SCORE: 8/10 for being a great listen. Slightly weak choruses do not detract from the release's "enjoyability" and "replayabilty".