L'Arc~en~Ciel - Hurry Xmas

L'Arc~en~Ciel's 2007 holiday single, Hurry Xmas was a limited release disc, only available for the holiday season. As expected, the hit the Oricon charts quickly, reaching number 2, and lingering for eight weeks.

The title track, Hurry Xmas is a loud, cheery, and bright song, fit for any Christmas situation. The guitars and bass roll along, bursting with energy, supported by jazzy drums and a sparkling brass band. hyde, renowned for his vocal prowess, is yet another driving force, with a smooth croon that cannot be turned down. The rising chorus to the track is addictive and catchy, and the positively thrilling atmosphere feels like it could go on forever. At last, the song goes out, with ken showing the song off through his playful jamming, and after the final bang, the unforgettable impression has sunk in.

The second track of the single enters as a slightly more mellow song, I Wish 2007, a P'UNK~EN~CIEL track. However, given the rocking nature of P'UNK~EN~CIEL, the holiday-anthem picks up in energy, tetsu sining energetically, supported by a chorus of backing vocals from the rest of the members. hyde even has an opportunity to show off, with a slow solo, breaking into the loudest, most rocking part of the track, the final bridge. P'UNK~EN~CIEL brings a nice cover of the L'Arc classic.

The final three tracks of the single are alternate versions of the two feature tracks. The first is the Hurry Xmas (Silent Night version), which is an instrumental, with a softer touch, changing to a keyboard-driven arrangement. The pipe-organ sound is used with a drum machine, giving a very different feel to the entire track, while retaining the original melody. The other two tracks are the standard instrumental tracks, missing only the original vocals, which are a nice addition for the karaoke enthusiasts.

Hurry Xmas is a fantastic release from the band(s), and is a welcome addition to the holiday collection. The single nestles in nicely in their 2008 album, KISS, but also stands strong as a single.