Gackt - Mars (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

Gackt's solo Album (J-rock)

Sephibox | 01/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mars is the first solo album from the Ex-Malice Mizer-vocalist Gackt Kamui.(He parted from the J-rock band 1999) This Album is really a precious one,not only for MM or Gackt-fans.All song sound excellent,some instrumental tracks are included which are beautifull arranged(with nice Violin and Piano solos) and along with Gackt's wonderfull voice every track is worth hearing it.If you compare the style with malice mizer it's mostly softer(still cool and powerfull J-rock^_^)After all I recommend this CD to everyone who likes Japanese-rock.The price is tough but believe me it's worth it all.You can't go wrong with this excellent Album."

Gackt is the BEST!

Kersten-chan | North Carolina | 12/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gackt was my very first Japanese singer. My first song, Rain, was on his album MOON, but this was the very first album I owned. I swear... I fall asleep to this, and my alarm is set to wake me up with this every day. Gackt is positively the best male vocalist I've ever had the fortune to discover. I could tell you everything about him if you ask me (I've read his autobiography, for pete's sake...). But just to give you a taste of just his intellect, he can speak six languages (Japanese, two forms of Chinese, Korean, French, and English) and play seven instruments (piano, drums, guitar, tuba, trumpet, trombone, and horn). He composed all of the music in this album, and all of his others.

His range is VERY broad. He can go from quite low to very high (higher than I can, and I can sing fairly high!) in one line. This man is amazing! His songwriting abilities are second-to-none, and many of his prettier songs can move me to tears.

This album is said by many to be his best. (I agree, but MOON is still my favorite... ^^)

He's got a mix of pop, jazz-like rock, rock, and some very moving instrumentals. Blüe, for example, is one of the most stunning piano pieces I've ever heard. While his band (GacktJOB, as they are referred to) backs him up with guitar and drum playing, he usually does the piano playing himself. (But after you've seen Vanilla live... Who is actually playing? Are they all pretending? Do they need a backup tape for that song? o.O)

He's a deeply artistic and dramatic individual (as can be seen in the Mizerable video ^^), and is well worth your time. No matter what mood you're in - happy, depressed, angry, you name it - MARS, as well as all of his other songs and albums, is something you can never go wrong with."

It Never Gets Old

Kersten-chan | 06/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mars is one of my favourite cd's of all time. No matter what else I'm listening to, I always come back to it. In my opinion, Gackt is the best male vocalist I've heard in years. He has power, range, clarity and emotion. The songs on the cd really showcase his voice and his talents as a composer/writer. The songs include classic rock pieces, an almost operatic opening vocal in Ares, a classical instrumental piece, some upbeat pop and a few solid ballads. No matter what mood I'm in, I can listen to Mars and really enjoy it."

Phenomenal

... | Montreal | 06/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What more can be said about Camui Gackt? Beyond the fact that he is a fascinating individual (he speaks 5+ languages, has achieved a black belt in an equal number of martial art styles, is fascinated with all things Gothic and claims to be a 400 year old vampire), he just happens to be an amazing musician that can play multiple instruments, write his own music, and absolutely light up a stage. The Malice Mizer alum, who left after the widely successful album "Merveilles", used "Mars" as his first full length solo album, and it was a success on almost every level possible.

This album is, simply put, one of the finest recordings that I've ever listened to. Gackt melds multiple musical styles into his work, successfully incorporating his flair for pop/rock with classical orchestration, operatic vocals, electronic soundscapes, hard rock, and even elements of big band/swing. The best instrument on the album; however, is clearly his voice. He has a vocal range that is truly impressive, which glides over the music and draws you in time and again. The lyrics to this CD are in Japanese, but this does nothing to diminish the emotional impact of the music, and Gackt does a masterful job of pulling in the listener and sharing a schizophrenic and satisfying ride that's never quite the same twice.

As for the songs themselves, there isn't a weak spot on the album. The opening song "Ares" is a soft, almost operatic piece, that showcases Gackt's voice and range before rapidly leading into the driving "Asrun Dream". Third is "Emu for my Dears", a beautiful song that has since become his theme (and his fans are affectionately referred to as 'dears'). "U & K" is a straight-up high quality rock song, and the sexually charged "Vanilla" also kicks up the tempo while throwing in some great trumpet/band sounds (also a fan favorite). The "Freesia" songs are beautifully understated, and "Dears" and "Oasis" towards the end are two of the finest songs on the album. It's hard to review the album without praising every song, and like all of his work, the best way to listen to the songs is in the original album order.

All in all, this is great music, and what's also lovely about the recording is the packaging. The Japanese version comes in a plastic slip case, with one half for the digi CD case (and beautiful cover art), and the second for the photo-album style picture book that accompanies the CD. This is the best reason for not going the bootleg route (plus the superior sound quality of course), and if you purchase this elsewhere (or used) online you must exercise a lot of care, as there are fakes of this album everywhere (especially ebay). With a little examination you can usually tell the frauds (a lot of them boast 18 tracks, or ship from Taiwan/Hong Kong), but a general rule of thumb is: if it seems too cheap to be real, it probably is.

Gackt is practically a god in Japan, and one of the most entertaining and inspired musicians I've encountered. While all of his albums are of exceptional quality, I would probably recommend "Mars" as the place to start (or Malice Mizer's "Merveilles" possibly). While "Moon" (a good deal heavier) will always be my favorite Gackt album, "Mars" is the most initially and consistently pleasing, and widely considered his finest work to date. Definitely the place to go for a walk off the beaten path, and if you look here you'll find yourself a gem."

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CD Details

CD Reviews

	Gackt Mars Genres: International Music, Rock Track Listings (12) - Disc #1 Ares Asrun Dream Emu -For My Dear- U+K Vanilla (Mars Ver.) Freesia -Op.1- Freesia -Op.2- Illness Illusion Mirror (Mars Ver.) Dears Oasis (Mars Ver.) Konodaremoinaiheyade
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