X [Japan]

Best

Review by Matthew Anderson

Music Video Compilation

Company: Tofu Records

Running Time: 56 minutes (8 music videos)

Region: 1

Rating: PG (Subject Matter)

EXTERNAL EXAM

For your viewing pleasure, 8 of the greatest music videos by hyper influential rock band X [Japan] are now available for the first time on DVD in the U.S.

X [Japan] "Best" features 8 songs by this premiere rock band on one scorching DVD. Also included is a CD with 12 rockin' classics. At home or on the road, you can enjoy the magic of X [Japan] everywhere.

X[Japan] may be gone, but their legacy lives on with "Best"!

DVD VISION TEST

VIDEO: Fantastic video quality. There is nary a pixel, color bleed, or wrinkle to be found.

AUDIO: Some kicking sound on the 2.0 LPCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulation) audio track. It has good directionality, with the vocals coming from the front speakers, and the music from behind.

EXTRAS: As the CD is part of the set, I really don't count it as an extra. We do get an insert with Roman-ji lyrics, but that doesn't do us a lot of good, unless we are doing karaoke.

STYLE: The music videos fall into two categories, emotional and concert. The "music" videos are full of powerful feelings and images. Everything from suicide to pre-teen rebellion are shown in intense, and occasionally graphic detail.

With the concert videos, you can see why X [Japan] is so beloved. They really knew how to excite the crowd. With their hard guitar riffs and pile driver beats, their energy leaps from the screen.

FAN SERVICE: For those who are loyal fans, you get to see some of their best work in one shot. As X [Japan] will never come together in this way again, "Best" is fan service.

WIDESCREEN REVIEW

The first pair of videos (X and Kureani) are live concert videos. Just from watching these videos, I wish I could have seen them live. With Yoshiki's pounding drums along with Hide's and Pata's blazing guitar work, they do a great job at hyping the audience. Like any good front man, Toshi takes the excited crowd and let's them be a part of the show.

Next video is the soulful "Endless Rain". A true rock ballad, this sad yet powerful video lets you experience the hard days of being on the road. Toshi's vocals are at the forefront, thanks to the subdued music in this piece.

Taking things up a notch from "Endless Rain" is a good ole fashion metal song called "Weekend". This must be one of the worst weekends of any rock bands life. During the video, you see the members of X [Japan] die in horrific ways. One kills himself, one gets shot, one drinks him self to death, and so on and so fourth. The best part of the video is watching Hide do a guitar solo. The man could make his instrument wail!

Following up "Weekend" is another great metal song, Celebration. X [Japan] comes to the aid of a little girl whose mom won't let her listen to heavy metal. Taking her to the "glamorous" world of rock and roll, she becomes an even bigger metal head, and helps to convert her mom in the process. It's a typical "rebel against the establishment" video, done X [Japan] style.

"Silent Journey" is a cross between a rock ballad and a metal song. It takes you from rocking heights, to a calm state in mere seconds. Hide, Heath, and Pata really get to show off their impressive abilities.

The last two songs, (Joker and Say Anything) are polished concert videos. Both contain segments from various X [Japan] concerts and behind the scenes footage.

"Say Anything" is a fitting song for the last track on this DVD. It starts with the quiet strains of an orchestral piece, then moves on to a slow and tear-inducing tale of sadness and ending. Adding to the emotion of this song is footage from, what I presume is, their final concert.

FINAL EXAM

X [Japan] was one of, if not the greatest influence in the world of J-rock. From Glay, to Malice Mizer, every power group in Japan is indebted to these pioneers. X [Japan] was the first "beautiful young man" group to hit the rock scene. The intensity in their music was unparallel and they blazed a path through rock and roll that few have matched.

The breakup of X [Japan] was one of the most traumatic events in the Japanese music scene. While everyone went on to do their own projects, Hide had the most successful post X [Japan] career. "Hide with Spread Beaver" had several top 10 hits, and his song "Rocket Dive" was the opening theme for the "AWOL" anime. Sadly, his solo career ended before it really started with his apparent suicide in 1998.

I was and still am a big fan of Hide. His last solo album (Ja Zoo) has a high rotation on my personal play list. His song "Rocket Dive" is my personal favorite. His musical talent will be sorely missed.

While I enjoy every minute of this DVD, I was very disappointed at the lack of extras. There are none. No interviews, no history, not even English subtitles. What is up with that? Also, what the hell am I going to do with "transliterate" lyrics? I don't do the karaoke bars anymore.

Okay, I know that this is only a "music video" DVD, but that's not a reason to exclude new X [Japan] fans. I hope that in the future Tofu remembers that hard core fans are not the only demographic to look at.

X [Japan] "best" is a wonderful way to experience and enjoy this impressive group. You can see for yourself why X [Japan] has such a devoted following. Nice thing is, you have the CD to listen to on the way to work. Just be careful on the "Weekend".

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