The Gazette: Toxic
October 5th, The Gazette’s newest album was released, and as one can expect, this album carries a completely diffirent sound than their last album, DIM which would have easily fit as the sound track of some horror movie… ok that’s a bit of an over exageration but itwas indeed aimed towards more of a disturbing/haunting sound. But enough of that Album as this is a review of TOXIC, not DIM. Now TOXIC seems to carry more of a electronic, digital sound, not quite like techno or electronica, as it still is Rock, but most the tracks in it seem to carry that atmosphere. Well, on to the Review.
Toxic
01. Infuse Into
02. Venemous Spider’s Web
03. Sludgy Cult
04. Red
05. The Suicide Circus
06. Shiver
07. My Devil on the Bed
08. Untitled
09. Pledge
10. Ruthless Deed
11. Psychopath
12. Vortex
13. Tommorow Never Dies
14. Omega
01. Infuse Into
As usual, the first track is a shortish intro which starts up the album and sets the mood of the album for us. A bit repetitve but the “digital” sound I mentioned earlier is totally noticeable. A few English lyrics which repeat through out before finally ending and going straight to the next track.
02. Venemous Spider’s Web
When I first heard this I have to admit, I thought the beggining was a bit… silly, not in a negative way, but just silly and a bit…playful? This song manages to seem silly, but still maintain a sense of agitation which is displayed through the music and the later screams that appear towards the end of the song. There’s an interesting part on the guitar here, which makes me think of something falling and then swiftly climbing back up to repeat the process… you’ll see what I mean if you listen to the song yourself. To me, it’s an ok song, not the greatest, not the worst, just ok really.
Lyrics: Romaji and Translation
03. Sludgy Cult
Starts right where the last track ends, which to me wasn’t to great in this case as when I listen to the album the 2 songs seem to be just one long song. But this song those indeed have it’s own flavor, as the singing is a bit more… in your face? Not quite the words I want but you can tell the difference, it sounds more like he’s telling you a story in this one than the last one, although the song feels a bit random, but there is a somewhat catchy guitar riff in it. Once again… not the best, not the worst, it’s ok.
Lyrics: Romaji and Translation
04. Red
The album version of Red isn’t really to diffirent than the one that appeared in the single, the difference being some slight changes in the drums, but other wise nothing drastic or anything. You can expect the same thing you heard in the single, a fast paced, somewhat romantic themed song, referencing the Red String of Destiny in its lyrics. Better than the last 2 tracks in my opinion, but maybe I say that because I’ve heard it more than the other two… although it’s style does stand out from them, so a welcomed track breaking the two that sound like one.
Lyrics: Kanji,Romaji, and Translation
05. The Suicide Circus
An amazing song, really. Great intro, which really demonstrates that digital feel to the album, with somewhat eerie vocals starting the song, and after that, the guitars enter for a mild explosive star, if that even makes sense, only to calm down again as vocals reenter the song. Throughout the song that dark digital age feel is consistent. One of my favorite parts of this is when there’s vocals singing masked underneath a long stretched note. Throughout the song there remains a powerful feeling to it, before it finally ends with that digital effect heard from the start.
Lyrics: Kanji, Romaji, and Translation
06. Shiver
Like Red, the album version’s only changes are to the drums, very slight, and you might not hear anything different unless you look for it. Shiver, a rather fast paced song, which feel misplaced coming right after “The Suicide Circus”. The song doesn’t stand out to much on it’s own being a bit… well it sounds alot like “Red”, so if you like one you might like the other. I do like the song though, although I believe the ending could have been done better as it’s the same notes on the guitar playing slowly fading out…
Lyrics: Kanji, Romaji, and Translation
07. My Devil on the Bed
The intro is ok… the music is ok… but when it comes to lyrics, I’m not a fan of it, and so I refrain from listening to it. It’s just not… Well if you like it then, you like it, I for one do not.
Lyrics: Kanji, Romaji, Translation
08. Untitled
This song more than makes up for the last track for me, upon hearing it, I fell in love with it, as I do love my ballads. Another song where that digital sound is more obvious. A slow start, joined in with vocals, progressing forward, to hit the chorus where things pick up, hitting a climax, a chorus full of emotion sung with a pleading voice… only to lower back to the verse, before hitting that climax again. Even if you don’t understand the language, the emotion get’s through, and with the bride following the second chorus, it only intensifies, with that feeling of sadness, of pleading… before it ends virtually the same way it started as if nothing happened in between… an amazing song, for those of you who like ballads, although they have made better ballads. Still a good song.
Lyrics: Romaji, and Translation
09. Pledge
Pledge, as with Red, and Shiver… minor drum changes. Now what more could I ask for in a album than at least 1 ballad? Another one following the first one. Pledge doesn’t really carry that “digital” sound I’ve been mentioning, making it stand out from the album a bit. It starts out with a piano intro, which is joined by the vocals, and then by the rest of the instruments. Slowly starting and building itself up to a climax, where the most emotion is let out in the song, that formula being why I like Ballads so much, rather than staying the same throughout the whole song, it builds up to a high point, before it come back down and finally ends. Pledge is a good example of a ballad hat I truly enjoy.
Lyrics: Kanji, Romaji, and Translation
10. Ruthless Deed
Hard Rock right after such a beautiful ballad, those of you not a fan of slower songs, will probably enjoy this one. Although to me it’s a bit too much, but I do like the whispering in the beginning. It gives it a bit of a psychotic feel… which is probably better fitting in the next track.
Lyrics: Romaji, and Translation
11. Psychopath
When it starts, I instantly think about Nausea and Shudder with those symbols, but then end up disappointed when it isn’t. More hard rock, fitting for head banging really. Not really my kind of thing. Aggressive sounding singing/screaming. And well… not a song I enjoy, who knows, you might though.
Lyrics: Romaji, and Translation
12. Vortex
Unchanged from the single, this song is actually ok, I like the instrumental part, and the melody sung, BUT I have issue with the lyrics, which prevent me from listening to it at all. As I’d rather not listen to music with cussing in it. If you don’t care you might enjoy it. Fast paced, catchy melody, and a interesting flow.
Lyrics: Romaji
13. Tomorrow Never Dies
Guitar, vocals reminiscent of sirens. An interesting song which does feel a little “digital”, it’s ok but not one that I’d listen to often. The chorus which I actually do enjoy though. This song seems to go through a lot of moods, my favorite part being at the bridge and into the guitar solo, where it lightens up. And the message “Don’t kill yourself” can never be a bad thing, now can it?
Lyrics: Romaji, and Translation
14. Omega
The outro song, ending the Album, being a bit on the creepy side at first, but then picking up that “digital” sound that is scattered in the album being string in some song or sometimes weak. Basically, say your goodbyes here.
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An OK album, not my favorite, but still pretty decent, most of the songs which I truly enjoy being around the middle of the album, but that’s just me. You may love it or hate it, like most songs, or not like them. But with this album, Toxic, The Gazette has done it again. What have they done again? They changed their sound from the previous album to something else entirely, which was to be expected. Like that they always keep us guessing on how their next album might sound like next, keeping us on our toes, as we await their next single, or album. I am a bit disappointed by “Remember the Urge’s” absence in the album but oh well, I’ll live. I recommend this album more to people that like harder music, as it has more songs that you can do such things as headbanging to, although others can enjoy it to. All in all, it’s a good album, although not for everyone.
Movie: 5 Centimeters per Second
Movie Review
5 Centimeters per Second
by: Makoto Shinka
So I finally got around to watching 5 Centimeters per Second, which I don’t know why I was putting aside. (Had it for a week before I watched it. T.T) Either way I’m glad got to it. 5 Centimeters per Second is one of the most beautiful movies I have ever watched, but also sad. This movie is just… It’s heart wrenchingly sad. It fills you with emotion through the story told, which is told through 3 segments, or rather chapters. I’d like to keep this review Spoiler free, but I don’t think that’s going to happen, so if you have not watched the movie yet, it’d be better to watch it yourself before continuing on.
First off the art is spectacular for a hand-drawn animated movie, simply amazing. The Music? Fits Perfectly with the movie. Props to Tenmo, who composed all the songs for it. Also, gotta love One More Time, One More Chance by Yamazaki Masayoshi. Just Beautiful. T.T Well moving onward…
Chapter 1: Oukashou
“They say it’s 5 Centimeters per Second…the speed at which Cherry Blossom Petals fall.”
Chapter 1 tells the story of Takaki Tono and Akari Shinohara, in their elementary and “middle” school days. The close friendship which they shared many common interests, broken apart at the end of elementary school, by Akari and her family moving away. The two kept in contact through letters, which you find out in the beginning, as you hear Akari’s narration of her Letter, as it shows us scenes of their lives with so,me dialogue in between letters. Afterwords Takaki starts narrating, as his adventure starts to meet with Akari on a promised day and time, before he moves farther away himself. By now, it switches from past and present, the flashbacks showing us their relationship. As his trip to see Akari goes on, with the many delays in Train schedule, we learn more and more about them and Takakis feelings on it, as when we learn he wrote a letter for her, containing things he can only say by letter which he wrote 2 weeks prior to the day, only to lose it in the wind at a train station. You can’t help but feel bad for him at this point. When he finally gets to his stop about 4 hours late, tears are shed, and a meal shared.They venture outside the station, talking and visit the cherry blossom tree which Akari mentioned in her letter, and end up kissing. The two friends end up spending the night in a bran sharing a blanket, talking into the night, before finally falling asleep. In the morning Takaki departs with sad goodbyes, saying they’ll stay in touch. With that Chapter 1 Ends.
Chapter 2: Cosmonauts
This picks up from after Takaki moves, and when he is now attending high school. We are introduced to a new character, Kanae Sumida, who narrates the whole chapter, in place of Takaki. Almost instantly we learn, that she harbors feelings for him. As the story progresses we see how she stays late after school, so she can go back home with him, and share a drink as a break, on the way back. It should be known that Kanae is learning surfing and promised herself that she’d tell Takaki her feelings the day she manages to stand on a wave. When the students get a form to fill in, to go to a university, she is the only one to not have turned one in, or last it is unsure if she did or not. On that day, Takaki isn’t at the scooter parking as usual so Kanae goes back alone, only to end up finding Takaki’s bike on the way back. Where they talk for a bit. Throughout this chapter we learn about Takaki through Kanaes eyes, as she states, how he sometimes seems he’s about to cry, or when we see him texting every now and then. As they go back they, have to wait for the transportation of a rocket, as it crosses the road in front of them. After this scene, it triggers a monologue by Takaki,where we also learn that Takaki isn’t sending the messages he writes. The next scene we see Kanae finally being able to stand on a wave, which leads up to the next few scenes, as she tries to tell him how she feels, but then loses her courage, and a bit later starting to cry walking(due to her bike, not starting up) back home with him. At this point the Rocket seen earlier, is launches, and the two stop and watch it disappear into the sky. After this she realizes that he will never look at her the same way she looks at him, and decides to not tell him about her feelings, realizing also, that hes been looking at something “far beyond, far higher” than her, this being confirmed as Akari as shown in the scene. With a few more sentences by Kanae, the Chapter comes to a close.
Chapter 3: 5 Centimeters per Second
Takakis is working, and we see on a white board the same date that they(Takaki and Akari) planned to meet on in the first chapter, circled in red. A Cherry Blossom petal falls on his mouse pad he realizes it, then disappears. We then see him walking down the same path in the beginning, past the same Cherry Blossom Tree, crossing the same Railroad, and passes a woman crossing it in the opposite direction, he turns around, only to see the train pass right in front of him. A scene with Akari soon follows, as she says bye to her parents and gets on the train, where it is shown to us as she is reading a book, that she is wearing, a ring on her ring finger, meaning either, she is engaged or married. Soon Takaki initiates a monologue, which is actually a bit dark. As it ends, he speaks of a dream he had, as does Akari, as each line is spoken in turn. “That’s what we thought”, the last words spoken by the characters… As soon heard, the song, “One More Time, One More Chance” which started playing softly when Takaki entered the store, gets louder and full attention. Many scenes are showed during the song, both flashbacks,and otherwise(It’d be wise to pay attention to them). The Lyrics just really kill you at this point in the movie,and as the song come to a end, we are brought back to the first scene in this chapter, only this time, we see the trains pass by only to show us… nobody on the other side. Takaki looking disappointing at first, smiles, turns around, and walks away…smiling.
With that the movie comes to a close.
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Personally my favorite chapter was Cosmonaut, because I can totally relate, and was going: “You can do it!” in my mind when Kanae was attempting to tell him how she feels. … Alas, this is only fiction so…
The movie, although short tells its story well, with Beautiful Music, Beautiful Art, and a Well Done Story. The narration, realistic, and also at times deep. This is a Wonderful Movie, which I definitely recommend. Until Next Time.
Review: Mushishi
Mushishi, what is Mushishi? Mushishi is, in this case, an anime that spanned 26 Episodes. So what exactly is it about? For those in the Dark, Mushishi is about Mushi, which are creatures, that are in touch with the essence of life and are much more simpler than normal living things. Because of their ethereal nature most people can not see Mushi and are completely oblivious to their existence, but there are a few who can see them, such as the Lead Character, Ginko who is a Mushishi, or Mushi Master(蟲師). He travels from place to place, researching and helping people with problems caused by these Mushi. The episodes in this anime, each tell their own story, and can be watched, virtually in any order you want(With the exception of one, which has some references to a prior episode). So as you can imagine, there is no story large story arch covering a multitude of episodes.
- Ginko
The episodes come in many varieties, ranging from touching, to creepy, to just plain weird. Some end, with happy endings, sad endings, and happy-ish endings, where you’re not sure if that’s a happy ending or not. If that makes any sense to you. Also, to be noted, sometimes you’ll end up wishing some episodes just didn’t end where they did, and be wanting more from it, but then again maybe that’s just me. As you join Ginko in his journeys, you’ll come across many strange things from a boy whose drawings literally come to life, to a man who can’t leave a forest no matter how much he tries, all of which Ginko tries to help.
The Art in Mushishi, is well done, I’d even go so far as to say it’s beautifully done. All the different scenery to absorb, it just pulls you into the world, as you meet the different characters that appear, and learn about them. The OST for Mushishi, completely fitting, helps bring out the emotion and feelings conveyed throughout each episode. Mushishi is a great Anime which stand out from others, for its nature, it’s slow pacing, and more serious tone. Mushishi is indeed a work of art. I recommend this Anime to anyone, fans of anime or not. A Great Anime.
Pierrot: Heaven -The Customized Landscape-
Well here it is, that Album review I spoke about and finally am getting out. One of my first Visual Kei Albums, Heaven -The Customized Landscape-, which I usally only refer to as Heaven. This album is by an older band which in fact disbanded in 2006, which band? None other than Pierrot, who said goodbye, with (a) Hello. Heaven was released on May 24th 2002 and was the third album in a series of 3, the first and second being, Finale, and Private Enemy. (Making me think Maybe I should review all three in order?)Now onto the Album itself.
Heaven -The Customized Landscape-
01. Heaven
02. Shingetsu
03. Dramtic Neo Anniversary
04. Home Sick
05. Love & Peace
06. Cocoon
07. Believer
08.Automation Air
09. Kowareteiku Kono Sekai de
10. Over Dose
11. Rebirth Day
12. Birth Day
13. Super String Theory
01. Heaven
The first track, of the album, appropriately named. I don’t have much to say about this one, as the music speaks for itself. It stars off with what might sounds like small machinery working, before the music actually starts to fade in and takes center stage. Note that that “machinery” is seemingly also keeping the time in the intro, not to mention also the outro as it reappears for the ending. When the vocals start it get’s a bit quieter as the “story” starts…
02. Shingetsu (New Moon)
The Second track, starts abruptly instantly picking up the pace after Heaven fades out. Vocals as usual, powerful, and the lyrics always, full of meaning and as always deep symbolism turning what sound optimistic into something pessimistic. All in all, a pretty upbeat song.
03. Dramatic Neo Anniversary
Starts with a opening on guitars. The Drums on the hi-hat and bass drum pretty much through out the whole song, makes for a nice beat. When the Vocals start, it’s almost as if he’s attacking you, chanting something, making some sort of accusation, with obvious emotion in his voice. Fitting for it goes well with the lyrics. Read the comments in the link provided to see what I mean.
04. Home Sick
Vocals from the start, which instantly gives us the mood of the song, which actually does make you feel home sick, even if you are home. Strange, isn’t it. Although the lyrics aren’t actually about being homesick, but deeper… Read more on that in the comment on the link provided. As for the music itself, it’s in a way soothing, but in another headache inducing (to me anyways), I guess it depends on one mood.
05. Love & Peace
Aw, a nice optimistic song about Love & Peace. WRONG. This is Pierrot, get used to Pessimistically Optimistic lyrics. The lyrics speak of wanting to save one, only to end up left behind. As usual, comments on the link. The intro to the song itself, can be bit… annoying at first, but as you listen to the song more and more, it actually doesn’t sound so bad, overall a powerful song.
06. Cocoon
Instantly starts, instantly upbeat, instantly nice. This song is softer than the tracks that came before it (Heaven possibly being an exception), so it is a nice break. A somewhat straight forward Love Song, where he wishes to do something, and imagines the many ways he could, but never actually does anything.
07. Believer
At first this song sounded awesome, with that opening riff and that bass throughout the song, the way it’s sung, everything. It actually still is a good song, but what takes away from it is actually the sound of the guitar, it sounds ok but… perhaps could’ve been better. Lyrics are, a bit cynical.
08. Automation Air
Another break, which you’ll enjoy after Believer, well I did, and do. I don’t have much to say about this song but it is quite enjoyable, although Cocoon was better. A song about Longing, Sadness, and the loss of memory shown through the “las”. The feelings are well transmitted.
09. Kowareteiku Kono Sekai de (In this World Falling Apart)
Simpy Amazing, a song about two lovers, where the two people can be seen as more than just two people, but also as “countries, peoples, and ideologies.” (Comment in the Link Provided). A rather soft song, beautiful in sound and lyrics. It picks up with verse, and more so with the chorus. It sounds like a plea for the world. Beautiful.
10. Over Dose
Hard Guitar Riff as soon as the song starts, you know this song is gonna be a crazy ride, specially with a title like that. A cynical song in my opinion, almost as if mocking one who overdosed and convulses. Claiming to see the future in ones “high”. It’s actually a bit catchy and the mood is well transmitted.
11. Rebirth Day
Tragedies, are seen through screens, and are not actually experienced by those who view them by screens. So as someones world ends, it is but a tragedy to others. So look up and await your own end and hope the world can heal itself. I believe that is the message portrayed here.
12. Birth Day
A bit literal, but really a song of healing. It’s uplifting and fits for the second-last song in the album. No it is not “Happy Birthday to You” or anything of that sort.
13. Super String Theory
A fast upbeat song from the start, almost as if celebrating the end of the album, and on a wider scale, the trilogy. Enjoyable and a nice ending to the album.
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A pretty good Album overall, with a decent mix of Soft and Hard songs, some sounding better than others, and most with deep lyrics. This concludes the review and my apologies if it seems as my writing got a bit lackluster as the Review progressed. Less, a review and more an informer… I need to get better, so expect more in the future.
Well with that:
Start here:
Versailles: Destiny -The Lovers-
So I intended to do a Review yesterday, but that didn’t work out so well, so today I’m going to make it up. What did I chose, well if you haven’t seen the title of this post, I chose the single, Destiny -The Lovers- by Versailles which was released on October 27th of 2010, so it isn’t completely new but not something you’d call old. Speaking of which they released another single, entitled Philia on March 16th 2011 which I have yet to check out. Onto the Review.
Destiny -The Lovers-
01. Destiny -The Lovers-
02. Glowing Butterfly
03. Libido
01. The first track being, Destiny -The Lovers- which opens with nice vocals accompanied by a nice melody on piano. Eventually it reaches a climax where it breaks out into a nice melodic instrumental piece, before being joined by vocals once more. About half way through the song slows down only to pick up pace again with an amazingly beautiful guitar solo, which once over is brought back to vocals accompanied by piano. The Lyrics being what you’d expect of a song with the title, and beautifully written at that. The whole song a treat to the ears, with deep emotion that you can genuinely feel throughout the song, the vocals, the guitars, the bass, the drums, everything just perfectly arranged to make this beautiful song, which sound almost opera like, as does most of Versailles music, in my own opinion anyways.
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(English) Lyrics:
Rain has soaked even the heart, footsteps are resounding
Over helplessness of a single rose decorating this corner of the city
Drowned in silence
which is sigh’s melody of glass sculpture.
If you touch, it will curl up
And never come back to you.
Beloved, if we will never meet again
I’ll be the person, who knows the pain
Which I’ve inflicted to you with those hands.
Time has started to pass* like
Melody of glass sculpture’s tear.
Even inside of the cracked mirror
I can see your unfinished picture.
I’ll hide my heart lined with scars.
There is no point for me to look for love.
I’m embracing my heart, because it’s started to die.
Please, don’t leave me alone
I want you to laugh next to me
Until dawn comes.
I remember the old days,
Let’s front our approaching separation
No matter how intense suffering we would have to embrace.
Beloved, if we will never meet again
I want to grasp strongly with those hands
This warmth, which I’ve previously didn’t know.
Every day should carry bright future
Not despair of the past
So, my destiny, my love stay with me
Until death
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02. The second track, Glowing Butterfly, has a tough act to follow, it starts out with the piano, which is joined by guitars, which are toned down as the vocals begin, with the piano once again accompanying it. Glowing Butterfly sounds in way Darker, towards the middle but as it get’s nearer to the ending, after another well-done guitar solo, the song seems to lighten up a bit, which is fitting of course, as it goes with the lyrics just fine.
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(English) Lyrics:
A shadow burns crimson,
drifting back…my consciousness clears,
That it throbs so much my scars hurt is proof of the ceremony,
Ah…a hanged man is reflected in the mirror
in a city where the sheep laugh
“Have you awakened?” the ancient gods sneer,
trembling at the omen, if only I could cast off this body and become a butterfly
Butterfly…I pray for wings, a strong spirit
That flickering, swaying person
is a dazzling goddess,
Tonight the world is going to change
Ah…stop this era, fragments of a dream that flew freely
Now, that we were even able to meet is a miracle
Rushing around the world’s skies and then around again,
the goddess smiled just like in the old teachings
Ah…the dawn sky, the direction of that dream that flew freely,
Although the painful feelings still won’t vanish,
I stare at the shadows that overlapped on that day and the rainbow left behind,
setting the fragments on the wind so they may be carried into the future
Feel one’s way, conviction and truth
Glowing belief, dreams for you
Ah…to the ends of this world
where the sun shines so bright it’s dazzling
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03. The third track, Libido, completing the mood the single has, whereas Destiny -The Lovers- has the sound of a fragile beauty speaking of the feelings of ones love; Glowing Butterfly speaking of the pains of ones love, and now Libido, speaking of desires of ones love. Where Glowing Butterfly sounded Dark, Libido picks up the pace with an upbeat sound at the beginning, due to that Guitar Riff which you’ll hear every now and then in the song. Towards the end you’ll be treated with drums that build up the introduction to a short Guitar Solo which sounds nice, although the drums during it seem to detract from it.
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(English) Lyrics:
Face…if you cast it aside, a sigh of passion
breathed in the manner of a foreign country,
a shadow shaking its hips
Dance in ecstasy!
Until you reach it seek the emptiness
Ah…look at me with those eyes
A world where even awareness is unnecessary,
ascertaining by the slight heat,
It is an unripe fruit that tempts, feel it
Desire, hotly embrace, burn and blossom, drive me even crazier
Silhouettes meandering in the night, fingers intertwined
Desire, hotly embrace, burn and blossom, a mermaid of passion
Agonize and drown amidst the deep pleasure
Eyes…each time they blink, those irises of seduction
Swaying in the dry wind, the figure shaking her hips is
a bewitching dancer
a poisonous flower
A slight heat felt with the tip of the tongue
upon sand dashed by the waves,
while tousling that long hair, feel it
Desire, hotly embrace, burn and blossom, drive me even crazier
Silhouettes meandering in the night, fingers intertwined
Desire, hotly embrace, burn and blossom, a mermaid of passion
Agonize and drown amidst the deep pleasure
Get lost in the illusion
From temptation toward pleasure
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This Single is a Great Single, although with that first track, the other two are, to me, overshadowed easily, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good songs. Overall, a great single which I do recommend.
Lyric Translation Credit goes to: http://antares489.wordpress.com/about/
