Top 10 Best L'Arc~en~Ciel Albums

Since their formation in 1991, this quartet from Osaka, Japan, has left an indelible mark on not only the Japanese music scene but also the global rock community. They've become a household name thanks to their unique blend of rock, pop, and punk, coupled with flamboyant fashion and eccentric performances.

Are you wondering which L'Arcen~Ciel albums have left the most significant impact? Everyone has their favorites, and the "best" can often be subjective. Their discography is an adventure through various soundscapes, each album capturing a different facet of the band's creative journey.

From their energetic debut "Dune" that kick-started their career, through the dark and experimental phase during "Ray" and "Ark," to their more recent works that showcase a polished and evolved sound, each album offers a unique listening experience.

Their genre-defying approach has resulted in a versatile and expansive repertoire, with each album having its own distinct sound and personality. So whether you're a fan of upbeat, pop-infused tracks or introspective, soulful ballads, there's a L'Arcen~Ciel album for you.

The Top Ten

  1. Kiss

    2007 album, KISS, before the debut in Paris

    Singles:

    1. SEVENTH HEAVEN

    2. MY HEART DRAWS A DREAM

    3. DAYBREAK'S BELL

    4. Hurry Xmas

  2. Ark

    Best album. Every song is a masterpiece. There's not a single song I don't like!

    1999 album, best-selling album of L'Arc~en~Ciel

    Singles:

    1. DIVE TO BLUE

    2. forbidden lover

    3. HEAVEN'S DRIVE

    4. Pieces

    5. Driver's High

  3. Heart

    Every song is amazing. Yukihiro gave the band new life, and it features two perfectly crafted singles, Niji and Winter Fall. Anata is their best ballad too.

    It has so many gems. It's just a beautiful album. I especially like Promised Land, Fate, and Loreley.

    1998 comeback album after Sakura's departure due to being arrested for heroin possession

    Singles:

    1. Niji

    2. winter fall

  4. Awake

    This is the best. What can I say? It opens with a kick-ass New World, and it contains some of Hyde's finest songs (e.g., My Dear, Killing Me, Ophelia, and Hoshizora).

    L'Arc~en~Ciel is the kind of band that has an equal distribution of good songs across their albums. In my opinion, this one is their best.

    My first album by them will always remain a masterpiece in my opinion.

    2005 album, before second solo projects.

  5. Dune

    L'Arc~en~Ciel debut album

    Singles:

    1. Floods of Tears

  6. Real

    Quality-wise, it's like Ark and Ray combined. It's technically tighter, with a rockier mood and a more prominent showcase of Yukihiro's talent in electronica. The sound isn't like their other albums (each of their albums has a different "color," which is why L'Arc~en~Ciel is never boring). This album was released in 2000, so the songs and their arrangements reflect the new millennium.

    Confidence and stability after their last success and advancement toward a new era of L'Arc before their hiatus are all present in this album.

    Freakingly beautiful album. The best. I feel the anger, hate, love and every emotion in this album.

  7. Heavenly

    I love this album. It's happy yet nostalgic and strong, with each song connected to the next. It's a complete album.

    Singles:

    1. Vivid Colors

    2. Natsu no Yuuutsu

  8. Ray

    1999 album, second best-selling album of L'Arc~en~Ciel

    Singles:

    1. Shinshoku ~lose control~

    2. HONEY

    3. Kasou

    4. snow drop

  9. Tierra

    Raw and inspiring. Listen to this album and Dune to understand the core of L'Arc's sound. Overall, every L'Arc album shows us their ability to blend commercial and artistic tastes, their versatility as musicians, and how solid they are as a band.

    Here, we can hear how L'Arc music, as a new band of four young minds fresh from the indie scene, displays their poetic approach to bringing out dreamy emotions. The later L'Arc albums, while more advanced technically, seem to be overshadowed by their fame.

    Highlights of this album: In the Air, Blame, Inner Core, Nemuri Ni Yosete, and White Feathers.

  10. Smile

    2004 album

    Singles:

    1. Spirit dreams inside -another dream-

    2. READY STEADY GO

    3. Hitomi no Jyuunin

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Butterfly

  12. ?

    Quadrinity ~Member's Best Selections

    13. The Contenders

  13. True

    It's the more pop one, but personally, it's my favorite. I think it's interesting to listen to this album to understand the transition of the band before and after Sakura left.

    In my humble opinion, between this album and Heart, Hyde's voice was at its best. Every song is good (though the English in "Good Morning Hide" maybe isn't). I recommend "The Fourth Avenue Cafe" (probably the most well-known one), "Flower," "Kaze ni Kienaide," and "Lies and Truth." Hidden gems include "I Wish" (a Christmas song, sort of), "Round and Round," and "Caress of Venus."

    Finally, I like "Farewell" and "Dearest Love" less, but if you like slow songs, you may enjoy those more than I do.

    As for the "post-Sakura" albums, I recommend Real (they were at the top of their career then) and the recently released Butterfly (a bit of a return to their roots while experimenting with new material).

  14. The Best of L'Arc-en-Ciel c/w

  15. Best of l'Arc-En-Ciel 1998-2000

  16. Clicked Singles Best 13

  17. Best of l'Arc-En-Ciel 1994-1998

  18. Ectomorphed Works

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