Top 10 Best L'Arc~en~Ciel Albums
Since their formation in 1991, this quartet from Osaka, Japan, has left an indomitable footprint 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'Arc~en~Ciel albums have left the most significant impact? Well, 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 more 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 the more upbeat, pop-infused tracks or the introspective, soulful ballads, there's a L'Arc~en~Ciel album for you.
Best album. Every song is a masterpiece. There's not a single song I don't like!
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.
Totally underrated! My favorite!
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.
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.
I love this album. It's happy yet nostalgic and strong, with each song connected to the next. It's a complete album.
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.
The Newcomers
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).
