Is Kiss a good place to start with L'Arc-en-Ciel?

Yes, Kiss is recommended as a starting point for new L'Arc-en-Ciel listeners. A vibrant blend of alternative rock and pop sensibilities, merging anthemic choruses with intricate arrangements. Kiss is L'Arc-en-Ciel's eighth studio album, released in 2007 after their hiatus from 2004 to 2006. This album marked their return to the music scene and showcased a more polished sound, incorporating elements of pop while maintaining their alternative rock roots. It followed the successful album, Awakened, and solidified their position as one of Japan's leading rock bands.

Kiss works well if you're into emotional depth and resonance, uplifting melodies for reflection and for afternoon drives.

How many songs are on Kiss?

Kiss has 12 tracks, running approximately 53 minutes.

Kiss

L'Arc-en-Ciel · 2007

53 min · 12 tracks · alternative rock

A vibrant blend of alternative rock and pop sensibilities, merging anthemic choruses with intricate arrangements.

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Top tracks — play these first

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SEVENTH HEAVEN Start here — Opening the album with a soaring melody and powerful instrumentation, this track encapsulates the band's signature style while exploring themes of hope and aspiration.
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DAYBREAK'S BELL — This single blends catchy hooks with introspective lyrics, showcasing the band's ability to balance mainstream appeal with emotional depth.
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MY HEART DRAWS A DREAM — With its engaging rhythm and ethereal vocals, this track highlights L'Arc-en-Ciel's knack for creating dreamlike soundscapes that resonate with listeners.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

56 /100

Foothills

Higher than 47% of albums we've rated

The album showcases polished production and varied tempos but lacks strong cohesion in its flow.

What we noticed

The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a fast pace, but the tempo varies significantly across the subsequent tracks, including slower ballads.
Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies and intricate guitar arrangements, particularly in 'MY HEART DRAWS A DREAM' and 'DAYBREAK'S BELL'.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

emotional depth and resonance
uplifting melodies for reflection
for afternoon drives

Maybe skip if you

prefer fast-paced tracks
seek standalone singles

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Marked their return after a hiatus and achieved strong commercial success.
Themes: Japanese rock revival· dreamlike soundscapes· post-hiatus resurgence
Career context: Kiss is L'Arc-en-Ciel's eighth studio album, released in 2007 after their hiatus from 2004 to 2006. This album marked their return to the music scene and showcased a more polished sound, incorporating elements of pop while maintaining their alternative rock roots. It followed the successful album, Awakened, and solidified their position as one of Japan's leading rock bands.
Stylistic neighbors: Asian Kung-Fu Generation· Bump of Chicken· Radwimps