Kalafina 3rd Album「After Eden」

  • Thread starter Thread starter elcazador
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BTW the regular edition booklet seems to be identical to the limited edition on the inside (only lacks the DVD stuff obviously :p). The only difference is the front cover and the tracklisting photo on the back.
 
Well, I want to give a short review for After Eden here too.
At my first impression through the samples of the songs, I became a little bit disappointed.
But after hearing the full-length titles, it's absolutely not the case any more ^^
But let me continue with song by song:

Eden: is an unusual opener for a Kalafina/YK Album.
It has a very positive mood and it's a clever and powerful composition at any rate. The voices of the girls are harmonizing so much with each other in this one ^^ I like it very much.
sandpiper: has a very nice soundtrack-like intro. The ongoing heavy-hearted atmosphere of this song is not made to enjoy the song at any mood.
Overall it's a good composition and the singing of the girls is very good.
I like it ^^
Magia: Still one of the most ingenious ass-kicking Kalafina-Songs ever.
I love it so much and it's absolutely in my top 5. I guess I don't have to say much more about this one ^^
Kugatsu: One of the better slow songs of Kalafina. It has a very elegant feeling.
I, for example, always have to think about a peaceful, fairytale-like night with a clear sky and a bright moon, while I listen to it :)
in your eyes: I have a two-parted opinion about this song :/
I really like the verse of this song. But when it comes to the refrain, there is some dissonance for me, I can hardly get used to.
I also don't really like the melodic arrangement of the refrain.
destination unknown: I like this song. But in my opinion it doesn't successes in being powerful without being hectic.
And until now, most of Kalafina's faster songs managed this balance. But it's still a very good song! The guitar solo in the middle of this song is godlike an should have been more highlighted out of the instrumental arrangement. But that's a problem that Yuki obviously has every once in a while.
neverending: has a great arrangement from the first second on, until the last!
I really like the rhythm and the sensitive use of instruments. Wakana's dominating voice matches very good here :)
This song absolutely doesn't drags on when you listen to it.
Kotonoha: is a rather typical but nice intermezzo-song. But even through it's so short, it's a bit cumbersome.
magnolia: my favorite new song from After Eden!
I really like the strong and refreshing electronic beat and the combined subtle instrumental arrangement.
Keiko's voice and the mystic chorus in the refrain sounds absolutely gorgeous! This song has energy and power, yet the deepness you would anticipate for in a fast Kalafina song.
Kagayaku Sora no Shijima ni ha: Not so much of my taste ^^' Already on the single "adore" was the better track for me ^^'
Mune no Yukue: sounds more like a FictionJunction song ^^'
It's nice but not an above average song for me. Oh and the guitar solo is great.
snow falling: I already didn't like snow falling on the Magia Single that much.
Mournful and too dragging for my taste.
Symphonia: Symphonia on the contrary has a heavy mood too, but a uplifting one as well, at the same time. And it stands out with an hymn-like composition. I love Keiko's part and voice here, which this song also startd with. Here voice is so strong, charming and wrapping here :)
The whole song is really great. It has some epic feeling and fits very well as the last song of this album.
This song really is a symphony.


résumé:
Another great Kalafina-Release for me! But except for "magnolia" and "symphonia" the first half of this album is a bit better for me than the second half.
The quality of this release is out of the question. But on a few tracks I miss some more elements of Kajiura's magic and energetic creativity that always made Kalafina's songs so special an powerful. I guess you guys know what I mean... ;)
But all in all, they made a fantastic Album again!

with this ins mind... have a nice day :hero:
 
I made a nice little zip folder of Mace's scans of the after eden limited edition booklet for you all.

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enjoy!

PS: I coundn't stop smiling when Keiko and Wakana were singing Happy Birthday to Hikaru. Such a cute moment!

PPS: To anyone who has the Kalafina note that came with the Special Edition: Does that include the pictures taken in LA that is shown at the end of the Kalafina in Los Angels documentary film?
 
Re:

tokyostateofmind said:
PPS: To anyone who has the Kalafina note that came with the Special Edition: Does that include the pictures taken in LA that is shown at the end of the Kalafina in Los Angels documentary film?
Click to expand...

Yes, it does.

And I'm glad I could be of help for scans. I was surprised no one scanned theirs earlier than me. I was trying to scan the pamphlet again today but it just won't work. Besides, there are pics in the pamphlet that need to be scanned on both sides at once which is impossible. I'll let you know if I manage to scan something out of it eventually. :uh..:
 
Can someone please write down the credits (musicians) of the album because I need them for putting them into the lyrics code of the songs as well as in the discography entry. Thanks in advance! :bow:

[EDIT] The 3 of them seem so serious in the symphonia close photo, almost evil looking :XD:
 
man, i wonder how the girls were able to wear heels so easily on santa monica pier...the wooden planks makes it SO hard to wear them & your heel could easily slip in between the planks haha

:ayashii: :knife:


EDIT: well, just hikaru since she has the thinest heels. keiko & wakana were smart to wear wedges and thicker heels haha
 
Got mine today. (I started writing the review already hehe) Can't wait to watch the PV and documentary. I will wait until I am in a noise free environment. :sohappy: So far I am pleased with the album though. Only have Mune no Yukue and symphonia full version to listen to, and the rest of Eden. But over all it's great.
 
I will only review the new songs (well including symphonia since it's the full version)

Eden: I love how this songs starts. I really like Hikaru’s voice in it, she seems more relaxed and it’s really lovely. So are Keiko and Wakana too. It kind of gave me the same feeling of when I listen to symphonia. Very simple sounding, but at the same time lively and uplifting. I don’t like it as much as some of the other songs on the album, but it is a nice song.

Sandpiper: this was one of my favorites out of the samples, and I have to say I am pleased with the song. It started out different than I had imagined. It had a lotus feel like I initially thought, and it’s one of the longer ones that I love. I was kind of expecting some kind of bag instrument, but the guitar kind of gives it that “mysterious” feeling. Overall I loved it.

Kugatsu: Really lovely. I love the melody, it’s another light hearted song. It did remind me of Hikari no Senritsu, but slower of course, but I like this one more as well. The song flows, and has that drifting feeling where you could dance to it. I actually thought of Anastasia (the Disney movie) during this song. Hehe One of my favorites.

in your eyes: I’m not sure if I really love this one yet, since I’ve only heard it once, but I really like Wakana and Keiko’s part in the song. It may grow on me with more listens, and the chorus is stuck in my head already. The ending is nice, and it kind of reminds me of progressive, actually, at times.

destination unknown: I didn’t really care for the sample, but I like the song overall. I think it will be another one (like Magia) that would be hard to perform live, but since they’ve already did Magia, I am even more amazed at their skill. I think my voice would get tired after doing this song. Heh It will grow on me.

Neverending: Really liked this one too. It’s catchy, and it’s really a Kajiura song. (Which I felt most of the songs were really different for her.) It reminded me of everlasting song, and will probably be a great one to hear live as well. (I see them waving their arms back and forth and making the audience do it as well.)

Kotonoha: Another really lovely one. I love the “underwater” feeling, I mainly say that because of the background instrumentals. I may have to try playing this and I really wish I could play the piano, too. I want a longer version, was kind of surprised it was so short.

magnolia: This song is awesome. I love Keiko’s part, and Hikaru’s actually. They fit really well together in this song. The guitar solo was the only part I didn’t care for all that much, but maybe with more listens it will grow on me. I just love that Arabian/Egyptian feel, as I’ve said before, and it’s definitely one of my favorites on the album.

Mune no Yukue: I was kind of wary of this song because of the sample as well, but I came to like it. It’s one of those ones that will get stuck in my head as well. While it is kind of African, I like that about it. It has a sunny feeling.

symphonia: I think all three girls are distributed well in this song. Probably one of the most well comprised of the songs. I really like the full version, although I was hoping for more of a difference in the second part, there is more Keiko. Heh Wakana does sound a bit strange in the second chorus though. But overall I liked it.

I think all three were nicely put into the album, although I do agree that Hikaru dominated it, but I do like her voice. And to rank the new songs: Kotonoha, magnolia, Sandpiper, Kugatsu, Eden, Symphonia, Mune no Yukue, Destination Unkown, Neverending, and in your eyes. (It may change with more listens.) I will give this album an 8 out of 10.
 
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