• High quality product for new fans only - A review of X Japan's "The World ~ 初の全世界ベスト"

    X Japan - The World ~ 初の全世界ベスト (2014)

    X Japan's most recent compilation "The World ~ 初の全世界ベスト" commemorates the twenty-fifth anniversary of its major career. It's available as standard edition with two discs containing a little bit less than one hundred ten minutes of music on twelve songs and a colourful booklet with all lyrics and numerous current band photos. A limited edition contains an extended booklet plus a DVD with trailers from the band's last three world tours. Honestly said, the standard edition is acceptable while the limited edition clearly doesn't offer enough value for money.

    There are several good reasons to purchase this record. First of all, the twelve tracks are remastered and have a high quality production. The Songs might sound a little bit watered down at some points for heavy metal fans but that fits to the band's current identity and its ambitious goal to storm the charts all around the world with their upcoming album. Second, the booklet contains all lyrics and numerous great photos and this entire release is made up in a very elegant way. Third, this compilation includes two tracks that are rather hard to find. The live version of "Amethyst" is actually an almost instrumental Violet UK track which is one of the numerous side projects of drummer Yoshiki. This tune can't be found on X Japan's regular studio albums. The song started the now legendary The Last Live Show of the band eighteen years ago and is appropriate for this purpose but a waste of space and time on a compilation that should sum up the band's career in my opinion. The second rare track is the live version of the new tune "Without You", a plodding ballad about the loss of former guitarist hide. The song is of an average quality at best despite the emotional lyrics and the vital meaning of this song for the band and its most faithful fans. Most X Japan ballads sound too alike and this is also the case here but at least it's a brand new and exclusive live track.

    There are also a few reasons that might prevent you from purchasing this compilation. First of all, this release excludes everything the band released before its second studio album and that's why a few gems such as "Alive", "Kurenai" or "Orgasm" are missing on this compilation. The band didn't include its latest single releases such as "I.V.", "Scarlet Love Song" or "Jade" either as they will probably be included on the upcoming new record that has been delayed for more than four years by now. A second reason where this compilation loses points is the fact that it includes mostly longer tunes instead of a few more diversified short tracks. A running time of nearly two hours for twelve tracks speaks volumes for the band's struggle to get to the point at certain moments. A third and last negative aspect I would like to point out is the lack of content on the second disc which only contains one single song. There would have been space for fifty more minutes of music and tracks like "Desperate Angel", "The Last Song" or "Standing Sex" but the band simply wasted this space.

    The reasons why I still purchased this compilation after much consideration are the following. First of all, this compilation offers a quite balanced mixture of ballads and heavy tracks and shows both sides of the band in a very representative way. Second, this compilation includes the full version of the epic "Art of Life" which is one of the greatest rock and metal songs of the nineties in my opinion. Third, this greatest hits effort is the most recent release of its kind and offers the best contemporary quality concerning Images, sounds and words. Even the quality of the jewel case itself is far superior to the standard crap you can purchase in Western countries that should take the quality of this release as an inspiring example.

    In the end, those who don't own an album of the band yet, should buy this quite representative compilation despite its flaws. Regular fans should avoid this output and even faithful collectors might purchase something more useful than another compilation.

    Final Rating: 7/10

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