Review: MUCC - Rojiura Boku to Kimi he

When in doubt, when uninspired, or when anticipating a very big review in the upcoming few days, I find it convenient to return to an MUCC single. It just so happens that Grave of the Sacrifice will be released tomorrow and I have to prepare accordingly by conserving as much energy as possible. So, here we go.

01. Rojiura Boku to Kimi he
02. Mushi

As an aside, I find the cover and the lyrics of the first track to be a strange parallel. Notice the Japanese style houses with the trees on one side and the power line in the middle. I'm no expert but is it supposed to represent one of the not-so-glamorous suburbs of Japan? If so, then can I theorize that the person that Tatsurou is speaking for is a student that's stressed to the point of social ostracization or self-repression (ex. hikikomori)? I don't really know, but I thought it was an interesting spin on the lyrics.

Rojiura Boku to Kimi he	An emotionally brutal piece of work, with melancholic riffs and emotive vocals. A nice, clean guitar figure in the beginning switches suddenly to a massive riff with melancholic parts that sweep over you like waves. The lyrics are below since I was able to find them beforehand. The verse parts are lighter and mellower but the overall sound is heavy and gloomy. Tatsurou’s vocals here have an emphasis on singing and it isn’t until the bridge where he screams menacingly. However, it’s the choruses that soars the most in this song. You can't help but be swept into the raw emotion and passion all the members put into the song. For their first major single, it's a focused and complete effort.	9/10
Mushi	It's counterpart, however, is not as focused. The first few seconds are full of slow, deep strums. After that, downtuned guitars backed by drums move along at a brisk pace until we hit the verse. Tatsurou’s words are spit out menacingly amidst heavy guitar parts in sparse bursts until we reach the chorus. At times, the only instrument playing are the drums and sometimes the bass guitar reverbs into the background, which is a pretty cool effect in my opinion. At the chorus, everyone comes in for good and it doesn't feel as tight as it all can until after the chorus ends and the other three play around for a bit. Alternate harder parts are combined with slightly lighter parts to create an unsettling mood until Tatsurou jumps right back in seamlessly. The song remains a constantly shifting ride straight up to the brisk end and doubtless there is going to be a spot that any fan of MUCC can enjoy. I can follow the flow of the tracks and where the guitars want to go with the song, but somehow I feel like the track loses itself in it's attempt to be as good as the A-side. What you get is a decent song but ultimately just a decent song.	7/10

You can obviously do the math. The title track grew on me and the re-recording on the album Kuchiki no Tou is solid and fits in well with the atmosphere of the album. The second track is a solid B-side through and through that sadly comes off a little forgettable in parts. If you can stand Tatsurou's voice, you'll like this release.

Recommended:

Rojiura Boku to Kimi he

Score: 80%

Lyrics

Rojiura Boku To Kimi E

Lyrics: Tatsurou

sugu ni naku naru sa saisho kara wakatteta
kizukanai FURI de nigemichi wo tsukuru warui kuse to
tsukuri waraide zutto shakou shiteita sora wa ima kara ni natta

yubi wo nakushita shounen wa ai mo yume mo tsukamezu ni naita
rojiura de ikudo mo umare kawari wo nozonde nanadome no asa ni

tsugihagi darake no kotae wo kakage
doku sareru koto de yasurageru no nara
mayowazu yuuwaku no mitsu ni mi wo nageyou

aa erabarenu nara shosen watashi nado yukizuri no omocha
aa tarenagasu yami ni tsuzuru koto kireta "arigatou"

awa ni nari sakimidare ikitoshi ikeru ima subete hai ni nare
yuuretsu sou tagai no chigai chigai....
taikai ni itteki wo tarasu ga gotoku ni majiwaru nara
subete hai ni nare ai yo hai ni kise

aa teishi shita oto ni aseri heijou wo tamotezu kuruidashita MAESUTORO
ano rojiura de boku ga kakageta tsugihagi darake no "sayounara"


The Back Alley, to Me and You


I knew from the start that it will soon disappear
My bad habit of escaping by pretending I don't notice anything
The sky, always darkened by my forced laughter, is now empty
With no fingers, a boy was crying, unable to seize neither love nor dreams
In the back alley, continuously wishing for rebirth on the seventh morning
Putting together a patchwork answer,
If I can feel at ease in my being poisoned
I will throw my body in the honey of temptation without hesitation
Ah, if I am not chosen, those like me are but passing toys
Ah, in the oozing obscurity, I couldn't spell "thank you" to the end
May all things alive turn to froth and scatter now, may it all turn to ash
Superiority and inferiority, each other's differences, differences...
If they're to mingle together like a drop spilled in the ocean
May everything turn to ash, may love turn back to ash
Ah, I am a maestro who went mad, irritated by his heart that stopped, unable to keep his composure
In that back alley, I put together a patchwork "farewell"