TRUE SONG was Do As Infinity’s fourth studio album. It was released on December 26, 2002 and reached number 5 on the charts. In all this album has sold over 272,000+ copies, making it their lowest charting album, but not lowest selling. Like the previous album, the album was named after a translated name from a single. The album was released in a first press edition and a regular edition; the first press edition came with a cardboard sleeve and a different CD cover. The singles under the sun / under the moon and Shinjitsu no Uta were featured.

Tracks:
1. Kuusou Ryodan
2. under the sun
3. Good for you
4. I can’t be myself
5. Perfect Lady
6. Shinjitsu no Uta
7. Grateful Journey
8. One or Eight
9. sense of life
10. Wadachi-WADACHI-
11. Ai no Uta
12. Tooku Made (3RD ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL LIVE ver.)

Review:
Kuusou Ryodan, lit. Fantasy Brigade, classical & rock. The sounds of an orchestra of violins and a keyboard open up this song. Then Van begins to sing in some great vocals, and as she sings you can hear the background vocals that sound really nice. But as she sings the chorus the violins become more powerful and her vocals sound so lovely. It’s pretty catchy at this point, but afterwards the rock element becomes present as she finishes. Afterwards the song becomes very catchy as Van steadily sings. The ending is a combination of both rock elements and the classical violins at the end. This was a very interesting beginning to say the least, especially with mentioning years in the song.

under the sun, pure rock happiness. This song features up-beat rock music that’s guitar and drum driven. The verses are very fast and somewhat catchy. The chorus is quick and very addictive, but what’s better is the fact that it features some well pronounced English, for the most part anyway. This was released as the first single in the TRUE SONG Era, however the second track was not present sadly.

Good for you, steady rock. This song is your typical DAI song, very heavy in rock and very strong vocals. Guitars playing with some synth elements are present at the beginning of the song. Van’s vocals are as great as ever, especially before the chorus gets started. The chorus was very catchy to say the least. It might not have been very fast but it was good. I really loved how they used some English in it too, and the pronunciations were great too. The really loved the lyrics of this song too, they go on to mention “Once in a while don’t mourn — Go with positive thinking!” A really nice song.

I can’t be myself, stereotypical rock. Some very interesting sounds are present at the beginning of this song, maybe they’re drum beats and guitars strumming, but it’s odd. The verses here were simple and sweet but not that great really. The chorus wasn’t really that great the first time it’s heard but after the second time it starts to grow on you. Despite this song not being that great I must admit that the lyrics were nice.

Perfect Lady, rock with a little country? This song, to say the least, was awful. It might have had that country flare, but it was so bad. The use of English didn’t even help this song, it made it worse. The chorus wasn’t exuberant at all, nor was it good. This song should have been replaced by under the moon.

Shinjitsu no Uta, lit. Song of Truth or True Song. This song’s translation gave it’s name to the album, like Fukai Mori. It’s really amazing what Inuyasha songs can do, giving their names to the albums. This song has got to be the best song on the album, not doubt about it. All of the traditional music really made it a fantastic song. The chorus was absolutely phenomenal and powerful. Van’s vocals were at the height of perfection in this song. What a riveting rock song.

Grateful Journey, electric rock. The main instruments in this song were the electric guitar and a few drums. Yet again we have another stereotypical DAI song. Very rock influenced and very good vocals. Although I’m getting very tired of this music to be honest with you, it’s almost a YUI album. The chorus was so-so, not really that great but not that bad. But I must say that the lyrics were nice, mentioning “Lets cross the Seven Seas” and “Let’s cross the Seven Rainbows.”

One or Eight, rock and dull. There’s a reason that this song was B-Side for Shinjitsu no Uta. This song was dull to say the least, even with the up-beat atmosphere. There’s really nothing special about this song, besides the fact that it was annoying.

sense of life, acoustic happiness. This song is very different from the previous tracks, it’s not all fast powerful rock. It’s more acoustic, more laid-back and peaceful. The sounds of an acoustic guitar open up this song, followed by an electric guitar slowly playing. Van’s vocals are very peaceful, not fast or quick, but softer and more gentle. The verses sound bland at time but then again it’s not fast and infectious, it’s slower and calmer. The chorus was a bit dull to say the least. There was no major climax so it was hard to differentiate between that and the verses. But, I must admit that the lyrics were very nice and they make up for the song’s weaknesses. They go on the mention “A magnificent miracle, enveloped in warmth” and “I just want to feel the present.” And the ending was very nice, expected but still nice, just slowly playing away.

Wadachi-WADACHI- lit. Rut. Like the previous song, this song too doesn’t follow the normal rock pattern. Instead it’s pretty soft and very calm. It’s a very steady paced song, and throughout the background it sounds as if the wind is blowing, a small but great touch. Van’s vocals are pretty lovely during this song, powerful at a point or two. The verses are pretty simple yet not that bad. The chorus was a deviation from normal but it was good nonetheless. The acoustic instruments were fantastic, a very lovely and gentle effect.

Ai no Uta, lit. Love Song or Song of Love or even Love’s Song; either way it’s a song about love. One thing that is unique about this song is the beginning. It sounds so Irish, for a second I thought I was in Ireland with the beginning music, those tricky violins or fiddles. But after that it becomes more rock as the Irish music fades away. Van’s vocals again are superb but it sounds as if she’s fighting for control of the song with the instrumentals. The chorus wasn’t really that great to be honest with you, it wasn’t even catchy, but Van did a great job with dragging out the words at points so it sounded better. Although an odd thing is that as the song goes on it begins to sound more catchy. But it was good enough for it to become a fan favorite and an ending concert song.

Tooku Made (3RD ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL LIVE ver.) lit. Far Away. This is a live version from the concert on September 27 2002 at Shibuya Kokaido; and it’s also a hidden track. I really loved this song to begin with so a live version was perfect. Van’s vocals were good for the most part, but they seemed a little stressed; but then again she was at a concert performing so what do you expect. This is just a fantastic live rendition of one their best songs.

Overall Review: TRUE SONG was rock passion with a softer end. I had high expectations for this album as I really loved both singles, but I was sadly disappointed. I really wanted under the moon to be on the album but it wasn’t there, and I still can’t believe they put One or Eight on. The album began good but towards the middle it was like give me a break no more rock, but then at the end it got better. It was instead softer and more refined. But despite all of that I still like the album, although not as much as DEEP FOREST.

Final Grade: 88B

under the sun / under the moon was Do As Infinity’s 13th single. It was released on July 31, 2002 and reached number 5 on the charts. Sadly I have yet to find out how many copies this single has sold. This is DAI’s first and only, as far as I can tell, double A-Side single. However, only the first A-Side would be added to the album. This is also the first single in the True Song Era.

Tracks:
1. under the sun
2. under the moon
3. under the sun (Instrumental)
4. under the moon (Instrumental)

Review:
under the sun, pure rock happiness. This song begins with some guitars playing, in some of the most unheard of notes that I’ve heard. Afterwards the drums begin, followed by Van’s vocals. From there the drums take over for the most part followed by the rhythm of the guitars. Van’s vocals seem nice here, but not her best, well not in the verses. The chorus is, like many times, the best part of this song. It sounds a little edgy with the guitars playing, but it’s also up-beat, creating a unique and yet great combination. One of the best features of the chorus is the constant beats of the guitars and drums, but also the vocals, I really love how she drags out the last part of the word. It even features some English, although it could be pronounced better, but I’m not expecting much, the only thing that really bothered me was the fast pronunciations and the loud instrumentals. Although, I did like the ending, which was in English, and with the guitars still playing. The only thing that could’ve made it better would’ve been if the instrumentals were softer and if she sung the song just a tad slower. Other than that it was great rock song.

under the moon, the slower and darker arrangement. This song, like the sun and the moon, is very different from its predecessor. Instead of being relatively up-beat, this song is slower and sounds more ominous and dark. Dark and eerie sounding guitars open up this sad yet beautiful song. Slowly afterwards Van begins to sing, in some great vocals. After the first half of the first verse, the music starts to sound a little lighter and not as dark. And as the chorus is about to start the drums enter and become more dominant. The chorus moves slowly but even with that it’s so beautiful and yet so addictive. I guess it’s the slow instrumentals that make it sound great. I must say that Van’s vocals are surprisingly good here, and they sound so amazing. The bridge is a mixture of the eerie guitar with drum beats in between. However, unlike the previous song there is no English, unless you include ASUFARUTO, which is asphalt, but that’s not really in English. This has got to be one of my favorite songs fro DAI, worthy of the title A-Side.

Overall Review: under the sun / under the moon was a fusion of bright, shining, up-beat light with slow, prevailing, sad darkness. These two songs were just so different from each other, and yet they made such a great single. I guess it’s really all in the name. We had an up-beat song that sounded happy, almost like the sun. And then next we had a song that sounded start and slow, almost like the moon. It’s also a bit creative from one point of view, and it really shows. I just really loved the overall feel of the single. It’s just too bad that under the moon wasn’t featured on True Song. An excellent and profound start for the True Song Era.

Final Grade: 100A+

DEEP FOREST was Do As Infinity’s 3rd album. It was released on September 19, 2001 and reached number 1 on the charts, and has sold over 609,000+ copies. This was the band’s second, and last, number 1 studio album and there best studio album to date. It was released in a regular CD edition and a first press edition.

Tracks:
1. Fukai Mori
2. Tooku Made (Album Version)
3. Tadaima
4. Get yourself
5. Tsubasa no Keikaku
6. Kouzou Kaikaku
7. Koi Otome
8. Week!
9. Hang out
10. Boukensha-tachi
11. Enrai
12. SIGNAL (Album Remix) (First Press Bonus Track)

Review:
Fukari Mori, lit. Deep Forest, the popular end song. This song was original used in the popular anime Inuyasha as the second ending, and it’s what boosted their popularity to new heights. The song begins with an acoustic guitar playing until Van, the vocalist, begins to sing. Her vocals sound deep compared to other artists, but it’s still feminine. The drums then begin to play more until the climatic chorus begins. The violins signal it’s arrival along with drums. It sounds so catchy, even though it seems slow paced at times, and the lyrics are so beautiful, mentioning “As we live on, we lose a little bit more.” And the flute at the end gives it a great little touch. The next few verses are sung followed by the chorus, shortly afterwards the bridge begins. If you thought the bridges in Ayumi’s songs were great you have no idea, this bridge is a mixture of the violins, flutes, drums, and the acoustic guitar, and it sounds so lifting, and so energetic, almost like running through a forest. The final two choruses begin and then the song ends with the final verse, saying “We live our lives standing frozen to the spot, unable to cry out, for eternity.” No wonder it’s one of my favorite songs from DAI.

Tooku Made (Album Version) lit. Far Away, a rock tune. This version differs from the single version in a minor way, mostly the beginning instrumentals. The song begins with Van singing in English “So faraway, just faraway” followed by the guitar strumming, it’s not until she’s done that the guitar becomes more powerful. The first verse then comes and there’s a little twist, there are some whispers with some great voice distortions, that sound so different and yet so good. Then the chorus begins with some English kicking it off, followed by the Van’s amazing vocals, which are really able to get those high notes. The way she sings Tooku Made, is really the highlight of the song for me, and therefore the best part. Afterwards the guitar and drums play until the next verse. The bridge is a strong electric guitar solo with some circuitry sounds built in, and they lead into the final chorus that ends the song of a great note.

Tadaima, lit. I’m Home, a sweet rock tune . Van’s vocals open up the song followed by the drums and guitars playing. The first verse begins and it sounds OK. The vocals sound nice for the most part, and the music is great. The first chorus then begins, and it sounds sweet at a point. It’s not very aggressive but it’s not that happy, well it doesn’t sound that happy, it’s more like relaxing rather than sugary happiness. But it still sounds nice and a little catchy at the end. The bridge is a Native American flute playing followed by the drums and guitars, not a bad bridge at all.

Get yourself, a quick short rock arrangement. The song begins with a guitar instrumental, followed by Van’s vocals. The verses move rather quickly until the chorus. The chorus uses some English and it’s not half bad, but it’s really not that catchy. It seems very short and very repetitive in so many ways. I think that this song could’ve been better but what can you do?

Tsubasa no Keikaku lit. Plan for Wings, pop-rock fusion? This song was originally the B-Side to Fukai Mori, and it’s not half bad. A little twinkling sound opens up the song followed by Van ab-libbing. The first verse begins and it’s not half bad, but it’s the chorus that outshines everything. The chorus is pure rock with the guitar, and Van’s vocals are at the height of perfection. It’s a little catchy for the most part but the vocals are the best. Afterwards the guitars die down and that pop sound returns. The song basically goes next verse and final choruses. It’s not bad for a B-Side, especially with the aggressive guitar solo as the bridge.

Kouzou Kaikaku lit. New Foundation, the rock celebration. At first some middle eastern music opens up the song, and it sounds so creepy, but after thirty seconds or so the music changes into a guitar backed percussion song. The verses seem so long and it becomes annoying quickly. During the chorus the percussion instruments drown out of Van’s vocals and that’s where it gets on my nerves. From there it all goes down hill. This is my least favorite song on the album, simply terrible.

Koi Otome, lit. A Girl’s Love, the synth-uped guitar song. The song begins with a lovely synth guitar solo, better than most openings in my opinion. The first verse sounds sweet and innocent, but then the next is more rock oriented and aggressive. The chorus follows shortly and it’s so superb. With the music it sounds better than imaginable, and than to top it all off it’s catchy. The constant guitar riffs are so great, and with Van’s vocals they make a heavenly combination. The song is still very rock oriented, but the whole synth background music makes it better, almost like casino music in a way. One of my new favorites.

Week! the spring acoustic festival. The reason I use festival is because it sounds so happy, so it’s not really festival like music wise, but just happy in general terms. The song is opened up with some hip-hop beats it seems, followed by an acoustic then electric guitar playing. The first few verses sound so nice, and Van’s vocals are great. The chorus here sound so happy, so energetic, and it’s very catchy. The acoustic guitar and the electric guitar give it that quality factor, and a nice little ring, or touch. I was just really shocked how happy and up-beat this song was, it was a nice change. Not a bad song, or single for that matter.

Hang out, a mid-tempo rock spirit. This song begins with some guitar riffs, followed by the drums. The verses here are all right, but they seem a little bland. The chorus here sounds a lot better, the violins give it some strings flare that it so desperately needs. It’s not that catchy, but Van’s vocals are great here. This song just didn’t have that wow factor that so many of the songs had. I’m not saying that I hate it, but, it’s just not that good in my opinion.

Boukensha-tachi lit. Adventurers. The song begins with a base playing, followed by some more rock music. From there Van sings the first verse, which isn’t really that great, but it’s OK. It’s not until the chorus begins that the song gets more interesting. It’s very fast for the most part, and it’s so addictive. Van’s vocals here are surprisingly great, and those high notes are fantastic. The lyrics are interesting, and a little adventurous, mentioning a “new frontier,” I guess it’s where an adventurer would go.

Enrai, lit. Distant Thunder, the ballad of the album. Well I guess there has to be at least one ballad on an album, and this is that ballad. I know that DAI is known for there rock songs but for ballads? Well, the song begins with an acoustic guitar playing followed by the piano. Van then begins to sing is a soft voice. The chorus is so beautiful and lovely. With the violins playing it gives it a stronger feel. Not to catchy, but it’s a ballad, so I don’t mind. The only problem I had was with the vocals, there wasn’t any power in Van’s vocals, just a little change would be different, but she was able to hit those high notes well. Not bad for a rock band.

SIGNAL (Album Remix) the techno remix. For those lucky few that bought the first press of this album, this was the first press bonus track. The original version appears on the single Tooku Made. The original version had a pop feel, but this version is lengthened. Basically there is a long dance/techno/electrica intro, followed by that same music. The music sounds a little creepy, but mostly synth oriented. The chorus sounds great here, and the music just makes it so catchy and up-beat sounding. This is my favorite remix from DAI, as this is one of the few. A fantastic way to end their third album.

Overall Review: DEEP FOREST was lush paradise of diversity and quality. Each song, despite sounding similar with the rock elements, sounded so different and so unique. I really loved most of the tracks on this album, for most were written and performed so well. The tie-in songs were excellent, and even the ones that weren’t, they were magnificent. It’s not a surprise why this is their best studio album. Another great album for Do As Infinity.

Final Grade: 96A

Shinjitsu no Uta was Do As Infinity’s 14th single. It was released on October 30, 2002 and reached number 5 on the charts. Like Fukai Mori this song’s English name was given to there album which was True Song.

Tracks:
1. Shinjitsu no Uta
2. One or Eight
3. Shinjitsu no Uta (Instrumental)
4. One or Eight (Instrumental)

Review:
Shinjitsu no Uta lit. Song of Truth or True Song. This song was used as the 5th ending of Inuyasha. One of the most notable things about this song is that there are so many different instruments and elements. This song begins with a reed/flute playing. From there I was like whatever, but after I listened to it a little more I began to love it. You can also hear some Japanese elements in this song like the instrument that’s somewhat like a violin, but not. It also has a little rock vibe during the chorus. And the chorus is so amazingly good with the drums and the vocals are the best. The end part of the chorus is the best, especially when she sings the title, but even the beginning sounds great. The song is so beautiful and the music continually adds to it.

One or Eight is a faster paced song with that distinctive soft rock quality. It’s okay as B-Sides go but you do hear why it’s a B-Side. It’s not nearly as powerful as the title track.

Overall Review: Shinjitsu no Uta was rock temptation, with a hint of woodwind perfection. All the elements really made the song from the great vocals to the little flute playing. You really need to listen to this song. This is perhaps their best single, besides Fukai Mori, and Tooku Made. But the B-Side kinda killed it.

Final Review: 94A-