Formed through Yoshiki Superstar Project X, XY is more like a performance troupe than a traditional boy group. It’s an insanely ambitious idea: bring together vocalists, dancers, a rock band (and a baton twirler for good measure) and see what you can come up with. The result is absolute magic.

I feel similar about XY as I do about fellow rookies Ryugujo. These aren’t simply groups churned out with the same music and same songwriters and same sounds as their peers. They’re acts fueled by a unique, specific vision. Love them or hate them, they have a musical perspective that differs fromothers. This is a direct result of idiosyncratic creatives behind the scenes. Ryugujo have the dynamic, counterculture power of Queen Bee’s Avu-chan. XY have Yoshiki, the leader — and multi-instrumentalist — of legendary rock back X Japan.

Crazy Love is very characteristic of Yoshiki’s writing style. Drawn out, expressive melodies compete with aggressive breakdowns, similar to his work on SixTONES’ Imitation Rain. This song connects with me even more powerfully, though it’s more of a slow burn than you might expect. Crazy Love takes its time, zigging when you expect it to zag.

The song is led by vocalist Jay, who delivers a knockout performance. His voice is angelic in quality, yet packs the punch needed to interpret the song’s sentiment. His foil is rapper/vocalist Gai, who offers a gruff, combative texture. Other members take on a the visual aspect of the performance, with the three-piece rock band offering shots of drama (and violin!) throughout. Though the main melody line repeats often, the song’s arrangement feels fluid and unpredictable. The first few times through, I longed for the track to climax in some massive moment where every element came together at once. But after sitting with the song for awhile, I’ve grown to love the fake-outs and feints. They add to Crazy Love‘s mystery.

For me, a dynamite melody will always be the most important aspect of a song. Crazy Love earns a rare “10” in this category, proving even more potent and memorable weeks after I first heard the song. I can’t wait to see what XY and Yoshiki come up with next.

Grade: A