Having a blog ther proved to be very addicting. i just can't wait to post something! I post the most random things, from what I have been doing in the morning, what I have heard from music or my drawings. Basically anything worth posting a little entry. I write on Japanese there and I've noticed that my Japanese is gradually getting better. It's still miles away from perfect, but it is still quite understandable and I try my best to have a correct grammar.
Besides posting small entries I put a lot of colors, emojis, pictures and everything else. It does look like I'm on some LSD trip but it is really fun writing those cute and colorful entries on Japanese. Really fun XD. And it also helps me to follow the entries of my favorite bands easily. At this moment I am following the GazettE official blog, Kagrra,'s blog, alice nine.'s blog, Ayabie's Aoi and Yumehito's blogs as well. Really fun! Please check if you know a bit of Japanese.
Back to the Visual news/randomness.
When speaking of new looks...
4/19・20 国立代々木競技場第一体育館
13.4.2008. Oosakajou Hall
19.-20.4.2008. National Yoyogi Gymnasium (first gymnasium)
I hope that they are going to record the tour final of their most longest tour ever for a live DVD (which I'm going to buy and overly enjoy watching). 頑張って GazettE! 頑張って!
Asari over and out gone learning.
Track list
1. MIRROR BALL [PV] [Listen]
2. 奇跡 (Kiseki) [Listen]
3. イレイザー -Memoire d’une fleur (Eraser - Memoire d’une fleur) [PV] [Listen]
Just a few months after releasing their second album Alpha, alice nine. kicked in again with their first (and knowing them probably not the last) release this year, the single MIRROR BALL.
MIRROR BALL is one of those powerful, passionate, intense songs that are simply made to have their own single. MIRROR BALL is quite impressive, even though it has got an familiar sound, but I really had hard time thinking with which song to compare it. It has got this lightness and passion of TSUBASA although not sounding so upbeat.
Kiseki begins with a very twisted and devastating riff, but unfortunately develops into this happy-go-lucky, guitar squealing piece that you're likely to skip when listening. Has got a moment or two that are good (including Saga's pulsing bass part) but apart from that it is just uninspired. Shame for such an excellent riff at the beginning to be wasted on such a song.
Eraser sounding familiar? Yes! Eraser was the charming but very forgettable song from the album Alpha and it surprised me when I saw that this forgettable piece made it not just on the single but also got it's very own PV as well. I am not a fan of recycling songs because I think that is a certain sign of bands being uninspired or wanting to squeez more money out of fans or both. But the Eraser - Memoire d’une fleur (Memory of a flower on the beautiful language French) turned out pretty well, the original space-like beginning was replaced with the gentle piano intro and the whole song sound as light as summer morning, charming on every note being a really charming alice nine. song (although very pop, my friend thought alice nine. was a J-pop band when I showed her the PV).
In a recent interview for the German rock magazine Rockoon! Hiroto (gt.) said: I want to make music that strengthens one's back, music, that reminds one on his own childhood. And recently alice nine. has really been making music up to this philosophy: charming, catchy, light and passionate tunes, almost freed from any aggression. I think alice nine. were never so popular as they were now, making successful singles, releasing visually impressive PV's (even two per release!) and preforming on various events in and outer Japan. But they have really made a big leap from their older stuff which was, I admit, in a way always upbeat and energetic, but also strong and sometimes aggressive.
What I wanted to say, the realities which they offered in their previous songs were saying Even though not everything is perfect now, it will be better later and they were more real than the almost idyllical image their song are offering now. Going to a more idillycal world view I think that alice nine. are simply making a big distance not just with their old music and fans, but also to themselves.
Date released: 19.3.2008.
Track list
1. TheMe [PV]
2. I’m vogue
3. 三秒 (Sanbyou) [Type B]
4. ツクヨミ (Tsukuyomi) [Type C]
Ayabie has gone major and MELTAWAY is their first major release! Their last indie release, the mini-album Rikkaboshi was a very good release with strong songs and a bit of an old-school flair.
MELTAWAY is an excellent single with songs that are more than representative for this very talented band. TheMe is a typical upbeat Ayabie song with an charming and original keyboard melody, cute vocals, strong guitars and an overall positive feel to it. I'm vogue and the 3rd track of the Type C of the single Tsukuyomi deliver an excellent expressive melody from the guitars and a beautiful refrain with layers of different profound emotions like yearning, melancholy, strength, courage... simply blending into each other.
But my absolute favorite on the single is the fierce, roaring headbanger Sanybou. The song has got those simply conceived, repetitive riffs that everybody gets crazy onto and bangs. And just in the moment you'd think that they are going to go round and round, repeating themselves, they are being united with this slightly different melody which all together breaks the repetition, brings the innovation and sounds brilliant. Damn the brilliance of whoever came up with such a thing, my words fail to describe just how good it sounds. Other than that the song has got some really raging sound, very indie sound and rare are the bands that have got the courage to put such a wicked indie like song on their major debut. Respect Ayabie!
If you hadn't had a chance to listen to Ayabie I think MELTAWAY is the best way to get to know the band. This almost perfect single ("almost" because of slightly uninspired choruses) gives more then a real picture of what kind of songs this band is doing. MELTAWAY is truly a great single and my honest recommendation.
Track list
1. JPN PRIDE
2. 21st Century 東京Blues (21st Century Tokyo Blues)
3. 歌舞伎男子-KAVKI BOIZ- (Kabuki danshi -KAVKI BOIZ-)
4. BOOM-HAH-BOOM-HAH-HAH
5. Memories of BUSHIDO(Instrumental)
6. NOWHEREGOD
7. 陽の光さえ届かないこの場所で feat. SUGIZO (Hi no hikari sae todokanai kono basho de)
8. 咲き誇る華の様に-Neo Visualizm- (Sakihokoru hana no you ni -Neo Visualizm-)
9. 素晴らしきかな、この世界-WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD- (Subarashiki kana, kono sekai -WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD- )
10. 徒然なる日々なれど (Tsuredzure naru hibi naredo)
11. Thanx Givin' Day
Imagine this: Miyavi and his fellow KAVKI BOIZ (Miyavinglish for Kabuki Boys) decided to go into a studio one sunny Japanese afternoon and jam a bit together. And so they locked themselves up, jammed and improvised an hour while the REC button was turned on. After listening to the recording of their jam session they've concluded: "THIS IZ GOOD! LETS USE THIS AZ A NEW ALBM!" . And so this album was made...
This album sounds like one big improvisation that you might even find my imaginative story of this album's origin very convincing. The songs are all based on the same concept that is: guitar that mimics percussion most of the time, very dumb lyrics (Sukiyaki? Toriyaki?), horribly irritating background rapping and repeating that not just causes headache but also makes you feel like a dumb kid everybody has to repeat to twice, hip hopish groove and all united with Miyavi's semi-rap singing. All of the songs follow this concept with just the variations enough for making them not the same.
The songs with a bit potential (but still ruined by the all the same concept) are the oriental flavored JPN PRIDE and a bit weaker one NOWHEREGOD, alongsides the decent last two singles that also made it on this album. Also the ballad Tsuredzure naru hibi naredo has also got a bit of potential (being along Thanx Givin' Day the only song on the album freed from KAVKI BOIZ), but this wide ballad simply lacks the small bits that would make it excellent.
Unless you are really one heck of an Miyavi fan or wanting to hear something more groovier than your average Visual kei releases, well you might even find this album worth the time and listening. To other this very uninspired, repetitive, gaijin aimed mish-mash of everything will be more than repelling after the first listening.
I think the song titles speak just than enough about how seriously Miyavi considers this album.
Track list
1. 唯 (Yui)
2. その瞬間贈る花束を (Sono shunkan okuru hanataba wo)
The chariots open their monthly release series with the single Yui (their second single). These few months are going to be marked by chariots.
Yui is pretty much an average old-school Visual kei single. Yui sounds pretty much like all the songs on the previous single Jade, having a good instrumental and a similar melody. But Riku's voice is more clearer and louder than on the previous single and it is not shaded off by the instruments.
Sono shunkan okuru hanataba wo sparkles on just a few very short parts (including the quite metal solo and the very good beginning) but it is being swallowed by refrain that you have heard from chariots before. It's a bit upbeat compared to other chariots songs, but not really innovative.
I hope that the next month's single will actually offer something NEW from the chariots, 'cause Yui sure didn't. If you yearn for some old-school Visual kei sound and love the chariots anyway, have your fun with this single for now.
Date released: 5.3.2008.
Track list
1. ホシノカケラ (Hoshi no kakera) [Listen] [PV]
2. ストリーキング (Streaking) [Listen]
3. 色彩グラビット (Shikisai G Rabbit) [Listen]
So, besides the last year's solid but quite unspectacular first album Brand New World, this single is the only thing I have heard from this quite popular Oshare kei band Lolita23q.
Hoshi no kakera is more of an example Lolita23q song rather than offering something new. The for Oshare kei unusually hard and catchy riffs are here as well as the noticeable bass and good drumming all combined under the charming but yet weak voice of the singer Sou and a catchy refrain. A good song to show what this band is like.
Streaking is my personal favorite on the single because the song is simply bursting from energy and fun vibrations and I bet the song will definitely shine on the live performances when everybody will be feeling jumpy and energetic. Especially the bridges in the song are very good and probably the best part in the song, shading the pretty much Lolita23q conservative refrain.
Shikisai G Rabbit (Really not sure if this is the real name of the song) is the kind of slightly obscure but yet fun anime-trash rock song you'd hear from every newbie (not that Lolita23q are, just sounds like that) Oshare kei band trying to make an catchy song. Like Ayabie's Gothic Party Speed Session. But asides the electro flaired, trashy verses, the bridges and chorus show the uniqueness and talent of this good band.
This single is very fan reserved, so that new listeners will only get a glimpse of that what this band is capable of. Ayabie and similar semi-Oshare kei band fans might find this single a motivation enough to look for other releases of this band. As for others, rather check the album Brand New World which shows a more in depth picture of this band's skills.
I actually wanted to do this since a while but I wasn't quite sure. After this morning's thinking I have decided to open a group on VOX that is specialized for Visual kei and J-rock reviews.
I present to you
So if you write Visual kei and/or J-rock reviews or even have some, don't be afraid to post them all XD.
This group is made with the goal to entertain anybody who loves reading music reviews and help those who are not sure about some release or just want to get some recommendation for certain bands/artists.
So if you have any reviews to contribute don't hesitate, join and post. I have already posted all of my reviews.
Happy posting and reading :)
Yeah I admit I am feeling posting-happy so look forward for me posting stupid but still entertaining posts X).
I simply love what interesting things you can find browsing around Livejournal and other forums/blogs/whatever where hordes of Visual kei fans get together and share interesting things. I am also continuing the series of before/after posts I have started and that Heroin(e) has continued with an excellent post about GazettE's Aoi and Kai's previous bands.
Today I will literally unmask the beautiful visage of famous Visual kei artists and show their normal, human side. No make up allowed. Are you ready?
So yeah, as much as I love Girugämesh I must admit that when I first saw them in their Visuals (not without the make up) that I said to myself Whoa! These guys are reaaaaaal ugly! Poor guys... If I am ever going to listen to them it definitely won't be because of the appearance. Yeah unfortunately Girugämesh is really one of the ugliest bands around (although charming in a way), but at least they look very much like themselves without the make-up even more than some other Visual kei artists.
Next are D'espairsRay!
D'espairsRay always had this great Visuals and they always looked really good, starting from their extreme dark Visuals from the start of their career up to nowadays with a bit watered down, but still very stylish Visuals. The guys look mostly like they do in real life nowadays because they don't use a lot of make up and are going for a more natural style.
So first of all let's take a peek at singer Hizumi and bassist Zero.
My jaw dropped when I saw Aoi's picture from the recent MacPeople magazine. He wasn't wearing any makeup and he really looked older than usual (which shouldn't surprise since he is 29 years old). In a way he reminded me from somebody from LUNA SEA (Sugizo or Inoran? Not sure) in a way because he looks really mature and like a real adult.
What is the most shocking about this picture is that it shows everything Visual Uruha isn't: a rough, not handsome Japanese MAN. He looks soo manly it's almost scary and impossible to believe. The Beast behind the Beauty.
The moral of the joke: We (women) have to achieve perfection with makeup. So hypothetically speaking what if men, who are already perfect by themselves, would use our means of achieving visual perfection (or makeup)? Does that make them more than perfect according to the joke? A little bit of truth is in that joke actually.God was creating the world. God created the man and said rapturously: Oh you are so perfect!
Then god created the woman and said a bit less rapturously: Listen, you will have to put makeup.
So with makeup or without, pretty or ugly, we all love our favorite Visual kei rockers. As long as they make good music that makes our days exciting the Visuals really don't matter. The true beauty comes from inside :).
Date released: 5.3.2008.
Track list
1. ATHENA
-OZ- is one of my (if not the best) favorite Visual kei indie bands around and I am always surprised by how much people don't know about them because -OZ- is one heck of a band. Their last single elf was one of the best singles I had heard in 2007.
-OZ- announced their actions in 2008 with the 2 month series of single releases starting with ATHENA and ending with the next month's single S.I.N. Unfortunately both of the singles contain only one, but still worthy, song.
ATHENA is one heck of a song, blasting off with some seriously impressive, very metal-oriented riffs and double bass attacks. Natsuki's unique voice blends in, giving everything a special touch, almost reminiscing some 80's glam rock combined with very hard metal riffs. I simply enjoy how this song somehow grabs you and doesn't let you go all the way until the end, simply bursting with energy. Just gives me the chills when thinking how ingeniously and brilliantly this song is composed and preformed proving only that -OZ- are really skillful when it comes to pure energy bombing with their destructive tones. But not just the technical aspects of this songs shine, also the songs atmosphere is really unique balancing somewhere between irony, rage and revenge. Man I really love -OZ- !
So don't be afraid to give -OZ- and chance. They are a band who develops slowly and releases slowly but they sure know their business and every their release is a burst of energy whether positive, cheeky energy whether pure destructive rage outbrakes. Even though this single doesn't outmatch the sheer brilliancy of the elf single, it is still more than an enjoyable single especially if you are a more metal oriented listener more than regular rock. One thing is sure: -OZ- are getting harder with every release. I'm really looking forward to the next month's single S.I.N.
Date released: 5.3.2008.
Track list
1. intro
2. and hate [Listen]
3. 虹の色 (Niji no iro)
4. dread
5. unsightly stupid [Listen]
6. 漂流の花 (Hyouryuu no hana)
7. ある朝 (Aru asa) [Listen]
8. 灼熱は零度 (Shakunetsu wa reido)
9. gaze [Listen]
10. 警鐘 (Keishou)
11. advance insane [Listen]
12. missing vain
13. outro
It has been nearly a year since the studs have been formed and a lot of people have doubted back then about how the combination of deadman with Kagerou's fierce singer will turn out. I think by now all the doubts in this band have vaporized.
and hate is one representative studs album which contains the best elements of the band: driving, fast and effective guitar riffs, playful and very present bass lines, quite subtle but yet strong drumming with a lot of cymbal presence and innovative and dynamic way of singing. From the very first rock eruption in and hate up to the melancholic parts in missing vain the whole album simply radiates with all of these positive elements. The songs are very interesting and they sound very refreshing as the album offers a variety of songs starting off with the loud and energetic first half of the album (with the excellent dread and unsightly stupid), going on with the calmer middle (with the slower songs like Aru asa and Shakunetsu wa reido) and giving again a strong rock punch back in the end.
A bit of a minus is the fact that the album includes 4! songs that were featured on the singles released this last two months, but of them all I think advance insane fitted into the album way better than it did in the single, thus representing one of the best songs the studs have released to date. Among other songs worth mentioning is the very studs like unsightly stupid and the excellent missing vain which simply charms with it's minimalistic used instruments, thus sounding very full and emotional.
Even though this does have some shining bits and pieces it simply blends into one huge song that you know how it sounds like overall but can't remember how the parts sound like. Sad that the songs are so forgettable, but the only good in this big blending issue is the fact that the album serves as great background music ideal for listening while learning, or listening when driving in a car or just for chilling.
But with flaws aside this album still represents a very solid and enjoyable piece, slowly freeing from the deadman and Kagerou comparesion older releases had to suffer and giving some variety in the Visual kei scene, although being average when looking in the band's own context. And might I add that Daisuke is becoming a better vocalist with every new song?
Nagoya kei fans as well the fans of the band shouldn't miss this release. As for others, if you hadn't had a chance to listen to the studs by now I suggest you should and best with this album. It contains a lot of materials to get to know the studs thus making hunger for even more.
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