2 posts tagged “angura kei”
Release date: 1.4.2009.
Track list
1. ぱらいぞ (Paraizo)
2. 渦 (Uzu) [PV]
3. 蓮 (Ren)
4. 嘆美なる死への憧憬 (Tanbi naru shi e no shoukei)
5. 桜月夜 (Sakura Tsukiyo) [PV]
6. 鬼哭啾愀 (Kikoku Shuushou)
7. 咒葬 (Jusou)
8. 素晴らしきかな?人生 (Subarashiki kana? Jinsei)
9. 永遠に、、、(Towa ni...)
10. 鬼灯 (Hoozuki)
Kagrra, deliver their first and most likely only release this year with their sixth studio album entitled Shu meaning jewel when translated. Their previous album Core featured their most experimental output side by side with their traditional song styles. So what does Shu bring us from Kagrra, this time?
The album begins with the vivid, vast, Japanese instruments and sounds colored Paraizo that rolls off as an perfect show reel of this bands sound and capabilites fusing harder rock guitars, Japanese music inspired melodies with a rich, beautiful chorus and wonderful instrumentals. No doubt Paraizo is one heck of a perfectly executed sure-shots and a great way to begin the album.
Uzu reflects once more the wide, ethnic flaird sound of this last year's single. The vast instrumentals unusual for a rock song, would most likely impress anybody as well as Akiya's tight, amazing solo that gives another hard edge to this "epic" piece. Ren introduces us to the song with a gentle melody and then emerges in a koto verse that had some Satsuki reminiscence. The pre-chorus tightens the mood before the usual, expressive and thick chorus. But then again it sounds more-less like every other expressive songe they've done which will keep fans satisfied, but those wanting more a bit empty-handed. Tanbi naru shi e no shoukei just lifts up the tempo of Ren, but follows the same mood type but shamelessly ripps off their older song Rin on an almost identical chorus. I'm used to other bands copying each other but that one band recycles ones songs so darn obviously is really surprising, especially when we're speaking of one really creative band like Kagrra.
Sakura Tsukiyo closes the first half of the album which we could mildly lable as generic. I can't believe that they made a PV for this because this is the most generic song on the album, starting off with a lulling, nighty verse and going onto the upbeat-but-not-quite chorus very similar to one in the song Kaze off the album Shizuku. Even my limited Japanese knowledge easily detects the very usual and slightly overused sugary imagery of cherry blossoms in the lyrics of the chorus.
Kikokuu Shuushou (I apologize if the song titles were wrongly romanized) ties on the glimmering riffs of Sakura Tsukiyo, but sounds more firmer and harder. And I hope I'm not the only one who thought that Isshi's balls dropped on the explosive, strong, melodious chorus where Isshi's deep singing sounds simply amazing, very expressive and much more confident than when he sings in the high registers. There is something simply strong and rapturing in this song that makes it stand out more than the other songs on the album. A nice way to start the slight "not-sogeneric" half of the album.
Now the rest of the album made me think about Kagrra, sneaking into the secret vaults of other PS COMPANY bands and grabbing some of their unpublished materials and modifiying them slighty. Jusou has got this thick, thick mood, thicker than it was on their album Miyako and way more sinister on the verses before emerging in the powerful, IN-YOUR-FACE chorus which style somehow brings GazettE allusions to the head. And it's one of the rare spoiled choruses that isn't spoiled by the vocalist, but the guitarist playing it in a scale that's a bit too "bright" for a song of this kind, as such discontinuing the excellent mood delivered in the verses and singing. But overall Jusou still emerges as a hit on this album.
Subarashiki kana? Jinsei is just way too weird, unmatching and unappropriate with it's saxophones hitting into something that wants to be subtly hard and very upbeat at the same time. But yes the saxophones are what is annoying me the most in this song, because despite all the rocky, metaly edges on this band they were always a rock band with a strong Japanese sound. SAXOPHONES DO NOT BELONG THERE (with all do respect)! This song sounds more like the attempt to freshen up something that was left to be a filler track, but unfortunately the Miyavish, enhanced track doesn't do anything good to the album other than just capturing your attention for a couple of moments (either in positive or negative way).
Towa ni... would pass as an Alice nine. track thanks to it's upbeat, playful, riffs but when you hear Isshi instead of Shou on the mic, well that's when you realize it's Kagrra. And again the chorus just horridly reminds on one of their other songs, in this case Kamikaze (seriously if you don't believe me compare the choruses). Eien ni... is not bad in it's intention, but it provides way too familar stuff other than trying to bring something new. The album closes with the wonderful song off the single Uzu called Hoozuki where I simply can't find adequate words to describe it's melodious chorus, the reminiscent and swaying atmosphere, the way the song simply goes through you, ah, like sunbeams through a dark cloud after a rainy day.
Though Shuu has got a jewel or two and the songs overall are not bad, very well produced and polished, but compared to their previous albums this is their weakest album and not just of one reason but because of several reasons. The songs resemble a lot not just with one another but also with some of their older songs sometimes to the level where it sounds as a thoughtless self-ripp-off (like on Tanbi naru shi e no shoukei). A lot of them simply lack the direction, start off in one way and develop in another and then return back and forth, making them sound less certain. But that all could have somehow be overshadowed if there was at least some excitement or some innovation to them. I really love Kagrra, but I really though there would be more to the album than this.
But if we look at it's bright sides the album features the unmistaken, unmatchable Kagrra, sound and expression, fuses wonderfully the traditional Japanese sounds with powerful rock music and a feel as if their music is meant solely for the sake of beauty. Also the songs Paraizo, Uzu, Jusou and Hoozuki count not only as jewels on this album but also as gems in their discography, making this album a worthy listen even to the most demanding Kagrra, fans.
With all it good sides and those less sucessful sides Kagrra, still manage to deliver a recognizable sound and mood on their album Shu. Even though without any surprises nor will for experimenting Shu represents an excellent spring soundtrack which not only will Kagrra, fans enjoy but also fans of Japanese music overall. Still we do miss San and Miyako... quite.
Hi everybody.
I have concluded that this month is literally "release-dead". Probably the only release I'm really looking forward is Ayabie's Mikadzuki no kiseki, but other than that there is not particular release I'd check. So that means if I don't stumble upon some good and obscure indie band, there will be just one review this month.
And the single is going to be released on 25.6.2008!
Not good.... (oh well July is going to be over-flooded with releases)
Other Visual news and similar...
D'espairsRay are releasing a new single in August *shock* called KAMIKAZE (apparently KAMIKAZE is this some kind of a legendary live performed song that everybody seems to like; I haven't heard it and I won't even bother until it is released). If KAMIKAZE is going to be the same anthemic XXXX like BRILLANT or everything else released before on MIRROR I'll be glad to rip it in my review apart. BRILLIANT got me due to long waiting, but KAMIKAZE will surely have to be fierce to get the same praise as BRILLIANT. Speaking of D'espairsRay I saw on HearJapan their so called new logo thingie.
They'll change the most coolest logo in Visual kei into THIS!!! I could do a better logo than that in 2 minutes in Photoshop. SERIOUSLY this logo fails compared to the fierce old one. God, no comparison comes to my mind to show how this logo fails compared to the old one...it' like choosing a dump-truck over a Ferrari.
Oh and when I finally thought that when I have my summer holidays no band on purpose will play in Europe, a glimpse of hope sparkled before me: Kagrra, is going on a Europe tour!!! Hooray!
The concerts will take part as scheduled in:
8/17(sun) Sweden/Sweden [Klubben]
8/18(mon) Finland/Helsinki [Tavastia]
8/20(wed) Holland/Utrecht [Tivili de Helling]
8/21(thu) UK/London [Scala]
8/23(sat) Germany/Cologne [Kantine]
8/24(sun) France/Paris [La Loco]
8/25(mon) Spain/Barcelona [Sala Salamandra 1]
The best part of it all is that the closest to me (Germany) isn't on some obscure date so there might even be a slight chance that I would go on Kagrra's live. Kagrra, is one of my favorite bands and it would certainly be cool for me to be on their live (plus none of my folks/sister can jerk around that they are violent/that I'll get moshed to death/etc...). So If I'm REALLY lucky I'll go on a Kagrra, concert!
Oh and the guys from Kagrra, are releasing a new single on 9.10.2008. so I'm looking forward to it.
I have to mention that yesterday I received my DSD diploma. It is a diploma that shows that you have managed to reach the level C1 (C2 is the highest level of language knowledge; native speakers have C2) in German. So there is only a level of difference (and that is not such a big difference) between mine and a German native speaker's German. Heh...
The recieving ceremony was kinda cool and yesterday was really awesome (I even took some sushi from Zagreb back at my place). At the ceremony (which was in the German ambassadory) came Mile Kekin the singer of Croatia's most popular punk band Hladno Pivo (Cold Beer). He studied German on college, but he never actually had the chance to teach German as a teacher because he became a punk star. It was really cool seing him and his German is unbelievable.
So with the impression I've checked out some of Hladno Pivo's PVs and I have pick the interesting ones.
(Warning: these guys are nuts XD)
Hladno Pivo - Zimmerfrei
The song is the summer anthem of me, my sister and our half-cousin and we sing it every summer when we meet. The song is a very addicting ska-punk hybrid with a fun and catchy chorus and hilarious lyrics (just as all their songs). The lyrics are about how a day will come when tourist from all over will come to Croatia making it's economy bloom and what will Croatia do to attract them (like turn Slavonia (the largest valley region in Croatia) into a golf court).
The PV is fucking hilarious and you simply can't help but to laugh at the nutbags of Hladno Pivo.
Chorus:
To će biti TAJ DAN (It will be THAT DAY).
To će biti TAJ DAN (It will be THAT DAY).
Objesi ZIMMERFREI, lezii pod palmu i uživaj (Hang out ZIMMERFREI (German for vacant rooms), lie under a palm and enjoy)
Hladno Pivo - Šamar
Šamar (Slap) is a bit of a mid-tempo balladesque song. The video is cool and the lyrics are about jealousy and violence.
Chorus:
Kako te slijede pogledi (How the eyes follow you)
Kako se lijepe po tebi (How they crawl all over you)
Cijelim tijelom uživaš (You enjoy it with your whole body)
Misliš da ne vidim (You think that I can't see - not sure about this line, could be missheard)
Hladno Pivo - Biološki sat
Biološki sat (Biological clock) is said to be one of the strongest tracks of their recent album Knjiga Žalbe (Book of complaints). The PV was just released a while ago but it hasn't been uploaded on youtube yet, so I just found the slideshow version of the song (though the PV is awesome). The lyrics are fierce and it all has got a somehow rough and agressive sound to it. Like you wan't to beat someone up.
Chorus:
I sam ti rekao da (And I've told you that)
Al' ću ti reći sad (But I'll tell you now)
Jebem i tebe i tvoj biološki sat (Fuck you and your biological clock)
I really must take once some time and check them out. They sound really fun. Apparently we all who got our DSD diploma will have the chance to go on a free Hladno Pivo concert that will be held at the 10th year anniversary of DSD in Croatia :).
So anyway enjoy your J-rock news and Cro-punk craziness.
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