10 posts tagged “kagrra”
I have heard about this a bit when D'espairsRay decided to participate, but now that even the GazettE are in I became more curious and decided to see what is this V-ROCK FESTIVAL 09.
The festival will take place in Makuhari Messe on 24-25-10.2009.
I find this foreign and Japanese Visual rock concept very interesting and a great move to somehow widthen the boarders and concept of Visual Rock, so I am really lookin forward to how this will develop. Most of all I am glad the GazettE will finally (probably) have contact with other bands beside their own strict, closed-minded label (unless PSC decides to repell them from making social contacts) and see what kind of music they make and similar. I am also eager to see the reactions/thoughts of the foriegn acts about Visual Kei bands, so yep, this is gonna be cool. Shame that I have to live thousands of miles away from Japan.
So here is a nice feature program for all of you interested:
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.
The very turbulent 2008 is coming to it's end and I think it's a good time to see which releases and bands marked the 2008. So sit back and hopefully enjoy my little summary of what I think is the best-of-the-best this year (with other stuff that for some certain reason marked the year) has delivered.
BEST SINGLE
1. the GazettE - LEECH
2. D'espairsRay - Kamikaze
3. -OZ- - Bulk
Best underground indie debut single of the year: Lucy - Discord
This year has delivered a mass of excellent singles from various bands (some bands releasing several excellent singles) that it was a really hard decision to decide which single had the balls, the oomph, the wow and awesomeness painted all over. I think LEECH was the single that really stood out this year because each track was pure dynamite, totally in-your-face, simply bombing you with energy! A Visual kei rock firestorm!
Among other great singles was D'espairsRay's bipolar Kamikaze with the best B-side that has ever emerged from this band: Scissors. Also -OZ- showed their fangs with the intense, aggressive and overall awesome metal-compound single Bulk. In the special category I have Lucy, a small and relatively new band with a big and broodingly dark single Discord (which can be also considered as the darkest single of the year).
1. Rentrer en Soi - MEGIDDO
2. Dio ~Distraught Overlord~ - Heaven's Call
3. Deluhi - Surveillance
Most ear/eye piercing mini-album: SuG - I SCREAM PARTY/punkitsch
Rentrer en Soi closed their final chapter and became legends with the epic last mini-album MEGIDDO which makes both fans and non-fans get the chills before this great and brilliant masterpiece. Among the runner-ups was Dio with their first and amazing Heaven's Call that delivered a full-pack of metal spiced hard Visual kei songs in the outstanding Dio manner. Also the newcomer's DELUHI first release Surveillance was just an announcement of this band's intention to take over the Visual kei world with their version of strong power-metal fusions and technical perfection.
Oh and there is a band that caused a lot of brain/ear hemorrhages with both it's releases and mini-albums and that is
SuG. If the color/kitsch overused album artwork wasn't enough of a warning to you, you'd be left off in a sugar coated mass of sticky, E-colored candy-punk mass. Do not listen unless you have an insulin syringe with you.
BEST ALBUM
1. Dir en grey - Uroboros
2. Kagrra, - Core
3. MUCC - Shion
Best album not reviewed : Sugar - Sweetest
What? You thought that the best album part wouldn't go without the legendary Dir en grey and their highly anticipated Uroboros, did you? When Dir en grey releases and album, you can be almost more that certain that is predestined to be the album that will mark the year and that will stand as a new level and measure in Visual kei. Though slightly dehumanized and a skillful showing-off nerve play, Uroboros is definitely an album which sets new borders, both in Visual kei as in the music world overall.
Following Uroboros we have the excellent album Core by the neo japanesque kings Kagrra having both their traditional oriental flavored songs as well as some new rock experiments that were successful. Also the most versatile album of the year Shion by MUCC came out as a pleasant surprise with a showcase of such a variety of songs, different in genres but united in a board, recognizable MUCC-style.
Ironically the only five star album this year wasn't reviewed and that was Sugar's SWEETEST: a balanced out, unique, jazzy influenced rock piece with songs that take the breath aways both in style, refinement, expression, paired up with the incredible talent of each member, especially the astonishing voice of the singer LOKI and the guitar-hero skills of the guitarist SIZNA. If it was reviewed, Dir en grey would have been pushed in a one-on-one fight party to the top with Sugar.
BEST PV
1. the GazettE - LEECH
2. Dir en grey - Glass skin
3. alice nine. - Rainbows
Most sexy (fangirl-unfriendly) PV: SCREW - Gather roses
What makes an excellent PV? Well a lot of things. When your jaw literally detached from your skull, the complementary fusion of both the visual and auditory aspect, a unique concept, an artistic approach, a certain aesthetic and of course the omg, wow! aspect. And I think the PV for the song LEECH has it all and leaves everybody simply breathless with one of the most interesting, aesthetic and symbolic PV's around. Also their PV Guren was pretty damn great, but we have to leave the places for other bands right?
Glass Skin by Dir en grey wass a soothing, transient and floating monochrome PV that just seems to take you into a different world, where time stands still. A very pretty and interesting PV. The PV with the fun-factor was definitely Rainbows by alice nine. with all of it's flashiness and energy, fitting for such a loud and energetic song.
And one of the most entertaining and hot PV's around was Gather Roses by SCREW which have almost literally screwed the chicks in the PV. I have never seen so many sex-allusion and subtle sex scenes in any Visual kei PV as in this one. Sex, boob-grabbing, masturbation, lap-dancing as well as cxxk-suxxxing, all is presenting a very subtle and TV friendly way, but enough to drive rabid fangirls wild. SCREW you are my personal heroes because of this.
BEST NEW BAND
1. DELUHI
2. Lucy
3. Vistlip
Label with the most failing new bands: UNDERCODE
You've got to admit that no one has expected such a great band to emerge this year and to have so many excellent releases it's almost not natural. Well DELUHI have proven us wrong, thanks to their unique power-metal flaired songs and uprising lyrics. Though present with only one yet very valuable release, Lucy also gave us hopes for the dark Visual kei with their single Discord. Vistlip had the excellent debut release and a few weaker others but it was still a band that is better than the other new rest.
Oh and a label who hasn't really contributed to the Visual kei scene was UNDERCODE with their heavy mediocre-to-bad oldschool Visual kei bands that all sound the same. But like Kisaki cares, as long as he is making money.
BEST BAND
1. the GazettE
2. D'espairsRay
3. Sugar
Greatest sound change: 12012
Man, deciding on which band deserves to get the prestige title best band was really, really heavy and I had to think very good about it to make a good decision. After some thinking I have decided that the GazettE deserves the Best band title. Why? Because not only have they released (only) two excellent singles (and as such repented for the last years Stacked Rubbish), but the band also had a full scale of various live performances that peaked in performances such as the two-day final in Yoyogi, the midsummer Gazerock Festival and the secret live in Shinjuku that was halted after two songs because the police had to stop (due to 7000 people coming, instead of laughably 250).
Among the other bands that marked this year were also the veterans from D'espairsRay that released three excellent singles and toured a lot, as well as announced a new album for the 2009. It's great to see them active, though not so dark as they used to be. And not to forget a band I discovered this year and that turned into one of my favorites: Sugar! You just have to have wrong ears if you can't get into their elegant and refined jazzy-rock tunes that sound incredibly sophisticated and good.
The band that has experienced the most greatest sound change this year (unfortunately on the worse) was 12012 that went from dark hard-rock to carefree sugary pop-rock, becoming more and more ligther with every single. Such a sad waste of talent and reputation unfortunately.
1. the GazettE -虚無の終わり、箱詰めの黙示 (Kyomu no owari, hakodzume no mokushi)
2. Deluhi - Vivid place
3. D'espairsRay - Scissors
Auditory Nirvana: Dir en grey - 蜷局 (Toguro)
And what has certainly made this year special was the amount of excellent songs from which some took the breath away, while others provided nirvana and chatarsis. Therefore, it was very hard to decide which songs were exceptional. The best song of the year , for me, was the GazettE's Kyomu no owari, hakodzume no mokushi, an apocalyptic piece with a mesmerizing mood, soaring, intense chorus and a aloof, yet present feel, accepting the end of the world with no regrets.
While Kyomu was quite pessimistic, the wast and positive song Vivid Place by Deluhi was an undeniable proof of their brilliance and ability to make songs that literally shine! While I was pretty displeased with the positive-less-dark style D'espairsRay has had on the song KAMIKAZE I was literally blown away by the sharpness and tension of Scissors. If anything else Tsukasa should write more D'espairsRay songs!
And reaching a mantric nirvana through music was never so near and so vivid as in Toguro by Dir en grey, a vunerable and calm song on their overall slightly dehumanized album. A wonderful, mesmerizing song with floating riffs and a lot of chanting.
And that would be it for my Best of 2008. I hope you liked it. You might have agreed on some spots with me, on some not, oh well everybody has got their own taste and favorites. So now I'm wondering what are your best of the best in this year! Which songs, releases and artists marked this year for you?
I hope the next year will be either as good as this one or preferably better!
So... hello there. I know it has been a while since my last post, but college has started and I had two really turbulent weeks so I didn't had so many chances for actually writing something. And there wasn't much to write, no releases to review (okay, maybe Nightmare's LOST IN BLUE but I've left that single back here in my house and I was to lazy to download it on my student flat computer...so...).
Well med college is really fiery, you have to be ready for action at all times and work, work and work. We have already written our first exam last Sunday (psychology, really twisted shit but I have passed the pretty confusing exam). This week we had social medicine which was less interesting but a bit relaxed since we managed to postpone the test to Monday (we were supposed to write it tomorrow). So with tomorrow cleared we got one day extra so I returned to my little town today. I've got a nice whole weekend to spend on learning 200 pages of social medicine which is half common knowledge and half facts and pretty much un-understandable text. Oh well, just two more weeks and we'll get anatomy.
And now to the Visual-kei part of the week. ...
My new computer in my flat has got internet and I even think we got 3 months of flat-rate because of some special action from our internet provider. But I'll see that when the bill comes. Still I had enough paid bandwidth to check out some neat Visual kei things and videos....
Most of the time that I've spent learning and driving in public traffic I've spent listening to Sugar's album SWEETEST. And may thunder strike me if this band isn't one of the best Visual kei has to offer. Seriously their music simply takes you to another place, it really makes up a great mood and all of the members are excellent musicians. I can't count the times I've gasped when I've heard a glimmering guitar riff from SIZNA, the brilliant bass lines by Shingo in Blossom (though back then they still had Koto on the bass but Shingo's not bad either, especially if you listen to antlion and ruddy afterglow singles), drummed with pencils on my legs while listening to the addictive drumming by Atsuto or got intoxicated by Loki's wonderful singing. I'm telling you I'll get real diabetes if I continue to listen to Sugar's music as much as I do know.
Dammit just thinking about their album SWEETEST and their wonderful music makes me want to listen to them. What can I say, I'm hopelessly addicted to their music I admit. I even rewarded myself by watching the high quality video of Yokusou. Why don't you watch it also? Though you should be warned of Loki flashing his well built abs in front of us
Okay enough of Sugar before I go crazy!!!!
Oh and I have also watched some other PV's like....
Kagrra's Uzu which is nice and decent and proves my theory that Isshi is in fact an evil japanese Oni demon who uses it's god-given beautiful voice to seduce young girls and later devour them. Soo true....
I also watched the UNCENSORED version of Dir en grey's OBSCURE which counts as my favorite Dir en grey PV. The uncensored version is really extreme and gross. I mean the censored version was horrid enough, but put even more gruesome and morbid stuff inside and you get total disturbing madness of a PV. I love it.
Date released: 10.9.2008.
Track list
1.渦 (Uzu) [PV]
2.鬼灯 (Hoozuki)
3.向日葵 (Himawari)
4.四月一日 (Shigatsu Tsuitachi)
Uzu (Spiral) is like the first single by Kagrra, since... well... Utakata?!!! My god! Well the guys have recently settled to release albums without any announcing singles, but Uzu is special since almost all of the songs from the single are being used as tunes for some J-dramas.
And I must say that Uzu is almost a perfect single with each of the tracks having their strong points. Uzu is marvelous, very dramatically sounding track with excellent guitar work (oh the epic solo would have been perfect if it wasn't for a very strange vibrato thing) and beautiful mood. Isshi's voice is as always fascinating and pretty much well covered up by the instruments. This is probably the most dramatic and in a way epic track since Unmei no ito from Shizuku. Fantastic!
While Uzu beats Hoozuki in guitar terms, Hoozuki has definitely got a better, more beautiful refrain whose lightness and beauty simply forces you to sing along Isshi's feather-light and fragile voice. Hoozuki is really relaxing and beautifully composed and it showes the band's ability to deliver very delicate and artistic tunes.
And now we come to the almost in the perfect part... Well if it stayed only on Uzu and Hoozuki it would be probably the top single this band has released. But unfortunately something simply just doesn't sound right at Himawari. It's like Shigatsu Tsuitachi crashed with the GazettE's GENTLE LIE (in terms of summery, semi funk guitars and upbeat chorus). Isshi's voice is very exposed in this song, revealing his singing flaws. Don't get me wrong, I truly love him as a vocalist, but he's better in middle registers rather than his signature high ones where his singing get's a slightly squealy and nasal sound (even on 1:22~1:24 part of the song you can hear his voice break). Himawari isn't their worst piece, just it isn't as good as Uzu or Hoozuki. As a bonus you get Shigatsu Tsuitachi, a happy and light, pop-rock spring piece from the album Core.
So in short, Uzu is a Neo Japanesque little masterpiece with B-sides you could live without (unless you're a hardcore fan).
Baku hits second issue! Yeah!
So again I've had fun and haste in making this issue but I believe it has come out quite well (though a bit compressed in article space and similar). I had to hasten up with this issue, but the next issue will probably be widen up to 3 pages or more. So look forward to it. Right now enjoy Baku!
The boys have not just released a new single this month but they have also toured the world going from Europe all the way up to America. I am certain that some of the Baku readers have been a part of this tour. To support Ayabie and to honor their achievements in this month Baku featured them as a cover artist.
But two more bands made it to the cover. The J-rock stars Kagrra,, who will certainly mark the summer both in Europe and Japan, and the jazz-rockers from Sugar. Sugar turned out to be the discovery of the month and as such they are this month's featured artist in Baku.
This time Baku had even more music reviews that really took the most space out of the mag. But in the next issue I'll make sure there is enough space for everything so the whole magazine won't look as a frontal crash of various articles.
Single: chariots - 独 ☆☆☆
Album: Nightmare - Killer Show ☆☆☆☆
Single: born - [-tHiNk-] ☆☆☆
Single: since1889 - DIABOLOS ☆☆☆
Single: 彩冷える - ミカヅキノキセキ ☆☆☆
RELEASE OF THE MONTH
Single: Sugar - antlion ☆☆☆☆
OHP: Sugar
Visunavi profile
Sugar on Rockerica
Founded: 2005.
Label: Graveyard Records
Status: Indie
Vocal: LOKI; Guitar: SIZNA; Bass: 真悟 (Shingo); Drums: 篤人 (Atsuto)
D'espairsRay - BRILLIANT
Even tough D'espairsRay have said that there won't be a new PV, it looks like they have changed their minds. Partially...
BRILLIANT PV is actually the live footage of this songs performance used as a PV. Though not even half as spectacular as the song itself the PV is still decent and shows how brilliantly D'espairsRay perform and put their heart and soul into it.
I have also reviewed this PV whose review and a few screencaps can be seen here.
Hopefully the guys will make a flashy, hardcore PV for their upcoming single KAMIKAZE. D'espairsRay rarely do have PV's but all of them (except this one) and mindblowing. So I'm wondering which is your favorite D'espairsRay PV? Mine is definitely Garnet :) because the PV perfectly fits the song and shows the disturbing, true side of Visual kei.
Listen to the Top 5 songs of the month
(okay momentary not, because I have got limited bandwidth and I can't upload them all but I will try to upload them on summer one day when I go to my dad's place where there is unlimited bandwidth internet. Sorry)
1. Sugar - Blossom
2. Sugar - Danshou to kuroneko
3. Nightmare - Djainism Batsu
4. Nightmare - TrickSTAR
5. Since1889 - celtic
Get the rest of the Baku here! Just click on the images and view them in original size. You may notice that the images are a bit bigger, I've made them like that so you can read Baku easier. And as always I look forward to your comments, suggestions, feedback, ideas and similar. Enjoy this issue of Baku.
As from today up to 12.7.2008. I won't post anything on Rockerica because I have to learn and I really don't have time to spend here. But after the short hiatus I will post reviews and everything else from this two week period. Thank you for your understanding and support.
And while I'm here please wish me luck in my entry exams for medicine college. If I pass I'll celebrate it, of course, here on Rockerica. I'll make a huge party on this site and you all are invited to party with me.
Till next time! ジャーネー!
Asari.
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.
Date released: 9.1.2008.
Track list
1. 彩の讃歌 (Irodori no sanka) [PV]
2. 雨情 (Ujou)
3. 四月一日(Shigatsu tsuitachi)
4. 斬帝 (Guilty)
5. 忘却の果ての凍えた孤独 (Boukyaku no kogoeta kodoku)
6. 賽 (Sai)
7. 風の記憶 (Kaze no kioku)
8. 神風 (Kamikaze)
9. 雪恋詩 (Yuki koi uta)
10. 新・百鬼夜行 (Shin Hyakkiyakou)
Kagrra,'s fifth album did surprise already in the announcement because of the English title and everybody knows that Kagrra, are hardcore Japan freaks in whose songs you won't find a single foreign word other than Japanese. So the eye stinging title really surprises.
Core is a classical wonderful Kagrra, album where all the songs are pure beauty and neo Japanesque at it's best. But just because it's beautiful it doesn't mean it's perfect. Interesting is the composition and order of the tracks on the album.
The uneven numbered tracks are typical Kagrra, wide and beautiful track with and overall Japanese sound to it, basically songs that will satisfy the most hardcore Kagrra, sound fans. Such tracks are the Utakata resembling Irodori no sanka, the catchy and yet overly "sweet" Shigatsu Tsuitachi, the potential sentimental and emotional classic Boukyaku no kogoeta kodoku and the quite forgettable yet nice Kaze no Kioku and Yuki koi uta. Those are all songs you would label as "pretty" but they are just something we hear from Kagrra, every time we play their albums. Not to mention you'll forget the half of them right after listening.
On the opposite, the evenly numbered tracks are real surprises, sound new, original, refreshing and just about more exciting than anything Kagrra, has released in like 2 years. Starting off with the most funky Kagrra, and maybe wider in Visual kei song ever Ujou you'll notice the new sound borders and great creativity while Isshi blasts with self-confident rock star singing. Even the English titled track (when you read the kanji you get actually guilty) Guilty shows great refreshing sound while combining the refrain that takes the best melodies from the ~San~ album. Excitement rises even more with the upbeat festival-like song Sai that would make everyone stand up, take a fan and dance around. Although a bit weak on the verses and passages, Kamikaze has got a great refrain and even ironically reminds on GazettE at some parts, just like other even Kagrra, songs.
The absolute highlight of the entire album is the last song Shin Hyakkiyakou and is somewhat as a sequel of the legendary song Hyakkiyakou. The sharp guitar sound in combined with a bit sinister melody, background growling and Isshi's fantastic voice this song beats most of the recent Kagrra, songs around.
So this album is about half conservative Kagrra, songs and another half are the excellent new and original songs, so this album will satisfy old as well new fans. More to say the album impresses with every further listening. Overall it is better than the last years Shizuku album, but still a weaker release than the legendary albums ~San~ and Miyako. But it's still a bit of an improvement.
I was reading my RSS feeds as usual and I came across an interesting news from PS Company.
Kagrra, is going to release and new album on 9.1.2008.
I was actually wondering when the new album/single/whatever by Kagrra, will be released and I'm glad they are releasing something...
But a thing did make me wonder.....
The new album is called Core. And as far as I know Core is an ENGLISH word. This may seem of no importance to those who haven't listened or have a biti listened to Kagrra, but to me this is really really strange.
Kagrra, is a band that is known (compared to modern J-rock and Visual kei fans) to have songs and song titles EXCLUSIVELY on JAPANESE. As hard as you try you will never hear not a word out of any other language but Japanese in their songs.
For a hardcore pure Japanese band like Kagrra, this is really, really surprising. Does that mean that there is a possiblity that we will hear Isshi say something or sing on English? Has the performance in America on J-rock Revolution influenced the band to widthen it's boarders to the whole world? Am I really being paranoid about a meaningless thing?
Well anyway it is for us to sit and wait. Till further news you can visit the redesigned official homepage of Kagrra, which presents the band in even more normal clothes.
As you all know the school will start soon and everybody needs to get prepared for school, right? Besides books, notebooks, pencils, pens etc... one of the essential school accessories is a pen case (or whatever it is called on English).
I present you.... My Visual kei pen case!!!
So the sewing went pretty well even if my sewing technique was awful. My mom laughed when she saw the way I saw the logos but was also fascinated by how good I made the logos (Even though she doesn't like Visual kei).
I did had some troubles with sewing but it went well. The strange thing was the fact that the simpler the logo the harder it was to sew it! Really!!!
This is the back of my pen case! I had the most work with it but I like it! Maybe more than the front side because the logos came out really well.
The back of the pen case had logos of bands Girugämesh, D'espairsRay, alice nine. and Kagrra,. These logos really looked cool and even when they were sketches they seemed really awesome! Now once they are sewn in they rock!
I can't decide which logo is the coolest on the behind because they all look pretty good, but I think the D'espairsRay logo came out the most authentic.
But all in all it came out really, reallly, goooooooood!! And it wasn't so hard to do it. If I , who have got extreme trembling hands and suck at any hand job imaginable, have done it then everybody can do it! All you need is a needle, some thread, free time and good ideas.
I bet you all could do it better than me!
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