5 posts tagged “merry”
Date released: 3.5.2008.
Track list
1. Midnight Shangrila
2. 空っぽな唄~final cut~ (Karappo na uta～final cut～)
I actually thought this was a regular single, but found out later it's a single that was sold at Yokohama Bunka Taiikukan live or something (though that won't stop real Merry fans on getting their hands on it). Still I'll take the honor (or not) to review this "special" single.
Remember the Merry cover of LUNA SEA's song PRECIOUS... that was released on the LUNA SEA tribute album. You know the song that was basically audioraping-turn-fun. Midnight Shangri-la takes a floor up. Midnight Shangri-la is the probably most hysterical song I've ever heard, turning into three and a half minutes of violent noise enough to damage your hearing. Hey, take all the screaming Kyo from Dir en grey has done in their songs and pack it into one song (on the screaming parts Gara even beats Kyo when it comes to sky high pitched screams) with a hint of paranoid hysteria and concentrated insanity and viola! You get a "song" (mildly speaking). In some strange and unusual way, I actually like Merry when they are sounding like having a seizure. And the yeah,yeah,yeah,yeeeaah,yeah! is quite catchy.
Karappo na uta was the closing song on their album nu chemical rethoric and the ~final cut~ version can be described as better. Gara's vocals sound very clear and expressing (though after Midnight Shangri-la practically everything sounds good). The song has got a very clean, almost sterile production, twittering high-pitched riffs and a very good and sharp refrain that will make you sing a long (with a additional vocal provided probably by one of the guitarists whose name I don't know nor care about). Average Merry but decent.
So either if you love ear-violence or the original Karappo na uta or both, give a shot at this single. Merry again managed to deliver their highly recognizable yet slightly mediocre sound.
Date released: 16.4.2008.
Track list
1. 閉ざされた楽園 (Tozasareta Rakuen) [PV] [Listen]
2. 喜劇のタブー (Kigeki no Taboo) [Listen]
3. ト・ロ・ケ・テ・ル (TOROKETERU) [Listen]
As stated on Visuanavi Tozasareta Rakuen is Merry's sixth single up to date and their latest release after the last year's album M.E.R.R.Y.
Overall this single has got a somewhat restrained, hesitated feel to it. It is loud, it has got Gara's moan/screams, it is vibrant etc... but well not as Merry as it could be. Tozasareta Rakuen is another hasty Merry song similar to sweet powder with very interesting bridges but unfortunately a simple and annoying Merry chorus that mostly screws up every potentially interesting song.
Kigeki no Taboo is the best song on the single, with driving, rock'n'roll riffs that carry the mood and tension of the song and that are probably the best part of it. I ended up liking the song, even though I can't really explain why, it's not revolutionary, it's not mindblowing, the chorus doesn't fit it, but still I like it. Thanks to the guitar riffs.
TOROKETERU is a somewhat mixture of the mesmerizing orientalish riffs and aloof chanting from Seinen himitsu kurabu, and the obscure moshing crazyness of Charlie, being just as hysterical on the bridges as the both. The refrain sounds pretty solid, short, melodic, nice. But yet again brings nothing new, but makes good use of the known.
In a way I can say that this single is probably the best (read: Good enough to force me to review it unlike some of the former singles) I've heard and not as nearly as annoying as Komorei ga boku wo sagashiteru or Blind Romance, but still leaves out a faint and restrained feel making it not especially overwhelming also. But still worth a listen if you're into Merry and because of Kigeki no Taboo.
Date released: 19.12.2007.
Artist and track list
1. ムック (MUCC) - Dejavu
2. abingdon boys school - Sweetest Coma Again
3. 玉置成実 (Tamaki Nami) - STORM
4. メリー (Merry) - PRECIOUS…
5. HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR - ROSIER
6. 森重樹一(ZIGGY) (Morishige Juichi) - I for You
7. LM.C - IN MY DREAM(WITH SHIVER)
8. YU-KI & DJ KOO from TRF - END OF SORROW
9. kannivalism - LOVE SONG
10. Marty Friedman VS LEGEND feat. SHINICHIRO SUZUKI - SHINE
11. シド (Sid) - WISH
12. 土屋昌巳 (Tsuchiya Masami) - MOON
The announced Luna Sea tribute album did cause a bit of a hype. Initially it had a different track list and some different artists, so the different track list did came as a surprise.
To warn you at the very beginning. This tribute album is half decent and half blamsphery. Some of the songs really manage to bring out the positive and good parts of Luna Sea songs, while others makes you wanna smack your head upon a wall from the blaspheming abomination made of Luna Sea songs.
Starting off with one of the best covers on this album, MUCC manages to capture the spirit of the great song Dejavu, although it sounds a bit like they have taken the score book and played by it. Surprisingly, abingdon boys school has made for me personally irritating song Sweetest Coma again into an energetic and a bit harder than the original song.
Another one of my favorites on the album are HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR with their interesting interpretation of Rosier. The split vocals do emphasize the refrain and passages. And SID shines on the cool cover of WISH that is as charming and maybe even more than the original.
On the other side the Europop massacre of STORM by Nami Tamaki that is great in instrumental parts, but terrible at the refrain and the electric LSD trip of LM.Cs version of IN MY DREAM count to the songs that makes me wonder just how much Sugizo and co. are regretting the fact to let their songs get so ruined. Also Merry turning Precious... into a violent audioraping may not suit everyones taste, but to me it is one of the best songs on this album and basically one of the best songs Merry ever preformed.
Another minus to the album are the long, repetitive and god forbid boring ballads such as I for you and Love song that last way too long and don't have any highlights for the listener to catch onto. And the ambiental experiment such as END OF SORROW as well as the nice and calm SHINE (Where the guitarist of Megadeath Marty Friedman performs) represent decent songs, but which you'll forget right after listening.
The album closes with an epic, velvety version of the legendary song Moon. Masami Tsuchiyas voice is warm, velvety and captures the mysterious and wast atmosphere of this song.
So in general... If you're a fan of Luna Sea or any other artist listed here on this album, check it out. Others avoid before it screws up your perception of this great band. The bad artist and track choice make this album a two-sided blade that you'll either adore or hate.
Track list
1. M.E.R.R.Y.MARCH～デンヱンカウキヤウクミキヨク～ (M.E.R.R.Y.MARCH ~Denwenkukiyaukumikuyoku~)
2. 歌声喫茶『モダン』(Utagoe kissa [Modern])
3. Blind Romance [PV]
4. 青年秘密倶楽部 (Seinen himitsu kurabu)
5. ルルルラララ (Lulululalala)
6. 日ノ出町、街角ツンデレラ～2番ホーム篇～ (Hi no demachi, machikado Tsunderera ~2ban home hen~)
7. 最果てのパレード (Saihate no parade) [PV]
8. コックドール・ママ (Coq d’Or Mama)
9. sweet powder [PV]
10. ひらひらとんでる。(Hirahira tonderu.)
11. ラストスノー (Last snow)
12. 木洩れ日が僕を探してる・・・(Komorebi ga boku wo sagahiteru…) [PV]
13. ポエジー (Poetry)
Merry is one of the bands I can't listen anytime, it really depends on my mood. Firstly of all because the tend to sound very loud and harsh. They do have a few songs I personally like a lot, but most of the time they sound just too harsh. But unlike their previous releases I must say that I found M.E.R.R.Y. album quite interesting and entertaining.
Besides the already released songs such as Blind Romance, harmonica spiced but rather monotone Hi no demachi..., great Saihate no Parade and Komorebi ga boku wo sagashiteru, the new songs on the album really shine.
Strating off with a typical Merry-sound but yet a bit different Utagoe kissa "Modern" you will already notice how refreshing the new songs seem to the older ones. Seinen himitsu kurabu is an oriental aggressive mosh-orgy while having a very catchy refrain and the crazy titled Lulululalala is one of the best Merry songs to date! Coq d’Or Mama can be described as an interesting mix of chaos and sweet powder seems as something you might have heard from Merry at first, but blows away with a great transition to refrain.
Also one of my favorite songs on the album is Hirahira tonderu an energy and emotion charged ballad with a great melody. The last few songs on the album are a bit monotone and less appealing, but still ok.
So overall I must admit that M.E.R.R.Y. is one of Merrys better albums with a few great highlights. It shows that the band has got enough creative energy to create original songs while remaining loyal to their style. Merry fans should definitely check this album out, while others should give a listen mostly because of the couple of songs that may count to one of the better this year.
Artist and song list
1. アリス九號. (alice nine.) - WHITE PRAYER
2. the GazettE - HYENA
3. シド (SID) - 紫陽花 (Ajisai)
4. jealkb - 黒い砂漠 (Kuroi sabaku)
5. ナイトメア (Nightmare) - the WORLD
6. Plastic Tree - ザザ降り、ザザ鳴り。(Zaza furi, zaza nari.)
7. ムック (MUCC) - チェインリング (Chain ring)
8. メリー (Merry) - 木漏れ日が僕を探してる・・・(Komorebi ga boku wo sagashiteru…)
All in all I think it was a great event and that everybody who participated and watched was probably in euphoria for days. This event has shown that Visual kei is becoming an important movement in Japanese rock music and that it's popularity is not only confined to Japan but is spreading around worldwide.
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