It is completely normal for a person to grow out of a music scene or genre, so I personally do not see why everyone seems to be attacking the original poster. I myself have grown out of a variety of music scenes for eventually thinking it to be silly or just not my game anymore. Everyone has at some point.
Why should anyone need to feel bad about growing out of a music genre? That's like feeling bad about not watching Barney anymore. Different things are bound to appeal to you at different points in your life.
OMG. Dude, same here, that was an epic PPV!! Definitely worth my subscription to WWE Network!! That was WAY FUCKING BETTER than I had ever predicted......omfg....*__*
And thanks, I worked pretty hard on it, lawl ;p
Lin has been one of those bands that I've love / hated since they started. They're like that childhood friend you were super close with growing up that started doing stupid shit once they got to college--all you can do is really watch and hang out with them in small doses because there's not a whole lot of the friend you once knew left. After some fighting, nights up pondering over regrets, and self reflection, you decided to stop being upset and realize he now has his own life to lead and it is time to, for the most part, part ways while cherishing the good times that weren't tarnished.
But then he started to get his act together: his grades went up, he started to dress better, no more coming home at 6:45 am caked in his own vomit, he's been hanging out with less douche-y people, and he's even got some job prospects lined up for after graduation. That friend you once had is starting to come back and you no longer count the seconds during each interaction you have with him. In fact, you've even started to look forward to catching up with him. Everyone has some sort of hot mess phase, but maybe this guy managed to pull himself out...
This allegory is how I feel about "Chaotic Resistance." It's taken all of Lin's idiosyncrasies and wraps them up in new, shiny, paper and presents them as a gift to those who've stuck through their awkward, self discovery, period (Are we Phantasmagoria? Are we Laputa??? Synth Chariots?????). It is hard to ignore that this 2nd line up does in fact bring much more elaborate guitar work, shifts their genre more towards the cheesy gothic symphonic metal that Phantasmagoria was, and definitely ups the effort put into the synthesizer, but when comparing to their first period it really doesn't seem as different as I originally thought on first listen. For example, their first single "Sacred Xanadu" is actually very similar to their first period aside from the three shifts I mentioned earlier--they still have their Laputa-ish rockabilly synth-rock twang to their songs, but that accent is further buried under Mizaly's prominent (and albeit overbearing) signature style.
To simply dismiss this single as more "Megaromania leftovers" shows a lack of attention and exposes an already jaded disposition because it completely glosses over how much the group has improved even in just the very very small span of just two singles. Take the title track, for example: there is fantastic use of different forms of phrasing throughout each part of the song and they all blend together well. Part of what makes a song that's less straightforward "good" is how each of the parts are phrased into each other. The acoustic guitar over the brisk drumming that leads into a pipe organ harmony, followed by a gut punchingly soulful chorus would not work had the transitions between the addition and removal of the parts not been carefully put together. On top of the phrasing and continuity, this song also has a well crafter guitar solo that ends uniquely, which is a big deal for vkei that tends to rely on playing it safe; I really dig the super exposed triplet pattern of the lead guitar at the end of solo before the last rehash of the chorus and outro melody.
"Persecution Complex," or as I like to refer to as "Ode to Tumblr," was actually the low point of this single for me but only because I don't always like slower melancholy songs unless there's a phenomenal hook (spoilers, there isn't here). It is one of their "heavier" songs in the sense that the guitars are generally in a lower register and the bass is very prominent while the synthesizer is generally dystopian sounding. This atmosphere is then lost in the chorus, which returns to "~HOLD ME AS I SING IN THE RAIN~" sadness (think Mikansei to Guilt). Apart from being generally unremarkable, this song is still a prime example of how coherent song writing can stop Lin from having a discography that's 75% duds.
The following song took me by surprise. "Schwarz Vrain" is Phantasmagoria-tier synth x100 with a simple melody that is the backbone for the entire tune, as it plays almost constantly throughout. The real surprise here is that the harsh vocals here make Sui sound almost exactly like Riku. Somewhere on MH is a thread that says that Vkei vocalists single with an accent and tone on purpose, so I am under the impression that this song shows what Sui sounds like without the eye liner. While this song is very repetitive, it holds its place well in the single and is my 2nd favorite on the CD. I like the aggression of the verses and how it transitions to more gentle, yet still firmly powerful, chorus. "Schwarz Vrain" has gotten mixed reactions thus far, but I can almost promise it was meant to be a killer live track which doesn't always translate well to a CD. Sorry Kamijo, but Lin outdid you in the "HEBI INDUSTRIAL B-SAIIIIIIIDO" department this year.
The last song on the single, "Sincerely" is fairly safe for Lin, but still good. I do not agree with OP in classifying it as a ballad at all, however. I also do not agree that it is a "typical Megaromania song" either. Actually, out of the whole single, this song here is the most first period Lin song they've done so far! The verses, yes, are akin to later Megaromania softer rock songs (possibly off of their pirate-themed album), but the synthesizer here is definitely what early Lin was all about. What's cool though is that it sounds kind of like a modern rendition of a Sega Game Gear game sound track. The most interesting thing I found about "Sincerely" is that it is essentially a reimagination of Phantasmagoria's "幻想曲～Eternal Silence～." Instead of "I wish...heaven" the song starts off with "I wish fo-e-ba." The guitar solo even has a homage to ES'. With that being said, the tempo and mood of "Sincerely" is much more lively, but at least Kisaki is realizing what elements he's worked with in the past that have been well received by fans.
All in all, this is a sprint in the correct direction for Lin. Be as butthurt as you want that Riku is no longer in the band, but pretending like their ratio of 1 great to 7 trash songs was an appropriate expectation for quality is just wrong. Instead of resting on his laurels, Kisaki is now realizing that he can use what has worked well before and apply it in a modern context. Yes, there's a lot of elements being pulled back from Phantasmagoria going on here, but they're being used to create something new instead of just herding Megaromania's fanbase up for some quick cash. Basically, this is confirmation that Chariots was an awful idea. In just 6 songs, this band has become very cohesive, powerful, and hopefully vigilant to becoming stagnant. I also think the year or so break was a great way to start fresh for everyone involved--Yushi's drumming is less predictable, Kisaki's bass lines are actually audible and his synth is less tacky, Mizaly's weave is more natural and he is learning how to be a virtuoso without steam rolling over the rest of the group, and Sui's vocals have gotten so much cleaner--less modulation, less awkward trailing at the end of a phrase, and his harmonization adds to the song rather than acting like calamine lotion over an obvious blemish.
As stated above, I'm giving this release 4.5 stars out of 5. Definitely one of my favorite releases of this year and was completely blown away by how much they've improved. Even if all of the songs on this CD had some flaws, I could forgive them in recognition to what happens when effort is actually applied to reinventing yourself.
First of all, it's not Barbie but a fashion doll in similar size to Barbie. Barbie is licensed product of Mattel.
This doll, Lammily was produced only because people donated money for it. More than 3000 dolls were sold, so clearly people want this doll to exist. I was one of those people who donated, bought 3 of them, and can't wait to receive them.
I'm a doll collector, so I'm happy that such doll as Lammily was created. Hopefully there will be more to come - shorter and taller, slimmer and fatter , bald and hairy dolls, in both genders and all races. I love Barbies, but I want to have possibility to buy dolls with different body sizes too.
This acne, scars and cellulite are just a stickers, sold separatelly. Again, for me, a doll collector who is making photostories its a great it, it's just pity those stickers looks so unrealistic.
Mitht Vo.白(haku) has been absent at their live at Ikebukuro EDGE at 2014/11/06 without informing other members, and other members have lost contact with him after then
hitsuji-hime got a reaction from -timecapsule- in ドレミ團(doremidan) revival
hitsuji-hime got a reaction from Tetora in random thoughts thread
hitsuji-hime got a reaction from melmo382 in The new ‘Normal Barbie’ has an average woman’s proportions, and sticker packs with cellulite, freckles, and acne.