beni

CAT5's Favorite International Releases of 2014






Hours Were The Birds by Adrianne Lenker
 
Sample: Lighthouse

 This was a pretty random bandcamp discovery iirc. I've always been a sucker for
  sweet female vocals in folk/singer-songwriter music, and this is the album that most
thoroughly fulfilled that need for me this year. Obscure, but good.


Totem by Bâton Rouge
 
Sample: Train De Nuit

French emo band Baton Rouge's first album Fragments D'eux Mêmes was
 one of my favorites back in 2011 - it was intense, melodic, and straight to
the point. Train De Nuit is an entirely different beast, though. It's more
fleshed-out, and the melodies take their time to build, but when
everything finally clicks, it's a rewarding listen


Earthbeat by Be Forest
 
Sample: Airwaves

One of my more fortuitous discoveries from hanging out on plug.dj.
Forest plays a brand of dream-pop that often floats off into a brume of shoegaze,
yet is constantly anchored by earthy, commanding drums. One of those
albums that I can turn on and just be swept away by the atmosphere 
without having to listen too intently.


Black Messiah by D'Angelo
 
Sample: Ain't That Easy

It's been 14 year's since D'Angelo's last album, and although I was
probably a bit too young to appreciate his music at that time (age 13),
the "Black Messiah" is a more than welcome addition to my playlist now.
Gritty, organic soul music that easily reminds me of classics like
Al Green and even Prince.


Hard Believer by Fink
 
Sample: Pilgrim

Fink's style of soulful/bluesy folk tunes were originally pretty friendly and
easily digestible, but over the years his sound has become progressively darker
and experimental around the edges. Hard Believer continues this trend,
and while some of the songs get a bit too self-indulgent, repeat listens have
revealed to me that almost each track works well on it's own instead of 
in the convoluted context of the album.


LP1 by FKA twigs
 
Sample: Two Weeks

I actually didn't expect to like FKA twigs. I thought she'd be another kelela -
nice vocals over crappy, sparse beats - and then pegged as some glorious
"experimental r&b" goddess. I'm glad I was wrong. The production on LP1 
is actually the most interesting thing about it. It's got all of the minimalistic
qualities of trap-influenced r&b, but there's an idm-like ingenuity
behind it all. Definitely an album better appreciated in headphones 
or with a good set of speakers.


Chiaroscuro by I Break Horses
 
Sample: Faith

I haven't gotten around to hearing this duo's first album yet, and I often see
them described as "electrogaze" (electronic shoegaze), but I'd describe
this album a bit differently. It sounds more to me like dark, hazy electrpop with
an affinity for the 80's. Whatever you wanna call it, it's a sound that I've 
found myself more drawn towards this year.


You Can Do Better by Johnny Foreigner
 
Sample: In Capitals

Hailing from England, Johnny Foreigner play raw, energetic, and straightfoward 
  indie-rock with punk spirit. It's an album I like to throw on when I want to hear
something bright and uplifting, but that also rocks at the same time.


Moving On by Kan Wakan
 
Sample: Sawdust

 Cinematic pop music with smoky female vocals and an emphasis on live
instrumentation? Always a good recipe in my book, and Kan Wakan
   made wonderful use of those ingredients. Unfortunately (or fortunately?),
this album is a one-off, as vocalist Kristianne Bautista is no longer in the band.


My Little Ghost by Kidkanevil
 
Sample: All Is Not Lost (feat. Cuushe & Cokiyu)

If everything about this release seems very "Japanese" to you - from 
 the album cover to the featured artists - then you're not far off the mark.
My Little Ghost was released through the Japanese music label flau, although
some ppl might associate Kidkanevil more easily with his role in the UK
electronic/trip-hop band Stateless. Interestingly, My Little Ghost is more in 
 the realm of ambient, IDM, and glitch than it is Kidkanevil's favored
genre of hip hop. He absolutely excels at these other styles, though.


Across by Kilo Kish
 
Sample: Curious

If I had to offer an American equivalent to Japanese artists like daoko
or Izumi Macra, then Kilo Kish would be the first to come to mind. She
creates the same kind of innocent-sounding alternative hip hop and employs
a similarly careless and unassuming flow. She also "sings" without really
having a singing voice (just like the Japanese artists i just mentioned), 
but it's all done very charmingly. The production is super chill too.


The Golden Echo by Kimbra
 
Sample: Madouse

 When the The Golden Echo came out, I was fortunate enough to listen to
it along with , and since we were both already fans, our
hype was over 9000. The Golden Echo completely surpassed all of my
expectations. Kimbra's ability to hop from style to style (with style) -
whether it's trap, disco, or psychedelic soul-influenced - is on par with 
her contemporary Janelle Monáe.


Nabuma Rubberband by Little Dragon
 
Sample: Let Go

I've been stalking following Yukimi Nagano ever since I first heard her soulful
croon back in 2006 via her various jazz/nu-jazz collaborations. When I
discovered she had a band called Little Dragon in 2007, I was pretty excited.
Although that quickly devolved into utter disappointment upon hearing 
Little Dragon's debut album - sparse and awkward electronic music that just
made you uncomfortable listening to it. Fast-forward 7 years and 4
albums later - LITTLE DRAGON FINALLY HAS FINALLY GOTTEN IT RIGHT.
Yukimi's vocals are still the highlight, but this time the music and 
songwriting are equally excellent.


The Sky as Well as Space by Memory Map
 
Sample: Superhuman Child

  Memory Map is actually associated with Japan's Zankyo records, so it should
  come as no surprise that these guys play the kind of technical and inventive
 indie-rock that would be welcome there. I'm actually pretty surprised at how
obscure this band seems to be and the fact that I've never seen any 
of my indie buddies mention 'em before.


Composite by Monogrenade
 
Sample: L'aimant

Gorgeous orchestral indie-rock/pop from the French-Canadian ensemble
Monogrenade. This is their 2nd album after 2011's Tantale, 
and it's even better. Super lush soundscapes and impossibly chill.


Graveyard Whistling EP by Nothing But Thieves
 
Sample: Itch

I'm pretty shocked this band isn't bigger. They're signed to a major label (RCA),
but it doesn't look like they've made any significant waves yet. Whatever the
case, their songwriting is top-notch when it comes to pop-rock and their
vocalist has a uniquely piercing croon. Not sure how they're received 
in the UK, but I can imagine this boding well in the American mainstream.


OOM VELT by Salt Cathedral
 
Sample: Holy Soul

Just last year Salt Cathedral were a whimsical, math-rock band, but they've
since lost 3 members and have continued as an electronic duo. Their
sound has translated extremely well, mostly thanks to the ethereal vocals 
of Juliana Ronderos; which really carries the band.


Maui Tears by Sleepy Sun
 
Sample: The Lane

Spaced-out and voluminous psychedelic-rock from California. Maui Tears is
the band's 4th album and is hands down my favorite thus far. What I enjoy
the most here is how immersive the music is while still remaining accessible 
and not getting lost within itself.


Early Riser by Taylor McFerrin
 
Sample: Already There (feat. Robert Glasper & Thundercat)

First album from producer/multi-instrumentalist Taylor McFerrin out on
Brainfeeder - the same label as beatsmiths like Flying Lotus, Tokimonsta,
Teebs, etc. Super chill electronic/broken beat with jazzy overtones; featuring
a handful of guest vocalists and musicians. Early Riser is ridiculously 
smooth and might be one of the most flawlessly flowing albums I've ever heard.


Sun Structures by Temples
 
Sample: Colours To Life

Temples are a 60's psychedelic-rock revivalist band that play the style
to the letter. They don't offer a refreshing take on the genre and they don't
attempt to redefine the rules, but nonetheless, Sun Structures has 
thoroughly sated my ears this year.


Follow the Path by The Shaolin Afronauts
 
Sample: To the Water

 To the water is a behemoth double album with the first disc full of awesome
afrobeat grooves and the 2nd disc a more subdued venture into eastern
flavored funk that wouldn't be out of place in a 70's kung-fu flick. With 21 
tracks in total, I wouldn't recommend listening to both discs in one sitting.


Foreign Languages by tide/edit
 
Sample: Odd & Even

Ironically, some of the best post/math-rock bands have been coming out
of almost every other Asian country but Japan lately - yet most of
these newcomers have been inspired by Japan's scene. Such is the 
case with tide/edit from the Philippines who site toe as a major influence.


Manipulator by Ty Segall
 
Sample: The Crawler

I've always been attracted to rock music that draws from the psychedelic
and stoner sounds of the 60's and 70's, and Ty Segall's Manipulator
is like an aural smorgasbord of those eras. At 17 tracks long, the album
might appear to blend together during protracted listens, but I've found 
myself constantly discovering new jams upon revisits.


Warpaint by Warpaint
 
Sample: Biggy

Warpaint caught my attention back in 2010 on their first album The Fool,
but they weren't able to sustain it through an entire album. And while
their sound still manages to avoid being easily pigeonholed, the band's
songwriting has become somewhat less elusive and more viable than 
before. Not a challenging listen at all, but a definite grower.


Deep Fantasy by White Lung
 
Sample: Face Down

@Jigsaw9 first introduced me to White Lung with their album
back in 2012 and they've returned bigger and better than ever on 
Deep Fantasy. Still the intense female-fronted punk band with 
razor-wire riffage that I fell in love with.

I'm curious what everyone's favorite music videos were for 2014? I've been running a jrock video blog for a couple of years now and I figured I'd give a short list of the top 10 most popular from there, and everyone else could share their favorites too? Feel free to talk about the choices and posts too!
 
# 10. Silent Siren - “Lucky Girl” 
# 09. SuG - “B.A.B.Y.”
# 08. kinoko teikoku - “CHRONOSTASIS”
# 07. DADAROMA - “oboreru sakana”
# 06. BIOSPHIA - “SUISEN”
# 05. Lycaon - “Akujo no bishou”
# 04. coldrain - “You Lie”
# 03. MEJIBRAY - "RAVEN"
# 02. TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA - “Wake Up! feat. ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION”
# 01. Wagakki Band - “Senbonzakura”
 
The number one video pretty much smashed everything else we posted this year with over 400 reblogs. But Tokyo Ska was a really strong second with over 100+! But I think Wagakki Band is a good top to the list because the pv really was quite beautiful. (o_~)

I added the link to the page to the announcements so it's always easily accessible. If anyone wants to join the group, contact one of the moderators, @allisapp or @paradoxal  via PM and one of us should be able to add you.

This is also why they have a blue name, so congratulate them for coming up with an awesome suggestion.

It lives!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/614639011975626/

Japanese: Metal/Alternative/Hardcore       a crowd of rebellion - Calendula tags: emo, post-hardcore, metalcore  
      ARTEMA - STARGAZER tags: electronicore  
      BABYMETAL - BABYMETAL tags: heavy metal, pop  
      CHRONOMETER - Construction of Destruction tags: electronic, alternative, industrial  
      CRYSTAL LAKE - CUBES tags: hardcore, metalcore  
      FACT - witness tags: post-hardcore  
      Make My Day - Relentless tags: post-hardcore, metalcore  
      SHARK ETHIC - NEVER SAY NEVER tags: hardcore  
      sukekiyo - IMMORTALIS tags: atmospheric rock, alternative  
      wrong city - Induction of Otherside tags: alternative  

Japanese: Visual
 
 
 

BUCK-TICK - 或いはアナーキー tags: gothic rock, industrial rock  
      DuelJewel - Story tags: hard rock, metal  
      girugamesh - gravitation tags: hard rock, alternative metal  
      MUCC - THE END OF THE WORLD tags: rock, alternative  
      NAINE - NEW ANSWER IS NEW ENDING tags: electronic rock  
      NoGoD - Make A New World tags: metal  

Non-Japanese Releases

Top 10

The Bilinda Butchers - HEAVEN
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/thebilindabutchers_zps0bdd85d7.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/thebilindabutchers-heaven225x225_zps79f47ce1.jpg" />



Fear of Men - Loom
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/fearofmen_zps0c1b31dc.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/fearofmen-loom225x225_zps41d65472.jpg" />



Got a Girl - I Love You But I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/gotagirl_zpsbdb0bf24.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/gotagirl-iloveyoubutImustdriveoffthiscliffnow225x225_zps4554ec60.jpg" />



Loop - Flirting With The Universe
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/Loop_zpsb2c387cb.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/loop-flirtingwiththeuniverse225x225_zps038c0dfd.jpg" />



Kimbra - The Golden Echo
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/kimbra_zps557f7205.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/kimbra-thegoldenecho225x225_zpsfff401cc.jpg" />



Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - Slingshot to Heaven
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/margot_zps41dc7454.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/Margotandthenuclearsoandsos-slingshottoheaven225x225_zpsd5ebf9a0.jpg" />



Moodoïd - Le monde Möö
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/moodoid_zps7e01597f.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/moodloidlemondemoo225x225_zpsab87cc95.jpg" />



Noh Salleh - Angin Kencang
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/nohsalleh_zps86626c39.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/nohsallehanginkencangep225x225_zpsbb8ed01f.jpg" />



Scott Bradlee & Postmodern Jukebox - Historical Misappropriations
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/postmodern-jukebox_zps25464f1d.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/postmodernjukebox-historicalmisappropriation225x225_zps033504f2.jpg" />



Sia - 1000 Forms of Fear
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/sia_zpsbed58553.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/sia1000formsoffear225x225_zps2da63d9e.jpg" />


 
 
 
Honorable Mentions

Curtis Harding - Soul Power
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/curtisharding_zpse777f006.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/curtisharding-soulpower_zpsfaa4782e.jpg" />



Daley - Days & Nights
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/daley_zpscce76689.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/daleydaysandnights225x225_zps442e217a.jpg" />



Night Flowers - Night Flowers EP
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/nightflowers_zpsb20e8387.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/nightflowersep225x225_zpsf6b64078.jpg" />



Purson - In the Meantime
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/CD%20cover%20scans%20and%20band%20pics/purson_zps8177e65f.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/CD%20cover%20scans%20and%20band%20pics/pursoninthemeantime_zps2943660d.jpg" />



Rusty Machines - City Lights
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/rustymachines_zps8230ed5e.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/rustymachinescitylightsep225x225_zpsbd4760d4.jpg" />



Sean Nicholas Savage - Bermuda Waterfall
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/seannicholassavage_zps7beee3e3.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/seannicholassavage-bermudawaterfall225x225_zps0112862e.jpg" />



Spazzkid - Promise EP

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/spazzkid_zps9976a69c.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/spazzkid-promiseep225x225_zps39c53feb.jpg" />



Springtime Carnivore - Springtime Carnivore
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/springtimecarnivore_zps8e9ad8b9.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/springtimecarnivorealbum_zps237d04f3.jpg" />



SZA - Z EP
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/SZA_zps32fa75b3.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/SZA-Z225x225_zpsfe864946.jpg" />



TOPS - Picture You Staring
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/tops_zps0d22ab54.png" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/tops-pictureyoustaring225x225_zpscca80705.jpg" />

My year-end list is finally done! This is a collection of my favorite releases of 2014, including a handful of singles. It is always at this point in the year I learn about new/overlooked/dark horse releases from other member's lists, so I look forward to reading those! But as it is, this is very much a list that is reflective of my own tastes. For organizational purposes (/my inability to truly rank releases), within each list, everything is listed in alphabetical order. Hopefully, you'll find a few things that strike your fancy! I did spend a lot of time working on this, so any feedback/comments you have would be very much appreciated! So, without further ado, let's get to it!

Japanese Releases


Top 10

伊集院幸希 (ijuuin yuki) - 月曜日と金曜日 ～Sugar Hi Junnie～
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/ijuuinyuki_zps2b889a04.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/ijuuinyuki-sugarhijunnie225x225_zps32a66bfc.jpg" />



Kamijo - Symphony of the Vampire & Heart
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/KAMIJO_zps3fc41eb4.png" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/kamijo-symphonyofthevampire225x222_zps6cecc52e.jpg" />http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/kamijo-heart225x222_zps02d62f24.jpg" />



Lamp - ゆめ
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/lamp_zps791786b4.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/lampyume225x225_zpsaf5782b6.jpg" />



Moran - dark & 堕落へと続く偏愛の感触
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/moran_zpscd82b3d9.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/moran-dark220x225_zps4e2b1279.jpg" />http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/moran-5815843D307830687D9A304F504F611B306E611F89E6_zps6e9ee316.jpg" />



ねごと (NEGOTO) - アンモナイト! / 黄昏のラプソディ
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/negoto1_zps971525cc.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/negotoammonite225x223_zps84ca15ca.jpg" />



THE NOVEMBERS - Rhapsody in beauty
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/thenovembers_zps9bd3cfd1.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/thenovembersrhapsodyinbeauty225x222_zps6a5f48a1.jpg" />



シナリオアート (Scenarioart) - night walking & Tokyomelancholy
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/scenarioart_zpse079ba26.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/scenarioart-nightwalking225x225_zpsd4d4080b.jpg" />http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/scenarioart-tokyomelancholy_zpsdeddba9d.jpg" />



Teen Runnings - NOW
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/teenrunnings_zpscf017c4f.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/teenrunningsnow225x225_zps5cb88aba.jpg" />



ユナイト (UNiTE.) - レヴ / ice
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/uniteice_zps7549ffeb.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/UNiTErev225x225_zpse941260d.jpg" />



Ventla - A
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/ventla-A_zpsc820ea54.png" />





Honorable Mentions


八十八ヶ所巡礼 (88kasyo junrei) - 攻撃的国民的音楽
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/88kasyojunrei_zps72a3cc48.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/88kasyojunrei-ongaku225x224_zps735a7b38.jpg" />



BABYMETAL - BABYMETAL
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/babymetal_zps864ed826.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/babymetal-babymetal225x225_zpsa68f5894.jpg" />



HOLLOWGRAM - Qualia
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/HOLLOWGRAM_zps7d338739.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/hollowgram-qualia225x221_zps2ae477ce.jpg" />



吉澤嘉代子 (Kayoko Yoshizawa) - 変身少女
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/kayokoyoshizawa_zps6053728d.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/kayokoyoshizawa-henshinshoujo225x222_zps22002931.jpg" />



ミソッカス (misokkasu) - 統一された混沌(カオス)
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/misokkasu_zps1b97bfb0.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/misokkasu-chaos225x225_zpsf5e43b50.jpg" />



My Fairytale - Tokyo under note
 




ねごと (NEGOTO) - "Z"OOM
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/negoto2_zpsd8076458.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/negotozoom225x225_zps4121303a.jpg" />



Nohtenkigengo - Never
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Scarlet Valse - -GENESIS-
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ユナイト (UNiTE.) - Ai
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Jigsaw's favorite non-Japanese releases 2014
 
The Necrotic Manifesto by Aborted   Following their impeccable album Global Flatline, Aborted's new sensory attack The Necrotic Manifesto provides more of the same razor-sharp death metal brutality laced with grindcore elements. Blastbeats, breakdowns and killer solos are executed precisely like clockwork, making this a formidable entry in modern extreme metal. Sample: The Extirpation Agenda / Coffin Upon Coffin   Hellish by Apey & the Pea   Although their name is kind of ridiculous, Apey & the Pea are no laughing matter. In their latest full-length Hellish, this stoner/doom power trio drops gargantuan riffs and sweet grooves one after the other like it's nobody's business. If you crave some metallic heaviness tinged with grungy vocals, this should soothe your appetite. Sample: Abraham / Reverend Green   Broke with Expensive Taste by Azealia Banks   The self-proclaimed queen of "witch hop" (whatever that might be) finally serves up her first album, and it comes with a bang! Broke with Expensive Taste is a colorful playground of cool samples, versatile beats, dance-pop bangers, plus a machine-gun rap or two. Perfect music to (get drunk and) shake your ass to. Sample: Chasing Time / Heavy Metal and Reflective   The Flesh Prevails by Fallujah   The evolution of Fallujah is quite impressive, considering they started out as an unremarkable deathcore quintet that have now become a progressive tech-death force to be reckoned with. Continuing where they left off on their previous EP, The Flesh Prevails is a gorgeous powerhouse of crushing brutality and ethereal grace, so perfectly illustrated by the cover art. Fallujah has prevailed! Sample: Starlit Path / Sapphire   Commune by Goat   The band name might conjure up images of occult retro-metal clichés but Goat is an entirely different beast. Their music sounds somewhat nostalgic and timeless at the same time, blurring together krautrock minimalism, pulsating afrobeat and freaky but gentle psychedelic rock tendencies into an exotic mixture. This is one commune I'd gladly join any time! Sample: Hide from the Sun / Words   At the Idyll's End by Gustave Tiger   Gustave Tiger immediately won my heart with this charmingly kooky and hectic art-punk attack somewhere on the crossroads of White Lung and the Pixies. In a handful of short bursts they go from calm to manic while weaving a grungy wall of noise into the mix and not forgetting about catchy hooks either. One of the more intriguing sounding bands I had the pleasure of listening to this past year. Sample: Gourgandine Simaitha / Lady Into Fox   Spectre by Laibach   Martial industrial/EBM masters Laibach cooked up one of their most accessible albums to date, and they did it quite effectively. With some of the tracks bordering on tame synth pop but still retaining their signature darkness (plus cynicism and deadpan humor), Spectre seems like a good introduction for newcomers and a nice change for hardened old-time listeners too. Sample: The Whistleblowers / Eurovision   Elddop by Martyrdöd   The title of Martyrdöd's latest translates as "baptism of fire" and it sure is a fiery blaze in our ear canals. Blackened crustcore is the name of the game, and the guys are in top shape to deliver some well-deserved kicks in the balls. Sweeping, aggressive but also melodious. A rock-solid entry in the band's crusty catalogue. Sample: En jobbig jävel / Elddop   Gay Dog Food by Mykki Blanco   Always one to shock people, Mykki Blanco's new mixtape is a colorful mish-mash of styles and influences ranging from trippy hip-hop to noisy industrial sounds and lo-fi electro-minimalism. Despite the initial quirkiness and weirdness of the tracks (not to mention the hilarious interludes), it's a fun and addictive musical journey if you have a thing for unconventional and out-of-the-box rappers. Sample: Fulani / Moshin in the Front   Hanyatlás by PETOFI   Relative newcomers PETOFI knocked me off my feet with their debut EP. With a venomous cocktail of anguished screamo and breakneck melodic hardcore, these guys know how to make one hell of an entrance! Their hectic style is elevated by poetic lyrics that add extra pathos and fury to PETOFI's brand of hardcore. Sample: Holttestemen át / Süket füledre talál a vallomásom   I Cannot See For Miles & Piresian Beach/Matthias von Stumberger by Piresian Beach   The Hungarian queen of lo-fi pop has been quite active as always, delivering a new stand-alone EP and another bundle of songs in collaboration with fellow Slovenian noise-maker Matthias von Stumberger. Both releases are jam-packed with good ol' overdriven guitar noise and '60s inspired garage/psych-rock licks, complemented by excellent crooning female vocals. Sample: Blood in the Gutter / Digging for Gold   St. Vincent by St. Vincent   I have completely fallen in love with the self-titled album of art-rock princess Annie Clark, a.k.a. St. Vincent. It's a record with a peculiar vibe. It sounds as artificial as it is organic, and this strange duality is further strengthened by the overall variety of the songs. From danceable tunes to melancholic meditations, this release has it all! Sample: Birth in Reverse / Digital Witness   To Be Kind by Swans   Swans' latest output is a gigantic double album clocking just over two hours. Noisy, experimental and completely heavy in atmosphere, this strange post-rock monolith perfectly encompasses what current Swans is all about. It's a menacing aural trip with repetitive, tribal (and outright primal) stylings that shouldn't be missed. Sample: Oxygen / To Be Kind (live)   Melana Chasmata by Triptykon   Melana Chasmata, "deep black chasms" is one towering behemoth of a record! Tom Warrior (of Celtic Frost fame) and his partners in crime sculpted a beautiful ebony-black slab of avant-garde metal with doomy and extreme overtones. The result is so breathtaking that this just might be my absolute favorite metal album of the year. Tortured and beautiful, highly recommended! Sample: Tree of Suffocating Souls / Aurorae

^ The thought which counts. Don't be so hard on yourself Rocketeer, you're lovely as you are.
 
Have a very brilliant birthday, Seimeisen, AkatsukiYami6, and everyone~ *cheers*

No, it's not. D: Groups in Facebook are more personalized, people can see other Facebook users there and chat there with each other. I think your MH page (@FB) is quite official, so it would be nice to have more "relaxed" place to talk with other people. Of course, I am not totally sure what kind of subjects you can talk there (besides advertising thread and polls and so on), but I think it would bring the users closer to each other.

We have this. Is that what you're talking about or is it something else?

Banned for having an avi featuring two of my favourite things. Gimme him and that gasmask! : 3

Thanks to CAT5, I gave this album a listen because of the lovely song sample and that adorable album cover. I enjoyed it a lot and will return to it again. There's just so many great indie pop musicians to discover and listen to but she's definitely one not to miss out on. Also, as you said, Aoba is amazing too. Recommending them both. Great and nice of you to review her album. Simply lovely. *thumbs up*

I'm totally obsessed with this album. Sakura Fujiwara deliver the feel of indie pop, acoustic and some country influence. She can create and compose great music in such a young age, a true singer-songwriter. Also, rare to hear heavy female voice for Japanese girl. "Full Bloom" give you a pleasure, yet refreshing sound in the morning!
 
Overall, the album has solid experience. I can enjoy through out all tracks, in one listen. However, although I am not a native in english, I can hear some "engrish" from her (that's what I feel lol). The guitar play is not simple, it's a little bit tricky and technical, she can play it while singing, which is great. The highlight songs are passing time, Ellie, 嘘つき, ラタムニカ, Goodbye.
 
Last year I obsessed with Ichiko Aoba, but this year, Sakura Fujiwara win over me. This album is one of my favorite album in 2014. I am looking forward to her future work. I highly recommend this album to you who like indie pop!
 
Overall score:
 
Check out her awesome live

:'3 Aww yeah~ < 3

Having already got some knowledge of your music listening and favourites, I can quickly say you've got a range of likes and interests in many different genres and styles and can see you really mean it when you say you'll try anything. Not surprising to say I can easily spot indie, many rather undiscovered and/or underappreciated/underrated musicians in particular, but you've also got a bunch of popular musicians as well (hi there Dir En Grey, GazettE). So many listens on all too! And those two top spots, *thumbs up,* TK/ling and TN ftw!~ And with so many added artists, it shows how long you've been listening and how well you know these music fields. It's awesome to look at too because I've spotted some artists I also enjoy of which I had no idea you liked too, like Jill-decoy Association. Good kitty. xD
 
beni's jams

Sorry for this late introduction~
it has been a while since I joined, but I didn't have any confidence to write here until just now
 
Nice to meet you,
I'm Mabuta; I'm not a native English speaker, so I often mess up with my writing.
 
Recently, I'm in craze about visual kei
I'm into lolita fashion;
I know some vk bands just from SHOXX magazine so I don't think my knowledge about vk is good
but I found out that visual kei is interesting so please give me your guidance

 
I like Caccinica; all of Yuzawa Koichiro, Sachi and Aotsuki Taizan and enjoy Kokusyoku Sumire's songs most
vk songs I like so far is The Fall of Finale by Obscure, Veil of Maria by Satsuki and 春の夜の、ひと雫 which had been recommended by fitear1590
 
 
if you have any recommended vk songs/artist, please let me know!
Thank you in advance 

Back to my Ichirou <3 I missed him hehe.

:'3 Aww yeah~ < 3

You're a Banshee from now on

benibana and eihrartx - thank you both for being so selfless in doing this and giving every single user a little bit of attention on their special day. I notice that it's always you guys doing this, and it just makes me really happy, so GOOD WORK

I didn't even know lol. I just got my magazine today and saw that then about died and had to scan ASAP lol.
 
<3

thanks for fufilling my request for hd, the other ones i a saw were kinda sloppy.
 
Yuuki-sama: Boo thang you want to take home to your moma, looks really date-able in that outfit. excellent pose and facial expression, and use of accessories. classy lovely outfit&hair. looking like a model scratch that he looks like that bitch in a movie everyone secretly hates and or envious ofm even with the bad makeup job.
Satoshi: seems like he is back to the mad hatter gig, i bet some hoes are happy
Zero: high priced escort
ichiro: hot model
hiyuu: yuuki's butler/helper
 
I geuss they are able to keep up. not only best music of 2014, best look too.