monkeybanana4

DAMY will release a DVD of their last live on 2019.06.30. It will cost 8,640 yen and can now be pre-ordered through the official webshop: https://damyofficial.shop-pro.jp/?pid=142618174

They will also be selling "Memorial Sets" for each member. Each set will cost 5,555 yen and can be reserved starting from 2019.05.16 through their online shop. (Source: https://ameblo.jp/damy-official/entry-12461486149.html)

DAMY LAST ONEMAN TOUR FINAL「この場所で僕らは消える。」at Shibuya Tsutaya-O West (2019.05.06) setlist (Source: http://vif-music.com/2019/05/06/damy-10/)

01.chilled.
02.milk
03.トモダチごっこ
04.喰らい殺す
05.解剖家族の真意
06.調教
07.撲殺サマンサ
08.御別レノ謠
09.世界は回る
10.溺愛公園三丁目
11.溺愛公園四丁目
12.誰か僕の為に息を引き取って誰か僕の為に死ねますか
13.深海
14.キンセンカ
15.心髄
16.ままごと
奈落
僕らの言葉
以上
17.終止符
18.きみのわるぐち
19.りありすと
20.理由

EN
楽器隊インスト
21.君に幸あれ
22.永久にパペット
23.醜態
故
Garnet
うつせみ
空白
孤独
24.言訳
25.この指トまれ。
26.嘘吐き
27.首吊り少女
28.虚言癖
29.吐瀉と代償
30.蕣（あさがお）

EN2
31.しりとり
32.汚物
33.アスペルガー崩壊
34.パラサイト
35.雨音
36.理由

REIGN will release a new single titled "Absolute 14" on 2019.07.17 in two types.

Limited Edition (CD+DVD; 2,200 yen)

CD

1. Envision

2. Gnarly

3. Petrichor

DVD

- Envision Music Clip & Music Clip off shot

Regular Edition (CD; 1,600 yen)

CD

1. Envision

2. Gnarly

3. Petrichor

Hello! Welcome to MH! Have a great time here  

Nice to meet another Sadie fan~ I've always really liked Mao's voice and their music. 

(Oops. I didn't realize you listened to Versailles already in the other thread ^^;)

For some darker bands, I think Diaura is a decent band worth checking out. The singer has an amazing voice.

Limited Edition Type A (Price: 1,389 yen + taxes) 

Illustrated by: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko

Limited Edition Type B (Price: 1,389 yen + taxes)

Illustrated by: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko

Regular Edition (Price: 1,389 + taxes)

Tracklist

1. 宇宙の詩 ～Higher and Higher～ (そらのうた) [Sora no Uta]
2. 悲壮美 (ひそうび) [Hisoubi]

If you purchase from the Universal Music store, it will come with extras.

UNIVERSAL MUSIC STORE Limited Edition Type A (7,000 yen + taxes)

CD: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko "Mobile Suit Gundam THE ORIGIN" design LP size

DVD: 宇宙の詩 (Sora no Uta) ～Higher and Higher～ Music Video "Mobile Suit Gundam THE ORIGIN" Ver.

T-shirt Yoshikazu Yasuhiko "Mobile Suit Gundam THE ORIGIN" artwork 

Link: https://store.universal-music.co.jp/product/d2cj6282/

UNIVERSAL MUSIC STORE Limited Edition Type B (6,000 yen + taxes)

CD: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko "Luna Sea" design LP size

T-shirt: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko "Luna Sea" artwork 

Link: https://store.universal-music.co.jp/product/d2cj6283/ 

Speaking of Ohana's adorable look~ 

That blush and smile 

55 minutes ago, yomii said:

i wouldn't say subaru is cold tho! he's typical tsundere imo, like, he tries to be cold but in fact he seems to care about things a lot, that's why he's always angry...while reiji is really cold most of the time, but such cold cool smart guys are kinda my type lol. 

speaking abt giving back and protagonist, she IS the most spineless thing AND the game only encourages such attitude. i don't remember how it was in the first game, probably same, but in more blood, if you choose answers that game considers "sadistic" (which are usually just a little less more feeble than "masochistic") you get bad ending lol

Haha, I think that's the reason I like Subaru. He secretly has the heart of a softie even if he is boring xD But Reiji looks cool and sleek, not to mention I love his dark purple(?) hair~

For some reason, I remembered the main protagonist from the game, Amnesia. It's been a while since I played the game, but I remember her personality was kind of like a cardboard ^^; 

They will hold their 12th anniversary oneman live at Zepp Tokyo on 2019.07.07.

8 hours ago, yomii said:

still, here i am playing it convincing myself that i'm doing it for a relaxed japanese practising.

That's the reason I tell myself when I'm playing otome games even when they're cheesy or all over the place, lol 😅

Nice! I've always like Kanon and the music he created. Definitely looking forward to this!

I saw a notice that the ClosetChild Shibuya Men's Store closed on May 6th. 

Quote

渋谷メンズ店 閉店のお知らせ

2019年5月6日(月) をもちまして、
クローゼットチャイルド渋谷メンズ店を閉店させていただく運びとなりました。

クローゼットチャイルド新宿CD・メンズ店は今後も営業しておりますのでそちらをご利用ください。

また、オンラインショップでは今までと変わらずご購入することが出来ますので、引き続き、ご愛顧頂けましたら幸いでございます。
ご不便ご迷惑をお掛けしますが何卒よろしくお願い申し上げます。

Source: https://www.closet-child.com/event/渋谷メンズ店閉店のお知らせ/

MEME will release a new single titled "disparition macabre" on 2019.06.19. It will cost 2,160 yen and will be sold through fiveStars.

Tracklist

1. disparition macabre
2. Drink me
3. ストロベリーサンデー (Strawberry Sunday)
4. コードブルー (Code blue)

Info: http://shop.fivestars-shop.com/?pid=142813823

I think the video of the song, "disparition macabre", was posted in this thread.

千聖 (Chisato)/Crack6 new single "カナリア" (Canary) will be released on 2019.06.19 (two types). 

Limited Edition (2,000 yen + taxes) will include 2 songs (CD) and 16 page booklet 

Regular Edition (1,500 yen + taxes) will include 3 songs (CD)

More VK stuff. In no particular order.

the GazettE - DIM (Limited Edition)

the GazettE - Cassis (Type A)

Malice Mizer - 白い肌に狂う愛と哀しみの輪舞

the Thirteen - Alone (Type C/Regular Edition) + Brand-X privilege bonus (Never getting these again from there, lol)

D'espairsRay - Gemini (Limited Edition)

D'espairsRay - Sexual Beasts (First Press)

Gab magazine (which I forgot that I already have until just now XD)

Diaura Focus flyer

small booklet with yo-ka (Diaura) and Greiva on the covers

BabyKingdom will release their first full length album with BPR titled 「AGE+PLUS」. It will come in two types.

Type A Limited Edition - 13 songs,「AGE+PLUS」MV, and making-of (3,780 yen, taxes included)

Type B Regular Edition - 13 songs, 1 bonus track (3,240 yen, taxes included)

They revealed the tracklist

◇TYPE A

CD

1.パライゾ

2.ルミナス

DVD

パライゾMUSIC CLIP+OFF SHOT

◇TYPE B

CD

1.パライゾ

2.ルミナス

3.傷年

Ah, there are so many amazing lyrics~ These are a few I thought of. Lyrics are under the cut. The translations aren't mine ^^;

the GazettE - ガンジスに紅い薔薇 (Red Roses on the Ganges)

Kagrra, - 渦 (Whirlpool) 

Buck-Tick - Dress

Looks like it's actually happening.

1 minute ago, TheZigzagoon said:

Am I mistaken in believing that there was a couple of Mathilda singles that were only available via Brand X or am I imagining that? This closure is a loss for the scene and is a loss that we don’t need  

They had a mini-album that was released through Brand-X.

1) What are the indicators that make a song "ghostwritten" for you? And that it is not?

I don't think there's any obvious smoking gun that screams "ghostwritten songs!", but there are some bands, like others have already mentioned, that definitely feel like they've had their material 'ghostwritten'. One big factor would be the continuous output of releases in a relatively short amount of time.

2) What are the indicators that make a band "idol kei"? And that it is not?

I guess it depends on how you define the term, idol. But, I would say, more or less, the scene has pretty much been inundated with 'idolness' for quite sometime. When you look at the way things are sold (i.e. receiving trading cards or photosets of certain members with CD purchases, buying chekis of a particular member, etc.), it pretty much screams the 'idol' factor. Although, there are certain bands, though, that tend to focus more on selling live goods, chekis, and even food products. VK has been known for providing weirdly, awesome, even grotesque goodies, but I see some bands who lean more on the side of 'goods/products' rather than 'CDs/music'. (Also, I know CDs are considered goods/products. However, in this case, I'm defining goods/products like chekis, photosets, photocards, towels, shirts, etc.)

3) Where would you put its birth date?

I'm not sure of an exact date, but as @Komorebi already answered, I think it began when these instore or personal meet-and-greet events launched off. When you go to those events, it mirrors exactly what Japanese idol pop groups do (minus the rock music). You can "meet" your favorite artist and chat with them in exchange for buying their stuff. It's what Japanese idols outside of VK have been doing for much longer.

4) Do they qualify as "good music" or not? Do you enjoy them? Do not? 

Music, like any other art, is subjective, so I suppose it depends on what the listener enjoys and defines as "good music". Even though I may not listen to certain bands, there is definitely a crowd out there who will continue to support their favorite artists.

5) Does it seem to you that this certain music goes "against" (to put it somehow) of certain "well-being" of the scene, or of the music itself?

I think @Komorebi provided a great answer for this question. For fans like most of us on MH, whose butts are firmly parked outside of Japan, we can only listen and focus on the music. It's not a bad thing, and I think music should be examined for the sake of music to expand one's knowledge/tastes/etc. However, when you live in Japan, being in the VK scene is a completely different ballgame. There is an entire social scene that is built into the VK scene. I guess because the scene is 'small' that there are many who become friends since they recognize each other from attending the same lives, instore events, etc. for the same band(s), and it's a way for these dedicated group of friends to spend time together. Also, as mentioned already by @Komorebi, there is also a whole fashion scene related to VK. Even though it's shrunk with many brands shutting down, there are still stores like Sex Pot Revenge that market to people who admire and dress up in the VK fashion style, possibly even wanting to emulate or cosplay as their favorite artist/band member. There are also many girls who dress up in Lolita clothes and really go all out to look nice for lives. In a way, I guess VK, to some, is not so much a music genre, but rather a subculture. So, I think as long as there's androgynous musicians willing to play music and cater to the fanbase, then the VK scene will survive.

6) Why are you still listening to VK in the 2010s? Are your reasons the same as before? What does it give you that other music does not give you?

Like @yomii I stopped listening to VK for a few years, but I've recently gotten back into it, and I still thoroughly enjoy it even with all its warts and splotches. I think it's because VK has helped me shape a part of who I am, including my passions (i.e. collecting CDs from mediocre-sounding artists, studying about culture, people, history, and meeting/chatting with people who share the same interests). I also enjoy the fashion of VK and its close ties to it because, in a way, I feel like it's not only the music, but it's also the clothes and makeup that help make the whole scene artistic. So, I find there's plenty to enjoy with both new bands to listen to and older/disbanded bands to still discover.     (Wow, I wrote way too much... ^^;) 

2 minutes ago, yomii said:

huh? i thought they disbanded years ago ._. 

so, could it be yumehito departed from his band to concentrate on ayabie? 

I think they've had some revival lives since their disbandment.