monkeybanana4

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.

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... ^^;)

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

A Type (1300 yen) 1.DOPE 2.便器ちゃん 3.4.16 B Type (1300 yen) 1. DOPE 2. 便器ちゃん 3.スコスコ☆ナイトフィーバー C Type (1300 yen) 1.DOPE 2.便器ちゃん 3.超パーティー野郎 D Type (500 yen) 1. DOPE 2.便器ちゃん

Damn, I was just thinking of buying something there yesterday. Looks like that isn't going happen ;w; Man, this is sad to hear. Aside from Like an Edison and Zeal Link, Brand-X has been one of the main VK stores I've shopped at ever since I became heavily invested into the scene. Well, sadly it looks like I'll never get to use those Brand-X point cards either (whenever I made it to Japan one of these days).

I didn't read all the comments, but yikes. Some fans blame the bride for starting the whole "mess" while others were upset at the way he made his announcement in the video. Either way, congrats to him! Sad the situation ended up like this though

Kiryu will release a new single titled 「手纏ノ端無キガ如シ」(Tamaki no hashina kigagotoshi) on 2019.07.10 in four types. Type A Limited Edition (CD+DVD) 1,800 yen (+taxes) CD 1.手纏ノ端無キガ如シ 2. DVD -MV of「手纏ノ端無キガ如シ」 - Making-of video All Type Privilege Purchase: Application ticket "A" and application postcard Type B Limited Edition CD+DVD 1,800 yen (+taxes) CD 1.手纏ノ端無キガ如シ 2. DVD - MV of「手纏ノ端無キガ如シ」 - マルチアングルMV (Multiangle(s) MV) All Type Privilege Purchase: Application ticket "B" Type C Regular Edition 1,500 yen (+taxes) CD 1.手纏ノ端無キガ如シ 2. 3. 4.手纏ノ端無キガ如シ(inst) 5.(inst) 6.(inst) All Type Privilege Purchase: Application ticket "C" Type D Regular Edition 1,500 yen (+taxes) CD 1.手纏ノ端無キガ如シ 2. 3. 4.手纏ノ端無キガ如シ(inst) 5.(inst) 6.(inst) All Type Privilege Purchase: Application ticket "D"

Before the internet explosion, I remember either finding out about new music from friends or hearing songs on the radio. And when I could finally afford to buy a release, I felt excited and thrilled to be able to purchase a CD and listen to the release for myself. Afterward, I would put it on repeat for weeks on end, soaking myself into the release and sorting out how I felt about it. I guess it was like a journey starting from anticipation and ending on my fully fleshed out thoughts. On a random side note, I still remember using the now-outdated CD player since portable MP3 players weren't in wide use yet. With the internet, things have changed. On the pro side, I managed to discover Japanese music, and as a result, stumbled upon VK, finding so many popular and esoteric bands, which I have come to enjoy. As others have mentioned, and for me personally, the internet became a gateway into the world of VK (and music in general) and helped to expand my tastes in music. No longer was I listening to the radio and asking friends for recommendations. I ended up digging info as to what was being released and who was what (artist) from different (fanmade) websites, forums dedicated to anime shows/Japanese music/etc., and YouTube (although, it was quite a different beast back in those days). So, thanks to the Internet, I've managed to widen my music library, enjoy great stuff, and connect with amazing people who share the same musical interests even if we don't live in the same place. The downside, as people have already mentioned, is the amount of time spent on an album/single/release/artist is much less because of the sheer amount of music that gets released. I feel I have less time to mull over on a particular release. Instead, I listen to it a few times to gather my initial thoughts, and then move on to listen to the next latest thing that's being released. Thus, it makes it hard to really dig deep into the music and truly give it the time it most likely deserves. Also, as someone mentioned earlier, I barely use my physical CDs nowadays except to rip it since I mainly use my computer or phone to listen to music as opposed to the ancient CD player, lol.

To add to the list, I also buy my CDs from Brand-X, which usually comes with photosets/comment DVDs for pre-orders, and doesn't require a shopping service since they deliver overseas. If it's second-hand/used CDs, I buy it from ClosetChild since they also take orders from overseas.

They will hold their first anniversary one-man live at Shinjuku Ruido K4 on 2019.10.03.