sai

BECAUSE CAPS IS BR00TAL

I remember when B-T released a collection box, that one costed 10,000yen. It had 2CDs, a DVD and a photobook as well. It'll probably come in a big packaging I suppose, so I'm going to guess it's normal for a big box. Still no excuse for it being expensive as fuck though, lol. I have been buying most of their stuff since I found out about them, but I'm afraid I'm going to pass on this one.

This thread is for artists that have been around before but that you discovered this year and which you ended up liking quite a lot. Bands that formed in 2012 are allowed as well, but I'm kind of curious what everyone's musical discoveries of this year were, and perhaps we can even find some new stuff we like when trying each other's recommendations I will post my own list later after a few of you have shared your encounters. It'd be appreciated if you could write a small description containing what made you like them and which release stood out for you (as in, the release that got you really interested). So, what bands/solo artists did you discover this year?

A history movie would've been nice indeed. I lol'd at the first shot of someone entering the recording studio while trying to whistle, but failing horribly and sounding more like a kettle boiling water, lol.

^ True. Funny enough I was also thinking of Canon Del Colca and Kuon These are my two favourites of that album. The vocals in Canon Del Colca is probably the best song ASAGI has done vocal-wise. I know avex released some of their B-sides on a second disc on the A-type of VAMPIRE SAGA, but I'm not sure whether they still would.

Consensus seems to be their indies stuff is superior, but I personally think they released some really good ones during their major era as well. Anyway, back to the subject: I already found it odd they weren't including their major debut single (BIRTH) nor their 7th anniversary song 7th Rose. That'd be two songs I was pretty sure about that'd be on the list if they weren't licensed to avex. Also the PV collection stops at Schwarzchild and continues with Torikagogoten, leaving all their avex PVs aside.

So this'll probably be like the backstage footage from ON PARADE 2007, instead it now will be 2012 + Tour Yumemiru Uchuu? At least, that's the impression I'm getting (including some recording footage or so).

I think they didn't have much of a choice on this one. They're indies again and all the stuff between 2008 and 2011 (up until VAMPIRE SAGA in any case) is licensed to avex I think. They can still play them, but when I saw them last May they were only selling indies CDs at their merch booth as well. Cool to see we're getting a PV for Night Ship-D, it's a true classic. Also rather excited about the new song! I'm a tad sad they didn't include more songs from Neo Culture in there, but that tracklist is VERY solid.

Well I usually can tell the difference between 192 and 320, but between Lossless and 320? No, I can't hear it at all. I ripped my copy of D's 7th Rose album in both 320 and Lossless and swapped the tracks, not knowing whether I was listening to a Lossless or a 320 rip. I couldn't tell any difference at all. I think it might just be my equipment. Even though my headphones are really good in quality for their price, they don't top Zess $400 headphones in the least.

And the anger you feel at your family members when they screw your fucking ass over in that game.

CATS. Instant approval.

^ lol

Well here it is. Did a few of the same artist, but eh.

I tried, but I couldn't get to 50 (at least, when I'm doing the one album per artist thing). Are J-Pop albums also allowed?

Great to hear they're returning from hiatus already Can't wait for new stuff!

Despicable Me Such a cute movie IT'S SO FLUFFY~

Cute photo Ryu

Quantum of Solace. Awesome movie, liked it better than Skyfall.

lol

[Limited Order-Only Deluxe Version] 3 DISCS (2CD＋DVD) SFCD-0117～119 ￥7,350 (tax in) Order Deadline for [Limited Order-Only Deluxe Version]: 11 February, 2013 ***This edition is very limited so please send in your orders before the deadline to ensure your purchase *2 Release Bonus Item Redemption Postcard Inside! (for purchase of SINGLE 'RINKAKU' & MINI ALBUM 'THE UNRAVELING' [Limited Order-Only Deluxe Version]) [initial Limited Version] 2 DISCS (CD＋DVD) SFCD-0120～121 ￥3,150 (tax in) *2 Release Bonus Item Redemption Postcard Inside! (for purchase of SINGLE 'RINKAKU' & MINI ALBUM 'THE UNRAVELING' [initial Limited Version]) [Original Version] CD Only SFCD-0122 ￥2,625 (tax in) Source: OHP & tumblr

Skyfall The Hunger Games Liked both, though I've seen better Bond movies.

If you wanna die...lol, appropriate. Also Slsr your avatar is giving me a seizure, God.

And here's the second part of the Japanese releases! THE KIDDIE - MA★PIECE THE KIDDIE was a band I always kind of neglected. They were hit/miss for me, the miss more apparent than the hit. However, the singles leading to this album got me interested to try it, and the PV track also greatly grew on me after a few listens. The full album didn't disappoint either. This album blows many pop-rock VK bands out of the water by how catchy and fun it is but still has enough diversity for it to not bore you. Tracks that stand out on this release are the title track, Mr. FIREBIRD, サマードリーム, Nutty Nasty, Destination, 美しきREDRUM and アダルト. I prefer this one over their other album released this year (THE 5 -FIVE-), so if you're thinking of giving THE KIDDIE a try, try this album. Alice Nine - "9" Alice Nine releases an album not even a year after their masterpiece GEMINI, which had me slightly worried seeing as the A-sides of the singles they released were a bit meh (except for BLUE FLAME) but the B-sides were actually a lot of fun. In the end, there was hardly anything to worry about. Alice Nine improved a lot in the past three years and even releases that are released a bit hastily can still sound good with their straightforward sound. All members show improvement on each record and even though it isn't the strongest one composition-wise (which Saga can't be blamed for seeing as the release span was rather short) it still is a very good and enjoyable album. Heavenly Tale, The Arc, BLUE FLAME and Apocalypse [it's not the end] are among my favourites. 摩天楼オペラ - Justice Haters are going to hate so hard on this because hardly anyone liked this release. I have long said I don't like it either, but out of curiosity I listened to it a few weeks back and fuck you guys, I like it. 摩天楼オペラ overdoes the keyboard, yes. They overdo their vibrato, true. The second half of the album is inferior to the first half, that I admit, but overall I find Justice an agreeable first major album and I like it a lot better than I like Anomie. The production for one is much better, the songs are more diverse. The experimentation on some songs didn't always end too well and the title track doesn't really get me, but for the rest I am kind of pleased with this. I am also quite looking forward to their next album in March, which I think might just be better than Justice as it will have the things that were wrong with Justice fixed. I think even though it sounds messy and too much like a "trying to be epic"-record it still is highly enjoyable. Favourites are Helios, 落とし穴の底はこんな世界, 濡らした唇でキスをして, IMPERIAL RIOT and Mermaid. Part 2 with non-Japanese releases will follow soon! I'll try to make it shorter lol.

So here is the elaborate version. I had to split it up in two parts as the initial post was too long, lol. I assume from the title of this thread that only full-length albums are allowed and not mini-albums? Well if that is the case then I'll leave the mini-albums I enjoyed out of this. I'll try to elaborate a bit why I liked the releases I put here, mainly because I won't be making a list like the one Zess has made in the Staff Reviews thread. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy too many albums this year, but I'll highlight the ones I enjoyed most and put the rest underneath, like the way Pandabear put his list together as well. Videos are under the spoiler tag. Just like Jigsaw I'll post five Japanese and five non-Japanese releases. For today I'll post my five Japanese ones, the non-Japanese ones I'll post tomorrow BUCK-TICK - 夢見る宇宙 I'd say "MY NIGGAS" but seeing as that might sound a bit racist I am going to go with "what else was there to expect". BUCK-TICK once again delivers with their 25th anniversary album, be it not as strong as their older albums. However, 夢見る宇宙 stands out in comparison to most releases this year and whether that is a good thing or not I can't really say, but what I can say is that this album needed a few listens for me to fully enjoy it. It wasn't really odd, since most BUCK-TICK albums usually have to grow on me, but when I first listened to it while being rather ill I simply couldn't enjoy it. Tracks that stand out on this album are all the single tracks (MISS TAKE -I'm not miss take- getting a special notice here because of it just being a beautiful song and probably one of my favourite BUCK-TICK tracks I have heard so far), 禁じられた遊び -ADULT CHILDREN- (which carries a special place in my heart for specific reasons), LADY SKELETON and INTER RAPTOR. I highly recommend giving this a try, as it is one of my top favourites of this year. A - Tales for the Abyss "MY NIGGAS" part 2. A is a band I've liked ever since they released White Album and they have yet to release something that I don't like. Their first full-length was something I highly anticipated and it didn't disappoint in the least. I was convinced A was ready for a full-length, despite their short existence (unlike MEJIBRAY, which I thought completely wasn't ready yet for a full album), mainly because of the diverse sounds in their songs. Rookie Fiddler of course is A's gem, composing wise. A in my eyes are one of the few good newer bands in the scene with their own sound and ideas, and I am kind of disappointed they aren't getting much attention here. That's also the main reason why it's on this list. I don't have to put this for the people who know A, because they've listened to it and they think it's good/amazing. Yes you, still don't know who A is? Try this release and find yourself completely blown away. Tracks that deserve notice: Rhapsody in Black, Night of the Knights, Loveless, NUDE and Shangri-la. However, this album is best heard as a whole in my opinion.

Full albums only? Well: BUCK-TICK - 夢見る宇宙 THE KIDDIE - MA★PIECE A (エース) - Tales for the Abyss ユナイト - MEANiNG Jo Kwon - I'm Da One 東方神起 - Catch Me/Humanoids Alcest - Les Voyages De L'Âme Lana Del Rey - Born to Die/Born to Die -The Paradise Edition- Lindsey Stirling - Lindsey Stirling That's it. Some of these I liked more than others but eh...hardly liked anything this year. Too unmotivated/unskilled to make a pretty post.