Original Saku

I agree with this! I know all music forums have both leechers and active community members, but in my personal opinion quite a bit of visual kei fans have started to feel so incredibly entitled lately to have the releases they want on the release date and if they don't they start throwing hissyfits about it. The really old VK veterans had to trade to get the stuff they wanted, they had to climb mountains, cross rivers, fight dragons for that one Gazette release
 
I remember when someone bought the limited edition of an album and uploaded it and also promised to make a DVD rip and people legitly started spamming their thread with impatient and rude messages as to why the DVD (which was a full live DVD in ISO so you can imagine the size of that file + the time it would need to rip/upload) wasn't uploaded yet only two days after the initial album was posted.
 
People need to realize that behind every file there is a person who bought that release, probably paid a shitload for shipping (if they're physical copies) and then was so kind to rip it to their computer in a good quality and share it with the rest of the world. You don't even have to press thanks or even say it, I just wish more people realized this before they start calling someone a liar or an ass.
 
Though concerning bitrate, I've always been on CAT's side with this: share it to the fullest or don't share at all. People who upload releases in 128-192kbps and say "go buy the album if you want a better quality" are obviously not sharing the release to share awesome music and give one of their favourite artists more exposure, but purely because they want a big e-penis. "Oh look at my 320/Lossless rip of that album that you can't have lol", is something I'm very much against. On one side I'm like "yeah okay I'm happy people share it at all" (especially since I've gotten into a lot of Japanese regular indie music, where it's a lot harder to come by releases than it is in VK) but sharing bad quality isn't going to solve the problem. If you really share a lower bitrate to have more people buy the album, then I've got some news for you: it doesn't work. A lot of VK fans don't care about bitrate that much (as long as it's listenable), especially if they're young and don't have the cash to import VK CDs from Japan. I actually would feel more opposed to purchasing an album I only have an 128 rip of because it misses a lot of details that I can hear in a 320 rip. Good quality can just really enhance the musical experience, at least, that's how I see it. People who want to buy the album will buy it anyway, this "here's a low quality"-method doesn't work and it makes you look like a douche, sorry.
 
tl;dr - share to the fullest or don't share at all
 
SORRY FOR THE LONG POST.

I just bought a pair of these AKG K 240 Semi-Open Studio Headphones last month on Zess and Sai's recommendation and I've been using them for almost a month and they are quite an amazing pair of desktop headphones for at home use, Totally loving them and for the price of 90 bucks you can't beat it. They are also extremely comfortable, I've worn them for hours on end without any discomfort or need for readjustment. The sound is also superb.
 
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001ARCFA/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Interesting thread Zess! I have quite a few album covers that I really like, but I'll try to narrow it down to three of my biggest favourites.
 
Boris - New Album
 

 
Reason: Well basically Boris is kind of hit/miss when it comes to album covers to me. Their covers are usually very simplistic, a single colour and the name of the album + artist. New Album however matches the style of music the album presents. It's light, yet even though there are a lot of things going on in the image, it still manages to portray a very calm atmosphere. The use of colour and mixing of such is done really well, yet Boris didn't drift far from their usual methods, as the woman painted here is most probably Wata, the band's guitarist.
 
 
虹の彼方 - Seven Colors Variations -
 

 
Reason: The album cover is actually made up of two parts, the other side is on the back, but as it was hard to find in a normal size, here's the front. This is an album of an electronics artist, and what I love about electronics is how calm and atmospheric that music can be. A cover like this matches the type of music well. It's simple, the brush strokes rough but accurate and the font clear but not over the top. The wooden border looks better in the complete picture, to be quite honest, so I'm going to disregard that one.
 
 
RADWIMPS - Xと○と罪と
 

 
Reason: I guess this is a very personal choice, but I do love this cover. The black background with the huge mash-up of colours that are all unorganized yet still manage to show recognizable shapes are in some strange compatible with how this album sounds. And let's be honest, it's just pretty to look at.

Well considering it's only been a week since this was even thought of...
 
Me, Ito, and Zess have been talking about it and what we're gonna do with this, so I can tell you it's definitely gonna happen in one way, shape, or form, but really we're not trying to rush or anything.
 
So yeah just chill. It'll happen when it happens.

Longer PV preview and samples from the deluxe bonus DVD:
 


 


 
edit: Here's an extra vid, from the recording sessions:
 

I'm a PC gamer. I actually have DA:O on PS3 as well, but damn, the controls for the combat are much better for PC, I think. I love the game so much I've replayed it a few times, but somehow I can never force myself to make the "evil" decisions (let Redcliffe fall, defile the Ashes etc.)  
I actually reaaaaally enjoyed DA2. I mean, I know its areas are repetitive and you're pretty much confined to one city plus several surrounding areas, but I loved the story and companions. It was also very nice to have an actual family, even though its members might end up dead :/ I think the problem was that the game was rushed. I hope they take their time with Inquisition to make it perfect. But the gameplay previews and stuff look absolutely terrific and I'm very very excited about the return of Morrigan and Varric, and the fact that you can play as a Qunari 8D The combat looks way more strategic, just like it was in DA:O, but with the dynamic and fluency of DA2, so I really can't wait for the game to be released

downy remix album will be released at 2014/03/19 (2,625yen), which will include remix songs of their album (so-called "第5作品集『無題』") released at 2013/11/20
 
[participating artists]
Fragment
やけのはら(yakenohara)
Olive Oil
Geskia!
SUNNOVA
石橋英子(ishibashi eiko)
Ametsub
mergrim
DJ ATSUKI
etc.

I'm interested too, don't know how often I can do it but definitely willing to give it a go.
Throwing this out there, if we do decide to do a livestream type setup then maybe we could start with a couple of anime movies? Just to test out how everything works and how many people are actually interested in it, with no long term commitment and just and just to refine the system (this may or may not be an excuse to finish Perfect Blue if we reach on consensus on what to watch > . <)
 
I've not watched too many anime, but i'm definitely willing to throw some suggestions in the mix because i'm currently trying to catch up to One Piece and I have no time for longer anime. Hence everything i'm will watch now will be marathonable in a couple of nights max (then I can plan out when i'm free)
It'll also be great to have some suggestions on what to watch!

For me that would be An Cafe's Magnya Carta .... I seriously for the love of god have no idea why I bought this album.
 
The only possible explanation is I must have had shit taste way back in 2006... like seriously shitty. I was 13 and I thought Bou and Miku was kawaii... please gawd shoot me now

Here's disc 1 from the Spark of Flower DVD!  Enjoy!




01. 潜在証明 
02. Re:myend！ 
03. メルシールー 
04. フラワー 
05. メイドミー・・・ 
06. 街 
07. トレモロ 
08. week...end 
09. たしかなうた 
10. greatwall 
11. nameless 
12. ループ 
13. カロン 
14. sharp ♯

If you reduce all conversation to "opinions", then what's the point of even talking? Share your opinion, even if it's unpopular. It's yours and someone will always read it.

When you do livestream, people can view the archives if they miss out on the actual live times. The discussion doesn't have to be exclusively on the livestream chat room.

I think this would work as a podcast or a livestream, then we have people who are actually committed in participating the discussion. I wouldn't mind joining in on either one.
 
There's a livestream channel I follow called ShinStation where they do anime movie nights and series with live commentaries using skype. Doing something like that would be great.

Harsh vocals in visual kei are never going to happen. Bands need to stop forcing it to happen for the sake of being brutal, because those without the proper training are just fucking their throats up and it doesn't sound good. I'm reluctant to call them harsh vocals because a good majority of the time it's either screaming or grunting. Out of the few that can, the top of the list is easily Hiro from Nocturnal Bloodlust. He's the only vocalist in the scene that can do what he does. Akane from D.I.D. is second with the squeals, which bonsai and I have verified he can pull off live.
Why is that important? Any type of ranking of who does what better than whom has to take into account the live performance aspect of it. The mark of a vocalist that has truly mastered vocal fry or gutturals are being able to pull it off live and most visual kei vocalists can't hit the right singing notes live. None of them ever nail the gutturals. They always sound embarrassing and not at all like they're supposed to. Even the "best" harsh vocalists in visual kei are just barely passable from a technique standpoint, and that's when they record in the studio and can compensate for their vocalist's shortcomings.

My January 2014 desktop screenshot. :>

Finally got around to watching the first season with a buddy and i would have to say it wasn't as bad as i thought it was, rather decent actually. I could watch it again if I had too

Finally got around to watching the first season with a buddy and i would have to say it wasn't as bad as i thought it was, rather decent actually. I could watch it again if I had too

DS is finally live! We're a bit exhausted at the moment as we've been finalizing a lot of things today in anticipation of the launch. So forgive me for not having much to say right now!
 
If you'd like to read more, we have a fairly detailed post of what's coming up next in development here: http://deadeyes-star.com/blog/2013/12/introduction-to-deadeyesstar-1
 
I'd also like to introduce our staff! Be sure to give them some love!
@Aion @AmeToMuchi @Biopanda @Champ213 @Friederike @Ito @karin-adele @Kaye @meat @Peace Heavy mk II

Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya
This is the best Gintama movie that I have watched. At times, it was touching, then a second after that, it went to crack-up funny.
8/10

Wrapping up the last few days...
 
Boris - You can never go wrong with Boris
M-Koda - I loved Drawing Arrow Diagram. It's one of my fav electronic albums of 2013. Glad to see it made it on the list.
Nocturnal Bloodlust - Grimoire was great, even though I liked their other 2013 releases better. Still, Nocturnal Bloodlust is one of the only Japanese bands that does the core genre any justice. They have the creativity, technicality and brutality so many other wannabe core vk bands lack. 
Ling Tosite Sigure - Good to see I'mperfect didn't get overlooked either. Fantastic album. This should make an appearance on everyone's list.
 
Overall I highly enjoyed this 25 days of xmas music review stint. I have yet to check out all the bands but I already have discovered quite a few jems. I know lists can subjective for everyone, but I agree with 98% of the bands that were chosen for this. The staff reviews were also fun to read. So to everyone involved in this I will say good job.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

If you're reading this post right now, you'll notice how much faster the topic just loaded. That's my fault because I should have anticipated what trying to load 40 YouTube videos would do to a topic ahead of time. I've put all the videos into spoilers, so click on the spoilers to uncover a video for any artist on the list. ^_____^

Best of 2013: Jazz


jizue - Journal


Songs: 5 and clock ジルデコ5 by JiLL-Decoy Association


Songs: シングルマザー A GO GO!! and パパのベイビー CIRCLES by SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS


Songs: 殺し屋危機一髪 and ジャズィ・カンヴァセイション steal a person's heart by EGO-WRAPPIN'


Songs: 女根の月 and 水中の光(Live)

Best of 2013: Pop
 

The World In My Eyes by 歌者森

Songs: Drunk and Cables The Electric Lady by Janelle Monáe

Songs: Dance Apocalyptic and Q.U.E.E.N. 魔女図鑑 by 吉澤嘉代子

Songs: 未成年の主張 and らりるれりん 空中ランドリー by エリーニョ

Songs: highway and ピクニック 浮き名 by 椎名林檎

Songs: 熱愛発覚中 and IT WAS YOU

^ It's easy go over here: http://flipout69.deviantart.com/art/JAM-v1-2-407758948 and download the zip file and then extract it. There will be a pdf. file with instructions on how to install it and get it up and working.
 
Seriously though it's so easy, I installed it within 5 minutes and then took only another 10 minutes for me to get it configured correctly. if you need any help feel free to PM me about it

are you crazy? them things are hella uncomfortable...