CAT5

I think we more or less agree, but are wording things a bit differently. What I mean by "managed to deliver the band’s core strengths in an effective manner" is basically the same as "condensed". I feel like I'mperfect 'condenses' all of the core elements of ling and presents them in a straightforward and more accessible, albeit formulaic way. Although personally, I don't feel like that album is accessible to the point that it's mainstream and radio-ready. "es or s" on the other hand might be closer in that regard.About #4, I just feel like that's ling at their rawest and most unrefined, which is charming in it's own way.

Exciting news, thanks trombe! Although I'm a tad bit worried if moving from zankyo will affect their sound.

Artist: 凛として時雨 (ling tosite sigure) Album: es or s 1. SOSOS 2. Mirror Frustration 3. Karma Siren 4. Tornado Mystery 5. end roll fiction Rating: | SOSOS send ling some help! Ling tosite sigure (凛として時雨) albums have always been a spectacle. Rewind back to 2007 - their second full album Inspiration is DEAD was just released and for me, listening to it was like being unwittingly thrust into a pool of chilly water. I hated it at first, but the longer I immersed myself in it, the more comfortable I became and I eventually began enjoying it. There was something irresistibly charming about an indie-rock band that sounded like angsty chipmunks, yet brandished the kind of instrumental prowess found in extreme metal. As much as I wanted to shun it, I kept coming back. The following year, they dropped their first single and I was completely sold. Every release after that was a complete thrill to sink your teeth into; you never knew what crazy riff TK would come up with, if Miyoko would sing more, or how the band would push their sound to new heights. The only thing certain was that Ling's new material would end up somewhere on your list at the end of the year. Fast-forward to the present - the band has just released their latest EP es or s, and the endless wonder promised by the Ling's previous efforts is all but gone. From start to finish, the EP sounds like one big trip deja vu trip. The refrain in "mirror frustration" literally mirrors the chorus of "Beautiful Circus”, "end roll fiction" borrows moments from “secret cm”, and “Karma Siren” sounds like a limp combination of “Can you kill a secret?” and “Telecastic fake show”. It’s almost as if TK has taken Ling’s discography and thrown it into a blender, as you can almost dissect every moment on “es or s” and trace it back to an earlier creation. The problem isn’t that it’s derivative, though. Ling has always been adept at maintaining their sound while moving forward, but the band hasn’t broken any significant ground since 2010’s “still a Sigure virgin?”. Even their last full length, 2013's i’mperfect, generally considered as a creative brick wall for Ling, managed to deliver the band’s core strengths in an effective manner. On the other hand, this EP doesn’t even manage to refine their sound, let alone innovate. At most, there’s a cool, but exceedingly brief solo in “Mirror Frustration” and a pretty snazzy riff in “Tornado Mystery”, but those are hardly worth a mention when the rest of the EP is drowning in overused Ling tropes and suffering from some of TK's most drab songwriting yet. On the bright side, the band is still as instrumentally proficient as they've always been, TK's vocals are at their most tolerant, and the production is sound. If you've just gotten into Ling or just haven't heard much of their back catalog, then there's a better chance that you'll receive this EP well and my criticism won't hold up. After all, there's nothing here that would constitute as 'bad' or unlistenable - it's all very well done. But if you're a long-time fan and have had a chance to live with their older works, then "es or s" might be a more difficult pill to swallow. You might even wonder what brought the band to this point. Each member now has their own side-projects; TK has released two solo albums, Miyoko has also released two with geek sleep sheep, and Pierre has his Chaotic Vibes Orchestra. One could easily assume that Ling is no longer their primary focus. Not to mention the anime themes that the band has been pumping out since 2012. "abnormalize" is their highest grossing single, so perhaps they've found a formula that sells and are sticking to it? It's hard to tell, and even more difficult to believe, but es or s truly legitimizes the notions that either TK's been hoarding all of his 'Fantastic Magic' for solo endeavors, or it's true that his 'Inspiration is DEAD'. Support the band! "es or s" on Amazon "es or s" on iTunes US "es or s" on CDjapan

I think it's a given that a drag theme would extend to things outside of Japan. To clarify that "preferably play Japanese music rule", that's more of a rule of thumb. I think most of the regulars enjoy music from all over, but we also shouldn't lose the focus of the forum and community. I also agree with herpes' idea about expanding the theme to lgbtq

oh god, I just realized how bad that sounds. I need to reword that >_>

Is an IntriguingDelight

Updated the rules a bit. You can also find these on the opening post: Remove yourself from the DJ wait list if AFK. Do not play songs over 7 minutes without asking for permission first. No repeating the same tracks in one plug session. The DJ cycle will be disabled once it reaches 10 users. No meh-ing at all. In fact, try to woot if possible. It's more aesthetically pleasing. Don't be an asshat. Discussing the music being played is perfectly fine, but needlessly bashing the plays of others is a quick way to get banned. Preferably play songs in Japanese - we're a J-rock forum after all. Have fun! Plug is about sharing the music you enjoy while openly embracing the tastes of others. No one cares how 'superior' your taste is, so tuck your e-peen away don't be a downer

Yeah, I didn't go into it too much in the review, but I felt the same. I feel like it works in songs like "Boyo" where his vocals aren't that pronounced, but when it's the main focus like in "song silly", I really can't get into it. That, and I have and I am usually very picky about Engrish.

Voted on the ones I liked! Here are some thoughts as well: @@Zeus - "OMINOUS" was certainly the standout of DOGMA too, but I also enjoyed "Deracine". That lynch. song is solid. I actually prefer it to the newer one. @@beni - I've known about Antic Cafe since the time I first got into J-music, but never actually tried them. It's a decent track, not for me personally, but I certainly don't understand the stigma surrounding them. A9 is solid too. The Aqua Timez song reminds me of the first hitman reborn OP for some reason. Surprised at your pick for LAST CALIX, going with K-sancore? ヨモギ|イ|チヨウ sounds like a Japanese Royal Blood, except those vocals are uhh...different. ^^; 浮遊スル猫's vocalist is really nice, so good pick on that one. CHiCO sounds like a standard anime pop-rock song, but it's well done. Menoz still reminds me of SebX @@doombox - JILUKA. This is cool. Don't think I ever tried this band (or even heard of em before o.o). The Kuroyuri song you picked was def the best on the record. Have coldrain always sung in English? MY FIRST STORY is definitely very ONE OK ROCK-ish, but I can dig it. Aren't these bands related somehow? WANIMA sound like if arukara went punk, haha. I vaguely remember coming across Language some years ago. I thought they were an electronic group. Good song either way. SHIHASMO is cute. @@fitear1590 - Pity about the picture lol. The romance has been ruined! jk jk. Dat violin doe. Can dig. I stopped following androp a while back, but this is pleasant. I can see why you like PELICAN FANCLUB. They really remind of THE NOVEMBERS' lighter stuff. Some really cool sounds in the Yumiko Ohno song, although I'd probably enjoy it more in a specific context.

New Bajune Tobeta featuring Maki Nomiya of Pizzicato Five fame. Sounds very Shibuya-ish. Also kinda surprising to see, as I thought Bajune Tobeta was fairly obscure. The first (and last) thing I'd heard from him was an album called "African Mode" which fused bossa nova and IDM. Really good too iirc.

lmao yep. Checked the volume on my phone like 3 times before I realized orz

There hasn't been one Japanese release that I can pinpoint as a favorite this year, so my hopes for this are through the roof too.

Nice!

Best New Tracks: August 2015 As always, another month has passed and the ORZ team has a great selection of music to recommend! Feel free to comment or discuss any of this month's picks and even offer your own as well! Visual Kei "流星群 (Ryuuseigun)" by A9 "千年DIVE!!!!! (Sennen DIVE!!!!!)" by Antic Cafe "Parasite" by JILUKA "パレード (parade)" by KEEL "EVOKE" by lynch. "saw.[ss_ver.]/takumi_mix" by StrangerSaid. "OMINOUS" by The GazettE "ぺど。(pedo.)" by 黒百合と影 (Kuroyuri to kage) Rock / Metal / Punk "最後までII (Saigo Made II)" by Aqua Timez "岩窟の聖母 (Gankutsu no seibo)" by Bird In A Cage "Words Of The Youth" by coldrain "Devil's Party" by Crossfaith "Before My Hands Become Stained With Blood" by LAST CALIX "Animus" by MAGNETIC NORTH "ALONE" by MY FIRST STORY "シャーロットの森 (Charlotte no mori)" by THE TEENAGE KISSERS "いいから (ii kara)" by WANIMA "解離と労働 (kairi to roudou)" by それでも世界が続くなら (Soredemo Sekai ga Tsuzukunara) "ドミナント (Dominant)" by ヨモギ|イ|チヨウ (yomogiichiyou) Indie / Alt. "Letter" by androp "Moonlight" by Language "u.n.o" by mothercoat "Chilico" by PELICAN FANCLUB "Sweet Wave" by Praha Depart "Drive" by Ropes "幽霊の集会 (yurei no shukai)" by 井手健介と母船 (Kensuke Ide & Bosen / Kensuke Ide & His Mothership) "銀河の恥・・・ (ginga no haji...)" by 八十八ヶ所巡礼 (88Kasyo Junrei) "mana" by 浮遊スル猫 (fuyusuru neko) Pop / Idol / Electronic / R&B / Hip-Hop / Other "プライド革命 (Pride Kakumei)" by CHiCO with HoneyWorks "Q and A" by la la larks "遥・i m a (haruka i m a)" by Menoz "FR/DAY NIGHT" by phatmans after school "生きるガール (ikiru girl)" by SHISHAMO "years" by サカナクション (sakanaction) "Escalator Step" by 大野由美子 (Yumiko Ohno) See you next month!

New arukara is always welcome!

Artist: toe Album: HEAR YOU 1. Premonition (Beginning Of A Desert Of Human) 2. A Desert Of Human 3. Commit Ballad feat. CHARA 4. . The World According To 5. My Little Wish 6. Song Silly feat. Olivia Burrell 7. Boyo 8. Time Goes feat. 5lack 9. オトトタイミングキミト (oto to timing kimi to) feat. Kimura Kaela 10. G.O.O.D.L.U.C.K feat. U-zhaan / Kumi Maya Ayaya 11. Because I Hear You Rating: | a fractured toe that can still stand somewhat firm If you've ever ventured into the realm of Japanese instrumental rock, then you've undoubtedly heard of toe, as they're perhaps the most prominent name to emerge out of Japan's sprawling sea of post/math-rock bands. The band has been around since 2000, and they've literally had ten 'toe's deep in the music industry since then - working with tons of musicians from all sides of the business. In fact, it's almost become a trend in their releases to feature renown and respected J-pop figures like Asako Toki (cymbals), ACO, Ikuko Harada (clammbon) and so on. Though despite the band's clout and reputation (and the fact that they've been around for 15 years now), HEAR YOU is only toe's third album. Arriving a whopping six years after their previous LP, this album attempts to sate the apetites of long-time toe fans as well as push the band in new directions. One look at the tracklist and, assuming you're familiar with the featured musicians, you'd think the band has already accomplished those two feats. There's the obligatory J-pop vocal features - "Commit Ballad" with the iconic CHARA, and "オトトタイミングキミト (oto to timing kimi to)" with the popular Kaela Kimura. Both tracks are nods to toe's past, as CHARA gives a fully fleshed vocal performance like ACO in 2012's "月、欠け (tsuki kake)", and Kaela's voice is used more like a hip hop sample, the same as Ikuko Harada in 2009's "After Image". There's also " Time Goes" featuring the underground rapper 5lack, "Song Silly" with backup vocalist Olivia Burrel, and " G.O.O.D.L.U.C.K " with the prolific percussionist U-zhaan, who's worked with almost everyone from Miyavi to Yoko Kanno. These three tracks are probably the most blatant attempts of toe experimenting with their sound. Although even with these features, the outcomes are less appealing than they seem on paper. "song silly" features a rather dull electronic drum beat with some appropriately? goofy sounding Engrish vocals from guitarist Mino. You don't even hear Olivia Burrell until the end of the song, and even then, it's just a few minor "doo doo's", that don't add much to the song. A kind gesture naming her as a feature, but it hardly justifies itself in the song. "time goes" is equally awkward for toe. It's not a full song, but more like an interlude that leads into the next track. Still, 5lack's short verse on it is sloppy and upholds the Japanese rap standard of failing to stay on beat. "オトトタイミングキミト ト (oto to timing kimi to)" is basically the continuation of "time goes" and has a fittingly hip-hoppish bop to it. It's a pleasant track , but to quote a pal - 'It just sounds like Nujabes'. Thankfully there's no rapping in it, though. On the other features, U-zhaan performs just about as good as can be expected and CHARA's singing is surprisingly smooth, compared to her usually shrill offerings. But even these feature tracks are plagued by a larger problem that envelopes the entire album. Takashi Kashikura's dynamic drumming is mostly M.I.A. throughout HEAR YOU, as his performance is noticeably restrained to clear-cut, minimal beats. The only song where his skills really shine and hearken back vintage toe is "My Little Wish". For long-time toe fans, you can't help but feel the dearth of energy Kashikura's subdued drumming leaves. Guitarists Mino and Yamazaki still have impeccable interplay, but their songwriting is missing that factor that made past toe songs so riveting. Tracks like "A Desert Human" and the previously mentioned "commit ballad" are enjoyable enough to bob your head along to, but the songs offer you much incentive to want to revisit. Even the album closer "Because I Hear You" is severely anticlimactic and just kind of plods along without any real purpose. "The World According To" and "Boyo" are probably the only tracks that come close to anything emotionally gripping. HEAR YOU is still a good effort despite the album's shortcomings. The flow of the album in almost seamless and almost plays like one big narrative, with each track progressing the story. Even tracks like 'Song Silly', which individually doesn't even sound like a traditional toe song, manages to fit into the context of the album. But more importantly than cohesiveness, toe proves that they are incapable of writing poor music. As lackluster as this album is, it's still "good" on many accounts, because what toe does naturally, other bands can only hope to replicate. HEAR YOU will certainly not eclipse toe's previous work, and it likely won't please long time fans either, but it at least makes for some really great background music. Support the band! "HEAR YOU" on bandcamp "HEAR YOU" on iTunes US "HEAR YOU" on CDjapan

Wagakki Band is cool and all, but I felt like their vocaloid covers kinda stifled their potential. I suppose their upcoming album will move in a different direction and showcase more from the band, but compared to Onmyouza's gargantuan discography, there are easily more Onmyo songs that I enjoy. So going with them. I do wish that Onmoyouza would incorporate more traditional sounds into their music, though.

Nice to meet you formally, haha. Welcome, officially! I already follow you on tumblr already. What are some of your fav. bands?

Welcome back~

@Lestat is right. Regardless of whether you're serious or not, that's not the kind of conversation we condone on MH. So it's best to just keep that stuff confined to private chats. Yes, we are an internet forum, but we also have rules here.

Welcome! Enjoy!

Cool. Hoping it's a bit less poppy than their last album, though!