*littlelamb

Such a bummer. I doubt there's anything dramatic behind it though, he's probably just sick of the band life after two decades. Can't really blame him. I can't imagine Merry with a brand new member after all this time, but I also can't see how they'll keep playing their old material with just one guitarist. Maybe they'll just hire a support member.

Such a bummer. I doubt there's anything dramatic behind it though, he's probably just sick of the band life after two decades. Can't really blame him. I can't imagine Merry with a brand new member after all this time, but I also can't see how they'll keep playing their old material with just one guitarist. Maybe they'll just hire a support member.

Such a bummer. I doubt there's anything dramatic behind it though, he's probably just sick of the band life after two decades. Can't really blame him. I can't imagine Merry with a brand new member after all this time, but I also can't see how they'll keep playing their old material with just one guitarist. Maybe they'll just hire a support member.

Yuu actually posted a clip of the Shiver stuff on IG. I was shocked when it showed up on my feed.
 
 

Yuu actually posted a clip of the Shiver stuff on IG. I was shocked when it showed up on my feed.
 
 

Yuu's the best! He broadcasted Merry's live today on his IG (u_merry) live. Too bad it cut off after an hour, so most of the new songs were left out, but they played Atama ga zakuro and Kohakuiro no Ballad! I think it's still there for 18 hours if anyone wants to watch. Sounds amazing as always.

Yuu's the best! He broadcasted Merry's live today on his IG (u_merry) live. Too bad it cut off after an hour, so most of the new songs were left out, but they played Atama ga zakuro and Kohakuiro no Ballad! I think it's still there for 18 hours if anyone wants to watch. Sounds amazing as always.

Yuu's the best! He broadcasted Merry's live today on his IG (u_merry) live. Too bad it cut off after an hour, so most of the new songs were left out, but they played Atama ga zakuro and Kohakuiro no Ballad! I think it's still there for 18 hours if anyone wants to watch. Sounds amazing as always.

I love what they did with Ieji! It really shows off what they can do and the acoustic bits are simply dreamy. I also love that song and think it's a great choice.
 
My favourite cover has to be オデッセイ・1985・SEX. Gara just slays that one, you can tell he was living his dream.

Merry on vinyl. No great backstory though, and I've yet to actually play it, since I don't own a turntable. ONE DAY.

I love what they did with Ieji! It really shows off what they can do and the acoustic bits are simply dreamy. I also love that song and think it's a great choice.
 
My favourite cover has to be オデッセイ・1985・SEX. Gara just slays that one, you can tell he was living his dream.

Have you guys listened to MERRY's version of 家路 yet? And if you did, did you like it?
 
Personally, I really liked it. It's one of the highlights of the MUCC tribute album for me. That got me thinking that with all the stuff MERRY released in 2017, we finally have enough material for an entire MERRY album of covers from other artists. 
 
(chronologically)
2002 - Strength Beyond Strength
2007 - PRECIOUS...
2009 - 伊勢佐木町ブルース
2009 - 学生街の喫茶店
2010 - 皆殺しのメロディ
2010 - 新宿ナナ
2010 - オデッセイ・1985・SEX
2011 - Schweinの椅子
2012 - 悪の華
2017 - SO...
2017 - 家路
 
That's quite a lot! I think only MUCC got them beat for "official" studio version covers. At least as far as V系 bands go. There's also the debatable inclusion of シャ乱Q's 上・京・物・語, but that one doesn't count, right?
 
Anyway, which one is your favorite cover version? Which ones do you dislike?
 
Personally, I think it's reallyyyy hard to beat 伊勢佐木町ブルース, but I love 新宿ナナ and オデッセイ・1985・SEX.
 
The ones I'm not really hot about are Strength Beyond Strength and Schweinの椅子, and I think that's about it. MERRY usually does really well performing other people's songs. I kinda wish they did even more covers, MERRY almost always leave their personal mark and that's pretty cool. The next single could use a brand new b-side and another old-school cover.

from yesterday’s concert at 甲府. I will post the other videos soon. MERRY is awesome. Thank you so much for the great memories. I’ll be back next year to see them, that’s for sure.

Ahh, I'm jealous! I really need to go back to Japan soon. And I second Merry's fans being the absolute sweetest, much like the band members themselves.

Ahh, I'm jealous! I really need to go back to Japan soon. And I second Merry's fans being the absolute sweetest, much like the band members themselves.

I love these guys. What a fucking show today at 奈良NEVERLAND. ガラ and ネロ are just too fucking cool. 結生 is just the sweetest dude ever. 
 
And there’s more to come. See you tomorrow, guys. 

I love most of Merry's B-sides including all the ones already mentioned, but I really adore Makka na aoi haru... and ト・ロ・ケ・テ・ル. From the more recent ones (is 4 years ago recent?), I thought Waltz was a beautiful and underrated song.
 
As for the new album, I for one love it. I thought I liked Nonsense Market, but I like this one way more (or I've just overplayed the former). It feels more cohesive, the singles are better and blend in better, especially with the new version of Happy Life, and the new tracks are ridiculously entertaining to me. So many gems! And it's very punky and energetic, so basically exactly what I wanted. I also like that it's short, which is strange in a way, but I like the songs so much I want to replay them and there's nothing that feels like filler to get through before I can do that.

エムオロギー , the song, would be better without the awkward middle part where ガラ sings the title a couple of times. I hate that part. And the fake record scratches, too. I do like all the other parts of the song. It reminds a little bit of 木漏れ日が僕を探してる…
 
Favorite songs so far: 犬型真性MASOCHIST (love it. It's the kind of song I wish it would stay on their set list for years to come); SIGHT GLASS (a MERRY song for the ages. brilliant stuff); Black flag symptom (健一 , dude!)  and, of course, Happy life –reprise – (better than the single version, still not better than the acoustic one).

Just listened to it. Still too early to judge, but I love how short it is. 39 mins. The members mentioned in interviews that they thought their albums were getting too long, so they decided to go back to what they used to do in the first 2 or 3 albums. Short, but sweet. Good idea, MERRY. Good idea.
 
 

Merry on vinyl. No great backstory though, and I've yet to actually play it, since I don't own a turntable. ONE DAY.

I listened to the whole album on Niconico since they broadcasted the trial listening event today and I absolutely adore it! So punky, so Merry, such an energy boost! Who needs coffee, just listen to this album first thing in the morning. The only song I felt a bit meh about was gaudy, but I can see it growing on me. Black flag symptom was my favourite based on the previews and of course it's a Kenichi song. Here are the credits for all the songs, in case someone's interested:
 
1. 「M」World Order - Tetsu
2. MASS CONTROL - Nero
3. 犬型真性MASOCHIST - Yuu
4. gaudy - Yuu
5. 平日の女 -A面- Yuu
6. Black flag symptom - Kenichi
7. 傘と雨 - Yuu
8. F.J.P - Nero  (Gara said the title stands for Future Japan, I think)
9. Happy life -reprise- Kenichi
10. SIGHT GLASS - Yuu
11. エムオロギー - Yuu

I listened to the whole album on Niconico since they broadcasted the trial listening event today and I absolutely adore it! So punky, so Merry, such an energy boost! Who needs coffee, just listen to this album first thing in the morning. The only song I felt a bit meh about was gaudy, but I can see it growing on me. Black flag symptom was my favourite based on the previews and of course it's a Kenichi song. Here are the credits for all the songs, in case someone's interested:
 
1. 「M」World Order - Tetsu
2. MASS CONTROL - Nero
3. 犬型真性MASOCHIST - Yuu
4. gaudy - Yuu
5. 平日の女 -A面- Yuu
6. Black flag symptom - Kenichi
7. 傘と雨 - Yuu
8. F.J.P - Nero  (Gara said the title stands for Future Japan, I think)
9. Happy life -reprise- Kenichi
10. SIGHT GLASS - Yuu
11. エムオロギー - Yuu

I listened to the whole album on Niconico since they broadcasted the trial listening event today and I absolutely adore it! So punky, so Merry, such an energy boost! Who needs coffee, just listen to this album first thing in the morning. The only song I felt a bit meh about was gaudy, but I can see it growing on me. Black flag symptom was my favourite based on the previews and of course it's a Kenichi song. Here are the credits for all the songs, in case someone's interested:
 
1. 「M」World Order - Tetsu
2. MASS CONTROL - Nero
3. 犬型真性MASOCHIST - Yuu
4. gaudy - Yuu
5. 平日の女 -A面- Yuu
6. Black flag symptom - Kenichi
7. 傘と雨 - Yuu
8. F.J.P - Nero  (Gara said the title stands for Future Japan, I think)
9. Happy life -reprise- Kenichi
10. SIGHT GLASS - Yuu
11. エムオロギー - Yuu

I listened to the whole album on Niconico since they broadcasted the trial listening event today and I absolutely adore it! So punky, so Merry, such an energy boost! Who needs coffee, just listen to this album first thing in the morning. The only song I felt a bit meh about was gaudy, but I can see it growing on me. Black flag symptom was my favourite based on the previews and of course it's a Kenichi song. Here are the credits for all the songs, in case someone's interested:
 
1. 「M」World Order - Tetsu
2. MASS CONTROL - Nero
3. 犬型真性MASOCHIST - Yuu
4. gaudy - Yuu
5. 平日の女 -A面- Yuu
6. Black flag symptom - Kenichi
7. 傘と雨 - Yuu
8. F.J.P - Nero  (Gara said the title stands for Future Japan, I think)
9. Happy life -reprise- Kenichi
10. SIGHT GLASS - Yuu
11. エムオロギー - Yuu

I think they said they were going for a straightforward 80's punk rock (The Blue Hearts?) feel with Happy life, but it's just too simple in my opinion. I do like the song, but it's always felt a bit empty, like something's missing. I hope the new version is more "full" and intense. I love the acoustic one.
 
I'm hoping for a punky album, kind of like Underworld.