doombox

I agree with  about both bands improving on their own sound, but I'm biased and like both bands already so that's not really news. But if people are waiting for ONE OK ROCK to step outside of their box, I wouldn't hold my breath. They have such a solid corner of the market, and it works for them, that I don't see them going out on a limb to risk that. Not everyone is gonna love every band. I can understand when people think OOR is on the generic side, they play radio friendly mainstream rock music. It's not a very experimental genre. But I have to give them credit that they take generic overdone music and make it extremely catchy and relate-able. It doesn't hurt they are 4 young, decent looking guys who have approachable dorky personalities that fans can gravitate to. This is a huge part of Japanese marketing, and they've found a way to make it work outside of Japan where many have failed. And to add to they "add nothing new to music" most casual listeners don't care if a band is adding anything new. They care that they can relate to it and sing along to it, and that the music makes them feel good when they hear it. And OOR are excellent at that.

I've couldn't say it any better, you are totally right with this, but i gotta say when i first saw the title name of the songs, the first thought i've had the either will disband or they just completely decided to throw away all the heavy rock sound.

I agree with  about both bands improving on their own sound, but I'm biased and like both bands already so that's not really news. But if people are waiting for ONE OK ROCK to step outside of their box, I wouldn't hold my breath. They have such a solid corner of the market, and it works for them, that I don't see them going out on a limb to risk that. Not everyone is gonna love every band. I can understand when people think OOR is on the generic side, they play radio friendly mainstream rock music. It's not a very experimental genre. But I have to give them credit that they take generic overdone music and make it extremely catchy and relate-able. It doesn't hurt they are 4 young, decent looking guys who have approachable dorky personalities that fans can gravitate to. This is a huge part of Japanese marketing, and they've found a way to make it work outside of Japan where many have failed. And to add to they "add nothing new to music" most casual listeners don't care if a band is adding anything new. They care that they can relate to it and sing along to it, and that the music makes them feel good when they hear it. And OOR are excellent at that.

My year-end list is finally done! This is a collection of my favorite releases of 2014, including a handful of singles. It is always at this point in the year I learn about new/overlooked/dark horse releases from other member's lists, so I look forward to reading those! But as it is, this is very much a list that is reflective of my own tastes. For organizational purposes (/my inability to truly rank releases), within each list, everything is listed in alphabetical order. Hopefully, you'll find a few things that strike your fancy! I did spend a lot of time working on this, so any feedback/comments you have would be very much appreciated! So, without further ado, let's get to it!

Japanese Releases


Top 10

伊集院幸希 (ijuuin yuki) - 月曜日と金曜日 ～Sugar Hi Junnie～
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/ijuuinyuki_zps2b889a04.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/ijuuinyuki-sugarhijunnie225x225_zps32a66bfc.jpg" />



Kamijo - Symphony of the Vampire & Heart
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/KAMIJO_zps3fc41eb4.png" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/kamijo-symphonyofthevampire225x222_zps6cecc52e.jpg" />http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/kamijo-heart225x222_zps02d62f24.jpg" />



Lamp - ゆめ
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/lamp_zps791786b4.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/lampyume225x225_zpsaf5782b6.jpg" />



Moran - dark & 堕落へと続く偏愛の感触
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/moran_zpscd82b3d9.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/moran-dark220x225_zps4e2b1279.jpg" />http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/moran-5815843D307830687D9A304F504F611B306E611F89E6_zps6e9ee316.jpg" />



ねごと (NEGOTO) - アンモナイト! / 黄昏のラプソディ
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/negoto1_zps971525cc.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/negotoammonite225x223_zps84ca15ca.jpg" />



THE NOVEMBERS - Rhapsody in beauty
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/thenovembers_zps9bd3cfd1.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/thenovembersrhapsodyinbeauty225x222_zps6a5f48a1.jpg" />



シナリオアート (Scenarioart) - night walking & Tokyomelancholy
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/scenarioart_zpse079ba26.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/scenarioart-nightwalking225x225_zpsd4d4080b.jpg" />http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/scenarioart-tokyomelancholy_zpsdeddba9d.jpg" />



Teen Runnings - NOW
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/teenrunnings_zpscf017c4f.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/teenrunningsnow225x225_zps5cb88aba.jpg" />



ユナイト (UNiTE.) - レヴ / ice
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/uniteice_zps7549ffeb.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/UNiTErev225x225_zpse941260d.jpg" />



Ventla - A
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/ventla-A_zpsc820ea54.png" />





Honorable Mentions


八十八ヶ所巡礼 (88kasyo junrei) - 攻撃的国民的音楽
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/88kasyojunrei_zps72a3cc48.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/88kasyojunrei-ongaku225x224_zps735a7b38.jpg" />



BABYMETAL - BABYMETAL
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/babymetal_zps864ed826.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/babymetal-babymetal225x225_zpsa68f5894.jpg" />



HOLLOWGRAM - Qualia
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/HOLLOWGRAM_zps7d338739.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/hollowgram-qualia225x221_zps2ae477ce.jpg" />



吉澤嘉代子 (Kayoko Yoshizawa) - 変身少女
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/kayokoyoshizawa_zps6053728d.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/kayokoyoshizawa-henshinshoujo225x222_zps22002931.jpg" />



ミソッカス (misokkasu) - 統一された混沌(カオス)
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/misokkasu_zps1b97bfb0.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/misokkasu-chaos225x225_zpsf5e43b50.jpg" />



My Fairytale - Tokyo under note
 




ねごと (NEGOTO) - "Z"OOM
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/negoto2_zpsd8076458.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/negotozoom225x225_zps4121303a.jpg" />



Nohtenkigengo - Never
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/nohtenkigengo_zps1dd53f5f.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/nohtenkigengo-never_zps9dc61fa9.jpg" />



Scarlet Valse - -GENESIS-
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/scarletvalse_zps85e9e052.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/scarletvalse-GENESIS225x225_zps36d80f12.jpg" />



ユナイト (UNiTE.) - Ai
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/unite2_zps986f9a8a.jpg" />  http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Best%20of%20lists/uniteai225x225_zps1d8ac9c4.jpg" />

Its all good! I respect your opinion as well, I love conversations like this.
And, I wouldn't mind peeping what they come out with in the future to see if my opinion has changed.

Dumb use of GIF in forum, achieved
These guys just keep improving, I swear. Maybe a future release will grab your attention? And double 'oh no you didn't!' to MEJIBRAY. xD I've always believed most indie bands give a lot more to the scene in terms of something new and different. Maybe that's the unpopular opinion here, I can see many agreeing with you and I fail at supporting my opinion at the moment but I'm ever so fond of both bands because they keep getting better in their own terms and ways with each release.
On another note, boy am I glad to see this thread active again. And on a smaller one, please don't hurt me for this xD Opinions are opinions, responded to show they've got support lol

I've been waiting for the review of witness to be posted and finally, here it is. Better late than never! 
Clearly one of the best albums released this year, my expectations were very high and I haven't been disappointed. In any case, disclosure left me such a good impression with its chaotic atmosphere even before the album was released, and the album just confirmed that these guys know what they're doing; and they're doing it right.

[track list]
01.Day 1
02.Be Free
03.LOOP
04.FREAK SHOW
05.Brave New World
06.pray
07.Path of Light
08.ミッドナイト/狂騒/DARLING(midnight/kyousou/DARLING)
09.Life is...
10.ジウ(jiu)
11.tonight.
 
album recording guest artists:
Gt.加藤貴之(katou takayuki) (兎-usagi-)
Gt.ミヤ(miya) (MUCC)
Dr.永井利光(nagai toshimitsu)
Dr.宮上元克(miyagami motokatsu) (THE MAD CAPSULE MARKETS)

The music video makes it 1000x better. FFFFF I love ITM so much. ;;
 
Missing TRANSLATIONS like crazy right now.
 

That one, yes. Also featuring fab dance m00vez.

The lets-sing-the-entire-song-from-under-a-schoolgirl's-skirt MV? XD

I'm just now realizing this is the group with that rad song/MV. *slowpoke fail* xDDD

Oh, well I actually listen to japanese music since long long long time ago -8 years (?) maybe. The first band I met was The Gazette but by that time, I hated them XDDD.
The band that make me fall for Japanese music and Visual Kei is Malice Mizer, god, I love them and of course all the visual kei of old school. Then appered Dir En Grey and end of story XD.
 
Actually the bands I follow the most are Dir En Grey, the new project of Kyo-Sukekyo. Nocturnal blood lust, Mejibray (they have something D:) And as  you can se, the Eroguro scene plus kote kote or just j-rock (Luna sea is another of my adictions XD) anyway I love all Japanese-rock, (not that much Oshare but they have some pretty interesting bands)  
 
thanks for the welcome! Hope see you around n.n        

I had to get fancy (and buy a dress) to do family things so naturally this means picture time.
 

MEJIBRAY formed and rose from the ashes of VanessA in 2011. Since then they've had a rough go at it with a rather hit or miss discography. Their latest effort, THE "420" THEATRICAL ROSES, shows more of their struggle to find an identity. But that's not to say that it's without merit. 
 
The production on the album is a definite step up from their previous releases. One of the most notable improvements being Meto's meter sounds abundantly more solid and less "chopped"- a recording technique where drum hits are moved or replaced to have more clarity and precise meter. In the 2 years since Emotional【KARMA】's release the compositions have come a long way. The members no longer sound like they are fighting for attention over each other and have opted to share the spotlight to write songs that have a much more defined direction. The problem is the songs on the album don't necessarily complement each other. THE "420" THEATRICAL ROSES comes off as just another collection of songs and not a conceptualized collected work. One theme that does seem to span the album is wearing inspiration and influence on their sleeves. The album reads as a huge love letter to 90s and early 00s era visual kei. Which is something I can appreciate.
 
One of the stronger songs on the album, "Mr.レインは死んだふり(Mr.rain wa shindafuri)" leaves behind Mia's penchant for hair metal nostalgia and the guitar takes a more atmospheric and modern approach. The vocals mirror the polarity and sound as if Tsuzuku's voice might crack from emotion at any second.  "RAVEN Al Ver." would have been my pick for album opener. Everything works together in an insane, unexpected way with machine gun drums and vocals that erupt in inhuman shrieks and screams. Bass is rich in tone and breaks through to carry as much of the song as the guitars. Koichi may have took his sweet time showing up to the party, as the bass is considerably buried in much of the album, but he picked one of the best times to do it. Then there are the blatant Dir en grey tribute songs "埋葬虫(Maisoumushi)" and "hatred × tangle red × hunger red" which ironically enough are on par with the best songs on the album that showcase technical ability and emotional connection from the members.
 
THE "420" THEATRICAL ROSES is not without some missteps, however. The album suffers from being overly indulgent and could have trimmed the fat to be a much better 11 or 12 track record instead of condemning its listeners to the likes of "Hungry Psychopath", "Contagion", "瞬間のアイディアル(Shunkan no ideal)", "BOWWOW", and "SUICIDAL WORD GAME". These songs struggle with Tsuzuku's vocal melodies sounding thin and overpowered by the instrumentation of the songs. They also have trouble walking the line between boring filler or obnoxious try-hard territory.  I do give Mia a bit of credit for his guitar solos being the saving grace for far too many of the aforementioned. 
 
But the most memorable songs for me were the 6 plus minute epics "Echo" and especially the song "鳥は泳ぎ方を知らず溺れ亡骸(Tori wa oyogikata wo shirazu obore nakigara)". Thumping bass and drums pulse along to string and wind instruments creating a multi-layered orchestral atmosphere in the latter track. Guitar is retrained initially but steps in as the song explodes into full band for the chorus and Tsuzuku's voice manages to hold on for dear life to stay front and center. It was the only track that had me so enveloped I couldn't stop to compare it to anything else for the first time in the entirety of the album.  "SERVANT" is also unique with an interesting, almost death metal inspired approach to it but never quite makes it all the way there. Even still, I don't mind. The middle space they find is pleasant. Maybe if they wanted to break from the tribute band comparisons they could explore more of this sound. 
 
Even with its short-comings, I do think THE "420" THEATRICAL ROSES is MEJIBRAY's strongest album to date and they've come a very long way. And they'll continue to go a long way so long as they don't let their egos do too much of the song writing for them. Die hard MEJIBRAY fans should enjoy this album, but it may not be suited to the general visual kei fan's taste.
 
Rating:

'cause... OOR <3

 
huehue. I so love the shirt and that beanieee > . < <3

A-Sketch Major Debut Album
「silver lining」2015.1.14 Release!!
 

Tracklist
1.L-R
2.send me
3.クライベイベ
4.リメンバー
5.緑閃光
6.ゴールド・ルーズ
7.balloon
 
2,000円（+tax） / AZCS-1040
 

I realize my choice of words may have been a little careless in my last post. I was kind of trying to post quickly before I ran out of the house and didn't put a lot of thought into how insulting they might come off. But I still feel that this choice may have been more business driven than artistic, personally. But that's all speculation on my part, of course. I heartily agree they have what it takes and they'll put out some great music in the future. I mean, they already have put out some really great stuff. Kyogen Neurose had its share of great tracks.

I had to get fancy (and buy a dress) to do family things so naturally this means picture time.
 

It's a very enjoyable album, but as I also said, I fully agree with you. The comparisons can't be helped with this band, and what you just said makes it sound like very little was their own inspiration. But then again, it's that what happens with most bands? I lot of influences might be more obvious than others. But I think, like OOR, they'll grow a lot. They've already got what it takes, in my eyes.

I had to get fancy (and buy a dress) to do family things so naturally this means picture time.
 

I had to get fancy (and buy a dress) to do family things so naturally this means picture time.
 

I had to get fancy (and buy a dress) to do family things so naturally this means picture time.
 

doing my favorite thing.