Post 1 - Top 10 Japanese male musician releases (♫ Just keep scrolling, just keep scolling~ ♫)
Post 2 - Top 10 Japanese female musician releases (I'm more of a J-pop head then I thought!)
Post 3 - Runners up (that should be in the above two categories but couldn't fit in), the mixed vocals + honourable mentions (all previously brought up in ChristMHas list)
Post 4 - Top English album + single (only one of each because I'm more of an Asian music listener than anything else)
My top 10 Japanese male musician releases
TK from 凛として時雨 - Fantastic Magic /
asobius - pray & grow /
THE NOVEMBERS - Rhapsody in beauty /
MEJIBRAY - シアトリカル・ブルーブラック /
Lycaon - 馬鹿ね。+ 悪女の微笑 + Shadow /
AvelCain - AvelCain /
Plastic Tree - echo /
PLASTICZOOMS - Secret Postcard /
yazzmad - niche['ni:tʃə] /
LM.C - PERFECT FANTASY /
For the full length (unedited) review, click on the spoiler tag below:
This was a pretty random bandcamp discovery iirc. I've always been a sucker for
sweet female vocals in folk/singer-songwriter music, and this is the album that most
thoroughly fulfilled that need for me this year. Obscure, but good.
Totem by Bâton Rouge
Sample: Train De Nuit
French emo band Baton Rouge's first album Fragments D'eux Mêmes was
one of my favorites back in 2011 - it was intense, melodic, and straight to
the point. Train De Nuit is an entirely different beast, though. It's more
fleshed-out, and the melodies take their time to build, but when
everything finally clicks, it's a rewarding listen
Earthbeat by Be Forest
Sample: Airwaves
One of my more fortuitous discoveries from hanging out on plug.dj.
Forest plays a brand of dream-pop that often floats off into a brume of shoegaze,
yet is constantly anchored by earthy, commanding drums. One of those
albums that I can turn on and just be swept away by the atmosphere
without having to listen too intently.
Black Messiah by D'Angelo
Sample: Ain't That Easy
It's been 14 year's since D'Angelo's last album, and although I was
probably a bit too young to appreciate his music at that time (age 13),
the "Black Messiah" is a more than welcome addition to my playlist now.
Gritty, organic soul music that easily reminds me of classics like
Al Green and even Prince.
Hard Believer by Fink
Sample: Pilgrim
Fink's style of soulful/bluesy folk tunes were originally pretty friendly and
easily digestible, but over the years his sound has become progressively darker
and experimental around the edges. Hard Believer continues this trend,
and while some of the songs get a bit too self-indulgent, repeat listens have
revealed to me that almost each track works well on it's own instead of
in the convoluted context of the album.
LP1 by FKA twigs
Sample: Two Weeks
I actually didn't expect to like FKA twigs. I thought she'd be another kelela -
nice vocals over crappy, sparse beats - and then pegged as some glorious
"experimental r&b" goddess. I'm glad I was wrong. The production on LP1
is actually the most interesting thing about it. It's got all of the minimalistic
qualities of trap-influenced r&b, but there's an idm-like ingenuity
behind it all. Definitely an album better appreciated in headphones
or with a good set of speakers.
Chiaroscuro by I Break Horses
Sample: Faith
I haven't gotten around to hearing this duo's first album yet, and I often see
them described as "electrogaze" (electronic shoegaze), but I'd describe
this album a bit differently. It sounds more to me like dark, hazy electrpop with
an affinity for the 80's. Whatever you wanna call it, it's a sound that I've
found myself more drawn towards this year.
You Can Do Better by Johnny Foreigner
Sample: In Capitals
Hailing from England, Johnny Foreigner play raw, energetic, and straightfoward
indie-rock with punk spirit. It's an album I like to throw on when I want to hear
something bright and uplifting, but that also rocks at the same time.
Moving On by Kan Wakan
Sample: Sawdust
Cinematic pop music with smoky female vocals and an emphasis on live
instrumentation? Always a good recipe in my book, and Kan Wakan
made wonderful use of those ingredients. Unfortunately (or fortunately?),
this album is a one-off, as vocalist Kristianne Bautista is no longer in the band.
My Little Ghost by Kidkanevil
Sample: All Is Not Lost (feat. Cuushe & Cokiyu)
If everything about this release seems very "Japanese" to you - from
the album cover to the featured artists - then you're not far off the mark.
My Little Ghost was released through the Japanese music label flau, although
some ppl might associate Kidkanevil more easily with his role in the UK
electronic/trip-hop band Stateless. Interestingly, My Little Ghost is more in
the realm of ambient, IDM, and glitch than it is Kidkanevil's favored
genre of hip hop. He absolutely excels at these other styles, though.
Across by Kilo Kish
Sample: Curious
If I had to offer an American equivalent to Japanese artists like daoko
or Izumi Macra, then Kilo Kish would be the first to come to mind. She
creates the same kind of innocent-sounding alternative hip hop and employs
a similarly careless and unassuming flow. She also "sings" without really
having a singing voice (just like the Japanese artists i just mentioned),
but it's all done very charmingly. The production is super chill too.
The Golden Echo by Kimbra
Sample: Madouse
When the The Golden Echo came out, I was fortunate enough to listen to
it along with , and since we were both already fans, our
hype was over 9000. The Golden Echo completely surpassed all of my
expectations. Kimbra's ability to hop from style to style (with style) -
whether it's trap, disco, or psychedelic soul-influenced - is on par with
her contemporary Janelle Monáe.
Nabuma Rubberband by Little Dragon
Sample: Let Go
I've been stalking following Yukimi Nagano ever since I first heard her soulful
croon back in 2006 via her various jazz/nu-jazz collaborations. When I
discovered she had a band called Little Dragon in 2007, I was pretty excited.
Although that quickly devolved into utter disappointment upon hearing
Little Dragon's debut album - sparse and awkward electronic music that just
made you uncomfortable listening to it. Fast-forward 7 years and 4
albums later - LITTLE DRAGON FINALLY HAS FINALLY GOTTEN IT RIGHT.
Yukimi's vocals are still the highlight, but this time the music and
songwriting are equally excellent.
The Sky as Well as Space by Memory Map
Sample: Superhuman Child
Memory Map is actually associated with Japan's Zankyo records, so it should
come as no surprise that these guys play the kind of technical and inventive
indie-rock that would be welcome there. I'm actually pretty surprised at how
obscure this band seems to be and the fact that I've never seen any
of my indie buddies mention 'em before.
Composite by Monogrenade
Sample: L'aimant
Gorgeous orchestral indie-rock/pop from the French-Canadian ensemble
Monogrenade. This is their 2nd album after 2011's Tantale,
and it's even better. Super lush soundscapes and impossibly chill.
Graveyard Whistling EP by Nothing But Thieves
Sample: Itch
I'm pretty shocked this band isn't bigger. They're signed to a major label (RCA),
but it doesn't look like they've made any significant waves yet. Whatever the
case, their songwriting is top-notch when it comes to pop-rock and their
vocalist has a uniquely piercing croon. Not sure how they're received
in the UK, but I can imagine this boding well in the American mainstream.
OOM VELT by Salt Cathedral
Sample: Holy Soul
Just last year Salt Cathedral were a whimsical, math-rock band, but they've
since lost 3 members and have continued as an electronic duo. Their
sound has translated extremely well, mostly thanks to the ethereal vocals
of Juliana Ronderos; which really carries the band.
Maui Tears by Sleepy Sun
Sample: The Lane
Spaced-out and voluminous psychedelic-rock from California. Maui Tears is
the band's 4th album and is hands down my favorite thus far. What I enjoy
the most here is how immersive the music is while still remaining accessible
and not getting lost within itself.
Early Riser by Taylor McFerrin
Sample: Already There (feat. Robert Glasper & Thundercat)
First album from producer/multi-instrumentalist Taylor McFerrin out on
Brainfeeder - the same label as beatsmiths like Flying Lotus, Tokimonsta,
Teebs, etc. Super chill electronic/broken beat with jazzy overtones; featuring
a handful of guest vocalists and musicians. Early Riser is ridiculously
smooth and might be one of the most flawlessly flowing albums I've ever heard.
Sun Structures by Temples
Sample: Colours To Life
Temples are a 60's psychedelic-rock revivalist band that play the style
to the letter. They don't offer a refreshing take on the genre and they don't
attempt to redefine the rules, but nonetheless, Sun Structures has
thoroughly sated my ears this year.
Follow the Path by The Shaolin Afronauts
Sample: To the Water
To the water is a behemoth double album with the first disc full of awesome
afrobeat grooves and the 2nd disc a more subdued venture into eastern
flavored funk that wouldn't be out of place in a 70's kung-fu flick. With 21
tracks in total, I wouldn't recommend listening to both discs in one sitting.
Foreign Languages by tide/edit
Sample: Odd & Even
Ironically, some of the best post/math-rock bands have been coming out
of almost every other Asian country but Japan lately - yet most of
these newcomers have been inspired by Japan's scene. Such is the
case with tide/edit from the Philippines who site toe as a major influence.
Manipulator by Ty Segall
Sample: The Crawler
I've always been attracted to rock music that draws from the psychedelic
and stoner sounds of the 60's and 70's, and Ty Segall's Manipulator
is like an aural smorgasbord of those eras. At 17 tracks long, the album
might appear to blend together during protracted listens, but I've found
myself constantly discovering new jams upon revisits.
Warpaint by Warpaint
Sample: Biggy
Warpaint caught my attention back in 2010 on their first album The Fool,
but they weren't able to sustain it through an entire album. And while
their sound still manages to avoid being easily pigeonholed, the band's
songwriting has become somewhat less elusive and more viable than
before. Not a challenging listen at all, but a definite grower.
Deep Fantasy by White Lung
Sample: Face Down
@Jigsaw9 first introduced me to White Lung with their album
back in 2012 and they've returned bigger and better than ever on
Deep Fantasy. Still the intense female-fronted punk band with
razor-wire riffage that I fell in love with.
This arc is the best arc since "impel down" and "war of the best" imo.
maybe it would help if you explained what exactly you find "bad" about it instead of coming in here every week and essentially flaming the series and it's characters for what appears to be out of spite. Nobody is gonna take you seriously if all you do is bitch and moan and slander the series without backing up your reasons.
In my opinion this is one of the strongest arcs in a very long time. Just so you know I'm basing this all off of the manga not the anime. there is some truly amazing shit coming in the anime that I can't wait to see. namely laws flashback arc
Someone has missed the memo on what hardcore punk is. Punk rock and glam couldn't be further apart and most of the hardcore music I've ever heard is in direct opposition of using frills and glitter to make a dollar. Its about solidarity and inner strength and anti-establishment. Not about dressing up, and fan service and make up.Vk may have embraced hardcore, but hardcore has not embraced vk.
Edit: I think it was also misread that I said vk is the antithesis of hardcore/metalcore, and not the other way around. Vk can be any genre, but hardcore was built on a lifestyle. Its way more specific and rigid about what defines it. So going back to my original point, a vk band would be logical in expanding into metalcore territory, but a metalcore band going visual is a rare case.
^ The back of my room. Books, books, and more books (I even had to shift 2 bookshelves into my bro's room >.<) flanked by some random posters...
^ Front of my room with my bed, working area, and a CD rack - my collection's too scattered and the rest are in a cupboard outside cuz my room's way too small...
Tefu Tefu is awesome, especially the solo.
Unfortunately I disagree with all comments regarding Sukekiyo's superiority. Personally I think the only song of theirs that has any significance is Aftermath because it's one of the most perfect songs I've ever heard.
Oh and the opening to Hemimetabolism is beautiful.
The only two Gazette albums I can still care for, but DIM wins the top spot in the end. Why? Despite NIL having been my real introduction to the band, DIM is an album I loved from start to finish, and has some kind of mysterious flow through the tracks. I doubt they'll ever be able to upstage that.
Although I doubt it's a prerequisite, here are some bands that are well known/well respected/revered that I'd suggest. Pics in the spoilers.
Tokyo Jihen (東京事変)
toe
THE NOVEMBERS
LOSTAGE
ZAZEN BOYS
DOWNY
MERRY
the GazettE
DIR EN GREY
shizukasou got a reaction from RpgRiser in Show Yourself (again)