usuxorz

If this post is tldr, then skip to the last paragraph.
 
 
Music has always been my outlet. Linkin Park and Papa Roach are two examples of artists that I could listen to and somehow manage my out-of-control emotions, but my heart was always with metal. A friend of mine introduced me to jrock, but I never paid it much attention because American artists were so much easier to access (besides, she sent me a picture and I wondered wtf was wrong with the vk band members XD). Slayer was always my last resort when it came to music because their music never failed to help me stabilize.

Slayer was almost an integral part of my life back then. Actually, I even met my daughter's father at a Slayer concert. He was also an avid fan, even covering several of their songs on guitar and using their titles as his screen names. We had quite a whirlwind start for our relationship, but in the end he was just using me the way I used music. We broke up on my birthday, but still went to see a Slayer concert together a few days later. Kinda funny how we both met and parted at a Slayer concert. ;; I was already unknowingly pregnant when we broke up (not that knowing would've changed anything).

Despite drama and stress from him and his friends, I had a very happy pregnancy. I never needed music to make me feel better because just putting my hand on my growing stomach was extremely soothing. Unfortunately, my pregnant sister and her family (then husband and her 2 sons) had been living with us. My sister and I never really had that great of a relationship and things only got worse this time. Her husband kept getting fired from the easiest of jobs (even ones where he was hired as a favor), was stealing from the household, wasting her hard-earned money, and went out of his way to NOT do any household chores. She couldn't get mad at him (she was in a custody battle with her ex over their sons and courts prefer stable marriages to single parents), so she'd take it out on me; mentally, emotionally, verbally, financially, and even physically. I could only endure it because of the little miracle growing inside of me.

My sister was further along than I was, so she had her kid before I did. That just made things worse because her husband didn't really want to be a father and never did anything to take care of his daughter. My sister expected my father and I to take care of all 3 of her kids for her, including feeding, bathing, entertaining/supervising, and tutoring them. Because my sister is the stereotypical blond bimbo, she'd often leave for work without expressing milk (and was adamantly against formula) so I ended up having to wet nurse my niece at various times over a span of 2 months (because the only other option was to let her starve ).

My sister's husband left her on December 26th, after receiving several hundred dollars in presents from her. About 2 weeks later I had my daughter. My sister's abuse only intensified after these events. She moved out in February, after telling her church that I had thrown my barely 1 month old daughter against the wall. Some elderly bitch at the church called me and tried to get me to confess my "sins" to her over the phone. I told her A. I have no sins to confess and B. she is legally required by law to report suspected child abuse otherwise she could be face charges as well. She eventually shut the fuck up and called the police like I told her to; an officer was at my front door no more than 10 minutes later. I still remember him to this day: in his late 30s, slightly husky, white in his beard, and not a single hint of maliciousness in his eyes. He commented that my daughter didn't even have scratches on her face, unlike his own kid. He found out it was my sister who started the false report and put a giant, comforting hand on my shoulder before leaving. No matter how much music I listened to, nothing could stop my from shaking in anger and betrayal.

Not even my daughter's crying could jolt my soul. With just this information, some people would think it was "just" postpartum depression, but I had already met with my doctors to check for it (and met with them again after that incident) and I was given a clear bill of health (both times). I don't know how much later, but days later I just put my music on shuffle, hid under the desk, curled up into a ball, and cried while listening to the music. Linkin Park meant nothing. Pink meant nothing. Papa Roach meant nothing. Slayer meant nothing. Slayer was useless to my soul. Slayer, my last resort, did nothing. And then it happened, a song came on that helped wash away the hurt, pain, anger, and numbness. I'll be damned if I remember which song, but I'll never forget the band; it was Dir en grey.

In lieu of an official announcement, 7 Samurai Records instead chose to quietly let Thee Out Mods disappear. Thee Out Mods OHP, official twitter account, and other official profiles were deleted over time. Several official profiles on social media websites were abandoned, but not deleted. ACE, producer for 7 Samurai Records and support guitarist for Thee Out Mods, wrote on his blog that the band is on hiatus until the band members state otherwise.

Thee Out Mods are unofficially disbanded.


Sana (vo) formed The Trippin' Out on December 3, 2012.
Gt: Tatsuya
Ba: "Mr. X" (Yoshiki, formerly of Thee Out Mods)
Dr: SHIGE
Sana's official blog: http://ameblo.jp/thetrippinout/
Tatsuya's blog: http://ameblo.jp/trippin2107/
Yoshiki's ("Mr. X") blog: http://ameblo.jp/trippinbass777/
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTrippinOut?feature=watch

Ken, formerly the drummer of Thee Out Mods, is the "boss" of The Trippin' Out. (Google translation ftw XD)
ACE is the producer (and who knows what else) for The Trippin' Out.

The Trippin' Out released a 3-song demo in January, which they sell at lives.


Despite so many members related to Thee Out Mods now being associated with The Trippin' Out, this new band does not appear to be associated with 7 Samurai Records.

If this post is tldr, then skip to the last paragraph.
 
 
Music has always been my outlet. Linkin Park and Papa Roach are two examples of artists that I could listen to and somehow manage my out-of-control emotions, but my heart was always with metal. A friend of mine introduced me to jrock, but I never paid it much attention because American artists were so much easier to access (besides, she sent me a picture and I wondered wtf was wrong with the vk band members XD). Slayer was always my last resort when it came to music because their music never failed to help me stabilize.

Slayer was almost an integral part of my life back then. Actually, I even met my daughter's father at a Slayer concert. He was also an avid fan, even covering several of their songs on guitar and using their titles as his screen names. We had quite a whirlwind start for our relationship, but in the end he was just using me the way I used music. We broke up on my birthday, but still went to see a Slayer concert together a few days later. Kinda funny how we both met and parted at a Slayer concert. ;; I was already unknowingly pregnant when we broke up (not that knowing would've changed anything).

Despite drama and stress from him and his friends, I had a very happy pregnancy. I never needed music to make me feel better because just putting my hand on my growing stomach was extremely soothing. Unfortunately, my pregnant sister and her family (then husband and her 2 sons) had been living with us. My sister and I never really had that great of a relationship and things only got worse this time. Her husband kept getting fired from the easiest of jobs (even ones where he was hired as a favor), was stealing from the household, wasting her hard-earned money, and went out of his way to NOT do any household chores. She couldn't get mad at him (she was in a custody battle with her ex over their sons and courts prefer stable marriages to single parents), so she'd take it out on me; mentally, emotionally, verbally, financially, and even physically. I could only endure it because of the little miracle growing inside of me.

My sister was further along than I was, so she had her kid before I did. That just made things worse because her husband didn't really want to be a father and never did anything to take care of his daughter. My sister expected my father and I to take care of all 3 of her kids for her, including feeding, bathing, entertaining/supervising, and tutoring them. Because my sister is the stereotypical blond bimbo, she'd often leave for work without expressing milk (and was adamantly against formula) so I ended up having to wet nurse my niece at various times over a span of 2 months (because the only other option was to let her starve ).

My sister's husband left her on December 26th, after receiving several hundred dollars in presents from her. About 2 weeks later I had my daughter. My sister's abuse only intensified after these events. She moved out in February, after telling her church that I had thrown my barely 1 month old daughter against the wall. Some elderly bitch at the church called me and tried to get me to confess my "sins" to her over the phone. I told her A. I have no sins to confess and B. she is legally required by law to report suspected child abuse otherwise she could be face charges as well. She eventually shut the fuck up and called the police like I told her to; an officer was at my front door no more than 10 minutes later. I still remember him to this day: in his late 30s, slightly husky, white in his beard, and not a single hint of maliciousness in his eyes. He commented that my daughter didn't even have scratches on her face, unlike his own kid. He found out it was my sister who started the false report and put a giant, comforting hand on my shoulder before leaving. No matter how much music I listened to, nothing could stop my from shaking in anger and betrayal.

Not even my daughter's crying could jolt my soul. With just this information, some people would think it was "just" postpartum depression, but I had already met with my doctors to check for it (and met with them again after that incident) and I was given a clear bill of health (both times). I don't know how much later, but days later I just put my music on shuffle, hid under the desk, curled up into a ball, and cried while listening to the music. Linkin Park meant nothing. Pink meant nothing. Papa Roach meant nothing. Slayer meant nothing. Slayer was useless to my soul. Slayer, my last resort, did nothing. And then it happened, a song came on that helped wash away the hurt, pain, anger, and numbness. I'll be damned if I remember which song, but I'll never forget the band; it was Dir en grey.

The only time my dad listened to music was on the long road trips to visit his parents. One of the songs he liked was The Animals - Spill Wine. The radio version gets to the meat of the song much faster, but I don't want to look for a better youtube version. XD
 


 
My mom always had the radio on and owned tons of cassettes. She loved Cyndi Lauper!
One of the last songs I remember her listening to (on cassette) before her death was Color Me Badd - I Wanna Sex You Up. It isn't awkward at all to listen to that song with your mother as a child/preteen..................... *cough*
 

from my 21st bday that just passed recently.
YAY ME.
also hi im not dead (yet)

my Nathan Explosion and Danny Trejo-like portrait by a super talented Ukranian guy Yuriy Shilibiyev.
 

Hehe yup XD this is from a few days ago...I herp till I derp a lot :w:" yahhhhh one eyes like WAH but the other knew where to go lol xD also I look tired xD
http://25.media.tumblr.com/fe81964235a61664c97f795332d722e2/tumblr_mpjqq6IpS81rl885vo4_1280.jpg

Well, here I am, happier than ever! (no fucking idea why I took this pic, but hey, who cares)

"Could it be that bald gramps who always says "Rock n' Roll!"? "



lmao this made my night.

If anything deserves to get their own subforum, then I think it would indeed be "non-vk" Jrock. This has been discussed among staff several times before, specifically for the DL section. We hoped a tagging system would help out, but obviously while people tag uploads as "visual kei", nobody would really tag their files with "non-vk", so there isn't really a good way to sort the forum for jrock outside of vk.
 
I think a decent amount of activity has to come first, then the subforums. So my advice to anyone who wants a special subforum for their specific niche: talk about it! There are places to discuss allmost anything in here. But the person who started this thread and is so passionate about K-Pop that they want a seperate discussion forum for it hasn't posted ONCE in the Global Music Forum in any of the existing K-Pop threads. Why should we think they are more active in a subforum?
 
Show us that you care! Post about your favourite topics! If you know there are other people around with the same interestes, encourage them to join the discussion! If there really is a lot of activity for any certain niche, may it be Kpop, or Anime, or raw trve chinese underground black metal, then creating a seperate forum for it is a much more viable option.

A lot of members here listen to black metal, should we make an entire section of the forum dedicated to black metal? I know it's not Japanese but neither is Korean, it's also metal which is more related to rock than pop music.
Basically that's the argument I'm seeing for Kpop.

squarrel? Is that like 2 squirrels fighting?
 
I prescribe to the theory that you should have the absolute least amount of subforums as possible. It is impossible to give everything a home...it's kind of like trying to give genre labels to bands, and we all know how fucking ridiculous that this.    This isn't about being anally organized, it is about creating just enough organization to be conducive to conversation. When you have a super active forum with thousands of posts a day, it makes sense to split things up so that threads don't immediately get washed down the page. But MH isn't in that kind of situation, about the only forum that is active enough to push a new post to the second page in the matter of a day is the downloads forum.   There are also massive negatives to having too many subforums, they massively limit exposure. I would argue there are places where subforums are hurting us now (specifically the news->events subforum). Making people drill down even further kills so many views to any specific thread in that subforum...I would say as much as 75%, if not more.   Needless to say, I do not think we need a reorg when it comes to subforums. I am fine with the discussion of reshuffling or adding new forums if the need arises.     Kpop:   There are two problems I have with this.   One: I reject that idea that you can not properly discuss or download Kpop as things are now. Absolutely nothing is stopping you. If you want to post it, talk about it, download it, it's all good   Two: We are not a Kpop site. If there is one thing that I have learned about forums over my past 10 years of actively visiting and running forums, it is that they work best when they are specific to a certain topic. In our case, it is Japanese Rock. I will never try and stifle discussion of Kpop, I will welcome it with open arms...which as I just stated above, you can already actively do on our site. But I will never make it our focus, just like I wouldn't agree to do it for any other genre of music.

Yeah personally I don't see the need for the creation of all these other categories. We already had them before and it was condensed. I think things work better the way they are now. Talking specifically about the DL section, tt gets people to try out new genres and bands they wouldn't otherwise try out and if you're looking for specific genres or bands, you can use the search function. It's a win win for everyone. For those who want variety/are looking for different music and those who want to specifically listen to one type of genre.
 
I haven't seen that many people interested in jdrama/kdrama, so I'm not sure how active those threads would be and for anime/manga you can just start threads for that in the entertainment section. 
 
And I don't see the need for a specific K-pop section either. If you want to download k-kop, you can go to the asian section where it's posted along with other asian music that's non-japanese. Actually, most of the posts in that section recently have become Korean releases. For the global music, simply start a thread for whatever korean band/group you want to discuss. I believe there's already Korean thread in there too. I don't understand why it's so important to have a category specifically dedicated to K-pop, when want you want can already be served with what the forum offers.

I will say two things about this:
 
A while ago we reorganized the forum to reduce the number of subforums. Why? Many subforums simply weren't used. For example, I think we did have a subforum for Anime and Manga long time ago - but it had very little activity, so we merged it with the general Entertainment forum. So obviously we are hesisant to create a new spree of subforums that in all likelihood won't be used either. The general Entertainment forum has a decent amount of activity - but now imagine we would split this up into seperate forums for Anime/Manga, Games, Books, etc. Each section would have a lot less activity. Less activity would mean that people won't go through the extra clicks of checking all these subforums individually, slowing down activity even further.
 
As a general rule I think forums should only be split up if they get a lot of activity that makes a split necessary, and each new subfoum should be able to "live on its own" ie. be able to attract enough users to make it active. If I look at the Entertainment section, I don't really see enough anime/manga-related posts to make a viable subforum. As a matter of fact, the majority of posts seem to be videogame-related. So if anything it would the Games that deserver their own subforum. Our past experience has shown that simply creating a subforum for something will not make users post in it.
 
 
So, let's talk about the forums with the most activity. That would be the News and Downloads forum. Splitting up the DL forum in particular has been discussed by staff members many times. Some are in favour, some are not. Some problems include clear genre seperations and the fear that a "Non-vk" forum would not receive enough activity. There's also the worry that splitting the forum into "vk" and "Non-vk" would also split up the userbase of the forum, reducing their interaction. We hoped that the introduction of the tagging system would help a bit in this regard - if you look for a specific genre, you can click on the tag and get all downloads for that genre - as long as it's tagged correctly. Obviously, adding proper tags is the responsibilty of the uploader. Once a month or so, I go through the list of tags, merge duplicates, delete tags violating our rules etc. but I cannot check every thread that is missing tags, download it, listen to it, and then add the matching tags myself.
 
Overall, the idea to split up the DL forum into subforums is an idea that's still on the table, if enough people really want it.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Me too!
 
My friend code!  
 
4098-3113-2403

Hey, so I just picked up Animal Crossing: New Leaf and was wondering if any other MH members have a 3DS(and AC would be cool too lol). My friend code is 3007-8391-0379. If you've got the game, come visit my town sometime and if not... well add me anyways XD Post your FC if you've got a 3DS :v

ADD ME PLEASE
 
3110-4678-8650
 
I have all kinds of fruit and most of my inhabitants are pretty cool

The only reason they're doing this is because they lost the market to the PS4 already before either console was even released and they know it. Removing these restrictions is not "listening to their customers", it's a mere attempt at trying to gain back their customers who jumped on the Sony bandwagon after E3. The Xbox One was a device that wasn't specifically marketed at gamers, if you look at all the special features the One had. It looked more like a home entertainment system. Removing those will take away the entire purpose the Xbox One had. This is a win/lose situation for Microsoft. They're hoping to get their gaming customers back, but at the same time take the risk to lose the ones that were attracted by all the features the new Xbox One had to offer (though due all that online criticism I doubt many believed there were a lot of those).
 
Then of course there's the 100$ price difference. They're practically stripping down all the features that made the Xbox One more exclusive than the PS4 (which actually CAUSED that 100$ price difference) but still charge the same price for less options. I'm expecting a price reduction from Microsoft's end soon, or otherwise I doubt they will be able to compete with the PS4.

Sorry if this comes off as inflammatory but whatever. It needs to be said.
 
If you're considering switching over to XBOX One now because "Microsoft removed the DRM", I'm here to tell you that's a stupid idea. Remember when the backlash first started in small fits and the PR team claimed - very vehemently at that - that it could not be turned off? Oh, look, they just managed to find a way to. And I'm very well aware that "can't do it" is programmer parlance for "it would be very difficult to do so given the time constraints", and that many engineers will be spending long hours re-engineering the console from the ground up in order to get it ready for launch day, but look, they can and they caved under the nightmare the was our reaction.
 
What's really happening here isn't that Microsoft is "listening to us". That's utter crap. Microsoft was hedging their bets on Sony following a very similar policy with the PS4, so you had no alternative. It looked like Sony would too, with their acquisition of a patent blocking used games on consoles and the whole spyware scandal concerning pirating media everyone seems to forget about.
 
But after the biggest feint in video game history mimicking some Red Wedding type shit, Microsoft is realizing that draconian DRM such as this has no place on video game consoles. The preorder numbers for the new console send this message home. It is something most gamers do not want. We have told them this before. If they were truly listening to you, they wouldn't have tried to pull this in the first place. If PS4 had ended up doing the same thing, this switch would have never happened and everyone would be screwed. The point here is that if Microsoft could have screwed you, they would have. Don't forget that.
 
Another awful side effect for MS now is that the best features of their new console, which depended heavily on the DRM features, now have to be scrapped. The 10 people game sharing group? Gone. The ability to install from the disc and be able to play without it forever? Gone. Being able to give digital copies of games? Gone. The XBOX One has been neutered at the groin and it's way too close to the deadline date to make the necessary software back-end changes, ensure a smooth, stable experience and then add new features on top. The entire approach MS were going for has been thrown into flux. No one should be happy with this. Those that weren't planning on buying it in the first place shouldn't. Those that were excited about the new features now have less features - if any - to salivate over. Those in the middle now have a console that offers less overall and demands a heftier price tag for it.

This is an awful decision and no one benefits.

 

A candystore delivery comapny. Something like Dominoes, but they would deliver candy instead. Was craving some Skittles, but felt lazy to go to the store.

I've been single for about 4 or 5 years now. I've missed out on some amazing opportunities because I made myself to busy to be in a relationship.  I've been known to ignore a girl or two in the past because of working on projects. I'm currently trying to change that. I just have really high ambition and work towards it.
 
Relationships are good for the soul I think especially if you find someone who motivates or inspires you to go for your dreams and brings out the best in you despite minor flaws in the relationship. A lot of people seem to have this delusion that a perfect relationship is where there is no arguments and everyone gets along all the time. Relationships are a constant working progress. You need to bump heads every now and then to let them know 1. you're an equal in the relationship with your own opinions 2. to let them know that you care. Also, if everything was all sunshines and kittens, the majority of women would get bored with it. To be honest, IMO a certain amount of drama is needed to make a relationship work otherwise, it gets boring. I'm not saying abuse or something though...thats not needed.

HERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPPPPPPPPPP DERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP
 

COME AT ME BRO

Mreow!
Aaaaaaand, to make my comment super pervy/messed up   (cuz I don't want to double post)

 

I'm a million years late, but as they say, "better late than never!"

2012 was been a wonderful year for Japanese music & abroad. Here are my personal favorite albums and EPs of 2012. I've divided them into 2 parts - Japanese and non-Japanese!  I've also provided full sample tracks from each album.

Please feel free to leave any comments!

Japanese Picks!

ATATA - TATAT


tags: alternative, emo, post-rock
Sample song: General Headquarters

After releasing a string of demos, ATATA has finally released their first full length and it is thoroughly fantastic! Consisting of ex. Bandwagon, nenem, Retromania, Mirror, Holstein, and 3cm tour members, ATATA combines all of the punk, post-rock, and emo/hardcore elements from these bands into one seriously rocking package!


ar - YON


tags: rock, indie-pop, electronic, folk
Sample song: breakin' Mama&Papa

sleepy.ab is usually regarded as Japan's answer to radiohead, but the lesser known ar is also very noticeably influenced by them as well. However, such a simple comparison doesn't do ar's sound any justice. They're much more colorful and adventurous than the aforementioned bands, manage to span several genres within the same album, and yet they somehow maintain their own unique sound. The aptly named "YON" is the ar's 4th full album and does a wonderful job of showcasing the band's highly imaginative musical palette.

COgeNdshE - cogency


tags: post-rock, experimental, female vocals
Sample song: un deux trois

Zankyo records is well respected amongst fans of indie and post-rock due to their impressive roster of quality bands (mudy on the 昨晩, the cabs, and te' to name a few), and COgeNdshE is a welcome addition to the label. Their music isn't as easy to digest as some of their label-mates, however. Cogency has a dark, often brooding quality to it and is chock-full of unusual rhythms and time signatures. In addition, the hauntingly melodic female vocals provide a stark contrast to the music itself. The band focuses more on creating a solid atmosphere as a single unit as opposed to employing overly flashy instrumentation in an attempt to highlight themselves as individual musicians. This album is perhaps a bit more left-field than most Monochromians are accustomed to and may require several listens to truly wrap your head around, but it's a rewarding listen if you're willing to give it a try...or two!

ESNO - Visionary


tags: electronic, jazz, female cocals
Sample song: RR

Debut album from ESNO, the new project of jazz/hip hop producer Kenichiro Nishihara. In contrast to his normal material, Nishihara has taken a decidedly electronic approach on this album and it's quite possibly his best work to date.

FilFla - Fliptap


tags: electronic, folktronica
Sample song: Morse Mall

4th album from FilFla, one of Keiichi Sugimoto's many monikers, and the the latest addition to the "’10 Songs In 20 Minutes’ series by music label Someone Good. Given the duration, Fliptap emphasizes the essentials of FilFla's sound - a stunning mishmash of organic elements like acoustic guitars and field recordings, and vibrant electronic programming. Short, but oh so sweet!

fresh! - What Are You Doing In This Confusion?


tags: hardcore, avant-garde, progressive, instrumental
Sample song: ハイビスカス

fresh! have been around for a few of years performing on the Japanese underground circuit, but have finally released their first proper album - the aptly titled "What Are You Doing In This Confusion?". This album is one nonstop cacophony of hectic drumming, disharmonic guitar noodling and obnoxious saxophone screeching. fresh! fits right in with bands like NATSUMEN and PANICSMILE. I can only imagine how killer their lives shows are!

GAGLE×Ovall - GAGLE×Ovall


tags: hip-hop, smooth-jazz, soul
Sample song: Heaven Feat. Shea Soul

For those that follow the non-mainstream Japanese hip hop world, GAGLE×Ovall is a match made in heaven! The amount of talent between the 2 groups is undeniable. Gagle (consisting of MC Hunger, DJ Mu-R, and DJ Mitsu the Beats) is already a powerhouse, but with the added abilities of Ovall (Shingo Suzuki, Mabanua, and Shingo Sekiguchi/Vusik) these guys are pretty much incapable of producing anything less than quality.

JariBu Afrobeat Arkestra - NO MORE PATIENT


tags: afrobeat, funk
Sample song: No More Patient Prt 1&2

Along with KINGDOM AFROCKS, JariBu Afrobeat Arkestra is one of the Japan's premiere afrobeat bands in a small, but flourishing scene. Their last album "Mediacracy" ALMOST made my list for 2011, but the production value wasn't quite as dynamic as I'd hoped for. Thankfully, that's been rectified on this new album and JAA's grooves are more sonically tangible than ever!

Jimanica - Torso


tags: electronic, experimental, instrumental
Sample song: Walking Behind

Jimanica is a drummer and laptop musician who is one-third of the trio "d.v.d" (drums visuals drums) and also 'partners in sound' with fellow electronic musician, Ametsub. Torso is Jimanica's 3rd solo album is a dynamic assortment of live drumming, electronics, and fractured vocal lines (provided by Anna Yamada, Hitomitoi, and Koshi Miura).

KATUSI from EL SKUNK DI YAWDIE & EXTRAVAGANZA - Rhythm Messenger


tags: reggae, jazz, acoustic
Sample song: マチマチ feat. CHAN-MIKA&長崎真吾

As you can somewhat gather from his name, KATUSI is the drummer/percussionist from the little-known bands EL SKUNK DI YAWDIE & EXTRAVAGANZA!. Rhythm Messenger is KATUSI's solo effort in which he features various musicians and singers over his Cajon playing/Drumming. In addition to reggae and jazz, there's a variety of "organic" genres to be found throughout the album. Some awesome features include Likkle Mai, EKD, CHAN-MIKA, and 千尋 (Chihiro)!

KINGDOM☆AFROCKS - SanSanNaNa


tags: afrobeat, funk, jazz
Sample song: No Son Tuyas (Not Yours)

SanSanNaNa is the 2nd studio album from Japanese afrobeaters, KINGDOM☆AFROCKS. Their first studio album Fanfare made it on my list last year, but the grooves here are just as prominent and uplifting!

LAGITAGIDA - CartaMarina


tags: instrumental, progressive-rock
Sample song: Yellow Shark

Just a few months after their first EP, instrumental prog-rockers LAGITAGIDA have returned with their 2nd EP and they mean business! The band consists of members from the now defunct bands mahiruno, Green Milk From The Planet Orange, and school food punishment. They site their major influences as Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, Can, The Mars Volta, Battles, Metallica, Slayer, and Melt-Banana. CartaMarina is intense from beginning to end and proves that LAGITAGIDA is worthy of sharing the stage with Japan's best instrumental bands.

LITE - PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE


tags: math-rock, post-rock, female vocals
Sample song: Bond

LITE is no doubt one of Japan's finest instrumental acts, and their latest EP, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE offers a glimpse into the band's evolution over the years. From their humble beginnings as a traditional post-rock band to their more experimental, vocal-driven compositions that strive to defy classification.

Matryoshka - Laideronnette


tags: modern classical, ambient, IDM, female vocals
Sample song: Cut All Trees

Absolutely gorgeous modern classical pieces embroidered with subtle electronic glitches and angelic female vocals. The tone of Laideronnette is epic and highly emotional - captivating from start to finish.

middle 9 - Cettia Diphone


tags: post-rock, jazz
Sample song: Deja

Cettia Diphone is middle 9's third album and continues the band's tradition of immaculately fusing jazz and post-rock. With only five tracks spanning about 30 minutes, I only wish this one were a bit longer!


M-KODA - Inga


tags: idm, electronic, ambient
Sample song: Glow

Only in his early 20's, M-KODA (real name Satoshi Kodama) is young, but already producing music like a seasoned pro. Inga is his 2nd full album and it exhibits just the right amount of minimalism - not overly melodic, but not subtle to the point that it's boring either.

mmm (ミーマイモー) - ほーひ


tags: folk, indie, female vocals
Sample song: 無題

2nd full album from the indie-folkstress, mmm (pronouced me-my-mo)! Fortunately, she hasn't fallen into a sophomore slump - in fact, she's managed to produce an even better folk album than her first! With her unique voice, memorable songwriting, and endless charm, I don't think this woman is capable of doing any wrong. ;3

Moe and ghosts - 幽霊たち


tags: hip hop, experimental, indie,  female vocals
Sample song: ルー=ガルーガール

Splendid debut album from the enigmatic underground hip hop unit, Moe and Ghosts, who unsurprisingly, describe themselves as a "ghost coast hip hop group from Japan". The production on 幽霊たち has a distinct "underground" feel with many experimental liberties taken, while the rapping/vocals are all handled by the equally interesting female known as Moe (萌); who has a remarkably dynamic flow and style. The tone of moe's voice is also atypical for hip hop, but then again, this is not your typical hip hop album. : )

nego - SANSARA


tags: dub, psychedelic, tribal, experimental, club
Sample song: Raga Naja

Sophomore album from the fascinating, hybrid-band, NEGO. Mixed and mastered by none other than KASHIWA Daisuke, SANSARA (meaning "metempsychosis" in Sanskrit) is a riveting album that utilizes simplicity and repetition at the core, and builds around that core a diverse wall of sound that is utterly entrancing! Members from bands like sgt., kacica, ROVO, egoistic 4 leaves, and WUJA BIN BIN have all given praise to NEGO and this album!

Re-Trick - re:Re-Trick


tags: jazz, club-jazz
Sample song: Regeneration

While some of the more popular of acts of Japan's jazz scene have been on a steady decline (quasimode and jabberloop come to mind), Re-Trick has only been improving! After the release of their last album in 2010, the band went on hiatus for about 15 months, but they haven't missed a beat. As the title of the album implies, re:Re-Trick is a bit of a self-cover album since half of the tracks are re-recordings of early tracks. However, each of those tracks have been redone masterfully and in most cases, aren't even identical to the originals. And of course, the new tracks maintain re-trick's originality and technical prowess. Hands down, my favorite jazz album of 2012!

ROTH BART BARON - 化け物山と合唱団


tags: folk, indie
Sample song: Campfire

I was initially introduced to this band by MH's resident Japanese folk expert, Aion, a year or 2 ago and I've been following them ever since. The world of Japanese folk music is vast and saturated with mediocrity, so it's easy to point out the greats from the fakes - and ROTH BART BARON is the former. Their music has a simplistic beauty to it and it's evocative without being either overly sappy or too depressive. Hopefully, these guys will release a full length one day!


Tam Tam - Meteorite


tags: dub, reggae, alternative, female vocals
Sample song: dry ride

Meteorite is the first full album from the obscure, reggae/dub outfit, Tam Tam. While they employ a lot of traditional elements from reggae/dub, their sound also incorporates pop and alternative sensibilities - giving them a young and fresh appeal.

THE★米騒動 - 十九歳でぜんぶ終わる


tags: rock, garage, female vocals
Sample song: ストランゲーゼ30番地

2nd mini album from the young garage rock trio, The rice panic. They have a fantastic, raw energy that's reminiscent of MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS' more agressive side.

TK from 凛として時雨 - flowering


tags: alternative, indie-rock
Sample song: flower

Solo album from Rin Toshite Shigure vocalist and distinguished guitarist, TK (Toru Kitajima). Even with the ensemble of strings, piano, and additional electronics, flowering isn't much of a departure from rin toshite's sound. In fact, it shows just how much influence TK has over the band. Though this isn't much of a gripe considering the consistently high quality of rin toshite albums. Naturally, TK remains above par.

Wienners - UTOPIA


tags: punk, hardcore, pop, electronic
Sample song: 三原山の怪獣

2nd full album from wienners! Wild, zany, and fun punk that sporadically fuses elements of pop, hardcore, and electronica. Highly energetic with hardly ever a dull moment.

Wuja Bin Bin - Wuja Bin Bin


tags: jazz, avant-garde
Sample song: Middle Age Riot

Wuja Bin Bin is the new project of ex. ex-BEAT CRUSADERS' keyboardist, KEITAIMO, but this is no ordinary project. WBB is more like a super-group of superb indie and "under the radar" musicians. Within the line-up you have achico (on button down/KAREN), jazz trumpeter Shinpei Ruike, Satoru Takeshima (EGO-WRAPPIN & THE GOSSIP OF JAXX), Takuji Nomura (goodluckheiwa/natsumen/sakerock), Keisaku Nakamura (toe/hotel new tokyo/stim/kowloon) and more! Wuja Bin Bin's debut is an amazing mix of jazz, progressive, and experimental elements.

アルカラ - ドラマ


tags: indie-rock, alternative
Sample song: 踊れやフリーダ

I consider Arukara the flag-bearers of a particular brand of rock in Japan that see bands blending traditional elements of "indie-rock" with pop sensibilities. While many attempt this style, trying to appease the indie/DIY fans and exert mass appeal at the same time, Arukara simply excels at it. Whether they're doing ballads, instrumental tracks, or simply rocking out, they always manage to remain catchy and melodic without compromising their skills as musicians. Drama does a wonderful job at showcasing the band at their best.

キリコ - Greyhound...


tags: hip-hop, underground, female vocals
Sample song: Layered

subenoana is one of my favorite Japanese indie labels, as they're constantly releasing some of the most interesting, abstract and experimental Japanese hip hop. Although kiriko is usually very left-field, his new album features a more accessible sound full of soul and jazz-laden samples (courtesy of DJ OLDFASHION) and a host of female rapper/singer collaborations. Kiriko's flow and style remain very off-kilter though, which makes for a unique and refreshing listen.

コトリンゴ - La memoire de mon bandwagon EP


tags: pop, singer-songwriter, female vocals
Sample song: Ghost Dance

Stunning EP from Ryuichi Sakamoto's handpicked protege, Kotoringo! For this EP, Kotoringo formed a trio with Shige Murata (□□□, Cubismo Grafico Five, Circle Darko) on bass and Jumpei Kamiya (Akai Kutsu) on drums - and of course, herself on piano. As always, kotoringo has managed to produce some of the most exquisite pop music around and proves that she is in a league of her own.

スガダイロー - 春風


tags: free-jazz, avant-garde
Sample song: 不屈

New album from the insanely talented avant-garde pianist, Suga Dairo. His previous album actually made it onto my BEST-OF 2011 list; however, this work is almost entirely different. 46 minutes of pure piano work without the accompaniment of bass, drums, or vocals. Replete with broken melodies and meandering improvisation, this album may not be the easiest listen for some, but may be rewarding to those with an ear for the uncanny.

トクマルシューゴ - In Focus?


tags: folk, indie-pop
Sample song: Helictite (LeSeMoDe)

5th album from singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Shugo Tokumaru. Extravagant and meticulously crafted folk-music with a cartoon-ish flare. Superb~!

ハイスイノナサ - 動物の身体


tags: math-rock, post-rock, indie, female vocals
Sample song: logos

haisuinonasa's first full album is every bit as fabulous as their previous 2 mini albums suggested it would be. While the band has always mixed several genres (math-rock, post-rock, electronic, etc), they've really been able to let loose and expand their musical prowess to new areas on this full length. At this point, trying to dissect their music into genres would be futile. Despite the varying elements, their sound is so cohesive that it's nearly indescribable. Whatever haisuinonasa has become, I only have one word for them - EXQUISITE.


伊集院幸希 - THIS IS MY STORY 憐情のメロディ


tags: soul, pop, doo-wop, female vocals
Sample song: 家に帰ろう

First full album from the obscure, but lovely singer-songwriter, Ijuuin Yuki. THIS IS MY STORY is like a blast from the 50's/60's past - even the production of the album is tailored to suit Yuki's impeccable retro-pop sound. Vocally, she sounds similar to early 90's Bonnie Pink, who also had a retro vibe around that time. All-around great tunes~

八十八ヶ所巡礼 - ○△□


tags: rock, progressive, experimental
Sample song: ((((未練))))

○△□ is 88kasyo's 3rd full album, with their previous 2 albums being released in 2011 and 2010 respectively (all in the month of August btw). With releases so close together, you'd think it would be hard for a band to maintain the quality of their work, but that hasn't been the case with this trio. 88kasyo has only improved and grown even wilder with each release. Their skills are simply undeniable (srsly, their guitarist does more on his guitar in one song than some bands with 2 guitarists do in an entire album *cough*thegazette*cough*). But more importantly than their skills as musicians is their ability to craft songs that are unique, refreshing, and keep your ears craving more. Their previous album made my into my top picks of 2011, and they've managed to do so again this year.


小南泰葉 - 嘘憑キズム


tags: pop-rock, female vocals
Sample song: ルポルタージュ精神病棟

Impressive major debut from the up-and-coming singer/songwriter, Kominami Yasuha. She plays an edgy, yet radio-friendly brand of pop-rock that harkens back to early "Muzai Moratorium" days of Shiina Ringo. It's not often that you come across quality major artists, but Kominami is definitely one worth keeping an eye on!

空きっ腹に酒 - 僕の血


tags: indie-rock, punk, hip hop
Sample song: 記憶

Imagine throwing bands like qomolangma tomato, usotsuki barbie, and UHNELLYS into a blender - you'll likely end up with a concoction like this band. "Boku no chi" is Sukipparanisake's first full album and is a spastic mix of indie-rock, punk, and hip hop with just enough craziness to keep your ears excited from start to finish.

緋と陽 - タイヨウニホエロ


tags: hardcore, emo, post-rock
Sample song: いざ沙らば

hitohi's first EP made my best-of list last year, and their new EP is equally as deserving. While the band's songwriting seemed to meander aimlessly a few times on the last EP, they've made noticeable progress in streamlining their "mathy-proggy-postrockish-folky-hardcore" sound. Unfortunately, this EP is only 4 tracks long, but each one is epic in it's own right! ; )


鎮座DOPENESS & DOPING BAND- だいぶ気持ちいいね!


tags: hip-hop, alternative, experimental
Sample song: ヒップ ホップ IS...

With the bulk of Japan's hip hop culture filtered through the likes of MTV, it's tough to find Japanese rappers that really understand the essence of hip hop, but thankfully, CHINZA DOPENESS knows what hip hop is all about! CHINZA has formed a band (THE DOPING BAND), which consists of the up-and coming reggae songstress, CHAN-MIKA, percussionist and producer, IZPON (from KINGDOM☆AFROCKS, Panorama Steel Orchestra, and Orquesta, Nudge! ) with the rest of the members coming from the disbanded reggae/dub outfit 犬式 a.k.a Dogggystyle. This is anything but your typical rap record, as CHINZA and the DOPING BAND play a diverse array of styles including funk, jazz, reggae/dub, as well as your more traditional, old-school hip hop numbers. CHINZA and the DOPING BAND aren't out to talk about their swag or brag about material riches, they simply want to show you a good time!

高橋征司 - N41°


tags: ambient, glitch, minimal
Sample song: first report

This album nearly flew under my radar, as it was released under an obscure, fledgeling label called Te Pito Records. Seiji Takahashi's first album, N41° is only the 3rd release from this label. I bought this on a whim, but was pleasantly surprised by the quality of it! Incredibly soothing ambient soundscapes!