r...

It will cost an arm and a leg, but I think I`ll go to all three dates. Seeing LUNA SEA has been a life-long dream. Plus, GLAY and X and, who knows who else.
Hopefully some other cool older bands will join the bill to make it even more special.

It's been a long time, but we have another video for you guys.
 
There are a few video we made but forgot to post.  They are included below.  The past few videos have been more unboxing with a little talk about each item, but we hope to make more in-depth reviews of bands and a single release.
 
Drowning in Jrock CDs and Flyers Part 1 Malice Mizer, Dir en Grey, Luna Sea, Mejibray, and more
 
Drowning in Jrock CDs and Flyers Part 2 Plastic Tree, Lycaon, GOSSIP, X Japan, La:Sadie's, and more
 
Too many Jrock magazines! SHOXX, CURE, and more Part 1
 
Too many Jrock magazines! SHOXX, CURE, and more Part 2
 

That one is awesome. Have you seen this one, tho?
 
 

Houyoku is actually a really cool album. It did throw me off a lot when it came out, especially given how heavy Kuchiki no Tou was, but it has some great tracks in it. "Kagayaku sekai" is still one of their best songs to this day for me.
 
I discovered MUCC with some random songs off of Zekuu and Houmura Uta, but Kuchiki no Tou was when I first listened to one of their albums and I still hold it as my favorite. I overplayed it so much back in 2004 it was ridiculous. That performance of "Kuchiki no Tou" (the song) in their first Budokan live still gives me chills everytime I watch it. Houyoku, Houmura Uta and Zekuu are probably the other ones I really like, with Shion coming right behind. Aside from T.R.E.N.D.Y., I haven't really enjoyed any of their albums since Shion - and I tried to enjoy Kyuutai countless times, but it feels so lifeless that I honestly don't remember a single thing about it.

The first thing I got was actually from last Friday as gift from my boyfriend.  I was too lazy to actually post it last week, though.

BugLug - V.S (Type A)
 
Getting the non-Japanese stuff out of the way first.  I got this at my local record store today while I was looking for Loudness LPs.  XD

Hanoi Rocks - Two Steps From the Move
Hanoi Rocks - Self Destruction Blues
 
Now here's my newest J-music stuff that I just got today.

Color - Overwhelming Superiority VHS
Color - Land of Revolution VHS
 

Gastunk - In the Fire
Gargoyle - Halleluyah (Rockin' F Single)
Virus - 退屈しのぎのLOVE愛視線 (Rockin' F Single)
Passion Rose - Out of Control (Rockin' F Single)
Gastunk - Dead Song (Rockin' F Single)
Aion - Gasp For Breath (Rockin' F Single)
 

Strawberry Fields - Alibi
Strawberry Fields - Venus
Strawberry Fields - Faded Blue Night
 

D≒SIRE - Stay
Glay - Heavy Gauge
Princess Princess - Princess Princess
Wands - Piece of My Soul
Wands - Little Bit...
Rouage - Mind
Shazna - Gold Sun and Silver Moon (Both versions because I like to collect crap.)
 

Zeppet Store - Clutch
Princess Princess - Let's Get Crazy
Wands - Wands
Princess Princess - Dolls in Action
Jolly Pickles - 黒じゃない世界
Seamonkey - ちょうちんふかし
Redtail Cat - Girl
Laputa - 翔～カケラ～裸
 

Baiser - Terre
Kill-Slayd - Krank
Zinx - Empty
Baiser - 接吻

A small loan of a million dollars later...
 

 
amber gris:
The Best - I'll be right here-
-pray before the down-箱庭の上で-
小さな銀貨を左手に
 
 

Aishuu wasn't re-recorded though just remastered for the collection with antique...
Anyway, interesting to read someone with a completely opposite take on the band, in my opinion they started out strongest even though their kept the spirit alive for almost seven years afterwards.
 
Also, on topic:
1. Aishuu
2. Antique
3. Homura Uta
4. Kuchiki no Tou
5. Zekuu
6. Tsuuzetsu
The rest.

I can see both sides of this argument. On the one hand, it's a so-called 'best album' so it's not surprising that the tracklist leans toward the longer side. In addition, most of the returning tracks were previously only available on a sold out live-limited release, so this gives many fans their first opportunity to buy/hear them. On the other hand, I can see how first time listeners might get a little tired; perhaps it's exactly because I've listened to 'dadaism 1' endless times myself that the familiarity of old material makes it more tolerable on a lengthy album.
 
For what it's worth, when you take out the opening SE and the piano version of 'KURT' which is only on one edition, you're left with 14 tracks, which is not too unreasonable for a full album release.

For 黒夢: if you dig classic V系 you start with 亡骸を..., then 生きていた中絶児 and 中絶.
Get 迷える百合達 if you want a more accessible, major-era, sound.
 
If you dig glossy pop-rock with tons of hooks and smart songwriting and musicianship you go for feminism (my personal favorite). 
 
If you dig punk, then CORKSCREW is the way to go and then move to Drug TReatment and FAKE STAR. FAKE STAR also works if you're looking for a bridge between the glossy pop sound and punk.
 
sads:
Can't go wrong with SAD BLOOD ROCK’N ‘ROLL, BABYLON and THE ROSE GOD GAVE ME. After that the songwriting gets kinda weak. Still enjoyable, but not as cool as it was in those first records.
 
Solo 清春: either poetry or MELLOW, I think. 
 
 
And miss feminism? Haha, no way. That's like missing the most delicious dessert on the menu. FAKE STAR is also mighty cool. 

Not really a fan of ranking albums, they all have so many great qualities.. Luna Sea had some of the most outlandish shit they ever made. It's got that raw, dreamy wicked vibe written all over it. Lots of dark green, blue, purple and black feelings, vines spiraling out from a naked body.There was no album as graphic as that one until Mother came along, where the production value and overall atmosphere tied together so perfectly. But if you look at pure musical content, I'd probably say that Image is ahead of the others.
 
Anything after Mother would be my weakest pick. Sure, I love Style. It's like a musical representation of Sugizos magenta hair. LOVE&UNIVERSE all over the place. Just doesn't turn me on as the raw grit they churned out before. 
 
Personal favs: Face to face and Branch Road.
The futuristic atmosphere in Face to face is just insane. It's also a real testament to where they perfectly combined artistic integrity with a new level of songwriting (eg. when the music seamlessly enchances the overall concept of the song).
Branch road? Jesus, it's got so much shit going on. The dynamics between the different parts makes it feel more like a story than a rock song. Toppled with great counter riffing, Sugizos delaybombs, and the overall schizophrenic vocals. I'd say the vocals are the main character of the story. Switches between Ryuichi talking to himself and lashing out at the world builds a great dissonance that is later unleashed in the force of a thousand suns orgasm that is the chorus. It bursts out in some ambivalent scene of "fuck the world, but I'm going to be the one doing the fucking".
 
Dat scream doe.

Huge fan here. Love hide and his legacy.
PSYENCE is a classic and HIDE YOUR FACE is one hell of a cool record too. His stuff just sounded so vibrant and cool. Like he was two or three years ahead of anyone else. At the same time, he had enough pop sensibilities to churn out some amazing hit songs. Killer backing band as well.

So I noticed artists section is missing something important:
 

 
hide,
you might know him from X Japan, his solo, with spread beaver, zilch or even yokosuna saver tiger.
His music varies a lot. from speed metal to more pop stuff of his solo career to industrial rock.
 
I love hide because he's really pretty, light hearted, apparently real trouble maker and cool as f.
so anyone else a fan of his?
 

my wish list
絶望ノ朝
Fake
君ノ存在理論
Wish
潔癖性ノ僕。
黒い涙
中絶
孤独人形症候群
殺戮ノ情景
Lost tears
解離性同一性障害
Dead[en]D

Jesus Christ.
I posted this review to encourage people to fucking buy it  because it's a good single worth buying. And if you like the band but aren't going to buy it, here's a heads up: the new release is good.
 
It was like ten bucks at the zoisite online shop. They ship overseas.  Everyone does have the same access.
 
Are you seriously asserting that someone would write a review to brag about having ten dollars?
 

Been listening to BODY the past few days and figured they could use a little love.
 
Cipher (D'erlanger) and Tetsu (Zi:Kill) formed BODY following Zi:Kill's breakup. Naoki Kimura landed the vacant vocalist position after being approached after a gig by Yasuyuki Saito, guitarist of Reaction, who had gone to work for Sony Records and was scouting a singer for Cipher and Tetsu's new project. Naoki was an amateur singer who had never even heard D'erlanger before, due to only listening to western bands at the time. Motoki Okada, another really green player, rounded out the lineup on bass (I've never found info on how he landed the gig, I'm guessing through Saito as well).
 
Despite having loads of talent and a some great songs, BODY didn't work out; they disbanded following one album and a series of shows at the Nippon Budokan. There have been many theories why they broke up, I've seen it suggested on Japanese sites that their debut album, Flame, was derided for poor sound quality and the albums shortcomings caused internal strife within the band. The album was remixed with some added keyboards and overdubs and re-released a year later, but it was too late, as Cipher and Tetsu had formed CRAZE and released their debut single by the time the remixed Flame hit the market.
 
-As stated above, Cipher and Tetsu found success in CRAZE following BODY's breakup, and are both currently in the reunited D'erlanger.
-Naoki dropped off the radar for a few years before resurfacing as the new singer for the his mentor Yasuyuki Saito's band, Reaction, with which he performed until Saito's death.
-Motoki and Naoki also formed THE LOVEROCK VIOLENT together with Kenji Shimizu, who was a BODY support member.
 
 
 
Disclaimer: I got 90% of this information from Naoki's old blog, so if anything posted here is untrue... Naoki be lying.

Eu queria ser você. De coração. De não conhecer algumas coisas e ter a chance e os meios de ir atrás de tanta coisa legal que ficou pra trás. Basicamente você tem 20/25 anos de história pregressa pra conhecer. Tem MUITA coisa boa (tem muita merda também, mas não vamos focar no negativo aqui, por favor).
 
Do L'Arc~en~Ciel mesmo, os dois primeiros discos, DUNE e Tierra são LINDOS. Tierra é o que tem Blurry Eyes. Ah se eu pudesse ouvir tudo de novo, como se fosse a primeira vez... Imagina conhecer de novo Kagrra, Dué le quartz, Plastic Tree, MALICE MIZER, etc, etc, etc... Fico imaginando como deve ser foda pra alguém ouvir o merveilles sem ter noção de mais nada. Queria eu ter essa chance de novo.

Ninguém pegou a época do Yokan, não? Jesus do céu, estou velho... Rast, nem você?
 
Bons tempos de iori, KENJI, Scarlett, YUKI, Kreuz, Mo-chan, hideKO, Yumi, Gaga-kun, RIKA, Sucrilhos, o Rafa de Brasília (cujo nick eu esqueci), Uka, Carol fãzaça do KISAKI e Syndrome, pinku, a galera do sul, jtotoro, xper, a galera do rio em geral, Bia. Porra, muita gente. A época do D:vd talvez, TALVEZ, tenha sido a mais legal de todas, porque juntou o aumento de fãs, junto com a melhora na velocidade de internet de muita gente e a vontade absurda de ir atrás de bandas underground. Época muito maneira. Hoje é melhor pela facilidade, mas sinto falta de trocar ideia com gente que gosta das bandas. VK tem um certo charme que nenhuma outra cena tem.
 
Aqui no fórum eu já acho ruim de participar, porque a grande maioria das bandas mais faladas aqui eu acho horrorosas de ruim. E não sou maluco de ficar puxando assunto de como o LUNA SEA até o STYLE era sensacional, ou porque Lamiel era excelente, porque eu vou ficar falando sozinho. Não cabe.

Was driving around listening to Cassis getting excited for Gazette's NYC show in a couple weekends.... thought I'd record some thoughts. Let me know what you think of this (old) Gazette single!
 
(shoutout to Jrocknyc shoutboxer Ken who made a few videos like this about old school Nagoya Kei that were fun... I couldn't find any of them anymore though.)

Mas isso das cópias não é desculpa, porque isso já acontece desde sempre. As bandas mais recentes não são boas por uma série de razões, mas não é por que copiam outros artistas. Até porque, precisa começar de algum lugar.
 
the GazettE eu vou passar. Vi o setlist e chorei. Inacreditável que os caras não consigam mesclar músicas de todas as eras até hoje. E menos de 20 músicas é piada.

tosinn not being a V系 band is news to me. Back in the day I don't remember anyone questioning their "visualness". They used to play with lots of other visual bands when they were around.
 
A quick 10-name drop:
-Lucide
-babysitter
-ハッピーサッド
-otoiro
-GULLET
-Shiver
-DUMMY CHILDREN
-L'yse:nore
-gechena
-AURORA
 
 

O Tierra tem, talvez, uma das cinco melhores músicas da história do L'Arc~en~Ciel, White Feathers:
 

 
O DUNE tem uma outra entre as cinco, As if in a dream: 
 

Eu queria ser você. De coração. De não conhecer algumas coisas e ter a chance e os meios de ir atrás de tanta coisa legal que ficou pra trás. Basicamente você tem 20/25 anos de história pregressa pra conhecer. Tem MUITA coisa boa (tem muita merda também, mas não vamos focar no negativo aqui, por favor).
 
Do L'Arc~en~Ciel mesmo, os dois primeiros discos, DUNE e Tierra são LINDOS. Tierra é o que tem Blurry Eyes. Ah se eu pudesse ouvir tudo de novo, como se fosse a primeira vez... Imagina conhecer de novo Kagrra, Dué le quartz, Plastic Tree, MALICE MIZER, etc, etc, etc... Fico imaginando como deve ser foda pra alguém ouvir o merveilles sem ter noção de mais nada. Queria eu ter essa chance de novo.

Pra mim, essa música do Crucifixion foi A música de 2013, até postei aqui quando saiu. Madeth gray'll e 翡翠 ficariam orgulhosos. Tem TUDO, fiz até uma listinha:
 
Intro de caixinha de música? - CHECK
Falou Eins-Zwei-Drei-Vier? - CHECK
Gritou ザイザイ~ no refrão? - CHECK
Guitarrinha flicka-flicka? - CHECK
Vocalista se esgoelando como maluco? - CHECK! CHECK! CHECK!
 
Isso é lindo. Se vocês não gostam desse tipo de som, podem entregar a carteirinha na saída, por favor.
 
É tipo isso aqui:

 
Metis Gretel nem é tão bom assim. Mas só essa música já é maior que discografias inteiras.