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Starting around 3:21, you can hear a sample for the "エンゼル・ハイロゥ(angel halo)" single.

Artist: そこに鳴る (sokoninaru) EP: I'm NOT a pirolian 1. pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜 2. 夏の落とし物 (natsu no otoshimono) 3. ARAGAE!! 4. 真実の花 (shinjitsu no hana) 5. さらば浮世写し絵の如く(do-do gigantic evolution ver) (saraba ukiyo utsushie no gotoku)
Rating: | pirolian status: unconfirmed
 
From the initial posting of sokoninaru’s “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜” PV in the news thread, this band’s debut release has caused quite a stir. Some (including me!) were immediately taken by the band’s in-your-face instrumentation, while others were less convinced: despite the apparent guitar frill, the core songwriting was written off as too poppy or the band was deemed a ling tosite sigure wannabe. Now that their first EP I’m NOT a pirolian has had some time to settle, it’s time to hash out my opinion.

Right off the bat, the band demands your attention. The EP opens with a frenetic, prickly guitar and bass solo loop that goes on for about 10 seconds before the drums crash in and the song really kicks off. In fact, drums are what help to propel this track. A variety of creative fills and production quirks emphasize the percussion and keep listeners on their toes, rhythmically. Meanwhile, guitarist Suzuki and bassist Misaki play their hearts out. There’s no doubt that this trio has some impressive musical chops, but somehow, the complete song doesn’t quite gel. The chorus is a bit of a letdown and at times, the band doesn’t link together the different parts of the song in convincing ways. For instance, the ending is an abrupt mess.

Fortunately, the band really buckles down on “夏の落とし物 (natsu no otoshimono),” my personal favorite from the EP (check out the mp3 sample below!) and one of my favorite songs of the year so far! This track exhibits the tightest composition on the release and a beautiful chorus. The quickly strummed, scratchy riffs remind me of one of my disbanded j-indie faves, caroline rocks. Throughout the track, soothing background vocals by Misaki help to balance the nasal, yet raspy vocals by Suzuki. Ending with a bang, Suzuki rips out a heart-wrenching guitar solo with such a satisfying tone. “ARAGAE!!” continues the momentum, borrowing the experimental tendencies from “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜”and combining them with the heart and more focused composition of “natsu no otoshimono.” It is pretty dynamic, moving between zippy barrages of guitar work and more tranquil interludes. Again, spectacular drumming and Misaki’s background vocals add further dimension to the song. Back in April, I had a hard time deciding between this and “natsu no otoshimono” for our Best New Tracks list!

“真実の花 (shinjitsu no hana)” is where the band loses me for a bit. The opening bass lick is very clearly copied from the lead guitar riff in American post-hardcore group The Fall of Troy’s “F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X”. I would be flabbergasted if sokoninaru claimed they had never listened to them before. Plagiarism aside, the remainder of track has some redeemable moments, including yet another kickass, hi-octane guitar solo from Suzuki—he’s got a knack for these! The EP ends with a rerecording of one of their demo tracks “さらば浮世写し絵の如く (saraba ukiyo utsushie no gotoku).” This finale continues the kind of mid-tempo energetic indie rock heard in the previous track, but what stands out is Misaki's most pronounced vocal presence yet. She takes over lead vocals during certain parts of the song and provides some stunning harmonies once Suzuki jumps back in.

So what’s the verdict on I’m NOT a pirolian? Sokoninaru has some major potential and they really hit their stride on tracks 2 and 3. Considering “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜” is the PV (i.e. marketing) track, I wonder if there was pressure from their label to project a sound that they don’t fully embody, namely that of being some tryhard ling tosite sigure-inspired band. Other than that first track, I don’t find the comparison that valid, especially vocally speaking. Whereas some bands (looking at you, HaKU) ape LTS right down to TK’s vocal style, Suzuki and Misaki have their own thing going on here and it works!  Despite the half star deduction for the lack of originality in “shinjitsu no hana,” I’m still very much looking forward to what this band has in store for us next. All three members show plenty of musical promise. I believe they have more in them than just being “a poor man’s ling tosite sigure,” to quote @CAT5. Moreover, I just need to figure out whether I’m a pirolian or NOT! Hopefully, we'll all have the chance to find out on their next release!

What did you think of the EP?


 
Support the band! CDJapan
HMV
YesAsia

Artist: そこに鳴る (sokoninaru) EP: I'm NOT a pirolian 1. pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜 2. 夏の落とし物 (natsu no otoshimono) 3. ARAGAE!! 4. 真実の花 (shinjitsu no hana) 5. さらば浮世写し絵の如く(do-do gigantic evolution ver) (saraba ukiyo utsushie no gotoku)
Rating: | pirolian status: unconfirmed
 
From the initial posting of sokoninaru’s “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜” PV in the news thread, this band’s debut release has caused quite a stir. Some (including me!) were immediately taken by the band’s in-your-face instrumentation, while others were less convinced: despite the apparent guitar frill, the core songwriting was written off as too poppy or the band was deemed a ling tosite sigure wannabe. Now that their first EP I’m NOT a pirolian has had some time to settle, it’s time to hash out my opinion.

Right off the bat, the band demands your attention. The EP opens with a frenetic, prickly guitar and bass solo loop that goes on for about 10 seconds before the drums crash in and the song really kicks off. In fact, drums are what help to propel this track. A variety of creative fills and production quirks emphasize the percussion and keep listeners on their toes, rhythmically. Meanwhile, guitarist Suzuki and bassist Misaki play their hearts out. There’s no doubt that this trio has some impressive musical chops, but somehow, the complete song doesn’t quite gel. The chorus is a bit of a letdown and at times, the band doesn’t link together the different parts of the song in convincing ways. For instance, the ending is an abrupt mess.

Fortunately, the band really buckles down on “夏の落とし物 (natsu no otoshimono),” my personal favorite from the EP (check out the mp3 sample below!) and one of my favorite songs of the year so far! This track exhibits the tightest composition on the release and a beautiful chorus. The quickly strummed, scratchy riffs remind me of one of my disbanded j-indie faves, caroline rocks. Throughout the track, soothing background vocals by Misaki help to balance the nasal, yet raspy vocals by Suzuki. Ending with a bang, Suzuki rips out a heart-wrenching guitar solo with such a satisfying tone. “ARAGAE!!” continues the momentum, borrowing the experimental tendencies from “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜”and combining them with the heart and more focused composition of “natsu no otoshimono.” It is pretty dynamic, moving between zippy barrages of guitar work and more tranquil interludes. Again, spectacular drumming and Misaki’s background vocals add further dimension to the song. Back in April, I had a hard time deciding between this and “natsu no otoshimono” for our Best New Tracks list!

“真実の花 (shinjitsu no hana)” is where the band loses me for a bit. The opening bass lick is very clearly copied from the lead guitar riff in American post-hardcore group The Fall of Troy’s “F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X”. I would be flabbergasted if sokoninaru claimed they had never listened to them before. Plagiarism aside, the remainder of track has some redeemable moments, including yet another kickass, hi-octane guitar solo from Suzuki—he’s got a knack for these! The EP ends with a rerecording of one of their demo tracks “さらば浮世写し絵の如く (saraba ukiyo utsushie no gotoku).” This finale continues the kind of mid-tempo energetic indie rock heard in the previous track, but what stands out is Misaki's most pronounced vocal presence yet. She takes over lead vocals during certain parts of the song and provides some stunning harmonies once Suzuki jumps back in.

So what’s the verdict on I’m NOT a pirolian? Sokoninaru has some major potential and they really hit their stride on tracks 2 and 3. Considering “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜” is the PV (i.e. marketing) track, I wonder if there was pressure from their label to project a sound that they don’t fully embody, namely that of being some tryhard ling tosite sigure-inspired band. Other than that first track, I don’t find the comparison that valid, especially vocally speaking. Whereas some bands (looking at you, HaKU) ape LTS right down to TK’s vocal style, Suzuki and Misaki have their own thing going on here and it works!  Despite the half star deduction for the lack of originality in “shinjitsu no hana,” I’m still very much looking forward to what this band has in store for us next. All three members show plenty of musical promise. I believe they have more in them than just being “a poor man’s ling tosite sigure,” to quote @CAT5. Moreover, I just need to figure out whether I’m a pirolian or NOT! Hopefully, we'll all have the chance to find out on their next release!

What did you think of the EP?


 
Support the band! CDJapan
HMV
YesAsia

I chose "NOT" because if this is what not a pirolian sounds like, sign me up!
 
I'm not the biggest sigure fan so I can't say whether these guys are a "poor man's" version. But I find the vocals much easier on the ears with soko. X"D And idk if I'd go so far as to claim plagiarism, but the riffs are extremely similar for a bar there, definitely. So I get what you're saying. And you really got an ear for finding these band similarities! I'm still in awe of the Heartless and the LOTUS mention from BNT. lol
 
Nice review, agree with the rating, and can't wait to hear more from this band!

Artist: そこに鳴る (sokoninaru) EP: I'm NOT a pirolian 1. pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜 2. 夏の落とし物 (natsu no otoshimono) 3. ARAGAE!! 4. 真実の花 (shinjitsu no hana) 5. さらば浮世写し絵の如く(do-do gigantic evolution ver) (saraba ukiyo utsushie no gotoku)
Rating: | pirolian status: unconfirmed
 
From the initial posting of sokoninaru’s “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜” PV in the news thread, this band’s debut release has caused quite a stir. Some (including me!) were immediately taken by the band’s in-your-face instrumentation, while others were less convinced: despite the apparent guitar frill, the core songwriting was written off as too poppy or the band was deemed a ling tosite sigure wannabe. Now that their first EP I’m NOT a pirolian has had some time to settle, it’s time to hash out my opinion.

Right off the bat, the band demands your attention. The EP opens with a frenetic, prickly guitar and bass solo loop that goes on for about 10 seconds before the drums crash in and the song really kicks off. In fact, drums are what help to propel this track. A variety of creative fills and production quirks emphasize the percussion and keep listeners on their toes, rhythmically. Meanwhile, guitarist Suzuki and bassist Misaki play their hearts out. There’s no doubt that this trio has some impressive musical chops, but somehow, the complete song doesn’t quite gel. The chorus is a bit of a letdown and at times, the band doesn’t link together the different parts of the song in convincing ways. For instance, the ending is an abrupt mess.

Fortunately, the band really buckles down on “夏の落とし物 (natsu no otoshimono),” my personal favorite from the EP (check out the mp3 sample below!) and one of my favorite songs of the year so far! This track exhibits the tightest composition on the release and a beautiful chorus. The quickly strummed, scratchy riffs remind me of one of my disbanded j-indie faves, caroline rocks. Throughout the track, soothing background vocals by Misaki help to balance the nasal, yet raspy vocals by Suzuki. Ending with a bang, Suzuki rips out a heart-wrenching guitar solo with such a satisfying tone. “ARAGAE!!” continues the momentum, borrowing the experimental tendencies from “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜”and combining them with the heart and more focused composition of “natsu no otoshimono.” It is pretty dynamic, moving between zippy barrages of guitar work and more tranquil interludes. Again, spectacular drumming and Misaki’s background vocals add further dimension to the song. Back in April, I had a hard time deciding between this and “natsu no otoshimono” for our Best New Tracks list!

“真実の花 (shinjitsu no hana)” is where the band loses me for a bit. The opening bass lick is very clearly copied from the lead guitar riff in American post-hardcore group The Fall of Troy’s “F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X”. I would be flabbergasted if sokoninaru claimed they had never listened to them before. Plagiarism aside, the remainder of track has some redeemable moments, including yet another kickass, hi-octane guitar solo from Suzuki—he’s got a knack for these! The EP ends with a rerecording of one of their demo tracks “さらば浮世写し絵の如く (saraba ukiyo utsushie no gotoku).” This finale continues the kind of mid-tempo energetic indie rock heard in the previous track, but what stands out is Misaki's most pronounced vocal presence yet. She takes over lead vocals during certain parts of the song and provides some stunning harmonies once Suzuki jumps back in.

So what’s the verdict on I’m NOT a pirolian? Sokoninaru has some major potential and they really hit their stride on tracks 2 and 3. Considering “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜” is the PV (i.e. marketing) track, I wonder if there was pressure from their label to project a sound that they don’t fully embody, namely that of being some tryhard ling tosite sigure-inspired band. Other than that first track, I don’t find the comparison that valid, especially vocally speaking. Whereas some bands (looking at you, HaKU) ape LTS right down to TK’s vocal style, Suzuki and Misaki have their own thing going on here and it works!  Despite the half star deduction for the lack of originality in “shinjitsu no hana,” I’m still very much looking forward to what this band has in store for us next. All three members show plenty of musical promise. I believe they have more in them than just being “a poor man’s ling tosite sigure,” to quote @CAT5. Moreover, I just need to figure out whether I’m a pirolian or NOT! Hopefully, we'll all have the chance to find out on their next release!

What did you think of the EP?


 
Support the band! CDJapan
HMV
YesAsia

Artist: そこに鳴る (sokoninaru) EP: I'm NOT a pirolian 1. pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜 2. 夏の落とし物 (natsu no otoshimono) 3. ARAGAE!! 4. 真実の花 (shinjitsu no hana) 5. さらば浮世写し絵の如く(do-do gigantic evolution ver) (saraba ukiyo utsushie no gotoku)
Rating: | pirolian status: unconfirmed
 
From the initial posting of sokoninaru’s “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜” PV in the news thread, this band’s debut release has caused quite a stir. Some (including me!) were immediately taken by the band’s in-your-face instrumentation, while others were less convinced: despite the apparent guitar frill, the core songwriting was written off as too poppy or the band was deemed a ling tosite sigure wannabe. Now that their first EP I’m NOT a pirolian has had some time to settle, it’s time to hash out my opinion.

Right off the bat, the band demands your attention. The EP opens with a frenetic, prickly guitar and bass solo loop that goes on for about 10 seconds before the drums crash in and the song really kicks off. In fact, drums are what help to propel this track. A variety of creative fills and production quirks emphasize the percussion and keep listeners on their toes, rhythmically. Meanwhile, guitarist Suzuki and bassist Misaki play their hearts out. There’s no doubt that this trio has some impressive musical chops, but somehow, the complete song doesn’t quite gel. The chorus is a bit of a letdown and at times, the band doesn’t link together the different parts of the song in convincing ways. For instance, the ending is an abrupt mess.

Fortunately, the band really buckles down on “夏の落とし物 (natsu no otoshimono),” my personal favorite from the EP (check out the mp3 sample below!) and one of my favorite songs of the year so far! This track exhibits the tightest composition on the release and a beautiful chorus. The quickly strummed, scratchy riffs remind me of one of my disbanded j-indie faves, caroline rocks. Throughout the track, soothing background vocals by Misaki help to balance the nasal, yet raspy vocals by Suzuki. Ending with a bang, Suzuki rips out a heart-wrenching guitar solo with such a satisfying tone. “ARAGAE!!” continues the momentum, borrowing the experimental tendencies from “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜”and combining them with the heart and more focused composition of “natsu no otoshimono.” It is pretty dynamic, moving between zippy barrages of guitar work and more tranquil interludes. Again, spectacular drumming and Misaki’s background vocals add further dimension to the song. Back in April, I had a hard time deciding between this and “natsu no otoshimono” for our Best New Tracks list!

“真実の花 (shinjitsu no hana)” is where the band loses me for a bit. The opening bass lick is very clearly copied from the lead guitar riff in American post-hardcore group The Fall of Troy’s “F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X”. I would be flabbergasted if sokoninaru claimed they had never listened to them before. Plagiarism aside, the remainder of track has some redeemable moments, including yet another kickass, hi-octane guitar solo from Suzuki—he’s got a knack for these! The EP ends with a rerecording of one of their demo tracks “さらば浮世写し絵の如く (saraba ukiyo utsushie no gotoku).” This finale continues the kind of mid-tempo energetic indie rock heard in the previous track, but what stands out is Misaki's most pronounced vocal presence yet. She takes over lead vocals during certain parts of the song and provides some stunning harmonies once Suzuki jumps back in.

So what’s the verdict on I’m NOT a pirolian? Sokoninaru has some major potential and they really hit their stride on tracks 2 and 3. Considering “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜” is the PV (i.e. marketing) track, I wonder if there was pressure from their label to project a sound that they don’t fully embody, namely that of being some tryhard ling tosite sigure-inspired band. Other than that first track, I don’t find the comparison that valid, especially vocally speaking. Whereas some bands (looking at you, HaKU) ape LTS right down to TK’s vocal style, Suzuki and Misaki have their own thing going on here and it works!  Despite the half star deduction for the lack of originality in “shinjitsu no hana,” I’m still very much looking forward to what this band has in store for us next. All three members show plenty of musical promise. I believe they have more in them than just being “a poor man’s ling tosite sigure,” to quote @CAT5. Moreover, I just need to figure out whether I’m a pirolian or NOT! Hopefully, we'll all have the chance to find out on their next release!

What did you think of the EP?


 
Support the band! CDJapan
HMV
YesAsia

Artist: そこに鳴る (sokoninaru) EP: I'm NOT a pirolian 1. pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜 2. 夏の落とし物 (natsu no otoshimono) 3. ARAGAE!! 4. 真実の花 (shinjitsu no hana) 5. さらば浮世写し絵の如く(do-do gigantic evolution ver) (saraba ukiyo utsushie no gotoku)
Rating: | pirolian status: unconfirmed
 
From the initial posting of sokoninaru’s “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜” PV in the news thread, this band’s debut release has caused quite a stir. Some (including me!) were immediately taken by the band’s in-your-face instrumentation, while others were less convinced: despite the apparent guitar frill, the core songwriting was written off as too poppy or the band was deemed a ling tosite sigure wannabe. Now that their first EP I’m NOT a pirolian has had some time to settle, it’s time to hash out my opinion.

Right off the bat, the band demands your attention. The EP opens with a frenetic, prickly guitar and bass solo loop that goes on for about 10 seconds before the drums crash in and the song really kicks off. In fact, drums are what help to propel this track. A variety of creative fills and production quirks emphasize the percussion and keep listeners on their toes, rhythmically. Meanwhile, guitarist Suzuki and bassist Misaki play their hearts out. There’s no doubt that this trio has some impressive musical chops, but somehow, the complete song doesn’t quite gel. The chorus is a bit of a letdown and at times, the band doesn’t link together the different parts of the song in convincing ways. For instance, the ending is an abrupt mess.

Fortunately, the band really buckles down on “夏の落とし物 (natsu no otoshimono),” my personal favorite from the EP (check out the mp3 sample below!) and one of my favorite songs of the year so far! This track exhibits the tightest composition on the release and a beautiful chorus. The quickly strummed, scratchy riffs remind me of one of my disbanded j-indie faves, caroline rocks. Throughout the track, soothing background vocals by Misaki help to balance the nasal, yet raspy vocals by Suzuki. Ending with a bang, Suzuki rips out a heart-wrenching guitar solo with such a satisfying tone. “ARAGAE!!” continues the momentum, borrowing the experimental tendencies from “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜”and combining them with the heart and more focused composition of “natsu no otoshimono.” It is pretty dynamic, moving between zippy barrages of guitar work and more tranquil interludes. Again, spectacular drumming and Misaki’s background vocals add further dimension to the song. Back in April, I had a hard time deciding between this and “natsu no otoshimono” for our Best New Tracks list!

“真実の花 (shinjitsu no hana)” is where the band loses me for a bit. The opening bass lick is very clearly copied from the lead guitar riff in American post-hardcore group The Fall of Troy’s “F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X”. I would be flabbergasted if sokoninaru claimed they had never listened to them before. Plagiarism aside, the remainder of track has some redeemable moments, including yet another kickass, hi-octane guitar solo from Suzuki—he’s got a knack for these! The EP ends with a rerecording of one of their demo tracks “さらば浮世写し絵の如く (saraba ukiyo utsushie no gotoku).” This finale continues the kind of mid-tempo energetic indie rock heard in the previous track, but what stands out is Misaki's most pronounced vocal presence yet. She takes over lead vocals during certain parts of the song and provides some stunning harmonies once Suzuki jumps back in.

So what’s the verdict on I’m NOT a pirolian? Sokoninaru has some major potential and they really hit their stride on tracks 2 and 3. Considering “pirorhythm stabilizer 〜only your world〜” is the PV (i.e. marketing) track, I wonder if there was pressure from their label to project a sound that they don’t fully embody, namely that of being some tryhard ling tosite sigure-inspired band. Other than that first track, I don’t find the comparison that valid, especially vocally speaking. Whereas some bands (looking at you, HaKU) ape LTS right down to TK’s vocal style, Suzuki and Misaki have their own thing going on here and it works!  Despite the half star deduction for the lack of originality in “shinjitsu no hana,” I’m still very much looking forward to what this band has in store for us next. All three members show plenty of musical promise. I believe they have more in them than just being “a poor man’s ling tosite sigure,” to quote @CAT5. Moreover, I just need to figure out whether I’m a pirolian or NOT! Hopefully, we'll all have the chance to find out on their next release!

What did you think of the EP?


 
Support the band! CDJapan
HMV
YesAsia

Another track, "My Liberation":

Another track, "My Liberation":

I actually really like both Bae Bae and LOSER. My only gripe with Bae Bae is that the beginning and ending sound truncated, like it's a "radio edit" or something. The piano and beat in LOSER are beautiful though! Pretty cool songs, overall.

The new track is exactly what I don't like about k-pop, but 2/3 ain't bad, haha!
 
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I was digging that BB song until that chorus kicked in. The video also just looks like someone threw a lot of money at it and had no concept. Then again, this is Kpop what am I saying.

Best New Tracks: May 2015

Best New Tracks is a new series brought to you by MH's Official Reviewers (ORZ)! Every month we'll be recommending brand-new Japanese songs from the recently passed month, so stay tuned! Feel free to comment or discuss any of this month's picks and even offer your own as well!
May was a busy month! We've got tons of recommendations this time around, so sit back, relax, and dig in!
Visual Kei
"午前二時 (Gozen Ni-ji)" by AvelCain

"ひどいかお2 (hidoi kao 2)" by Chanty

"キャリー (Carry)" by Develop One's Faculties

"包丁の正しい使い方～思想編～ (houchou no tadashii tsukaikata～shuusokuhen～)" by DEZERT

"Pairidaēza lost" by IX -NINE-

"The Beginning" by Royz

"Voyage" by Sadie

"Lament." by the LOTUS

"new born baby" by VERY BERRY

"Fake" by グリーヴァ (grieva)

"アネモネ (anemone)" by ペンタゴン (pentagon)

“螺旋 (rasen)” by メディーナ (Mediena)

"まつぽいよ (Matsupoiyo)" by 最上川司 (Tsukasa Mogamigawa)

Rock / Metal / Punk
"Lies And Sorrow" by 16REASONS

"Surrender" by Boris

"Ignorant Rain at the End of the World" by envy

"Feedback" by geek sleep sheep

"行く先へ手を伸ばす" (Yukusaki e te wo nobasu) by ROLE

"おかげさま (okagesama)" by SUPER BEAVER

"僕の言葉ではない これは僕達の言葉 (boku no kotoba de wa nai, kore wa bokutachi no kotoba)" by UVERworld

"Music Traveler" by クウチュウ戦 (koochewsen)

"売春 (Baishun)" by 女王蜂 (Ziyoou-vachi)

Indie / Alternative
"ムカデ (mukade) Starlight Ver." by amazarashi

"夏がそうさせた (natsu ga sousaseta)" by never young beach

"飾りすぎていた (kazarisugiteita)" by odol

"Anyone" by theCharmPark

“めまい (memai)”by ミツメ (mitsume)

"あぱんだ (apanda)" by 吉田一郎不可触世界 (Yoshida Ichiro Untouchable World)

"i I I i...." by 湯川潮音 (Yukawa Shione)

"アニバーサリー (anniversary)" by 禁断の多数決 (kindan no tasuketsu)

Pop / Idol
"Is this call??" by BiSH

"My Heart Beat" by Crystal Kay

"DREAM" by FLiP

"LOVE" by MACO

"Now I Know" by PassCode

"Beautiful" by Superfly

"LOVE TO YOU -by CUPS-" by Suzu

"The edge of Heaven & Revolution" by T.M.Revolution

"I Believe U" by TiA

"Stay With Me" by TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE

"Birthday" by 安室奈美恵 (Namie Amuro)

"TOKYO/OSAKA" by 神田莉緒香 (Rioka Kanda)

R&B / Hip-Hop
"ONE OF THEM" by EMI MARIA

"Night Club Session" by NAGAN SERVER & MANTIS

Electronic / Jazz / Other
"Speak no Evil" by Kyoto Jazz Sextet

"Ants" by nego

"doll (kidkanevil remix)" by Noah

See you next month!

LOL really? XD I have only listened to their Providence of BIONIC mini before this, but I didn't like it at all. I found PoJ to be much better. "Lament." was good to me because they didn't follow heavy verse, pop chorus formula like a lot of other songs, it followed a more traditional rock format. It also felt like they were trying to put across stronger emotions this time and not just follow a musical trend. But everyone enjoys different things, I suppose.
 
You absolutely didn't slack. Some of us may have just had a lot more free time this month lol. OTL Your picks are great! Where are you finding these vk bands? Both Xenon from last month and Mediena are so good. Please keep it up! 
 
Considering Heartless is an old fave, that's quite a keen observation! I never even thought about that, but now I put "白蓮" on again and they most certainly do have a similar feeling! No wonder I was drawn to this track. "A.P.O" was good too. Like I was saying to yakihiko above, I felt PoJ was the strongest release I've heard from them so far. But I've only heard one other mini so I can't say it's their best, imo, just yet. XD Have you listened to their other releases? "kaleidoscope" is great too. I liked most of the gss album so I definitely recommend you get on it! Koochewsen is goofy in general. Not a stretch to say there may have been some mind altering substances helping with these "wacky" decisions. XD And thanks for the nod on the odol blurb! Sometimes the songs just bring it out of you. lol. 
 
I was laughing at the "benicore" and "cat-files" sections as well. X"D bless.
 
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Alright. It's that time for me to buckle down and listen to these jams because AW YIIISS BNT DAY IS BEST DAY! I may never leave this post. ;3;
 
@fictioninhope - 
You already knew how I felt about the Tsukasa track, and I'm still super grateful you wrote it up because he deserves all the love~. But I really enjoyed the IX song. I went and downloaded their stuff, and I regret nothing! 
 
@Peace Heavy mk II - 
High fives on that Pentagon track. I'm a huge fan of the Vidoll sound they have going on in this too, you were dead on about that.
 
@CAT5 - 
Thank you so much for so many punk picks! I have been severly slacking, mostly because the bands I know have been quiet this year. So 16REASONS are just what I needed right now. This song is great!!! I legit went and downloaded the comp while we were proofing this. I'm probably gonna go buy that ROLE release too... X"D Agree about the envy album. I was super hyped for it and left with liking that song only. And even that one had to grow on me a bit. I'm kinda still hoping the album will with some time. I'm also gonna have to check out that never young beach, sounds perf for the season. And worth mentioning... I like how Leo Imai worked his way into BNT two months in a row. XD
 
@beni - 
I'm glad you wrote up TMR this month. I was going to if you didn't. "DOUBLE DEAL" and "HEAVEN ONLY KNOWS" were my faves, but the song you picked is really pretty and a great representation of the album. That Roika Kanda song is super cute and soothing. I really enjoyed it, too. Now I can't help but imagine little candies emoji faces singing along to this song. lol

I slacked this month, so it was nice to go through and find some overlooked songs/releases to check out.

Some highlights included:

@@beni
Chanty: Yay, so glad you included Chanty! They're a rising VK fave for me. Having said that, this song was one of least favorites on the album, haha. (I enjoyed tracks 4-6 the most I think). Also, as @yakihiko mentioned, I didn't even make the connection between the title of this one and "first" version of "ひどいかお". I wonder if there's a lyrical connection, because musically, they don't seem that similar (and I much prefer the first one ).

@@Peace Heavy mk II
DEZERT: I haven't truly checked out this band yet, but the few attempts to sample them have left me feeling "eh, I'll get to them later." This song, however, caught my attention!
Pentagon: This was the most standout track to me on that single! They definitely need to explore this "cabaret" style more, as there doesn't seem to be anything particularly memorable about their usual stuff. Also, it took me forever to figure it out, but this chorus is quite reminiscent of Tokyo Jihen's "禁じられた遊び".

@@fictioninhope
IX -NINE-: Never heard of them or EARTHERLY, but this is pretty sweet! Really nice of them to offer it for free on soundcloud as well. Gonna keep an eye on them!

@
the LOTUS: I was about this close to including a track by them ("A.P.O.") myself, but I'm glad to see you covered them! "Lament." was my second favorite track off that single; kind of reminded me of Heartless' "白蓮" from their MASQUERADE single. I hope the band finds their own sound, because I like the vocalist, but they're still a bit generic. Still, they have some potential.
geek sleep sheep: I need to check out the album. This track sounds good, though I think I prefer the sublime, shoegazey sound of that "kaleidoscope" track.
Koochewsen: This is tight. I wanna hear more. The romanization of their name is so goofy though, haha.
odol: simply stunning! I also really liked your blurb on this one

@@CAT5
never young beach: Yesss, gimme that beachy guitar pop. Also, since you mentioned CARD, I'll have to give them a listen too.
Yoshida Ichiro Untouchable World: This is some wonky shit. Love it!
kindan no tasuketsu: wasn't expecting this sound at all, but it's lovely.
EMI MARIA: This is a neat track, indeed. It's a shame you say the rest of the release doesn't continue this sound. Also, if you like this, be sure to try out Alina Baraz if you haven't already.
NAGAN SERVER & MANTIS: Wow, I would not have recognized the "Footsteps in the Dark" sample if you hadn't mentioned it. This is chill as fuck and my kind of hip hop.

Thanks for doing the heavy lifting this month, fellow ORZ-colleagues!
PS: I love how beni dominated pop and CAT had the last two sections to himself, haha.

I slacked this month, so it was nice to go through and find some overlooked songs/releases to check out.

Some highlights included:

@@beni
Chanty: Yay, so glad you included Chanty! They're a rising VK fave for me. Having said that, this song was one of least favorites on the album, haha. (I enjoyed tracks 4-6 the most I think). Also, as @yakihiko mentioned, I didn't even make the connection between the title of this one and "first" version of "ひどいかお". I wonder if there's a lyrical connection, because musically, they don't seem that similar (and I much prefer the first one ).

@@Peace Heavy mk II
DEZERT: I haven't truly checked out this band yet, but the few attempts to sample them have left me feeling "eh, I'll get to them later." This song, however, caught my attention!
Pentagon: This was the most standout track to me on that single! They definitely need to explore this "cabaret" style more, as there doesn't seem to be anything particularly memorable about their usual stuff. Also, it took me forever to figure it out, but this chorus is quite reminiscent of Tokyo Jihen's "禁じられた遊び".

@@fictioninhope
IX -NINE-: Never heard of them or EARTHERLY, but this is pretty sweet! Really nice of them to offer it for free on soundcloud as well. Gonna keep an eye on them!

@
the LOTUS: I was about this close to including a track by them ("A.P.O.") myself, but I'm glad to see you covered them! "Lament." was my second favorite track off that single; kind of reminded me of Heartless' "白蓮" from their MASQUERADE single. I hope the band finds their own sound, because I like the vocalist, but they're still a bit generic. Still, they have some potential.
geek sleep sheep: I need to check out the album. This track sounds good, though I think I prefer the sublime, shoegazey sound of that "kaleidoscope" track.
Koochewsen: This is tight. I wanna hear more. The romanization of their name is so goofy though, haha.
odol: simply stunning! I also really liked your blurb on this one

@@CAT5
never young beach: Yesss, gimme that beachy guitar pop. Also, since you mentioned CARD, I'll have to give them a listen too.
Yoshida Ichiro Untouchable World: This is some wonky shit. Love it!
kindan no tasuketsu: wasn't expecting this sound at all, but it's lovely.
EMI MARIA: This is a neat track, indeed. It's a shame you say the rest of the release doesn't continue this sound. Also, if you like this, be sure to try out Alina Baraz if you haven't already.
NAGAN SERVER & MANTIS: Wow, I would not have recognized the "Footsteps in the Dark" sample if you hadn't mentioned it. This is chill as fuck and my kind of hip hop.

Thanks for doing the heavy lifting this month, fellow ORZ-colleagues!
PS: I love how beni dominated pop and CAT had the last two sections to himself, haha.

I slacked this month, so it was nice to go through and find some overlooked songs/releases to check out.

Some highlights included:

@@beni
Chanty: Yay, so glad you included Chanty! They're a rising VK fave for me. Having said that, this song was one of least favorites on the album, haha. (I enjoyed tracks 4-6 the most I think). Also, as @yakihiko mentioned, I didn't even make the connection between the title of this one and "first" version of "ひどいかお". I wonder if there's a lyrical connection, because musically, they don't seem that similar (and I much prefer the first one ).

@@Peace Heavy mk II
DEZERT: I haven't truly checked out this band yet, but the few attempts to sample them have left me feeling "eh, I'll get to them later." This song, however, caught my attention!
Pentagon: This was the most standout track to me on that single! They definitely need to explore this "cabaret" style more, as there doesn't seem to be anything particularly memorable about their usual stuff. Also, it took me forever to figure it out, but this chorus is quite reminiscent of Tokyo Jihen's "禁じられた遊び".

@@fictioninhope
IX -NINE-: Never heard of them or EARTHERLY, but this is pretty sweet! Really nice of them to offer it for free on soundcloud as well. Gonna keep an eye on them!

@
the LOTUS: I was about this close to including a track by them ("A.P.O.") myself, but I'm glad to see you covered them! "Lament." was my second favorite track off that single; kind of reminded me of Heartless' "白蓮" from their MASQUERADE single. I hope the band finds their own sound, because I like the vocalist, but they're still a bit generic. Still, they have some potential.
geek sleep sheep: I need to check out the album. This track sounds good, though I think I prefer the sublime, shoegazey sound of that "kaleidoscope" track.
Koochewsen: This is tight. I wanna hear more. The romanization of their name is so goofy though, haha.
odol: simply stunning! I also really liked your blurb on this one

@@CAT5
never young beach: Yesss, gimme that beachy guitar pop. Also, since you mentioned CARD, I'll have to give them a listen too.
Yoshida Ichiro Untouchable World: This is some wonky shit. Love it!
kindan no tasuketsu: wasn't expecting this sound at all, but it's lovely.
EMI MARIA: This is a neat track, indeed. It's a shame you say the rest of the release doesn't continue this sound. Also, if you like this, be sure to try out Alina Baraz if you haven't already.
NAGAN SERVER & MANTIS: Wow, I would not have recognized the "Footsteps in the Dark" sample if you hadn't mentioned it. This is chill as fuck and my kind of hip hop.

Thanks for doing the heavy lifting this month, fellow ORZ-colleagues!
PS: I love how beni dominated pop and CAT had the last two sections to himself, haha.

I slacked this month, so it was nice to go through and find some overlooked songs/releases to check out.

Some highlights included:

@@beni
Chanty: Yay, so glad you included Chanty! They're a rising VK fave for me. Having said that, this song was one of least favorites on the album, haha. (I enjoyed tracks 4-6 the most I think). Also, as @yakihiko mentioned, I didn't even make the connection between the title of this one and "first" version of "ひどいかお". I wonder if there's a lyrical connection, because musically, they don't seem that similar (and I much prefer the first one ).

@@Peace Heavy mk II
DEZERT: I haven't truly checked out this band yet, but the few attempts to sample them have left me feeling "eh, I'll get to them later." This song, however, caught my attention!
Pentagon: This was the most standout track to me on that single! They definitely need to explore this "cabaret" style more, as there doesn't seem to be anything particularly memorable about their usual stuff. Also, it took me forever to figure it out, but this chorus is quite reminiscent of Tokyo Jihen's "禁じられた遊び".

@@fictioninhope
IX -NINE-: Never heard of them or EARTHERLY, but this is pretty sweet! Really nice of them to offer it for free on soundcloud as well. Gonna keep an eye on them!

@
the LOTUS: I was about this close to including a track by them ("A.P.O.") myself, but I'm glad to see you covered them! "Lament." was my second favorite track off that single; kind of reminded me of Heartless' "白蓮" from their MASQUERADE single. I hope the band finds their own sound, because I like the vocalist, but they're still a bit generic. Still, they have some potential.
geek sleep sheep: I need to check out the album. This track sounds good, though I think I prefer the sublime, shoegazey sound of that "kaleidoscope" track.
Koochewsen: This is tight. I wanna hear more. The romanization of their name is so goofy though, haha.
odol: simply stunning! I also really liked your blurb on this one

@@CAT5
never young beach: Yesss, gimme that beachy guitar pop. Also, since you mentioned CARD, I'll have to give them a listen too.
Yoshida Ichiro Untouchable World: This is some wonky shit. Love it!
kindan no tasuketsu: wasn't expecting this sound at all, but it's lovely.
EMI MARIA: This is a neat track, indeed. It's a shame you say the rest of the release doesn't continue this sound. Also, if you like this, be sure to try out Alina Baraz if you haven't already.
NAGAN SERVER & MANTIS: Wow, I would not have recognized the "Footsteps in the Dark" sample if you hadn't mentioned it. This is chill as fuck and my kind of hip hop.

Thanks for doing the heavy lifting this month, fellow ORZ-colleagues!
PS: I love how beni dominated pop and CAT had the last two sections to himself, haha.

Omg, this might replace THE SKULL FUCK REVOLVERS as my favorite crazy band name. Fantastic.

Good points, the logo is totally redesigned and the discography section only mentions this upcoming single (i.e. their previous singles and mini are nowhere to be found). Seems like it could be a fresh start indeed.
Definitely curious about what they'll come up with!

The linguaphile-nerd in me is super impressed with Yuudai's accent in English. It's so clear!

Um, dat image and the pretty "SE" don't go together, haha.

Excited that they are back, but what ever happened to the "BLACK or WHITE" concept single?

New ハイスイノナサ (haisuinonasa) video

Cat, I'm glad to see you covered Kiryu and Gesu no Kiwami Otome. Those songs were almost on my list as well.

Beni, the MBHI track is awesome, which is saying something, because Tenten's vox usually piss me off for some reason, lol. Wasn't expecting them to sound anything like this.

ender, so glad you posted Spitz! I forget that they're still around and they proved that they still kick ass. Kusano's vox make me melt :')
 
Yay, so glad you got to hear something new from the list, TheStoic! XENON was a cool surprise, indeed! Now that you've checked out some of their older material, any recommendations?
Thanks for your comment

Cat, I'm glad to see you covered Kiryu and Gesu no Kiwami Otome. Those songs were almost on my list as well.

Beni, the MBHI track is awesome, which is saying something, because Tenten's vox usually piss me off for some reason, lol. Wasn't expecting them to sound anything like this.

ender, so glad you posted Spitz! I forget that they're still around and they proved that they still kick ass. Kusano's vox make me melt :')
 
Yay, so glad you got to hear something new from the list, TheStoic! XENON was a cool surprise, indeed! Now that you've checked out some of their older material, any recommendations?
Thanks for your comment

Cat, I'm glad to see you covered Kiryu and Gesu no Kiwami Otome. Those songs were almost on my list as well.

Beni, the MBHI track is awesome, which is saying something, because Tenten's vox usually piss me off for some reason, lol. Wasn't expecting them to sound anything like this.

ender, so glad you posted Spitz! I forget that they're still around and they proved that they still kick ass. Kusano's vox make me melt :')
 
Yay, so glad you got to hear something new from the list, TheStoic! XENON was a cool surprise, indeed! Now that you've checked out some of their older material, any recommendations?
Thanks for your comment