kodama-kun

We could spend all night talking about the controversial albums Madrigal de Maria and Beautiful Deformity, or we could discuss how amazing Div's debut album is. 
 
Sure, the reason why we all loved xTRiPx is because their songs walked the line between hip-hop, hard rock, and pop-rock so, so well. But let's be real. Yo-Shit's vocals have become somewhat obnoxious over the years. Where he used to sing beautifully, he mostly just rap/screams lyrics and isn't the vocalist he used to be. Meanwhile, Chisa has a beautiful voice that he utilizes in every song. He can scream lyrics well, but doesn't overdo it for no reason. 
 
Not all of their singles have been as perfect as Natsu no Yukue and Taste of Life, but I can tell they have saved their best songs for the album. From beginning to end the album emanates brilliance.
 
Vanish is an incredible way to start of the album, with beautiful vocals and a great composition that is found throughout the album in songs like the title track, Chocolate Prayer, and Place. They have some slightly more experimental songs as they get really electro-rock influenced on Teddy and Asterios, the latter of which is probably my favorite song on the album. The flow from the interlude to Asterios was perfectly executed. 
 
Their catchier songs, Miseinen and Sekirarara, are a ton of fun. I don't see too many hook-oriented songs in J-rock, and they still don't fit the bill for that, but you'll be singing the melodies and saying "Sekirarara" after listening to these songs!
 
The choices for what singles to put on the album... I totally approve. Natsu no Yukue is my favorite of their singles so far (especially considering their INCREDIBLE B-Side Hotarubi). Seasons I would've liked to see replaced by Taste of Life, and Answer is a great choice due to it being their debut promo song. 
 
Finally, they have the power-pop-rock-ballad, I Swear. The song is huge. It's long, about as long as Seasons, but the difference is it keeps you interested the whole time. It's beautifully sung and interestingly composed. 
 
Overall one of the BEST albums I've heard from any J-Rock band this year. Or the last few years. COMPLETELY out of this world.
 
5/5
 

Well I loved it, recognized the Diru influence, and then continued to love.
 
Why does no one enjoy music anymore, maybe reading reviews isn't something I should be doing lol.

Hahaha...tomorrow is time to cover Dir en Grey's Rinkaku.

手鞠(temari) session will perform at Takadanobaba AREA at 2013/12/26
 
session members:
Vo.手鞠(temari) (amber gris)
Gt.源依織(minamotono iori) (cocklobin)
Gt.公佑(kousuke) (LEZARD)
Ba.猟平(ryouhei) (ベルベット(VelBet))
Dr.カエデ(kaede) (ギャロ(THE GALLO))

ex-PENICILLIN Ba.GISHO has joined ライチ☆光クラブ(litchi hikari club) at 2013/09/21, and their new mini album "光ノ帝國(hikari no teikoku)" will be released at 2013/12/11 (3 TYPE)
 
limited edition TYPE A & B (2,480yen each) will include CD+DVD, and regular edition (1,980yen) will include CD only

the new PV trailer

This PV is pure awesomeness. I have the same feeling as some years ago after watching THE PAIN OF CATASTROPHE PV - I mean, that was the last time when they came up with a good song AND an unexpectedly good video for it.
 
12012 just proved once again that they are full of surprises.

I think Sadisgate and Slivers.exe are their best release

ex-UnsraW Vo.勇企(yuuki) session "-273.15℃" (pronounced as "絶対零度(zettaireido)") live-limited single "THE PROOF" will be released at ベルベット(VelBet) PRESENTS PREMIUM GANG NIGHT "BLOODY [R] BIRTHDAY Vol.3" at Takadanobaba AREA at 2013/09/04
 
"-273.15℃" members:
Vo.勇企(yuuki) (ex-UnsraW)
Gt.暁(satoshi) (D.I.D.)
Gt.沙瑛(sae) (AUBE)
Ba.猟平(ryouhei) (ベルベット(VelBet))
Dr.哲也(tetsuya) (ex-SKULL)

KANJI lyrics:
 
01. FADELESS
 

  02. QUIET  
 
03. FORBIDDEN BEAVER
 

  ROMAJI lyrics:   01. FADELESS  
 
 
02. QUIET  
 
 
03. FORBIDDEN BEAVER
 

For those who don't have FB:
 

Can anyone say "Quiet" and "Forbidden Beaver" previews???

fadeless previews
 
I see Quiet having amazing potential just as long as it's not another "Voiceless Fear" with an amazing intro and mediocre everything else.
Forbidden Beaver sounds like it could be an exciting song, but from what I hear in the preview, sounds just typically GazettE.
I'm most excited to see the PV for this release. :DDDDDDDDD

[track list]
01.マゾヒストレッドサーカス(masochist red circus)
02.覚醒(kakusei)
03.Psychedelic Jelly
04.OVER DOSE
05.霊猫香とマゾヒスト(reibyoukou to masochist)
06.gossip
07.黒のダチュラ(kuro no datura)
08.TABOO
09.JI・RE・N・MA
10.雨音の輪舞曲(amaoto no rondo)

Haha, I made one like that not too long ago - may I present: the Chain of Fanboyism.
 

 
Kyo (D'ERLANGER, late '80s) --> Kiyoharu (Kuroyume, early '90s) --> Kyo (Dir en grey, late '90s) --> Kyouki (Grieva, 2012-)
(also notice the name similarities, lol)

Plastic Tree new maxi single "瞳孔(doukou)" will be released at 2013/09/04 (3 TYPE)
 
limited edition TYPE A (1,800yen) will include CD+DVD (including "瞳孔(doukou)" PV), limited edition TYPE B (1,800yen) will include CD+DVD (including "瞳孔(doukou)～light and shadow edition～" PV), and regular edition (1,200yen) will include CD only
 
[limited edition TYPE A CD track list]
01.瞳孔(doukou)
02.時間坂(jikansaka)
03.時間坂(jikansaka)(Akira Nakayama remix)
04.瞳孔(doukou)(instrumental)
 
[limited edition TYPE B CD track list]
01.瞳孔(doukou)
02.アイレン(airen)
03.アイレン(airen)(Akira Nakayama remix)
04.瞳孔(doukou)(instrumental)
 
[regular edition CD track list]
01.瞳孔(doukou)
02.時間坂(jikansaka)
03.アイレン(airen)
04.瞳孔(doukou)(instrumental)
 
 
btw they will hold their live tour "瞳孔乱反射(doukou ranhansha)" since Yokohama BLITZ at 2013/09/20 and up to tour final at Zepp Tokyo at 2013/10/04

they will broadcast the live on nico nico
http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv144483369
source: http://natalie.mu/music/news/95130
 
I am planning to record it if my software to record don't have problem

Though cool for fans of their older material, I fear the emphasis on drawing from old sounds just for the sake of a fanbase -- aka "fan service". Yeah, it's cool that they're going to draw on influences from NIL and Stacked Rubbish; but it feels like a set back in terms of their development. The GazettE can keep plunging forward with a unique idea, sound, concept, whatever; but when they feel the need to revert back to a sound 7+ years old, it worries me. Great for fans of their old material; but is it really that good of an idea in the first place? After all it's not their "old sound" that set them apart from other VK bands -- it was their willingness to adapt and evolve faster than any other VK band. They do what they want, and that's what makes them so interesting.

I was really curious to listen to this album after I've read about & heard bits of the direction he was taking, and it didn't disappoint!
 
Right off, Justice is a killer start, one of the best non-single tracks on the album actually. Speaking of, it's interesting to hear how much some of these songs changed compared to when he was playing them two years ago on tour - they suit the poppy polished atmosphere much more now, and have been "buffed up" both musically and lyrically, especially said opening number and the immensely fun and kinky Secret, another highlight for me. While most of the songs didn't come as a shock really, I have to mention the track Cry Like This - it just sounds so typically radio-pop it's uncanny (something Maroon 5 and the like would play). This would be one of the few songs that couldn't grab my attention, tho I have to admit the chorus is an "earworm", heh. I originally felt it was nice that they included Day 1 on the album too but ultimately I don't like the album version as much, I dunno, it just sounds a bit weird and out of place. Still, a rockin' song in itself. The ending track left a thing or two to be desired as well - I thought it was too happy-happy and cheesy but I could've expected that I guess - but all in all I almost thoroughly enjoyed this album, song-wise. Everything's just so catchy!
 
I also have to take note of the cool sound/production, they really hit the spot with this in my opinion. The added synths, effects and electronic beats combined with the superbly polished guitarsound work well together and mold the whole thing into an end product that's very easy and seamless to listen to. It's good that they didn't let these tweaks and add-ons overwhelm the actual songs and Miyavi's signature guitarplay of course. Overall, this is simply a fun and energetic album with just the right length and catchiness to make me wanna start it again as soon as it's over. Gotta applaud Miyavi and his crew, they did a brilliant job with this one! Can't wait for the tour to experience it live.
 
| slick sound, awesome songs, catchy hooks and only a few duds - an immensely fun experience!

That's not what Miyavi fans were saying in 2008 when that album was released. Everyone was sick to death of that musical style and wanted Miyavi to move on to something new. Said fans voted with their wallet. I even remember Miyavi saying something about how dismayed he was that the album didn't sell as much as he was hoping it would. He then listened, got rid of the Kavki Boiz and moved on to something new and now there's complaints that he should go back.
 
If there's one thing about Miyavi as an artist, it's that he taps into a style fully before he moves on. He's done with that style and he's never going back. Ever. That's what the camp of Miyavi fans that wanted more Miyavizm found out the hard way.
It's also very interesting to read this argument:
 
 
This argument was phrased very similarly when This Iz The Japanese Kabuki Rock was in vogue. The album is a few years too late. He's doing the same thing over and over. It's so unoriginal. Things before it are the best things he's ever done. In a few years when Miyavi is doing something else, which may or may not even include a guitar, people will look back fondly on this moment and say that they wish he went back to this style of music.
Hindsight is so 20/20 it hurts.

"eclipse" CM could be watched through YouTube since 2013/06/16
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz6Qy85XXho

First of all, I’ve never really listened to DOLLY (but I’ve heard great things about them!), so I don’t have much to compare DOPPEL to.  This was one of those rare “blind purchases” for me, where I wasn’t familiar with the band members or their previous work, but I went on my gut feeling of really liking the PV preview and some song snippets on Amazon.jp.  In any case, I’m thoroughly enjoying this release!  “-胎瞳-“ is a pleasant little SE track.  Nothing to write home about, but it does set the mood well.  “エッグノック” starts off like an old Moran track (the style that I love): prominent basslines, airy piano, lovely violin.  I don’t know how much to attribute to the compositions or the great guest musicians, but the music is beautiful.  I’m also enjoying Mitsu’s voice!  Like I said, I’ve never listed to DOLLY before, but Mitsu has one of those highly exaggerated "VK" voices, but in the good way.  “Anemθne” has a great funky beat to it and some cool guitar riffs.  Once again, some great musicianship.  “Till” amps up the electronic elements.  It’s a combination of a very dance-y beat in the foreground, with some beautiful twinkly bleeps and bloops in the background (kind of reminded me of the group neue nahel’s take on electronic).  However, I’m not AS keen on Mitsu’s singing in this song; sounds a bit strained (or restrained?)…  Still a very solid track.  “-朔剥-“ is another SE track, this time combining heavy beats and some faint piano chords.  “MOONLIGHT xxxx” is a worthy closing track.  It opens with a very video game-y synth line, before going into some pretty piano.  As the song builds, it introduces all kinds of elements like some string arrangements giving it a “grand” feel, as well as a beautiful acoustic guitar solo. 

My favorites are definitely “MOONLIGHT xxxx” and “エッグノック” and they exhibit a kind of feel-good, yet mature, well-composed pop.  The songs are very pretty, “pleasant,” and easy to listen to in a “pop” sense, but there are also creative compositions with many layers of piano, strings, and synths.  I’m looking forward to what this group will do next and I feel like I also need to peruse the DOLLY discography in the meantime.  Also, from a purely visual perspective, I think the band has a unique aesthetic, from their costumes to their booklet design.  DOPPEL is definitely a band to check out!

 

Full PV!

Very good the singing Rookie Fiddler ºoº
And I was surprised the cover of MALICE MIZER +_+
I want to hear it over! T_T