Ito
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Posts posted by Ito
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Day 20: sukekiyo - VITIUM
Release Date: 2015-02-04
Label: Sun-krad Co.
Genre: avant-garde, metal, experimental, rockImpressions from @doombox:
The atmospheric rock heavy-hitters came back again this year with another amazing release. I was hooked from the first note of VITIUM'S opening track and hypnotized by this masterpiece through its entire musical journey. While I'm grateful it's a shorter album than last year's sukekiyo may have heeded the main complaint about their debut album, IMMORTALIS, being a little too much of them to take in a single serving for a lot of us. And to our benefit VITIUM feels like they have trimmed the fat and concentrated their songs to showcase sukekiyo in their most potent form. Each track has a strong individuality about it, yet works perfectly in the context of the album itself, featuring the wealth of versatility and technique all of the composers in the group possess. Songs like "Leather Field" and "Foster Mother" highlight Yuchi's vibrant basswork, "Dunes" and "Maniera" bring Takumi and Uta's intricate and fierce guitars to the forefront, "雨上がりの優詩(ameagari no yuushi)" is driven by Mika's bold drumming, and of course Kyo's vocal chops lend texture and sultriness over the whole lot. sukekiyo didn't skimp with the remixes this time around, either. While they are less of them, keeping up with the concentrated theme, they went big to have names like Toshi (X Japan) and Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit) 'rearrange' tracks from both albums, respectively.
Highlights: Leather Field, 雨上がりの優詩(ameagari no yuushi), FocusImpressions from @Zeus:
Last year, I said that IMMORTALIS "left me somewhere in the middle". It was too long and I always believed it would have been better as an album and a mini. VITIUM is proof of that. Smaller releases mesh with sukekiyo's sound much better and while I expected it to be good, I didn't expect it to be this good. For starters, the atmosphere just pours out of every note on each song, backed by Kyo's colorful vocals, creating an overwhelming suffocating experience that almost makes you forget this is a mini-album. We all know by now that avant-garde rock with some progressive and folk elements wrapped around haunting, unsettling Oriental melodies is sukekiyo's bread and butter. The music is as dense as ever, requiring several listens to appreciate the more subtle elements and transitions, but there are still plenty of refreshing moments to engage any listener. The rolling bass that kicks off "leather fields" and the solo in "celeste" are two of my personal favorite moments, and they're of the more immediate, jaw-dropping kind. Go on, give it a try or five.
Highlights: leather field, 雨上がりの優詩, celesteSample song:
Buy the album:
CDJapan -
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Day 19: KAMIJO - Royal Blood ~ Revival Best ~
Release Date: 2015-07-15
Label: WARNER MUSIC JAPAN INC.
Genre: power metal, symphonic metal
Impressions from @Peace Heavy mk II:As I had written about earlier in the year, Kamijo released a collection album this year that is predominantly remakes of some of his most famous compositions from the various other bands he’s been in. In it, we revisit classics like “Fuyu Tokyo” and “Aristocrat’s Symphony” that have been completely reimagined in a more modern mindset. While there are a myriad of other Kamijo songs I wish he would remake, this album is generous on his part, as most “look how cool my career was” albums are just remasters. The most different rendition has to be his new versions of “Imperial Concerto” and “Bara wa Utsukishiku Chiru.”
In addition to remakes, there were three other new songs featured on this album as well. Hopefully as his world tour comes to a close (with a revival live of both Lareine and Versailles!!) we will get some good news about even more new material.
Highlights: Imperial Concerto, 薔薇は美しく散る (Bara ha Utsukushiku Chiru) , 冬東京 (Fuyu Tokyo), God Palace
Impressions from @ShanethVarosa:Talk about innovation. Some of the tracks on this self-cover album were well over a decade old and he was able to reinvent them and make them relevant to a modern-day Kamijo fan. This could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what type of music lover you are, but whatever your opinion you must recognize the skill it would take to bring such old songs into the modern music market. Additionally, the new tracks "Royal Blood" and "Kono yo de Ichiban Utsukushii Bara yo" are complete magnum opuses of Kamijo's ability at creating hard-rock symphonies, but stunning romantic ballads as well.
Highlights: Royal Blood, この世で一番美しい薔薇よ (Kono yo de Ichiban Utsukushii Bara yo)Sample song:
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Day 18: a crowd of rebellion - Daphne
Release Date: 2015-09-09
Label: WARNER MUSIC JAPAN INC.
Genre: Post-hardcore, electronic, screamoImpressions from @doombox:
Daphne was one of my most anticipated releases this year. After their first major label release with The Crow I couldn't be happier to hear that a crowd of rebellion had no intention of turning into a pop band overnight. That is not to say that Daphne doesn't bring a more mature and well-rounded sound than their previous releases, because it certainly does. acor's chaotic punk and metal tendencies are reigned in and refined to push more melody to the forefront of their sound, but they still know when to throw in a killer breakdown when necessary. This more thoughtful approach to composition seems to show their wish to continue reaching out to new listeners, but at the core of each song is still the marriage of opposing forces, angelic harmony and furious brutality, that retains the original appeal of the band many of us fell in love with.
Highlights: BLACK ANTHEM, Smells Like Unknown, Never Say A GainImpressions from @beni:
Let's first say how much of a crime this mini-album is for not being a full-length album. But I assure you, that's the only factor that could even be classified as something 'bad' when it comes to this release. I went into listening to the release blindly when two other fellow ORZ members (hi guys) have repeatedly spoken well of them and I gave in to trying them out on this, mainly because of that fantastic looking album cover. There's an awful lot to pack into only seven minutes, but what comes out is a truly polished and flattering piece of hardcore goodness. I'm not usually one to adore everything screamo, but I can dig it an awful lot if I find it melodic enough, and let me tell you, have a crowd of rebellion got it. "BLACK ANTHEM" should instead be called "SPEEDY ANTHEM" with how quick it plays through. It doesn't feel like a four minute track, instead leaving you wanting more. It really gets your blood pumping for what's to come. With high pitched notes and a very catchy melody for a chorus, "This is Liiiiiv[e]" is where things really take off. The release just keeps getting better from then on, with "Smells Like Unknown" being on the same tier, and then incomes "Iris no hana" and "Daphne" for the mini closer. They're both instant stand outs of my own for 2015 overall. The lyrical repetition, quiet verses against the rougher, melodic choruses makes for a hell of an impact. I could go on and on with how well done tracks three to seven are in particular, but hopefully this is encouraging enough to give these guys a listen if you haven't already. Don't regret putting them off any longer if you're like how I was!Highlights: This is Liiiiiv[e], Smells Like Unknown, Iris no hana, Never Say A Gain and DaphneImpressions from @fitear1590:
doombox's contribution on her 2014 year-end list singlehandedly introduced me to this group. Post-hardcore isn't typically my jam, but then again, most such bands that I've encountered take a "by the numbers" approach. acor's dual vocals, one part super clean and high pitched, and one part harsh, add to the band's unpredictable quality, infusing their music with a hyper energy. Highly recommended to post-hardcore fans looking for something a little different; I can see neo VK fans also enjoying them!
Highlights: This is Liiiiiv[e], Smells Like UnknownSample song:
Buy the album:
CDJapan | iTunes (JP) -
Is it just an American thing where people clap and cheer in a movie theater?
Wait, people actually do that?
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I hope he was at least doing something badass. Broken bones suck if you don't have an awesome story to go with them.
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Psyched! I kind of thought they had dropped off of the face of the earth.
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Honestly, I think my musical interest are just to narrow to really get anything out of pitchfork lists. The Deafheaven album is the only one I have listened to on the list, and I honestly doubt that there is anything that that I would really have wanted to look in to. Narrow minded? Maybe. But honest.
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Day 17: THE NOVEMBERS - Elegance
Release Date: 2015-10-07
Label: MERZ
Genre: Shoegaze, Indie, RockImpressions from @CAT5:
It's been an absolute pleasure to follow the career of THE NOVEMBERS, watching them blossom from their meager beginnings in the mid 00's into one of the most highly touted indie bands of this decade. And with good reason - they've hit a stride in quality these past few years that few could hope to match, consistently evolving and experimenting, yet maintaining their core characteristics. They've cultivated a sound that gracefully weaves in and out of various shades of dark and light. While their previous 2 full lengths 'Rhapsody in beauty' and 'Zeitgeist' offered the full spectrum, Elegance hones in on the band's brighter side. It's often compared to its similarly sunny predecessor "GIFT", but whereas that was more expansive and rough around the edges, ELEGANCE is more reigned in, polished, and catchy. It's probably THE NOVEMERS' most intensely focused and cohesive record yet, with each track maintaining the whimsical and dreamy atmosphere. Even the closing track, which solely defies the tone of the entire EP, doesn't feel out of place. In fact, it feels more like a "TO BE CONTINUED", a prelude to the next area in THE NOVEMBERS' eclectic spectrum of sounds. Elegance may not be the most compelling release from THE NOVEMBERS as a whole, but it's an impressive mark of refinement that stands tall amongst it's peers.
Highlights: きれいな海へ, 裸のミンク, エメラルドImpressions from @fitear1590:
After Fourth wall and zeitgeist, which mostly delved into THE NOVEMBERS "heavier" half, fans seemed due a full release dedicated to the band's "softer" side; the Elegance EP is the band's answer to this call. Almost all the necessary NOVEMBERS ingredients are here: sublime vocals, sexy bass lines, and an ethereal atmosphere so potently gentle, it's like being violently fluttered with angel's wings. One aspect that just misses the mark on Elegance is the twangy guitars. I had hoped to hear more development of the band's glorious jangly guitar, as heard in last year's "Romancé" or in the 2012 NOVEMBERS ~lite~ masterpiece EP GIFT, rather than the scraggly guitar here. Still, this is my picky preference and there's still plenty to enjoy. "きれいな海へ (kireina umi e)" is an intriguingly funky take on shoegaze and the delayed chords in "エメラルド (emerald)" seem to pay homage to Melody's Echo Chamber. All in all, a very solid release, but not the band's best effort.
Highlights: クララ, きれいな海へ, エメラルドImpressions from @Ito:
The Novembers are no stranger to our best of list, but personally they have always come off as a hit or miss band. Where I throughly enjoyed 2013's zeitgeist, Rhapsody in Beauty ended up being a bit hard to swallow. Elegance seemingly falls in to the middle of that spectrum. It is one of those albums despite its failure to do anything special, still manages to come across as solid. A prerequisite to enjoying this album is that you need to be in the right mood to listen its specific style. You can expect fuzzy guitars and nice grooves that The Novembers usually delivers, but the energy level has been turned way down. Nearly all of the tracks give off this lethargic feeling that seemingly makes me a bit sleepy. And here in lies my problem with this album - just as if you made an album that's all constantly super heavy, it loses perspective and entire result is an album that feels not nearly as intense as it should, the same goes for the inverse. Most of the tracks on Elegance work well on their own, but as a package they mood never changes and the end result just comes out as bland. It takes till the final track of this 6 track mini to really mix it up, and by then it's too late. All of that said, I feel like I will enjoy these tracks a lot when they come up in shuffle...but I doubt I will spin this one all the way through again.
Highlights: 裸のミンク
Impressions from @Zeus:THE NOVEMBERS' latest mini album continues the tradition of being a little too subtle for its own good. So subtle that I would forgive a new listener for gleaning the wrong impression from the spaced out, dreamy opener クララ. A restrained and more polished alternative to last year's "Rhapsody in Beauty", "Elegance" hits you like a blunt weapon; you'll feel the impact the first time but it needs some time to feel the full effect. It's not uncommon for the vocal melodies or the dreamy, hypnotic guitars to echo in your mind long hours after listening to their music. It's short length makes it feel like a teaser, but at the same time it feels like the perfect length for the mood it sets out to accomplish. THE NOVEMBERS may not be the easiest band in the world to get into, but what they provide is a complex style and musicianship that has so far been unmatched by their contemporaries in the scene.
Highlights: 出る傷を探す血, きれいな海へSample song:
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And I surprised the album list is not dominated with VK band
Well, let's look at our history lol
The only thing I should not first staff list was 20 releases and not the 25 format we have been using for the past 3 years. Format has always involved voting from all of the staff members and it has staid roughly the same over the last 3 years - though as of 2014 we added the ORZ group to the voting process. Since we are a pretty varied group, VK has never been the dominating factor in our best of's. I think if that is more of what you are looking for, you will have to wait for individual lists lol.
Ok, so let's do a bit of a stat breakdown:
2012 - 50% VK releases*
2013 - 36% VK releases*
2014 - 28% VK releases*
Obviously this is a downward trend. I'm not so sure that this says anything about the recent quality of VK and has more to do with the diversity of the staff's listening habits. One person had 9 of the albums they voted for make it in to the final list and others only had 2...In a way a lot of this depends on the staff's commonality to what rises to the top. And frankly, I just don't think enough of us are listening mostly exclusively to VK so that these list could be a majority VK.
What I can say (without spoiling too much) is that this year is ending that downward trend. I won't say the percentage or even if it is a small or large jump upwards, but it is upwards.
*I use the term VK loosely here. Some of the bands like the god and death stars and lynch can be argued either not to be VK or no longer are, but I don't want to jump down that rabbit hole.
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Day 16: BLU-SWING - FLASH
Release Date: 2015-08-19
Label: Village Again Association / SILHOUETTE RECORDS
Genre: Club, JazzImpressions from @fictioninhope:
I’ve always loved jazzy influences in my rock or pop music but never really been a big fan of jazz on its own. And female vocals in my Japanese music? I’m usually turned off insanely fast with many female vocalists due to the obnoxious high pitched nasally sound many go for. I picked up the BLU-SWING album on a whim, wanting to try something new and it was so worth it. The songs are this wonderful combination of catchy, relaxing, and fun that has you bobbing your head in time to the beat. Tanaka’s voice is gorgeous, soothing like gentle ocean waves caressing the beach. The only track I didn't care much for was "STATELESSNESS" due to it sounding like elevator or corporate hold music. Despite that one little hiccup this album is bloody fantastic and surprisingly enough, one of my top albums of the year; Not an easy task when going against the likes of coldrain and Florence + the Machine.
Highlights: FLIGHT, FLASH, PLANET
Impressions from @Zeus:
Japanese Latin-influenced jazz hop is unusual to say the least, but BLU-SWING knocks it out of the park with FLASH. I've been on the prowl for a band to replace the hole Tokyo Jihen left behind for quite some time and BLU-SWING comes the closest. They may not fill that jazz pop niche exactly, but their sound is compelling enough in its own right. The way the band mixes in pop, swing, and lounge are impressive and make for an album that will keep you on your toes. The thick double bass and the trumpets will battle for your attention, but it is ultimately Yu-ri Tanaka who captivates me most. Her sultry vocals have a presence which cannot be denied and this is one of the rare cases where her English is on par with her Japanese! On the rare occasions where she is not present, the band is more than capable of weaving enchanting jazz melodies sure to create relax and chill vibes. Jazz fans will find plenty to sink their teeth into with FLASH, but I'm of the opinion that this is a sleeper album that's not to be missed by anyone!
Highlights: FLASH, YOU WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND, 通り道Impressions from @Ito:
I dare you to listen to this and NOT groove along. BLU-SWING managed to deliver one of the most fun albums I have heard this year. I found myself bobbing my head at work subconsciously every time I played this album and just really found myself in a better mood. The vibe alone is enough to have me enjoy this, but add in the detailed layers of instrumentals and tight production and we have a true winner. The only thing that slows down this album for me is a few tracks that just come off as a bit too cheesy and unlike some of the other blurbs, I don't enjoy Yu-ri's English as much as her Japanese. These things are more like nitpicks than anything else, and when the album hits its stride, it is truly beautiful.
Highlights: FLIGHT, FLASH
Impressions from @beni:
Sweet and funky is like a combination made in paradise. BLU-SWING's vocalist, Yu-ri, has a soulful and richly tasteful edge to her tone, even if she's singing Engrish (which so happens to be my favourite tracks). Stand outs like "FLIGHT" and "FLASH" has that expected jazzy dance tempo to them which, while certainly not surprising, are still done in such a flawless way that they're instant hits. It's hard to think of anyone not being able to jam to them. For an album that has a couple of instrumentals in it that I'm not usually a fan of, even those I can enjoy when it comes to FLASH. Particularly "PLANET" which is very much 'out of this world' like. What really came as a surprise to me is my love for their slower songs, the ones sung in Engrish. While they're ballads so it was a sure win with me, jazzy slow songs are more of a miss than a hit for me so this came as a real treat. The Engrish set of three in the album also includes "LARK", which is the song to check out just for the fact that it's the really jazzy Engrish one. While the chirpier tunes are an expecting bundle of fun, their ballad songs are just as captivating in their own right, making this an album truly perfect from top to bottom with highlights everywhere. The similarities to other bands that have that jazz influence like Tokyo Jihen may be a clear comparison, but BLU-SWING stands on their own and leaves quite the impression on plenty of us.
Highlights: FLIGHT, FLASH, YOU'LL FIND YOU'RE LOVED, PLANET, 木と空, 通り道 and LARK
Sample song:
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Day 15: BRADIO - Power of Life
Release Date: 2015-06-03
Label: HERO MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Genre: Rock, Disco, Funk, SoulImpressions from @doombox:
If you came to party, BRADIO are here for you. POWER OF LIFE brought back some much needed fun into 2015 with this band's disco-funk hybrid sound. It's nearly impossible to play this album and stay still. The album rose like a rocket thanks to the help of it housing the theme for anime Death Parade, "Flyers", but it's the consistency all the way through the album that allowed this band to stay on top for the rest of this year. Features from other dance-rock heavyweights like Tanigawa of UNCHAIN on "Ride on Time" also helped to bring BRADIO to new audiences who may not have had the relatively obscure indie band on their radar up to this point. For me, it was the quirky groove of "オトナHIT PARADE (OTONA HIT PARADE)" that got its hooks in me and wouldn't leave my playlists. You won't hear this kind of throwback spirit on any other record this year so enjoy the crazy trip back in time and get your boogie on!
Highlights: Flyers, オトナHIT PARADE (OTONA HIT PARADE), シークレットコード (Secret Code), スパイシーマドンナ (Spicy Madonna)Impressions from @beni:
It's thanks to our darling @doombox and the anime series Death Parade that I love this band as much as I do now. There's something extremely endearing about Takaaki, the vocalist, possibly thanks to those cute crooked teeth of his that first caught my attention after watching the PV for "Flyers". Insanely catchy and totally addicting with one listen, it's the rather contrasting opening theme for Death Parade. I got to both the series and @doombox's splendid review before giving this album a full listen, and what a blast it is. Takaaki's versatility with his voice that goes from quirky to rough and rich and even dangerously high pitched keeps you on your toes with each and every track. This one track is just too catchy for words! True highlights are the funky "Red Car Chase", the adorable "Sunday" with a dash of rap thanks to HOME MADE KAZOKU's member MICRO, and the gorgeously slow burner of the album, "You Make Me Feel Brand New". Other songs that also stand out like "Chocolate Flavor" and "Spicy Madonna" get the job done thanks to some sweet tempos and beats in its choruses. The whole disco sound the guys deliver totally works in their favor, and it's just an utter joy to experience their music and (internally if you're like me) funk out to.
Highlights: Flyers, Red Car Chase, Sunday feat.MICRO (from HOME MADE KAZOKU) and You Make Me Feel Brand New
Sample song:
Buy the album:
CDJapan | iTunes -
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Day 14: SEKAI NO OWARI - TREE
Release Date: 2015-01-14
Label: Toy's Factory
Genre: Pop, RockImpressions from @beni:
SEKAI NO OWARI has always been more of a miss than a hit with me. Autotune is a feature I embrace on more occasion than none, but when it comes to SEKAI NO OWARI, an ingredient is usually amiss. It's quite humorously painful because I simply adore so many of their songs, but when it comes to the full package, it's not always perfect. For a group that even has a song with OWL CITY who I am especially fond of to not make the cut for me hurts deeply. But when it comes to TREE, they managed to plant a good seed in my books. Take TREE as a ride that never lets up. What's probably the most enjoyable factor of their music are the little bits of added touches in each song. For instance, track seven ("ピエロ") features so many different additions in it, from the chunky piano keys to the more haunting synthesizer playing the same melody over and over, and even elephant trumping! There's so much happening in one song, it's enchanting. Another example is tracks five ("アースチャイルド") and eight ("銀河街の悪夢"), using dialogue and background noises to start off the tune like how a movie sets a scene, as you embark on your journey with the album, alongside the creepy yet exciting fanfare/circus song "アースチャイルド", and the acoustic, nostalgic sounding one that's fitting for a summer day: "銀河街の悪夢". As the album goes on, it only gets more thrilling, with the always delightful single songs "RPG" and "Dragon Night" closing it. But just before that, you've got the ear candy that is "Death Disco" and "broken bone". The latter has a real modern sound to it while "Death Disco" has nice bits of Susumu Hirasawa like touches mixed with Disney's Fantasia. I'm sure you've got the hint; this album is wild yet done in an orderly fashion that just works even if it sounds totally bonkers when describing it. SEKAI NO OWARI definitely managed to pull the 'ENTERTAIMENT' value out on all stops this time!Highlights: 炎と森のカーニバル, ムーンライトステーション, マーメイドラプソディー, ピエロ, Death Disco and broken boneImpressions from @doombox:
SEKAI NO OWARI are filling the void for extravagant pop tunes for me this year, since some of my other resident favorites -lookin' at you, asobius- seem to have fallen in a bit of a one-trick-pony pitfall. And it's not just me SEKAI NO OWARI is winning over, either. Tree has sold over a million copies and counting, which in turn allowed the band to hold a 2 day festival, their second multi-day festival built around them at that, that sold out Nissan Stadium. If they keep growing at this rate, they'll be playing a show near you very soon. This release is a great mix of eclectic and dramatic tracks that span a wide variety of atmospheres and feelings, from the sway-worthy innocence of "スノーマジックファンタジー(snow magic fantasy)", to the fiery flamenco dance rhythms in "Death Disco". Though, the clap-along, marching drum driven melody of "RPG" remains to be one of their biggest crowd-pleasers if the YouTube views are any indication, probably due in-part to it being such a solid representation of the band's grandiose sound.Highlights: 炎と森のカーニバル(honoo to mori no carnival), Death Disco, broken boneSample song:
Buy the album:
CDJapan | iTunes (JP) -
For Disney it's The Fox and the Hound <3
Nostalgia wise, this is easily my favorite as well.
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Maybe it's like the same reason people put their name on their underwear? lol
Delkmiroph reacted to this -
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25 Days of ChristMHas! The Staff Album Picks of 2015.
in Reviews
Posted
Release Date: 2015-09-02
Label: AVEX MUSIC CREATIVE INC.
Genre: folk, pop, rock, shigin, loose visual kei and vocaloid associations
Impressions from @fictioninhope:
Impressions from @Zeus:
Impressions from @beni:
Sample song:
Buy the album:
OHP (scroll down a bit) | iTunes