Ito

Day 10: Envy - Atheist's Cornea Release Date: 2015-07-10 Label: Temporary Residence Limited, Sonzai Records Genre: post-rock, metalcore, hardcore Impressions from @Ito: Impressions from @Zeus: Sample song: Buy the album: iTunes | Bandcamp

Day 9 - FACT - KTHEAT posted!

Day 9: FACT - KTHEAT Release Date: 2015-03-04 Label: maximum10 Genre: post-hardcore, metalcore, hardcore Impressions from @doombox: Sample song: Buy the album: iTunes | CDJapan

Thoughts on the list so far: Everything so far has been stuff that I haven't checked out this year, so I am really going to be basing my quick impression based on the PV we posted with them Coldrain I skipped this album since I am done with being bored by Coldrain. I honestly stand with that thought - the PV didn't do anything for me. Chara It's been a while since I have listened to Chara - I am hoping that the rest of the songs on the album are more exciting than the PV track which I felt was kind of a snoozer. Suiyoubi no Campanella I already made some comments on the track in the best new tracks thread - "Now this is interesting. There are certainly things that I feel don't work in this track, but its overall uniqueness and charm win out." Pelican Fanclub While I can't say that I am love with this track, I do did the sound these guys are producing and I want to check in to it more. Kidori Kidori Not really my speed if I'm honest IX-NINE- I haven't been keeping up with the VK scene as much lately, so this bad has never really been on my radar. I can certainly understand people being put off by the vocals, and they are kind of on the weaker side, but some how not enough for me to be put off by them. I really enjoyed the vibe of the sample song. For sure going to be checking out more of these guys. Grieva The earlier Grieva stuff that I've listened to hasn't ever really done anything for me - I don't know if this changes anything for me. Though that youtube song was so compressed that it is hard to tell XD for example you sell the sea Besides having a terrible band name, I can really get behind this band. Song in the PV could have clipped like the first minute or so, but other than that, it was great.

Day 8 - for example you sell the sea - たとえば海を売るなら (Tatoeba umi wo urunara) posted!

Day 8: for example you sell the sea - たとえば海を売るなら (Tatoeba umi wo urunara) Release Date: 2015-02-22 Label: Hamabe Records Genre: Indie, post rock, screamo Impressions from @fitear1590: Impressions from @doombox: Sample song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iwQXeZ0Imw Buy the album: OTOTOY | iTunes (JP)

Ito's quick unfiltered thoughts! Watch as I lose my ability to think and describe! Green = mhmm Yellow = hmmm Orange = uhhhhh Red = uuuugh VK Develop One's Faculties - "insert memory" A case of annoying vocals hampering a great track. I want to like this, but there is just something about those vocals that I find grating. GRIMOIRE-グリモア- - "ぼくとタルパ (boku to tulpa)" Marginal VK with crappy production. I'll pass umbrella - "軽薄ナヒト" At least umbrella took the time to find a have decent sounding synth violin, even though I think it would do that song's characters wonders if they just paid someone to come in and actually record the parts. The chorus is pretty bland, but the rest of the song is fairly decent, just a bit stale imo. yazzmad - "Re:ハルシオン (re:halcyon)" I mean, it's art kei alright, but that doesn't give it an auto pass. There really isn't anything here that is interesting - the song just feels so bland. It's certainly not bad, just feel like the filler track you would normally skip on an album. アカシジア (akathisia) - "Inner C" Is it just me, or is the balance on this track just off? Like the guitars just feels so loud compared to everything else that I feel like it is all I am listening too (I wonder if the music player we are using is doing something to the tracks?). The song makes me feel like this band has promise, which makes me happy since I enjoy the idea of another all female VK band (man, those female vocals are refreshing). But I will give it another release or two... the GazettE - "UGLY" much heavy. very edgy. tries too hard in parts but is solid on others Rock / Metal / Punk / Indie/ Alt A Ghost of Flare - "Fall Asleep" Feels like a song I have heard a 100 times before. Day and Buffalo - "雷熊 (kaminari kuma)" This had me intrigued until I hit the vocals. I feel like I would enjoy this more with different pairing of vocals...they sound so bored. Dig the instrumentals though. KANA-BOON - "PUZZLE" I'm not sure how I felt on this one - gunna go with I liked it lol. Mono - "Death in Reverse" This song is tits. fox capture plan - "In the Darkness" this feels far more mature than their earlier work, and I still liked that. きのこ帝国 (Kinoko Teikoku) - "ドライブ (drape)" At first I really didn't like the pop approach this album took, but after I got over it and stopped trying to compare the shoegaze to pop rock and took it for what it is, I found that I really enjoyed this album. Not my favorite track on the album, though I do enjoy it. シナリオアート (Scenarioart) - "ナナヒツジ (nana hitsuji)" oh damn, I really like this. Such a fresh feel to it. But fuck you guys for making me out so much green in a row lo. バックドロップシンデレラ (Backdrop Cinderella) - "激情とウンザウンザを踊る (gekijou to unzaunza wo odoru)" Fun but not really for me. ヒトリエ (Hitorie) - "シャッタードール (Shutter Doll)" ペトロールズ (PETROLZ) - "Fuel" Funky, though not quite my style. マカロニえんぴつ (Macaroni Enpitsu) - "鳴らせ (narase)" A bit too sugary and generic for my tastes. Pop / Electronic / R&B / Hip-Hop / Other BENI - "DEEP SWEET EASY" Now we enter the section where it is going to take a lot more for me too like something since I am not really fans of most of these genres. This does not make the pass for me. Jimanica - "Warp Stairs feat. 山田杏奈 (Anna Yamada)" The vocals sound off to me and I can't say there is anything about the rest of the music that makes up for it. Qaijff - "After Rain" Decent piano pop - much much else to say imo. Rie a.k.a. Suzaku - "Passion" Kind of sounds like a mess to be honest. That bass feels like it has no idea what it is suppose to be doing, and it like a nerd trying to hang out with the cool kids and just ends up looking stupid. muffin - "6月の物語 (Story of June)" I can dig it. いとうかなこ (Ito Kanako) - "Cherish" Ito? Auto 10/10 legit though I actually dig her voice, though I feel the song is a bit too basic. チャラン･ポ･ランタン (CHARAN-PO-RANTAN) - "メビウスの行き止まり (Mobius no Ikidomari)" I have no idea what to think of this. Kind of reminds me of Wakusei Abnormal. ハジ→ (hazzie) - "記念日。(Kinenbi) feat. miwa" I have never cared for this style of vocal lead pop over generic symphony and piano. It always feels just so uninspired - like we have the budget, let's check this type of song off of the box. 一十三十一 (HITOMITOI) - "ミステリートレイン (Mystery Train)" It took everything in my power to not skip over this one after the first five seconds. Man, I can not stand this. Made it to the vocals just to make sure that it was 100% safe to jump off of this train. 原田ひとみ (Harada Hitomi) - "Overdrive" Calling these vocals overdone feels like an understatement. This dish tastes charred. I'll pass on this "Oberdry." 水曜日のカンパネラ (Suiyoubi no Campanella) - "西玉夫 (Nishi Tamao)" Now this is interesting. There are certainly things that I feel don't work in this track, but its overall uniqueness and charm win out.

No Shave November results:

Though that sig has only gotten more painful XD

Day 7 - グリーヴァ (Grieva) - 妄想主義者ノ背徳。(Mousou shugisha no haitoku.) posted

Day 7: グリーヴァ (Grieva) - 妄想主義者ノ背徳。(Mousou shugisha no haitoku.) Release Date: 2015-07-01 Label: MadWinK /Ains Genre: Alternative metal, metalcore, visual kei Impressions from @Peace Heavy mk II: Sample song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg3TkSRrXQs Buy the album: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/DAKAMWK-20'>CDJapan

Day 6 - IX-NINE- - VIDYA posted!

Day 6: IX-NINE- - VIDYA Release Date: 2015-03-12 Label: Independent Genre: Rock Impressions from @fictioninhope: Sample song:

Thanks! Here's another new one

Day 5 - Kidori Kidori - ![雨だれ] (amadare) posted!

Day 5: Kidori Kidori - ![雨だれ] (amadare) Release Date: 2015-06-03 Label: Polka Dot records/HIP LAND MUSIC Genre: Garage rock, indie Impressions from @fitear1590: Impressions from @doombox: Sample song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqfBnE1cxDU Buy the album: CDJapan | iTunes

Day 4 - Pelican Fanclub posted!

Day 4: PELICAN FANCLUB - PELICAN FANCLUB Release Date: 2015-08-05 Label: Daizawa Records Genre: Indie rock, indie pop, shoegaze Impressions from @fitear1590: Sample song: Buy the album: CDJapan | iTunes (JP)

Day 3 - 水曜日のカンパネラ (Suiyoubi no Campanella) - ジパング (Zipang) posted!

Day 3: 水曜日のカンパネラ (Suiyoubi no Campanella) - ジパング (Zipang) Release Date: 2015-11-11 Label: Tsubasa Records Genre: Pop, Hip Hop, Electronic Impressions from @CAT5: Impressions from @fictioninhope: Impressions from @beni: Sample song: Buy the album: CDJapan | YesAsia

DAY 2 - Chara - Secret Garden posted!

Day 2: Chara - Secret Garden Release Date: 2015-03-04 Label: Ki/oon Records Genre: Pop Impressions from @beni: Sample song: Buy the album: CDJapan | iTunes

Day 1 - coldrain - VENA posted!

This thread will be used for discussion on the Staff best albums of 2015 list. See the thread HERE. A quick directory to each album: coldrain - VENA Chara - Secret Garden 水曜日のカンパネラ (Suiyoubi no Campanella) - ジパング (Zipang) PELICAN FANCLUB - PELICAN FANCLUB Kidori Kidori - ![雨だれ] (amadare) IX-NINE- - VIDYA グリーヴァ (Grieva) - 妄想主義者ノ背徳。(Mousou shugisha no haitoku.) for example you sell the sea - たとえば海を売るなら (Tatoeba umi wo urunara) FACT - KTHEAT Envy - Atheist's Cornea DEZERT - 「暫定的オカルト週刊誌①」(Zanteiteki occult shuukanshi (1)) COHOL - 裏現 (Rigen) The fin. - Days With Uncertainty SEKAI NO OWARI - TREE BRADIO - Power of Life BLU-SWING - FLASH THE NOVEMBERS - Elegance a crowd of rebellion - Daphne KAMIJO - Royal Blood ~ Revival Best ~ sukekiyo - VITIUM 和楽器バンド (Wagakki Band) - 八奏絵巻 (Yasou emaki) the piqnic - ZyouK Chanty - Chantyの世界へようこそ lynch. - D.A.R.K.-In the Name of Evil- KEEL - R'lyeh