Ito

So this is a thing I did

It's been three to four years since jazz band 8-eit went on a hiatus to "mature as a band". Based on the phrasing of the hiatus, I thought they would be gone from the scene for a few months, perhaps a year. I was not prepared for the 2007ish visual kei double-speak of "sorry, but we need to get our shit together" that extended their hiatus far past the patience of 95% of their fan base. They chose the worst time to stop; they finally found mild success, with their latest single (at the time) my bullet featured on Japanese commercials. Drama behind the scenes had other plans. For one, vocalist Tsubaki started his own solo project called Tsubaki-VOICE-, because in his mid-40's he saw this as his last opportunity to go solo. The old drummer and keyboardist departed from the band, while guitarist Daisuke Aradate left and returned. Tsubaki-VOICE- held activities for two to three years, but didn't see as much success as the 8-eit, and after a few mini-reunion gigs at weddings they decided on an official return late in 2017. I'm still not sure if the decision to pause activities was worth it. 8-eit slimmed down from a five-piece band to a four-piece band, found a new bassist and drummer, axed the keyboard, and oriented themselves in a direction between old 8-eit and Tsubaki-VOICE-. Their first album, yellow, was released late last year to little fanfare. I still haven't heard it, so I'll settle with a review of the music video of the lead single "yellow" for now.
 
I hadn't noticed how much I loved Matsubara Kiyoshi's (old keyboardist) contributions until I heard this song. I miss them dearly, but his absence doesn't break the music. It will take some adjustment, but there is a lot left to like. Tsubaki is energetic as always, and Daisuke still brings the jazzy rock licks and solos that I remember him for, but the jury is still out on the two new members. The drummer makes eye contact with the viewer on multiple occasions, but the bassist is really into his instrument. The setting alternates between a green screen showcasing various geometric patterns in white and yellow and shots of the band playing against a white screen, stitched together with shots of singular members in black and white. There's no narrative to this PV. It's not as fancy as the liquor bar setting of the "戯れGOLD" PV, and I think this is because the band is working with a smaller budget than in the past. It's way better than the generic white room most visual kei bands do at least once in their career, but this is neither revolutionary nor a cause for inspiration. As far as the song goes...I can see why the internet isn't jumping for joy at the return of this band. It's not their best song, and it's not their worst, but I was expecting a bit more jazz and a bit less rock. Maybe they should think about bringing the keyboard back...
 
In many ways, this is a good music video to start this (hopefully successful) series with because I find it exceedingly average in all respects. It's a good yard stick to measure future music videos against. If you are an 8-eit fan just like me, leave your thoughts below on any aspects to the music or video that stick out (or don't) to you. Hit the like button if you want to read more of my thoughts on various visual and non-visual music videos in the future.
 
 

So this is a thing I did

If there was a single year I am most nostaligic for in Jrock, I think it would have to be 2007. D'espairsRay, Girugamesh, and Rentrer en Soi sit at the top of this list for me. That said, I think there are a few albums that I still look back at fondly that didn't make it on to the list:
 
Abingdon Boys School - Self Titled
I played the shit out of this release. I was always a fan of Takanori Nishikawa, but never really got in to TM's style. But in catchy alt rock with lots of electronics...oh man.
 
Lynch. - The Avoided Sun
I'm not sure this will ever go down as the best lynch album, but in 2007 their formula wasn't even close to feeling stale yet. I still really enjoy this album, even if it does have some stinker tracks on it (I'm looking at you, "the Universe.")
 
D - Neo Culture: Beyond the World
This would mark the last D album that I really enjoyed.
 
Blood Stain Child - Mozaiq
Man, I don't feel like this album holds up to time at all, but that euro-trance metal was something that was really enjoyable at the time.
 
Dir en Grey - The Marrow of a Bone
This album felt like a dud to me at the time, and marked the full on shift in Diru's style. That said, I still found myself still really getting pumped up by some of the tracks (Grief being the main one here)
 
The Marrow of a Bone - Bu-ikikaesu
When I think of MtH, this is the album I think of. I'll admit though, I don't think I listened to this on in 2007 though.
 
Kagrra, - shizuku
Far from Kagrra,'s strongest work, but there formula was so lovely and I couldn't help but enjoy their more laid back approach they were taking. That and I think what Kagrra, was doing has never really been replicated.
 
 

Still waiting for Kyo’s promise to fuck my parents. 

Holy shit I am actually in love with the new 腐海!!
 
I'm still not expecting anything incredible with IIID EMPIRE or Beautiful Dirt, but still wanna hear them. And I actually didn't know the other tracks on this were remastered, but actually hearing the teaser vids with my headphones, I can notice the difference (saku, ゆらめき). My opinion on VOS is turning around and I'm starting to get interested. I still think I could have come up with better tracklists for the CDs, and maybe they could have re-recorded some more (older) tracks, but who knows, maybe after a listen or two of the full thing I'll agree that the selection they chose perfectly captures the band's essence ... or something.
 
And I'm also betting this won't end up on iTunes. If I had to guess, it's 100% because of pre-VULGAR material, and their label must be adamantly against digitally distributing such material for whatever reason. This is speculation on the grounds that DECADE 1998-2002 did not make it to iTunes, but DECADE 2003-2007 did (but I don't know if it's still there).

Commenting just to +1 this. It is one of few albums that I can still say with confidence that I enjoy every track enough to listen to the entire thing without hitting the skip button (well, at least up to the final lengthy instrumental track). In addition a.b.s was the very first band that I ever saw live, so it's fair to say that they had a big impression on high school me. Still hoping for a comeback...

If there was a single year I am most nostaligic for in Jrock, I think it would have to be 2007. D'espairsRay, Girugamesh, and Rentrer en Soi sit at the top of this list for me. That said, I think there are a few albums that I still look back at fondly that didn't make it on to the list:
 
Abingdon Boys School - Self Titled
I played the shit out of this release. I was always a fan of Takanori Nishikawa, but never really got in to TM's style. But in catchy alt rock with lots of electronics...oh man.
 
Lynch. - The Avoided Sun
I'm not sure this will ever go down as the best lynch album, but in 2007 their formula wasn't even close to feeling stale yet. I still really enjoy this album, even if it does have some stinker tracks on it (I'm looking at you, "the Universe.")
 
D - Neo Culture: Beyond the World
This would mark the last D album that I really enjoyed.
 
Blood Stain Child - Mozaiq
Man, I don't feel like this album holds up to time at all, but that euro-trance metal was something that was really enjoyable at the time.
 
Dir en Grey - The Marrow of a Bone
This album felt like a dud to me at the time, and marked the full on shift in Diru's style. That said, I still found myself still really getting pumped up by some of the tracks (Grief being the main one here)
 
The Marrow of a Bone - Bu-ikikaesu
When I think of MtH, this is the album I think of. I'll admit though, I don't think I listened to this on in 2007 though.
 
Kagrra, - shizuku
Far from Kagrra,'s strongest work, but there formula was so lovely and I couldn't help but enjoy their more laid back approach they were taking. That and I think what Kagrra, was doing has never really been replicated.
 
 

If there was a single year I am most nostaligic for in Jrock, I think it would have to be 2007. D'espairsRay, Girugamesh, and Rentrer en Soi sit at the top of this list for me. That said, I think there are a few albums that I still look back at fondly that didn't make it on to the list:
 
Abingdon Boys School - Self Titled
I played the shit out of this release. I was always a fan of Takanori Nishikawa, but never really got in to TM's style. But in catchy alt rock with lots of electronics...oh man.
 
Lynch. - The Avoided Sun
I'm not sure this will ever go down as the best lynch album, but in 2007 their formula wasn't even close to feeling stale yet. I still really enjoy this album, even if it does have some stinker tracks on it (I'm looking at you, "the Universe.")
 
D - Neo Culture: Beyond the World
This would mark the last D album that I really enjoyed.
 
Blood Stain Child - Mozaiq
Man, I don't feel like this album holds up to time at all, but that euro-trance metal was something that was really enjoyable at the time.
 
Dir en Grey - The Marrow of a Bone
This album felt like a dud to me at the time, and marked the full on shift in Diru's style. That said, I still found myself still really getting pumped up by some of the tracks (Grief being the main one here)
 
The Marrow of a Bone - Bu-ikikaesu
When I think of MtH, this is the album I think of. I'll admit though, I don't think I listened to this on in 2007 though.
 
Kagrra, - shizuku
Far from Kagrra,'s strongest work, but there formula was so lovely and I couldn't help but enjoy their more laid back approach they were taking. That and I think what Kagrra, was doing has never really been replicated.
 
 

If there was a single year I am most nostaligic for in Jrock, I think it would have to be 2007. D'espairsRay, Girugamesh, and Rentrer en Soi sit at the top of this list for me. That said, I think there are a few albums that I still look back at fondly that didn't make it on to the list:
 
Abingdon Boys School - Self Titled
I played the shit out of this release. I was always a fan of Takanori Nishikawa, but never really got in to TM's style. But in catchy alt rock with lots of electronics...oh man.
 
Lynch. - The Avoided Sun
I'm not sure this will ever go down as the best lynch album, but in 2007 their formula wasn't even close to feeling stale yet. I still really enjoy this album, even if it does have some stinker tracks on it (I'm looking at you, "the Universe.")
 
D - Neo Culture: Beyond the World
This would mark the last D album that I really enjoyed.
 
Blood Stain Child - Mozaiq
Man, I don't feel like this album holds up to time at all, but that euro-trance metal was something that was really enjoyable at the time.
 
Dir en Grey - The Marrow of a Bone
This album felt like a dud to me at the time, and marked the full on shift in Diru's style. That said, I still found myself still really getting pumped up by some of the tracks (Grief being the main one here)
 
The Marrow of a Bone - Bu-ikikaesu
When I think of MtH, this is the album I think of. I'll admit though, I don't think I listened to this on in 2007 though.
 
Kagrra, - shizuku
Far from Kagrra,'s strongest work, but there formula was so lovely and I couldn't help but enjoy their more laid back approach they were taking. That and I think what Kagrra, was doing has never really been replicated.
 
 

If there was a single year I am most nostaligic for in Jrock, I think it would have to be 2007. D'espairsRay, Girugamesh, and Rentrer en Soi sit at the top of this list for me. That said, I think there are a few albums that I still look back at fondly that didn't make it on to the list:
 
Abingdon Boys School - Self Titled
I played the shit out of this release. I was always a fan of Takanori Nishikawa, but never really got in to TM's style. But in catchy alt rock with lots of electronics...oh man.
 
Lynch. - The Avoided Sun
I'm not sure this will ever go down as the best lynch album, but in 2007 their formula wasn't even close to feeling stale yet. I still really enjoy this album, even if it does have some stinker tracks on it (I'm looking at you, "the Universe.")
 
D - Neo Culture: Beyond the World
This would mark the last D album that I really enjoyed.
 
Blood Stain Child - Mozaiq
Man, I don't feel like this album holds up to time at all, but that euro-trance metal was something that was really enjoyable at the time.
 
Dir en Grey - The Marrow of a Bone
This album felt like a dud to me at the time, and marked the full on shift in Diru's style. That said, I still found myself still really getting pumped up by some of the tracks (Grief being the main one here)
 
The Marrow of a Bone - Bu-ikikaesu
When I think of MtH, this is the album I think of. I'll admit though, I don't think I listened to this on in 2007 though.
 
Kagrra, - shizuku
Far from Kagrra,'s strongest work, but there formula was so lovely and I couldn't help but enjoy their more laid back approach they were taking. That and I think what Kagrra, was doing has never really been replicated.
 
 

If there was a single year I am most nostaligic for in Jrock, I think it would have to be 2007. D'espairsRay, Girugamesh, and Rentrer en Soi sit at the top of this list for me. That said, I think there are a few albums that I still look back at fondly that didn't make it on to the list:
 
Abingdon Boys School - Self Titled
I played the shit out of this release. I was always a fan of Takanori Nishikawa, but never really got in to TM's style. But in catchy alt rock with lots of electronics...oh man.
 
Lynch. - The Avoided Sun
I'm not sure this will ever go down as the best lynch album, but in 2007 their formula wasn't even close to feeling stale yet. I still really enjoy this album, even if it does have some stinker tracks on it (I'm looking at you, "the Universe.")
 
D - Neo Culture: Beyond the World
This would mark the last D album that I really enjoyed.
 
Blood Stain Child - Mozaiq
Man, I don't feel like this album holds up to time at all, but that euro-trance metal was something that was really enjoyable at the time.
 
Dir en Grey - The Marrow of a Bone
This album felt like a dud to me at the time, and marked the full on shift in Diru's style. That said, I still found myself still really getting pumped up by some of the tracks (Grief being the main one here)
 
The Marrow of a Bone - Bu-ikikaesu
When I think of MtH, this is the album I think of. I'll admit though, I don't think I listened to this on in 2007 though.
 
Kagrra, - shizuku
Far from Kagrra,'s strongest work, but there formula was so lovely and I couldn't help but enjoy their more laid back approach they were taking. That and I think what Kagrra, was doing has never really been replicated.
 
 

If there was a single year I am most nostaligic for in Jrock, I think it would have to be 2007. D'espairsRay, Girugamesh, and Rentrer en Soi sit at the top of this list for me. That said, I think there are a few albums that I still look back at fondly that didn't make it on to the list:
 
Abingdon Boys School - Self Titled
I played the shit out of this release. I was always a fan of Takanori Nishikawa, but never really got in to TM's style. But in catchy alt rock with lots of electronics...oh man.
 
Lynch. - The Avoided Sun
I'm not sure this will ever go down as the best lynch album, but in 2007 their formula wasn't even close to feeling stale yet. I still really enjoy this album, even if it does have some stinker tracks on it (I'm looking at you, "the Universe.")
 
D - Neo Culture: Beyond the World
This would mark the last D album that I really enjoyed.
 
Blood Stain Child - Mozaiq
Man, I don't feel like this album holds up to time at all, but that euro-trance metal was something that was really enjoyable at the time.
 
Dir en Grey - The Marrow of a Bone
This album felt like a dud to me at the time, and marked the full on shift in Diru's style. That said, I still found myself still really getting pumped up by some of the tracks (Grief being the main one here)
 
The Marrow of a Bone - Bu-ikikaesu
When I think of MtH, this is the album I think of. I'll admit though, I don't think I listened to this on in 2007 though.
 
Kagrra, - shizuku
Far from Kagrra,'s strongest work, but there formula was so lovely and I couldn't help but enjoy their more laid back approach they were taking. That and I think what Kagrra, was doing has never really been replicated.
 
 

If there was a single year I am most nostaligic for in Jrock, I think it would have to be 2007. D'espairsRay, Girugamesh, and Rentrer en Soi sit at the top of this list for me. That said, I think there are a few albums that I still look back at fondly that didn't make it on to the list:
 
Abingdon Boys School - Self Titled
I played the shit out of this release. I was always a fan of Takanori Nishikawa, but never really got in to TM's style. But in catchy alt rock with lots of electronics...oh man.
 
Lynch. - The Avoided Sun
I'm not sure this will ever go down as the best lynch album, but in 2007 their formula wasn't even close to feeling stale yet. I still really enjoy this album, even if it does have some stinker tracks on it (I'm looking at you, "the Universe.")
 
D - Neo Culture: Beyond the World
This would mark the last D album that I really enjoyed.
 
Blood Stain Child - Mozaiq
Man, I don't feel like this album holds up to time at all, but that euro-trance metal was something that was really enjoyable at the time.
 
Dir en Grey - The Marrow of a Bone
This album felt like a dud to me at the time, and marked the full on shift in Diru's style. That said, I still found myself still really getting pumped up by some of the tracks (Grief being the main one here)
 
The Marrow of a Bone - Bu-ikikaesu
When I think of MtH, this is the album I think of. I'll admit though, I don't think I listened to this on in 2007 though.
 
Kagrra, - shizuku
Far from Kagrra,'s strongest work, but there formula was so lovely and I couldn't help but enjoy their more laid back approach they were taking. That and I think what Kagrra, was doing has never really been replicated.
 
 

If there was a single year I am most nostaligic for in Jrock, I think it would have to be 2007. D'espairsRay, Girugamesh, and Rentrer en Soi sit at the top of this list for me. That said, I think there are a few albums that I still look back at fondly that didn't make it on to the list:
 
Abingdon Boys School - Self Titled
I played the shit out of this release. I was always a fan of Takanori Nishikawa, but never really got in to TM's style. But in catchy alt rock with lots of electronics...oh man.
 
Lynch. - The Avoided Sun
I'm not sure this will ever go down as the best lynch album, but in 2007 their formula wasn't even close to feeling stale yet. I still really enjoy this album, even if it does have some stinker tracks on it (I'm looking at you, "the Universe.")
 
D - Neo Culture: Beyond the World
This would mark the last D album that I really enjoyed.
 
Blood Stain Child - Mozaiq
Man, I don't feel like this album holds up to time at all, but that euro-trance metal was something that was really enjoyable at the time.
 
Dir en Grey - The Marrow of a Bone
This album felt like a dud to me at the time, and marked the full on shift in Diru's style. That said, I still found myself still really getting pumped up by some of the tracks (Grief being the main one here)
 
The Marrow of a Bone - Bu-ikikaesu
When I think of MtH, this is the album I think of. I'll admit though, I don't think I listened to this on in 2007 though.
 
Kagrra, - shizuku
Far from Kagrra,'s strongest work, but there formula was so lovely and I couldn't help but enjoy their more laid back approach they were taking. That and I think what Kagrra, was doing has never really been replicated.
 
 

In celebration of Monochrome-Heaven's 10th Anniversary, we've decided to hop in our musical time machine and take a look at some of the important, classic, and downright pivotal J-rock albums of 2007! Below you'll find albums that left a significant impression on us as fledgeling J-rock fans and albums that impacted the fandom at large. So let's put on our nostalgia-goggles and take a look, shall we!!?? 
 
9mm Parabellum Bullet 
Termination

Alongside the likes of ling tosite sigure, these guys were one of the most hyped bands amongst the J-indie fandom at the time - and with great reason. On this album, 9mm crafted the perfect blend of explosive indie rock with elements of punk, hardcore, and metal - creating a sound so dynamic and fresh that even their naysayers couldn't deny it! TERMINATION was only their first full-length album, but it's responsible for inspiring an entire generation of successive bands with an influence that's still palpable to this day. Sadly, 9mm descended into utter mediocrity after this release, but this remains one of the few albums that I'd consider flawless, and it's widely regarded as a classic by fans.
-@CAT5
 
girugamesh
girugämesh

Few albums I have listened to in their entirety as much as girugamesh’s 2007 eponymous release. The 45-minute epic strips the soul bare - from the dynamic opener “Patchwork” to the heart wrenching “Kowarete Iku Sekai”, girugämesh brought out an unmatched explosion of creativeness from a group of friends that, despite barely breaking into their 20s, had given their all into music. It is a quality seldom heard in VK today as they channelled all of their aggression, elation, desperation, pain and longing, relishing the listener in girugamesh’s world of raw emotion where each song held meaning and every individual tune stuck to memory.
 
This is certainly one of the albums that not only epitomized 2007, but defined girugamesh for me. For many of us, bands like girugamesh catered to our angst-ridden adolescence, as we threw away our childish inclinations while gravitating toward the darker side of VK. And it was partially thanks to this album that gave me the faith to continue following them throughout their tumultuous latter years and see their career to their end, finally gaining closure with their swansong “period” that took them back to their formative roots.
-@helcchi
 
bis
Believe in Style

If girugamesh represented the transition into the dark side of visual kei to the generation that were growing up in the 00s, bis held tight to that childhood naïveté as they remained frozen in time, echoing sounds of a bygone era of oshare kei.
An ode to eternal youth, Believe in Style is an endearing Summer album that embodied all the stupid things we did when we were young and all the fun we had - free of consequences and responsibilities, as well as the bitterness we held towards growing up.
 
“Start”, “DAYS” and “SEASONS” were the quintessential high school anthems that perhaps started many people's venture into j-rock, brimming with youthful energy, catchy tunes and an attitude ready to conquer the world. It certainly seemed that success would come easy with the bright-eyed popular young band shooting their way to the top of the indies charts, yet bis’ world was painted through rose-colored glasses. And like many young bands trying to gain their footing in an adult world, the fun was short-lived and they disbanded way too early. Believe in Style would be their first and only full-length album, however not before leaving us with heartwarming memories.
-@helcchi
 
D'espairsRay 
MIRROR

Perhaps the only album I personally covered that sounds just as good today as it did ten years ago, MIRROR is one of the defining visual kei albums of the '00s. Every time I think of the mysterious cover, the riff to "Trickster" starts playing in my mind and Hizumi's crooning is like a harpoon that gets stuck in your head and can't be removed. It's funny to imagine how divisive this album was when it came out because it sounded nothing like [Coll:set], but in retrospect I might consider it the most approachable D'espairsRay album that still maintains the darkness I love them for. There's also bittersweet sentimentality talking, as this is the release which marks the point of no return for many fans.
-@Zeus
 
Eksperimentoj
Eksperimentoj

Having garnered a good amount of clout from the highly regarded band Dhal (a side-project formed by Aoki Robin of downy), vocalist Eugene Wakamikoto's first album with his own band Eksperimentoj was certainly a release of great interest back in 2007. In a lot of ways, Eksperimentoj sounded something like a spiritual successor to downy (who were on hiatus at the time and would remain as such for another 6 years). Eugene wrote and sung the album entirely in English, yet he sounded almost identical to Aoki Robin, and musically, the band played a gloomy, atmospheric style of post-rock that was aesthetically in line with downy as well. Though in spite of the similarities, Eksperimentoj still occupied a space of their own. Unfortunately, this was the only album they ever released, yet it's singular to this very day.
-@CAT5
 
HIZAKI grace project
Dignity of crest

Released on New Year's Day of 2007, HIZAKI grace project's first album was significant for me as it ushered in the second wind of my VK fandom, which is still kickin' today. I was delighted to see an old face, Juka (ex-Moi dix Mois), combined with some great neoclassical guitarwork and subtle tinges of MALICE MIZER (dat harpsichord in "Philosopher") that brought me back to when I first learned of VK in 2002. Virtuoso guitarists HIZAKI and Teru went on to form Versailles and Jupiter, but I still come back to Dignity to crest fairly often, as it showcases some of their best riffing.
-@fitear1590

Ling tosite sigure
Inspiration is DEAD

Ling tosite sigure (who were still being referred to as 'rin toshite shigure' by western fans at the time), had to be the most exciting band in Japanese indie at the time. Here you had a demure indie rock trio playing music with the technical prowess and ferocity of a death metal band, and their creativity seemed to know no bounds. Even if you found the vocals grating or annoying, you couldn't deny the Ling's ingenuity. Hell, before I grew to appreciate them, I found myself simply captivated by all of TK's insane riffage alone. Coming from a band so talented, and so obviously inspired, Inspiration is DEAD seemed like a statement - a dig against all of the bands who were content to tread the status quo instead of breaking new ground. And that's exactly what Ling did with this album, as they continued to do for years to come. Inspiration is DEAD remains a fan-favorite to this day, and as the band's final indie release, it's one of the most raw and unkempt records they've put out - a far cry from the polished, formulaic, and generally diluted music they've been producing lately.
-@CAT5
 
LOSTAGE
DRAMA

Just a year after LOSTAGE dropped the classic PLAY WITH ISOLATION, they returned again with this spectacular release. DRAMA took all of the emo-tinged indie rock of the previous album, but accentuated it with hard rock elements which resulted in a fresh and powerful new sound for the band. In fact, you could argue that this is the album that set the tone for the rest of the their career, as the style they crafted here is one that they've continued to hone throughout every album since. Truly a highlight in LOSTAGE's discography and the year 2007 alike.
-@CAT5
 
MERRY
M.E.R.R.Y.

After ten years, M.E.R.R.Y. still remains as one of MERRY's most memorable albums due to the band's versatile sound, which consisted of distorted punk rock with jazzy elements, groovy melodies, and some tender ballads. The singles included are "Blind Romance", "Saihate no Parade (最果てのパレード)", and the tender "Komorebi ga Boku o Sagashi Teru (木洩れ日が僕を探してる・・・)", which all remain as fan-favorite tracks today. In fact, 2007 was around the time of MERRY's prime, as the band had already been signed with major label Victor Entertainment for 2 years, and they had already performed overseas for the first time a few months prior to the album's release. Personally, the album has some of my favorite MERRY tracks ever, including "Utagoe Kissa 『MODERN』 (歌声喫茶『モダン』)", the catchy and melodic "Hirahira Tonderu. (ひらひらとんでる。)" (whose PV was directed by FULL of GUNIW TOOLS), and dat sweet bass solo at the start of "Coq d'or mama (コックドール・ママ)".
-@suji
 
nayuta
solar ribbon・solar children

Never heard of this band? No worries - most people hadn't heard of this band ten years ago either! In fact, nayuta is so obscure that only some of the most hardcore J-indie enthusiasts that I know have come across them, as this album wasn't released widely and almost no information can be found on it today. Still, despite their stature, nayuta has to be one of the best kept secrets of the J-indie scene, and this album is one of the best that you've never heard. On Myspace (yes, Myspace was still a thing in 07), they used to describe themselves as 'Underground hardcore parade music', and while that's actually pretty apt in a weird way, it doesn't do them justice. There's a definitely a hardcore element to their music, which is further emphasized by the rough and noisy production quality, but the band makes creative use of melody while maintaining the beauty of it. Add in some sublime male/female vocals and you have a sound that's as chaotic as it is charming. solar ribbon・solar children may be a hidden gem, but it's well worth excavating to wrap your ears around.
-@CAT5
 
OGRE YOU ASSHOLE
AlphaBeta vs. Lambda

If bands like Ling tosite sigure and 9mm Parabellum Bullet were dominating the aggressive side of Japanese indie in 2007, then on the opposite end of the spectrum, OGRE YOU ASSHOLE were the kings of slacker rock. The band already an album and a mini-album under their belts at the time, but Alpha Beta vs. Lambda truly solidified them as an indie rock force to be reckoned with. Characterized by laid-back grooves, smooth vocals, colorful riffs, and tight instrumentation, OYA carved out a delightful sound on this album that many younger bands like mitsume and siamese cats have aimed at, yet have never quite been able to hit. Hell, even the band themselves have never been able to live up to the sound they established here - and they've released eight albums since!
-@CAT5
 
Plastic Tree
Nega to Poji

2007 marked the 10th anniversary since Plastic Tree's major debut, and to pay all their efforts for making it that far, they decided to release the groundbreaking and jaw dropping album that is Nega to Poji. It was a major turning point for Plastic Tree, throwing away the old and bringing out new ideas. Nega to Poji as a whole laid out such a unique charm that if you listened to one song out of the album context you'd instantly recognize the Nega to Poji sound; the dreaminess, the grungy guitars, and Ryutaro's less childish to mesmerizing vocals. Honestly, there really is no bad track on the album as they all give it a perfect balance, except for old, but newer versions of tracks like "Spica", "Makka na Ito", and "hate red, dip it", that might feel like extras to some. I do admit however, that the new "hate red, dip it (loudest sound version)" flows well with the rest of the album. You've got the dreamy "Nemureru Mori" as a tranquil start, the pumping "Fujunbutsu" and "Elegy" to amp up the noise and energy, the heavy "Sabbath", which is possibly their heaviest track other than "Ghost", some impressive drumming in the melancholic "Kuroi Kasa", and the beautiful and heartbreaking "Andro Metamorphose" that received huge debate for copying Mew's song "Comforting Sounds", yet is still loved by most, if not all pura fans. I remember playing this album on heavy rotation the day it released. It was one of the best things I heard at the time and is still an absolute favorite of mine, which I'm sure many fans can agree with as well. Hell, there's even a whole studio version of the album on DVD from the limited edition. 
-@plastic_rainbow
 
RENTRER EN SOI
The bottom of chaos

It's not the album that springs to mind when I think of classics, but THE BOTTOM OF CHAOS is the album I think of when I think of Rentrer en Soi. The sound of a band successfully reinventing themselves to fit the hype sound of the time while still retaining their defining features and simultaneously progressing is as difficult to pull off as it is to describe, but for the most part THE BOTTOM OF CHAOS does this successfully. The album hasn't aged as well as I would have hoped - the production sounds thin, the growls are weak, and the best moments are segments of tracks spread over the whole affair rather than one or two solid songs - but when the entire package is this consistent it's still fun for a spin. Give this one a try if you want to know what fans a decade ago thought the tops in heavy music was.
-@Zeus
 
school food punishment
air feel, color swim

school food punishment debuted with their first mini-album school food is good food back in the spring of 2007, instantly turning heads as one of the new, promising indie bands on the block. Some people were even quick to compare them to Spangle call Lilli line - one of the most prominent female-fronted indie bands of the time. However, It wasn't until later that year with the release of this album that sfp really began to come into their own. The groovy, upbeat power-pop of the tracks like "you may crawl" and "art line" were basically the prototypes for what would become sfp's signature sound later on in their major label years. While the moody and dramatic "loop, share" was like a precursor to the band's 3rd mini-album Riff-rain, which came to be widely regarded as their best work when it dropped the next year. Still air feel, color swim is an important release that marks the development of a band that later grew to become iconic in their own right.
-@CAT5
 
Shiina Ringo
Heisei Fuzoku

Shiina Ringo is a legendary figure in Japanese music, hands down. With her gigantic and diverse discography, it can be quite overwhelming to start digging in. While I started with her most famous albums 勝訴ストリップ (Shouso Strip) and 加爾基 精液 栗ノ花 (Kalk Semen Chestnut Flower), I wasn't officially 'sold' on her until heisei fuuzoku. The album, which was arranged with the help of Neko Saito and served as a film OST, is a collection of self-covers and new tracks (like "Gamble"), all with a sumptuous orchestral/jazz/big band sound. The reinterpretation of "茎 (kuki)" as a sultry jazz number is particularly unreal. For anyone not quite ready for Shiina's pop-rock or more experimental side, heisei fuuzoku is another great entry point to her oeuvre.
-@fitear1590
 
the GazettE
STACKED RUBBISH

2007 might have been the last year I was flat-out head-over-heels in love with visual kei. Great albums and band debuts were happening left and right, its popularity was growing, bands were touring internationally, and people were still allowed to post fan-made content on YouTube (or am I the only one missing hilarious fanvids?). One of my most played albums that year, and probably my most played GazettE album ever, was STACKED RUBBISH. Not only did the singles leading up to the album kick ass, but just about every B-side from them was just as good in their own right, and it's no surprise some ended up making it to the final cut. The album enveloped the singles perfectly too, with just the right amount of variety between upbeat clap-alongs like "ガンジスに紅い薔薇(ganges ni akai bara)" and "SWALLOWTAIL ON THE DEATH VALLEY" and GazettE's classic, bitter aggression in tracks like "BURIAL APPLICANT", "MOB 136 BARS" and "CIRCLE OF SWINDLER". A light sprinkling of Ruki's new-found 'hip hop' influence also gave the album a dose of intrigue, as it opened with the questionably titled and unintentionally hilarious "ART DRAWN BY VOMIT" as well as the unforgettable did-he-really-just-say-fuckboy? engrish in "AGONY". Whether it's for a good laugh or a good headbang, STACKED RUBBISH's epic-ness needs to live on forever in VK infamy. Yes I did probably link the entire album, fight me.
-@doombox
 
Tokyo Jihen
Variety

Let's take a trip back to the past when Tokyo Jihen was saving jazz and Shiina Ringo was still relevant. Believe it or not, Tokyo Jihen's third full-length  娯楽(バラエティ), pronounced Goraku, turns ten this year! Feel old yet?  I would consider 娯楽 to be the black sheep of their discography, mostly due to everyone but Ringo composing music for this release. 娯楽 includes seven tracks from guitarist Ukigumo, five tracks from keyboard player Ichiyo Izawa and one composed by bassist Seiji Kameda. Drummer Toshiki Hata was also asked to contribute, but he declined. There's nothing wrong with it, but when it comes time to name drop Tokyo Jihen tracks, my mind often does not wander here.  娯楽 is best known for lead singles "O.S.C.A." and "キラーチューン" (Killer-tune), and  "金魚の箱" (Kingyo no Hako) which became the theme for the film 魍魎の匣 (Mouryou no Hako), but my personal favorite song is "黒猫道" (Kuroneko-do). It ended up selling 175,000 copies and was certified Gold by the RIAJ.
-@Zeus
 
trico
MUSICS

Sometimes brilliance goes overlooked because it's found in the most unexpected places, or in trico's case - a place that wasn't even on the radar for most. 2006 saw the release of the band's first album, but it was just humdrum enough to be negligible. They hadn't become a band that you'd hear readily flying off the lips of J-indie fans, so it made sense that Musics went by barely detected when it dropped the next year. I'm not sure what transpired in the time between these two releases, but trico had clearly become inspired in the interim. As opposed to downy, who were far left-field, and sleepy.ab, who were perhaps a bit too poppy, trico managed to hit the perfect stride of Radiohead-inspired rock, while also forging their own identity. With Musics, the band remained highly accessible while keeping things interesting. They took some interesting creative liberties, employing unusual sounds and subtly progressive arrangements, yet never became overly-experimental or self-indulgent. This was a short but fantastic mini-album, and it's a shame that this was trico's last proper release. I would have LOVED to hear what else they could have gone on to produce!
-@CAT5
 
 Versailles
Lyrical Sympathy

Many of these tracks have been revisited and re-recorded in many releases by Versailles, which should indicate just how influential this release is. The Revenant Choir  was the first release, but Lyrical Sympathy is what opened the door and introduced the band to the world. Classics such as "The Love from a Dead Orchestra" and "Sympathia" are among many fan favorites, and it's always refreshing to hear a power-metal band take a few trends and buck them. Actually, there are only one or two tracks here which haven't made a reappearance because they've even recycled the intro track! A decade ago when I first stumbled across Versailles, I never thought I'd have the opportunity to see them grow and come this far. Lyrical Sympathy holds up if you approach it from an ideas perspective, but as far as execution goes it's a diamond in the rough that I enjoy with the thickest rose-tinted glasses I can find.
-@Zeus
 
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Liked our list? Disagree with our list? Did we miss anything? Feel free to leave your comments below, let us know what you think, and let us know what albums you found remarkable that have turned 10 this year!  

The only logical conclusion is DEG is starting a daytime children's show.

I just picked up Horizon Zero Dawn to add to the ever growing backlog...

My wife and I started watching The Ancient Magus Bride and My Hero Academia. We're only 4 episodes in to Magus, and while I love the atmosphere, it might be a bit too slow, and I haven't been able to suspend my disbelief on the main characters comfort with the situation and how uncomfortable her and bone dude's relationship is. Hero on the other had is managing to take a stale formula and making it fresh, though I worry how long it can hold up. The biggest problem I have with shounens is that often get stretch out too long and outstay their charm.

SPEEERRRG ANNNNNND SPEEEEEEEERRRRGGGGGGG

so you know how I said that i was content with my current setup and didn't want/care about the 6xx on sale above?
 
.... well I'm a bold face liar, because I just did this.
 

 
so yeah... I just couldn't resist a pair of HD 650's for 200 dollars, talk about a steal.
 
btw my massdrop O2 + SDAC came tonight as well, freaking talk about a amazing amp/dac combo right here, my HD 579's sounds ridiculous compared to before. Now to just wait till march for those 6xx
 

So this is a thing I did

I feel like a Dir en Grey tribute album should have happened around late 00's, during the peak Diru copy cat era.

I feel like a Dir en Grey tribute album should have happened around late 00's, during the peak Diru copy cat era.

Aside from my SONY MDR1000x with the built-in amp turned off, I'm trying to test out some Audio Technica (ATH-M50X) Headphones that I forgot I had lol but they are entry-level sounding compared to a 600 series from Sennheiser.
 
Something that recently caught my interest was this.
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-sennheiser-hd-58x-jubilee-headphones
 
Apparently these are going to go for $150, which is an AMAZING deal for entry-level Sennheiser Headphones.
What makes this deal even more tempting is the use of 150-ohm drivers (the same drivers that the NEW HD660 S use), with tuned settings to compensate the much-lowered price tag, they are homage to the HD580 headphones from the 90's, which created the then legendary 600 series audiophiles have come to love.
 
I'm going to wait until release day to order, with hopes that they live up to the hype that a couple reviewers have recently posted about them.
Apparently they are HD600-like, with less treble, and much lower bass, almost disappointing bass.
Sennheiser is apparently still in the works on these, and that they hope to fix this lower frequency issue in order to address and improve the bass to the HD58x.
 
Edit: I forgot to mention that I upgraded my Schiit Audio Setup (also known as a Schiit Stack (Schiit Magni + Schiit Modi)), as the new Magni 3 just came out, and I gotta say it sounds about the same lol.
 
I will test the HD58x when I get my hands on them and see how these do under the Amp/DAC from Schiit.