Wanted to write this earlier but it took a long time just to think about it and write it all up. xD
So here it goes: here's 10 of my fave VK albums, in alphabetical order.
BUCK-TICK - Kurutta taiyou (1991)
One of my fave B-T albums, it catches the band towards the end of a transitory period: their light-hearted/poppy sound is transforming into something darker and more serious. There is a fresh experimental edge to the music, employing harder and more varied guitars then the previous albums, plus Atsushi begins to sing in a lower 'manlier' voice as well on most tracks. The music is still catchy, but presented in a more mature, colourful way, much owing to Imai's creative use of guitar effects, from fuzzy noise-distortion to ethereal chimes and melody lines that sound more like ambient synth-playing. A very solid piece of music with a unified vision.
cali≠gari - Dai 5 jikkenshitsu (1999)
One of their classic albums with "Shuuji-1", Dai 5 really showcases the highlights of that incarnation of the band: while the instrumentation isn't anything heavy, the music carries a weird atmosphere which is sometimes menacing, sometimes bitter and nostalgic, but all the while a bit not right in the head. It has a kind of core, stripped-down style with mainly Ao's catchy/demented guitar lines and Kenjirou's exceptional bass playing at the forefront, with added vocal insanity by the old Shuuji. Everytime I hear this album, I wish they had made more stuff with this vocalist (not that I don't like the "new Shuuji", it's just that the old one had something extra IMO).
deadman - SiteOfScafFold (2001)
While I do love deadman's two full-length albums, I'm most fond of this mini album. A very nice essence of early deadman: dark tones that rapidly shift between depressive melancholy and nihilistic aggressivity. Every song is crafted beautifully, and Mako's beautiful voice really ties it all together with a kind of fluidity that is pretty amazing. Probably this releases is their most honest sounding, due to the raw sound/production. Each deadman release evokes in me a sense of space; this one is more like a sudden fall into some sort of formless nightmare, having its violent and tranquil moments as well. All in all, I think they were a pretty exceptional band (props to aie for composing those awesome songs!).
GUNIW TOOLS - OTHER GOOSE (1997)
GT were a pretty weird bunch, even in the realm of visual kei. Unlike their popular contemporaries, their sound was influenced by an array of genres, from folk to alternative rock and beyond. This, to me, is their magnum opus, a refinement on the style of their first album, and introducing new elements as well. Jake's and Asaki's guitar play is noteworthy, also mastermind Full's vocals evoke a quirky mood throughout the album. The music is very colorful and picturesque (if this means anything in a musical context), full of great poppy hooks and rockin' riffs, as well as interesting textures. I like that they were a band that totally went their own way, overseeing everything from their music videos to their live stage, and this strong controlled vision really shows on this album: it is a concentrated, fresh and inspiring effort.
LUNA SEA - IMAGE (1992)
It was really hard to choose a favorite LS album, it would be either this or STYLE. I chose this one in the end because it was my first album of theirs that I bought in physical form, so the music along with the booklet has a special feeling for me. While their first album had some great standout tracks and some unremarkable ones (for me, at least), this is where they really come into form. The crisp and tight guitars, the fantastically driving bass, powerful yet elegant drumming, and Ryuichi's vocals that are still like an unpolished diamond but not lacking in gentle beauty. Some of my first few fave LS tracks come from this album, so I guess that's another thing why I'm partial to it. It has a nice feeling, that otherwordly beyond-everyday world that characterizes the first few of their albums. An early VK gem this is!
MALICE MIZER - Voyage ~sans retour~ (1996)
A favorite of mine partly for similar reasons I mentioned above, great music and an elegant booklet/design makes for a nice experience. This album was a drastic change for the band: not only was this Gackt's first full-length with the band but their style previously characterized by overflowing guitarwork evolved into a much colorful affair. In fact, coming from a rock/metal background I was (and sometimes still am) fascinated by the scarcity of explicit/dominant guitarwork on this CD. They make up for that with delightfully catchy and, let's admit, cheesy synthwork - courtesy of Mana and Közi. Gackt adds a nice touch to the sound with his occasional piano playing (see the beautiful outro track), and fantastic voice, kind similar to Ryuichi of LS on IMAGE with that 'unpolished' notion.A very unusual and beautiful album, with some great diversity, from classical-inspired guitar-rock to even bossa nova-like sections.
Merry - Modern Garde (2004)
This band is an old love of mine, almost dating back to the times I discovered Japanese rock (same with BUCK-TICK), and this album represents their essence the best, I think. It has a number of staple songs that are still relevant in their live repertoire, and overall very fun to listen to. This album really shines in the catchiness department! So much creative guitarwork, and amazingly energetic drumming. I think this album was the first one where I paid attention more to the drums, and probably this is the source of my fanboying towards Nero, lol. xD The guy is amazing! Anyway, the album has a very good mix of light and heavier music, and that 'retrock' nostalgic feel that made me fall in love with Merry in the first place. The whole structure, beginning and ending, and album length (it goes by so fast!) makes for an excitement-packed rollercoaster ride of a listen.
MUCC - Gokusai (2006)
This album stays true to its name: "richly colored". It has all aspects that I've come to love MUCC's music for: great songs with catchy parts, well-placed and -played instruments and awesome vocals, plus lots of variety within their sound. I think this is a perfected form of perhaps what they were trying to do on Houyoku, achieving that mature more laid-back style, but this time they do it while audibly having a blast! The tracks are very memorable, each has something worthwhile, be it heaviness or beautiful gentle melodies, and even an air of playfulness that is, in my opinion, essential to the MUCC sound. They played a very 'human' form of rock on this album, I can't describe it better.
MUNIMUNI - MAGICAL MOONIES (2010)
Their only full-length so far, and completely mesmerizing. What I like about MUNIMUNI is that they are not ashamed to deliberately flaunt their influences or make smart musical references here and there, all the while remaining original in their own brand of psychedelic-tinged dreamy post-punk wanderings. I love everything about this release, from the jangly-jarring guitars to Kanon's fragile (slightly demented) vocals, and the overall looming atmosphere that oozes from the speakers. All this unified mood would mean nothing, of course, without memorable songs, but thankfully they're more than competent in that area. They have an air of mystery, as the band itself (actually, I don't think there's any official video footage of them at all, and I haven't seen them except for a handful of photos either, lol). This album is really a godsend from the indies-scene, solidifying my belief that good music is still around, as it will be.
Plastic Tree - Dona dona (2009)
I could've chosen other more classic PT albums, but truthfully this is the most closest to my heart, because this was the first of their albums that I've waited for being already something of a fan or admirer of the band. I like the dreamy, kinda rainy atmosphere this album evokes. It's a release that can be very quiet at one time, and powerfully loud the next; great dramatic contrasts in there. I like how it is pretty much straight to the point, no aimless lengthy songs for the sake of length, even the closer monumental piece is amazing (I usually don't like this post-rock-like style of music by the way). I think this is a pretty modest album, and I appreciate this. No flashy gimmicks, no "hey this and this is the hit song, guys!" syndrome, just honest sounding down-to-earth good songs. I especially like the presence Kenken brought to the band, it's a totally different drumming style than Bucchi's. I like both of them equally but you can really feel that fresh different atmosphere here caused by the drums - maybe a fresh fragrance after rain?
Well, that would be it. I have many more favorites but these were the ones that came to mind first.
