Umi_Niwa

ban the grapist

Show yourself again ( and again )

Me. *puffs cheeks up and blows*
 
Dark, milk or white chocolate?

С биологической точки зрения на клеточном уровне все постоянно умирает (и регенерируется) и таки да, в какой-то мере всё умирает с рождения, а нормальный или ненормальный организм - это субъективщина, норма относительна, тем более сейчас.
медик в треде

Single pringle~
 
Well, Idk the more I think about a relationship I realize how much I  like being alone and independent.
my roommates have been in a relationship for 4 years, and for 2 of those years it was long distance.
but they way they cling to each other so much makes me think like.... I dont want someone nagging me to be with the 24/9
 
I want to sit in my room and look at tumblr and watch movies and kdramas without someone whining about how I dont spend enough time with them.
 
also, in my last (actual) relationship I realized I hate being touched, or physical at all, and I suppose that would probably be a hinderance for a relationship...
 
Ive been in a couple of long distance relationships but they fall apart rather quickly... Im not sure if im fickle or what.
IDK MAN.
I THINK IM RAD. AND MAYBE I JUST NEED TO FIND THE RIGHT PERSON ETC ETC.
 
but for now... I have a cat. and she's annoying.
but it's better than nothing.

This is a good thing imo

did he rape and kill someone or what?

The development of 12012 has been controversial to say the least. It's almost like they have become the "new Dir en grey" in terms of the stark contrast between opinions on where this band is going. Some love their heavier sound, others rally against it. So where does this mini album stand? Well...things certainly won't change.
12012's new mini-album, THE SWAN, is a set of varied songs that all carry a similar sound throughout without sounding completely alike (like in their previous 2 releases). On this release, you have varying melodic structures in THE SWAN, to heavy hitting prog metal riffs in DEADLY CIRCUS. It's safe to say, there's a little bit of everything; but is that "little bit of everything" any good? Well...the answer is yes and no.
Where this album excels is the growth that the band has achieved to this point. There's variation. Not every song features pseudo-heavy chugging riffs -- in fact it's less frequent than in their self titled and Deicida of Silence. Here we have something that is more expertly crafted, even if in it's entirety that isn't saying much. You can tell there is a strong effort for this band to push forward into changing their sound and experimenting with what works. In fact, this is the first 12012 release where I was pleased at parts -- and this is the first time I've ever been remotely pleased with 12012. From the main guitar riff in DEADLY CIRCUS, to the evolving structure in 月光 that ends with one of my favorite moments in any 12012 song.
The ideas are great; but not always the execution. There are two examples that I can point to that ultimately ruins this mini-album (and yes, RUINS) as a whole. The first is Wataru's vocals -- both content and execution. It's BAD. It's TERRIBLE. It is practically UNBEARABLE. Take THE SWAN for example: Wataru goes through the song with attempts at English that just comes out lispy and off-key. Not only are the sounds disgusting; but even his lyrical content is beyond boring (singing about looking out of his window, and crying...I mean..honestly?). Where the track excels is in the musicianship; but even that suffers -- and I am specifically referencing the drums and overall production.
These guys are a professional band, and this is the production we're left with? Not only do the drum fills have volumes ABOVE THE RED (what professional engineer would look past that and think it's OK?); but the rhythm guitar is dramatically panned to the left channel causing the volume to drop significantly. So, whenever there's potential for an awesome guitar passage, it's hidden behind the overly loud drums and first guitar. This is what people did with Stereo back in the 1960's...and not what should be happening in 2013 with the mixing equipment and abilities we have now.
The vocals and drums are a mess. It's bad. More often than not Wataru sounds more annoying than SUPER DEEP AND PASSIONATE with his child-like screams and lispy melodies that are ALL forgettable. I get he's trying really hard to be operatic in nature (i.e. Kyo); but it doesn't work with him. It's either too far out of his range, or he's not even using proper breathing techniques to get desired falsettos. It's all admirable in thought; but it's executed HORRIBLY.
This mini-album has awesome IDEAS; but because of the poor production and terrible vocals, it falls flat. Get rid of Wataru, or at least get him some singing lessons.
5/10 (High score for the great ideas presented and the willingness of the band to grow)

Gaz, I don't know if you're vomiting or crying with that emoticon. ;___; either way it can't be good... lol

JAPAN
JAPAN
JAPAN
JAPAN
JAPAN
CUZ I'M FUCKING WEEABOO #SWAG
 
who is suckface?

If I were interested in them right now I would say that at least they're funny  The amount of people interested in them versus a real band with musical talent makes no sense to me.

And I thought this was supposed to be the second Golden Bomber.

Well that's all I was saying. The use of backup entails they just want support members but if they want someone to lack of better words join their band as a member that's different. I never said it was like a bad idea to make the band or that I personally thought it was a bad idea. I just know that if I was only a support member, I wouldn't want to use my ideas and make music for someone else's band. I wouldn't mind playing for them or helping THEM compose THEIR music.

No. I'd rather just be well off. Being rich is too much responsibility .____.
But if you were rich, where would the money go?

So happy x _ x

but damn it, release a full album asdfk

Thanks for your responses guys and for confirming that I'm not alone
It's really weird because I remember reading Zess' post which essentially pointed out that VK is more of a subculture (if anything) rather than a genre of music. As a result I assumed that there were some kind of super secret genres that I was missing, but I guess I was mistaken.
 
So basically...
 
The term 'visual kei' is not a genre of music, yet due to the complexity of the VK scene this term is the only way to encapsulate the form. Due to the sheer amount of genres being used, there is only one genre (which is in fact not a genre) which can describe this ever changing style and that is, confusingly, visual kei!

with the bands changing the style of their music with each album or even release its hard to catogorize them.

A lot of these are a mix of genres, which is why people tend to say "you can't really call something one genre" or "there's no one specific way to define a genre of a band." What I can say, though, is that visual-kei isn't really a genre even if there are typical things that really say "this sounds like a vkei band." Our very own Zess wrote a very nice post in another thread discussing how vkei isn't really a genre, nor a scene, nor a movement, while still actually being all three at the very same time. What the fuck, Japan.
 
 
The Piass, for example, had several genre changes. They started out as, and for the most part remained, a punk rock band. They had some thrash metal in there as well, and their 2nd album had some happy / pop punk mixed with melodic rock that was en vouge from 1995~1999 (while still having very aggressive guitar work that Takayuki is associated with). Compare "Never Say Die" with "Over Again," and you'll see what I mean. Their third era changed genres again: here they got a bit more -core , slightly crusty, and even a bit nu metal here and there but still had a "punk" feel to them. Today, who knows what they sound like. They've added a 2nd guitarist, changed vocalists for the 3rd time, and haven't released anything in almost 6 years. For the sake of simplicity, it's just easier to say "The Piass were hardcore punk and have been around for forever" even if that is a broad, sweeping description of their discography which, compared to many other vkei bands, was very volatile.
 
 
From the bit of Diru I listen to, they were pretty typical to what was going on around 1998--they were just more creative about doing it, and since they're worshipped today they're often credited for inventing a lot of typical visual-kei styles (which, from an objective standpoint, is fairly accurate for their post-Gauze work). From the time period I like most, they were what was more or less pioneered by Kuroyume. Actually, a lot of late 90s bands fall under this genre which doesn't really have a name--it's a mix of post-punk, gothic rock, new wave, with black metal influence sprinkled on top (the manic laughter, "outbursts of emotion" a la Madeth Gray'll, frantic mumbling, bizarre gagging noises, pata-pata-pata drum structures, etc). Kuroyume started this with their first demo, then their first mini-album, but moved on from this with later releases. This style was more solidified with bands like La:Sadie's, Madeth Gray'll (who upped the gothic influence) and Aliene Ma'rriage (who added more an industrial spin to it), with other groups making their own variations like Due'le Quartz (Miyabi was awfully progressive and technical in his compositions) and DAS:VASSER (who seemed to be more into adding punk influences than adding harpsichord and pipe organ).
 
See how this is hard to really pin-point?

Literally the only one. All the other residents of Finland are mooses and reindeer(also Santa, but he doesn't count).

vice versa....I often feel like I'm the only person around that's not sane ^^;;;
Do you consider yourself a positive person?

It does kinda look like it.

 
The title song is so-so. But the video is pretty boring and the WTF Wataru moments made me laugh. Clearly they need some art direction
I hope there are better songs on that mini-album.

There is not a single band worth listening to after you get older due to "new music" exposed to your ears.
 
Just part of getting older....

Pretty much this, I think especially Gokusai works very well, most people not familiar to Japanese music liked it when I played some songs to them.

BUCK-TICK: they have a big catalogue of diverse styles, and they pull (almost) everything off equally well. Plus, I think their style has enough in common with Western alternative stuff (but also lots of uniqueness) for first-time listeners not to be put off.

its relative, i think its pretty cool and awesome. I just like to talk to my favorite musicians lol