Favorite Debut Releases

[fitear1590 2414]

Surely you know some bands who impressed you from their very first release. You thought, "Wow, these guys are great" or "Damn, they've got some potential". Yes, those exact phrases, haha.

:staru: So, let's discuss some of our favorite debut releases. :staru:

(For the purposes of this thread, use your own discretion about what you consider the true debut release of a band. For instance, I wouldn't count mega-limited live-only demos as a debut, but a commercially released CD, yes.)

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(In no particular order, some bands that impressed me right from their debut:)

キャンゼル (Canzel) - FiRST STEPS E.P. (single, March 2008)
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/fitear1590/Snapshot_20100124.jpg
Ironically, the band's very first release includes my favorite songs by them, though admittedly track 1's "Allegro" has a better re-recording on another release. However, for 夢喰いバレヱ, this is absolutely the definitive version for me; still one of my favorite songs ever. Even though they're gone now, this band remains special for me, because it was probably the first VK band I really became a fan of that wasn't one of the "gothic"/tanbi/victorian-type bands. Also, extra sentimental value, because I found this CD signed by the members!

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the cabs - 一番はじめの出来事 (mini-album, April 2011)
http://f0.bcbits.com/z/26/42/2642546520-1.jpg
Some excellent math rocky technical prowess provided by a trio of talented musicians. I'm not sure if this is their first band or not, but these guys are good. Nice catchy moments, combined with impressive time-signature fuckery.

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ねごと (NEGOTO) - Hello! "Z" (mini-album, September 2010)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41USK%2BYWD1L._SL500_AA300_.jpg
An awesome release that instantly put this major-label all-girl band on my radar. They make nice keyboard pop-rock with some indie sensibilities and occasional quirkiness. Actually, with their subsequent releases, they've continued to improve and most are much better than this CD, haha. But you gotta start somewhere and this was definitely a great start.

Zephyr - Plumeless Eyes (tape, October 1999)
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSeJUu2t0wSNe4JfYPAcHyrJWneC519m1rSzFkSzMjdLWYFp0ljPqEbbqVR7Q
Zephyr is now one of my favorite VK bands from the 90's/early 2000's. The tape starts off with a genuinely nice "SE" track and leads into 2 totally solid melodic, fluffy VK soft-rock tracks. Though Caim's voice is an acquired taste for many, I love it; thus, I love Zephyr!

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The God and Death Stars - addle apple (mini-album, September 2011)
http://www.wakesidevision.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/addle-apple.jpg
I got into this band pretty recently and this is a stellar release. Love the "nagoya" style, whatever that truly entails, haha. Excellent atmosphere and aie has a pretty good voice.

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And of course there's others, but please share some of your favorite debuts!

[Zeus 7997]

I've got a few to contribute!

lynch. - greedy dead souls

This album SLAYS! For those who don't know, I'm going to paraphrase inartistic who summed it up perfectly in another topic.

This album, for me, exemplifies what visual kei can accomplish. Most people here are probably too young in the scene to remember, but this album's release was a really atypical. The band just appeared and announced a full album—no pictures, no samples, nothing. It was really ballsy and got everyone's attention—and rightfully so, because the album is really great. The album has a dark and heavy sound, but doesn't err toward ridiculousness in the way that DEATHGAZE did. Tracks like vernie and 59 are unabashedly aggressive, while Mujun to Sora and LATINA MARIA show sincere emotion and wide range. The album is one of the most successful debuts from a visual kei act and shows what can be accomplished within the genre.

And lynch. is still kicking ass today.

9GOATS BLACK OUT - devils in bedside

This is yet another one of those releases by a band that just popped into existence and announced a release with no pictures or samples of any kind. Everyone was expecting a really metal sort of release considering the implications that goats have in heavy and black metal. What we got instead was an instantly memorable release full of melancholic guitar lines and a crooning Ryo.

Too bad they're disbanding

Ilaria Graziano - CYBER BICCI

Normally I'm not one for describing things in a lewd manner but Ilaria Graziano's voice makes me jizz in my pants. Every time. The talented Italian songbird just can't catch a break in her native homeland but thankfully Japan gave birth to Yoko Kanno. She has the magical ability of being able to produce crazy experimental electronic tunes as well as being able to dig up the talent to match. If you need futuristic cyber-electronic music, this is the album to check out.

It took 11 years for her to be able to release something proper but it was worth it.

There's more which I'll probably post later.

[CaRaN 212]

キャンゼル (Canzel) - FiRST STEPS E.P. (single, March 2008)

Completely agree, those songs are two of my favorites by them. Btw, Mio's signature in there is just awesome!

xTRiPx - トウメイ。(Toumei.) (mini-album, June 2005)

To me this release is just special, it's not my favorite by them, but it does have CAUTiON and Rem. which are some of favourite songs ever. I'm really happy that I could get it

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VURNY - SILVER GANG STAR (mini-album February 2011)

This is awesome, I was amazed the first time I heard this. Kyouhei's voice is so weird and the music's so good haha too bad every other release than this was sell only at lives/ZEAL LINK xD

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the GazettE - 別れ道 (Wakaremichi) (single, April 2002)

Though the GazettE has changed a lot through all this years and I actually like more their current style, this was an excellent first release and I love the title song.

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ユナイト (UNiTE.) - UNiTE. (single, March 2011)

UNiTE. is my third favorite band, and this release was really awesome, and I think all tracks are amazing, including the intro.

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[Jigsaw9 6783]

Since I'm more of an album person, I'm gonna go with debut albums...

BOØWY - MORAL (1982)

An interesting album, especially considering that at the time of recording the band had 6 members instead of the 4-piece that would later gain legendary status. The extra guitar and saxophone parts help make this a fun and quirky listen, with a punkish attitude that gradually faded with the later albums. Although the production is a bit lacking in punch, the well-written and catchy songs make up for that in this rather short (barely over half an hour) release.

BUCK-TICK - HURRY UP MODE (1987)

B-T's first album is a fun ride through tracks ranging from post-punk through ska-influenced bits to genuine pop-rock. Not overproduced, the bass and drums have a healthy power to them, while the two guitars complement each other in a really cool way. A strong debut from an at-the-time up and coming band, all the more remarkable since, except 2 songs, all the music/lyrics were written by Imai Hisashi (guitarist).

D'ERLANGER - LA VIE EN ROSE (1989)

Together with BUCK-TICK and X JAPAN, D'ERLANGER laid the foundations of what was to become known as "visual kei" or "visual rock", both in aesthetics and musical style, as can be observed on this album. If we were to make a comparison they would stand between the aforementioned bands: poppy melodies delivered with a punky edge, leaning towards a hard rock/metal influenced sound. An influential release, and rightfully so.

JUDE - Charming bloody Tuesday (2002)

Quite astoundingly, when Asai Kenichi decided to make a full-length release with his at-the-time newest project JUDE, he went for recording two whole albums, this one being my favorite of those. Asai's infectuous style that can shift from soft ethereal melodies to biting guitar attacks in a blink of an eye is characteristic here, much like his long-running band BLANKEY JET CITY, but JUDE's music is more atmospheric - especially on this beautiful record.

Merry - Gendai Stoic (2003)

After a small handful of live-distributed demos/singles, Merry decided to make an album - and boy, does it deliver! At the time I first listened to Gendai Stoic I'd never heard anything like it before: a cavalcade of different sounds and moods, melted together with an instantly recognizable jazzy & punky style. The two guitarists (also the main songwriters) play immensely catchy melodies, and together with the characteristic "walking bass" parts it makes for quite a warm, nostalgic atmosphere. The vocals and drums are stellar too, making this band (and release) truly unique and unforgettable.

[Des 289]

BLANKEY JET CITY - Red Guitar and the Truth

Their first and their best. The definitive BLANKEY album. They sound like they've had experience for years but they were only starting out. Combined with a very youthful and energetic sound. An awesome collection of songs without fillers or misses.

L'Arc~en~Ciel - Dune

I wouldn't say this is their absolute best, they might have surpassed this with their second album, Tierra, but it's very impressing still. Another one of these albums where I think "these guys have been going strong for years" but they were young and inexperienced. I feel like their later albums suffer from some forced artistic boundaries... but on this album they sound free and limitless.

[Takadanobabaalien 3607]

LUNA SEA - LUNA SEA

MALICE MIZER - Memoire

Deciding to not write descriptions, but yeah, these two in particular... ofcourse there are more, but yeah.

[DeIdeal 0]

9GBO's Devils in Bedside was already mentioned, but I'd say it deserves another mention. The band seemed to have a really clear idea of what they wanted do from the get-go. They have their immediately recognisable style which hasn't really changed, simply because there's no need. Pretty much the perfect debut for a band, and I'm really sad to see them go.

Another debut that I thinks deserves to be noted is DELUHI's Surveillance. 9Goats managed to top their debut, DELUHI never really did, and that's not to say they released only bad stuff since it -- I enjoyed quite a few of their singles and liked the second mini a lot. Still, Surveillance is the one release that felt so refreshing a vk release at the time (It could've been just the other stuff I had been listening to, though), and man, is it catchy or what?

[jduv86 224]

Deluhi Surveillience

The Gazette "Wakaremich"

UNITE "UNITE"

Kurt “Oritamishiki Ojiichan“

Ruvie "Rubik Cube"

[Flame-X 441]

ViViD - THE ViViD COLOR

I wasn't in for trying out new VK stuff but I decided try out their debut album since they were ranked pretty high in the Oricon Indies chart. First 2 songs, I was like "damn!..." this is great stuff. After listening to the whole album, I kept them on my radar.

[Tokage 5930]

Reppin' Guniw Tools - Niwlun here

fairytale-esque, songs that were totally unique in the 'visual'/'visual-related' scene at that time. They were ( and would always remain ) fresh.

[Number Girl 48]

Onsa's debut "Mizuiro Sorairo" is one of my favorite albums. At this point they haven't signed onto RX-Records and spoiled their sound with pop-punk and still have that typical Japanese underground shoegazey/emo sound. (Although those other albums are good, just not nearly AS good).

Color's "Gekitotsu!!" is ear porn for anyone who loves that punk-flavored old school visual kei sound (and Dynamite Tommy's beautiful angelic vocals!)

I also love Anthem's debut - which is simply a classic, no doubt about that and Grand Slam's "Rhythmic Noise."

[Pretsy 1343]

Going with J-releases due to OP's part...(included samples in album titles)

A good, consistent representation of early vk sound a.k.a. how VK should actually be these days instead of Americana endorsement. Don't mind the "bad" mixing of Extasy records - just let yourself go with the flow of this masterpiece!

Although I prefer the rerecorded version to this one ("Dwellers of a Sandcastle"), WS still induces a nice imagery with exotic, 80s-like artsy numbers. The title track a.k.a. ice cream truck song is lovelier here than in DoaS, to be quite honest . *cannot upload an original ver. atm*

Shows how bohemian, wild, elegant and original can Kiyoharu be in his music too. A nice punch of swing and many other influences from old genres.

I guess that's all for now...

[kurenaishineek 646]

Omega Dripp - Shout at the neo devil

Good VK band that goes a little more into the old school stuff . They have some great potential and i have to say ill giving them a big + for digging up a almost long forgotten genre , Glam Rock . So its not only a trip back in time when it comes to VK , but also when it comes to the music . Great solos , good vocals , make this albums a good listen . Hope they dont lose this potential halfway before next album .

Tobyas - Reincarnation

Was my first and for a long time , the only japanese post grunge band . Theyre vocalist has some great vocal , with good english . I must even say i first thought hes not japanese , but he is . So if you look for something along the lines of Breaking Benjamin , than i recommend this album , cause its one of the best albums in 2010 .