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Japanese Music (Pop, rock and all 'dat) |OT|

K

Kurita

Member
the HIATUS released a trailer for their new album Keeper of The Flame which will be out next week. A short version of a new song is featured in this trailer and it sounds just amazing, I'm sure the album will blow me away. My most anticipated release of the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbIEjDEOjRw


Also bought She Her Her Hers's second album, stereochrome which was released this week.
XALemrn.jpg
Click to expand...
It's another really solid work by this band, featuring their new drummer. It feels somewhat darker than the previous album, but still manages to have some quite catchy tunes. Need to give it a few more spins but it's arguably their best release so far, I highly recommend it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4_inMtkt6k
 
P

psylah

Member
Desmond said:
I took it as a joke, like the way people call anime "Chinese cartoons" or something.
Click to expand...

"What you listenin to son? More of your chinese drag queen music?"
"DAAAAAAD THEY'RE NOT DRAG QUEENS AND THEY'RE NOT CHINESE THEY'RE FROM THE GLORIOUS NATION OF NIPPON YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND"
 
F

faridmon

Member
Sorry to drop by unannounced (since I am a lazy bogger) but WTF? She Her Her Hers dropped another album out of no where. Their second in 10 months?
Bloody Hell!

Hope its better than their previous one Rollercoaster since it was a disappointment.
 
K

Kurita

Member
Not really out of nowhere, they announced in december that they had a new drummer and that they were going to release their new album in Spring 2014. Though to be fair they announced the release date last month.
Previous album was pretty good but I like this one more.
 
F

faridmon

Member
Lol, December is still pretty ''out of nowhere'' for me. but yeah, I haven't followed them much since their last one left pretty bad taste in my mouth.
I think I have written a pretty extensive impression sometime ago about Rollercoaster and how generic it was. Hope they go back to what made them great with their debut EP; mainly their Post-Punk revivalist attitude with light, surf-pop integration.

EDIT: STOP THE PRESS, I CAN HEAR THE BASE IN THEIR NEW ALBUM, Praise the god!
 
Aizo

Aizo

Banned
Desmond said:
I took it as a joke, like the way people call anime "Chinese cartoons" or something.
Click to expand...
People should call them Korean cartoons, really. What with all the outsourcing to Korea and all.
psylah said:
"What you listenin to son? More of your chinese drag queen music?"
"DAAAAAAD THEY'RE NOT DRAG QUEENS AND THEY'RE NOT CHINESE THEY'RE FROM THE GLORIOUS NATION OF NIPPON YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND"
Click to expand...
I'm imagining a much weirder version of the music video for Institutionalized, now.
 
K

Kurita

Member
jokkir said:
So, how do you pronounced ONE OK ROCK? Is it pronounced as "One Okay Rock" or "One Oak Rock" (Like one o'clock)
Click to expand...

One o'clock.
Though during their concerts in the West the group themselves say One Okay Rock but that's because non-Japanese people pronounce it this way.
 
I

Infinite

Member
faridmon said:
Lol, December is still pretty ''out of nowhere'' for me. but yeah, I haven't followed them much since their last one left pretty bad taste in my mouth.
I think I have written a pretty extensive impression sometime ago about Rollercoaster and how generic it was. Hope they go back to what made them great with their debut EP; mainly their Post-Punk revivalist attitude with light, surf-pop integration.

EDIT: STOP THE PRESS, I CAN HEAR THE BASE IN THEIR NEW ALBUM, Praise the god!
Click to expand...

Is the album any good
 
K

Kurita

Member
Yes it's good.

Been rewatching some Goose House covers. Their version of Kishidan's One Night Carnival always makes me so happy... The dance is just so damn cute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogD3hP8e6TU&index=4&list=FL_x5QmMX_hp-4qofmF8j3ZA

And so does their cover of RADWIMPS's Iindesuka?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKNbfiPczqo

I'd love them to release an compilation of all their covers but I guess that's be hard to do for copyrights reasons and whatnot...

Can't stop watching indigo la End and Gesu no Kiwami Otome's new PV, I'm really excited for their new mini-albums. Especially Gesu's one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX2Zx_Uex8Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apr2JCdpTbQ

Also looking forward to TAMTAM's next album. I like how they're a self-proclaimed 21st Century dub band. :lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0rhuIijDas

And finally I discovered Kusou Iinkai (空想委員会), pretty neat band, they will make their major debut in June. They seem to be relatively popular, I often see people on my Japanese Twitter feed talking about them.
Kind of remind me of SAKANAMON, KEYTALK, KANA-BOON... Great stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFPLhDNvSto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv8lbNKfZX8
 
K

Kurita

Member
Listening to The fin.'s first EP released this week : Glowing Red On The Shore
ZKDS4PJ.jpg


I guess they're a shogaze/synthpop kind of band and this EP is great, really! It's not the kind of music that I usually dig but I really enjoy this. Some pretty dreamy tracks, the vocalist's has a nice voice, it's really solid. They've been gaining some hype lately and they're without a doubt among the hottest newcomers of the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N5chAs2vzw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjSrmCQSDHs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DuXzlEz6QM
 
S

Shiina

Member
Kurita said:
Listening to The fin.'s first EP released this week : Glowing Red On The Shore
ZKDS4PJ.jpg


I guess they're a shogaze/synthpop kind of band and this EP is great, really! It's not the kind of music that I usually dig but I really enjoy this. Some pretty dreamy tracks, the vocalist's has a nice voice, it's really solid. They've been gaining some hype lately and they're without a doubt among the hottest newcomers of the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N5chAs2vzw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjSrmCQSDHs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DuXzlEz6QM
Click to expand...

I had hoped they'd be singing in Japanese. Really not a fan of English vocals in Japanese music. Shame because it's otherwise really nice.
 
F

faridmon

Member
I

Infinite

Member
Enjoying the Baby Metal album a lot more than I thought I would.

She Her Her Hers album is decidedly better than their last. I just want to go back to what made them awesome in their minialbum though
 
F

faridmon

Member
Infinite said:
She Her Her Hers album is decidedly better than their last. I just want to go back to what made them awesome in their minialbum though
Click to expand...

I think them signing major so soon wasn't good idea. They made their first debut with so much freedom which clearly took inspiration from the British 90s Rock scene, but once they signed major, I suppose the label asked to mimick your Japanese Androp/Bump of Chicken sort of sound to appease to larger audience.

That is why its sort of annoying to see young bands signing major when they haven't perfected their sound. The Mirraz and Byee The Round for example flourished once they gone major because they put a fundamental staple to their sound which created an acceptable fanbase to produce such sound.

Lets wait and see where Czecho no Republic and Indigo La End end up!
 
I

Infinite

Member
faridmon said:
I think them signing major so soon wasn't good idea. They made their first debut with so much freedom which clearly took inspiration from the British 90s Rock scene, but once they signed major, I suppose the label asked to mimick your Japanese Androp/Bump of Chicken sort of sound to appease to larger audience.

That is why its sort of annoying to see young bands signing major when they haven't perfected their sound. The Mirraz and Byee The Round for example flourished once they gone major because they put a fundamental staple to their sound which created an acceptable fanbase to produce such sound.

Lets wait and see where Czecho no Republic and Indigo La End end up!
Click to expand...

damn, this is real talk. I definitely agree.
 
K

Kurita

Member
faridmon said:
I think them signing major so soon wasn't good idea. They made their first debut with so much freedom which clearly took inspiration from the British 90s Rock scene, but once they signed major, I suppose the label asked to mimick your Japanese Androp/Bump of Chicken sort of sound to appease to larger audience.

That is why its sort of annoying to see young bands signing major when they haven't perfected their sound. The Mirraz and Byee The Round for example flourished once they gone major because they put a fundamental staple to their sound which created an acceptable fanbase to produce such sound.

Lets wait and see where Czecho no Republic and Indigo La End end up!
Click to expand...
She Her Her Hers aren't major so your point is moot. Do a little bit of research before saying things like that...

Most of the bands I listen to became better once they went major imo so I'm always happy when it happens.

New the telephones album in June, hell yes!
http://thetelephones.net/7029/
 
F

faridmon

Member
They did self-publish their debut mini-album so My point still remains. They did release an album just few months after their debut. They didn't take their time and they did change their sound to a more formulaic one. Hastily enough, I was pointing it out how young band just start off good, and just drop their quality once they actually get paid to make music. If you are happy, then I say, it surely confirms it. Bands do change their sound to appease the mainstream audience ALAS!

I was actually having a chat with a person whom I met during the Johnny Foreigner gig (last week which was amazing!) and needless to say, it was surely an eye opener. He did play in a band himself (and the cool thing was his band practised next to the Editor before they became big). I was talking about him how annoying and disappointing it was to see bands releasing their first and end up being both critically and commercially successful and then start to be .... Absolutely shite once they ship a second, for lack of better wordings. I personally thought that bands tend to be full of themselves and start believe their own hype and thus create albums that sound more ''mature'' than their debut or whatever. He said that in the majority of cases, that isn't actually true and in fact, they know that their album are underwhelming comparably. The reason is that, most Labels, start asking them to write their next release in a more hastily fashion, and since they took their sweet time to come up with a successful debut, is a totally impossible for them to churn out another release so fast due to lack of experience.

Another good example is DW Nichols (I don't know if anyone is familiar with them) but once they started, they were promising Indie folk band than used catchy layers to produce great sounding songs. They were simple and fun with happy lyrical composition. Alas, their last album, have just turned into yet another J-pop- rock clones that seems to very popular these days which is sad. They are signed to Universal now after 3 years of being independently published bands.
 
F

faridmon

Member
Also, the best J-pop artist
not biased
Tamurapan is gonna release a greatest hits later this months. HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
7 albums later and its her first collection. Oh man.

And Infinite and maybe others have talked about. But YeYe have really catchy songs, damn can't stop listening to her song on Youtube. Have to get her album one of these days!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dYCxSxqGVs

About Kafuka' new album, which I said something positive about. Now that I have listened to it repeatedly, I have to say, its formulaeic, pop-rock affair with a bit of electronica sprinkled into it. If you don't mind that, then I think its a great album. its just it doesn't push the envelope too much. The problem is, I don't think I can handle another one of these; I am also listening to Phatmans After School and they sound really similar to Galileo Galilei which is a disappointment. I think I won't be able to listen to the new Androp or Bump of Chicken because the style is a bit oversaturated for me. Maybe later!
 
K

Kurita

Member
the HIATUS released a live version of their song Broccoli. It wasn't on their live DVD (only the live CD) released last year so it's pretty nice. The live arrangement with the orchestra is so good, Hosomi did a fantastic job.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdw0nDCUktY

Their new album will be released this wednesday and I can safely say that it'll be my album of the year. This band is really one of a kind, I love them so much. I've been listening to the song in the album trailer everyday, can't wait to hear the full version. It almost brought tears to my eyes, it's so beautiful...
http://youtu.be/cbIEjDEOjRw
I admit that I almost cried while watching their latest live DVD, the passion these guys showcase is second to none and you could feel that Hosomi Takeshi (the vocalist and leader) lived for his music during this concert, he litteraly fell on his knees after a song. Really impressive. This guy is the reason why I like music so much.

Their single Horse Riding was also astounding, I'm sure the album will be as good, if not better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7WWi61LSzo
 
L

Larsa

Member
Larsa said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shsm-tOLyhw
What is this idol shit doing in my Shinsei Kamattechan. I don't like it D:
Click to expand...

Nevermind, I just noticed that Noko (the singer) appears in the video dressed as the idol lady at 0:35. i luv u again Kamattechan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4P1JsHOe88
I like this new Passepied single and I really loved とおりゃんせ from a couple months ago. Didn't especially enjoy what I've heard of their previous albums though.
 
K

Kurita

Member
Oh yeah, the queens of J-Pop Perfume are releasing their upcoming live DVD in the West, they announced that last week.

Local release dates for Live DVD "Perfume 4th Tour in DOME "LEVEL3"" confirmed as below.

April 18th (fri)
Taiwan & Hong Kong (English, Chinese and Korean subtitles)

April 21st (mon)
EU (with English subtitles)
Click to expand...
April 21st is far away... Still, will buy!
 
S

Slowdive

Banned
The Fin.'s EP is great. I love Faded Light and Glowing Red on The Shore.

Seiko Oomori has signed with Avex, didn't expect that.

Shiina Ringo is releasing a self covers album of songs she's written for other people, out on the 27th of May.
 
L

Larsa

Member
Shiina Ringo is never releasing a new original album is she :( ?

Hopefully Seiko Oomori isn't going to go all mainstream, those label news are kinda worrisome.
 
S

Slowdive

Banned
Larsa said:
Shiina Ringo is never releasing a new original album is she :( ?
Click to expand...

Hopefully we'll get a proper album soon. (lol I've been saying this for years, one day!) Did you hear her new song "今" from her latest live release? It's really good. At least since Sanmon Gossip she hasn't been totally silent and released nothing at all. This new self covers album should tide us over.
 
L

Larsa

Member
Slowdive said:
Hopefully we'll get a proper album soon. (lol I've been saying this for years, one day!) Did you hear her new song "今" from her latest live release? It's really good. At least since Sanmon Gossip she hasn't been totally silent and released nothing at all. This new self covers album should tide us over.
Click to expand...

Huh, hadn't heard that before, pretty interesting. I also kinda liked いろはにほへと. Just kinda tired by a new okay song every six months or so. I had high hopes for a return to glory after Tokyo Jihen disbanded (rip in piece).
 
I

Infinite

Member
Larsa said:
Shiina Ringo is never releasing a new original album is she :( ?

Hopefully Seiko Oomori isn't going to go all mainstream, those label news are kinda worrisome.
Click to expand...

when the news broke my friend who's like really into her actually called me on the phone to talk about it expressing the same thing lol. It's really weird that she was on their radar anyway.
 
K

Kurita

Member
One of the biggest news for me this year was that FULLARMOR were coming back in 2014. They will perform live this sunday for the first time in 6 years at photographer Rui Hashimoto's (known for being the official photographer for a lot of rock bands) event Sound Shooter vol.9.
FULLARMOR is an instrumental "superband" meaning that all the members are from already established band. The members are :
Horie Atsushi (vocalist of Straightener/also known for his solo project ent)
Hinata Hidekazu (bassist of Straightener, Nothing's Carved In Stone, killing Boy)
Ohkita Takanori (drummer of Nothing's Carved In Stone, killing Boy)
Izawa Jun (bassist of LITE)

To celebrate the occasion, all their songs are on their official Youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcla3ZZ8NMH_R_AXViJ298g

Picture of their rehearsal today :
tuCSjV1.jpg
Click to expand...

I really hope they will release an album this year...
 
J

jokkir

Member
Catching up a little bit on this thread but got stuck with YeYe. The Hue Circle album is so good and that video posted earlier is fantastic as well.
 
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