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Showing content with the highest reputation on 06/30/20 in all areas

  1. 6 points
    Tokage

    X JAPAN’s Toshi is infertile?

    The song ''X'' is actually about how he got his tubes tied and Yoshiki insists on performing it every time just to assert his dominance
  2. 5 points
    Punk is in visual kei's DNA and that's why the vocals in vk are often if not always at least in part stylised and the emphasis isn't on technical ability but in the performance. The genre itself is long and storied at this point with fads coming and going, so sometimes when it takes influence from different genres it adapt to its new needs in the way its performed, so some dudes sing "better" like the people trying to do X power ballads or anthemic metalcore choruses, and some sing "worse" like idk the most obvious hardcore punk influenced examples like Piass and ANTI FEMINISM or something. They're trying to do different things. The reason why guys like Ruki and Kyo* sound, or sounded in Ruki's case, rough and stylised is because they're from a different era when the emphasis on technical ability wasn't what it is and was in metal in the west around that time, while guys from newer metalcore bands from a completely different era like Jiluka, Dexcore, Nokubura that are influenced by different bands are at the very least on par if not better than many of their American colleagues from the bands very successful in their style like BMTH, Of Mice and Men, Chealsea Grin etc. because the emphasis is now on the vocalist's technical ability like it is in the rest of the genre in the west. Basically tl;dr vk does what it wants to do and it performs at the level of an American Idol finalist, Kpop schlager belter or some other circus bear on an unicycle trying to woo the masses to consume more product by jumping through fiery hoops at the crack of the corporate whip when it wants to, but more often than not it doesn't because it's main objective as music isn't to do that. Then of course there's legions and legions of music from all genres in Japan with exceptionally skilled people involved, but the people still using the Jrock tag pretty much ignore everything that isn't vk and ONE OK ROCK. Even if you go searching for vk as a newbie you'll be encountered by a pretty significant bias for newer bands and especially a bias for the more vaguely metal sounding bands from western vk boom years in favor of bands that are really new like the ones I mentioned prior or the older classics. In the early vk scene more than a few bands have very skilled vocalists like La'Cryma Christi, Luna Sea and even L'arc. * Personally I'll never forget the time when they were trying to make it in the west and all the paid mainstream reviewers started ooing and aaing about the Japanese Mike Patton. Kyo sounds and always sounded, vk as fuck.
  3. 4 points
    I think he's a good vocalist, but yeah never found him to be outstanding. He's good at what he does, but he's no vocal virtuoso.
  4. 4 points
    there're several VK vocalists with full on operatic range who actually have control over how they sound unlike kyo, but for a kpop stanbait thread you're doing amazing sweetie x
  5. 4 points
    suji

    X JAPAN’s Toshi is infertile?

    why does that matter?
  6. 3 points
    So I’m very new to Japanese music (I’ve been delving into it for less than a week), but I’ve started to get the impression that Japanese vocalists place more emphasis on style than technique. I’m not expert on vocal technique by any means, but even I can tell how lacking in technique many of the singers I’ve heard are. However, since I'm new I haven't listened to much (and some of it isn't very recent). The only vocalists who have stood out to me thus far are Gackt, Ruki, and maybe MUCC’s vocalist (have listened to very little at this point). Though I wouldn’t put them in the category of “excellent vocalists,” they’re definitely solid, especially when compared to most of what I’ve heard. Taka is decent, I guess, because at least he doesn’t sound like he’s struggling to hold a note, but he pretty much sounds like a less interesting Gerard Way to me. I suppose that’s not necessarily a bad thing … He did appear to be struggling with his breathing in the one live performance I watched, though. With an n of 1 that could just be a bad day, but given that the comments were praising his vocals (rather than noting that he was off), it seems like it might be the norm. I Googled something along the lines of “best j-rock singers” and came up with a fan-ranked list, which placed Kyo in first place (the funny thing is that none of the comments were about Kyo's voice, rather that he should be ranked higher than Ruki). Obviously this sort of list is a popularity contest that I don’t put much stock in, but I’ve seen other comments praising Kyo as a vocalist. I’ve listened to a few Dir en Grey performances, but didn’t find them memorable (as in I literally have no recollection of them, even though that was two days ago), which is strange given that Dir en Grey’s music is supposedly really weird and experimental (I do remember the PVs, just not the music). Is he better in certain performances than others? I’ve listened to a number of ballad singers, who are pleasant, but if you put them next to someone like Park Hyoshin, they seem extremely lackluster. Honestly, even SM’s roster of idol singers outdoes them by quite a lot. I’m aware other countries have many lousy vocalists, but there also seem to be more very good ones. I've yet to be really WOWed by any Japanese vocalist, though I do enjoy a number of them. tl;dr Am I just listening to the wrong things and missing the good vocalists, or is Japanese vocal talent a bit subpar?
  7. 3 points
    I have no idea about technique whatsoever, but a vocalist/pianist friend of mine who studied music for 10+ years really praised Kaya for his vocal abilities. He emphasized how hard it probably is (at least from his own experience) for Kaya to keep his voice controlled and stay in tune, because for example most of the verse parts in his songs have very little "background" for the vocals to "fall back upon", i.e. it's usually just a drumbeat and random bass synth and he still pretty much nails all the right notes. Plus his voice is pretty powerful and cool, but that's just my personal preference/observation. Here's a random cool live clip:
  8. 3 points
    I wouldn’t rank Ruki among the best vocalists, he has the same vocal tone and range than half of the scene.
  9. 3 points
    platy

    Does technique matter to Japanese vocalists?

    Japanese vocal talent is not subpar, but there does seem to be a preference for artists who don't really have outstanding characteristics. For example, DAOKO's popularity when all she does is cry on the microphone, etc. (I still listen to her sometimes) Does technique matter within visual kei? I wouldn't think so. The focus is style and charisma in some cases. There are a lot of unmemorable or subpar vocalist that get carried by the band. For every other j-music movement/genre I'd say it's different, apart from idol groups. Anyone who can make noises gets accepted even if they can't sing to save their lives. The reason Kyo and Ruki get brought up is because Kyo, especially nowadays, does a lot of vocal acrobatics that others fail to replicate. Try his band sukekiyo. As for Ruki, he was one of the most memorable vk vocalist level-ups. There was one point in Gazette's career where everyone just went 'Yup, Ruki is spending good coin on singing lessons'. You can clearly divide gazette's discography as pre-vocal-coaching Ruki and post-vocal-coaching Ruki. Don't forget to check out DIMLIM for another memorable vocalist I would also recommend 9GOATS BLACK OUT.
  10. 2 points
    LAY ABOUT WORLD will release their 1st live DVD 『新宿デストラップ』 (shinjuku death trap) 2020.6.30@新宿NINE SPICES (shinjuku NINE SPICES) on 15.08.2020 for a price of 4800yen (tax in) and limited to 300 copies. Seems it'll be sold exclusively through shimizuya records webshop. Tracklist: 1.DEEPLY 2.SICK 3.レッド 4.ラタネとダーリー 5.4th JACK 6.おやすみ 7.死者の指 8.ヘラヘラ 9.Don't be alone 10.Say good bye 11.赤い封筒 12.365 13.Lily 14.BREAK THE RULES 15.Up side down 16.LOSER 17.クランキー 18.FUCKIN'DAY 19.M.U.D
  11. 2 points
    When singers have vocal technique, it simply means that they know how to sing correctly; usually, you have to undergo some vocal training in order to acquire that. Singers that have vocal technique can be more or less "skilled", but they should be able to sing in a correct and healthy manner (stuff like support, breathing, pitch, switching between registers, lack of strain etc.)
  12. 2 points
    I'm actually really curious how these visual kei guys get the sound that they do, because I've never heard anything quite like it. The vibrato doesn't really sound like a normal vibrato, but it doesn't sound completely forced or unnatural either, and the singers who do have some technical ability seem to be able to manipulate it pretty freely. It also kinda sounds like they are singing out of the back of their nose or something like that. Like there is a slightly nasal sound, but it's more "dark" than "bright" sounding. (This is probably a bad description.) Anyway, it's quite interesting and a pretty cool style. I will definitely listen to more by those singers. Thanks for the recommendation!
  13. 2 points
    Kyo's technical abilities are really amazing, if you are actually a pro musician it is easy to recognize that he does some things that not really anyone else can in the scene. You have mostly people who do not really try to learn technique and those few who actually make the effort, same with most positions. Kagrra's Ishi was someone I know who actively studied theory, Jui from vidoll also. Ryuichi from Luna Sea really studied hard, hide once made a comment about how he was amazed how much he progressed. Hide also made a big effort with the same Vocal trainer Toshi used. Toshi still trains with international and japan based vocal teachers.
  14. 2 points
    Bear

    random thoughts thread

    Genius.
  15. 2 points
    LIDL

    Curiosity!😚

    I would wear hakama over my casual attire on weekends out, doing grocery, or when I travel for leisure. I understand this style is even more popular now after some characters from Demon Slayers Kimetsu No Yaiba wear some distinct patterned haori. However, I have been doing it before this series even a thing. It is just comfy to me, cos the fabric for this usually is not too thick, I can still wear it for fashion even when it hot outside. And it still look somewhat acceptable for semi casual places and stylish. Something that zipped hoodie or varsity jackets cannot provide. This one: Other than this, I like punk/industrial metal goth style. You know, leather, sharp studs, high platform boots. For that reason, I really enjoy DEG fashion circa early 2000-2005. I rarely wear this stuffs anymore as I barely visits any clubs with that kind of community anymore. The only time I wear this style is when the weather gets cooler by the end of the year.
  16. 1 point
    monkeybanana4

    12012 restart activities

    12012 will restart activities. Further details on future activities will be announced later. 宮脇渉 (Wataru) https://twitter.com/wataru_12012 酒井洋明 (Hiroaki) https://twitter.com/hsakai12012 齋藤紳一郎 (Shinchirou) https://twitter.com/s_mokichi 塩谷朋之 (Tomoyuki) https://twitter.com/tEnya_solioquy 須賀勇介 (Yuusuke) https://twitter.com/yusuke_suga 川内亨 (Tooru) https://twitter.com/12012_toru
  17. 1 point
    hiko

    Hi :)

    Welcome! I am new as well hehe.. and I love 90’s jrock! P.S. I love X JAPAN! They’re my favourite band and I wish to see them live someday! ♥️
  18. 1 point
    It's not really the matter of a vocalist skill.. It's more does a vocalist sing along to the music which fits his voice? You can take KLACK's vocalist U for an example That dude, well he is unskilled, truly bad singer. But....the way KLACK's music fits his bad singing is just perfect and amazing Well there is more.... these songs are maybe his best anyway
  19. 1 point
    For example, vibrato is a common vocal technique in VK at this point because everyone who is able to use it consistently does so as much as they can without developing much skill with it (think of how much forced vibrato we've been exposed to over the years) lol I disagree that technique = skill, based on the definitions of these terms used in that example and I don't really see style as a good descriptive term in this case but you're right it's certainly a semantic argument! Most of my appreciation of singers doesn't come from this anyway, it's all personal on some level at least lol!
  20. 1 point
    I agree. I think this is a semantic argument. Technique = skill. Everyone using the same style is what makes them sound the same. A singer with very good technique will have excellent control over their voice, thus the potential for more stylistic versatility, including the ability to drop their technique to get a sound that can't be made with those techniques (such as a singer who knows how to support their voice singing breathily for style in places).
  21. 1 point
    CAT5

    random thoughts thread

    Here's how I look at it. I think Peterson is pretty brilliant. I don't agree with him on everything, but wisdom is certainly with him. Wisdom, however, belongs to no man. So I glean the bits of wisdom from him that I can and simply ignore the rest - "chew the meat and spit out the bones" - so to speak. I do this with everyone, though. Whether you're Jordan Peterson, one of my homeboys, or a complete stranger. Personally, I disagree with not giving Peterson a stage tho. Why? Cuz what he eats doesn't make me shit. Meaning, his words have no effect on my reality unless I allow them to. And I I'd be a fool to listen a white guy from rural Canada try to tell me about my experience as a nigga from the deep south of U.S.A, whose people were not only taken into slavery, but were also BORN into slavery, and suffered (and are suffering from) generations of trauma that's yet to be healed.
  22. 1 point
    @ghostpepper Sorry I should have clarified, I was talking 100% about clean vocals. I don't really know anything about metal screaming and other extreme vocals (don't particularly enjoy it either). I'm sure it's difficult to do right and requires technique, but as explained in the video you posted, it's a different set of techniques from standard singing. After watching that video I realize that when people praised Kyo's vocals they were more commenting on these types of extreme vocals, rather than standard singing, thus I was probably looking for the wrong things when I listened to him. I can certainly see why people would be impressed by his ability to make such bizarre sounds. I'll try to listen to Ishi, Jui, and Hide. Thanks for the recommendations! I have listened to a few things by Luna Sea and while I thought the vocals sounded better than most, they didn't stand out as being particularly strong. However, I think those were all very old, so I will check out some more recent performances. I have listened to a couple relatively recent Japan X performances and was not particularly impressed by Toshi. Do you have a favorite performance to recommend?
  23. 1 point
    hiko

    X JAPAN’s Toshi is infertile?

    Guess I’ll see that song that way for the rest of my life 🤣
  24. 1 point
    This lady does a really good job of explaining what Kyo is doing technically. Maybe it can be perceived as "he does not have control." At face value but he is really pushing the boundaries on himself all the time so. Metal techniques are harder to grasp at face and can seem easier than they actually are. Just the breathing aspect of it can be so hard.
  25. 1 point
    I also wanted to just post about them but i guess you beat me to it... Although i also got no clue who they are... But here are some links for whenever they decide to publish something. ;D https://dogmas-band.com/ https://twitter.com/dogmas_official (HELL YEAH for being follower number 1!! XD) https://crosscat.shop-pro.jp/?pid=152045181# (here you can see their first look) Well excited to hear how they'll sound.
  26. 1 point
    it's out x https://ototoy.jp/_/default/p/570712 (couldn't find a TuneCore summary link but I assume it's up on every other platform too)
  27. 1 point
    It's a very mixed bag. In my opinion, the only way to find out about the real ability of a vocalist is live. Often, some guys that are really great on record can't deliver live: often out of tune and/or don't have enough vocal tecnique to last throughout a whole live. Sometimes sound can also affect the performance, e.g: obviously bigger bands have better sound, so they're gonna sound better live. Sometimes with smaller bands I find if the instruments are not balanced in sound, they can barely hear themselves, leading to issues with their pitch etc. But I think there are some really great live vocalists, and those who are most definitely have had vocal lessons: I know Yuu, one of CLACK inc.'s guitarist, works as a vocal coach with other vk singers as well, and obviously he's a very skilled singer with his own project Ultimate Sonic as well as the previous bands he's been singing in. Takeru, the vocalist of CLACK inc., has also great tecnique and he's been improving a lot live as well, so I assume he's been working with Yuu recently. This is just an example, I'm sure there's plenty vk vocalists that have singing tecnique and have underwent vocal training.
  28. 1 point
    platy

    X JAPAN’s Toshi is infertile?

    That's pretty personal information, not sure how it would be on the Internet. Could be a rumour started by an angry ex, or an angry ex who knew this and spread it out of spite.
  29. 1 point
    Happy Birthday May you get lots of presents!
  30. 1 point
    I'd argue that it is quite important because in my opinion there are two vocal techniques that are staples of most forms of Visual kei, those being Falsetto and Vibrato but obviously not every group employ these and during the years when Oshare Kei and the western inspired metal stylings were popular these techniques weren't nearly as popular. I wouldn't call it subpar but visual kei has a far smaller talent pool and with it having such a high disbandment rate it can hard for vocalists to stay in music consistently and improve their vocals. As for some good vocalists, I really rate Chizuru from the group 'Pentagon' (not the k-pop group) Debatable but that's one of his best performances in my opinion, good use of techniques Annoyingly I can't find the song I wanted to show you but Akuta from Chanty has the blessings of having a unique voice and good technique You might have to delve quite deep to find some great vocalists (I'd recommend listening to more of Chanty and Pentagon than just the songs I've posted)
  31. 1 point
    emmny

    Happy birthday brothaaaaa

    Happy birthday brothaaaaa
  32. 1 point
    Anne Claire

    Show Yourself (again)

    Gratuated college today
  33. 1 point
    sads123

    cali≠gari

    Another paid live streaming gig will be happening on 30th Aug with other bands: It'll be via twitcasting so I'm not sure if its available to purchase internationally. The ticket purchase link provided is not valid yet cos it will only be available tomorrow. Eh, not sure I'll be paying for this since I'm not interested in the others.... Edit: Just realized that this particular gig is 5000yen whereas the other CRUSH live stream gig in Jul is 3600yen WTF
  34. 1 point
    their digital single "VIRUS" will be released at 2020/07/29 (2 songs) [tracklist] 1.VIRUS 2.クレバス
  35. 1 point
  36. 1 point
    Ikna

    random thoughts thread

    Ok guys, sorry, I have to retract my statement from before about society getting better. Humanity truly is stupid. Are we doomed after all?
  37. 1 point
  38. 1 point
    CAT5

    Show Yourself (again)

    Me and my 15 yr old nephew (on the left) at one of my homeboy's weddings a few days ago
  39. 1 point
    Furik

    12012 restart activities

    This is great news! Despite the general consensus, I really did enjoy their later material before they stopped activities. We need another Black Swan and Door to the Sky!
  40. 1 point
    evenor

    12012 restart activities

    "I'll be a beautiful swaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan"
  41. 1 point
    ShanethVarosa

    12012 restart activities

    I loved their last 3 EPS and have been listening tk them a lot recently hoping they’d come back. I can’t wait to see what they do!
  42. 1 point
    Tokage

    12012 restart activities

    Feel like some people will be really choked up about this news
  43. 1 point
    -inhales- SHO FROM DIMLIM IS SUCH A BEAST. His clean voice is just a gift from heaven and can make some seriously ear piercing screams, love him so much.
  44. 1 point
    Kirito

    Deviloof

    When you have such an amazing drummer like that, the minimum is to make him record his drums parts on a good e-drums. Even if they go to a recording studio, i'm sure in 4 hours rent he would finish an album. But this kind of drums sound they did became the new standard. It's boring because all the metalhead seems crazy for this overcompressed and inhuman kind of drums sound
  45. 0 points
    zicross Vo.如月 (Kisaragi) has departed at 2020/7/1.
  46. 0 points
    sads123

    cali≠gari

    Psssst...... There's one with deadman one week before this but no news on whether it'll be streamed though. And that price tag wtf
  47. 0 points
    GACKT gives Karen vibes naturally. I just gave him a little push.
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