CaRaN

WEEDLORD BONERHITLER

Not sure why this picture is so large, but here's a pic of my face with my tat!
 
 

Photography is by far and away the art I am doing the most of lately (well, outside of all the design I do for work, if you count that). I figured that it deserved it's own post. Expect to see mostly cosplay and action sports stuff in here.
 
Let's start things off with one of my favorite shots from last season.

Since I am visiting more often, I have decided to put a face to the name.  This is me and my daughter ~ whom is a fan of AvelCain.
 

I have to say I really loved this single. I can't pick a favorite song but I love them all. This is why I think they're the best band around currently.

They have really been bringing it lately.
 
I always loved their multi-colored approach, and this single really highlights that with their ability to make very different songs that fit together very nicely and can contrast and compliment each other at the same time.
 
As usual, all of the tracks are growers on me, and with each listen I came to appreciate them more. The instant show-stealer for me was Wonder, which is the track that I found pushes itself to the front of the crowd. Then I grew to have Osen as my second favorite, and the track which I found the most powerful, as you say, the emotion-filled vocals at the end are what made me grow fond of it.
 
I have always enjoyed how they can mix heavy and light elements on tracks, with strong chords against light vocals, without creating a distance between them. I also enjoy the higher pitched chords they use in the song in another part of their distinct guitar style. I really started to notice how they stepped up to an even higher level with the guitar harmony. I also think the vocals are getting even better, in the way that they are consistently delivered in an amazing, communicative way. The bass really shines as well, and the new drummer fits in such a way that you couldn`t even guess that he hasn`t been around since the beginning. The instrumental tracks always help me find more to love about the playing and composition itself.
 
Anyway, I always found them amazing, and this is the moment that made me see how they improved on something that I couldn`t really have even asked more of in the first place. They are releasing amazing music (IMO), and getting even more popular, so I hope that we can see them eventually take a place among one of the top band`s in Japan. I have always had them as a pick to be one of the band`s that could one day be compared to SID, though they are very different, they have a bunch of areas in which similarities could be made,  including the amazing musicianship, a wide range of distinct approaches to song-writing (including the incorporation of many different `genre`s`), and consistent accessible, yet uncompromising releases.
 
Oh yeah, also the lyrics are great, as usual, different members who compose and write vastly different things, yet manage to fit them all together.

Artist: ユナイト (UNiTE.) Single: マーブル (marble) 1. マーブル (marble) 2. ステアーズ ステアーズ(stairs stairs) [Type S limited edition] 2. 汚染 (osen) [regular edition] 3. WONDER f∞l PEOPLE [regular edition]
Rating: | Another solid single to whet your appetite before the summer album

 
マーブル (marble) is the 7th single from your favorite VK experimenters in excessive, flowing fabric, UNiTE. Sana, the band’s fresh meat drummer, makes his compositional debut, penning both the title track and one of the b-sides. This is all just in time for the band’s 4th anniversary on March 29th!

So, how does Sana stack up? Well, he definitely sounds like he belongs! In fact, I wouldn't have a hard time believing that guitarist Shiina Mio had actually written “marble.” If there’s one difference, it’s that Sana blends the heaviness and signature twinkly pop-rock more seamlessly than Mio tends to do (who often deliberately writes songs in a softer or heavier style). Yui's vocals are as agile as ever, effortlessly gliding through gentle verses and powerful choruses. Meanwhile, chirpy guitar chords in the beginning of the verse later morph into the layered guitar wankery we’ve come to love from Mio and LiN. The background arrangements alternate between a balanced mix of piano, airy synths, and a distorted “wub-wub” here and there. All in all, a pretty damn good first effort!
“ステアーズ ステアーズ(stairs stairs)” is the second track from Sana. From the laid-back beachy sound, I initially thought it was by guitarist LiN, channeling his former band, LeMpicka?. The beat makes it like a toned down version of “アンテリナム(antirrhinum)” from their third album. The song has an enjoyable melody and a nice little guitar solo. Yui maintains his sweet vocals for the majority of the track, but occasionally hits some funky notes – another usual trademark of LiN compositions. While this is a pleasant little ditty, Sana doesn’t touch on much that LiN hasn’t done before.

Next up, we have Mio’s “汚染 (osen).” For a title meaning “contamination,” it might seem strange that the song begins with a music box lullaby. This soothing tune quickly disintegrates into atonal disarray, making way for some sinister chiptune bloops. A short dose of chuggy, albeit generic riffs, get a lot more creative around the :43 mark, before leading into the first verse. The best thing about this track is that melody was not sacrificed in the heaviness. Yui delivers an impressive, heartfelt performance, particularly in the final, extended chorus. The riffs throughout sound full-bodied, so it all makes for a satisfying listen. My main complaint is that the drums during the bridge sound a bit weak. While I don’t think this song reaches the top-tier likes of "失望エミュレイター (shitsubou emulator)” or “退廃レトリック (taihai rhetoric)," it’s one of their better “heavy” songs.

“WONDER f∞l PEOPLE” opens with a pumping, in-your-face beat, as Yui talk-raps his way through some bizarre Engrish (“POWER K LOOKS”) and does a roll call of the band members. I was preparing myself for a Kameleo-esque song where they all sing along. Thirty seconds in, the chorus sneaks up on you and it’s clean, poppy, and ecstatic. The whimsical synths give it a shibuya-kei flair. LiN’s lyrics continue to graces us with phrases like “YA SMELL ME? LACK OF ABILITY!” After the second chorus, the song pumps the brakes and gives a short taste of bossa nova relaxation, before quickly returning to the song’s almost gratingly hyper form. Like LiN’s other goofball tracks (“Cocky-discuS”), this might take 2 or 3 listens, before the humorous style sinks in. Nonetheless, I seem to be in the minority of MH’s UNiTE.-posse, because this is my least favorite on the single. It needed at least one more element (some kind of bridge or outro, for instance) to be more balanced. As it stands, it’s the single’s shortest track, but also the most repetitive.

Sana's joining the band last year has somehow ushered in higher production values (look at that shiny PV!) and generally more mature songwriting; while I still think the band sometimes plays it too safe in their “heavier” compositions (I’m looking at you “marble” and “osen” breakdowns), there is always enough variety on their releases to keep you interested. None of the four songs here sound remotely alike! I look forward to hearing Sana’s songwriting develop into his own, discernible style. Lucky for us, their 4th album UNiVERSE comes out this summer, so we don’t have long to wait for him to show us what else he’s got!

What did you think of the single?

Support the band!
Type S Limited Edition CD+DVD
Limited Edition CD (1 track)
Regular Edition CD

I... don't like how I look but... here we go...
 
 
Also, now you guys to see what Keru looks like.

Stage one of my half-sleeve complete!! It's Versailles-themed. Six roses, one for each member. Stage two will be the band name on the other side of my arm and stage three is an incredible color scheme. What do you guys think?

Hi.
 
Pic from earlier this year in one of my graduation parties.

I was reorganizing my CDs and such, so I decided to take this picture. I really need a Media Storage Shelf T.T I still have more stuff on top of my dresser such as my Tapes and VHS'.
 

I have no organizational skills and I've come to terms with this. I've also come to terms with the fact that my musical taste is all over the place. 
 

I posted a new comment with a massively updated list.
 

I translated it. Since neither Japanese nor English are my mother tongue, It's very likely that I made a lot of mistakes, so if anyone wants to correct anything, they'll be welcome to do so. But I think I got the message he wanted to convey tough.
 
 
Here it is:
 
 
It was published on our website, but xTRiPx is disbanding on 13th February, 2015.
 
I’m really thankful to all the people who were always supporting us. And I’m sorry.
 
I was thinking about writing the reason why we’re disbanding after disbanding, but if I was a fan I would want to know right away. So I’m going to write it.
 
We felt our limits. For better or worse.
In 11 years we didn’t feel it, not even when he were on hiatus. We ended up building our limits.
It’s just that.
It’s annoying but I feel like I can’t say a thing.
 
Since we were together for 11 years I’m sure I’m going to cry when we disband.
 
But I just want to do live shows with a smile like always until the day it ends.
 
Lately, we’ve been told from some of our band-man friends that we looked depressed, and the fans also told us that we looked depressed on the letters they sent us. I thought that was nonsense. But honestly, we were depressed.
 
But when we are performing, sometimes I feel like crying, but despite that, it’s really fun. It’s fun because you all look like you’re having fun.
We don’t have many live shows like that left, but we’ll laugh a lot.
 
Other than that, when we were returning from our 11th anniversary one man show, my brother told me that no matter what he wanted to release a last single. When he told me it was going to be called good trip I laughed, but when he told me that it means that we had a nice journey, I felt like crying.
The other day when I went to Nagoya I got to hear the demo and I cried a lot.
I could really feel it.
 
We haven’t recorded it yet, but we are going to make this last CD the best thing. Please, look forward to it.
 
We’re really sorry for making you suffer with this selfish decision. But we count on you until we disband.

Trying to look cool -pose

Me and my little cousin
 

I kinda feel as though both eiheartx and beni totally deserve some appreciation of their own for keeping this thread going in the way that they have.

Thank you very very much!!! =D

Thank you very very much!!! =D

Happy birthday @CaRaN : 3

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
 
CaRaN (22)

I'm so so so very happy I now have 5 visual kei cds yay yay

I disagree that it's pointless news. If you want it badly enough there are always ways to get it - as long as it's a band that operates in Tokyo/Osaka, there's a low but significant chance you can find someone who's going to the live to buy it for you, or even to go to the live on your behalf. I've done that before. People may think it's kinda silly; but if you want it badly enough, who cares what others think? If all else fails, stalk shops/auctions for a copy. If we eliminate all news of live-limited releases, most of us wouldn't even be aware that they exist in the first place.
Another point: live-limited releases don't only affect foreign fans, so we should disabuse ourselves of this 'us vs them' notion. I have a friend living in Hokkaido who's a huge Xepher fan but couldn't go for any of their lives until their final one-man where she had to leave her graduation ceremony early to fly down to Osaka from Shin-Chitose. A lot of Japanese fans share our sentiments w.r.t. live-limited releases.

spoiler: it will sound like gazette and everyone waiting for something "fresh" will be disappointed as usual. The chorus from that clip would honestly fit every album they've made since DIM like a glove. 
 
The visuals and the other shit are just something extra that Ruki is into personally and don't really reflect anything in particular regarding the music, although the possible Marilyn Manson influence isn't too far fetched... unfortunately. 
 
That said, I like everything they've ever made save a few odd songs here and there. 

This actually all sounds and looks really great to me, I've genuinely liked all their releases since and including Nil, even if they weren't great all the way through... So I'm sure im going to really like this as well. Everything seems on point and well thought out. I'm really here for this era.