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Found 33 results

  1. Augie1995

    Let me go ahead and say that the one downfall to this single is the instrumental of Shooting Star. It's lovely but during the A-melo, there isn't much going on besides the drums and the electronically distorted guitar...unless that's Saga. On the second verse you can hear Tora playing really quietly in the back. Shooting Star wasn't what everyone was expecting, but it's exactly as I predicted. Out of the 3 title tracks, Daybreak was going to be loved, Shadowplay would be the crown track, and Shooting Star would be in 3rd ranking. I, personally, love the song. It is rather relaxing and it does sound a little R&B but Shou sounds lovely and I'm not one to focus on Shou. Last time that happened was Hanagasumi from [9]. While I do love it, it is my least favorite of the 3 singles. Affection is a step in the right direction. This is the rock Alice Nine that I constantly want. There are some badass riffs, Shou sounds a little aggressive in his own way, there are some really awesome bass lines, and that guitar solo from Tora is just full of energy. I know most aren't going to like the auto-tuned "Come on, Come on, Come on" but I don't mind, I think Shou uses it very playfully here. I also love that the chorus isn't a chord progression but more of a riff than anything. I love the live version of Kasumi so that just bumped this single up a lot!
  2. Augie1995

    Now I'm not in the mood to really write a huge in depth review or anything like that, but, I would just like to say that this album was my entry to this band. This album is the first thing I have listened to from coldrain, a band who I had previously avoided due to some pretty dumb reasons. This album was absolutely amazing to me, it had some pretty amazing songs: The Revelation, The War is On, Time Bomb, Chasing Dreams. All the other songs to me were all pretty good but not amazing. This album has some really amazing choruses which are just the highlights of most songs and I love that this album isn't full of heavy breakdowns all around, but it includes some pretty great, yet short, guitar solos or awesome melodic breaks between the songs. I went back to their previous releases such as The Enemy Inside and Through Clarity, my favorite song from Coldrain has to be Inside of Me from Through Clarity (it even helped inspire some new songwriting for me). I can definitely tell that in their new album, the drums sound a lot tighter, and the guitars are most focused on a melody than trying to keep the rhythm of the song with riffs. All in all, I have found an amazing new band to follow, some great new songs to jam out to, and an addition to my "Top albums of 2013"
  3. Augie1995

    A very good release, best album they have put out so far (This is their second album LOL) This album was coming in with expectations I had from their past 3 singles. The title tracks didn't attract me as much like Starry Heaven and NOAH, but INNOCENCE was really badass. The only thing exciting me was the thought of getting more songs like the final track on the Starry Heaven single or SHADOWS from INNOCENCE. The preview for Tears got me a little down cause it sounded like they were doing some poppy ballad type song, but, it wasn't entirely that and I ended up loving it. The one thing I have always loved about Royz, besides the crazy melodies that are almost unexpected in most songs, is Subaru's voice. It has a sort of soothing lullaby to it and the fact that he can growl makes him and the band a lot more interesting. Kind of like with SuG and Howling Magic, once you heard Takeru growl, you kind of felt like: "Holy shit, maybe this might start getting good" Royz was already good but they just got better. This album brought forth some really amazing songs, and unlike their first album, I don't find myself skipping songs to find the good ones and listen to the rest later. アルカロイド was the first step towards more INNOCENCE type songs, 糜楼 was their next heavy sided song, claiming the spot as my Favorite song of this album, followed up by FlashBack which to me resembled SHADOWS a lot. We got some great ballads such as アテナ with such a calming slow acoustic melody in the melody, and then you get an uplifting, cheesy if I might add, song right after which gains the spot as my least favorite song. Don't be mislead though, it's still good, it's just not my cup of tea. Why the hell didn't I have 恋花火 on my iPod beforehand? I thought I had their whole disco, amazing song. Very nice fast tempo that gets me energized. The final song Aerial Cord gave me some hope with a name that awesome. I was hoping for a fast song but it was more in the mid-tempo style of songs. That's not a problem here. Sorry if my reviews aren't as astounding as Zess but my hope is that some people read my reviews on these amazing bands and decide to give them a try.
  4. sai

    I secretly expected this thread to have popped up already (because Augie usually starts Alice Nine review threads), but since it hasn't, I figured I'd open up a review thread for the second instalment of Alice Nine's 3 month-consecutive single releases. I liked DAYBREAK for what it was, a more mellow side of Alice Nine that successfully showed their progress as musicians. It wasn't their best, but it was a nice single. When I heard Shou would be the one composing the A-side for SHADOWPLAY, I was a bit worried. Shou has only composed one track for the band so far and that one is one of my least favourite Alice Nine A-sides of the past few years. Needless to say, Shou really outdid himself on this one. SHADOWPLAY is a song that I'd put in line with their GEMINI album. It's a bit difficult to get into at first, but when it hits, it HITS. The piano in the background was a nice add to the general feeling of the song and doesn't mindlessly play in the background as some songs usually tend to have. It's a vital part of the song and I love how they incorporated it. The guitar solo is probably one of the best solos of theirs I heard since GEMINI and the general atmosphere of the song is just very epic and powerful. Scarlet is a song I hadn't heard before but apparently has been played live before the release. Scarlet matches the atmosphere of the A-side. It's dark, more distorted and overall rather powerful. The bass shines in this song, and listening to it really gives you the idea that they really thought this through. I personally prefer SHADOWPLAY over Scarlet, but Scarlet is still a good song. The guitarwork after the solo is the best part of the song in my opinion, it really shows how well Hiroto and Tora can blend together. My final rating for the single: I prefer it over DAYBREAK, and I'm really excited for their third single now!
  5. Augie1995

    I'm sorry, is this what we should expect from Alice Nine now? This single trumped every past single for me and it only had 2 new songs. Daybreak is just an upbeat joy to my ears that had me smiling the whole way and the instrumental is lovely as well. Heavenly Tale live is awesome, want to hear the rest of the songs on the single. 秘密 can take the cake as the jazziest, rock song of theirs for me. That acoustic intro is majestic, Shou's voice has improved greatly. The bass is MMM and the guitars are insanely cool. The only downfall is that there are only 2 new songs but at least I don't have to wait long for the next 2 months. Himitsu is the new Alice NIne favorite for me. I honestly cannot wait to hear what Shadowplay will be like and its B-side
  6. Well done, 摩天楼オペラ, absolutely spectacular! The -overture- sort of brings you in to what you know is coming next already. It's a great SE and it transitions nicely into GLORIA. Plastic Lover is a very nice song, absolutely in the style that I was expecting more of the songs to sound like in this album~ 悪魔の翼、just by the previews alone, had already made it as the most anticipated song for me on this album. The intro just pumped me up, the chorus is rather abruptly put in but the majestic-ness to it just overcame that. There's a beautiful calm spot between the song that was just elegantly added. The fact that 2 single songs came after this was kind of boring but Freesia and Camel are two good songs so it wasn't all too bad. Merry Drinker is a very powerful song, love the energy that goes along with it, gets me headbanging along to it for some reason. Both the guitar solo after the Chorus and the outro solo was just pure Anzi love~ SWORD as i expected is a very strong sound. Yuu really likes to get that bass drum going the whole time huh? He does the same thing all throughout the final song, 喝采と激情のグロリア. MY GOD, that BASS in SWORD just made my ears jizz!!! Great song, definitely my #2 on this album. Somethingのブルー, by the length alone, was looking to be the album's ballad this time around. It's got a very nice orchestral background and the chorus is really something beautiful. The small guitar melody after the 1st chorus somewhat reminded me of a GALNERYUS melody(calm down, not saying they are copying them or anything). The fact that the songs fades into a piano melody was just the best ending for this song! Midnight fanfare just transitions beautifully from the previous song. Clearly, this the album's instrumental. Blasts forth into the instruments rather abruptly though. It would have been nice for some buildup but the instruments are too good to give a damn. Just be Myself(JUSTICE) was very badass but there was a lot of repetition in it with some small changes in melody every now and then. This song has a structure similar to a regular song. The song plays a chorus, Aメロ, chorus, guitar -keyboard solo. Bメロ, and then the outro. 喝采と激情のグロリア sounded just amazing from the previews, I knew I was in for a treat. Guitar is absolutely the best thing about this song, and the piano sections in the Bメロ is just exceptional with the perfect pace to it. This was the best song to finish the album with, can't think of any other that would have fit this spot. All of the new songs were just absolutely amazing and they picked the best songs from their singles to add to this album (Although Psychic Paradise would have been better instead of CAMEL). Thank you, 摩天楼オペラ!
  7. I'm a million years late, but as they say, "better late than never!" 2012 was been a wonderful year for Japanese music & abroad. Here are my personal favorite albums and EPs of 2012. I've divided them into 2 parts - Japanese and non-Japanese! I've also provided full sample tracks from each album. Please feel free to leave any comments! Japanese Picks! ATATA - TATAT tags: alternative, emo, post-rock Sample song: General Headquarters After releasing a string of demos, ATATA has finally released their first full length and it is thoroughly fantastic! Consisting of ex. Bandwagon, nenem, Retromania, Mirror, Holstein, and 3cm tour members, ATATA combines all of the punk, post-rock, and emo/hardcore elements from these bands into one seriously rocking package! ar - YON tags: rock, indie-pop, electronic, folk Sample song: breakin' Mama&Papa sleepy.ab is usually regarded as Japan's answer to radiohead, but the lesser known ar is also very noticeably influenced by them as well. However, such a simple comparison doesn't do ar's sound any justice. They're much more colorful and adventurous than the aforementioned bands, manage to span several genres within the same album, and yet they somehow maintain their own unique sound. The aptly named "YON" is the ar's 4th full album and does a wonderful job of showcasing the band's highly imaginative musical palette. COgeNdshE - cogency tags: post-rock, experimental, female vocals Sample song: un deux trois Zankyo records is well respected amongst fans of indie and post-rock due to their impressive roster of quality bands (mudy on the 昨晩, the cabs, and te' to name a few), and COgeNdshE is a welcome addition to the label. Their music isn't as easy to digest as some of their label-mates, however. Cogency has a dark, often brooding quality to it and is chock-full of unusual rhythms and time signatures. In addition, the hauntingly melodic female vocals provide a stark contrast to the music itself. The band focuses more on creating a solid atmosphere as a single unit as opposed to employing overly flashy instrumentation in an attempt to highlight themselves as individual musicians. This album is perhaps a bit more left-field than most Monochromians are accustomed to and may require several listens to truly wrap your head around, but it's a rewarding listen if you're willing to give it a try...or two! ESNO - Visionary tags: electronic, jazz, female cocals Sample song: RR Debut album from ESNO, the new project of jazz/hip hop producer Kenichiro Nishihara. In contrast to his normal material, Nishihara has taken a decidedly electronic approach on this album and it's quite possibly his best work to date. FilFla - Fliptap tags: electronic, folktronica Sample song: Morse Mall 4th album from FilFla, one of Keiichi Sugimoto's many monikers, and the the latest addition to the "’10 Songs In 20 Minutes’ series by music label Someone Good. Given the duration, Fliptap emphasizes the essentials of FilFla's sound - a stunning mishmash of organic elements like acoustic guitars and field recordings, and vibrant electronic programming. Short, but oh so sweet! fresh! - What Are You Doing In This Confusion? tags: hardcore, avant-garde, progressive, instrumental Sample song: ハイビスカス fresh! have been around for a few of years performing on the Japanese underground circuit, but have finally released their first proper album - the aptly titled "What Are You Doing In This Confusion?". This album is one nonstop cacophony of hectic drumming, disharmonic guitar noodling and obnoxious saxophone screeching. fresh! fits right in with bands like NATSUMEN and PANICSMILE. I can only imagine how killer their lives shows are! GAGLE×Ovall - GAGLE×Ovall tags: hip-hop, smooth-jazz, soul Sample song: Heaven Feat. Shea Soul For those that follow the non-mainstream Japanese hip hop world, GAGLE×Ovall is a match made in heaven! The amount of talent between the 2 groups is undeniable. Gagle (consisting of MC Hunger, DJ Mu-R, and DJ Mitsu the Beats) is already a powerhouse, but with the added abilities of Ovall (Shingo Suzuki, Mabanua, and Shingo Sekiguchi/Vusik) these guys are pretty much incapable of producing anything less than quality. JariBu Afrobeat Arkestra - NO MORE PATIENT tags: afrobeat, funk Sample song: No More Patient Prt 1&2 Along with KINGDOM AFROCKS, JariBu Afrobeat Arkestra is one of the Japan's premiere afrobeat bands in a small, but flourishing scene. Their last album "Mediacracy" ALMOST made my list for 2011, but the production value wasn't quite as dynamic as I'd hoped for. Thankfully, that's been rectified on this new album and JAA's grooves are more sonically tangible than ever! Jimanica - Torso tags: electronic, experimental, instrumental Sample song: Walking Behind Jimanica is a drummer and laptop musician who is one-third of the trio "d.v.d" (drums visuals drums) and also 'partners in sound' with fellow electronic musician, Ametsub. Torso is Jimanica's 3rd solo album is a dynamic assortment of live drumming, electronics, and fractured vocal lines (provided by Anna Yamada, Hitomitoi, and Koshi Miura). KATUSI from EL SKUNK DI YAWDIE & EXTRAVAGANZA - Rhythm Messenger tags: reggae, jazz, acoustic Sample song: マチマチ feat. CHAN-MIKA&長崎真吾 As you can somewhat gather from his name, KATUSI is the drummer/percussionist from the little-known bands EL SKUNK DI YAWDIE & EXTRAVAGANZA!. Rhythm Messenger is KATUSI's solo effort in which he features various musicians and singers over his Cajon playing/Drumming. In addition to reggae and jazz, there's a variety of "organic" genres to be found throughout the album. Some awesome features include Likkle Mai, EKD, CHAN-MIKA, and 千尋 (Chihiro)! KINGDOM☆AFROCKS - SanSanNaNa tags: afrobeat, funk, jazz Sample song: No Son Tuyas (Not Yours) SanSanNaNa is the 2nd studio album from Japanese afrobeaters, KINGDOM☆AFROCKS. Their first studio album Fanfare made it on my list last year, but the grooves here are just as prominent and uplifting! LAGITAGIDA - CartaMarina tags: instrumental, progressive-rock Sample song: Yellow Shark Just a few months after their first EP, instrumental prog-rockers LAGITAGIDA have returned with their 2nd EP and they mean business! The band consists of members from the now defunct bands mahiruno, Green Milk From The Planet Orange, and school food punishment. They site their major influences as Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, Can, The Mars Volta, Battles, Metallica, Slayer, and Melt-Banana. CartaMarina is intense from beginning to end and proves that LAGITAGIDA is worthy of sharing the stage with Japan's best instrumental bands. LITE - PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE tags: math-rock, post-rock, female vocals Sample song: Bond LITE is no doubt one of Japan's finest instrumental acts, and their latest EP, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE offers a glimpse into the band's evolution over the years. From their humble beginnings as a traditional post-rock band to their more experimental, vocal-driven compositions that strive to defy classification. Matryoshka - Laideronnette tags: modern classical, ambient, IDM, female vocals Sample song: Cut All Trees Absolutely gorgeous modern classical pieces embroidered with subtle electronic glitches and angelic female vocals. The tone of Laideronnette is epic and highly emotional - captivating from start to finish. middle 9 - Cettia Diphone tags: post-rock, jazz Sample song: Deja Cettia Diphone is middle 9's third album and continues the band's tradition of immaculately fusing jazz and post-rock. With only five tracks spanning about 30 minutes, I only wish this one were a bit longer! M-KODA - Inga tags: idm, electronic, ambient Sample song: Glow Only in his early 20's, M-KODA (real name Satoshi Kodama) is young, but already producing music like a seasoned pro. Inga is his 2nd full album and it exhibits just the right amount of minimalism - not overly melodic, but not subtle to the point that it's boring either. mmm (ミーマイモー) - ほーひ tags: folk, indie, female vocals Sample song: 無題 2nd full album from the indie-folkstress, mmm (pronouced me-my-mo)! Fortunately, she hasn't fallen into a sophomore slump - in fact, she's managed to produce an even better folk album than her first! With her unique voice, memorable songwriting, and endless charm, I don't think this woman is capable of doing any wrong. ;3 Moe and ghosts - 幽霊たち tags: hip hop, experimental, indie, female vocals Sample song: ルー=ガルーガール Splendid debut album from the enigmatic underground hip hop unit, Moe and Ghosts, who unsurprisingly, describe themselves as a "ghost coast hip hop group from Japan". The production on 幽霊たち has a distinct "underground" feel with many experimental liberties taken, while the rapping/vocals are all handled by the equally interesting female known as Moe (萌); who has a remarkably dynamic flow and style. The tone of moe's voice is also atypical for hip hop, but then again, this is not your typical hip hop album. : ) nego - SANSARA tags: dub, psychedelic, tribal, experimental, club Sample song: Raga Naja Sophomore album from the fascinating, hybrid-band, NEGO. Mixed and mastered by none other than KASHIWA Daisuke, SANSARA (meaning "metempsychosis" in Sanskrit) is a riveting album that utilizes simplicity and repetition at the core, and builds around that core a diverse wall of sound that is utterly entrancing! Members from bands like sgt., kacica, ROVO, egoistic 4 leaves, and WUJA BIN BIN have all given praise to NEGO and this album! Re-Trick - re:Re-Trick tags: jazz, club-jazz Sample song: Regeneration While some of the more popular of acts of Japan's jazz scene have been on a steady decline (quasimode and jabberloop come to mind), Re-Trick has only been improving! After the release of their last album in 2010, the band went on hiatus for about 15 months, but they haven't missed a beat. As the title of the album implies, re:Re-Trick is a bit of a self-cover album since half of the tracks are re-recordings of early tracks. However, each of those tracks have been redone masterfully and in most cases, aren't even identical to the originals. And of course, the new tracks maintain re-trick's originality and technical prowess. Hands down, my favorite jazz album of 2012! ROTH BART BARON - 化け物山と合唱団 tags: folk, indie Sample song: Campfire I was initially introduced to this band by MH's resident Japanese folk expert, Aion, a year or 2 ago and I've been following them ever since. The world of Japanese folk music is vast and saturated with mediocrity, so it's easy to point out the greats from the fakes - and ROTH BART BARON is the former. Their music has a simplistic beauty to it and it's evocative without being either overly sappy or too depressive. Hopefully, these guys will release a full length one day! Tam Tam - Meteorite tags: dub, reggae, alternative, female vocals Sample song: dry ride Meteorite is the first full album from the obscure, reggae/dub outfit, Tam Tam. While they employ a lot of traditional elements from reggae/dub, their sound also incorporates pop and alternative sensibilities - giving them a young and fresh appeal. THE★米騒動 - 十九歳でぜんぶ終わる tags: rock, garage, female vocals Sample song: ストランゲーゼ30番地 2nd mini album from the young garage rock trio, The rice panic. They have a fantastic, raw energy that's reminiscent of MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS' more agressive side. TK from 凛として時雨 - flowering tags: alternative, indie-rock Sample song: flower Solo album from Rin Toshite Shigure vocalist and distinguished guitarist, TK (Toru Kitajima). Even with the ensemble of strings, piano, and additional electronics, flowering isn't much of a departure from rin toshite's sound. In fact, it shows just how much influence TK has over the band. Though this isn't much of a gripe considering the consistently high quality of rin toshite albums. Naturally, TK remains above par. Wienners - UTOPIA tags: punk, hardcore, pop, electronic Sample song: 三原山の怪獣 2nd full album from wienners! Wild, zany, and fun punk that sporadically fuses elements of pop, hardcore, and electronica. Highly energetic with hardly ever a dull moment. Wuja Bin Bin - Wuja Bin Bin tags: jazz, avant-garde Sample song: Middle Age Riot Wuja Bin Bin is the new project of ex. ex-BEAT CRUSADERS' keyboardist, KEITAIMO, but this is no ordinary project. WBB is more like a super-group of superb indie and "under the radar" musicians. Within the line-up you have achico (on button down/KAREN), jazz trumpeter Shinpei Ruike, Satoru Takeshima (EGO-WRAPPIN & THE GOSSIP OF JAXX), Takuji Nomura (goodluckheiwa/natsumen/sakerock), Keisaku Nakamura (toe/hotel new tokyo/stim/kowloon) and more! Wuja Bin Bin's debut is an amazing mix of jazz, progressive, and experimental elements. アルカラ - ドラマ tags: indie-rock, alternative Sample song: 踊れやフリーダ I consider Arukara the flag-bearers of a particular brand of rock in Japan that see bands blending traditional elements of "indie-rock" with pop sensibilities. While many attempt this style, trying to appease the indie/DIY fans and exert mass appeal at the same time, Arukara simply excels at it. Whether they're doing ballads, instrumental tracks, or simply rocking out, they always manage to remain catchy and melodic without compromising their skills as musicians. Drama does a wonderful job at showcasing the band at their best. キリコ - Greyhound... tags: hip-hop, underground, female vocals Sample song: Layered subenoana is one of my favorite Japanese indie labels, as they're constantly releasing some of the most interesting, abstract and experimental Japanese hip hop. Although kiriko is usually very left-field, his new album features a more accessible sound full of soul and jazz-laden samples (courtesy of DJ OLDFASHION) and a host of female rapper/singer collaborations. Kiriko's flow and style remain very off-kilter though, which makes for a unique and refreshing listen. コトリンゴ - La memoire de mon bandwagon EP tags: pop, singer-songwriter, female vocals Sample song: Ghost Dance Stunning EP from Ryuichi Sakamoto's handpicked protege, Kotoringo! For this EP, Kotoringo formed a trio with Shige Murata (□□□, Cubismo Grafico Five, Circle Darko) on bass and Jumpei Kamiya (Akai Kutsu) on drums - and of course, herself on piano. As always, kotoringo has managed to produce some of the most exquisite pop music around and proves that she is in a league of her own. スガダイロー - 春風 tags: free-jazz, avant-garde Sample song: 不屈 New album from the insanely talented avant-garde pianist, Suga Dairo. His previous album actually made it onto my BEST-OF 2011 list; however, this work is almost entirely different. 46 minutes of pure piano work without the accompaniment of bass, drums, or vocals. Replete with broken melodies and meandering improvisation, this album may not be the easiest listen for some, but may be rewarding to those with an ear for the uncanny. トクマルシューゴ - In Focus? tags: folk, indie-pop Sample song: Helictite (LeSeMoDe) 5th album from singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Shugo Tokumaru. Extravagant and meticulously crafted folk-music with a cartoon-ish flare. Superb~! ハイスイノナサ - 動物の身体 tags: math-rock, post-rock, indie, female vocals Sample song: logos haisuinonasa's first full album is every bit as fabulous as their previous 2 mini albums suggested it would be. While the band has always mixed several genres (math-rock, post-rock, electronic, etc), they've really been able to let loose and expand their musical prowess to new areas on this full length. At this point, trying to dissect their music into genres would be futile. Despite the varying elements, their sound is so cohesive that it's nearly indescribable. Whatever haisuinonasa has become, I only have one word for them - EXQUISITE. 伊集院幸希 - THIS IS MY STORY 憐情のメロディ tags: soul, pop, doo-wop, female vocals Sample song: 家に帰ろう First full album from the obscure, but lovely singer-songwriter, Ijuuin Yuki. THIS IS MY STORY is like a blast from the 50's/60's past - even the production of the album is tailored to suit Yuki's impeccable retro-pop sound. Vocally, she sounds similar to early 90's Bonnie Pink, who also had a retro vibe around that time. All-around great tunes~ 八十八ヶ所巡礼 - ○△□ tags: rock, progressive, experimental Sample song: ((((未練)))) ○△□ is 88kasyo's 3rd full album, with their previous 2 albums being released in 2011 and 2010 respectively (all in the month of August btw). With releases so close together, you'd think it would be hard for a band to maintain the quality of their work, but that hasn't been the case with this trio. 88kasyo has only improved and grown even wilder with each release. Their skills are simply undeniable (srsly, their guitarist does more on his guitar in one song than some bands with 2 guitarists do in an entire album *cough*thegazette*cough*). But more importantly than their skills as musicians is their ability to craft songs that are unique, refreshing, and keep your ears craving more. Their previous album made my into my top picks of 2011, and they've managed to do so again this year. 小南泰葉 - 嘘憑キズム tags: pop-rock, female vocals Sample song: ルポルタージュ精神病棟 Impressive major debut from the up-and-coming singer/songwriter, Kominami Yasuha. She plays an edgy, yet radio-friendly brand of pop-rock that harkens back to early "Muzai Moratorium" days of Shiina Ringo. It's not often that you come across quality major artists, but Kominami is definitely one worth keeping an eye on! 空きっ腹に酒 - 僕の血 tags: indie-rock, punk, hip hop Sample song: 記憶 Imagine throwing bands like qomolangma tomato, usotsuki barbie, and UHNELLYS into a blender - you'll likely end up with a concoction like this band. "Boku no chi" is Sukipparanisake's first full album and is a spastic mix of indie-rock, punk, and hip hop with just enough craziness to keep your ears excited from start to finish. 緋と陽 - タイヨウニホエロ tags: hardcore, emo, post-rock Sample song: いざ沙らば hitohi's first EP made my best-of list last year, and their new EP is equally as deserving. While the band's songwriting seemed to meander aimlessly a few times on the last EP, they've made noticeable progress in streamlining their "mathy-proggy-postrockish-folky-hardcore" sound. Unfortunately, this EP is only 4 tracks long, but each one is epic in it's own right! ; ) 鎮座DOPENESS & DOPING BAND- だいぶ気持ちいいね! tags: hip-hop, alternative, experimental Sample song: ヒップ ホップ IS... With the bulk of Japan's hip hop culture filtered through the likes of MTV, it's tough to find Japanese rappers that really understand the essence of hip hop, but thankfully, CHINZA DOPENESS knows what hip hop is all about! CHINZA has formed a band (THE DOPING BAND), which consists of the up-and coming reggae songstress, CHAN-MIKA, percussionist and producer, IZPON (from KINGDOM☆AFROCKS, Panorama Steel Orchestra, and Orquesta, Nudge! ) with the rest of the members coming from the disbanded reggae/dub outfit 犬式 a.k.a Dogggystyle. This is anything but your typical rap record, as CHINZA and the DOPING BAND play a diverse array of styles including funk, jazz, reggae/dub, as well as your more traditional, old-school hip hop numbers. CHINZA and the DOPING BAND aren't out to talk about their swag or brag about material riches, they simply want to show you a good time! 高橋征司 - N41° tags: ambient, glitch, minimal Sample song: first report This album nearly flew under my radar, as it was released under an obscure, fledgeling label called Te Pito Records. Seiji Takahashi's first album, N41° is only the 3rd release from this label. I bought this on a whim, but was pleasantly surprised by the quality of it! Incredibly soothing ambient soundscapes!
  8. Augie1995

    FAIR WARNING: I absolutely love this mini to death and I've only heard it once. You will see nothing but unwavering affection. Verge: Epic. Starts with what we can consider a mild UNDIVIDE tempo. Awesome riffs, great vocals by Kihiro, loving the chorus. Love how the song stops for the solo with a bass drum and the guitar riff leading us into it. Leda steps it up here with the guitar solo, he's not just massively doing some scales and repeated notes. Pretty relaxed ending that transitions into Fading Materials in such a manner that leaves me with one thought: "Leda can compose like no other" Fading Materials: Starts off with Verge's ending, pretty fast pace throughout the song, guitar solo that we hear in the previews comes in. Really starting to fall in love with Kihiro's voice. Guitar cuts off with a slide up the fret, nice melody comes in (Kihiro whispering), echoing guitar tapping with an background guitar melody...I f***ing love Leda so much. Something to Fight For: I don't have much to say for this song, it's a damn good song but it's what we can safely call the UNDIVIDE typical song. Until the Day: What? There's a bass in UNDIVIDE? I thought Leda just named himself the bassist for memorabilia of GALNERYUS times xD Very jazzy verses spread out through the song, love the guitar "wah" pedal that Leda uses on those more quiet verses. I was kind of hoping the guitar solo would end the song seeing as how I haven't heard Leda do that since The Farthest back with DELUHI. White Hole: Gives GALEYD's Op;9 a run for it's money as my favorite guitar instrumental out there. Sucks that UNDIVIDE is ceasing activities, hopefully this brings about maybe finally an actual band from Leda out of this solo project. Hopefully this isn't their last release, but, if it is, I am damn impressed and pleased. 100/10
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