J-Rock Fans

Album: Versailles - NOBLE

2008-07-22T15:06:22Z

Date released: 16.7.2008.

Track list
1. Prelude
2. Aristocrat's Symphony [PV]
3. Antique in the Future
4. Second Fear-Another Descendant-
5. zombie
6. After Cloudia
7. windress
8. The Revenant Choir [PV]
9. To The Chaos Inside
10. SUZERAIN
11. History of The Other Side
12. Episode

It was just a matter of time before the Visual-metal legends Versailles release their first full-length album. The band was pompously announced as a Visual kei megaband consisting of members from various notable Visual kei metal bands and similar. You might even consider that everything done by Versailles from sound to image is a bit pompous.

Listening to NOBLE is like watching an opera: it all looks grand and fascinating, the performance is even exciting on a few parts, but most of the time you're bored, looking at the clock wondering when they are going to finish, and you understand nothing from it.
The dramatic orchestral and choral PRELUDE makes way for the compositionally rich but rather over-the-top speed-symphony metal firework Aristocrat's Symphony. I was right in the last issue of Baku when I have recommended the Noble was born in Chaos single as a warm up for the album Noble because all three songs from the single have managed to get on the album, including Aristocrat's Symphony.
I really liked Antique in the Future or at least it's awesome heavy metal intro with balls!!! which was, as I could have thought, soon followed by some overly-dramatic symphony-metalness in Versailles way and matter. Shame actually, I was kinda hoping for some extravagance and not their typical thwack-thwack-as-fast-as-you-can-with-orchestra-behind. Second fear is actually interesting, fierce with a lot of fast harpsycode-playing-riff and Kamijo's English singing sounding muted, hoarse, actually cool (as if you are listening to some cool foreign metal band), though as same as Antique in the future, this song is only partially awesome though pretty cool as whole.

We come then to zombie, my all-time favorite Versailles song primary because it doesn't sound like your average pompous Versailles song. You just have to love the trashy D-production horror movie sound to zombie, most closely sounding like how you would feel if you had 10 of the equally named cocktails. Ah the genius, love it, makes me want to paint my skin green and devour the brain of the person next to me.
After Cloudia comes as a hangover after zombie, average, boring, similar to The Revenant Choir, telling you that you're listening to the Versailles, though it surprises with Kamijo's pretty intense singing, like he's singing for the first time right out of his chest and not being somewhere in between mumbling and singing as usual.
Windress is for Noble what the dying of a fat lead lady is for opera: a dramatic and stretched out bore. There is this short hard-rock part in the middle that draws the attention and really sounds great, but what would have been a great riff for some crazy moshing/banging tune turns to 17 seconds of showing off and checking if somebody is still listening.

We come then to the lyrics-wise laugh number The Revenant Choir, luckily without the boring lady speaking part, still being a X-Japan hommage ala Versailles, fast, long, quite uninteresting. Length-wise some songs on the album are simply too long, making you forget what was the catch at the beginning, making you circle with your finger above the skip button coming near the end.
Following The Revenant Choir is the melodic death metal resembling To the Chaos Inside which is quite a fierce song, with grinding riffs, evil sound to it and even an interesting chorus. And Hizaki's solo's melt faces. Period. Due to death metalness (though I really don't know why I am so attracted to death metal) To the Chaos Inside wins me. As a great complementary to To the Chaos Inside comes SUZERAIN, an already released speed-metal track with elegance, great riffs and solos and not so flashy as some other Versailles songs. Moderate and great.

The album reaches its grand finale with History of the Other Side, which is not bad, has got some really good and impressive parts but sounds as if you have thrown several different songs into one mixer and left them mixing for over nine minutes. I like the end of the song particularly because of the echoing, dimmed, distorted riffs.
One of the jewels of the album is the last song Episode being a duet of Kamijo and a piano. Gentle, beautiful, emotional with the probably most perfect vocal performance by Kamijo I have ever heard. Honestly your rarely hear so refined and profound ballads, without them sounding pathetic or over-the-top. Episode did left me speachless, gotta admit that and I will surely count it to my Versailles favorites.

Have I expected a lot of this album? No. Was it predictable? Well, mostly yeah. Is it good or bad? I wouldn't call it bad, nor particularly overwhelming, but it's decent and it does have a few song that break the monotony, but this album is the one only Versailles fans will enjoy the fullest as well fans of Visual kei bands with a metal sound. Versailles have got their specific sound and approach which you may like or not. But like them or not they're still better than any other Visual kei band sounding metal around.

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Single: Sugar - ruddy afterglow

2008-07-21T14:51:00Z

Ruddy afterglow

Date released: 16.7.2008.

Track list
1.afterglow
2.悲しみに眠る陽だまり (Kanashimi ni nemuru you damari)
3. Ridicule (Live recording)

It's simply incredible and rare to see a band with such a sense for elegance such as Sugar. Whatever they make they make it with style, with feel and beauty. Their songs are simply mesmerizing, once you're caught up in their world there is no escape. The last month's single antlion showed Sugar in a more jazzy mood and it was a great single, but ruddy afterglow is even better.

afterglow is a balladesque song with rich sound and mood. Not to mention the layered feelings of regret, melancholy and hope mixing up and harmonizing. The song is similar to their Youkoso, but little less intense and a bit more cool. It's incredible how every note in Sugar's music is simply shining with elegance, while not being pompous nor standing out. Just by hearing the minimalistic, yet brilliant beginning in the fresh, summer-like and wonderfully vivid Kanashimi ni nemuru you damari you must admit that there are truly a few bands that really know when to hit a note and how, bringing out the fullest of it both in expression, mood and emotion. Kanashimi ni nemuru you damari is my definitive summer favorite by now, sounding like a wonderful ride next to the seaside on a upcoming sunset while the breeze plays on your face. Beautiful, brilliant and the antlion-style touch is that what makes it vivid.

The limited edition of the single comes with a live recording of Ridicule which is a bit of a darker song reminding me in a way of Kagrra,'s slightly sinister Kotodama (or at least on it's hypnotic beginning), though I must admit that Ridicule does sound even more sinister and rockier and masculine. And Loki proves his great vocal capabilities both in studio and on stage.

I simply can't describe the complexity and elegance (can't even found a word in English that would come the closest to the Croatian adjective profinjeno , what Sugar are) that Sugar shine with. Even though these guys are rockers in core I wouldn't be surprised to see one day in their old age still bashing out in jazz clubs with their excellent music. As I've said for antlion so I will say for ruddy afterglow, even more firmer: Sugar are a rare jewel among the Visual kei bands and a band you must not let slip away.

Quoting Miss Thrillz : If you can’t get into Sugar something's wrong with your ears.

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Single: Lamina - Seraph

2008-07-20T09:56:18Z

Seraph

Date released: 2.7.2008.

Track list
1. 布教和音 (Fukyou Waon)
2. Radical Gothic

How do you know it's UNDER CODE by not even listening to it? Why, by the multiple single releases on the same day that could conveniently be released as a mini-album on one CD. But the heck, let's rip even more money outta those listener bitches by splicing the release on two. Two CD = Twice the money. Now isn't that ingenious! That's why we are going to release Zopiel and Cherub in August as well as Cherubiel and Throne in September. Why release one full debut album when you can release 6 singles and get more money.

Hope you don't mind my little digression in the intro, but I find this releasing on the same day really silly and unfair. So here is the review of Lamina's second single Seraph that was released on the same day as Samael. Samael is a bit better though both singles are somewhere on the same level.

Fukyou Waon is pretty interesting when you think about it and has got a better production than some recent UNDER CODE releases. This song has got screaming, catchy refrain, pointless singing on certain parts and good riffs but as any other UNDER CODE band it still lacks some originality and kick. Radical Gothic isn't any of the both, it's more of a chariots song with another vocalist (just like Succubus). For me the closest to the term Radical Gothic is D's Schwarzschild's beginning. Lamina's Radical Gothic is simply too short to me memorable, with metal parts pointed in blank and with no excitement.

I didn't expect too much from the both new UNDER CODE bands Lamina and E'm~grief~ so I wasn't dissapointed nor thrilled by them. But Lamina still turned out to be a better band than E'm~grief~, though still stuck (and with no ambition to go higher) in the UNDER CODE Kote kei band average. If you like it, please... don't let me get you off these singles.

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Single: Lamina - Samael

2008-07-19T16:17:48Z

Samael

Date released: 2.7.2008.

Track list
1.ジェネシス (Genesis)
2.夢魔-サキュバス- (Muma -Succubus-)

The second new UNDER CODE band that had it's first (and second) release this month. E'm~grief~ was pretty much a laugh, but Lamina turned out to be better (relatively speaking). Their band concept is "Radical Gothic" though Lamina aren't really radical, nor so gothic.

Genesis is actually pretty decent, a little above the UNDER CODE average, something like the chariots but faster, with a more metallesque touch and pretty convincing. Sure it doesn't contribute anything new to the genre but it has got a few well arranged parts that sound just right.
Muma-Succubus- drops even deeper into the chariots sea of well production but weak concept, though it's more catchy than your average chariots tune. The singer Ibuki doesn't hit every note right, but his voice is at least not irritating, with a colorless timbre.

Samael isn't great, but it isn't as horrid as E'm~grief~'s Eternal melody. But seriously, the band's sound is really washed out and feels like your listening to any other semi-gothic UNDER CODE but with a vocalist who is bored to death. Unless you're really into such really narrow sound-range and style I guess you'll be checking this single out whether out of curiosity whether out of boredom.

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Review - Alone again, wonderful world - Plastic Tree

2008-05-06T01:07:47Z

A review-a-day! Probably because I'm just finding so much delightful music~! There's actually quite an interesting story to me and this band, so...

アローンアゲイン、ワンダフルワールド

Plastic Tree

Tracklist:

1. アローンアゲイン、ワンダフルワールド (Alone again, wonderful world) [PV]

2. サイケでリズム (Psychedelizm) [Audio]

3. 初めてのＸＸＸ (First XXX) [Audio]

4. アローンアゲイン、ワンダフルワールド～

Instrumental～

5. サイケでリズム～Instrumental～

I found out about Plastic Tree at first because of my love for Radiohead, while searching for a performance of their song, Fake Plastic Trees. (one of my all-time favorite songs, listen to it if you haven't yet) I saw that there was a Japanese band named "Plastic Tree", and thought, "Oh cool, I look up on them later." and of course, I didn't.

But then, yesterday, I stumbled upon Heroin(e)'s review of Alone again, wonderful world. I read the review, and then pressed play on the PV.

And then I felt this incredible nostalgia, because the song reminded me so much of The Bends-era Radiohead. I instantly fell in love with the song, and then Plastic Tree in general. (Later, I found out that many British alternative bands, which I listen to regularly, were some of Plastic Tree's biggest influences - including Radiohead in particular.)

The thing that drew me in at first about Alone again, wonderful world were the "dirnt-dirnt-dirnt-dirnt" crunches of the guitar. However, these chords which sound harsh at first, take a backseat to Ryuutarou's sing-song, simple vocals, which were what really made me fall in love with Plastic Tree. The way he sat, legs dangling in the PV, the airiness and lightness in his voice brought images of a young Thom Yorke (brilliant frontman of Radiohead) to my head. The simple, yet longing feelings in the song have a everyday touch to them. I just listened to Alone again, wonderful world again and again, and it never got boring or old.

Psychedelizm starts off with a odd techno beat, then a big, fat riff comes in. If the song had kept the heavy sound it had at the beginning for the entire track, I would have lost my special respect for Plastic Tree, dismissing them as just another J-rock band. Luckily, this doesn't happen, due to Ryuutarou's great vocals, which sweeten up the track. There's an effect-laden solo, and the track closes out with the same heavy riff from the opening. Quite a good song.

初めてのＸＸＸ confuses me. It starts off with some silence. Then you realize it's a "remix" of the title track. But all it really is Alone again, wonderful world, with the guitar part replaced with a synth lead, and the vocal track pitch raised very high. Then the band just chatters over it.

The single includes two more instrumental versions of the first two tracks, for you to sing along to. This maxi-single is quite excellent, especially the title song. The only thing that detracts from it is 初めてのＸＸＸ, which made me subtract a half a point from my rating. But I still adore wonderful world, and I am proud to say this single has made me a full Plastic Tree fan. I will be following all their future releases, as well as look back into their 15 year history.

Here's to one of the most underrated Japanese bands:

4.5/5 - Great

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Review - Duel Jewel - Iolite

2008-07-15T22:52:27Z

Note: pronounced "Eye-o-light", not "Eo-lee-tay". And my first review for about a month, gomen ne~ (See my last post for explanation - here.)

Iolite Cover

Tracklist:

1. アイオライト (Iolite) [Audio] [PV]

2. 勇-Yu- [Audio]

3. 約束の詩 (Yakusoku no Uta) [Audio]

Duel Jewel finally decide to release another single, after their great last album BULLET. Was it worth the wait?

Well, Iolite's certainly different to begin with. The guitars are heavier and more aggressive than their past singles, and there's a bit more chanting and screaming being done by Shun, their guitarist. Hayato's vocals, are for the most part, not put in the spotlight for all of the song. The refrain, however, is classic Duel Jewel. The solo is also really cool, the instrumentation for the rest of the song is much more sophisticated than their much earlier works. In the end, Iolite isn't terribly original, but it certainly serves as a big refinement of their sound. (The PV is also really reminiscent of es.)

The next track, 勇-Yu-, begins with the hard rocking guitars once more, but the rest of the song is just the normal Duel Jewel sound. It doesn't really bring anything new to the table that Iolite didn't, if you don't count those guitar squeaks during the riffing. And there's a pretty metal style solo thrown in.

約束の詩 uses synth sounds to create a positive atmosphere, but the same loud, rockier guitar style from the last 2 tracks is still there, oddly. Its as if they forgot to change around their pedals. A decent track, nothing special.

Opting for harder, louder sounds and mixing, Hayato's voice is no longer all over the front, but in the middle of the rest of the band. Perhaps they wanted this kind of sound for the whole time, and got a new producer, or their old one got better. But other than the Despa-thick guitars, its really not so different from their old music.

Rating: 3/5 - Good

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Catching Up Part 3: MUCC

2008-07-15T01:10:02Z

This came out so many months ago, and I really regret forgetting to review it, so I'm sorry it's late.

Shion

Shion -MUCC

First of all, there's the infamous Shion album.

Tracklist
1. Suion
2.Fukurou No Yurikago
3.Nuritsubusu Nara Enji
4.FUZZ
5.Game
6.Flight (Album Version)
7.Anjelier
8.Chiisana Mado
9.Semishigure
10.Shion
11.Sora Wasure
12.Shiva
13.Libra (Album Version)

The first track, Suion, is actually one of the album intros worth listening to. It starts out simple, and gradually builds up towards the end in a sort of drizzle-drizzle-storm kind of way; the puddle sounds and the continuous repetition are great for starting out the album out. There's a Middle Eastern kind of flair that flows throughout the whole album; it's good experimentation.
The next song, Fukurou no yurikago, dives right into the album, and the Middle Eastern touches can be clearly heard in the introduction. The layering of the instruments reminds me of what D'espairs Ray did with their album Mirror, though not as heavy. Tatsuro's voice, which is usually what makes me avoid listening to the majority of MUCC's discography, fits well with the song and the rest of the album; I'm not sure of what I would make of them if I saw them live because Tatsuro's voice sounds strained even on the CD, but I do know that I would enjoy these songs. The song builds up quite nicely and I really do think that this is one of MUCC's best albums. They've found their little musical niche, and this is one really good example of a band growing with experimentation of different musical styles.
After the rather anticlimactic ending of the previous song, Nuritsubusu Nara Enji opens quite strong. The verses are more metal, and the transition into the chorus reminds me of D'espairs Ray's Mirror once again, but that just may be me. The guitar at the 2:20ish mark is pretty cool, but the constant repetition of the chorus is a bit of overkill, though ending finishes off better than Fukurou no yurikago.
The fourth track, FUZZ, is amazing. The experimentation, the harmonica (which Tatsuro apparently plays during the live), the whole 80s jazzy feel, is genius. Tatsuro's voice, again, fits perfectly into the song, and the guitar and bass is wonderfully catchy. It all shows a mature, though evolving, MUCC. The chorus isn't overdone and its transition with the verses is done well. It all gives off a twist to the album, giving it its flavor. The PV for the song is a tad psychedelic, and I heard that this was played sometime in the movie Cloverfield. However, judging from what I've heard about the movie's cinematography, I'm probably going to avoid that for now; I have no desire to get nauseous.

mucc - fuzz (pv)

Game is exhilarating. In my point of view, this is where we reach the meat of the album. The way the instruments are layered and Tatsuro's vocals are pulled off really, really well. The intensity of the song literally saturates the air, and the emotions are conveyed beautifully. The song is humid; the transitions are expert and spot-on; the melding of dark and heavy is intricately balanced. The way everything just comes swamping in at the 3:25ish mark leaves me just breathless. I don't think any other band could have pulled this off.
The sixth track, Flight, is upbeat and happy to Game's gloom. The PV for this was sickeningly happy. The juxtaposition of this song with the previous one is laughable, but the way the instruments play off each other is to be complimented. Tatsuro's voice doesn't seem as strained as usual, and the song makes me want to smile.
Anjelier is at heart a disco song. I wouldn't be surprised if this became the fanservice song for MUCC. The notes that Tatsuro's voice has to climb in the chorus is what makes me continue to listen to the song; it's ultimately amusing and makes it more interesting than Flight. The wailing guitar adds some 'credibility' to the song, but it's Tatsuro's voice and my god, the strain he's putting on it, that makes me relieved (as well) when the song finally ends.
Listening to Chiisana Mando, I think of the color purple. It's deep and majestic, one of the few ballads that isn't too repetitive and isn't just there to impress/acknowledge that boys have feelings too! or whatever. The strings, the guitars, the overall atmosphere of this song is impressive --it's one of the best ballads I've heard.
Semishigure is a warm-up song for the title track, Shion. Semishigure is catchy, punky, and fast-paced, and Tatsuro's voice is tightly reined in. Shion, on the other hand, is mindblowing. The way the drums come in and the first few verses are a bit Middle Eastern in style, and then it all starts getting heavier. It's a strange song -full of chanting, singing, and screaming; the constant tension is high-strung throughout the whole five minutes, and the transition into chorus is completely headbangable. The chorus itself is a bit overdone, but I'm not complaining; it's a song that fits nicely, embodying some of the feel of the whole album. The guitars at the 2:30ish and 2:47ish mark are a bit Deggish, and the drums at the 3:10-4:00 mark build up the the rising crescendo of tension.
Sorawasure is one of my favorite songs. The creative use of the strings at the beginning, along with the first verses remind me somewhat of a particular late 90s Chinese pop/rock artist that I honestly forget the name of. This song is a bit poppier than the previous ones, but it loses none of the quality; the chorus isn't overblown or overdone. The strings, again, along with the guitars at the 2 minute mark are what draw me in.
Shiva is a mesh of every heavy genre there is; it's schizophrenic -a happy mix of metal, rock, and whatever classical instruments they're using in the beginning. Basically what you need to scare any neighbors away when playing at full blast in the middle of birthday parties and whatnot.
I adore Libra. It's got that gothy, creepy feel to it, and Tatsuro's not even screaming. It wobbles and shakes on purpose; it's unsettling, but it's addicting. The chorus steals away from the overall mood of the song; I like the verses far better; the transition from verse to chorus is a bit choppy. The PV is interesting -it reminds me of the one for Deadman's Follow the Night Light in which Mako played murderer and victim. I have to say, I prefer the darker Tatsuro to the nice one:

MUCC - LIBRA [PV]

Overall, this is probably going to be one of the best albums of the year, in my point of view. It's solid, and it's got variety; it shows growth and experimentation and each of the songs builds onto the other. It's probably going to be one of the ones I'll buy sooner or later as well.

Rating: :D

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Single: E'm～grief～ - Eternal melody

2008-07-14T10:20:27Z

Eternal melody

Date released: 2.7.2008.

Track list
1.Eternal melody
2.独白の空 (Dokuhaku no sora)
3.Eternal melody(instrumental)
4.独白の空(instrumental)

As I have already mentioned about a month ago, UNDER CODE got richer for two more bands, both under the producer's hand of KISAKI. And when it goes to UNDER CODE bands they are either really really good or mediocre. And hmmm... what would you think of a band with an old-school name and style to be?

Eternal melody is like a weak Versailles song with all the old-schoolness you can get. The positive thing about it is that the song is metal, but metal twicked with much synth sounds ala Moi dix Mois and a bad vocalist. Honestly Rita's voice is like UnsraW's Yuki's but more irritating. At least Yuki knows how to growl and puts at least effort in singing, but this guy is simply mediocre.

But yet is Eternal melody nothing compared to the nuke named Dokuhaku no sora. This song is overdone with almost everything and is turned into a mass of chaos. It's like your having a siezure attack or something, or like their playing blindfolded... No there are no words to explain the trashyness as Dokuhaku no sora. Spare your ears, they are not worth this.

I had a bit of hope for the new UNDER CODE band but unfortunately they didn't match up to my expectations. E'm～grief～ are simply aaarrrrgh.... they make me want to point at them and laugh. If you really want to check this band out that's fine with me, but avoid the chaos Dokuhaku no sora. Rather give a try to their collegues at Lamina, they're better.

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ワンオクロック | ONE OK ROCK

2008-07-09T12:45:20Z

Today I have the sudden urge to promote the awesomeness that is ONE OK ROCK!
As one of my favorite bands,
I really think that they don't get enough luff <33

ONE OK ROCK

ONE OK ROCK is a five-member rock band under AMUSE label.
ONE OK ROCK was first formed in the summer of 2005 with Toru, Ryota and Alex. Taka joined soon after. Their first indies release, a self-titled mini-album, was released in July of 2006. In March of 2007, their support drummer, Tomoya, became an official member. They made their major debut with the release of their first single, 内秘心書 (Naishi Shinsho)

ONE OK ROCK is pronounced basically like engrish 1 o'clock.
So.. like ONE-OCKU-ROCKU.
They came up with this name because they used to frequently have rehearsal around 1 in the morning.

MEMBER PROFILES

ONE OK ROCK

TORU

Toru
Vocal + Guitar
DOB: 7 December 1988
Birthplace: Osaka

Former member of boyband HEADS.
First wanted to be a dancer (HEADS was also a dance group).
He found rock music in junior high and started making his own music.
From the time he decided he wanted to make a band, he was serious about it.
He didn't want the band to be like just some hobby.
Toru is like the glue that keeps everyone together =]

RYOTA

Ryota
Bass
DOB: 4 September 1989
Birthplace: Osaka

Former member of boyband HEADS.
First wanted to be a dancer (like Toru).
Actually started learning bass when group was formed.
Toru needed a bassist, and asked Ryota if he would learn.
He found it interesting and decided to give it a try =]
So while the others already knew how to play their instruments, he had to keep practicing and practicing to catch up.

ALEX

Alex
Guitar
DOB: 18 March 1988
Birthplace: San Francisco

He learned how to play guitar in junior high because he wanted to be popular xD
Playing guitar was just a fun hobby to him.
Dreamed of going to America (to become an actor? not sure ^.^;), but abandoned his dream to become a guitarist in ONE OK ROCK.
Aside from being ONE OK ROCK's guitarist, he is also a model under GIG MANAGEMENT JAPAN.

TAKA

Taka
Vocal
DOB: 17 April 1988
Birthplace: Tokyo

Former member of JE group NEWS (Moriuchi Takahiro).
Changed his name to Morita Takahiro in 2005 after the divorce of his parents.
Wanted to become a singer since he was young.
His parents are famous Enka singers.

TOMOYA

Tomoya
Drums
DOB: 27 June 1987
Birthplace: Hyogo

Introduced to ONE OK ROCK by his teacher whose band often played with them at lives.
Was a support member (since "Keep it real") until March 2007, when he became official.
He blogs the most out of all the members xD

ONE OK ROCK

DISCOGRAPHY

The songs that are linked are links to their PVs on YouTube.
Watch them all!!! ^o^~~

ONE OK ROCK cover

26 July 2006 - ONE OK ROCK [mini-album]

1. もしも太陽がなくなったとしたら・・・ (Moshi mo Taiyou ga Nakunatte Toshitara...)
2. 日常エボリューション (Nichijou Evolution)
3. You've Broken My Heart
4. ROSE BLOOD

Keep it real cover

16 December 2006 - Keep it real [mini-album]

1. Keep it real
2. 辛い+一=幸せ (Tsurai+Ichi=Shiawase)
3. P.P.S.H.
4. And I know

内秘心書 cover

25 April 2007 - 内秘心書 (Naihi Shinsho) [single]
*major debut*

1. 内秘心書 (Naihi Shinsho)
2. 過去は教科書に未来は宿題 (Kako wa Kyoukasho ni Mirai wa Shukudai)

努努-ゆめゆめ- cover

25 July 2007 - 努努-ゆめゆめ- (Yume Yume) [single]

1. 努努-ゆめゆめ- (Yume Yume)
2. カラス (Karasu)

エトセトラ

24 October 2007 - エトセトラ (Etcetera) [single]

1. エトセトラ (Etcetera)
2. 後悔役に立たず (Koukai yaku ni tatazu)

ゼイタクビョウ cover

21 November 2007 - ゼイタクビョウ (Zeitakubyou) [album]

1. 内秘心書 (Naihi Shinsho)
2. Borderline
3. (you can do)everything
4. 夜にしか咲かない満月 (Yoru ni Shika Sakanai Mangetsu)
5. 努努-ゆめゆめ- (Yume Yume)
6. カゲロウ (Kagerou)
7. Lujo
8. ケムリ (Kemuri)
9. 欲望に満ちた青年団 (Yokubou ni Michita Seinen-dan)
10. エトセトラ (Etcetera)
11. A new one for all, all for the new one

BEAM OF LIGHT cover

28 May 2008 - BEAM OF LIGHT [album]

1. 必然メーカー (Hitsuzen Maker)
2. Melody Lineの死亡率 (Melody Line no Shibouritsu)
3. 100%(hundred percent)
4. Abduction-Interlude
5. 燦さん星 (San-san dama)
6. 光芒 (Koubou)
7. Crazy Botch
8. Yap

***ONE OK ROCK has also released a DVD, but I didn't put it up here xp
But if you find that you enjoy ONE OK ROCK, I strongly urge you to watch it!
I watched it, and I am just so amazed by them.
I have read many fan reports and such that say ONE OK ROCK is actually BETTER live, and from what i've watched, I say it must be true 0_0.
Ahh~ one day I hope to be able to see them live myself TTOTT

ONE OK ROCK

I really do love all of their work so far, but I can't upload their whole discography and just say listen to it all xD So, aside from their songs with PVs, these are some songs I think you should give a listen to! I've chosen one song (that doesn't have a PV) from each of the albums/mini-albums. Now keep in mind, if you're looking for a good review, don't count on getting one from me LOL. I just know what I like and what I don't. XP

You've Broken My Heart

You've Broken My Heart
Track 3 from ONE OK ROCK's self-titled 1st mini-album.
music&lyrics: Taka

And I know

And I know
Track 4 from ONE OK ROCK's 2nd mini-album Keep it real.
music: Taka, Alex | lyrics: Taka

(You Can Do)Everything

(You Can Do)Everything
This is the 3rd track from ONE OK ROCK's first album ゼイタクビョウ (Zeitakubyou).
music&lyrics: Taka
I think this might be my favorite ONE OK ROCK song ever. And I don't know why.
It's really addicting 0_0 Also, it was the first ONE OK ROCK song I could sing along to. Hm, maybe that's why it's my favorite haha.
Anyhow, I really love this song.
It really does make me feel like I can do everything! lol

100%(hundred percent)

100%(hundred percent)
This is track 3 of ONE OK ROCK's second album BEAM OF LIGHT.
100% is 100% in english!
No joke.
Can you understand it?
=]

ONE OK ROCK

MY STORY

I came accross ONE OK ROCK one day by recommendation of someone in a music sharing community.
The first ONE OK ROCK song I ever heard was Keep it real.
When I heard the lead vocal all I could think was "OMG WHO IS THIS AMAZING PERSON!!?!"
Lol for real.
But seriously, I practically fell in love with Taka's voice! *_*
When I decided to find out more information about the band, there wasn't much I could find at the time, but I did find that Taka was in NEWS!!!!
OMFGWHAAT!?!NOWAY 0_0
Yeah, he was the member that quit after NEWS Nippon.
I couldn't believe it hahahaaha

It was like finding a long lost treasure or toy of yours from childhood.
LOL you know like.. um..
You have a toy that you love, but then one day you lose it.. and you're sad at first, but then you just kinda forget about it. And one day, years later, you find it again and remember all the good times you had with it.
LOL yes, it was that kind of feeling I had hahahah
And then I thought to myself, WHY DID I NOT HEAR ABOUT THEM EARLIER!?!?!
ahaha, oh well.
It's a good thing Taka left NEWS though.
For if he had not left, we would not have the great ONE OK ROCK!

And I was really happy to find out that they are a relatively new band (& they're young too ^o^). Then I wouldn't have to backlog like 9283745892 years of their band's history (like I did/tried to do with X Japan, Buck-Tick, Luna Sea and Laruku T_T) hehehe~

Anyway, I'm really excited for this band's future.
I hope for them to succeed succeed succeed! =D

If I ever have the chance to see them live,
i'll surely jump at it! =D

ONE OK ROCK

And now I shall leave you here~
If you love them, come and let's share the love of ONE OK ROCK! \(^o^)/
If you don't like them, tell me why! D=
If you don't know them, please give them a listen and let me know what you think!
Enjoy!~

info/picture credit links + other links of interest:
AMUSE Inc.
ONE OK ROCK Official Web Site
ONE OK ROCK Blog
ONE OK ROCK Fan Site
ONE OK ROCK LiveJournal Community
ONE OK ROCK Interview (in ENGLISH!)
ONE OK ROCK wiki.theppn page

ONE OK ROCK

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Black Rock Shooter (ブラック★ロックシューター)

2008-07-08T02:08:48Z

Black Rock Shooter (ブラック★ロックシューター)

I really like all of the Hatsune Miku / Vocaloid 2 creations that I run into on NicoDouga. This video has been really popular for a while, inspiring tons and tons of people trying their hand at singing the lyrics. So far, this one (in my humble, humble opinion) has been the most impressive one! An amazing 127 people singing in unison...

If you're curious about the original artist, you can check his website here. No idea if this is supposed to become a film of its own, but here's hoping. I've been a fan of this guy's work for years!

Here's the original song, courtesy of youtube:

初音ミクがオリジナルを歌ってくれたよ「ブラック★ロックシューター」

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