If you ever get the chance to attend a one-man, three day, close quarters live event....
Take. It.
Especially if that band is as good during their performances as is DEATHGAZE.
I mean, good lord people.
I don't think I've ever produced so much sweat before in my life. ...Even calculated cumulatively.
And my neck isn't even sore! Who knew that the cure for headbanging aches... was more headbanging?
(And, admittedly, liberal ibpruofen dosage, but still. I haven't taken any since!)
If that isn't a valuable life lesson, I don't know what is.
This little dude was at the drink bar every night. Well, I say that, but as another audience member and I were discussing... was it really the same little dude? This picture was taken on the first night, and he never did seem to degrade in any real noticeable way. Thus, he was either made out of supremely high quality watermelon (which is possible--this is Japan... which also makes me hope that it got eaten eventually), or someone managed to get so very good at carving the little mascot dude and his brethren that no one could tell the difference from night to night.
Or maybe it was all thanks to the スイカパワー！(suika powaa, watermelon power). Apparently, that's what we were all going on, and who am I to argue?
There was also some sort of metaphor about us all being the seeds, but I'm still trying to work out the deeper meaning of that one.
After we got the red fan on the first night, I dithered about bringing it along the second. I ultimately decided not to, as I wanted to keep my nice little souvenir as pristine as possible, and lo! We received another, and in a different color as well! (They're lined up in chronological order, because I'm just that way.) Probably the best souvenir possible to get in that venue, in this season. Never let it be said that DEATHGAZE is not considerate of their fans!
(They also made a big deal, both in blog posts and each night during the pre-show announcements, about not trying to power through if you started feeling faint or sick, but to let someone know--even one of the band members if that's what you could manage--and get someone to help you out of the crowd and into an open space so you could recover. I don't think anyone ever did/needed to, but it was a nice thought regardless.)
And since I still can't even come close to containing my excitement (I mean, come on, they announced their new single coming in November, and then another new tour staring in December! Allow me to squeal in fangirlish delight.), I find I must share just a weensy bit more.
(Plug your ears, grandma.)
Pretend that guitarist Tataki's hair is blonde for the full experience.
And since that's the first song of the album... why not wrap it up with the last?
Glory Sky
I had to wait until the last day for this one, but ah, it's always worth it. The look of pure, unadulterated joy on vocalist Ai's face as the audience sings along with the chorus is absolutely wonderful, and it gets me every time.
(You can listen to this one, grandma.)
This is Edo, signing off nursing only a mildly sore upper-arm and battling a serious case of permi-grin.
Not a Revue, because I'm sure that's just not what you're here for. Anyway.
Oftentimes, when thinking of what to write in this blog of mine, I become fearful that I have run out of topics--what else, I moan, can possibly be written? And, of course, after about five minutes of this kind of thinking, a blog post is almost fully formed in my head, ready to go.
Unfortunately, this usually happens when I'm in bed and the computer's off for the night, so I'm forced to cling to my ideas until the morning hours, hoping that something, anything, stays in my brain long enough to get down on the interwebs.
As my brain right before sleep is not in prime memory-making mode... well. We'll see how that goes.
Anyway.
To the delight of some, and to the ambivalence of many (I'm sure), I'm going to return to my musical phase today!
...although really I don't think I've ever done song commentary, and have mainly stuck with general band description plus songs as a necessary by-product thereof, but generally subservient to the greater plot of band informant...
But whatever.
Today, thanks to this post taking a long time coming, I have two singles to talk about:
DEATHGAZE's SILENCE/THE END (because when you can't choose the title, why not compromise?) and Dir en grey's DIFFERENT SENSE.
... I'll never understand why recent V-kei/J-Rock bands feel the need to ignore standard capitalization rules. I mean, it could be that they're shouting everything... oh, ok. Well. That makes sense, forget I asked.
Anyway.
DEATHGAZE - SILENCE/THE END
Yes, that is the album cover. Not entirely black, there are some spots of white and grey in there if you look... maybe it's supposed to be deep space?
Really, though, when bands start doing this for covers, I have to wonder if it really is so much artistic as it is damn lazy on the part of their graphics guy... Although, in the case of Dir en grey's THE MARROW OF A BONE, it was actually a mistake, particularly in the American release, for some reason. What looked to be a black cover with only the title standing out should have, in fact, been a monochrome (... is it monochrome when it's all in shades of black, really?) picture that was actually quite detailed. I think there was a deal where Americans could send back their copy to get the proper cover. Pretty sure I stuck with the mistake cover, but would have to actually dig out my copy to confirm.
... ANYWAY. (These are really just self-cues to get my hiney back in gear at this point, pay no heed.)
As you may (or may not, if you're a brandy-new reader... hello, brandy-new reader!) know, I am a fan of DEATHGAZE. Seen them live twice, have most if not all of their stuff. They're great. Put on a good show, and produce consistently good music. Ai has a great voice, and he doesn't growl or scream too much--which, really, is extra nice, as he has one of the most distinctive voices I've ever heard. In a good way. In a good, deep, make-you-all-tingly way.
I'll stop.
Track 1- SILENCE
Like I said, they weren't very creative in naming this single. Guess what the next track's called.
Now, I like some hard rock. No one can say otherwise. I especially like hard rock with a melodic interlude, or, even better, a melodic chorus. While sometimes I admit that I do like to headband and scream with rage, most of the time, I'm just not in that sort of mood.
Er, right now anyway. No telling what tomorrow brings to my emotional state.
Regardless, I think loving BUCK-TICK has seriously affected my love for the harder stuff. Oh, well.
And anyway, Ai has too nice a voice to waste on nothing but screaming. Luckily, he didn't disappoint. He's a good kid.
(Yes, I promise. Press play, and get through the first... oh, thirty-nine seconds. It gets less angry. Not that there's anything wrong with angry, mind you. They're almost a metal band, depending on your definitions, so give them a break.)
These guys are just a very well put together band. Lately, the world of Visual Kei has produced naught but knock-offs and really awful music (I'm looking at you, GAZETTE.) When someone like this pops up? You can't help but do a little dance of joy.
lynch. is pretty good too, but DEATHGAZE is definitely my favorite new-age (in my terms, having started putting out music oh, say 2003 or later) V-kei band. (And don't bug me that DEATHGAZE might not fit into that classification--I'm not counting when Ai wasn't the vocalist, because honestly, I don't know if they would have worked as well without his voice. And hey man, the website says 2003, so back off. It also seems to suggest that Ai's gone blonde again... oh, well. Whatever floats his boat. Naoki is still adorable and tiny, so at least there's some consistency. Honestly, I could break the man in half... Woman at the goods booth tried to suggest that, hey, Naoki wears an M, so that should be ok for you, right? I gave her a look and said "Yea, no, L please." Maybe I should take it as a compliment, or that she really needed new glasses.)
Track 2- THE END
You guessed it. Hey, at least they let you know what you're getting in to.
Ah, they certainly never disappoint with percussion. Naoki may be tiny, but he's damn good.
This one is a bit angrier, despite a non-screaming start and some nice melodic bits, so I would recommend that those with tender sensibilities stick with the first track. That, in general, is a pretty good rule with these sorts of singles, unless you know for a fact that the first track is really hard. In that case, by all means, exert every effort to find a song on the single you prefer. No judgement here.
You know, it's interesting that I'm reviewing both DEATHGAZE and Dir en grey in this post. I mean, of course, it's because I like the both of them, but I've heard more than one person say that DEATHGAZE is a nothing more than a re-hash of Dir. And, while I disagree with this, I can see that they were very clearly influence by Dir, and that is ok. Dir is a very good band, despite my feelings towards their recent fashion sense--they are solid musicians, with some of the best performances out there. Kyo, like Ai, has an amazing voice that can switch between angry scream-o and beautiful melody in a heartbeat. You can definitely say that they are similar sounds, which may be why I like them both.
What I mean to say is that, in this song, and a few others, you can definitely hear the Dir influence. If you listen to SORROW, you can't help but hear it--honestly, even I was a little dubious about how much they were listening to THE FINAL while writing that one. Nevertheless, I like both songs, and still think it's ok for a band to pay homage to and learn from one of the greatest in the genre.
So there, those of you who hate DEATHGAZE. You can just back right off and take your heads out from your behinds, thank you very much.
Next.
Dir en grey- DIFFERENT SENSE
I don't care what they say their capitalization scheme is now, I grew up with 'Dir en grey', so I'm keeping 'Dir en grey'. And you guys with your shaved heads and feathery coats and your recent lack of melodic tunes can bite me.
(It's sad when your first love falls out of favor.)
Track 1- DIFFERENT SENSE
Now, as I mentioned, I prefer melodic tunes that use the vocalist's talents for beauty to songs that are just... growly. Sometimes, Dir caters to my preferences. The recent single LOTUS was, after all, quite nice. 激しさとこの胸の中で、絡み付いた灼熱の闇 (Hageshisa to kono mune no naka de, karamitsuita shakunetsu no yami) (... yea, way to make most of the chorus your title, guys) was more towards the screaming and growling end of the spectrum, but it still had a very nice echorus that demonstrated what Kyo can do with his voice.
While I was waiting for another beautiful, heart-wrenching song, like GLASS SKIN from UROBOROS (it was on of the singles, following a more angry one, so I think I was right in hoping, really), what I got was... kind of an angrier, growlier 激しさ.
Sigh.
Yes, darling, we all know that you can make some truly spectacular noises, particularly considering what a very small body you have to work with (hey, it's impressive, the man is 5'3".) But can't you impress us with your range, instead? You can go ridiculously high and beautiful considering your deep speaking voice. Let's hear that--it's far more impressive, especially considering that, hey: EVERYONE'S growling now!
Seriously. It's everywhere. You're no longer cutting edge with this stuff. Admittedly, you may be the best at it, but come on. If you're going for wild and crazy, in the present genre? Might want to go back and try for that haunting beauty angle again. Trust me, it works.
I mean, you do it a little here, and I really dig it. Particularly when you layer your singing (I've always loved that trick), juxtaposing the pained screams with the deep, melancholy singing. I love that. I also love the interludes of acoustic guitar and just the singing. Really. You have a beautiful voice.
... I just wish it was more than, oh, twenty percent of the song. Sigh. I plead in vain.
Track 2- 罪と規制 (つみときせい, Tsumi to Kisei, Crime and Regulation)
That's my translation, so back off.
I've gotta say, when I first saw this track name, I thought it would be some sort of remake of their very, very old song (off of GAUZE, which was, I believe, their first full-length, non-indies album) 罪と罰 (Tsumi to batsu, Crime and Punishment). As their style has changed quite a bit since then (as happens with most good artists), I thought it would work well, especially considering their recent theme of remakes, what with HYDRA-666- on the DOZING GREEN single, a really super growly version of 残 (Zan) (also from GAUZE) and that really cool shot-in-one-take version of 蝕紅 (しょくべに？しょくこう？しょっこう？No idea. Possibly means "Crimson Meal," and is from VULGAR) on 激しさ, and the super-beautiful, better-than-the-original version of undecided on the GLASS SKIN single. I mean, hey. Remakes are cool, especially with Dir, as they always go all out in making it truly distinct from the original. Kind of like going back and editing an old paper--it was good, but damnit, now that you see it five years later, there's so much you want to fix. Or, you know, just change.
Anyway. Thought it was going to be a remake of 罪と罰. Particularly fitting, as the original was pretty damn repetitive and, in hindsight, a little boring, even compared to other songs from the same album (lookin' at you, アクロの丘 [Akuro no oka, Hill of the Bad Road] and MASK. Even 予感 [Yokan, Premonition]. I love 予感.)
And... honestly? For the first two minutes, it's hard to be sure whether it is or not. It's pretty goddamn growly.
And then, ah ha. There you are, my old friend.
Ok, so the original wasn't their best song. At the same time, I'm not sure how much of an improvement it is to GROWL the whole damn thing, dude.
I'll let you judge for yourself.
Honestly? I don't blame you if you don't hear it. I listened to this song a lot as a young, impressionable teen, so I'm going to hear it a lot quicker than most. And remember, it took even me the first two minutes to figure it out.
This is a loose, loose remake, people. I'll stick with the ones mentioned above to get my old-turned-new fix, thanks.
Track 3- RED SOIL [Live]
... I don't know, I have mixed thoughts about using live tracks to fill out your Single. I mean, sometimes they're really good--BUCK-TICK is always fun live. Even Dir is very good live--unless, of course, the three shows I saw were all flukes. Plus the DVDs. But hey.
The problem is... this isn't really a great live track. I mean, I do always like the audience bits--it helps you relive when you were there (in some cases) or just get a better feel as to what it's like actually being at a live show. AGITATED SCREAMS OF MAGGOTS from DOZING GREEN is pretty good on that front, especially if you remember the appropriate hand motions. Not to mention it has that nice, haunting intro that the album version just... doesn't.
But, yea. Nothing really makes this live version stand out from the song off of UROBOROS, aside from some minimal audience shouting. Not a bad choice, per se, but they could have made a better one, I feel. LOTUS had two remakes; 激しさ had two remakes (one of which was that kick-ass 蝕紅, like I said). Thus, with one remake and a live recording? I somehow feel cheated.
Admittedly, this version was apparently recorded in Osaka, which is always good. It's nice when a lot of the band is from Kansai--they understand, man. Not to mention that, hey, it might have been recorded at the show I was at. Probably not, considering the time frame (a 2011 single pulling from a show at the end of December 2008? I guess it's possible...), but there's always that possibility! And that's a good thing.
Well, that's it for today's musical review time with Edo. I hope you learned something today. Admittedly, there's not a huge chance of that, looking back at more sporadic and highly subjective reviewing style... Oh, well. Be sure to pick up your coat on the way out.
Oh, and... don't ask about the little pictures on the music players. They're quite random and have nothing at all to do with the music. Sorry about that.
This is Edo, signing off with the sneaking suspicion that she'll never get a job with Rolling Stone.
PS- Oh... why not. Here's the kick-ass 蝕紅, too. Remember, it was shot in one take, which means this was all done without layering. Not to mention all in one go, without piecing the bits and pieces that worked out best together. That's kick ass, not to mention a sign of true talent.
(The best part is from 3:08 to 3:32. You don't even know, man. Just wait, you'll see.)
Well, I've come to realize why it is so difficult for me to produce regular content as compared to, say, Joe Schmoe personal blogger elsewhere on the internet.
(I do not actually know if there is a Joe Schmoe blog out there somewhere, but if someone does find it, feel free to link in the comments. Because I am nothing if not willing to waste time on the internet.)
The problem is, these people post about their lives. Their average, daily lives. Because people are interested, and still read despite the fact that they aren't, say, doing intensive reporting on this bad or that TV show.
And I say, why can't I do that? Why can't I serenade you with tales of my thrilling sedentary life, spent job-searching and attempting to discover just what the hell I'm going to do with myself?
Probably because I haven't ingratiated myself yet for you lot to care. That's why.
So alas, I'm in a pickle. I've become rather sick of posting about random Japanese cultural topics, because I'm sure that at least fifty percent of my audience (at present) is related to me by blood and would read my blog if I suddenly developed an interest in writing full-length editorials about yak-herding in Mongolia and just how one should best decorate a yurt to make full use of available natural light.... and therefore I'm not even catering to the masses when I spend hours writing up nice, detailed posts about my favorite bands/TV shows/crossdressers/ridiculous puns that make no sense when you think about them, really.
Thus begins the reign of the supremely inconsequential, yet, perhaps, slightly amusing to you, my very, very specialized readers.
I really don't know why you're even here.
So. Today's thought.
I think that Ai (from DEATHGAZE) has an absolutely stunning voice. Deep voices in general tend to make my toes curl, as it were, but his is something else.
You wouldn't think a song titled "The Stench of Death" would sounds so nice, would you?
I admit that's probably a slightly loaded translation, but I like the irony of it.
Especially since at least fifty percent of you can't understand the lyrics. Thus, beautiful mood dissonance. For those of you can can understand... oh, just play along, please.
And no, don't know what that means. If I had to understand what a song's saying to like it... well. Let's just say that I'd have to hate everything Imai's ever written.
... and what the heck. It's my blog.
I really like this video.
For the faint of heart, again, this is not for you. Stick with the three songs above, and for the love of your poor eardrums, don't click play.
I still think that Ai looks nicer with black hair, though.
And you really don't get the full experience until you see how ridiculously flamboyant he is on stage. Not to mention overheated--man wore long sleeves at both lives I attended, both of which had me sweating in the audience without the help of burning stage lights and nearly so many layers. But then, I guess that's what makes you a true V-kei band, eh?
This is Edo, signing off saying "nyer nyer, it's my blog, I can do what I want."
That's right, kiddies, your beloved author here is off to another rock concert this weekend--all on her lonesome this time, which wasn't really all that worrisome until some of her coworkers suggested that it should be.
... Oh, the power of suggestion.
I must admit that I have never been to a live all on my lonesome.... I was supposed to go to a Dir live alone during my senior year, but a nasty bout of the flu kept me from making the hour long trek into Los Angeles proper and head banging my heart out.
Because, you know, doing that sort of thing with a fever, some congestion and even a bit of nausea probably isn't wise. Especially for all my poor fellow headbangers. And, well, every single diver on the 10 that particular evening.
... nevertheless, I curse my body's bad timing to this day.
Sigh.
However, I will not be cowed, and I continue on with the same degree of excitement and enthusiasm I have always had!
And really, it's only worth going together with someone when their love for the band matches yours. Thus, BUCK-TICK with Melon? Excellent. Dragging Melon to DEATHGAZE when they may or may not make her ears bleed?
Well that's just not something friends do.
And thus I head to Nagoya on Sunday all on my lonesome, dressed to the nines (is that the phrase?) and quite willing to have a sore neck for the following week.
Because it just wasn't a live if you don't feel it for days afterwards.
... well, ok, you don't really headbang to BUCK-TICK, but the arm-waving and the jumping does get you a bit sore, so it still works.
Anyway.
DEATHGAZE.
They're pretty awesome.
And this time, they get their own tour!
Very likely, this is due to the December release of their new album, because as far as I know they are still technically an indies band (which, as we all know, just means that they're not quite getting paid what they wantneeddeserve are owed based on record sales yet.)
BLISS OUT. Quite enjoyable, says I, though I admit to liking pretty much everything I've heard by these guys.
Currently, I am trying to ascertain whether or not I will be able to wear my jacket and then store it in a coin locker so that I can rock myself silly without being encumbered and overheated. Provided that everyone else in attendance does not have the same idea and jam all the coin lockers in the station, I think I should be all right.
... hopefully.
Regardless, I will have a good time.
Also: who knew that getting into Nagoya on the cheap would be easier than getting there quickly and expensively? Take that, 特急 (tokkyu, limited express train.)
This is Edo, signing off realizing just how much effort travel planning entails. Yeesh.
Then really, these picture dumps are actually quite lengthy works of prose.
I guess it all depends on how you look at it.
I look at it as... easier than thinking of something to write. Ah ha ha.
And now that I'm actually putting some effort into maintaining my other blog... well. You can guess what happens when attentions get divided.
Suffice it to say that you are lucky to be getting pictures.
Let's see... I'll try to go in chronological order.
This is a cool traditional dance thing (yes, the name currently escapes me, don't rub it in) that Melon and I walked in on accidentally while wandering through the Aeon Mall by Kyoto station.
The best part, in my opinion, was the fact that half of the musicians were women, and I'm pretty sure the dancer was as well.
The point here is that traditionally, like Kabuki, this art form had a big ol' "NO WOMEN" sign strapped across it. However, unlike kabuki, it would (as evidenced above) likely not survive were it to maintain such strict regulations.
So hey, kudos for letting outdated traditions die, I say.
This was the creme brule desert that came wrapped up our set meals from an Italian restaurant restaurant in 新風館 (しんぷうかん, shinpuhkan) the following weekend. Unfortunately, this was by far the best part of the meal. Regardless, I can always appreciate good desert.
... unfortunately, however, my camera hand was not quite quick enough.
What can I say, it was tasty and I had just choked my way through half of a thoroughly disappointing pizza, flavorless soup, and a mediocre salad. I was desperate for some deliciousness. Not to mention we had to deal with a thoroughly unhelpful waitress on top of it all.
And look. It had kiwi. De-licious.
I keep promising that I'll write about Takarazuka... but I just never get around to it. Ugh.
Well, until the day comes that I actually get the inspiration to sit down and write the proper lengthy post that the performance truly deserves, suffice it to say that it was amazing and I am truly happy that Melon suggested we go.
(Also, that banner thing hung there for a good five minutes before the show started, and we suspect it was so that everyone could get their pictures to prove that they'd been there. Good idea, really, and pretty much everyone with the ability to do so took full advantage of the situation.)
And, last but not least...
Yes, yes, it is my pasta dish again, but this time I left out the anchovies... simply because I was feeling a bit cheap and lazy. Not to mention the fact that my anchovies are getting pretty old and grody...
Regardless, I could not really gauge how well the dish fared sans-fish, because I misgauged the amount of juice in my small lemon and added way too much. The dish was overpowered, and I thus have no idea if I can continue to leave out the anchovies or not. Further experimentation is warranted.
And that, as they say, is that.
Oh, I also bought myself a ticket for a DEATHGAZE live in Nagoya next month. I told you I liked them, didn't I?
This is Edo, signing off with a live in her sights and a dinner to plan.
PS- I also got my first ever influenza shot today... let's see how that works out, shall we? I've only ever caught influenza while living in Japan, and my health insurance got me my vaccine for only 500 yen, so I figured what the hey.
WARNING: This post is... well, pretty much entirely composed of things that only interest, say, maybe 20% of my audience.
And that's only provided that I'm actually attracting the people I think I am. Who knows how big a grain of salt that needs.
Oh, and it also demonstrates just how whiny, entitled, selfish, and horribly self-important I can be when pushed.
(But doesn't maintaining a personal blog and expecting people to read it, in general, do all of that regardless...?)
Anyway, consider yourself sufficiently warned.
Ahem.
I had planned to make my first post this week about the amazing Takarazuka (宝塚) performance I saw yesterday... but now, now that has to wait.
Because of what I consider to be sheer and utter... foolishness.
Honestly, you leave your favorite band alone for a few months, just a few months...
And then this happens.
Oh, you know what I'm talking about.
This. This nonsense right here.
Long, short, blonde, black, magenta, I don't care.
But shaving it off and then dressing yourself as a B-boy, complete with ridiculous fluffy jacket and pants that don't seem to fulfill that whole bum-covering requirement?
What, has it suddenly dawned upon you that your life simply will not be complete until you become the fiftieth member of EXILE?
Somehow, I doubt they'll appreciate your skills, sweetheart. I just can't picture your vocals quite fitting into their line-up. Also, they probably can't read your kanji.
This new single you're releasing today (which, might I add, is the first in over a year) better be some seriously amazing music. I expect myself to think, "good lord, all that hair was holding him back all these years! Clearly, now that he has streamlined his head for maximum vocal capacity, I can truly appreciate his talents!"
But really. You already had talent, creativity, more emotion than fifty other rock-stars combined into one (even if half of them were engaging in some sort of substance abuse at the time their powers combined) and a truly incredible range that could go from heart-wrenching to gut-wrenching in two seconds flat.
Come on, guys. You were my favorites. I stood in line, in February, for 27 hours for you. Don't give it up to BUCK-TICK so easily.
Heck, lately, even these young whipper-snappers are giving you a run for your money.
And he smiled during their live. And flirted.
(This one is for my two devoted readers who have softer tastes than I do. And, you know, whoever else'd like to take a listen. See what a good blogger I am?)
Ahem.
Er.
Yes.
I promise I'll get back to my non-fan-bitching regularly scheduled blog content in the next post.
But. You know.
Sometimes, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
Even if it's just expressing how shocked and appalled she is.
This is Edo, signing off waiting for that single and expecting gold, baby.
Not to mention the fact that the two non-new songs are sufficiently remixed to satisfy my cravings for as-of-yet unheard Dir.
Consider my faith restored.
But I'm going to pretend that you had long blonde hair while singing it, 京. It'll be easier on both of us that way.
... oh, and guys? Cut back on the smoking, eh? You're starting to look older than BUCK-TICK, and they've got 10+ years on you, most of it actively touring.
An overly opinionated, 20-something liberal arts graduate on a MEXT research scholarship in Kyoto, aiming to eventually break into academia, and painstakingly writing down all the interesting thoughts she has along the way.
