Jrock Introduction

Nocturne

Nocturne

In Darkness I Wander, The Light Has Faded
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Jan 18, 2009
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I figured since Im really into japanese music (more the rock side of things), I thought it would be interesting to see how many people would be willing to try it out.

So how this thread will work is every day or so, or maybe even multiple times a day, I will post some music from a japanese band and hey, maybe you will find something you like.

My main basis is in rock/visual kei. Visual kei gets a bad rap sometimes, but the thing is, visual kei doesnt describe the band at all. It just means visuals are important to them greatly. But the bands can, and will do, any type of music. So if you dont like the visual side of it, cool, ignore it and just focus on the music, because there are some damn good bands in japan. One thing you will find out is that the bands in japan arent afraid to try new styles and dont stick to just one, which makes them stay fresh in my eyes.

So to start this off, Im going to start with a band that probably isnt a good introduction XD, but Im trying out their new cd at the moment. They are a little odd and I even hated them before because I want too keen on the vocals, but they really grew on me.

They are LM.c. The best way to describe their music is sorta an electric punk band. They do some other stuff, some quirky songs and the like, but Ill let the music speak for itself. Ill post a few music videos and some newer songs. Usually their songs have a very uplifting message.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhz8JtyAaMY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RlAP_KbZVg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvKT6ytL_4k

Hmm, I may just have to post links for the moment =/ youtube isnt being that fun.
 
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Number two.

An amazing guitarist. Im actually going to be seeing him live. Miyavi has some really weird music and has some really awesome music too. Here is his newest music video.

 
So I was thinking of bringing this back depending on who all is interested. I was thinking of posting a japanese band from a different genre every day and seeing what people think of the band. Hate them, like them, etc etc. Depending on if I get any responses will be if I do so
 
Ok, sounds good. As long as one person responds, Ill post stuff. Ill start tomorrow.

They way Im going to set it us is, give the band name, style/styles of music they do, if they are still together, and a where are they now if they arent.
 
I'm all for being introduced to new music, particularly some more from Japan! :) I think giving detail about the artist/s is a great idea too! :ryan: Will you post a variety of pieces from the same band if they have a wide scope? :hmm:

Awesome idea, Nocturne! =)
 
GIRUGAMESH
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The first band I will be posting for those who are interested is the band Girugamesh.
One thing about Japanese bands (at least most of the rock bands) tend not to stick to one style of music and change a good bit. They may keep a base style, but there is alot of experimentation. Girugamesh is no different.

EDIT:http://www.jame-world.com/us/artists-overview-481-girugamesh.html
- link added to find more information on the members, discography, etc.

They started out as a dark, metal band with mostly screaming vocals. But over time have moved to a more rock base, losing their dark visual look, and becoming more positive. As of this point in time, most of their screaming vocals are gone, a more rock sound with some electronic elements persist. Their lyrics now tend to edge more on the verge of trying to pull people together through music or looking inward to yourself and trying to better yourself.

The band is currently still together though they havent been as active recently, though that may change since they have started to make some new announcements.

The following are a few of their music video's, subbed if possible. I will try to put them in order from oldest to newest.

Owari to Miari

Alive - My personal favorite of theirs

Border

Break Down - another really good one

Crying Rain

Destiny

Color

Inochi no Ki


Well, what do you think? Sound off, Im interested to know ^^
 
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musically i dig it.. that's one thing i like about the japanese bands. they keep things changed up.. some things may come off as poppy, ballady and some heavy.. a more notorous band i know of that does that is the gazette.
 
One thing I really like about the band is the vocalist. He can sing very well and clear, but he can also scream pretty awesomelike. It gives them the ability to diversify their portfolio.
 
a very diverse vocal range and that is something that you don't see much anymore in music. the guitar work is pretty good. i as a guitar player always look at the guitar players and see how they play and what they are using.
 
Same here. I always look at a bands instrumentation. I myself cant play guitar (though I was learning at one point and I can play the manly Clarinet though I havent since high school) but my friends in high school and the first couple years of college were musicians, so I know a good bit about techniques and different styles of playing. I mean, I dont know actual music theory, but I understand how it all works. So I definitely have a large appreciation for skilled musicians.

Which is good for those interested, because the bands I tend to listen to have a good bit of depth, since it is what I look for. I like a very wide variety of music and I hope during this thread I can introduce, even if it's only one person, to some new groups.

The next band/artist I feature on here will be drastically different from this one. I want to try and diversify what I post (until I at least get through the bands I listen to). Ill either do so tomorrow or the next day depending on how much school work I get done.

And Im going to edit the Girugamesh post and add a link to where a discography can be looked up and some background information on the group.
 
totally.. you gotta be diverse. bring it form all angles.. if i can toss a band for you to look into, would be my boys balzac, they are the japanese version of the misfits in a way. i caught them back in 2003 when they were touring with the misfits. from osaka, a decent band.. after their show, i was talking to the guitar player outside the venue and wondered why he didn't respond to what i was saying.. well he didn't speak english..lol it was interesting though.. afterwards i talked to the translator and was able to speak to the guitar player again.. expressing how i felt like an ass taling not realizing he didn't speak english..lol
 
Kanon Wakeshima
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http://www.jame-world.com/us/artists-biography-824-wakeshima-kanon.html

Completely different from Girugamesh, Kanon Wakeshima is a classically trained cellist. Personally, Im not too big on Japanese female vocals, but hers can be fairly powerful all times.

What actually drew me to her was the man behind her music. Once again, Im not usually fond of artists who have others write their music for them, but this was Mana from Malice Mizer who would be doing so. So a cellist, with music I knew would be classical in nature, with a unique edge. I was definitely looking forward to it.

For the most part, her music sounds like european classical music with a japanese twist. It either borders on dark sounding or really cutesy. I wont say I like all of her stuff. In fact, I only have briefly listened to her second album but I did enjoy her first. But Ill let you guys decide.

She also has a side project called KanonxKanon, which is a collaboration with the bassist Kanon from An Cafe. Im not going to post it here, but if you like this, then you can try them out as well.

Personal story. I actually got to meet her in Baltimore a few years back. At her Q&A panel, they were doing a contest and I answered one of the questions right so I got to get a signed photo set of her, from her directly. I also have her first album signed by her from the same convention as well.

Still Doll

Suna no Oshiro - My favorite song of hers

Storytelling

So completely different from last time. Any thoughts?
 
ok.. if i can compare her to a euro artist i follow. she reminds me of the singer angelzoom. a german musician. with kanon, i can def. hear the euro influence. i think it pretty cool to see some one not stick to the japanese mold, to branch out. musically i can put it on the lines of apolocalyptica, it has its moments where it can hit a heavy side, but this is more "poppy" so that won be happening. i dig the music. it different form the last group but i think the two could tour together.. i can see that

as for the last band you named.. i say give them a shoot.. its always good to expose new bands to new people.
 
Deluhi
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http://www.jame-world.com/us/artists-biography-875-deluhi.html

Next band is Deluhi. Best way to describe them is melodic metal. Their verses tend to be more screaming based, where as the chorus's are sung in clean vocals. I personally like the singer Juri's clean vocals better since I think he can sing very well. But not all of their songs have screaming.

They are a band where I didnt care for much of their early stuff, but as more was released, they got better. All of them are great musicians though. The guitarist Leda, was actually from a power metal band called Galneryus under the name Yuto as the bassist.

Sadly, they have broken up since I believe April of last year. Or thats when they announced it.

Since then, the drummer Sujk has released a solo album (Which was terrible IMO) and Leda will be releasing a solo album soon, which will probably be pretty good since he wrote the music for Deluhi. Vocalist and bassist havent dont anything solo yet.

Two Hurt - Absolutely love this song

Skape Goat - This song is ok, I like the chorus alot though

Revolver Blast - I like bits and pieces of this song

Frontier - I actually like this one a good bit. Upbeat and in your face

The Farthest - I am fond of this one as well. Chorus and guitar solo are powerful

Departure - More pop sounding, and ironically their last song while still together

Remember the Rain - Wanted to put this in here. More of a ballad, and to show they play well live and sing really well live.

Well, what do you think of Deluhi?
 
ok its time for my insight. these guys can tear it up with the heavy. many props to the guitar player and his o-so many fills in the songs. his fingers are flying in those videos. the band is solid, those guys got chemistry together which is why the solo projects have and are gonna suck. i am interested to find out what influences these guys. i do agree the song frontier brings it. its got a vibe that you know..well i don't speck japanese but if i did. i'd be singing right with..lol remember therain gets kinda bluesy with an 80's prg rock twist in it.. but i dig it.
 
XD funny thing is, most of the song Frontier is in english. He just has terrible english pronunciation singing. I can understand some of it, but not nearly all of it.

Leda is a great guitarist though so I would expect his solo project to be pretty good (though technically Deluhi was his solo project since he started the band and wrote the music)
 
well i wouldn't call it his solo project.. look at neal peart in rush. he wrote all the lyrics for rush's music when he joined them... and some of the music. regardless, i am always interested in hearing side project and solo acts. now my question.. will he just be doing guitar work in the solo project or will he be hitting up some vocals as well?
 
The Kiddie
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http://www.jame-world.com/us/artists-biography-864-the-kiddie.html

So, the next band on the list is The Kiddie. Best way to describe them is a rock band that mixes in various styles of rock music, sometimes some jazz. But they are more of an upbeat, happy band that focuses on brighter lyrics.

At first, I didnt really care for them because they seemed a little cutesy or almost fake happy looking, but the more I listened to them, they grew on me. They are fairly decent musicians and are pretty uplifting.

I forget how I stumbled across them, but Im glad I did.

Noah

Elite Star - First song of theirs I heard, still one of my favorites

Soar

Black Side

Poplar

Smile

Calling

Steady - Pretty fond of this one too

Nutty Nasty - Eh, never cared for this one

Sun'z Up

Utsukushiki Redrum - Like this one, kinda jazzy

Ma[Star]piece - newest music video. Kinda meh to me. I like some of the instrumentation, but
 
a pop style band no doubt. but like a punk pop kinda.. to compare them to an american band, i would put them with bowling for soup or american hi-fi. their music is very up beat and you can tell in the videos, they are having one hell of a time doing this. just having fun in and with very song.
i do agree, they were hard to take at first. i gave a few of the videos a second listen, and it is one of those things where the band grows on you.. you wanna say " i hate it" but you can't because its pretty good.
nothing fancy musically, video wise, that singer is all over the place. live, i bet he is all over the stage.
 
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