Comments on ZB's A-Z of J-Music: J-Rock J-Pop Indie 8bit - A guide to the modern Japanese music scene: Album Review: Abingdon Boys School Abingdon Boys S...

Sorry I have to disagree with some of your descrip...

2008-02-08T11:32:00.000-06:00

Sorry I have to disagree with some of your descriptions. For one your using the wording of power metal is more of a dragonforce/rhapsody/manowar sound similar to Galneryus.

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

This band comes off as more of a mix between hair, and Nu metal with pop vocals trying to sound metal.

Other then that keep up the good work love the site

Hi Phil. I'm glad to hear I'm not totally nuts. At...

2008-01-24T07:02:00.000-06:00

Hi Phil. I'm glad to hear I'm not totally nuts. At least not all the time. ^__^

I'm glad you're enjoying the blog. I hope you can stick around!

This is a great blog, I find my opinions pretty mu...

2008-01-24T03:50:00.000-06:00

This is a great blog, I find my opinions pretty much the same with yours. Especially that Nishikawa is ABS' weakest link, and that Lost Reason w/ Micro is a total failure. Also, Nervous Breakdown happens to be my favorite song of ABS so far as well. Let me just say you have an awesome taste of music! And it's been really an enjoyment to read your blog, please keept it up!

I totally understand where you're coming from thin...

2007-10-29T13:34:00.000-05:00

I totally understand where you're coming from thinking it's the same old L'Arc and you're right, to a certain extent. L'Arc have a very defined typical sound, no doubt about it. But what keeps me interested in them is that they still find a way of creating songs that have something exciting about them and a certain individuality. I won't pretend their latest material is on par with their best stuff, because it isn't. In fact, I consider Tierra to be their masterpiece and that was a LONG time ago. But the truth is I love each and every single album of them , even if I realize many of them aren't that great, especially the post-hiatus ones.

The upcoming one, KISS, seems like it's going to encompass several styles and be quite ecletic, with some songs more on a True-mode (more poppy, cheerful and with bombastic arrangements and instrumentation), others on a more atmospheric and ethereal mood (like their first three albums) and still others that are plain rockers "a la" Ray and REAL. I appreciate that diversity, even if I don't always like the results (SEVENTH HEAVEN really isn't my cup of tea).

But basically, I'm a huge fan because of something very basic: I love hyde's voice, tetsu's awesome throbbing and elaborate basslines and ken's delicious and filled with flair riffs. I guess it all comes down to this and I can totally understand how for those who are not big fans, that's not enough.

Also, I'm sorry if I came off as a bit harsh on my previous comment, that wasn't my intention. I discovered your blog yesterday and have been reading everything, basically, and I'm really loving it. You've referenced several artists I love (among others, Shiina Ringo and Tokyo Jihen, Supercar, Bugy Craxone, Bloodthirsty Butchers, Kishidan) and others I'm really curious to know better, with Polysics at the top of that list.

I'm the one that's glad to be able to read and exchange opinions and views on something I also love: Japanese music. Thank you! ^_^

I agree on the sameness of the album, which is som...

2007-10-29T11:47:00.000-05:00

I agree on the sameness of the album, which is something I mentioned in the review:

"I'll note right now that the one major failing of the album is that ever song, sonicly speaking, sounds exactly the same."

It's a tough one to listen to all the way through just because it all literally sounds the same.

As for Gackt, I also agree with you. Then again, he's Gackt, and I don't really think of him as a risk taker. He sticks to what sells.

I haven't had a chance to do a proper L'Arc profile yet, but I think I'll have to disagree with you on the new material. So far it all sounds like the same old L'Arc, but then again I'm not a huge fan.

Oh, and you're not the only one who has disagreed with my Tenshi no Revolver review! ^_^

Thanks for reading the blog and for the comments. It's easy for me to get wrapped up in my own opinions, so it's nice to get some quality feedback!

I found this album to be quite "meh"... There are ...

2007-10-29T10:05:00.000-05:00

I found this album to be quite "meh"... There are some good songs in it, but it's very samesy and lacks "passion", in my view.

I just can't understand how you like this and Gackt's awful latest outings, in which he constantly repeats the same type of songs (and mediocre songs, while we're at it). Always the same rock-style song and the same ballad. How I miss the Mars and Rebirth days, where Gackt put his talent to good use and tried to really make fresh and exciting music. Now he's always following the same formula, ad nauseam, with basically worse versions of songs he already did.

And then, you seem really down on L'Arc, that despite having a trademark sound, have by far better songs, with more diversity, exquisite musicianship, and a new album coming up that is shaping up to be extremely ecletic and interesting. Tastes, I guess, so to each its own... (but I do share your love for B-T and COTD, although, once again, I have to disagree on your review on "Tenshi no Revovler", which I thought was yet another great album).

Anyway, great blog, keep up the good work!