Kahori’s Neighborhood

This site is currently under construction and due for a revamp come December! Expect more reviews and frequent updates! =) Thank you for your patience!

OH what is this?  A non-Japanese review?  Yes, in fact.  I should be reviewing AIC, tbh.  But I just got my grubby hands on this new album that again, I didn't realize was even out, lol.  These guys are from Finland, but pretty much sing in English, which makes them unique among my Finnish loves.  I generally like my Finnish bands to sing in Finnish.  I have a sort of...love/hate relationship with Sonata Arctica though.  When they're good, they're really good, but when they're bad, they're epically annoying.  So Idk.  Let's see how this one rubs me.

Sonata Arctica
The Days of Grays
Genre: metal, power metal
Release Date: 09-16-09
Language: English
Label/Distributor: Nuclear Blast
Tracks: 13

01. Everything Fades to Gray (Instrumental
02. Deathaura
03. The Last Amazing Grays
04. Flag in the Ground
05. Breathing
06. Zeroes
07. The Dead Skin
08. Juliet
09. No Dream Can Heal a Broken Heart
10. As If the World Wasn't Ending
11.The Truth Is out There
12.Everything Fades to Gray (Full Version)
13.In The Dark

The cover is certainly awesome.  It would get five stars only for that if that's how I was judging things.  Everything Fades to Gray (Inst.) is the first track.  Starts very ominously with a swelling string section, then some piano and it moseys on for about 3 minutes before segueing into Deathaura.  Which, begins almost the same way, but gets quickly heavier, and oh, this is a surprise, a woman starts singing.  According to the Wiki article this song is broken into "scenes", but I can't say I really feel that, though there is a brief tempo change around 4-smth, and then again some 30 seconds later.  The women come back in at that point too.  Typical Sonata song, really, in spite of the extras.  The Last Amazing Grays is next.  It starts out suitably heavy, but ends up more melodic.  I like the crunchy riffs mixed with strings about a minute from the end.  From there we go to Flag in the Ground.  The beginning is a bit Celtic in flavor and the rest is fairly epic, but nothing special.  Breathing starts out quietly, turns into a ballad.  Fortunately it's short, I don't really like their ballads all that much.  Zeroes starts out kinda screamy and is less stringy than the rest of the album so far.  I like the emphasis on the machine-gun drums in parts.  Probably my favorite song so far.  The Dead Skin comes up next.  I like the contrast between the heavy rhythm and the piano at the start.  It continues the darker, heavier vibe of the previous song, with the exception of the chorus parts.  I'm all for the yelly parts, lol.  And there's even a tiny bass solo about a minute from the end.  Juliet starts with a similarly pounding rhythm section and vocals that are noticeably accented.  It gets ballady after that, or rather has a ballady section before marching back into metal territory.  It basically keeps that switcheroo up for the entire song and works pretty well.  No Dream Can Heal A Broken Heart is next.  Harpsichord or a mandolin starts this one out, along with some nice bass.  Later on the female vocalist comes in again.  This is a short one, but it's effective and continues the streak of goodness that started with Zeroes.  As If the World Wasn't Ending follows up with a soft keyboard intro and singing.  It jumps into power ballad territory about a minute after.  It's better than the first ballad song and just as short.  The Truth is Out There is kind of a lolarious title, but the song kinda goes back to the first half of the album.  Everything Fades to Gray is probably a continuation of the starting track, but it's a bit disappointing.  In The Dark is some sort of bonus track, and it's another one those power ballad things, albeit much longer than the other two, and well, not terrible.  It's got a nice rhythm breakdown two minutes or so before the end.

To be honest I was starting to get bored right up until Zeroes, but then the next five songs were truly glorious.  Dark, heavy, great musical atmosphere, the kinda stuff I really like from them.  Unfortunately it backslid a bit with the 11th track and I didn't feel like the final track did anything to improve on the instrumental.  In fact, it was probably more boring.  The bonus track helped dull this a bit, but overall, I can't really say this is an amazing album.  Though about five songs are, lol. 

FINAL WORD: good, but also typical.  ★★★☆☆

_______________________________________________________

Key:

★★★★★ = Excellent, flawless, perfecto
★★★★☆ = Very good, has some minor flaws
★★★☆☆ = Good, maybe a few boring moments, but overall enjoyable
★★☆☆☆ = Fair, bad outweighs the good
★☆☆☆☆ = Poor, possibly offensive to your ears

I just have to say I'm really excited about カラス, the new self-proclaimed neo-visual kei super unit made up of Tatsurou from MUCC, Hiroto from Alice Nine, Mizuki from Sadie, dunch from jealkb, and Kenzo from Ayabie.  They first got together at this year's JACK IN THE BOX event, but now they're going to record a studio version of an original song they made together!  I wonder if the unit will stick around and put out a few significant releases or just fade away like S.K.I.N. did, but for the time being I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the song, which is called 'LASTICA'.  It sounds very interesting from the preview clip on their myspace (the last few seconds sorta remind me of the British band Muse's work in a way...a little futuristic but more industrial).  I think the whole group and the sound is refreshing in the midst of the current v-kei scene...I always love it when artists collaborate and mix things up because it's just a great opportunity for new creativity.  I also find it very interesting that they're actively using the term "neo-visual kei"...perhaps this represents a move among artists to really take hold of that term and clearly define it for themselves, since it's been more of a word used by the media and attached to bands thus far, so the meaning of it has been relatively vague.

Also, shifting over to fashion again...though there's no way in hell I could ever afford these (or rather, permit myself to spend so much on one pair of shoes), I can't help ogling and admiring this absolutely amazing-looking pair of Fifre 120 Christian Louboutin ankle boots. *_* They're so pretty....but so, so outrageously expensive. T_T  Just looking at the price makes me want to curl up in a ball (let's just say I could feed myself for half a semester with the money it would take to buy these).  But they are lovely to look at...Louboutin always makes such gorgeous, classic designs. <3

Ugh, I have yet another paper to write this weekend, and I have no idea how to approach it because the topic is so vague...what a bummer. -_-;  I'm also hoping to translate DELUHI's new mini-album 'Yggdalive' in the near future...I don't have time to do a full post and rant on in detail about it, but it's pretty awesome so anyone who hasn't heard it yet should go give it a listen!  Leda's guitar work is love as always. <3  There are deliciously heavy metal-inspired riffs, some seriously high powered drumming, uplifting choruses, a sweet bass solo, a few funky/popish moments, and the shockingly soft and smooth "Hoshi no nai Yoru ni".  DELUHI has really expanded their horizons beyond my expectations with this release, proving they can rock a number of different styles skillfully and naturally.  For a first effort I was surprised how well they pulled off a lot of the new influences and styles.  Plus the sound quality of their work has taken a significant step up from previous releases as well, which is great.  I also can't wait till the full version of the "REVOLVER BLAST" PV comes out.  At first I wasn't too keen on it, and it's still not my favourite track, but the full song turned out to be a lot heavier than the chorus let on.  Here's some more samples:  "Wake Up!"    "Follow the Future"    "Flow Snow"

I'm pretty excited for next week because the new coat I ordered should be arriving.  It's a really cute black and white pleated Victoria houndstooth coat by BB Dakota.  It was so much cheaper than I expected (even less than the average for a similar coat at many other, more popular brand stores...but I think they tend to hike the price) and definitely miles away from the $3,650 or so price tag on the Alexander McQueen designs it takes inspiration from. >_<  I'd actually been endlessly debating over whether to go for a black or a white coat but this one totally solves that problem.  I can't wait to wear it with my tall, black suede high-heeled boots. :D  I've been refreshing my wardrobe lately not only for the fall/winter season, but looking for more sophisticated, classic pieces, because I've realized I need to expand beyond my existing functional/casual and not-so-work-appropriate rock-inspired looks.  I need more mature, career oriented items too but it's always so hard to find my size in those areas.

In other news, the GazettE's manager posted some more interesting anecdotes today.  Apparently the band hasn't been meeting up a lot lately since they're making songs and on break, but they had a photoshoot and such recently and when he and Kai were talking about posting photos on their blogs Kai showed the manager a certain photo on his phone and Sakai asked "Is this a pro wrestler?" to which Kai said "No, it's me!" and was like "See, look!" and proceeded to flash his newly buffed-up arms!  Then the manager was all like, "Wow, they've gotten really big!" 0_0.  I knew Kai had started working out to increase his muscles (he even got a personal trainer, I heard) but now I'm really curious to see how much of a difference there is!  Is it that drastic?! o_0  Also, apparently Aoi decided to invite everyone at PSC to dinner (they made a reservation for close to 20 people, he said) and Aoi paid for them all!  Sakai was super happy and said, "What a manly thing to do!  You're the best!  Thanks!" lol ^^;

I've listened to Landy Wen in the past, but I never thought she was particularly compelling.  That opinion still stands.  But her new album, Dancing Queen, is.  It really sounds very little like her older work, instead channeling influence from both Lady GaGa and Koda Kumi, arguably my two favorite pop ladies, with Elva Hsiao thrown in there for good measure.  The song DISCO especially has Gaga written all over it.  It could BE Gaga.  I could be like some wankers and complain about copying, but the song is good, so I really don't care.  I wish my Gaga folder was a lot bigger, tbh.  The other amazing thing about this album is that there's only a couple ballads and both are quite good.  Surprising because every other ballad I've heard from her has been generic and boring.

It always happens to me.  I always find myself interested in singers and bands way outside the mainstream fandom.  The ones no one else is into and it takes me forever to find anything.  This time it's Karen Mok.  The description of her singing on Last FM sounded fantastic, so I tried it.  Boy was I NOT disappointed.  Her voice is awesome.  And even better is the range of styles she employs on her albums.  Well, all two of them that I've listened to.  The most recent one was full of Celtic flavor, which, she is apparently something like 1/4 Welsh.  But anyway, I love her voice, it's really amazing.  And she can seemingly sing everything.  I especially like her lower register, it's very strong and convincing with a darker color.

Lastly I managed to hear the new album from Alice In Chains.  Black Gives Way To Blue.  It actually came out in September and I knew about it earlier this year, but naturally I forgot.  Well anyway I was surprised at how good it was and how much it resembled the old Alice in Chains.  It was almost like they picked up where they left off.  Yes, even without Layne Staley.  The new vocalist sounds surprisingly like him anyway.  I would buy it.  I need to listen to it again, but I'll be looking for it in the store the next time I go.  It's kinda nice to have an old band you still like still making music after all that time.

I can't believe I managed to write two 6-8 page papers in three days...and I'm quite happy with the results, though I don't know how they'll do under my professors' scrutiny. @_@  One was for art history on the presence of the idol in Andy Warhol and Willem de Kooning's paintings (which I actually enjoyed writing), the other was a more grueling analysis of the application of psychoanalysis and Foucault to the anthropology of gender...that one was pretty complex, so I'm not as confident about it.  I always find it easier and feel better when writing about the arts because they're something I believe in, whereas I tend to be very suspicious of theory.  Anyway, now I'm totally burnt out, but I still have a mountain of other work to catch up on. =_=;;

Speaking of being burnt out, I read the GazettE's manager's mobile post today where he revealed that Aoi forgot what date it was and was the only member not to send Kai a happy birthday text.  Supposedly it went like this:
あっ今日もう30日だったっけ？？まだ26日だと思ってた(笑)
Ah, today's already the 30th??  I thought it was still the 26th(lol)
あっ！！忘れてた｡まじごめん！！日にちの感覚がなかった｡
Ah!! I forgot. I'm so sorry!! I lost track of the date.

-_-;....
Aoi you mean, terrible person...apparently Kai was pretty down because he didn't get a text from him. ^^lll  Of all the members Aoi seems to have been taking their vacation to the extreme from what he said in the latest magazine interviews.  Apparently he's been spending his time doing nothing but playing video games and chatting anonymously with people on the network (in some cases finding out that they like the GazettE) and practicing guitar while waiting for his game to load.  -_-lll  No wonder he's lost his sense of time.  I do feel bad for him though, because the reason why he's been practicing guitar at home (which he said he hasn't really done before, only playing while working on composing, recording, and pre-pro) is because at Saitama Super Arena he got nervous and there was a point where he messed up and his fingers just wouldn't move.  It seems Reita covered it up for him, but he said he felt like he wanted to die in that moment (it's in Shoxx, if I remember correctly). T_T  Poor guy.  So now he's working on leveling up his guitar play and getting more serious about why certain phrases just don't come out when he's composing, which is admirable and very responsible of him, I think.

Also, totally random, but I'm going insane cause I can't get this song out of my head: Bad Romance

Go forth and fill your libraries with media.

Seriously, thanks to everyone for being so amazing and patient. You are the reason I love Vox.

~daisy

I'm in the middle of my busiest weekend of the entire semester right now (two papers and a proposal due on Monday! >_< ugh) so I'm not going to be around for a while, but I just couldn't resist sharing this image!  Man, I love Yoshiki...he's such an adorably dorky and funny person.

Also, the pv preview for DELUHI'S 'REVOLVER BLAST' off their upcoming mini-album is out!  It's hard to comment on the song from such a short clip, but the members have interesting new looks...Juri and Aggy look very different with the change in hairstyle, but overall they seem to have gone a little simpler and less elaborate with mostly monochrome outfits this time around.  I look forward to hearing what styles they've put into the mini-album as well as if they'll stick with this toned down appearance or move back to their previous, more flamboyant fashion at some point. 

I was just told that the Amazon Conduit will be fixed by tomorrow. I will post here as soon as I get word that it's back up and running.

I know this has been frustrating and I am sorry there wasn't more I could do to make it less so. I really appreciate your patience though.

Cheers,

daisy

So I've been watching the V-Rock Festival footage and happened to see ViViD's set and interview.  I haven't really been keeping up with them since I'm not a huge fan of any of the indie PSC bands and they didn't spark my interest from the early material I saw and listened to.  I think it's a bit strange and like a reversal of the normal order of how things go that because these bands are on the label they're able to play Budoukan and Makuhari Messe just half a year after they formed in ViViD's case, and although I'm sure it's super exciting for the band members, it sort of undermines the classic dream of working hard to get to Budoukan and all that...hell, at the PSC anniversary live they even had the indie bands perform to playback, which is not what I'd consider really playing at the venue.  If it were me I'd find that somehow disappointing...it's like you didn't make it there by your own effort and merit, you know?  Which I suppose is true and I think the bands realize that...for example ViViD said how it was amazing that they had the opportunity to play at the festival so soon after formation and how grateful they were to their senpai and fans.  It's certainly good for the band, but in terms of how PSC runs it's indie division and how these young bands are getting discovered, put out there, and maturing is interesting to watch.

But anyway, aside from that issue, I got to learn a bit more about ViViD from their interview and found it amusing that Shin the vocalist started a visual kei band because of the GazettE....he's apparently a big fan (and it totally shows...even on his online profile XD).  It's cute really and yet so weird because there's this whole generation of very young bands appearing now that got into music because of bands from the GazettE's generation.  For someone like me who grew up with bands like Dir en grey, Kagrra,, Pierrot, and Plastic Tree, then watched as bands like Alice Nine, the GazettE, and girugamesh grew and became major players in the scene right now it's strange to realize that a whole new generation is forming already.  It's also personally a bit disturbing cause these guys are like, the same age or younger than I am!  It makes me feel so OLD! ^_^;;

Getting back to the point, since they've now popped back up on my radar I checked out ViViD's latest single, '69-II'.  It's kind of generic and I can't help but feel that everything about their look is somehow recycled material from other PSC bands.  The song itself is fairly good but lacks a unique spark, I think.  You can definitely hear that most of the members are fans of abingdon boys school, it has a similar "rock with popular appeal" sound going on and Shin's singing has a strong, smooth quality that's reminiscent of Nishikawa's.  I'd say it's all in all a good effort.  They're still just starting out so once they find themselves and their own creative niche I think they could make some cool material.