The Worst and Best

A few days ago MUCC released their 'Best' album and a 'Worst' album. I'm pretty amused that a band would put out a 'worst' album, but in any case these are some REALLY nice albums. I usually can't stand MUCC's newer singles but somehow these compilation albums capture everything I don't mind too much and stick it into an album. Tastefully done with some spice to keep people like me happy :D

My only complaint here is about production, now I've had many discussions with people about 'overproduced' music, and if you listen to the original versions of each song, there is an intangible element, being recorded in a cheap studio with the equipment that they already had and progressing musicianship skillz gives the old songs this added creepiness factor, particularly in songs like Yoru, Tsubasa wo kudasai, Ieji and Shoufu. But holy crap. The coolness factor of these albums is through the roof. It's really refreshing to hear old songs getting some love after all this time. Now I can honestly enjoy listening to MUCC's current musics again, even if they are actually old tracks~

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Best of MUCC


The Best of MUCC is mostly a collection of their major record label single releases and happier songs (usually) on the more recent albums. However there are some completely unexpected tracks like Yume no gai (Yume no machi) and Na mo naki yume. The spice that I mentioned earlier is that most of the older songs are re-recorded and some of the more recent stuff is remixed a bit. MUCC really managed to make this album interesting enough for me to seriously enjoy it. I always look forward to what these crazy cats are gonna do next :D

Best of MUCC gets a 72% on the Awesome meter.

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Worst of MUCC

The Worst of MUCC is probably the BEST release MUCC has put out in the past year+, somehow they managed to put all of my favorite songs, save for Nukegara on an album. Zetsubou, Bouzenjishitsu, Hakanakutomo, Tsubasa wo kudasai, Yoru, Suimin, Ieji, Rankyuu, Danzetsu, Dilemma. Holy crap. Again many of the songs are re-recorded, so they gain sound quality in exchange for classic charm but my guess is that some of the songs now sound as they were originally written to sound but unable to because of lack of available recording resources.

I'm not too huge of a 'best of' album fan, but seriously if you're going to put one out, this is absolutely how you do it. They get mad props for this, but if you can remake your old GREAT songs so well, why can't you write new material that's on par? :\

I give Worst of MUCC an 89% on the Awesome meter.

Into the dark.

Today I was thinking about the future of Japanese Rock and the bands that currently exist, are forming and whats happening there.. I suppose this fits into the category of predictions and magical monkfish insight.

We all know that the average life span of a Japanese Rock band is like 3 years.. Which is probably 1-2 albums and a few singles. I would assume that the reason for such an ephemeral existence is pride. Japanese people have lots of pride and definitely will never intentionally lose face.. so the result is that when an arguement happens internally in a band, rather than come to a conclusion and work together, people will leave and as my friend pointed out, musicians in the Japanese rock world don't really like talking about past projects. So we never really find out why these things happen.

Anyway here's my insight for the day:

MUCC is going to keep expanding and putting out whatever they feel like, until someone decides to grow cornrows, and MUCC disbands.

Gilgamesh is going to get a bit more popular, but never become HUGE.

D'espairsRay is going to start playing many shows overseas, get steadily more popular, but never break out of the indie scene. I also see the future music being excellent :D

Sadie is going to get a lot more popular, but put out not as good music, and lose steam. (they are putting out a new mini album in July too)

Dio is pretty interesting, I can't really tell whats going to happen there.. but I don't see them sticking around for too long.

The Studs are going to be a huge hit, even though their music isn't going to be amazing (Sorry Daisuke D:)

D (I have to say I've been really enjoying D recently) I don't see them as horribly ambitious but I think they will continue putting out amazing music and making me happy :D

UnsraW can go in one of two directions, either going back to their earlier musical style and kicking ass, possibly becomming hueg in the indie scene, or they will continue with the style of their last album and fall on their faces.

And last but not least I don't see much of a future for Dir en grey. Mostly because after Withering to Death, which I liked mostly because I was in Japan and seeing their live when it came out, they are trying to become an American sounding band. Unless they can put out original delicious stuff with the creativity of their old music, its over. (they will struggle, still being successful but musically laem, until the band members realize whats happening and leave.)

I see a rising star, for definitely Syu of Aushvitz, Galneryus and Animetal is going to join or start some kind of super band and become legendary. At least if he leaves the indie world he will.. and I'm all for it, I want to see this guy succeed.

Flight

Salutations intarweb.


Today I shall be reviewing MUCC's new single 'Flight'.. I haven't officialy stated this but, MUCC is one of my top 3 along with Cali=Gari and Guniw Tools, but in no particular order, I am friends with Yukke, and I've met all of MUCC on a few occassions, they even published a photo of Miya and I in some magazine. (credits to Kristin for finding this for me~)


Ok well enough with the shameless self promotion, and on with the review :D

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MUCC - Flight



MUCC's Flight is release 3 out of 4 in a consecutive release campaign to celebrate MUCC's 10th anniversary.. wow 10 years and these guys are still rockin hard.


In another one of those seriously rare events, the B-side is what really shines on this release, Flight is one of those silly, lighthearted tracks that sound more like some happy Tokyo-kei bands.. I won't name any names but you all know who you are. This feels more like Utagoe or some of the laem songs from Hoyoku, which we will pretend never happened. Anyway there's nothing particularly catchy, exciting or amazing about flight. Sorry D:
Now the B-side Kanashii Hanashi, it kicks ass, not majorly but minor ass kicking is abound. This song pronounces MUCC's sarcastic, darker side, while the music isnt really heavy, the content* however is heavy, with a hoarse, grungy bass line, a solid, catchy beat and twinkly guitars accenting that bass line. Tatsurou also often sings like hes got a smirk on his face while he's singing, like he's secretly laughing at you. (which I personally enjoy)

*on another note I should explain the content, business.. I've said this a few times now, basically the music isnt full of super hard guitars and crashing cymbals but instead the songs chord progression makes the song sound darker and less laem and cheery.

Overall this single doesn't live up to my expectations.. Which ARE ridiculously high, but MUCC has proven to live up to them on many occassions.


I give MUCC's Flight single a 44% on the awesome meter.

Jrevolution LA

As I'm sure you all know, there is a massive 2 day Jrock festival ('Jrock Revolution') in LA at the end of May, which I am required by powerful forces to be at. This is seriously the event I've been waiting for, for years. MANY YEARS! So anyway here's the lineup:



Alice Nine
D'espairsRay
Duel Jewel
Gilgamesh
Kagrra
Merri
Miyavi
MUCC
Vidoll

(I've already seen Alice Nine [opening for Kagrra at the Shibuya AX], D'espairsRay and MUCC live shows, but I am looking foward to seeing these bands play together :D)

And I'm pretty sure there is going to be some interesting exciting unscheduled craziness (perhaps an announcement about X-Japan reforming) I know Yoshiki is planning on doing SOMETHING crazy, maybe like X-2 or something.. He's been talking about Gackt, Sugizo and Toshi a lot.

On the subject of X-Japan, I know that Heath and Pata would probably be down for some new project, and recently I read Toshi's blog about how he started talking to Yoshiki again and they are interested in working together. HOWEVER I do not forsee hide returning to X-Japan for obvious reasons, and just because hide isn't gonna be part of it, it will be impossible to successfully reform X in any way.

I also have to add that I really dont like Miyavi or Alice Nine, but I enjoy all of the other bands to some degree, especially MUCC, D'espairsRay, Gilgamesh and Merri. But going all the way to LA for a show is kinda silly, but this is a first I can't afford to miss (under pain of death x_x;)


P.S.
I have a special review blog planned for the comming days, so stay tuned~!