2 posts tagged “筋肉少女帯”

I'm so happy to report the new King Show album is really really good!
Much better than last years. Full of passion and energy this time around. Favourite tracks are 4, 6, 7, and 12. Especially track 4 for some reason. That really stood out straight away.

Seemed like a good excuse to post one of Morgianasamas' scans of the lovely O Ken.

Here's a Love Song to the World....

An interesting year, full of resurrections and drama. Here is my cold hearted opinion on reunions...purely a money making venture. Very little in the way of fresh creativity going down.

D'erlanger managed at least a passably original album, though not one I feel compelled to own, or to listen to much. For some reason they annoy me a little now, apart from Tetsu who is a sweetheart. His song was the best on the album. Reunion concert made me cry at the end. It was very emotional.

Kingshows' new album was best forgotten apart from some really tight new versions of old songs, though I did really enjoy their reunion concert too. They also produced one really good single and PV with 筋肉少女帯　仲直りのテーマ.

Everyone seems a bit lame compared to Hiroto and Marcy. Especially Marcy of course (Masatoshi Mashima), who was my Most Impressive Jrocker of 2007 and the artist I enjoyed listening to most in 2007. The songs he wrote for The Cro Magnons this year were awe inspiring, and his solo, some of which was rereleased this year, is pure and utter genius. He writes the greatest songs and has an exquisite voice. Pretty impressive for a virtuoso guitarist. I suspect he is also the true leader of The Blue High Magnons. I wish he would do some solo again, or at least sing a song or two.

Next is my Best New Pet of 2007, Machida Machizo (aka Machida Kou), whose vocal skills defy belief. Machida! Ah ho ah ho ah ho! How bizarre that Western fandom has bypassed this extraordinary talent so completely! >< How strange that his most amazing cd is out of print. *cries*  Gloria in exelsis deo INDEED!

Baki and co really impressed me hugely with the new Mosquito Spiral album Marbles. It's got so much energy and I love all the songs especially Monster and Everlasting Flower. Here is Love in Vain. The guitar work on this album is impressing me a huge amount! I might have to investigate this guy Hiroshi Kasuga. Its so good I want to give it the big prize, but Gargoyle are the sentimental favourite this year having released one of the best albums of their illustrious career in time for their 20th anniversary so I am going to give the prize for Best Album of 2007 to Gargoyle 刃～YAIBA. It really is flawlessly beautiful. Well almost. Once or twice Kentaros solos went awol. He is very good at everything else though.

Strictly speaking I did listen to the awesome The Cro-Magnons' Cave Party more times (think, in the hundreds) and it could just as easily have won this prize. Maybe if they hadn't won last year as well...A very close race this year.

Thanks to Morgianasama for the Kiba scan.

As for Kiyo, he has had an Annus Horribilis, but still managed to release some truly gorgeous songs. You can read my review of his album FOREVER LOVE here. Rinne is a hot contender for Best Single of the 2007, but it gets knocked off its perch by Kami Hikouki by The Cro Magnons.

This year I also finally fell deeply in awe of Endo Michiro. My god, what an amazing human being! In these days of rampant stupidity it cheers me up to know I am sharing a planet with people like him.

Best PV of 2007 goes to Hiroto Koumoto (solo) second year running with his hilarious video for the adaptation of Beethovens song of Joy: よろこびのうた（藤兵衛ドンと農民たち） Can't find the full video on youtube now...must have been taken down, but here is the first part on Veoh.
He is so funny if he didn't have such a gorgeous voice he could be a comedian.


Oh and my Favourite Live of 2007 would have to be the performance of Aruku Chibu and Kami Hikouki on the Giri giri ga ga gan single.
Hopefully a proper live dvd from The Cro-Magnons can be expected in 2008.
 BTW Fuck Sake rerelease Rabbits in the Moon, Crows in the Sun
and MACHIDA KOU AND THE GLORY.
NOW!