I think artsy CAN be good, but only when it means "original AND good music" rather than just "original music." Just because something's different doesn't mean it's good, which is a sad fact that seems to get overlooked in the pursuit of "art" and "originality." However, if you can get the art and originality and still sound fucking awesome, it's way better than just sounding good by itself, because it has way more impact.

For Japanese music, I'd STRONGLY recommend the pillows, as they're my favorite band ever in general. If you want something a little more indie, I know a lot of pretty sick bands, such as Ling Tosite Sigure/rin toshite shigure/凛として時雨 (lol just for searching convenience) that you could give a try (Ling has AWESOME guitar work, but reaaaaaaaally shrill vocals...it's kind of a tradeoff).

Japan is aight. I love the food, and I've gotten to see some great concerts (four of them, to be precise) while I've been here, but I'm headed back in one week, and am pretty much feeling it's time to do so. I need to get some work in before the semester starts so I have some money lol.

In reply to this comment by RedSky:
Wow you know what, I completely missed the fact you replied to my comment such fail. Hmm, listened to AKFG a while ago and wasn't really a big fan but I'll check out the rest. ... but, but artsy is good no but I agree, they need to bring some of the crazy riffage of old back, although I remember them saying in an interview somewhere around the time they released Vheissu that they felt they go too burnt on heavy music and were trying to stray away from that, or something along those lines.

Also, what's it like living in Japan?



In reply to this comment by JAPR:
the pillows, Asian Kung-fu Generation, Ellegarden, etc. I just saw Ellegarden at Kyouto Taisakusen, it was SO FUCKING GOOD. I'm not sure how to describe it other than I've never been to such an intense concert.

Yeah, I love the acoustic songs! Stare at the Sun acoustic is reallllly tight too. I wish they'd go back to their roots a bit though and stop trying to be artsy with the whole elements theme going on. Nothing good ever comes from being artsy. .____.

In reply to this comment by RedSky:
Which Japanese bands? I'm more or less slowly turning into a weaboo anyway

Yeah, I love Melting Point of Wax, So Strange I Remember You especially as well as virtually anything on Vheissu. I&II was fairly good, thought they captured water brilliantly, Night Diving especially with the way they conveyed dripping water, and the tranquility of deep sea diving. Fire, eh not so much. Could see they were going for a sense of chaos and distortion but just didn't feel like it came together melodically, Flame Deluge was excellent though. Agree Red Sky EP was excellent, especially their acoustic renditions, particularly Of Dust and Nations, really wish they'd do more of them.

In reply to this comment by JAPR:
Yeah, I've heard a few of the songs, but haven't really gotten around to checking it out fully, for some reason. Been too busy with new releases from my favorite Japanese bands, I guess. I thought Alchemy Index vols. I and II was pretty solid, with some tight songs, but definitely not quite up to par with the other stuff. Still, "not up to par with the other stuff" still translates to "pretty damn good," so I can't really complain too much in that department.

I wish they had a music video for T&C, A Torch to End All Torches, Melting Point of Wax, or So Strange I Remember you, because it's always hard to find truly good live videos of songs like that. I was very surprised to see them release Red Sky on that EP thing, but totally dug the coupling tracks.

In reply to this comment by RedSky:
Heh, yeah it was a bit of a giveaway before, now it's more subtle

Reminds me, I still gotta sift that song too Pity that they never released their better songs as singles though.

Sample the album on their myspace if you want, it's not anything groundbreaking by all means but still a solid album all around. Not nearly as good as Vheissu but still, have to give them props for branching out and experimenting with different styles.

Wow you know what, I completely missed the fact you replied to my comment such fail. Hmm, listened to AKFG a while ago and wasn't really a big fan but I'll check out the rest. ... but, but artsy is good no but I agree, they need to bring some of the crazy riffage of old back, although I remember them saying in an interview somewhere around the time they released Vheissu that they felt they go too burnt on heavy music and were trying to stray away from that, or something along those lines.

Also, what's it like living in Japan?



In reply to this comment by JAPR:
the pillows, Asian Kung-fu Generation, Ellegarden, etc. I just saw Ellegarden at Kyouto Taisakusen, it was SO FUCKING GOOD. I'm not sure how to describe it other than I've never been to such an intense concert.

Yeah, I love the acoustic songs! Stare at the Sun acoustic is reallllly tight too. I wish they'd go back to their roots a bit though and stop trying to be artsy with the whole elements theme going on. Nothing good ever comes from being artsy. .____.

In reply to this comment by RedSky:
Which Japanese bands? I'm more or less slowly turning into a weaboo anyway

Yeah, I love Melting Point of Wax, So Strange I Remember You especially as well as virtually anything on Vheissu. I&II was fairly good, thought they captured water brilliantly, Night Diving especially with the way they conveyed dripping water, and the tranquility of deep sea diving. Fire, eh not so much. Could see they were going for a sense of chaos and distortion but just didn't feel like it came together melodically, Flame Deluge was excellent though. Agree Red Sky EP was excellent, especially their acoustic renditions, particularly Of Dust and Nations, really wish they'd do more of them.

In reply to this comment by JAPR:
Yeah, I've heard a few of the songs, but haven't really gotten around to checking it out fully, for some reason. Been too busy with new releases from my favorite Japanese bands, I guess. I thought Alchemy Index vols. I and II was pretty solid, with some tight songs, but definitely not quite up to par with the other stuff. Still, "not up to par with the other stuff" still translates to "pretty damn good," so I can't really complain too much in that department.

I wish they had a music video for T&C, A Torch to End All Torches, Melting Point of Wax, or So Strange I Remember you, because it's always hard to find truly good live videos of songs like that. I was very surprised to see them release Red Sky on that EP thing, but totally dug the coupling tracks.

In reply to this comment by RedSky:
Heh, yeah it was a bit of a giveaway before, now it's more subtle

Reminds me, I still gotta sift that song too Pity that they never released their better songs as singles though.

Sample the album on their myspace if you want, it's not anything groundbreaking by all means but still a solid album all around. Not nearly as good as Vheissu but still, have to give them props for branching out and experimenting with different styles.