I'm sorry, I just don't like it...

[Lost Kosmonaut]

I seem to be the only one of my Japan-liking friends that doesn't like the music. I tend to think some songs are catchy and I like a few, but they are so overplayed it eventually gets annoying to listen to them (BTW I'm in Japan, I hear it ALOT). It seems like most of the hit songs are just... unimaginative and plain. And could someone please tell me why these "phenomenal pop idols" that make TV appearances are just plain unimpressive singers? I hear these same people from their studio recordings and then they sing live and the change is literally from 'astounding vocals' to 'second-rate karaoke'.

I don't want to offend anybody :sorry: , its just that I have such a strong opinion about this I feel the need to discuss. I even thought a little while ago that maybe I was being too harsh on the singers, and that they were good but I had just brushing them off. This idea was blown out of the water when I heard Destiny's Child live performance followed by the current most popular J-pop singer. I think you know how they stacked up...:relief:

Plus these boy bands that are sweeping Japan CANNOT SING FOR　ＢＥＡＮS!!! I'm sorry again (:sorry:) but it annoys me that they can get by with doing nothing but doing those silly boy band dances (even sillier here), while singing like... yurk; and people love them for it!

open for discussion

PS my host sister is listening to mandarin music right now, and it seems to suffer the same way. It is actually using the LITTLE MERMAID SONG and just singing over it... and then shamelessly using the same lyrics for the chorus (and I quote "under the sea, under the sea")

[lastmagi]

Hi Lost.

Could you provide some specific examples of artists or songs you didn't find appealing, and what specifically turned you off about them (guitar technique, specifics about vocals, etc.)?

[Kinsao]

Perhaps if you let us know what bands you have listened to and really dislike, that would be helpful....... :clueless:

I mean, its been said before and it'll be said many times again, that every country under the sun has its share of crap music. And, sad to say, it's often the stuff that gets most promoted and heard everywhere that is some of the crappiest of all.

Some good singers that I can think of off the top of my head are Tatsurou from MUCC, Asagi from D, Mao from SID, and Lucifer Luscious Violenoue (solo female artist). But if you aren't into that type of music, maybe you haven't listened to these people. (And because I'm into a certain type of music, it's difficult for me to recommend singers outside of that genre because my knowledge isn't good :sorry: - at least, for Japanese music.)

A lot of the music that gets discussed in this j-pop forum is actually not very mainstream in Japan, so it is unlikely that many posters here are into that irritating music that you hear played everywhere. In fact, there has been a conversation about one band (Dir en grey) that is one of the most popular Japanese bands among non-Japanese fans, but - while still having high record sales and sellout concerts - does not appear to be as well known/liked in Japan as it would first seem from a Western perspective.

I guess what I'm trying to say, in a roundabout way, is that the Japanese music that us Westerners like tends to be a bit different from the music that is most popular in Japan.

Take the UK pop scene, for example (thinking of the charts). Personally, I find most of chart music to be crap. Obviously lots of people buy it, though. I have no idea why. But I honestly find the music of less well-known bands to be more interesting to me. And, I particularly like a certain genre, which happens to be rock and rock-metalish music, so that's what I listen to. And of course, when I discovered Japanese music, I listened to the same genre. But rock music - at least, heavy rock - very rarely finds its way into the UK pop charts, and I would guess the same thing is true in Japan.

Not into rock music? Try the songs of Yae. Mycernius send me one of her songs once, and her voice seems very good to me. :-)

What type of music are you into, usually? If you let us know I am sure people will be more than happy to make you recommendations of good Japanese musicians in those genres. :cool:

[advigilo]

i think everybody has some music in there own tongue that the dont like.
Or even some songs that the just start to find anoying...

[furan]

i can't satnd the stuff that's populare over here.... it does, all sound the same, and annoy the hell out of me... i never listen to the radio and i can rearly talk to people about the bands i like that aren't Japanese because still no-one's heard of them or care...

if you gave us examples of bands you DO like... english or whatever... we can work to gether to find some Japanese music that you might like...

there's a huge range, and you're not expected to like it all, hell, i don't like it all :relief:

[Mycernius]

A lot of boy bands all over the world can't sing. They are manufactured to appeal to young teens and make a quick buck for the music companies. Who cares if the can't sing if they make money. They don't last for long and are usually replaced a year later by yet another crap one. The ones that last do manage to have a little talent amoung them and change their image to suit a more mature audience.

[Jack]

Hi Lost.

Could you provide some specific examples of artists or songs you didn't find appealing, and what specifically turned you off about them (guitar technique, specifics about vocals, etc.)?
you know i think he just didn't like the music in general.

i think its great that he doesn't like the music, and i think its even better that he's posted the same fact. "not everyone drinks from the same watering hole"-unknown.

[Kinsao]

I don't mind that he doesn't like the music (well duuuh! not everyone likes the same music!), but it's just the fact that we don't actually know what 'the music' is. Because no one can just say that they don't like Japanese music, period. There are all sorts of Japanese music - pop, rock, punk, jazz, traditional, rap, dance... etc. etc. IMO if you dislike from every single genre, all artists, then that would be very strange indeed (unless you just dislike it because it's Japanese which would be racist and stupid - and I'm sure that's not what was meant, it was just a comment about the music. But it seems he has heard mainly the crappy pop stuff.)

[Jack]

not true,
most people i speak to dont really like non-english music, because they dont know what they're singing(fair play).

LOok at me, i disike RAP, totally. Im pure bred ROCKER!! but i like japan rap and german rap, thats weird.

[kirei_na_me]

Don't worry. I feel the same way, Lost Kosmonaut.

[Kinsao]

Well, I can enjoy music from any country. It just depends on the type, whether it hits the spot for me or not. I'm not bothered about not understanding the lyrics at first, as long as the singing is good. I can always look up a translation! :relief: I think everyone who likes music knows that it's about so much more than the words.

I'm not very well up on Japan pop, though. Can it possibly be that it's even worse than ours here? :souka:

[POISONxIVY]

not true,
most people i speak to dont really like non-english music, because they dont know what they're singing(fair play).


What about all the people who listen to hardcore music? You never can understand the screaming haha. I think if you are listening to it for the music it doesn't matter what language they are speaking. If someone likes a band just because of the lyrics, then that's another story.

[Nana007]

I'm actually a weirdo, cause as far as my music tastes goes, I like rap, hip-hop and r&b. I listen to SOME western rock. But I don't like HEAVY western rock. But most of the J-Rock Music is rock and some of it is Heavy. And I love J-Soul. But for the most part J-Rap is such a joke to me. I know that imatation is a good thing. But it is sometimes ridiculous to me. I just laugh hysterically when I see a J-Rap music video.

[lastmagi]

Well, I can enjoy music from any country. It just depends on the type, whether it hits the spot for me or not. I'm not bothered about not understanding the lyrics at first, as long as the singing is good. I can always look up a translation! :relief: I think everyone who likes music knows that it's about so much more than the words.

I'm not very well up on Japan pop, though. Can it possibly be that it's even worse than ours here? :souka:

I've heard some pretty bad Japanese pop that have made me embarrassed to listen to them. Some Japanese female vocalists, whose names/band names I forget, can have really high-pitched voices that make my ears cringe.

And yeah, I've been trying to find out more kinds of music from other countries. I try to look beyond understanding lyrics (some people listen to opera), although I'm sure that's not a factor for the OP considering he is in Japan currently, and I'm assuming he knows at least some Japanese anyway.

Well, just like in America, there's something for (most) everyone, so don't give up! There's more than what the charts say, or even what other people recommend, so keep looking.



Not into rock music? Try the songs of Yae. Mycernius send me one of her songs once, and her voice seems very good to me.

Mycernius is cool, but he's not so cool as to send you mp3s of Yae ;-) No offence, Mycernius!

I found Yae because I heard she did the song for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Although I never played FFCC, the FF series' songs have usually been on the soothing side. I actually tried to order Emiro Shiratori's album (FF9) but alas, it was out of stock. Whatever, they're both wonderful, and you'll never know where you'll find the right ones for you.

[Dollporn]

FFCC is soooo stupid. Totally pointless ,opposed to the other games a huge black hole on Square Enix's slate(but this isn't the games forum).
Anyway, I think I know why people wouldn't like j-rock.
You have to turn to a sort of mode where something that you'd usually consider as off tune, pompous and generally a strange arrangement(speaking musically) as beutiful, full of feeling and varied.
You have to be willing to get into this mode and only then will you love it.
I know it's said that it's a rumor that j-rock origins from old japanese music, but I don't think it's entirely wrong.
Listen to old songs(like geishas singing and stuff) and there's a sort of similiarity in the way of singing.

If it's pop you don't like, that's not strange either. I hate the pop music we play here and I know j-pop can be worse. So I won't try to defend it.

[POISONxIVY]

I really think this forum should be titled "J-Rock" and not "J-Pop" It seems like mostly everyone here is into Jrock and not the pop stuff! Perhaps they should have one for each...

[Placebo]

I like music from all over. In fact some of my all time fav bands have been British. I do listen to music for the lyrics so I just translate it but sometimes I just like the way it sounds.

[lost]

I really think this forum should be titled "J-Rock" and not "J-Pop" It seems like mostly everyone here is into Jrock and not the pop stuff! Perhaps they should have one for each...

yes! i totally agree! i was saying that to my friend the other day....

for me...music and lyrics are different....i usually listens to the kind of music that sounds nice and my likes...the lyrics doesn't really matters at time cause i listen to krorean, chinese and japanese music where i dun even know the language.

Lost Kosmonaut, maybe the music that your friends are listening aren't your taste...try other kinds of music that your friends doesn't listen to...
i dun like the kinds of american music my friends listen to....i actually hates it! so i ignore it and listen to those they hate...which i like...

[Kinsao]

You have to turn to a sort of mode where something that you'd usually consider as off tune, pompous and generally a strange arrangement(speaking musically) as beutiful, full of feeling and varied.

Haha!! :hihi: Sorry... I'm not laughing at you Dollporn... it's... an interesting way of putting it... and I can see what you're getting at... but it sounds just a leeeetle offputting for someone who isn't familiar with j-rock. (Taking your points back-to-front -->) personally, one of the reasons that I like j-rock is the variedness of the arrangements (I used that word to indicate 'variedness' within one song, rather than 'variety' between different songs). A prime example is MUCC, where from beginning to end of the song you never know what you're going to get next. :cool:

Uhmmm... I don't really hear the off-tuneness, either. :clueless: I don't like things that sound off. :sick: Especially vocals - if they don't quite hit it, it bugs me and I don't listen anymore.

I can sort of see where you're coming from with 'pompous' :giggle: not in the music itself, but whenever I say to anyone that I like Japanese music they tend to assume I am either amazingly intelligent (if they don't know me well! lol) or horribly pretentious. :bluush:

I know it's said that it's a rumor that j-rock origins from old japanese music, but I don't think it's entirely wrong.

Well, my mom has said that she can hear the 'Japaneseness' in j-rock that I've been playing - even when I can't. I think there must be some subtleties in the intervals they use and stuff.

I do listen to music for the lyrics so I just translate it but sometimes I just like the way it sounds.

Agreed. There's both. (Interest in the lyrics actually inspired me to learn Japanese, as I have said many times!) You do miss out on a dimension of the meaning if you don't understand the lyrics... but on the other hand, understood lyrics can be distracting from the instrumental element, too.

I really think this forum should be titled "J-Rock" and not "J-Pop" It seems like mostly everyone here is into Jrock and not the pop stuff! Perhaps they should have one for each...

My vote goes to that, too. :p

Mycernius is cool, but he's not so cool as to send you mp3s of Yae

Sorry lastmagi! :gomen:

[toujin]

hiya! *pushes in into the fray*
i don't think you can ever really judge the quality of music of a country with boy bands *shudders* but japan has produced some great bands over the years. the long lived ones are usually the answer ;)
have you tired X japan? *can't resist* or luna sea? and if you are going for quality of voice you can not go past gackt! XD
*has finale by larc en ciel playing right now*

[Nana007]

Every country has crap music. And even though the west invented bubblegum pop, Japan has it down to an art. And while I can't stand most of Japans pop music you do have some good artists. But it really does depend on what you listen to. Japan has a great, rock scene also, but mixed with the good there will be crap.

I agree, I can't stand nasally high voices. I used to not like Japanese music cause the voices irritated me to no end, now I love it, you just have to figure out what you like. I can say one thing. No matter what type of music you like to listen to, Japan will have an artist that fits the mode, and then you have artists that fits no mode, anywhere (miyavi).

[toujin]

No matter what type of music you like to listen to, Japan will have an artist that fits the mode, and then you have artists that fits no mode, anywhere (miyavi).

*laughs* i agree! but hey, you forget mana ;)

[Nana007]

ah sou desu ne. Yes Mana is truly a one of a kind person.

[Lost Kosmonaut]

Uh my favorites are, in no order (except for zep)

-Led Zeppelin
-Pink Floyd
-Black Sabbath
-Jimi Hendrix
-Tom Waits
-Eric Clapton
-Nirvana (recently not so much)
-Gorillaz
-Metallica
-Red Hot Chilli Peppers
-Moby
-Audioslave
-Rush
-The Beatles
-Lennon
-REM
-Bob Marley
-Tenacious D
-Yoko Kanno (not Oono)
-Muddy Waters
-The killers
-Sublime
-edit:yurk, forgot Queen

are all on my usual listen cycle.

Not much compared to most people, I know. But that's pretty much cause I'm usually too busy listening to Zep to look for anything else.

[sunsweet]

With those as your favorites, I'd definitely say you can't go wrong with X-Japan.

Also, give D'espairsRay and MUCC a shot as well.

[advigilo]

I agree about the whole boy band thing.
People just seem too let them pop out of the ground like that.
And the get away with it, cause well its just a boy band.

yes, you're right X and Luna Sea are good 2 "start" with...
old school :-)

[furan]

yeah, X Japan are some pretty definates to go with... however, i'd say that would just start you off... they're brillient, but... i think for someone SO into all the geniouses... like hedrix, they may seem a little 'new' (as they formed comparitively not that long ago) and possibly 'over done'
havin said that, things like 'art of life' just can't be beaten.

D'esparesray and MUCC have a bit more of a metal beet to them... and you seem to have stired away from that genre a little... but i agee you should look into them.
i also think you might like Kagrra, but you should start with looking at their earlier works to get acostum to Isshi's voice,
and you shuold definatly look out for plasic tree.

i'll load you up some random tracks when i get back tnonigh... but right now i'm late for school >.<

[Kinsao]

Hey, good taste in music! :cool:
I think there would definitely be some j-rock you'd like.
MUCC!!!
Also try Aushvitz, Galneryus, Onmyouza, Hizaki, D, Girugamesh, Due'le Quartz, La'Mule, Ribbon, Merry, Scissor,The Zolge, and the latest Miyavi album Miyavizm. I think you might like some of those! :p

And Kagrra, are always worth a listen!

[sunsweet]

To me X is classic, and he seems to be into classics, that's why I recommended them. I said X, MUCC, and D'espairsRay because the vocalists of the said bands aren't as 'nasally' as Jrock voices can sometimes be and often are. For someone starting off to Jrock and who has a negative pre-conceived ideas about the genre I think it's a good idea to start off with bands that have 'cleaner' vocals (don't like the word 'cleaner' but I can't think of the right word) with strong instrumentation behind it.

I'd say get a good snack, sit down in a comfy chair, put on some headphones and listen to Art of Life. Then after you're absolutely blown away by the half hour of awesomeness you'll be curious to see what other great music Japan has to offer, lol!

[Kinsao]

If you like 'clean' vocals then D is a good listen, too. :singer:

Also - I loooooove flashy guitar solos a la Vai and Page, but I've noticed that j-rock doesn't go for that sort of thing so much. The beauty of j-rock seems to come from the way all the instrumental parts are woven together.... and of course, awesome bass line! (Great bass lines seem to me a staple of j-rock - the bass is more noticeable in it than in UK and US music. Think of that bit in Led Zeppelin's 'Good Times Bad Times' where there's that little bass lick that makes your heart flip over... that kind of thing happens a lot in j-rock. ) :-)

I mention that because it seems that Lost Kosmonaut likes a lot the same type of music as me. :bluush:

Miyavi in his latest album has that cool bluesy growl going on as well - although I wouldn't recommend his earlier stuff for starters. But I think you'd like 'Are you ready to rock'!!!

D'espairsRay also - Hizumi has a really good voice, in a song like [S]yste[M] for example you can hear him sing very clear. :dance:

[Yokan]

X Japan is what you would call a classic jrock band. but X had alot to do with the style of jrock today. Such as the vast majority of bands that still practise visual-kei, these being of what i know -

Malice Mizer
Moix Doi Mois (sorry, don't know how to spell it! :blush:)
D'espairsRay
Dir en grey
Kagerou
Gazette
Merry
Mucc
Malice Mizer
doremidan
cali gari
12012
alice nine
bis
Fatima
hanamuke
Gullet
lab
Luvie
Nightmare
Metronome
Scissor
Shulla
Sid
Rentrer en Soi
Panic Channel
Ryuutaro
Vidoll
Vogus Image

Perhaps, to the threader of this thread, you should try different types of bands, and not necesserally the ones which are most popular. Alot of people now a days when they hear of jrock emmediately will hear of Dir en grey most of the time, and them being catagorised as the 'best' jrock band. I disagree, they use alot of special sound techniques and synthesisers which I like, but in another sense don't like. I'd rather hear them purely, like in bands such as -

The Pillows
X Japan
Loudness
Kagraa
Kagerou

I'm more of an allround person tho. I don't have a fav. Although X Japan were my first, and I do have their discography. But new things come out of the Japanese music scene all the time, which suggests that people should listen to as many has possible, like me [ie - addicted] :lol:

Hope that helps!

[Yokan]

Forgot to mention that visual-kei bands and non-visual-kei bands are no different to eachother really, music wise!

[furan]

yes, this is true!

ok... i've loaded up 20 mp3s, all different bands.
i think you might like them, but remeber not to judge a band entierly on one song... if you like some general points about a band... then give them a chance, i can always upload more for you ^.^

o... and i'm sorry about the metle comment... i hadn't noticed you'd mentioned metalica :relief:

Allure Idea – Wasurenagusa
http://s36.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1S14ZQE8U6BNQ28W1OMRFCW4YZ

Baroque - Cherry King
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0KN79V99XEMSJ3DNA06QU52T0X

Cali=Gari – Erotopia
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0L0PZ9KESVGS90OP9IIJZ8U1L1

D[di:] - Aigan Bana
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3BCH3HNN9RZG104AUDQUSH0O8C

+D’espairsrRay+ - Reddish (DIVA version)
http://s36.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2IFULE9N8B4IA1UNOPFNPUAG10

Dokusatsu Terrorist - Fukaku! Jugyou chuu ni bokki!
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=06QRAD2CNUOL51QJBFEEUPXEJ7

FAKE? - HAD A GUN
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1AX0CADM4YB6J1N842ZIGMVNOT

Hide - Rocket Dive
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2G6BTW3B1Y3H20PWF34K7UZU8F

Kagerou - Kakokei shinjitsu
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=28EROCR61Z25F366RHPJ2FM5NS

Kagrra, - Yami ni Chirikeri
http://s61.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3FZJSH9SOM6PF11L2M4Z7CLCQH

La'Cryma Christi - Vampire Circus
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1J6O297F0U3DF1C1SE1UDBVSO0

Marusa - Modorenai Kinou, Mienai Ashita
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0OT3ATUS0BXH91O55QXF6Y6SXZ

MUCC - Rojiura Boku to Kimi e
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3U7K570KRPQLH1ZRCYJCV0TA8X

Phobia - Puppet Master
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3H0XQED475D4009A0QPNRUGKR5

Plastic Tree – Sanbika
http://s61.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1MOTLK8NVQK7L31BM07CUTFN45

Poisonous Doll – Image
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3CU3CIKWSNK950T2K5HH8W4KT3

Shiina Ringo – Keikoku
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=04ZUVZ373WK9Q1IPCPC9ZKBKYK

Shulla – Satori
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=05I2PTSQ8AJ2V3VSG3KAYRMJZW

Vogus Image – Mizuiro
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2EDF9MKLE4OJP17SX49VNSH4BJ

X Japan - Art Of Life (Live)
http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1QAJJLDDE1YV80R7U1UUKJXLKP

usually i'd go into a long explanation about why i chose these songs, and why i chose this band and a little bit about them... BUT... i think it's better actually to listen to a band knowing nothing about them... that way you can decide wether you like them or not without any other thoughts clouding you're judgment ^^;

[hitsugi_kitty]

Ooh, haven't heard some of those, thank you!! :-)

[Yokan]

wooo!! thanks, I don't have many of them. XD

[daemonette]

i dont have most of these eather XD thankx for all the lovley uploads!

[lastmagi]

furan: good choice with FAKE?'s Had a Gun song. My favorite on their latest album.

[toujin]

I agree about the whole boy band thing.
People just seem too let them pop out of the ground like that.
And the get away with it, cause well its just a boy band.

yes, you're right X and Luna Sea are good 2 "start" with...
old school :-)

most boy bands don't last anyway. gah they are annoying! i remember being stuck in a car with a friend who like some boy band or other...lyrics almost had me jumping out of the window :blush:

[sunsweet]

Oh wow, thanks furan! I don't have a few of those songs *snags them immediately*

[toujin]

thanks alot for that collection of songs furan san! *whispers* wouldn't mind more kagrra as my collection is non-existent

[Lost Kosmonaut]

Awesome- thanks for all the help guys; I'll get to checking them out.

[edit] I haven't gotten to those mp3's yet, and probably won't be able to till tomorrow, but I got a little X-Japan through the wire and I'm finding it pretty interesting.

[lost]

yes lost! X-Japan's great! hahaha...told you, you was just listening to the wrong music...

thankies furan! i'll come back and dl it later..hehh...gotta go to class...

[furan]

well... the links should lats 10 days, so hopefully you'll have time to get to them ^.^

i'm glad i could be of assistence ^^;

o, and in refference to that FAKE? song... it's the only one i have :relief:

i'll be happy to upload a Kagrra albu, for you guys if you want it...
i think Lost Kosmonaut will like them... not only because they have a good rock sound to most of their songs, but because i actually thought of them when you mentioned Moby... yet i have no idea why :?
anyway, the main music writter for Kagrr,'s a huge fan of the smashing pumpkins if that sways your decision at all :relief:

[Lost Kosmonaut]

I listened to 5, and of all of them I liked the Kagrra song and Art of Life from X-Japan the most. Thanks much; I'll be putting most of these on my mp3 player I'm sure.

Don't have tons of time on comp due to host family's restrictions, but I'll try to get em all before the links die.

[Kinsao]

Razzle just upped a load of Kagrra, songs in their thred :p

[advigilo]

tnks for the tip :-)

[furan]

I listened to 5, and of all of them I liked the Kagrra song and Art of Life from X-Japan the most. Thanks much; I'll be putting most of these on my mp3 player I'm sure.

Don't have tons of time on comp due to host family's restrictions, but I'll try to get em all before the links die.
:-) aww, i'm so glad.

seeing as you live in Japan, i should probably mention that you won't really find a more well known rock band than X Japan... the're probblably like an equivalent of The Beatles in Japanese music History...
when i was there, everyone i spoke to had heared of them :-)

and Kagrra, are also pretty well known. HMV sells a lot of stuff, but i know they're stupidly expencive over there... anyway, i'm sure you know some decent music stores arround you're area... you have to look a little hareder for most of these bands, but Kagrra, are one of the easier ones to find ^.^

[lost]

i wished i was in japan....or at least get to go to japan soon....huh....

thankies again....*go and dl*

[furan]

i can't wait to go back... but it was a complete flook that i got to go this time so... *sigh*

byw, i loaded the Gozen album to the Kagrra, thread ^.^

[toujin]

i can't wait to go back... but it was a complete flook that i got to go this time so... *sigh*

byw, i loaded the Gozen album to the Kagrra, thread ^.^

thanks for the album dal!

[furan]

:hihi: no problem :-)

lol, and i've just put another one up :relief:

[advigilo]

2 follow youre lead FURAN:

metronome - planet:
http://s62.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3IPTPXZDFYBSC042DGVXQH3LVD

[Kinsao]

@ Lost Kosmonaut: you seem to have really the same taste in Western music as me! So I've uploaded some songs I think you will like :-)

Aushvitz - Koi Yabure, Suibotsu:
http://s55.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0NKDN5HIFRENB1H03NMK3RIYLD

Galneryus - Silent Revelation:
http://s55.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2MR4GFQATKU9H2TU015XKFA68Y

Scissor - Ghost Ship~nanatsu no umi no monogatari:
http://s55.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1Z5JEZR32GJKC1VMTW08LBGNWP

KuRt - Saigo no Game:
http://s55.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=27I1QLCGQ51ML059IE4V0TAUN5

Miyavi - Are you ready to ROCK:
http://s55.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2G3OLA3PXSB2W3JC1YDJQ8N8ES

D'espairsRay - [S]yste[M]:
http://s55.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0XDG0G2IZ1Q3V0V8RMOLJWJLNE

Hizaki - Lunar Eclipse:
http://s55.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2QWPS7LJG0RR42XX1BNWA18SDL

I'm pretty sure you'll like these, anyway, let us know! :p

[silver angel]

Uh my favorites are, in no order (except for zep)

-Led Zeppelin
-Pink Floyd
-Black Sabbath
-Jimi Hendrix
-Tom Waits
-Eric Clapton
-Nirvana (recently not so much)
-Gorillaz
-Metallica
-Red Hot Chilli Peppers
-Moby
-Audioslave
-Rush
-The Beatles
-Lennon
-REM
-Bob Marley
-Tenacious D
-Yoko Kanno (not Oono)
-Muddy Waters
-The killers
-Sublime
-edit:yurk, forgot Queen

are all on my usual listen cycle.

Not much compared to most people, I know. But that's pretty much cause I'm usually too busy listening to Zep to look for anything else.

Tenacious D= :cool: clearly one of the best bands ever.

[lastmagi]

I was considering posting samples of music, but then I figured you don't seem really active in this thread, and might miss the expiration date for yousendit files, so I'll just post a description of some bands.

Oblivion Dust was fronted by half-British/half-Japanese Ken Lloyd, and while the band existed he clearly gravitated towards sounds with a more Western feel to them (It's interesting to hear Japanese being sung with an English accent, instead of the other way around which usually ends up with atrocious results). If you get a chance, check out their "Looking for Elvis" album, since I felt that that release was most reminiscent of '90's-era Seattle-based rock groups. "Butterfly Head" is a longstanding favorite among fans, myself included, and it showcases their distinctive darker side with songs like The Nude and Again. I'd stay clear from the "Reborn" album, as it imitates Western post-grunge bands too closely without adding anything new.

Luna Sea was a popular rock group that was split into different stages. Their first indies release, Luna Sea, was dark, gritty, and had a very rough feel. Although it lacked the refined production of later eras, their songs from that period are still fun and enjoyable to listen to.

Their next two albums, Image and Eden, showed that the band knew how to evolve, and evolve well. Image continued with the dark feel of the band, with production sounding a little better, although the relative loudness factor of the previous era was waning in favor for better articulation in sounds. The Eden album, as the name implies, had a more mystical feel to it, and did away with the relative darkness of the last two albums. Soothing sounds such as Recall and Providence coupled with the absolute beauty of Lastly, with its richly delayed guitar distortions, mark this album as one of my favorites.

The next two albums, which I believe would be Mother and Style, continued their success, with the former of those two being the most popular album of theirs. I felt Style was a bit bland, but Mother returned them to the darker parts of their earlier days but with a much better quality in production and songwriting.

They split up some time after (forget when exactly) but when they returned with Shine and Lunacy, their style was much, much more clearly refined, utilizing better and clearer guitar and bg sounds that didn't sound as rough. It was, ironically, at this time that fans criticized them as being too "mainstream" and "poppy." However, this era did not find them compromising their musicianship, but actually expanding it. They split up after Lunacy.

Definitely check out X Japan. I don't listen to them that much, but you'll probably like them. They're essentially a metal band with a good melody. Sometimes they mix in ballads into their music, but this doesn't tend to sound corny (except on the Dahlia album).

Daita released one album as far as I know. It was founded by the guitarist of Siam Shade (another rock band). The album itself is basically guitar instrumentals a la Joe Satriani, but with a mostly soundtrackish backing. Unfortunately, some of the songs sound amateurish with corny melodies, but if you're into guitar instrumentals, this might be worth a look.

Maybe check out Hide, a widely known rock musician (not Hyde, although I prefer Hyde better) who committed suicide. I actually have a couple of Hide's albums on my computer but can never really get into them. Still, he's a favorite among many.

There's more, of course, but this should get you started.