View topic - J-Rock :: jdorama.com

As Neo would say in the Matrix... Whoa.

I'm gonna have to hi-jack this thead to interject my thoughts into this place! Naughty

Sorry, it's so loooooonnnngggg...

Well of course this topic struck me as interesting. I listen to a bit of Japanese Rock, and some Japanese Pop, so I�fll try to give all those without a clue, as I once was, some idea of what�fs good in the endless sea of unfamiliar names and bizarre looks.

Id's Top Ten:

This feeling of Deja Vu�c Ugh. Here we go�c Again.

Hmmmm�c Pop, it�fs all the same wherever you go practically, Japan has as many stinkers in the pop category as here in the US, or any place you may happen to find popular culture swaying the masses. I�fm not going to defer from the medium here, Ayumi Hamasaki, and Utada Hikaru were and are two of the biggest names in pop at the moment. Chemistry isn�ft bad, they�fre a poppy, R&B duo, ZEEBRA is cool if you like hip hop. Dreams Come True are an old school pop act that are really good. Every Little Thing have a retro, very 80�fs synthesizer laden sound, and Tommy February 6 (Tomiko of The Brilliant Green) is who to check out if that sort of thing floats your boat. And while you're at it, check out Tommy's other personality, Tommy Heavenly 6 for a more rock sound if you like The Brilliant Green. T.M. Revolution is an old school favorite among many people. Now defunct, super girl group SPEED had some good, danceable songs. Globe has some cool tunes, and even that Ken Hirai in all his voice straining glory is okay every now and then. (Those who have seen him sing live know what I mean. )Do As Infinity, though more rock (Any group that plays guitars well and writes their own music will always be rock in some way to me), have many cool poppy tunes, and I still listen to them even today. Namie Amuro is really good, best artist to listen to if you like Utada Hikaru in my opinion( Check out Crystal K if you like either lol), and I�fll throw in one of my fave pop/punk bands Hysteric Blue too. Check out Aiko if you like Hysteric Blue by the way. There are many other notable artists that I have seen and heard, but it is literally pointless to list them if you are not willing to BUY the stuff yourself since they are practically UNHEARD of in the states. With that said, whew what a chore!

Anyway, I don�ft really care too much for Pop music. I�fll listen to some good and talented artists, but outside of them, it�fs all the same to me. Japanese artists may write their own works, but that doesn�ft stop some of the stinkers out there from putting out stuff that�fs comparable to the crap we have here in the states. Don�ft let yourself become deluded by the mystique of Japanese music either, point is, if you don�ft like Pop in the United States, there�fs NOT much to like about what�fs there in Japan either. Just don�ft fool yourself into thinking this or that sounds cool when you know there may be something JUST like it that you hated in the states. That�fs called hypocrisy folks. Anyway, rock is more my forte, it always has been better, more thought out, thought provoking, less artificial and superfluous than Pop music, so without further ado!

Anyway, I don�ft really care too much for Pop music. I�fll listen to some good and talented artists, but outside of them, it�fs all the same to me. Japanese artists may write their own works, but that doesn�ft stop some of the stinkers out there from putting out stuff that�fs comparable to the crap we have here in the states. Don�ft let yourself become deluded by the mystique of Japanese music either, point is, if you don�ft like Pop in the United States, there�fs NOT much to like about what�fs there in Japan either. Just don�ft fool yourself into thinking this or that sounds cool when you know there may be something JUST like it that you hated in the states. That�fs called hypocrisy folks. Anyway, rock is more my
Id�fs list for the TOP 10 ROCK BANDS/ARTISTS:

Mmmmmmm.... Rock... I don't really like to call it "J" rock, because that's just inferring that it is rock "from Japan", it also sounds terribly bastardizing and generic. I used to say �gJ-rock�h myself, but have since amended my ways lol. So I like to say Japanese rock, but whatever, to each their own jargon I guess.

Anyway, feels like I've done this ONE TOO MANY TIMES, but here are my favorite rock bands are as follows:

1. X/X-Japan - There is NO CONTEST HERE, they are the best, and will always be the best, most talented and CERTAINLY most remembered rock band in the history of Japan. They have a very heavy metal sound to them, but their composer/drummer/pianist Yoshiki interjects beautifully talented piano scales into even their heavier songs. X-Japan is also known for writing beautiful ballads that tend to have mixtures of English and Japanese or sometimes they may even be in full english. Their vocalist Toshi has an amazing scratchy voice that he utilizes in the band's heavier songs during their "X" days when the band had not restructured yet (Their bass player quit and they were reborn as "X Japan". Works after their Heavy Metal/Symphonic Opus Art of Life featured Toshi with a MUCH SMOOTHER voice, and he sings the ballads beautifully, songs such as Forever Love, Tears, and Crucify my Love. Personally, I love X-Japan because they evoke from the listener the most AMAZING emotion through their songs, whether it's the headbanging Kurenai, or Dahlia, or the very emotive Say Anything, or the personal and elegiac Tears. Their songs carried a message of hope, and that's what I find to be unique in Japan's rock bands, their songs all contain messages of moving on, coping with loss of love, they are all songs that embody hope. This is in sheer contrast with the usually angsty, depressive, suicidal tones that are embraced here in the US. Songs like Endless Rain speak of "forgetting hate and sadness" and moving on when "the dream is over, I can't hear your voice anymore" , or "say anything... whatever you'd like to say to me, say anything you lead me out of my eyes..." and this is why the people remember X/X-Japan and held on to them for over 2 decades, it's because they gave them hope and they were the songs of the people. Recommended songs: Kurenai, X, Art of Life, Silent Jealousy, Say Anything, Endless Rain, Dahlia, Weekend, Rusty Nail, Forever Love.

2. Luna Sea - I can't imagine living my life without hearing the tunes of Luna Sea. If X/X-Japan is immortal, then Luna Sea is the next best thing: Legendary. and with good reason too. Luna Sea hail from the days of X's indie days, often as the opening act for X, Luna Sea's music follows the same basic spirit that X conveyed: heavy tunes, and ballads. Luna Sea's music is quite different from X's though, their vocalist Ryuiichi during the bands early works had this terribly demonic voice, it was very scratchy, and he could yowl like a dying cat with it. Very cool stuff lol. He wouldn't sing whole songs with it though he would sing with that possessed voice of his in the middle of songs for a little time, but it was a very unique voice (Anyone who listens to The Backhorn knows what I'm talking about when I say "demonic voice" TBH's vocalist carries on this tradition today.) and tone that he had. Luna Sea's music at its heaviest sounds like old school punk music and not too unlike The Clash, it has that heavy growling sound, with distorted guitars playing chords on top of clean guitar solos or vice versa. Don't let this sway your opinion of them though, anyone who listens to X won't have any problems here, and I URGE you to listen to X, you'll have an easier time enjoying Luna Sea if you have any doubts. That's not to say that Ryuiichi didn't give up his evil ways as Toshi did, during the bands Style album, Ryuiichi's voice toned down a good bit, and he sings with a much lighter voice. The songs changed in scope too, emphasizing upon a more ballad type style, until the band's penultimate album Shine, which had Ryuiichi singing in an entirely different voice, much higher, and less gravelly, though most fans dug his other voice better. Whatever the song though, you can be assured that Luna Sea have a smorgasbord of beautiful songs for you to enjoy. Recommended songs: Rosier, Shine, I for You, In Silence, Up to You, Mother, Loveless, Forever and Ever.

3. L'arc~en~Ciel - If you haven't already heard of these Shibuya rockers than you must have been living under a rock on Mars with your eyes shut and your fingers in your ears One of the most popular rock bands in Japan, Laraku (As dubbed by fans) have been rocking it out for over 10 years now, and they are one of the last old school super rock bands left in Japan, as many have disbanded. Masterfully playing everything from heavy rock, to a progressive sound, to a pop rock sound, to eerie ballads, to atmospheric rock, to emulating ethnic sounds, Laraku has done it all. This is one of the reasons why this band has lasted so long, they are constantly changing their image and sound to keep things eternally fresh. From the worldly sounds of their album Ark to the heavy sounds of Real, the soulful/emotive mix of Heart, the indie rock of Dune, to the elegant yet roaring power behind Ray. Of course that's not to say that they could have done this with just your average joes on board, no far from it. Laraku are composed of four very talented band members who are integral in lending their unique traits to each of the positions. From the ingenius composotions and maddeningly varying, pulsing bass scales of Tetsu, to the perfectly composed and played guitar of Ken, to the amazing poetic lyrics and incredible vocal range conveyed by Hyde, and the perfect accompanyment by drummer Yukihiro, this band wouldn't be half the band it is with of these members missing. Check them out today, you'll be glad that you did. Recommended songs: Niji, Dive to Blue, Perfect Blue, The Silver Shining, Pieces, Bravery, Fourth Avenue Cafe, Butterfly's Sleep, Timeslip.

4. Glay - Are they pop? Are they rock? Who the hell cares when they sound THIS GOOD? My personal opinion is that they are rock, though pop rock, NO POP ARTIST I'VE HEARD can write their own songs, their own music, and play it with conviction and make it SOUND GOOD for over 10 years. Yes, over 10 years, Glay got their start around the same time that Luna Sea was signed up for a record deal, Glay was picked up by Yoshiki of X-Japan and now Glay are one of the most popular bands in all of Japan. There's a reason why people show up in scads to buy Glay's albums and attend their concerts: these guys LOVE what they are doing, and it shows. Remember when I said that rock bands in the East conveyed a sense of hope? Well, then Glay is probably hope personified. No band I've listened to is so hell bent on sending a message of happiness, strength in hard times, and turning to love in the times when we are lost. Glay started out as just a bunch of high school friends who loved to get together and play music, I don't think they've ever got in over their heads due to star status. Glay's sound is definitely more rock than a lot of other bands who choose to fuse different elements into their rock sound. Some of their songs really pump you up, while others can make you sigh. Glay's vocalist Teru has the most sincere voice I've ever listened to, he doesn't have a particularly striking voice like say Gackt, or Hyde, and he doesn't artificially strain to hit his notes or anything, he just sings out his damn heart. Listening to Glay's songs, one could well swear that Teru is not a grown, married happy man, but a young man who would die for love. And that's the power of Glay, their conviction to their music results in some of the most real emotion you'll hear in music. Recommended songs: Two Bell Silence, Rhapsody, However, Beloved, Heavy Gauge, Will Be King, Aitai Kimachi, Summer FM, Innocence, Yuuwaku, I'm Just in Love, Fat Sounds.

5. Hide - The much beloved and deceased guitarist of X/X-Japan. Fans loved the enigmatic, very colorful and playful guitarist of X, so it was no surprise that they ate up all of his solo efforts. Listening to X, I was realized that Hide was a genius opposite of his obviously gifted/genius band leader Yoshiki. It was just that he had no outlet in which he could express this gift that was locked up in him, so it was ironically with the unfortunate disbanding of X-Japan that Hide would get his chance to truly shine. Hide's music is very unique in the world of rock in my opinion, it truly was revolutionary and unlike what people were accustomed to hearing at the time, and it holds up VERY well today. Where else are you going to find an artist who sings with a unique voice and persona in all his songs? Yes, Hide seems to shape his voice to suit the mood that is exemplified in his songs, from dark and serious to bouncy and playful, he'll surprise you each and every time, making you wonder who Hide really is, but the truth is that these are all sides of Hide. His music is a fusion of everything from heavy rock and techno to blending anthems and rastafarian music. Of course just like the contradicting colors of Hide's fashion, his music is no different, just when you think it can't work, Hide makes it so. Accompanying this music are some very thoughtful lyrics that will make you rethink your definition of what a song can be used to convey. All in all, a very talented artist with some very interesting music for you to headbang to Recommended songs: Pink Spider, Dice, Rocket Dive, Everfree, Goodbye, 50/50, Eyes Love You, Lemoned I Scream.

6. Shiina Ringo/Shena Ringo -(She is known as Shiina or Shena) A very eccentric artist with a head full of revolutionary ideas. Very few can listen to Shiina's work and not declare that her work is truly unique, I'd imagine that those who have been saturated by pop culture would listen to her work and find it more refreshing than those Sierra Mist commercials would make that soda appear to be. Some people may even proclaim her to be a musical genius�c I am one of those people. I must confess that I have not heard a whole lot of her music. I�fve heard a few songs here and there and those songs fueled my interest enough for me to pick up her latest album Kazuki Zamen Kuri No Hana. Now, if Shiina�fs other CD�fs or future works were or are HALF as good as this particular disc was, well�c I dare say those CD�fs would always be fighting their way into my stereo. It�fs just THAT good. Listening to Kazuki Zamen Kuri No Hana, you are bombarded (!) by a sonic onslaught of every instrument imaginable, and I�fm not even going to try to name them all, as there are literally dozens and dozens of different instruments in this album! Of course if under the wrong direction this would just result in a cacophony of mammoth proportions, not so here, Shiina seems to effortlessly merge and chime in each and every wonderful instrument with infallible timing. You will hear violins and slap basses merging with twangy electric guitars and gongs. Pianos and electric guitars mixed with people chattering as a dozen or so instruments pop in and out to play out their roles. Orchestras booming as kotos play eerily in the background on top of basses, electric guitars and electronic beats. But it is without a doubt that the most diverse instrument in the whole album is Shiina�fs own amazing voice. From soft and childlike, to smooth and jazzy, to happy and melodic, to even snarling and screaming in some parts, her varied emotions are never out of place, and that alone makes this disc worth listening to. This CD, taken as a whole is like a ballet with instruments instead of people: daring, graceful, and a true wonder to behold. The interesting thing about this CD is that the CD is made to look like a plate, remove it and you�fll find a picture of a plate with a beautiful slice of cake underneath. The CD�fs lyric booklet features an elegant teacup on a saucer as the book�fs crowning centerpiece. One can infer from this that Shiina wanted her CD to be viewed as a light meal, with many appetizers that you can sample, but it is the whole that makes up the dish. In direct correlation to this, I can�ft ever find myself listening to JUST one song, I always skip it to the beginning and listen to it through, it�fs just that good. To anyone who loves to hear mysterious, and wonderfully arranged music this comes with the highest recommendation. If you enjoy listening to well thought out music: Recommended without reservation. Recommended songs: The Album Kazuki Zamen Kuri No Hana, and all of Ms. Ringo�fs songs. I recently bought Muzai Moratorium and Shoso Strip, which are her other two albums, and they are the most addictive mix of rock, jazz, electrobeat, pop, and punk I have eVaR heard. The songs are filled to the brim with innovative sounds and tons of melodies that serve as hooks that'll have you replaying them in your head looooonnnnggg after you stopped listening to them. So please check out Ms. Ringo's (Yumiko's) other CD's if you haven't already! And yes, they are WELL over half the album that Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana is! Tracks from Shouso Strip and Muzai Moratorium to check out: Tadashii Machi, Maruno Uchi Sadistic, Identity, Honnou, Gibusu, Yami Ni Furu Ame, Stoicism (LOL, it's ALL ABOUT THIS TRACK! Mr Green

), Kabukichou no Joou, Benkai Debussy, and Baishou Public (Very cool voice distortion on this track...) .

7. Hyde - The vocalist of L'arc~en~Ciel. Although only having one album out and now another one out very soon, the works of Hyde are very compelling and very different from what you may be accustomed to in his work with Laraku. For one, it's a lot softer and more atmospheric then his previous work, anyone who took a spin with Beck in his crazy days and popped in Sea Change in their CD player knows what I'm talking about lol Now predominantly a ballad artist, Hyde tones down his incredible voice and sings with the same dramatic conviction that he does with Laraku, just in a whole different tone. He eschews the guitar solos, chords, pulsing bass, and heavy drumming of Laraku for acoustic guitars, bongos, saxaphones, and other light musical accompanyment. Listenin to his new songs, you'll find that he sings beautifully and soulfully, this guy will melt you by the time you are done listening to one song. It's just THAT good. A plus for English speaking native is that his album Roentgen was released in both Japanese and English, and Hyde sings beautifully in both languages to calm any doubts or pre-conceived notions that he may be horribly belting out "engrish". A very interesting side to a very talented artist, for fans of love ballads and fans of L'arc~en~Ciel interested in that band's more emotional work, this comes with the highest recommendation. Recommended songs: Shallow Sleep, Evergreen, Angel's Tale, The Cape of Storms, A Drop of Colour, Oasis.

8. Gackt - To tell you the truth, I had a VERY hard time trying to figure out where Gackt fits in my list, he couldn't contend with the bigger bands in my mind, and he's an amazing solo artist among amazing solo artists... But I suppose he'll be happy to know he made my top 10 lol My nickname for Gackt is "Mr. Perfect" There's a good reason for this, besides being endowed with one hell of a mug, an amazingly smooth and wide vocal range, a plethora of musical talents, he's a complete control freak perfectionist! Pop in a CD from his days with Malice Mizer and you'll agree with me, it doesn't matter that he left MM, with an AMAZING voice like that, he's bound to make it regardless. Den4 compared him to David Bowie? I can see how musically they may be similar, but in terms of vocal? Jeezus, Gackt leaves bazillions of artists in the dust, it's my personal opinion that Gackt and Hyde are THE BEST ROCK VOCALISTS EVER. Falsetto, low bassy notes, perfect pitch/tone, and even masterful vibratto... These skills are all but DEAD or never were even TRULY APPARENT in the world of rock. Like many of the truly talented artists in Japan, Gackt likes to blend genres to create something completely new with his music. Layering guitar solos and an enormous amount of sound samples results in a highly atmospheric and eclectic sound. One of his songs, Doomsday features HUNDREDS of sound samples in it, making it a truly dramatic and atmospheric listen. That's not to say that Gackt only creates songs of this nature though, you can catch him composing piano solos in his albums or throwing in a ska sound, or just straight up rocking it out. If you like to partake in a unique sound with songs of a very dramatic nature, then without futher ado listen to Gackt Camui's music. Recommended songs: Emu for my Dear, Doomsday, Asrun Dream, Ninespiral, 12 no Gatsu Love Song, Vanilla, Cube, Blue (piano solo), Seki Ray.

9. B�fz The super duo that spanned the ages. B�fz are one of the legendary super rock outfits in Japan, they really are, and they deserve every bit of it. Whereas many rock bands have come and gone, changed their look and sound to stay afloat, B�fz have churned out consistent rock and roll throughout, but that�fs not to say that their songs are completely similar to one another. Mastering seemingly every genre in the world of music, the duo consists of vocalist Koshi Inabe, and guitarist Tak Matsumoto. Koshi sings very passionately in some songs, and intensely in others, Tak plays the guitar like few people on this planet can as he�fs a TWO TIME Gibson artist. Maybe this means nothing to you, but for those who know guitars: it means that he is one of only 5 living men to have the honor of having a custom guitar made for them by Gibson. In this list are Joe Perry, B.B. King, Ace Frehley, and Jimmy Page. Not small names are they? Well Tak has TWO signature guitars. That means he plays good, DAMN good. But that�fs not to say that B�fz songs are composed of only blistering guitar solos. Accompanying each song at any given time are talented musicians playing drums, pianos, trumpets, saxophones, acoustic guitars, programmed synthesizers, hell, instruments from all over! B�fz play songs evoking all moods, from California surf wax driving songs, beautiful, melancholy songs, to songs that you can just get pumped up from hearing. From the sounds of the mysterious sounds of the East, to the loud, and varied styles of the West, over the last 20 years, B�fz have done it all. They�fre a duo that love to just play hardcore rock and roll, and they�fre unbelievably down to earth people, and maybe that�fs the reason why B�fz continue to top the charts in Japan EVEN TODAY. They�fre just two guys who love to do what they do, and it doesn�ft get any better than that. If you love old school rock and roll, than you have a reason to fall in love again. Recommended songs: Negai, Calling, Alone, Love Phantom, Zero, Juice, Ultra Soul, Easy Come Easy Go, Atsukikodou no Hate.

10. Malice Mizer One of the most unique bands in all of Rock, Malice Mizer have utter, utter, utter, sheer conviction to what they do. Allow me to elaborate: This goth band is sssooooo into their work that they come up with elaborate costumes that signify each period that their newest CD takes place, not only that, but they film little one hour movies to tell the story behind that particular album�c Scared yet? Seeing Malice Mizer perform a live show (On DVD of course) was one of the highlights of my year, where else are you going to find four men dress up in crazy costumes and perform while in them? But enough of that, there is an old saying, and it goes �gDon�ft judge a book by its cover.�h This phrase perfectly describes Malice Mizer, anyone who takes a gander at them may come away very scared, perhaps even discouraged to try out their music because they fear it may be terribly dark. With four band members who dress in either all black or somber shades, skin powdered ghost white and with eerie primary colored highlights in their hair, who wouldn�ft be freaked out? However, if these people were to lend their ear to a song or two, they may find their claims to be empty. Malice Mizer seem to be masters at fostering false images of who they appear to be. The truth is that most of their songs are very beautiful to listen to, and they are very unique in that they toss rock, opera, classical, and gothic choir into a blender resulting in something quite interesting. Some of their songs may be bright and spritely, with dancing piano scales, and romantic violins, while others come across as somber and mysterious with creepy distorted guitars, and spooky sound samples of things like bells tolling or grating digital sounds. Others have somber pianos accompanying beautifully arranged acoustic guitars. Whatever the song, one thing comes to mind when listening to Malice Mizer: Atmosphere. Their songs have the tendency to suck you back into the baroque, aristocratic days that they try to recreate. Going through three vocalists before finally calling it quits, Malice Mizer was fronted by Tetsu, Gackt, and Kla-Ha. The two latter vocalists are nothing short of amazing. Gackt has an incredibly smooth and widely ranged voice and I don�ft think I need to elaborate upon his talents anymore. Kla-Ha has a great, strong operatic voice, and his voice is not too unlike Gactk�fs, he lends his voice to each song perfectly, making them very easy to listen to. Just don�ft try emulating them at your next karaoke outing! Anyone who isn�ft afraid to sample something new, or fans of classical music will no doubt feel welcome here. Recommended songs: Syunikiss, Gardenia, Shiroi, Au Revoir, Beast of Blood, Le Ciel, E-GE, Bel Air, Ju Te Vuex.

And that about rounds it out for the top 10 Rock bands! Enjoy listening to each of them and discovering something new, and PLEASE support your favorite artists by buying their CD�fs. Thanks!

An overall list of GOOD Rock in Japan:

Rock:
L'arc en Ciel Laraku (to their fans) are an all around awesome band, my fave actually, their work is very atmospheric, especially songs off of their album Ark, and there aren't any two L'arc songs that sound alike. Thanks to the unpredictable vocal range of vocalist Hyde, the songs are very easy to listen to (seriously, this guy has an incredible range that only Gackt can touch, I mean he can even sing in falsetto) and Ken (guitar), Tetsu (bass), and Yukihiro(drums) (at one point Sakura) do a phenomenal job of accentuating his voice. Eclipsing everything from straight out rock, to new wave, to experimental, to sounds that emulate music from different corners of the globe, to progressive, to eerie ballads, L'arc en Ciel are as diverse as their name french for "rainbow" suggests. Try these songs: Snowdrop (A X-mas themed song, Laraku pop rock perfection), Stay Away, Pieces (Awesome, awesome), Niji, The Silver Shining (Ditto, ditto, Hyde�fs voice at it�fs best), Perfect Blue, Dive to Blue (Their best pop rock song IMO)A Silent Letter (Whoa, spooky�c but so beautiful), Fourth Avenue Cafe, Honey, Butterfly�fs Sleep and perhaps my fave out of an impossible selection of choices: One of Larc�fs more mellow tracks, Time Slip starts out with a simple chord rhythm and expands upon it with Ken�fs usual rock-solid guitar skills, Tetsu accompanies him with amazingly varied bass lines while vocalist Hyde belts out a heartfelt performance (when does he not lol) for a stunner of a song.

Hyde Taking a hiatus from his work as vocalist and lyricist of L�farc en Ciel is Hyde.
Starting his own solo career after the release of Laraku�fs album Real in 2000, Hyde has released several singles as well as two recordings (English for the overseas, and Japanese for the domestic) of his debut album Roentgen. Proving that he�fs more than just the vocalist of Laraku, Hyde�fs songs emanate a different vibe from the usually angry sounding work he did with L�farc en Ciel. His usually rich, and powerful tonal quality is brought down several notches to reflect the change in his new sound, that�fs not to say his voice is any less expressive. On the contrary, it lends an interesting dimension to a side of Hyde that we don�ft hear all that often, he often sings in falsetto in many of his songs, but nothing like this. Those who are accustomed to his usual explosion of dynamic vocal range may be surprised to hear him whisper his lyrics in some cases, it�fs as if he�fs making an effort to sing softly here. Along with the tonal change is the change in musical style in general, as songs off of Roentgen have atmospheric qualities to them that imply that this Hyde is more poetic and soft spoken than balls to the wall rock. You get to even hear his saxophone playing skills in one song (Evergreen), while in others he plays acoustic guitar, while guest musicians back him up on everything, from drums to bass to piano, there�fs a lot of texturally rich sound to be experienced. And if you miss Hyde�fs rock sound then check out the new single Hello. Anyone interested in a polished sound that is multi layered and soothing all at once would be wise to reward themselves by checking out Hyde�fs work. Recommended songs: Evergreen, Hello, and my fave: the beautiful, texturally lush Shallow Sleep. Now he's released the new album 666, which looks to be awesome!

Tetsu69 Laruku�fs front man and leader Tetsu has long been supplying the back up vocals for L�farc, and ever since Laraku has been in hiatus has started a solo project of his own (actually all the members have their own solo projects lol), dubbed Tetsu69. In direct contrast to Hyde, many of Tetsu�fs songs come off as very poppy rock, one can infer that this is a good sound choice considering his happy, bright nature (watch Laraku in concert and see him pulling little dances in these huge platform boots lol). Released during the holiday season, his debut album Suite November is very catchy, with all sorts of poppy hooks, and a great listen even if you�fre not in a Christmas-y mood. Those who�fve noticed Tet chan in the background of Laraku songs might some kind of an inkling as to what he�fs capable of, but now you get him front and center, and he puts forth a great vocal effort. Some songs are admit tingly more serious in scope (I guess Hyde rubbed off on him), but don�ft let this derail you from such a solid effort from a veteran artist. This solo artist is recommended to all who enjoy fun, catchy songs that put you in a good mood. Just don�ft look too surprised if you�fre caught humming the songs to yourself! Recommended songs: Whiteout, Tightrope, Wonderful World.

Glay - Glay have a generally upbeat sound to their songs. Many of their songs are of the fast rock n roll type with extended guitar solos and all <gotta dig Hisashi lol>, but they are also known for their ballads. Again, like L'arc, there are no two Glay songs that sound alike, which for people with ADD-like attention spans this comes as a blessing. Teru's voice is a very amiable one, I'd imagine girls swoon to his crooning voice, it's one that implies sincerity as it doesn't sound like he's artificially straining to hit his notes, he sings the way he feels and that's rare in rock these days. Anyway, you can't really go wrong with Glay, unless you hate rock and roll. Check out these songs: Beloved, Freeze my Love, Aitai Kimochi, However, Innocence, Summer FM and my fave: the seemingly mellow song Will Be King, that towards the end, shifts gears and bursts into one of the most memorable choruses I�fve ever heard.

Luna Sea - Another of my favorites, listening to Luna Sea will depend on what time frame you listen to them in, their earlier works <Lunacy, Eden, Mother> had a harder rock edge to them, and vocalist Ryuiichi had an awesome growl to his voice. Works that took place after the previously mentioned <Style, Shine, Luna Sea> are more on the texturally lush guitar chord side making them great love songs and ballads. Also Ryuiichi's voice grew softer to accompany the change of hard rock to mellodic ballads, so depending on what genre music you like, choose from the above albums. Luna Sea�fs songs whether hard rocking or slow and contemplative always carry an uplifting message to them, while all songs retain a highly technical nature, with a lush arrangement of distorted and clean chords mixed with melodies played on clean electric guitar, (LS�fs guitarist Sugizo even plays the violin in many songs) are all beautiful although sometimes in an eerie way. Songs to check out include Shine, In Silence, With Luv, Rosier, Genesis of Mind, I For You and my fave: the beautiful 10 minute uplifting love ballad Forever and Ever.

X Japan - Man I can't say enough about this band!! If you are a metalhead you will love them, if you enjoy symphonic style rock you will love them, if you are a love ballad afficionado you will love them. If you enjoy intelligently composed and written music, you will love them. This band is unbelievably talented, with songs whose scope and raw emotional power are simply spellbinding. Whether it�fs a speedy metal thrasher with touches of classical piano interspersed, to a beautifully played piano session with Toshi choking out the heartbreaking lyrics, to rock that is very gothic in tone, X�fs music is excellent no matter the musical attempt (attempt? More like success�c) Toshi�fs voice is amazing, all his work pre Dahlia have him shrieking in key, it�fs this fierce quality that makes X�fs songs truly awesome head-banging metal, during Dahlia it made a transition into a much smoother, refined sound to accompany the band�fs ballads. I urge anyone who becomes a fan of X Japan to check out their concerts, which are available on DVD through a number of sources. Seeing this band play live is worth just about any fee, because you�fll never forget their unbelievable energy, or how the crowd empathically joins in own on the chorus of songs such as Endless Rain (In the case of Dahlia Tour and The Last Live, the crowd extends the 6 minute Endless Rain to a whopping 20+ minutes, because they know if they let up, it�fll be the last time they will experience X Japan). Songs to check out are Silent Jealousy, Endless Rain, Kurenai, Forever Love, Dahlia, Rose of Pain, and the legendary 30-minute symphonic rock opus Art of Life. I think whoever you are, and whatever your tastes, you should give them a try, because there's something for everyone.

Hide - The deceased legendary guitarist of X Japan had his own solo works that spawned the bands Spread Beaver, Zilch, and Zeppet Store as well. You think that with X Japan out of the way, Hide would focus on all out rock fused with madly extended solos of uber skilled caliber. However, like the enigmatic rocker himself, the guitar genius Hide manages to surprise once again. Looking at Hide, one can only wonder how that voice matches that look, but his voice suits his music very well, music that is either soft spoken, or very energetic in execution. None of Hide�fs songs sound like something off of an X Japan CD, they are a style all his own, as he mixes in sound samples and fuses in elements of jazz, hard rock, and even ska to form songs of a unique sonic scope. His playful energy will no doubt have you singing along and wearing a goofy smile all the while. Cool songs to check out are Pink Spider, Dice, Everfree, Lemoned I Screamed and Rocket Dive. If you've managed to like 2 out of any of the bands listed above, this is a no brainer.

Malice Mizer - Well, are there any Mana afficianados on this board? lol At any point composed of Mana (He is the ultimate crossdresser :-O ), Kami, Ko-zi, and spanning three vocalists until they broke up (Gackt, Tetsu, Klaha - Klaha and Gackt are awesome vocalists, Tetsu, well he's Tetsu lol) Malice Mizer are a highly experimental goth rock group that utilize everything from synthesizers, and violins to pianos and harpsichords. Of course there are guitars in the mix but usually in conjunction with other instruments. Songs range from operatic (Shiroi, Syukuniss, Gardenia), to very bright and sprightly (Au Revoir, Ju Tu Veux), and there are also the usual hard edged songs thrown in the mix as well (Beast of Blood, Color me Blood Red). The subject nature of the songs are quite interesting, ranging from vampires, to saving someone from drowning, to just reminiscing while taking a stroll through a Parisian street. Whatever you do, don't let their appearance let you skip past them, because appearance isn't everything. Try out Syukuniss, if you don�ft like them then, you�fll never like em lol.

The Brilliant Green - Geez this is getting long winded lol! These guys quite simply rock, and they are a very accessible band with their vocalist Tomoko (Tommy to fans) writing many of her songs�f lyrics in English. A great little trio whose clever, and cute lyrics provide a backdrop for their polished sonic sound, this is a band that goes from sweet and melodic to just nearly rocking it out alternative style. If you have any doubts of getting into J-rock, try this group out to help you get off that fence, it�fs a great way to get acquainted with the J-rock scene. Songs to listen to are: You and I, There will be Love There, Rock and Roll, Angel Song Eve no Kane, and my faves: I can�ft decide on just one so�c The alternative jewel from their debut album Tsumetai Hana, the emotive escalating and contemplative Forever to Me, and the short and sweet track that never fails in making me feel all warm and fuzzy Always and Always.

Thee Michelle Gun Elephant - Fans of a heavy rock sound with touches of the Who, MC5 and rockabilly thrown in will go heads over heels over this band. They create THE MOST 733T KICK ASS SONIC WALL OF SOUND eVaR, comparable to the likes of the MC5, this band rocks like it�fs the only thing keeping them alive. The vocalist Chiba spits out his lyrics like a venomous snake while his band mates lay down the groundwork of a sound so furious your ass won�ft know whether to groove or to run away scared. Deserving special mention is Futoshi Abe, whose incredibly flexible guitar skills lets him lash out with varied riffs and blistering solos. Securing CD�fs from these guys should be no problem at all, as they have made it across the Pacific under the record label Alive Records, and have three albums out stateside. Do yourself a favor and check out the loudest, most exciting band to play under the sun in some time. Blow all those �gloud�h and �gangry�h bands out of the water! Check these songs out: Boiled Oil, Abakareta Sekai, Young Jaguar, Why Do You Want to Shake, Smokin Billy, and the supremely awesome Pinhead Cramberry Dance.

B�fz There are only 5 legendary guitarists in the entire world that have been bestowed with the honor of being a Gibson signature artist. Among them, Jimmy Page of Led Zep., Ace Frehley of KISS, Joe Perry of Aerosmith, B.B. King, and Tak Matsumoto of B�fz who landed TWO of his very own Signature Gibson Models. If this bit of trivia alone doesn�ft convince you of the importance of B�fz, then consider that since 1988, B�fz have sold over 86 million records in Asia, that�fs a HELL OF A LOT OF RECORDS. But Tak couldn�ft have done it alone, oh no, because without the intense, cathartic vocals of Koshi Inabe, it wouldn�ft be B�fz. B�fz are a two member group composed of Tak as lead guitar and composer, and Koshi on vocals, along with what seems like a dozen guest artists on different songs handling every instrument conceivable. B�fz have covered Blues, Pop, the mystic sounds of the east, the heavy gauged sounds of the West, and every form of Rock and Roll in between. With Koshi�fs intense and versatile voice, and Tak�fs unprecedented guitar skills, the duo have created a myriad of amazing sounds for you to discover. Take a dive into the world of B�fz and see what all the Buz�fz is about! Check out: Juice, Ultra Soul, Calling, Atsukikodou no Hate, It�fs Showtime, Konya tsuki no mieru oka ni, and my fave: the unbelievably awesome Negai.

Gackt The former vocalist of Malice Mizer, Gackt split from that band, and while fans of MM may have been shocked and disappointed, I say it�fs a damn good thing he did. Dreaming of someday being a musical composer, Gackt was born to entertain, with a mug like that, coupled with his multitude of skills (everything from drums, guitars, trumpets, pianos, tubas, and many more this guy does it all), and most importantly, a voice that is nearly without peer, it�fs no wonder. His songs range from eerie, to mysterious and atmospheric, to utterly danceable, to straight up rock, the only thing is they are all very well thought out pieces, polished to a sheen. Subject matter is always of a very clever, metaphorical nature, from Cube being an implication that the body is a box or �eCube�f for the soul, to the tortuous confession of Doomsday, to the seemingly elegiac Emu for My Dear. Upon firing up a Gackt song, you are treated to that unmistakable voice, at times low and bassy, at times soft and near falsetto, Gackt�fs voice is always on key, and unbelievably silky smooth. Check out this genius�f songs: Cube, Asrun Dream, Ninespiral, Blue (a very well played piano solo), Emu for my Dear (Excellent, Excellent stuff), and my fave: the eerily beautiful, high-low alternating masterpiece Doomsday.

Shiina Ringo Oh man, where in the heck do I start? ^_^; Shiina Ringo has a reputation for highly experimental songs where just about every musical genre, and instrument is touched upon. She is at once mysterious and cool, raw and snarling, and soft and sugary sweet, sometimes all these in a span of 15 seconds. Her songs are jam packed with a wide range of accompanying instruments which range from synthesizers, slap bass guitars, pianos, cellos, guitars, flutes, tubas, glockenspiels, heck even people humming and Shiina whistling! altogether just way, way, way too many to count. Instruments that seem to come from every imaginable nation, if you blink you�fll surely miss them. Listening to her songs is like a pure blast of cold, fresh mountain air on a blistering hot day, it�fs the most unique thing since gee-whiz genius band Radiohead compiled OK Computer. Try out tracks from Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana... (Uh, I have no idea if you can find these files easily as the cd is copy protected Rolling eyes

) Shuukyou, Poltergeist, Odaijini, Yatsusuke Shigoto, Kuki, and Meisai.

The Pillows Now considered as �gthe guys behind Furi Kuri�fs soundtrack�h, I confess that I also came across The Pillows through experiencing FLCL. Downloading the FLCL fansubs back before it was localized, I was hooked not on the show (though that is one hell of a show�c) at first, but rather, that pulsing, rocking, garage sound that was backed by the most unique sounding male vocals I�fd ever heard. Who were these mysterious guys, �gThe Pillows�h who were behind the maddeningly addictive, uber cool garage sounds of songs such as Ride on Shooting Star? Searching the net brought me my answers, The Pillows have been rocking it out for 10 years now, though not especially popular in their homeland of Japan, they have a tendency to give their all in all their performances. It takes a great amount of confidence to sing songs with lyrics as obscure as those found in Little Busters, and Ride on Shooting Star, or sometimes songs that are entirely instrumental in nature altogether. The vocalist Sawao Yamanaka is of worthy note, he sings his songs with feeling and a sense of glee that isn�ft all too common these days. Hearing him drawl out the lyrics in Ride on Shooting Star, scream his lungs out in the chorus of Hybrid Rainbow, and chant with a youthful and rebellious vigor in Little Busters is really something you�fve gotta hear yourself. Check out these awesome tracks: Little Busters, Ride on Shooting Star, Last Dinosaur, Sad Sad Kiddie, Instant Music, Funny Bunny, and my fave: a two-way tie this time lol: Hybrid Rainbow and Crazy Sunshine – songs that�fll make you feel like running up a green hill twirling and whirling while screaming the choruses at the top of your lungs ala The Sound of Music. CAN YOU FEEL?!!! THAT CRAZY SUNSHINE!!!! LOL.

Do As Infinity This band has a special place in my listening collection since it�fs the first Japanese rock band I�fve ever listened to, and still listen to. One of the most popular bands right now in Japan, the trio Dai, Tomiko, and Ryo have covered a vast variety of styles in their CDs since their forming of Do As Infinity (An acronym for Dai�fs name by the way). Tomiko Van�fs female vocals are reminiscent of Chisako Mikami, a strong and smooth presence that makes listening to DAI�fs music a pleasure. The band has some very interesting sounds, from traditional acoustic guitar ballads, to Eastern sounds fused with DJ scratches (Tomiko even kinda raps in one song!), to very personal sounding songs, to very fun poppy rock songs. Whatever your listening style, Do As Infinity probably has the gamut to cover it, and the dedication and skill to keep you listening. Try out these songs: Week (a favorite of mine), Welcome! (A very fun poppy track that�fll have you smiling),Tooku Made (A great rock song with the coolest opening), We Are (An awesome Christmas song for the upcoming holidays), Heart (A very good acoustic guitar ballad fused with rock elements), Painful (East meets West, as a distinctly Japanese flute meets Ryo�fs very cool rapping as an acoustic guitar chimes in with Tomiko�fs great vocals), and my fave: A cathartic, heartfelt song I actually wrote out dozens of times in yearbooks for my friends come High School graduation, Vitamin C and Eve 6 wished they could write a song like this: Yesterday and Today.

Hysteric Blue I was in a CD store when I discovered this wonderful band, I had enough for a new J-rock CD but was new to the scene. Faced with a bevy of decisions with names to weird and foreign I grabbed a cd with three band members on the front, they were wearing red shirts that said Hysteric Blue on them, and were wearing crazy looking clothes that reminded me of Judy and Mary�fs getup. I grabbed this CD out of desperation as I�fd been standing in this store for nearly 30 minutes looking at everything from Ayumi Hamasaki to Zard without much of a clue as to what any of these singers and bands sounded like. Ah, the joys of newbie days gone by! ^_^ Now that I�fve got a much firmer understanding of Japanese music in general, I can still say that this band rocks, there aren�ft many bands in Japan that sound like Hysteric Blue, just a straight up blend of punky pop rock sung from the heart. The closest thing to Hysteric Blue is probably Judy and Mary, although Hysteric Blue is much more rock than J&M�fs more poppy sounds. Of worthy mention is the vocalist Tama chan�fs very interesting voice, she sings in two distinct octaves, a normal sounding one, and one that is very high and chirpy ala Judy and Mary. This band belts out some very addictive sounds, and they have a really cool unique style all their own, unfortunately, they aren�ft too popular, and at their height I think they were on HeyX3. So of course tracking down their songs if you want to experiment might be a tad difficult, just try the p2p stuff and see if you get lucky, and of course, if you like em support them by buying their albums at yesasia.com or something so that we may see more of this promising band! Check out these really cool tunes: Midnight Rave, Haru ~Spring~, Cocktail, Reset Me, Naze, Ima Mieru Asu, Imashimeru Kyou, and my fave: the very nicely written, well sung, better played life anecdote of a 20 year old, who while living alone realizes she�fs still her parent�fs child, �gDear.�h

Fra Foa An alternative band with an intensely personal message, I discovered Fra Foa a while ago, and have since been yearning to get my paws on one of their two releases. Fra Foa is one of those bands that plays from the heart, listening to vocalist Chisako Mikami evokes a feeling of a need for others, her songs seemingly a confession of her fears, desires, and loneliness. Her voice is very strong without being loud, just the way it quivers as she sings her lyrics commands the listener�fs attention, but that�fs not to say that Chi chan can�ft be intense at the same, on the contrary, singing from the heart means you bring forth all your emotions, like a cleansing of the soul if you will. The raw nature of Chisako�fs voice is not masked by an overly processed studio mix either, Fra Foa sound�fs like that garage band down your street, as the crunch of the guitar helps to emphasize Chisako�fs urgently desperate message, �gWith this body that God has given me, I will use it to sing the joys of living.�h (Note, this is a direct translation, she doesn�ft sing her lyrics in English, check out Centigrade.blandplanet.com for an amazing list of translated lyrics End shameless plug ^_^). Check out: Sumiwataru Sora Sono Mukou ni, Edge of Life, Aojiroi Tsuki (Sounds like the health drink Aojiru lol), Higurashi, and my fave: Wow. Wow. Wow. �gLight of Sorrow.�h Wow. Can�ft get enough of this. Wow. Enough said.

The Back Horn Another recent discovery, vocalist Yamada Masashi puts forth THE MOST INTENSELY FIERCE vocal performance I�fve ever heard, this guy is somehow even more raw and emotional than Chiba of Thee Michelle Gun Elephant. That said, getting into The Back Horn is a must for anyone who thrives on hard rock, this ain�ft no Linkin Park, this is the real deal. Listening toYamada scream out his lyrics, one can easily acknowledge the pain he suffers even if they don�ft understand exactly what he�fs singing about, it�fs this raw, emotional turbulence that set The Back Horn apart from all the �gme too angsty nu metal bands.�h A person who sings this way can�ft possibly be singing about angsty crap like �gShut up when you�fre talking to me!�h or all that faux rage ilk, this is unhampered, real emotional pain and rage this guy is singing about, not some teen who hates everyone with his nu metal rage. Backing up Yamada are guitarist Eijun Suganami, and drummer Shinji Matsuda, with guest bass players depending the album, all of whom churn out compelling performances of an extreme nature that only serve to make Yamada�fs anguish all the more apparent. If there�fs one hard rock band you can listen to and not feel guilty about it�fs The Back Horn. (Sorry to all the fans of LP, I had to go and use Linkin Park as a reference, since it�fs the most popular nu metal band anyway. It�fs just that there are bands out there that don�ft have to interject faux hatred and rebellion into their songs in order to get a point across.) Might be difficult to track these down but check out these tracks: Serenade, Yasei no Taiyo, Sunny and my fave: Ame, a song that best illustrates Yamada in all his emotionally tormented glory. And get the albums Ningen Program and Shinzoo Orchestra if you can�ft find these songs, they�fre WELL WORTH IT.

Utada Hikaru Mega popular since her release of the album First Love, Hikaru (Such a pretty name ^_^) has captured the attention of the Japanese audience with her smooth R&B vocal styling and uplifting songs. The first thing you�fll notice when you listen to an Utada song, is that fact that she sings in English too. While this may not seem all that startling in a country that idealizes American culture anyway, consider the fact that Utada was born in New York and made many trips back and forth to Japan growing up. Her Japanese is perfect, her English is perfect, we don�ft have some pop star insinuatingly rolling her tongue to create those hip and distinct English �gL�h sounds, we have a singer who is capable of flawlessly singing in our native language, and what singing�c Hikaru has one of the most pleasant voices in J Pop, a strong, sultry R&B tone that is very unlike those of the usual high-pitched divas associated with J Pop. A lot of Hikaru�fs songs come off as very personal as she writes the lyrics herself, you�fll catch glimpses of her meeting her husband to be (Hikari), and finding herself needing love after all (Distance), to just being a girl and keeping secrets (Can you keep a secret?). Her songs range from romantic acoustic guitar outings, to poppy danceable music, to intimate piano sessions, to even rock inspired (she grew up with Metallica and Queen) and of course the occasional hip hop and R&B song. If any of the above genres of music interest you, than please check out this very promising artist right away, or at least sample her very smooth vocal style, you might just find yourself singing �gYuppari, I need to be with you�c�h Check out: Hayotochi/remix (The original song has since been remixed on the album Distance, both are really cool and worth checking out), Wait and See, Can You Keep a Secret?, Hikari, Sakura Drops, Tokyo Nights, Track 11 on Distance (blasted KANJI!!!), Traveling and my fave: Distance/Final Distance (The first one is from the album Distance, and is an irresistible pop song, while the second is from Deep River, and a much more serious, personal take on the song of the same name, featuring a chorus and piano).

Ayumi Hamasaki Though there are more bands and artists worthy of mention, I think I�fll bring things to a close here lol. Only lamer gaijins who don�ft acknowledge anyone outside of Britney Speared (yeah if only�c) don�ft know who this proclaimed Queen of J-Pop is. Converting every girl, teen and young woman in Japan overnight with her undeniably sexy/cute sense of style and up-tempo danceable music, Ayu chan is in short a phenomenon in Japan, one who didn�ft fade overnight like so many other pop acts. Ayumi recorded a plethora of hits, and struck gold with her combination of lively dance, techno, rock, pop, and ballads all synced to the themes penned by her own small hands. Ayumi ALWAYS gives her all during performances, and always has some form of elaborate stage sets, and a myriad of back up dancers, performers, and musicians all dressed in an over the top fashion reminiscent of a Cher concert. Oh, and did I mention that her stage antics are ridiculously cute ^_^ ? This attitude is reflected in her studio recorded songs, always a perfect fusion of many different styles and elements of music, keyed to her unique lively voice, Ayumi is in every way the female version of Gackt if there ever was one. Check out these songs: Immature, Whatever, Fly High, Seasons, To Be, Who�c, and my fave: Surreal, a very cool techno/dance song where Ayumi�fs voice hits very impressive highs.

Also, Dir en Grey, Loudness, and Siam Shade get some honourable mentions as I'm too damn tired of typing lol. Well, there you have it, there's my current list, and if I had the time and money, well, there'd be even more artists right there lol. For all of you who have yet to take the plunge on some of the more prominent artists, I hope I have done something to get you an idea of where these artists stand and what you can expect. As always have fun listening, and whenever possible, support your favorite artists by buying, who knows? Maybe Japanese music will get the same attention as anime, and hopefully drama will follow too. Big Grin

Catch you later,
Id