Review by M
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Glitter [Limited Edition]KayaWith all my hearts <3
I bought Glitter when it was first released... I really loved it. This re-release is pretty good. Each song has either been remixed...slightly changed or the vocals re-recorded which, is really unique considering how much his style has changed since he was signed to a major label. Beautiful!
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Kyoko no Kyofu Radio
Guruguru Eigakan featuring Inugami Circus-danKyoko no Kyofu RadioGuruguru Eigakan featuring Inugami Circus-danGuruguruguruguruThis cd is excellent!! Although attributed to Guruguru, this is in all senses a collaboration between the two bands Inugami and Guruguru. Kyoko features heavily and the two bands work surprisingly well together. A really stellar concept and a brilliant album!!
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TsubasaAngeliqueKyoko and co. in top form
I love Inugami Circus Dan and this project is in a similar vein, yet completely different. Granted Kyoko has a very distinctive voice, yet the feeling of Tsubasa is so much more... satisfied. Angelique then, I could justify as a more acceptable face of Inugami. I think this is nice new ground that the band are covering and interesting at that!!
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ChocolatKayaBittersweet...
Once I'd bought this I was annoyed that I hadn't heard any little previews or tit-bits to stop me from salivating over Chocolat, much unlike Carmilla, which I knew what to expect. I was a bit surprised by Chocolat, at first quite apprehensive, but I've learned to love it. It's very poppy, in stark contrast to Carmilla, but it's catchy. The Sweet version is absolutely brilliant, demonstrating why SIZNA is an amazing guitarist and why Kaya's been signed to a major label; blatant talent and his unquestionable ability to extract emotion from the work. Lovely. (Pourriture noble's also pretty amazing ^-^)
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Core [w/ DVD, Limited Edition]Kagrra,Better than Shizuku
I'm a fan of ancient Kagrra; Nue, Irodori, Kirameki etc. Having said that I follow them regardless of how their style changes, but I really didn't like Shizuku all that much. Core I feel puts them on form again, at least in regards to their later career with a nice new look on Neo Japanesque
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Sweetest [w/ DVD, Limited Edition]SugarSweetest Sugar?
Sugar have always been sweet. SWEETEST maybe isn't as the title suggests, their sweetest release, but it's not bad at all!! The single BLOSSOM for a start is nice, pleasantly in keeping with the bands' jazzy sound. Similarly Toganin no Sora (Criminal Sky) from Mental Sketch Modified retains a sense of history, I can't recall whether it is taken straight from MSM, but it helps introduce the new bassist at any rate. ^-^ A worthwhile purchase ^-^.
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Lucifer / Makyo ni Utsuru Norowareta Tsumibito Tachi to Seimei no Shuen [Regular Edition]Madeth gray'llEvil en Lucifer?
This cd certainly isn't one of my favourite Madeth gray'll ones, but at least it's a landmark of the band's career, and awesome in its own right. From Seimei no Shuuen, through to Evil en Lucifer, this album's consistently twisted, dark and beautiful. Typically Matina ^-^. An immense album, but they did better in their short span.
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YokusoSugarDrowning in a far from empty bathtub
This song has always been a favourite of mine by Sugar. Although toning down a lot of the jazzier feelings of their earlier releases (most notably for me grave of mind) the melancholic feeling of yokusou is stunning, Loki always writing beautiful lyrics to complement the song, the other artists and his own voice. The b-side is also really good, the video too making this a worthwhile purchase.
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Kiraware Matsuko no Issho (Memories of Matsuko) Special EditionJapanese MovieMemories of Matsuko: The Photo Album lol
I can only describe my shock when I received a package I was expecting through the post, only to find it was massively bulky, almost obnoxiously so. Upon opening it, I found it was because Memories of Matsuko (Kiraware Matsuko no Isshou) was in a HUGE mock photo-album, with a few hard-printed pages with scenes from the film inside. I love this film, the first time having seen it on the plane to Japan, an insane mix of uplifting songs, terrible heartache, renewed hope and then Hikaru Genji (it's a long story). This edition is brilliant!
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SublimisGPKISMBaroque, Beauty, Brilliance
GPK is a genious. Having admitted he feels the gothic scene has lost its Beauty, bands preferring vulgarity and extremity, his music welcomes more traditional elements of Baroque and Renaissance, and fuses them mercilessly into EBM beats and synth. This album truly feels like a breath of fresh, neo-baroque air and GPK will hopefully be around for a long while yet (Flood of Rain I also hope will stay around for a very long time)
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OratorioSecilia Lunabeautifully refreshing
The first single from Secilia Luna demonstrates their immense talent. Tsukiyo ni Sasagu Sousoukyoku (Funeral March consecrated in Moonlight) had hinted at their ability at writing and performing, and Oratorio shows it off brilliantly. The songs feel very passionate and full of emotion, without Hinata's voice grating. Well worth it!
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IrodoriKagrra,Memai
Although this CD's been kicking about for a while now, I can't resist its charm and charisma. Kagrra's Irodori is made up of four releases and two new songs were included, all of which make a stunning collection. The Haru, Natsu, Aki and Fuyu released Genwaku no Joukei, Memai, Kamiuta and Tsuredzure naru mama ni all complement each other and joining Setsunaru Kotoba and Hyakkiyakou (easily one of the most entertaining Kagrra songs as Isshi manages to peal like a high-pitched bell) make this a classic you don't want to miss.
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NueKagrra,Nue no Naku koro...
Nue, where Kagrra began in earnest. This album is no doubt one of my favourite Kagrra albums, as it demonstrates their awesome talents and beautiful Japanesque sensibility. I cannot praise it enough!
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Jisatsu Ganbou [Regular Edition]
Due'le quartzJisatsu Ganbou [Regular Edition]Due'le quartzattitude, spice and malletsDue' le quartz, at the beginning of the noughties, was no doubt one of the sassiest bands of the time. Jisatsu Ganbou feels cheeky, without being silly, its attitude exemplified by Kikasa's moody bass, Miyabi's high-pitched guitar, Sakito's silky voice and Kazuki's effortless time-keeping.
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Curse of virgoHIZAKI grace projectRave Witch
Instrumental albums from HIZAKI are like being enveloped in a maze of rose bushes. They are beautiful and elegant, velvetine and silky, but dangerous, catchy and can tear you to pieces. Hizaki's guitar can demonstrate intense beauty and fierce power, all under the disguise of a blonde beautiful princess. The songs are immense on curse of virgo, calm being somewhat as the title may suggest, supreme being fiery and hot tempered, and there's a surprised for any Schwardix Marvally fans out there ^-^. A beautiful album, plus enhanced CD photographs of his majesty looking very pretty!! haha
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Aesthetic Violence: Jasmine You Ver. [w/ Perfume, Limited Edition]Versaillesa BIT disappointing
I'm disappointed. I didn't know what to expect, which is no one's fault but my own when I decided to fork out my money for a tiny bottle of fragrance and a badly filmed DVD. The DVD consists of a live PV for Shout&Bites and a comment/ interview from Jasmine You. The fragrance itself is beautiful, smells really nice, and yet it comes in a vial the size of a thimble. The DVD is pretty atrocious too. I was hoping for maybe a live, then maybe one live song, but it turned out to be neither, as the video was a semi-live PV and wasn't particularly well shot. The comment however... I LOVE the comment. Jasmine You amuses me to no end and when he randomly says 'sexy' for no apparent reason, you can't help but crack up and wonder what cocktail of shiny pills he's taken before hand. (I was also hoping for some of his magic tricks, but oh well T_T)...
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Manfuku ChineKuroroManfuku Chinese?
I love this mini album! It has the best of Visual plus a unique Chinese influence (ala Karma-Shenjing, but with its own twist)!
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Utagoe [w/ DVD, Limited Edition]MUCC^______^
MUCC continue to impress, they manage to change their style but keep their flare on every release (...except maybe furaito... which was slightly lacklustre). This was released before Gokusai (and also on the album) and is a really good song, the b-side also really good. The DVD (like a lot of their other 6-9 days or 10 year anniversary releases) features a documentary/ follows the band around on their world tour in 2006. great value, well worth it!
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Solid Beat [w/ DVD, Limited Edition / Jacket A]Kazuyuki MatsumotoSolid Beating
I was extremely keen to buy this and it didn't disappoint. I was hoping it would sound more say perhaps like Janne Da Arc, but Ka-yu's managed to break away from them and even takes the opportunity to sing. Muchly impressed ^-^. As much as yasu's enjoying success with Acid Black Cherry I think Ka-yu should do pretty well too, this CD is hopefully a good benchmark for him to continue from!
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Seishin ChintsuzaiLuLuStill brilliant....with a DVD
How to improve on almost perfection? add a DVD... I think that can only truly justify how good LuLu's 1st single still is, only now even better with an (amusing) Promo Video.