Review by Pagan
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CardinalMALICE MIZERClips
This was included with my European version of Bara No Seidou, so I don't have the cool cover than comes with this, but I still have the DVD. ^^ The first three clips are without Klaha, focusing entirely on Mana, Kozi and Yu~ki (visually, at least). You get to see all those costumes during the live DVD of this era as well. ^^ Klaha really comes into play with the other clips, the singles that might have become a new album. We'll never know. =( It's nice music, a little nicer than the Bara No Seidou material (which I consider a mourning period for Kami). One extra song is a live version of Beast of Blood. It's nice, just because it's a nice song. ^^ I wouldn't have bought this so quickly if it wasn't included with the European CD, but I don't mind I have it. I probably saved some money this way, too.
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SM Show FinaleSEX MACHINEGUNSHahahah!!!
Normally I'm not the biggest fan of heavy metal. It's a good genre, melodic and heavy, but I'm simply more fond of other genres. Sex Machineguns might be one of those heavy metal bands that stand out for me. It's heavy, catchy, and this gig is kind of visual, too. Achang has a fitting voice, and the rest of the band really do well, too. It's a long concert that starts on DVD1 with 116 mins and ends on DVD2 with 89 mins. ^__^ It's a very enjoyable gig, and the band's visibly enjoying themselves. I can understand why they are one of Japan's leading heavy metal bands, playing for a sold-out Budokan. This isn't the "final" SM tour, though. They got back together in 2004 and have been doing their thing ever since. Fans of (Japanese) heavy metal should give this a try. Truly. If a casual heavy metal listener like me can enjoy it, imagine what it'd do for true fans.
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Paralysed BoxHEAD PHONES PRESIDENTNot entirely correct
Finally, my first HPP DVD. Awesome! However, there are only 8 songs on this DVD, with bits and pieces of interviews inbetween (with English subs this time!). Bonus track is an acoustic version of Chain (a song also featured on the regular setlist). It's a short DVD (then again, I LOVE HPP, so it'll always be too short! =P), but it's worth the cheaper price. It's mainly songs from Folie A Deux, with a few older tracks (Sacrificed!). Picture and sound are good, a bit dark at times, but that fits the moody atmospheric music of HPP. Anza is in good shape and manages to sound more aggressive than she does on the albums, and you can see she really dives deep into the emotion of the songs. Very dedicated, very cool. ^__^ Although I wish it were longer and had a full concert, this is good to start off with. I hope Toy's Box (their first DVD released in 2006) will be available here soon, and that HPP will release a full concert DVD at some point (60-120 mins). By the way, this DVD's name is "Paralysed Box".
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HEART BREAK BANDITS
d.p.sHEART BREAK BANDITSd.p.sHidden!This album was sneakily hidden under the alias of "d.p.s" rather than "Dead Pop Stars", but I found it! ^___^ I already own Self-Violence, D.P.S, and Star Ride, and I must say I like the first two a little better than I like Heart Break Bandits. It's not a bad album, oh no, just lacking a bit of roughness, just that little part the other two albums do have. I'm not a big fan of the sugary sweet ballads either, though maybe that'll grow in time, as they do with other bands. If you found this, good! You're probably a Dead Pop Stars fan! =D Buy?
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Shibuya Kokaido LiveNightmareFirst DVD
Nightmare's first DVD effort is pretty neat. Nice looking stage, fluffy and elegant visuals, even smoke-fans and fire behind the band. For an indies gig, this is pretty good. "Ultimate Circus Finale" features mainly Ultimate Circus and oldies (first two "Ore" albums) songs, which means it's slightly louder, slightly more metal than later songs. Not much, but it helps. Picture and sound quality are good, and I really enjoyed watching this DVD. Just the overall performance was a little better than most I've seen so far, or maybe I was just in a better mood for it. Either way, it's a worthy addition to your Nightmare collection. Sadly it's out of print now. =(
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HAKUEI KIYOSHI [Shufuku Kanryu Saikido]machineGood, but...
Machine, available for a relatively cheap price. You do get 80-90 minutes of concert footage, with maybe a few minutes of backstage footage in between (only after 1 or 2 songs or so). Picture and sound are good, as is the performance, though it's clearly a Hakuei/Kiyoshi show. The bassist, drummer and keyboardist get less camera exposure and even less lights on them, though they are credited in the credits and booklet. Hakuei is a decent vocalist, usually sounds okay with only a few off-moments. Kiyoshi, on the other hand, should stick to playing guitar. When he screams a bit, it's okay, but when he sings high (or tries to), it sounds off quite a bit, which ruins a perfectly good song. =/ Machine is good J-rock with electronic/industrial edges, and is worth your money. It'd be better if Kiyoshi didn't open his mouth so much, though. Sorry mate.
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Masker's CarnivalMASKBest Mask DVD I have
This is easily the best Mask DVD out of the 3 I have. I don't have "Start", but this one is good enough. Tokyo Dilemma is good, but short. Mirai E No Tsubasa is also good, but I get the idea they cut songs from the set for the DVD & CD release. This is the longest of the three, with an hour and a half of non-stop gigging Mask madness. No strange edits, no bonus, just a good and enjoyable concert. Picture and sound are great, and Mask do their best to give a nice performance. It's quite decent. If you have seen live DVD's of similar bands (Alice Nine, Nightmare, Vidoll, Wizard, etc), you'll know what to expect. ^^ Best DVD of Mask so far! I'm not sure what "Start" is like. Probably similar (also in 2006), but with a lot of tears because it's their last live. If that's true, I think this will remain my favourite. =3
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Mirai e no Tsubasa -2005.08.08-MASKHmm...
This DVD is slightly longer than Tokyo Dilemma, about an hour and a half. Picture, sound and performance are good, no complaints about that. The only bad thing about this DVD? Well, at the end of a few songs, Mask begins playing a new song and 5 seconds into it, picture and sound fades out, only to start anew with a different song. =/ I get the feeling the whole concert isn't on this release. Either that or they shuffled the track order (whatever for?). I know there's a CD version of this as well (I have it), but without tracklists, I don't know which tracks are on the CD, DVD or both. =/
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Democratic Violence2 BulletIndustrial
A little short, but a good album by 2 Bullet, also the only one they have commercially released. It brings mix of rock, metal and industrial influences. I don't regret buying this at all. One thing that's unusual is that the jewelcase lacks a back/inlay. It only has a booklet with front, tracklist and lyrics.
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Tokyo DilemmaMASKDecent, but not original
Mask existed only 3 years (2003-2006). I got to know them through Ayabie, as vocalist Aoi once sang for Mask, which he left in 2004. By the time of this DVD, 04-04-2005, Aoi was already replaced by Jin. They even go as far as adding "MASK - Since 20040823" to the logo, as if the Aoi period never existed. =/ Anyway, on to the DVD. Mask is a typical "default" visual rock band in the vein of Alice Nine, Nightmare and Vidoll. If you're expecting something unique, you'll be disappointed. However, if you like the bands mentioned above, you will probably like Mask as well. =3 The DVD is good, similar to what you can expect from many DVD's in this genre. Performance, sound, picture quality, all good. Mask may not be original, but they -are- a good band! ^_^ They're probably less well-known because they have already disbanded after 3 years. The concert on this DVD lasts for an hour. 50 minutes main gig, 10 minutes encore (1 song: "C"). It's a little cheaper than other Mask DVD's, but it's the shortest one in length. ^^
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Mirai e no Tsubasa - 2005.08.08MASKNo tracklist
I can't find the tracklist to this CD anywhere! Other than that, it's a good live album, definitely a nice addition to my growing Mask collection. <3
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AX FiLEMASKNo tracklist
As with Mirai E No Tsubasa, I can't find a tracklist anywhere. More so because the CD was placed inside a magazine-like Jin photobook. I thought it would be in a DVD box or a hardcover photobook, not in a magazine. The CD itself is good. Worth buying if you like Mask.
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Team KZISABELLEFirst and probably only DVD...
After 2 albums and 2 years, Isabelle found it interesting to record a live DVD. As far as I know, it's the only Isabelle document widely released. What to say? It's filmed in a small venue, similar to Shinjuku Loft, called Shibuya Cyclone (maybe it's the same place?). They've done extremely well, considering the limited space. The cameras are not of bad quality either, though the picture quality is a little fuzzy. Sound is good, though, and Isabelle sounds heavy and aggressive. =3 The concert lasts for an hour, and sometimes seems to switch between songs real quick and sudden (by means of a static "bzzt!", giving me the impression some songs are not represented in their full length. No wonder they can cram so many songs in only 60 minutes. Isabelle is a good band, quite heavy but not always. They have two vocalists, which is a rarity in the scene (as far as I know). The visual aspect is mainly styled hair and a black stripe painted over the eyes, making them look like evil raccoons. =3 I hope they'll reform one day and release another DVD. They deserve it.
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Rock the Party '08LM.CNewness
This is a new and quite unique visual band. They blend rock and metal with electronic sounds. Their visual style is one of a kind (as far as I know), but definitely heavily visual. The band revolves around the vocalist and guitarist. The rest (bass, keys, drums, and extra percussion) are support members, also quite visual. The concert lasts long enough, over an hour at the very least. Long enough to be entertained for a while, anyway. Some songs are quieter ballads, but most are rock/metal songs with electronic influences, giving them a sound that isn't common in the scene at the moment. One little detail, the box mentions the concert wa on 19 July, not 18 July. Another funny detail, they announced this DVD a few weeks before 19 July, as if they were absolutely certain that concert would be released. ^-^ It's a great DVD, very interesting. I love it!
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5th Anniversary Special Live - Arashi [Regular Edition]12012Anniversary!
Mmm, I'm not quite sure what to say about this DVD. Quality is great, the band's in good shape. Though somewhere I can't escape the feeling that 12012 is a lot louder, a lot more "metal" on their albums than they are in a live setting, just like the band "D". So with the metal sounding more like a rock style, the songs become less powerful, and they sound more like other visual bands, be it not as punky or happy. Visual-wise they're quite mild...could almost pass for a "normal" look. Almost, if it wasn't for slightly modified hair. The gig itself is great. Lots of nice songs in one big concert that lasts 2 hours and 19 minutes. <3 I'm missing "Gallows", but oh well.
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FILM THE PSYCHOMMUNITY REEL 1hideEntertaining
Hide's a very entertaining artist to watch. Kind of crazy, with catchy upbeat music. This DVD has an awesome concert of Hide (still with big red hair!) and his band (including Pata of X Japan). For a 1993 tour, this is really good quality. A little chaotic sometimes, but that's Hide. ^^ I have a few issues with this DVD. One because some songs use footage from different concerts of the same tour, meaning Hide switches outfits a lot in one song, which kind of ruins the consistency. Second issue is that there are large chunks (10+ minutes) of backstage footage after quite a few songs. It ruins the live feeling. I'd rather have backstage footage seperate from the concert, so I can watch the whole live show in one go. Not everyone seems to understand that's possible on a DVD, unlike a VHS tape. =/ Other than that, I really like this concert. A lot more than the 1996 Ugly Pink Machine gig, which was a lot more chaotic with a lot more post-film editing, at least during the first bit.
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UnsanmushouKagrra,Finally!
Kagrra's 2005 tour DVD and currently the most recent footage released. I was excited to get this and most of all curious to hear whether vocalist Isshi can finally hit those high notes without sounding off, like he did on the first two DVD's (Hisai and Kaika Sengen). Good news! He finally managed to do it!!! Makes me wonder when he started to be able to do his high vocals live as well. Anyways, sound and picture quality are good. The stage looks nice, a true traditional Japanese Kagrra show. ^_^ My only complaint is that this DVD, along with the two I mentioned earlier, only last about an hour before the band finishes. Do they always play such short concerts, or is that only for a DVD release? =/ They could have fit more onto a DVD, I'm sure. Why don't they just take advantage of that? Other than that, good DVD, definitely miles better than the first two. ^_^
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Live [CD+DVD]sweetboxPretty good
A friend of mine is crazy about Sweetbox, so I went and got all the albums to share with her, including this one. It's pretty good emotional American pop centered around singer Jade, who performs with her band and background singers/dancers. I wonder why Sweetbox isn't mainstream here in Europe or in the USA. It's very accessible, even based on classic tunes. So why are they only popular in Asia? =/ It puzzles me. Picture and sound are good, performance is alright. Not as super visual as you'd expect from a pop artist, but Sweetbox isn't Janet Jackson or something, that's true. It's a good look at what Sweetbox is like in a live setting. I, for one, was really wondering what it'd be like. It's good.
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MOON AND THE MEMORIES...THE ETERNITIES/LAST LIVE VIDEO [LAST LIVE AT HIBIYA-YAON/27,28th OCT.1990]D'ERLANGERNot quite sure...
D'erlanger live during two nights? Perhaps, but I seriously doubt this is all the footage of the two-night Last Live. I chose between this and Incarnation of Eroticizm, simply because both have the same cheap price and this one was supposedly around 60 minutes, the other around 45. At least, that's what the description said at that time. Don't be fooled, the concert was over after 45 minutes, and the credits take 2 minutes and that's it. It was okay. Music was decent, visual aspect was fairly light. Not that much to look at, plus I really think the guitarist is ugly and doesn't even look Japanese. Is he even Asian? =/ Picture is good for a 1990 performance, sound's okay too, but nothing awesome. I guess you get what you pay for, which is fairly short. No bonus material either. Still, some DVD's are as cheap as this or even cheaper and you get 120+ minutes of live concert footage. I'm a little disappointed, and my guess is that Incarnation of Eroticizm is similar to this, but you never know. Maybe that new reunion DVD they have out is a little better?
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The game of buster 2007.12.02 C.C.Lemon HALLVIDOLLYay!
I was so glad to finally get a Vidoll live DVD, since all their previous ones were limited ed. and are all out of print. =( This is actually a great one, too. Quite long (at least 2 hours), with a lot of great songs on their tour in support of the "Bastard" album. Visuals are nice, the stage looks good and the band looks awesome. The bassist is by far the most feminine and I like his (her? ^_^) style of playing, very nice to look at. *is a bassist himself* Picture quality is top-notch, sound quality is great, and the performance itself is very enjoyable. Even spotted some fan-service. ^_^ As far as the music goes, it fits in well with other visual bands of this moment. Think Alice Nine, Nightmare, Wizard, Ayabie, Mask, and to a lesser extent Kra, Kagrra, etc I really enjoyed this one and will enjoy it more, I'm sure.