...the reverse side of beauty..//..Mantified

I...don't know what to say for this group. Yet I have this strange compulsion to make a commentary about Vidoll.

Methinks they're a curious band. Obviously, as music is the most important factor (followed by visual fashion styling and the PV art), so I'll just comment on their sounds.

As much as I like Jui's voice, it's been a hit and miss journey of Vidoll discovery for me. When I listened to Gothicaroid, it's as though I was listening to early GazettE - not the style I particularly admire when Ruki does it because it makes him sound like his voice hasn't broken yet. Vidoll's stop and go staccatos are not as difficult to listen to, though I suspect it might be because Jui's voice quality is gentler, softening the grunt effect. Then when I downloaded Orihime, my first reaction was: "VERSAILLES!!!!!" Can you really blame me when one of them (Shun or Giru, I still can't tell who's who yet) looks like a non-Renaissance styled version of Hizaki and there are repeated drum sounds that sound totally similar to Versailles' trademark beats? Only it's less Baroque and more upbeat.

They do have some plus points though. I suspect it may be my preference for vocalists who can sing the baritone ends and/or I prefer ballads and hard metal compared to things like...bubblegum rock that screams SuG, Antic Cafe or Kra. (Note: I'm not saying I dislike the said groups. They're just not my cup of tea. Is it because I'm such a depressing person? Hahaha.) I do like some of Vidoll's pieces - Innocent Teens is upbeat without the layer of sugar coating called "kawaii" (yes, there is something called "too kawaii" that exists), Blue Star is also a fast one that's got a strange sense of gentleness without being too cute, and my favourite so far...Cloud. The ballad is light, definitely not overwhelming with cheesiness, and ideal for easy listening.

Did I just give Vidoll a rave point? I might have. But whether I'll be a devoted fan in the long run (like I am for the GazettE, KAT-TUN, Koda Kumi, Miyavi, and lately Luna Sea and SUGIZO) will depend on whether their overall music will win me over enough to want to buy their CDs. I pay financial support to artists I like!

He's finally finished this project! And gave a super lengthy commentary too!

MySpace Blog

After reading all that, I simply cannot wait to listen to this. I'm certain it's totally made of WIN and EPIC. I cannot blame him; he got me totally mesmerized in Synchronicity the moment I listened to it. Recently, it seems he's more focused on making musical poetry of all sorts - I probably prefer this compared to his earlier solo works where he sings more. Although his voice isn't as godly as Ryuichi's, he's very well suited to the airy more electronic new age sounds. Maybe it's the voice quality?

Hopefully, a proper Luna Sea announcement will come soon after, but of course, that will depend on the other members too.

Finally, you can also read his thoughts on the current political situation in Japan. He is, after all, a modern philosopher too.

Okay, time to stop procrastinating. =P For now, Fatima to keep you company.

Finally! The title of the GazettE's new single's announced! It's called Shiver and will be the anime KuroshitujiII's opening song. I've never heard of the anime before, maybe because it's new? But we'll see if it'll actually interest me. I've already placed my orders...so I'm SO going to get my first press when the entire package from CDJapan's going to be delivered to my door after Film Bug II is released (saves me on separate shipping costs and my mail signer's time for having stuff delivered in one go).

Can't wait! *along with a couple of magazines I bought on the site*

Some more news. Luna Sea announced REBOOT in their MySpace page along with the following video. We're not sure what it means, but hopefully we'll be seeing something substantial soon!



I've also been following Luna Sea's SUGIZO a lot lately too. He makes really beautiful music and is possibly one of the most talented musicians and composers I've encountered. You know how most musicians have a tendency to stick to one genre of music and hardly ever do any crossing over? Being classically trained with the violin, his ability to play various guitars and the bass, the way he dabbles in different styles is simply amazing. I'd love to speak more about him, but for now, I leave you with Synchronicity from his 2001 film Soundtrack (he also did all the music for the film).

Only the last 10 seconds kind of grossed me out though. Hahaha.



I should get a new layout some time. I hate it when the YouTube embeds spill over to the other side.

Technically, I shouldn't even be typing this, but it really has been bugging me as I haven't updated this section in ages.

I've got a sort of new obsession: VAMPS' new single Devil Side. I totally love the chorus (particularly when Hyde sings "I'm in a trance with you").

Technically, despite the fact that it's my first proper VAMPS song, it's not the first time I've heard Hyde's voice - he was previously in L'Arc en Ciel and did one of the ending songs for the Rurouni Kenshin anime 4th Avenue Cafe, but it didn't last long as it was found that their drummer was associated with drugs and immediately dropped the single (reverting back to using T.M.Revolution's Heart of Sword).



In other news...the GazettE's releasing a new single AND a PV compilation AND doing, not 1, but 2 live tours! this is one of those times when I wish I were in Japan...but maybe I'll get to see them at the end of the year...hopefully!

Fingers crossed and here's to hoping!

Not only am I loving Miyavi's new single that's going to come out on March 24 (I've placed my order already!), I've also been falling in love with the classics.

That's right...the roots of many of today's JRock's influences: X Japan and Luna Sea (AHAHAHA...LUNACY). I haven't dug much into X Japan yet, but I do like Luna Sea's stuff. And by looking into LS, I've discovered much much more...I now understand why Uruha looks like the way he looks. It's all because of Sugizo of Luna Sea! (With many thanks - if Uru manages to look something like Sugizo by the time he hits 40, it's definitely a plus.)

So, I bring you...Luna Sea's Rosier. So let's play a game...(only good if you're unfamiliar with the band): Which one is Sugizo?? I think it's easy to guess once you've actually seen a close up of him. XD

I've been popping around the intrawebz...when I've stumbled upon some really really ancient videos of the GazettE. Music? Not as awesome as what they've got nowadays, and contains too much LOL factor. Style? Oh. My. God......No. Reita, that really isn't a good look, despite using the same nose band! And blonde hair really doesn't suit Aoi! Some of Ruki's actions are practically eeewwwwww (even though for him to come up with such stuff is normal in his case). And Uruha...*shudder*

I'm not slating them down. It's just a weird shock in some of these videos. Hahaha.



Machibuke no Kouen de probably looks the most "natural" out of all of them. The way they look (other than Reita) didn't shock me as much. You can sense Aoi's innocence in 1:25 and 1:32 - kind of kawaii in a way (and I normally don't even think of him as kawaii). But you can definitely already see Uruha's girlishness in 1:36 - sort of glad he's kept that aura around him when posing for other things, even in the seated shot in 2:31. Reita...eewww...(sorry dear!) Ruki's style isn't bad, and I kind of like the way he's made up. I think Yune could probably compete with Uruha in facial expressions and girlie smoky eyes. And the song itself isn't bad - very 90s feel, especially in the chorus. But I suspect that because Ruki's just made the transition from drummer to vocalist, the way he sings hasn't quite matured yet.



Senchimentaru Onigokko isn't a very nice song in my opinion. And despite the fact that I like red, Ruki's suit looks icky (oh those glasses!). I can't quite decide whether I actually like Aoi's black lipstick, despite his ability to look cooler than Marilyn Manson. But I love the video concept - the dark look, the grunge...and the way the song changes tone from this weird repetitive audio to something a little more interesting in 3:01 is definitely a plus.



Doro Darake no Seishun really does look like the most amateur video out of all of these I'm posting, despite the interesting visuals. Uruha my look like a cute (yet pervy looking, LOL at the person who made that comment on YouTube) school girl in a skirt, but that face pulling in 1:50 has minused like...30 points from him (hahaha). I'm glad he's left the face pulling to Ruki now...Oh God, that blonde hair on Aoi...blonde definitely isn't his colour! And I'm glad they've ditched the "let's jump together!" act in favour of head banging. The only reason worth watching this video (other than to see Uruha's bishojo-ness in a skirt) is the group's finger and roly-poly dance! And Aoi and Reita's poke fest in 4:43...

*still ends up nose bleeding from watching Uru - oh that hair and that pretty figure!*

*ahem* Moving on!



You can barely see their faces in Juu Nana Sai (literal meaning is "Seventeen Years Old" - for once I understood the title just from the romaji!). But overall, I like this ballad, and if the song could be reworked into their current standards - to the likes of Without A Trace and Nakigahara, I'm certain this could be a fantastically beautiful heartbreaking song when sung in a live.

Yes, they've certainly come a long, long, long way. I won't be putting the old stuff into my playlist (because most of these sound awful), but I have to applaud them for their improvement and long standing achievements to the present date. And to such a previously non-rocker like me to be converted into a Gazrock enthusiast.

*holler* GAZROCK IS NOT DEAD.

Well, it's been nearly 2 months since I've touched down in Singapore. Though there are some good stuff going on, I still prefer Hong Kong. For way, way, way...too many reasons.

The food here is awesome though!

Other than that, I've been updating on Project 365 everyday since January 1st. It's been great at documenting some of the stuff I've been doing here so far. I can't wait to see and feel what happens when I actually do complete 365.

My 365 blog here!

I just saw the pamphlet scans for the GazettE's Hymn of Crucifixion. Oh. My. God.

Fuck you Uruha. Stop being so damn seksi!!!! *doki doki doki*

Okay, fan girl talking and it's nearly 4am.

(Thanks again to rawkstarr23 on LJ for the speedy uploads!)

Due to LJ community's regulations, I cannot repost them here. However! I'll play with them in the future if I'm doing some graphic work. ^^