Okay, I'll finally bite...

[Mycernius]

and ask what sort of groups would you recommend to an old fart like me. Consider that the type of music I like are blues, classical and Jean Michel Jarre and dislike techno, dance and country and western (actually dislike is the wrong word for Country, try loath with a passion instead). I don't know much about Japanese music and would like some pointers to see if I like any of it. The only Jpanese music I have got is a CD of Taiko drumming, the Anime themes to Chobits and Noir, and AmiYumi, so I probably need some education. :?

 

[Kinsao]

Righty-o, Mycernius!
*clears throat*

Merry - they have a kind of blues-rock feel about their music; at least, the stuff that I have (I've got the Modern-Garde and Gendai Stoic albums).

Kagrra use traditional Japanese music influences... I really like their music. They have lovely intricate basslines (I'm a $ucker for basslines as well as for twiddly guitar solos!). Their latest album, San, is very good. Murakumo, the first track, has interesting drumming.

Galneryus - excellent guitaring! Need I say more?

The Közi album Izayoi no Tsuki (composed as a soundtrack to go with the book of the same title) is very classical in its mood. It's a really relaxing album. (I love Közi's music because it's so diverse... but... don't get me started on it here or you'll never shut me up!)

The new Gackt album, Diabolos, is a good one. It's kind of... well, pop, I guess... I don't know if you like pop? I mean, I normally like stuff that's just a tad edgier and/or heavier, but if you're not into more rock-y stuff, you'd probably like this album. Hell, you'd probably like it anyway! Tis a nice album! Gackt certainly knows how to do a catchy chorus...

Malice Mizer... I know in some circles it's cool to hate Malice Mizer simply because they were a lot of people's 'introduction' to jrock (a kind of 'beginners' versus 'old hands' snobbery, I reckon), but in all honestly I have to like their music. I think you'd be interested in it if you like classical, because they use a lot of classical influences, especially baroque music. In fact, I'd recommend you to hear their song called Baroque - and also Regret, which is a gorgeous piano piece. I like the way they make intricate music, with harmonising and interweaving guitar lines.

I think SID is also a good band. I particularly like the vocals... and I have a weakness for the song Ao (Renai version). The intro - just him singing on his own - makes my breath stop and my legs go all weak and wobbly... lol. SID deserves to be better-known!

But I don't know all that much about your musical tastes really. :? Do you like rock? metal? pop? goth? (I've steered away from recommending anything that verges on the more dance-y!) Do you like quite heavy kinds of stuff, or do you prefer to steer clear of it? Do you like happy, bouncy songs, or does that kind of thing turn you off straightaway?

There are odd songs on their own that I'd recommend - for instance, Blue Berry by Deadman, or Katherine in the Trunk by Gazette, or things by The Back Horn or Penicillin... but I don't know your taste well enough to know if you'd like that group in general (for instance, Genesis by Psycho le Cemu is a nice ballad, but a lot of their music is dance-y so you'd probably not like it... I think...).

And of course, if you're curious I'd be more than happy to send you some stuff via pm or email!

(BTW, I also love blues and loath country and western! )

 

[Mycernius]

Thanks for the info Kinsao. There is plenty for me to look through there. Baroque is one of my favourite types of classical, as for modern music, it can be a taste of what takes my fancy. Some of the manufactured bands really do get on my nerves. I like to hear good vocals and not someone who is nasal, (Britney Spears is a good example of annoyingly nasal). A lot of 'poppy' music does sound much the same to me. Charlotte Church has a good vioce, but the music sounds bland and forced to me, maybe its the radio 2 part of me. I'll probably PM you sometime with my email address. As for buying albums, not much of a problem, I have an account with Amazon.co.jp and it works out just a cheap to buy them from Japan rather than try to get a special order. Then there is always the old favourite of ebay.

 

[DemonHunter]

maybe this is something for you
ryuichi sakamoto
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

 

[Dollporn]

I was going to recomend Sid, but then Kinsao got to it before me, hehe.
Easy, genuine music.

 

[isayhello]

Miyavi. Miyavi does rock. Hot rock, or... call it conceited rock... He does catchy songs that stick with you. He's got excellent guitar skills and has done some great acoustic works too. Good thing about Miyavi is he varies, and changes a lot, so you'll never get bored.

AnCafe, but they're... more fun. And cute. Their music is bouncy. Or so I'd describe it.

 

[lastmagi]

Hi Mycernius. Thanks for your interest. I hope you'll find at least something to go on. It can always be hard zeroing in on potential favorite bands. I've only recently gotten a good taste of what kind of amazing bands are there after years of trudging through popularly discussed yet mediocre artists.

I've heard good things about ryuichi sakamoto, though i've unfortunately never had the chance to listen to him. He does synth-based music, correct? Anyway, I'm absolutely in love with his daughter, but that's my little secret

Let's get down to the gritty. I can't write much on them due to time, but I hope you'll at least check out my recommended ones. My choices will probably be relatively on the mellow side, but if you want something harder, let me know, since I still have a bunch up my sleeve.

POPULAR ARTISTS (usually appeal to younger folks, but still may appeal to adults)

Yoshiki, from the metal band X Japan, has done some classical works. It's more pop-classical than classical-classical, but the songs are nice enough to listen to. The CD ETERNAL MELODY I has orchestral arrangements of some X Japan songs.

B'z - I don't listen to them that much, but they're fairly popular, using very blues-y guitars and having an Aerosmith-like aura about their music. Pop.

Spitz - they're a fairly mellow, mature band that does adult alternative (?) rock. The vocalist has a very husky voice, and may take some getting used to, but it's good and not nasally, I don't think. Recommended.

Sugizo - ex-Luna Sea. He's done a number of collaborations with other artists, and is one of those pretty-prominent-but-not-much-discussed geniuses, considering he's done a fair number of collaborations. To describe him might be a wasted effort, but he gravitates towards lush soundscapes and compositions, utilizing, but never overdoing, electronics (TRUTH and REPLICANT TRUTH albums), beautiful acoustics and violins (Rest in Peace and Fly Away song, and other tracks on the SOUNDTRACK soundtrack), and beautiful electric guitar effects. He's one of those wonderful artists who will never get stagnant, and I don't think any of his songs can be classified in any genre, least of all pop or rock. Highly recommended.

Nobuyuki Hirakura ﾂ− Obviously L'arc en Ciel is a group that deserves mention, considering its wide range of styles, but if you like acoustic guitar arrangements, this is definitely a good listen. Unfortunately, his arrangements are out of print, so you have to look around some communities to find it. Or you could just ask me. Recommended.

Gackt ﾂ− I love Gackt, but adults seem to steer clear, considering his eccentricities. Recommended if you want to take a risk.

Hyde ﾂ− While his second album 666, probably needed more work, I highly recommend his ROENTGEN album. Lush instruments and orchestration underlying a soft yet strong voice.

Yoko Kanno ﾂ− known for various anime compositions. A genius. Worked a lot with Maaya Sakamoto, in which the works tended more to the pop side, but her solo albums, 23-ji no ongaku and song to fly, include a lot of beautiful instrumental pieces. Highly recommended.

Thee Michelle Gun Elephant ﾂ− Is this the right name? Don't know, but if I recall correctly, their music is very classic-rocky, lacking the clean refined-ness of other j-bands, with maybe some hints of blues? I obviously don't listen to them much.

LESSER KNOWN ARTISTS (harder to find)

The indigo ﾂ− I've only listened to RECORDS. Mellow adult alternative (?) pop. Uses acoustic (st strng) guitars a lot.

Paris Match ﾂ− Smooth jazz band. Refined, lush compositions, beautiful basslines, and a female vocalist whose vocals are perfect (well, if there's anyone who's a perfect singer, it's Risa Ohki, but I digress). Highly recommended.

Yae ﾂ− cultural-inspired music with a very pastoral aura to it. Soft and tranquil and an absolute bore to some people used to faster stuff. She's another recent favorite. Highly recommended.


You can also try checking out http://nippop.com/browse_artists/ At the very least they have Paris Match, which is always a good thing. Also, feel free to PM me, as well. It's my pleasure to help out!

 

[hebiichigo]

one I can think of that no one else has posted...

Mr. Children!

 

[Kinsao]

Hey, great info, Lastmagi! I want to check some of those out as well, now!

 

[DemonHunter]

Hi Mycernius.
Thee Michelle Gun Elephant ﾂ− Is this the right name? Don't know, but if I recall correctly, their music is very classic-rocky, lacking the clean refined-ness of other j-bands, with maybe some hints of blues? I obviously don't listen to them much.
/QUOTE]


awesome band,only heard Cult Grass Stars by them

its kinda Garage rock

 

[Kinsao]

Yeah - Thee Michelle Gun Elephant is the right name (apparently it derived from a mis-hearing of 'machine gun etiquette'... lol). I've never heard anything by them, though... hey, I like the sound of them from what DemonHunter says, I think maybe I search now!

 

[Void]

i like Keiko Matsui (from japanese music i know, and i don`t know much ) - instrumental

 

[lastmagi]

Ok, thanks for the clarification about the band name. I think I used to have an album by them, but it got deleted to clear space. It's not a bad band, just not my type.

Also, thanks for the interest, Kinsao. I really appreciate it

If I have time I'll see if I can add some single-song samples so you can get a taste of the harder-to-find artists.

 

[Mycernius]

Thanks for the info from everyone, especially Kinsao and Lastmagi. Lastmagi, I really liked the Paris Match samples and have ordered the album.
Isayhello, somehow I thought you would mention Miyavi.

 

[Kinsao]

Hehe - Miyavi is certainly worth listening to! Rock on!

 

[Horizon]

Isayhello, somehow I thought you would mention Miyavi.

What? Isay? Mentioning Miyavi? Holy nyahner, nyahs! Who would have thought THAT one would ever happen?!?!?

Sorry. I like being sarcastic...

Hehe - Miyavi is certainly worth listening to! Rock on!

And that he is.

Although he isn't the best (as I've made clear already I think...)

Talking in my terms of course, so please don't kill meh! -"hydes"- xDD

 

[DemonHunter]

there are some nice psychobilly/rockabilly bands in japan
i recomend the cd V.A-Japanese Psychobilly Now!

 

[lastmagi]

Glad you liked Paris Match, mycernius. These guys are quickly moving up to be my favorite band. If only YesAsia stocked more of their albums. Heck, if only YesAsia stocked more of anything.

 

[Yokan]

Perhaps you should try some game/anime orchestral music. Lol, I went through many genres of Japanese music before becoming a JROCK addict. First jpop, then movie music then JROCK.
Here is a list of movie/anime/bands you may like -
Yoshiki
Shenmue
Rureni Kenshin
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
Princess Monoke
Spirited Away
Kiki delivery service
ANY OTHERS BY JOE HISAISHI. lol
Violet UK
Malice Mizer had some good classical songs.

Hope this helps. :sorry:

 

[isayhello]

Isayhello, somehow I thought you would mention Miyavi.

:? Reeally? ... strange... I picked his name out randomly... might just as well have been introducing someone else.. like... err... Hyde! *hysteric laughter* *nervous look at Horizon*

What? Isay? Mentioning Miyavi? Holy nyahner, nyahs! Who would have thought THAT one would ever happen?!?!?

... NYAH! You're mocking me, aren't you? *suspicious*

And that he is. Although he isn't the best (as I've made clear already I think...)

Talking in my terms of course, so please don't kill meh! -"hydes"- xDD

*finds Horizon's ''hyde-ing''-place* I'm not going to say anything. *in a good mood* Actually, you'd never guess this I bet, but.. I'm listening to Hyde RIGHT NOW! *waits for shock to sink in*

Did anyone mention Kra yet? *is too lazy to check* Anyways, try Kra! They're doing less 'rough/hard' music, and are sort of .. good-feeling. They're good!

 

[Kinsao]

I second that about Kra. Personally, I like Candy and Kuu (if you want more happy/bouncy music). But they also made Fu no Zenshin!!!