Here we are, finally. Sorry again about the wait!
Phoenix:
#12345. Happy Together - Super Junior Link has been fixed, sorry about that!
Korean | Pop
This song reminds me heavily of Marry U, they were composed by the same person. It's a light-hearted, mid-tempo pop song off of SuJu's third album. It's rather disposable, but sweet and warm.
#1234. Follow Me - Big Bang
Japanese | Pop/Dance
Pretty standard fare. It's a fast-paced song with lots of synths and electronica routes. However, I didn't find it very catchy or memorable. I've given this song a few listens, and each time it fails to make an imprint on me. I'm getting more than a little bored of Big Bang, and I'm really hoping to see something fresh from them.
#123. Doubt & Trust - access
Japanese | Rock
I love the flowing, quick keyboard intro, leading into an equally energetic rock song. It's not an amazing song, but the sheer energy and movement of this song is impressive.
#9876. Got Some Teeth - Obie Trice
English | Hip-Hop
A confident, laid-back song with lots of brass riffs and a great albeit repetitive beat.
#444. Golden Wing - antic cafe
Japanese | Oshare Kei
A bright, feel-good song from Antic Cafe. It's not super-hyper like some of their songs can be, it's actually pretty relaxed. Miku's voice bugs me a little though.
albeitalways:
#107. Valkyrie - abingdon boys school
Japanese | Rock
I love abs, and Valkyrie is no exception. The energy of the song is apparent right from the electric guitar in the opening. Some people really don't like T.M. Revolution's voice, and I guess I can see why, but personally I've always liked how unique and recognizable it is. It's slightly dark in tone and despite its urgent, fast pace, it never seems rushed or hurried.
#1991. Koe no hate - CELLT
Japanese | Rock
I don't know much about this band and I've only heard a couple of their songs, but so far I'm liking them. Koe no hate is a little formulaic, but if you're just getting into rock or aren't really a fan of heavier rock, this might be good for you. It sounds slightly familiar - I really like the melody, and the chorus.
#8923. I WILL - Miliyah Kato
Japanese | R&B
A gorgeous ballad from R&B singer Miliyah Kato. Her songs have always been a bit hit-or-miss with me. I really like her warm, smooth voice, but her songs tend to be a bit forgettable in my opinion. I WILL's opening was a bit too soft for my liking, but then it breaks into the rich, heartfelt chorus. It's absolutely beautiful, and well worth the wait. Although I think her voice could use a little more power and richness in the verses building up to each chorus, it's still a lovely song.
#5439. 出会い - HY
Japanese | Alt. Rock
A relaxing track from HY. I really like their vocalist's clear, soothing voice and the overall soft, acoustic atmosphere of this song.
#132. Murder Licence - Acid Black Cherry
Japanese | Rock
I really love Acid Black Cherry's jazz-influenced tracks. Unfortunately this isn't one of them, but it's still quite good, although quite standard j-rock fare. Complete with dense, static-y guitar riffs and a busy atmosphere, it's a decent track but not a real stand-out.
Nepu:
#363. Gekkou Yoku - alice nine.
Japanese | Rock
Although I'm not really a fan of their recent releases, I still really like this band. Gekkou Yoku features some great guitar work, I really like how it alters from being short and choppy to very smooth and melodic.
#1796. 彼女と星の椅子 - BUMP OF CHICKEN
Japanese | Alt. Rock
A midtempo track from BUMP OF CHICKEN. I really like how clear and prominent the bass from 2:18 and on. It's not my favourite track from them - I have to say I'm a bigger fan of their acoustic-style songs - but definitely worth a listen.
6336. Who Are You - John Murphy
English | Soundtrack
This song is from the Miami Vice OST that I uploaded a while back. I love this song. It may not be the kind of song that you put on repeat, but it's absolutely beautiful and so rich with emotion. The thick, resonating bass sound contrasts perfectly with the gentle, almost hesitant piano melody. The chords and sheer depth of this song are sophisticated and dense. It's incredibly sorrowful and delicate. It's only flaw, in my opinion, is that it clocks in at only 1:35.
Labels: abingdon boys school, access, acid black cherry, alice nine., Antic Cafe, Big Bang, BUMP OF CHICKEN, CELLT, HY, Kato Miliyah, number lottery, Obie Trice, Super Junior
I apologize again that this is taking so long, I've been really busy with school lately. In hindsight, I think it would have been better to upload the songs as I went along - I'll definitely remember that if I decide to do another number lottery in the future. Only one more batch remains, I can't promise how long it will take to be posted but I will definitely try my best to get it done as soon as possible. Thanks for being patient! =)
- Haruhi
EDIT: It seems that a few of the links (Shining Butterfly - BRIGHT & Koi Hitoyo - acid black cherry) weren't right, they've now been fixed.
Ayumi:
#1657. Shining Butterfly - BRIGHT
Japanese | Pop
A bubbly pop number by one of my favourite girl groups. Although I wouldn't consider it to be one of their very best songs, it's upbeat and fun.
#157. 式日 - ACIDMAN
Japanese | Alt. Rock
I really like this band, especially their vocalist's crisp, clean voice. A mid-tempo track with lots of bright guitar work.
#2345. Nalcha Byongyongson - Clazziquai
Korean | Pop/Electronica/Jazz
This is from their Color Your Soul album. It's a sweet, light song featuring Alex's cream vocals and Horan's light, airy voice.
#1000. Sands of time - Back-on
Japanese | Rock
I love this song. It's upbeat, and although definitely a rock song it has some electronica/rapcore influences too. These guys definitely deserve more recognition, try them out!
Allie:
#10894. 宝物 (Takaramono/Treasures) (Homemade demo vers.) - ROUND TABLE ft. Nino
Japanese | Pop/Acoustic
This version features only acoustic guitar and sweet, feminine vocals. Although I found the vocals a bit too childish and thin, it's an endearing song.
#1777. Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow - Bullet For My Valentine
English | Metal
Although I don't listen to heavy rock as much now, this song isn't actually too overpowering once you get past the screaming in the first verse and a little bit later on in the song.
#135. Koi Hitoyo - Acid Black Cherry
Japanese | Rock
I love this group, and Koi Hitoyo is a fantastic song. I love the intro, the percussion really pulls you in. It has an air of mystery to it, and I love the way the song builds up.
#2626. Shining - Crystal Kay
Japanese | Pop/R&B
A sweet, poppy song by Crystal Kay. I love the subtle harmonies and the bright atmosphere.
Labels: acid black cherry, ACIDMAN, BACK-ON, BRIGHT, Bullet For My Valentine, Clazziquai, Crystal Kay, number lottery, ROUND TABLE feat. Nino
Sorry this rotation got backtracked so much. Hopefully it’s worth the wait, I’ve tried to upload as many runners-up as possible. This theme does not include any pop-rock, alternative rock, soft rock, etc. - but it does include rock ballads. Like with all the top ten/twenty themes, these are only the top songs in my opinion. Unfortunately, ruling out alt rock, soft rock, and “rock-influenced” groups/songs also ruled out many Korean or Chinese/Taiwanese groups. This rotation is extremely Japanese-dominated, but since pop songs were mainly Korean/Chinese and ballads were mostly Korean, I think overall it’s pretty fair. I haven’t been following rock music as much lately, so most of these songs will be a little older.
This rotation took a tiring amount of time to prepare, especially my comments (which get progressively worse), so please take the time to comment/leave a rating. Anyways, on to the music. =)
- Haruhi
#10. DOLLS - Janne da Arc
I really like Janne da Arc. Dolls is a mid-tempo track - the opening verses are a bit of a bore featuring a sweet if somewhat repetitive melody, but the chorus is great. It’s a slightly formulaic track, which kept it from moving up on the chart.
#9. Black Cherry - acid black cherry
I just realized I’d uploaded this before, way back in my tenth rotation, so there’s two links for you. A seamless blend of rock and jazz - Black Cherry starts out slow and ambient with light guitar and percussion, putting Yasu’s unique voice into the spotlight. Wailing electric guitars kick in and the percussion steps it up into a fast-paced fusion track, complete with trumpet riffs. A fantastic song from a great group.
#8. Orange Dream - Antic Cafe
This song was uploaded in rotation 19. Since most of their songs are upbeat and happy (after all, they are an oshare kei group), I was surprised at the richness and maturity of this ballad. I love the piano part - I think it adds a lot of colour to the song. The opening is heartbreakingly sad, but as the song builds it grows more and more hopeful and optimistic. A beautiful rock ballad.
#7. Et cetera - ONE OK ROCK
An angsty rock song, leaning more towards the style of American rock than Japanese. I absolutely love the chorus and the contrast in volume between the chorus and other verses. The arrangement might not be the most original or innovative, but it all fits together perfectly to make a unique and memorable song.
#6. yozora ni saku hana - Clavier
Returning to ballads, yozora ni saku hana opens with a sad piano intro. The whole song just has a certain flavor that’s unique to Japanese music, I can’t explain it - you’ll know it when you hear it. Toshi, their lead singer, has an expressively vulnerable but steady voice that suits the song perfectly. This group is technically oshare kei, but even in their other songs they don’t have a really sugary, sweet sound - their material is just generally brighter than visual kei stuff.
#5. Kimi ni Negai wo - Miyavi
Being the first Japanese artist I listened to, Miyavi had to show up somewhere on this rotation. This was also one of the first songs I heard by him. It’s a fairly bright, midtempo track driven by piano and guitars - and later, strings. Miyavi’s voice is soft and crooning pretty much everywhere but the chorus, but can still be heard over the relatively light accompaniment.
#4. Close - Mot
The sole Korean band to make the list (actually the only non-Japanese band), Close definitely deserves its position. Some people call them alt rock, but whatever. It’s such a unique song, filled with dazed, dreamy synths. Overall the song has a very sad, longing atmosphere, but its emotional value is what makes it good. It can get a little repetitive, which actually kind of adds to the atmosphere of the song - definitely try them out.
#3. Isshunfuran - B'z
A polar opposite of the sad, longing atmosphere in Close, Isshunfuran is upbeat, bright, and irresistably catchy. You can’t help but move along to it - it’s confident and assured. Not convinced? This duo has been around since 1988, and are considered the most popular rock group in Japan. They were also the first artists from Asia to have their handprints and signatures put in in Hollywood’s Rock Walk, placing them right alongside American rock legends like Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Les Paul, and Jimi Hendrix.
#2. Libra - MUCC
MUCC is one of my favourite j-rock groups. I still follow their releases despite losing interest in heavier rock (I posted a recent single of theirs not long ago). Libra is definitely my favourite song by them - it’s dark and gritty, but then it leads into the chorus, which is just stunningly beautiful and pure. I absolutely love the PV and lyrics, too.
#1. over - 12012
I knew this song would be in the top two when I started this rotation. 12012 is one of the first j-rock bands I listened to, and one of the first Japanese bands in general. “Over” is a simple but gorgeous ballad. The haunting melody always gets stuck in my head and I never forget it, even if I haven’t listened to the song in a long time.
Runners-up:
Carnation - Janne da Arc
A simple but beautiful relaxing acoustic ballad. If it was a little more of a rock song, it definitely would have made the list.
ブランコ - kannivalism
I love these guys, but unfortunately I think they’ve disbanded. A fairly slow, relaxing song with refreshing clear vocals and a dreamy arrangement. I prefer their upbeat songs, but couldn’t find any on my computer.
Lost Reason - abingdon boys school
I love this song. It was definitely close to making the list. It transitions from gritty and aggressive to softer, melodic portions. I absolutely love the chorus. A great song.
風の鳥 - Matenrou Opera
I really like this band in general; I wasn’t sure what song to upload by them. In the end, I chose a piano-based ballad, which shows their impressive vocalist. The piano is just gorgeous.
My Heart Draws a Dream - L’arc~en~Ciel
I’m sure most of you know this song, I’ve followed Laruku for a while but have never really picked out any real “favourites” by them. My Heart Draws a Dream would definitely come close - a fresh, mid-tempo track with a great melody. Of course, Hyde’s voice is wonderful.
JEALOUS -Reverse- - Dir en grey
There’s quite a few ballads in this rotation, huh? JEALOUS -Reverse- is another one, also piano-based, but Kyo’s unique voice sets it apart. I’ve kind of grown apart from their harder material where he screams more than he sings, but he has quite a nice voice when he’s actually singing, although he sounds a bit strained at times. It’s sad but hopeful, and very emotional.
Aribai - SID
A light-hearted, jazzy track that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s a breath of fresh air after listening to all these heavier rock songs or emotional ballads.
The Love From A Dead Orchestra - Versailles
This band’s whole image reflects splendor, royalty, etc. Their music, too, is extravagent - deep, thick vocals, a densely packed arrangement, many transitions. I love the slower, melodic verses of the song (eg. the one starting at 1:22), but unfortunately found the song to be on a whole too overdone. The slower portions where the different parts can actually be separated and viewed individually are the best. The transition about halfway through between the piano solo and the next, heavier portion of the song is roughly done - I would have thought it was going into a whole other track. A lot of great ideas and themes that got cramped together into one big song - personally, I think they could have been better and more fully explored, which kept this song from ranking higher.
Snow Flower - Plastic Tree
Ghost - Plastic Tree
Two great songs from another j-rock band that’s been around for a while: since 1993, to be exact. One of the first j-rock bands I really got into and one of few that I still loosely follow.
Night - Kazoku
I absolutely love the intro of this song. The transition into the actual song is brilliant and seamless. Faint jazz influences, a dark-ish, mysterious feel.
너 없인 행복할 수 없잖아 - Mary Story (I Can't Be Happy Without You)
I had to stick another Korean band in here somewhere. These guys are awesome, they were very close to making the list. A pretty light rock song that might even be considered soft-rock or pop-rock or whatever, but I love it. The melody is just extremely memorable to me, and even when I haven’t listened to this song for ages I can still recall it without any difficulty. Try them out if you haven’t, k-rock needs more attention - and these guys definitely deserve it.
Note: I ran out of tag characters, so I took the tag for Kazoku off because the song "Night" is already uploaded in a previous rotation, and they're tagged in that post.
I likely messed up at least one link, so if there's any mistakes with the links or anything else, please let me know!
Labels: 12012, abingdon boys school, acid black cherry, Antic Cafe, B'z, Clavier, Dir en grey, Janne da Arc, kannivalism, L'arc~en~Ciel, Mary Story, Matenrou Opera, miyavi, Mot, MUCC, ONE OK ROCK, Plastic Tree, SID, Versailles
BLACK CHERRY - acid black cherry
A little different from the ballad by the same band that you'll find below, I just had to include this because it also shows Yasu's voice wonderfully, and I simply love this band. A very jazz-influenced song, Yasu's vocals are a wonderful blend of jazz and rock styles. Black Cherry starts out slowly and picks up the tempo, at the same time switching more to rock but there are still trumpets stuck in here and there. Highly recommended.
SHININ' ON Kimi ga Kanashii - acid black cherry
I'm not sure what genre to classify them in, they've got a lot of jazz influences too. Shinin' on Kimi ga Kanashii shows some influences of a jazz ballad and some of the rhythms and chords also echo jazz, leading into a more typical piano accompaniment. Their vocalist is Yasu of Janne da Arc. The mixture of the "traditional" ballad you'd expect and jazz is extremely balanced and smooth, and the vocals are excellent. The song picks up tempo a little in an area and showcases some nice blues scales and I think I hear an upright bass too. <3
FREE STAR - ACIDMAN
Great band that deserves more recognition. Vocals are faint but that's what draws you to them. Try them out.
街の輪郭 - ACIDMAN
Another ACIDMAN song, 街の輪郭 has a really laid back sound and is extremely addictive. Recommended.
Tail Lamp - Aobozu
I love the first verse of this song. It seems kind of generic on the first listen, but I really like this song. They've got a pretty good vocalist, and the song switches tempo and mood occasionally. The guitar and bass blend together well, creating a good if somewhat predictable sound.
DESPARATE - Black:List
One of the heavier bands in this rotation, an awesome headbanging song. I wasn't too sure about it the first time I listened to it, but it's growing on me. Growly vocals but not screaming. Recommended.
Glass no highway - doa
One of my favourite bands. This is the a-side from their most recent single. Their vocalist has a deep voice that captures so much emotion. This song is absolutely beautiful. It manages to be hopeful yet sad at the same time. Harmonizing is also well done. Highly recommended.
좋은 사람 (캐스커 Remix) - Fanny Fink
While this band's name is a bit odd, I absolutely love this song. The vocalist is female and she has a very soft voice that reminds me a little of Jisun's from Loveholic. Their style also shares some similarities to Loveholic. Highly recommended.
Surely - Iori
This is like, the only song I have from this band, but I'd love to hear more from them. They have an awesome vocalist, though the vocals are a bit unpolished. Try them out.
Sakura Tears - John-Hoon
A Korean artist who mostly sings in Japanese, this is cute song that's fun to listen to. John-Hoon's voice is pretty good. Sakura Tears is also pretty catchy. Worth a listen.
Atomic Smile - JUN (Phantasmagoria)
Oh my god, the intro of this song is just wonderfully executed. Very unexpected and beautiful transitions. It seems like it's going to be really heavy, but then switches to this cute, pop tune that makes me hesitate to call this song "rock". But, the tempo does pick up. The lack of vocals in this song suits it. Highly recommended.
Ritori - kannivalism
A lovely mid-tempo song by kannivalism. They've got a great style and a great vocalist too, definitely try them out.
春 - Kousuke Atari
Kousuke Atari's voice is wonderful. It lacks a very polished feel, but I think that's what makes it so unique. It wavers in strength, occasionally disappearing beneath the accompaniment and at other times towering over it. He does do this weird little vibrato sometimes that I don't really like, it seems more like he can't hold the note in tune than a real vibrato, but other than that, a very nice ballad. I like the bass accompaniment too, though you'll have to listen pretty hard for it.
Fuyu Tokyo - Lareine
Love how this song kicks off, and then launches into this wonderful, bright trumpet-filled sound. There's a piano in place of the usual rhythmic guitar chords, and a guitar playing little riffs that aren't as consistent. Great band too; recommended.
SCREAM - Lareine
More Lareine. =) The beginning of this song is almost disconcerting and I keep waiting for it to build but it never does. There's this sort of foreign feel to it and the vocalist whispering in Japanese. Eventually it does build a bit but overall this song was just ... really weird, but interesting. O_o Doesn't really sound like Lareine at all, yet this song defies the style of any band I know.
夏の終わりがまだここにある - The Local Art
A sweet ballad that's set apart by their vocalist's deep, thick voice. If anyone else had sung this song, it wouldn't have held my attention at all. I love this band, they deserve a lot more attention. I previously uploaded their song Shiroi Hana, look for it in the archives page if you want to hear more from them.
발자국 - Monday Kiz
발자국 is my favourite track from their latest album, Inside Story. Deep, husky vocals that are sweet and melodic at the same time, it's a mid-tempo ballad that has an extremely catchy chorus. Not the kind of ballad that you'd get bored listening to, this is probably one of my favourite Monday Kiz songs.
Together/Akari/Fall Back - Monkey Majik
01. Together
02. Akari
03. Fall Back
04. One More Chance
These guys have such a unique style, I'm not sure what genre to call them. This is their latest single, a triple a-side. The first verse of Together is what makes me love the song so much. This band has great vocalists, and two Canadian members too. There's a fifth track to this single that's a remix of Together, but I didn't upload it. Akari has a sadder sound than Together and a really nice piano accompaniment. Fall Back is more upbeat and features more English lyrics. It reminds me very slightly of "Change" (another one of their songs). One More Chance has a more aggressive sound but at the same time has a much lighter accompaniment. There's also a rap verse, which I hear occasionally in their songs but not often. I've never heard a Monkey Majik song that I didn't like, and I was very pleased by this single. Highly recommended.
기억을 걷는 시간 - Nell
Another song from Separation Anxiety, Nell's latest album, 기억을 걷는 시간 is probably my favourite tied with the title track and Fisheye Lens. If you've never heard anything by this band, try them out. They're one of my favourite bands, their vocalist has a very unique voice and their songs are just beautiful. The amount of detail in the composition and at the same time it's simplicity is amazing. Highly recommended.
In Your Hands - XING
I'm generally not a huge fan of boybands, but XING has always been pretty strong vocally and they've got at least one member who speaks fluent English, so the English versions of their songs/English verses are always good. A predictable but nice ballad from them. I think vocally they're capable of a lot more, but this song makes for a nice, light listen.
Te wo Tsunaide - Younha
Younha! One of my favourite female vocalists. An upbeat track by her that's very catchy yet shows her voice perfectly. The chorus is just beautiful. She's Korean, but most of her releases are Japanese. Highly recommended.
Unite As One - Yuna Ito
A mellow ballad from Yuna Ito's Wish album, the vocals seem very slightly R&B influenced. I thought I'd upload this since there aren't really any female artists up in this rotation, and Yuna Ito's voice builds nicely in this song. It's not my favourite from her, but it's not bad.
Labels: acid black cherry, ACIDMAN, Aobozu, Black:List, doa, Fanny Fink, Iori, John-Hoon, JUN, kannivalism, Kousuke Atari, Lareine, Monday Kiz, Monkey Majik, Nell, THE LOCAL ART, XING, Younha, Yuna Ito
