Atreides

I'm sure many of you older VK fans have also noticed this, unless I'm imagining things, but I don't think I am.
 
 What I noticed is that the indie bands of the current VK era are playing at a level that they didn't about a decade ago, and I mean in terms of sheer skill. Bands of the present day are blowing bands from about 10 years ago completely out of the water by this metric. They are playing faster, heavier, and more complex riffs. Vocalists have become much more polished singers, and the ability to growl has become much more common in a vocalist's skillset, whereas 10 years ago there weren't many decent growlers in the indies scene, and most of those who were, still didn't perform at the level of guys from bands like Deviloof, Nocturnal Bloodlust, DIMLIM, DEXCORE, D.I.D, etc.
 
I'm wondering if anyone has noticed this, and what the reason may be? Has the VK scene just gotten much more competitive? Are all the average bands simply not being noticed? What's causing this massive skill increase? Another thing I've noticed is that band members don't have zillions of past bands in their resume anymore. It's as if they've reached a high level much more quickly than they used to. Back about a decade ago, the best musicians would usually work their way up to reach a high skill level, having played for years in previous bands before finally reaching a more major status, and continue to improve from there. Nowadays, it's very common for musicians with little to no known band history to play at the level of those with years of history behind them.
 
So I'm just curious to know what you all think, but I'm sorry if this has been brought up before. I have no doubt that this has been on people's minds, especially jaded fans who have been involved for a decade or longer, and have noticed several shifts in the scene within the current era. Lastly, I don't think the skill increase is a bad thing, although I did enjoy the slower, simpler sound that bands used to have. It wasn't as impressive, but the tunes were fun. I don't think bands with my favorite type of sound will ever emerge again, but it doesn't bother me. I still have those bands, and they still exist as a part of history, with music that can still be obtained. Everyone has different taste and I'm happy w/ the scene.
 
Here's a random song I just dug up to show off my taste, just for the fun of it. 
 

Just a list, no explanations  in no particular order, bands listed are acts I like the vocalist in;
 
1. Morrie - Creature Creature (don't know if this counts as vk though)
2. Kagrra, - Isshi
3. Kuroyume - Kiyoharu
4. Versailles, Lareine, solo - Kamijo
5. Malice Mizer, Pride of Mind, solo - Klaha
6.  Pierrot - Kirito
7. D'ERLANGER, Die in Cries - Kyo
8. Da'vid/shito:aL - Pietoro
9. Guniw Tools - Full
10. Velvet Eden - Dada

Not sure if it's been mentioned here but a good one I found that's neo-classic deathmetal
 
Veiled in Scarlet from their album Idealism
 

My old roommate's cat Tyler, aka Ty Ty.  I spent far more time with him than my roommate, this cat was my best bro for years.
 

In no particular order:
 
1. Sigh
2. Zazen Boys
3. Yellow Magic Orchestra
4. Fujifabric
5. Sparta Locals
6. Dead End
7. Sadistic Mika Band
8. Suiken
9. M-Flo
10. YMCK
 
Honorable mentions edit in no order:
1. 88 kasyo junrei
2. ANTHEM
3. Loudness
4. Kuni Kawachi
5. Veiled in Scarlet
6. Sukimasangyo
7. The Pillows
8. Ogre You Asshole
9. High and Mighty Colour
10. Sabbrabells

Kisaki should buy the rights to Kuroyume..

Did anybody else initially read their name as BABOON?  
 
gorilla-kei when?

I don't know much about Starwave but I will say that I absolutely love the band Nue, so there's that I guess.

Posted another photo from these images sometime last year or something
 

Just a man and his cat <3

@lichtlune As you know I heard your singing the other night on the discord server and I don't think you're bad at all!  People love to trash others, but you just gotta take the punches and roll with it. I'd love to check out your music sometime, so PM me. You don't sound bad at all, and probably better than most of the people who post on MH so don't let their criticism get you down. There's always room for improvement obviously, but there's a time when you have to take haters in stride and I believe this might be one of those times. 

So I guess to find someone who's got a great personality, brains and good looks at once you really need to marry 3 times... :/

You know. I feel like I have taken being single for granted. I feel like my last relationship ended really prematurely... but i also realized i was able to not spend as much money and I didn't have to worry about someone else's schedule before planning my own. But I feel like it can work with the right person who wants the same distance and time together as you. Which is why i guess i keep looking. idk.
 I can agree with a lot of this. Being single does have it's plus sides. Especially if you're not even in the market to commit to anyone else but yourself because you do have to sacrifice some stuff to be in a serious relationship and meet the other person half way. But I think you can only do that once you're comfortable with yourself and all that jazz. 
 
 
idk relationships are weird. i never know what to say or do. I always think i'm at fault. I never understand why someone likes me so i convince myself they're lying which in the end pushes them away because they get tired of trying to prove themselves when they shouldn't have to.

Hell yeah~
 
I know this might sound bad to some people but I've been in serious online relationships but not serious in-person relationships, but really I'm a tremendous introvert in the sense that I don't like to spend a lot of time with people in person outside of leisure time so yeah that's a large part of it - whereas online I can do shit on my own accord arbitrarily and the responsibility of commitment never arises. I've had people fall in love with me whom I liked but I never really wanted my relationships to evolve into something bigger because that's not how I roll, yet still petty drama and baseless arguments were a frequent enough phenomenon that over time the thought of being completely single seemed much more desirable.
 
tl;dr I love being single but it's mostly because I don't actively pursue serious relationships (I prefer friendships) and I love me some alone time. I never understood why so many people feel an imperative need to be in a relationship either considering the way many if not most relationships deteriorate over time. I've seen so many heartbroken people who could barely even recover from a broken relationship so I wonder why it's so urgent to be in one considering what is very likely to end up happening.

Cool project!  I really like the "Lay To Rest" song, and also "Dystopia."  Especially "Dystopia."  Apparently we were on the Decadent Society Volume 2 together!
 
As for the singing, I like it!  I think you've got a cool gothic-y voice.  Don't let the haters get to you.  You are on key, good pitch.  I'm not much of a fan of most music with screaming, so I can't comment on the screaming, as that is just a personal preference.
 
I've released a number of things now, and my earlier stuff, some of it I now cringe at my vocals, but some people really loved those albums.  And some reviewers tore them apart.  Some reviews were so bad they made me laugh!  Whenever an absolutely awful review comes out for my music, I think of Motley Crue describing how all their albums up until Dr. Feelgood were just ripped apart by "professional" reviewers.  They said they usually wouldn't even read reviews of their albums, but they also said that bad ones were great publicity.  They said that they really didn't care what reviewers thought because it wasn't about them, it was about the fans.
 
Especially on my first two albums that I sang on, I got a good bit of criticism on my vocals.  I got a lot of "he's not using his range very well" and "he sounds bored".  Largely because of that feedback, I've worked more on my voice, as I have a generally low voice.  I've gotten much more confident over the years, so now there's not much criticism.  But every once in a while there is.  I try to take that criticism with a grain of salt, put it in my mind, and maybe work on that a little for the next song.  But like Motley, for me its not about reviewers, it's about the fans.  They are a much better judge of what you are doing.
 
I'm by no means a guru on any of this, but I find that it helps to listen to the criticism, laugh and say "man, fu¤% that guy," think about what they meant, and how it could potentially improve your sound.
 
Great work, keep doing what you are doing, keep pushing the envelope, and strive to get better at what you do every single time.  If you try something and it sounds like crud, analyze the situation and get back at it.
 
I'm gonna buy the album

The only band I've heard on this list is Mammal Hands, and they rule. Seriously didn't expect anyone to bump em on MH. Animalia is great and I actually haven't checked out Floa but am going to do so. Also there's some other stuff on the list I'm interested in, mainly THIS IS JAPAN. Haven't heard their music before but if they're inspired by Number Girl then I'm interested. Cheers!

Because you didn't dig DEEP enough..

Greetings, monochromians and netizens at large! I'm a bit late, but here are my top 20 Favorite Albums (and mini-albums) of 2016. In this list, I've made no distinction between Japanese and International releases, since I enjoyed much fewer non-Japanese albums in 2016 than usual. I usually never bother ranking my AOTY lists, but I wanted to give it a shot this year for fun. I do think the rankings reflect my general sentiments in a way, but...don't read too much into them lol. XD
 
Lastly, Please note that this list isn't meant to be some kind of objective statement on the music released last year - this is simply a recollection of the albums I enjoyed most in 2016. So have a look around, and if you have any thoughts to share, please feel free! (I also made some short audio samples for each track, for those who might be curious!)
 
Let's get into it!  
 
20

The Heart Speaks In Whispers by Corinne Bailey Rae
  While this album didn't entirely live up to the lofty expectations set by 2010's The Sea, there was still a lot here for me to enjoy! Corinne dabbled in her usual pop fare, but it was the strong, classic r&b and soul influences throughout the record that truly struck a chord. I adore her usually refined and elegant approach to songwriting, but it was great to hear her stretch those fantastic vocal chords and really go for it at times too.
19

SECRETS by Deep Sea Diver
  At the risk of sounding like a complete and utter weeb, I must admit that's it's been incredibly difficult for me to find American indie-rock bands that cater to my taste. There are, of course, some that I enjoy, but on the whole, few seem to possess the kind of rhythmic and melodic sensibilities that I go for. Seattle's Deep Sea Diver are an exception, though. They're certainly not innovators by any means, but they do have an understated quirkiness that I find extremely charming!
18

TAXIS by koh nakashima
  I'm a bit surprised that there's not much mention of this guy in the Western Jpop sphere. For me, he's been one of the most impressive and promising newcomers to hit the scene. He seemingly came out of nowhere, dropping two EPs - RAFT and TAXIS - just a few months apart. I found TAXIS especially appealing for its nostalgic, yet refreshing blend of house, city-pop, uk garage, and pop. This also gets extra points for being one of the few releases where me and @beni's taste actually converge! 
17

NIPPONNO ONNAWO UTAU BEST by NakamuraEmi
  Speaking of nostalgia - NakamuraEmi also won me over with an acoustic-pop style that hearkens back to early 00's jpop. Though, like Koh Nakashima, she brings a hip flair to her music and even skillfully incorporates a rap flow at times; which is something of a normal occurrence in Jpop these days thanks to acts like daoko and suiyoubi no campanella. Funnily enough, "NIPPONNO ONNAWO UTAU BEST" is simultaneously Nakamura's major debut while also serving as a best-of album for her indie material. This was my first experience with her (as it probably was for most people), and I'm nothing short of impressed. She already has a well established sound, honed from years of toiling away in obscurity, and I can't wait to hear what's next for her.
 
 
16
 

Word in the Petals by CHERRYBOY FUNCTION
  Unless you're some kind of Japanese club music aficionado, then chances are you probably haven't heard of CHERRYBOY FUNCTION. Hell, even if you're just a casual fan of electronica, coming across him or his music is unlikely given his sufficiently weak social network game and scanty remix work. Yet despite this, he's been quietly cranking out his bleeps & bloops via the small record label ExT Recordings for about a decade now, and also plays alongside more prominent electronic acts like DE DE MOUSE and TOFUBEATS. Word in the Petals is just another great dose of his colorful techno and house grooves.
15

THE NEWEST JOKE by VELTPUNCH
  Despite their prominence as one of the western fanbase's treasured indie bands of the 00's, I was never much of a VELTPUNCH fan. Even when I first listened to this album, I wrote it off as being decent, but nothing more. Yet for reasons unknown to me, I gave it another try and it actually began to click, growing on me with each repeat listen. With a whopping fourteen tracks, clocking in at over an hour, the album does drag on for a bit too long. I might have placed this higher in the list if the pleasant-but-forgettable tracks were omitted in favor of the stronger moments, but there's still more than enough raucous indie-rock fun here to keep me coming back! 
14

LAST WALTZ by world's end girlfriend
  This was actually my first time listening to a WEG record, and to be honest, it just barely made my list. Not because I didn't enjoy it, but because it's simply a massive record and I felt I hadn't properly digested it yet. Though the fact that I still included it is a testament to the impression that's it's left on me. LAST WALTZ is an expansive amalgam of beautiful, cinematic landscapes, twisted distortion, and gritty electronics - right up my alley. I'll definitely enjoy continuing to digest this one in the year ahead.
13

freeform jazz by uyama hiroto
  Uyama Hiroto will probably be viewed as the spiritual successor to his peer and collaborator, the late Nujabes. However, with all due respect, I would say that this album has propelled him into a league of his own. While not technically "free-jazz", it certainly feels less bound than his previous works. It's a more musical effort overall, and the drumwork is especially more organic than before, as opposed to the straightforward boom-bap approach that similar artists take. In fact, you can hardly categorize this as just "jazzy hip-hop" anymore. Hell, the entire album only has one actual rap feature (and thankfully so, because I can't stomach cheesy backpacker rap!). It's an exquisite listen with fantastic vibes.
12

remix04 rem by Chouchou
  I've followed Chouchou casually for years now, but this album has completely cemented me as a fan. It's a self-remix album in the which duo have reworked their songs completely into ambient piano pieces, and it's astoundingly gorgeous! It's so well done that this albums feels like a new, cohesive work of its own, as opposed to an assortment of previously released tracks. I'd love for them to continue along this style.
11

DEEPER by HITORIE
  Wowaka's musical mind never ceases to amaze me. As a former vocaloid producer, he brings to HITORIE all of the colorful melodies and infectious riffs that I love, while thankfully leaving the actual vocaloid at home. If it weren't for the tail end of the album, DEEPER would have been much higher in rank, but the first half is so strong and has received SO MUCH playtime from me that it warrants a place on this list!
10

"inori de wa todokanai kyori" by JYOCHO
  The spirit of uchuu combini being resurrected in the form of JYOCHO was no doubt the biggest year-end surprise for me. For the most part, JYOCHO picks up exactly where the band left off, except this time adding a flutist into the arrangement. Even the new vocalist Rionos is barely distinguishable from uchuu's Emichoco. All in all, It's a lovely dose of math-pop, and just what I needed in my musical diet last year.
09

DISTORTION by THIS IS JAPAN
  These 4-piece alt. rockers appeared with yet another awesome debut EP last year. Citing influences such as Fugazi and Japanese indie legends NUMBER GIRL and Bloodthirsty Butchers, these guys play a style of rock that smashes together fun and catchy melodies with pure, spastic rawness! At a time where the smooth grooves of city-pop and the chilled sounds of western indie are trending in the J-indie world, THIS IS JAPAN is a breath of fresh air!
08

Floa by Mammal Hands
  With the emergence of acts like mouse on the keys and fox capture plan, bands fusing post-rock with piano-based jazz seem to be appearing more these days. Mammal Hands was my latest discovery in this style, and unlike their labelmates GoGo Penguin (who also released a solid album in 2016), this trio are a bit more loyal to their jazz influences. They have a pretty awesome saxophonist, which definitely supplements their jazzy predilections and gives them a more notable edge over similar bands. I like to imagine that Floa is what Uyama Hiroto would sound like if he went in a more jazzy and cinematic direction.
07

Flames & Figures by The Seshen
  The Seshen was another serendipitous new discovery for me last year. I stumbled across them while perusing one of my favorite UK music labels, Tru Thoughts, and I was enamored immediately. They make the kind of forward-thinking soul music that I love, with hints of electronica, synth-pop, and psychedelia all bundled into one, crisp, enthralling package. I've seen them described as "Little Dragon meets Erykah Badu", which is brilliant since I love those two. Apparently, they've also supported acts like Thundercat and Hiatus Kaiyote (who I also love!).
06

IKI by HITORIE
  No, you're not going crazy. This is, indeed, another HITORIE album on my list lol. They released two last year, and as you can see, I'm smitten with them both! IKI, however, is the second one to be released and also the better of the two. It doesn't have the powerhouse singles that DEEPER did, but it's the more cohesive and balanced work. Whereas DEEPER fizzles out towards the end, IKI is thoroughly engaging throughout. The amount of quality music that HITORIE released last year is just baffling!
05

A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
  I'm most likely a fan of any Japanese band that you can describe as sounding Radiohead-esque - sleepy.ab, downy, trico, wooderd chiarie, ar - so it only makes sense that I'd be a fan of the masters themselves. I can't even tell you why I like them so much, but I guess their sound just speaks to my heart on a visceral level. This album is like the soundtrack to a dream of infinitely unravelling splendor. The arrangements are gorgeous and the production is as pristine and masterful as it gets. Amazing!
 
04

Ugly Slave Children by No Party for Cao Dong
  These Taiwanese rockers completely swept me off my feet after seeing what I'd easily consider my favorite music video of 2016. Admittedly, the album took a while to grow on me, with its unexpectedly danceable nature, but I've really come to love its uniquely passionate blend of grooves, mathy passages, and emo outbursts. 
03

SONASILE by Shohei Amimori
  I was beginning to lose faith in PROGRESSIVE FOrM, my favorite Japanese electronic label, as the quality of their releases have been shoddy over past few years, but Shohei Amimori has completely dispelled my growing stigma with this album! SONASILE is an absolutely incredible sonic feast of colorful IDM and sunny glitch-pop. There are also hints of modern classical and jazz piano strewn throughout, and even some very strong Shibuya-Kei influences. I'm surprised that the western fandom seems to have overlooked this one!
02

dai roku sakuhin-shu "mudai" by downy
  As expected, downy's 6th untitled album is absolutely singular! It's much different from their previous album, yet just as good. Robin Aoki's vocals are more prominent than they've ever been, and the production seems a bit more earthy and natural, as if the album was produced specifically with live performances in mind. It's brought out a new kind of warmth to their otherwise stark and cold, dystopian sound. The general soundscape of the album isn't as varied as their previous releases, but it works in downy's favor here. Instead of going for an outwardly expansive sound, the album plays out like the band exploring their own inner workings, and it's a whole new world unto itself. I'm not sure how these guys do it, but they keep evolving while remaining a uniquely potent force.
01

siraph by siraph
  You know those "create your dream band" topics? Well, I've ruminated on those kinds of subjects quite a bit and never in a million years would I have thought to create a band as perfect as siraph. These guys are literally a dream come true - mostly due in part to the god-tier combination of haisuinonasa's Yoshimasa Terui and school food punishment's Masayuki Hasuo. Terui was the driving force behind haisinonasa and Hasuo was responsible for school food punishment's best material. With both bands in the throes of oblivion (the former appears to be on hiatus and the latter has been disbanded for years), their unique sounds seemed at danger of being lost to time. Thankfully, siraph has appeared with this godsend of a debut to save the day! The EP combines Terui's offbeat, math rock-sensibilities and Hasuo's eccentric synth grooves to brilliant effect. Both composers wrote three tracks each, and while their individual styles are obvious, they couldn't be any more complimentary as a unit. Singer Annabel completes the circle, bringing with her an anison charm that completely invigorates Hasuo and Terui's already imaginative compositions. With this EP, in addition to their demos and recent single, siraph has single-handedly made my 2016!

Because you didn't dig DEEP enough..

gET OUT

Because you didn't dig DEEP enough..

The pond in my neighborhood was frozen yesterday! So, I braved it and took a self-portrait on it.
It was frozen pretty solid so I actually ice skated a little too (haha).

Me and my deer eyes, but I guess that's fine anyways. 

long time no see and late merry christmas from stupid fawn

Enjoy your time here! We got what you need ^^

I listened to that Shaarimoth album earlier, it's amazing. Definitely up to my favourites of January thus far.
Laster's new album is out and it's absolutely delicious. I can't stop listening to it. (https://laster.bandcamp.com/album/ons-vrije-fatum) – I wouldn't know how non-native Dutch people would take this, as the lyrics are made up of... forgotten Dutch vocabulary indented with olden slang. Especially the spoken and whispered words are quite originally poetic.