We have a lot of discussion about albums that we consider classics, but very rarely do we ever discuss recent albums. It feels like a certain amount of time has to pass before an album can be considered a classic. We’re gonna break that rule for this topic. Instead, discuss albums that are relatively more modern that you predict will stand the test of time.
In this case, anything “modern” would be after 2000.
I’ll start with one album that I’ve been listening to constantly since it’s come out and there’s no sign of slowing down.
I think -OZ-'s VERSUS can be considered a modern classic. It is an unstoppable force of win. There are no skips on this album and it’s relatively consistent from beginning to end. It’s a great summary of what 2009 VK was all about. If anyone ever wanted to get into -OZ-, this is the album I would tell them to start with.
I shall go with an underrated classic that kickstarted (along with some other albums) the whole 2010s “soft VK goes into dreamy indie things” trend IMHO:
A smorgasbord of “softer” VK rock (think of poppier Luna Sea-inspired bands circa late 90s) fused with post-rockish and dream poppish influences. Even if they had not been explicitly mentioned, they definitely walked so that today’s “soft VK” bands could run. Cannot recommend this album highly enough - listen to the whole thing!
Yes, I know this is a hot take, no I will not elaborate much. But here is band that dared to truly be shocking, incorprating both a modern and old sound.
CHE DO A RA is 2010s Gauze
The “420” Theatrical Roses is 2010s Fierte no Umi
baroque’s planetary secret and sugar in the closet’s you don’t know how to taste seasonal change have no peers or serious competitors, but sit well outside mainstream vkei
i nominate ADORATIO for the Sukekiyo spot which obviously has to be a part of any serious list.
(btw i’m only talking 2010s here as that’s the only decade i’ve lived through as a fan!)
birth/love by Daizystripper might qualify; as a double album it’s far from streamlined but has plenty prestige and ambition.
Enigma by The Thirteen could be a sleeper hit. I think there’s not much prestige to their name but every track is solid, plays a purpose on the album, and somehow their writing sounds here like a startup band with something to prove rather than relaxing veterans
Oh, Rides in Revellion Vein/Artery, how could i forget
Royz i don’t think ever makes ambitious outstanding masterpieces but consistently delivers solid results that illustrate what the exact core of vkei can sound like when done well, so i nominate Revolution to New Age for being the most average well-done album of the times.
I’m sure i’ll end up w/ more to add on.
@mods y’all should make this some official poll or smth later on, would be cool to see what the general opinion of jro is wrt which are THE albums of the 2010s
Could be cool to tier this a bit by band, where step 1 is which album per band for any bands with multiple selected, so that we don’t just end up with a list of all the GazettE / Diru albums on name recognition alone
illational by √eight should also belong on this list, although the odds of me finding people who have listened to this album decrease by the year. Some good hard rock here.
