Let’s get the worst part out of the way. I was hyped for Erosio purely due to the inclusion of Rongai and Aishita, and, honestly, album versions sound worse. I wasn’t off put by Furesaseru and Yumemidoro final versions because, frankly, I don’t like these songs in general. However, having the other two demos remade for Erosio made me think that they shouldn’t re-record demos at all. These demos already sound like a full-fledged song while A&VCOMP versions add TOO MANY bells and whistles. Or, they change stuff that worked pretty well and replace it with some stupidity. If Diru’s retakes are somewhat dumbed down and simplified, Sukekiyo ones are, on the contrary, overbloated. inb4 they also ruin mystery na.
Now, to the good stuff.
This album is gooooood. There are zero song that I didn’t like at all. This album is, IMO, the most cohesive one. It has a very light mood that I could say is much different from anything before, but I also had this feeling that many songs have a callback to their older stuff. Also, is it just me, or this album is pretty fast-paced?
Highlights for me:
Scarlet Margaret - the 1st time their opener has that much momentum. Climax reminds me of Uso a lil bit.
Aishita Shinzou - yeah, I bashed Erosio ver., but this song itself is my favourite out of the doll singles. The drumming that has that funky backtracking, the catchy chorus and overall mysterious mood… yeah, love it.
Kawatte Kuremasen Deshouka? - another fast-paced masterpiece. And, despite the length (6:32), Kawatte doesn’t seem long at all. Lol’d at the comment about how it properly starts after 2 minutes, even if Kuchi no Ringo is the worse offender. Also, this song has probably the best chorus and THE BEST FUCKING ENDING IN ALL THE ALBUM. That violin just plays all the correct notes within my FEELS. Love it.
Mystery na - I definitely see why it wasn’t included on CD1. Too different from the rest of the album (well, maybe it could work well with Kashikomi^2). But god damn if it isn’t catchy af. An EP made out of songs like this and Creeper would definitely make my day. VODKA SOUP
I have since come around on “Kawatte Kuremasen Deshouka?” After listening to it in my headphones while working. It’s a bop.
(Also you mean Margaret for the opener, not Scarlet yeah?)
Also, Saishu, I totally agree about the “Jealous” comment. There are a few songs that made me think of older VK melodies. It’s a fabulous album that touches on their previous albums and also pays homage to the genre as a whole.
I see that many people are upset with them, who prefer demos. I would take it as another version and that’s it, without much drama. I am always a big fan of songs being re-recorded. the more the better.
Now with what I like most; the whole album? almost. I like that it fits very well with AMOR and SALUS.
My top 3; Kuchi ni Ringo (it seems like he’s narrating a text), Rongai na Ikimono Toshite (for me it’s like what sukekiyo is in general, the essence of the band in a song) and Kokyū (not that I love it, but it has a " something" that makes it stay in the mind, something very beautiful)
Now the least; HōmonshaX (I like it a lot, but I feel that it is too long, especially with its intro and ending). and that’s it? Oh, and I would like, on the contrary, for Kashikomi Kashikomi to be longer.
In general, it is surely the album of this year for me, and also a reference in VK, although Kyo would surely deny it (well…).
How will this band never disappoint me?
The only thing I hate about them is their high prices. so many limited products and their poor accessibility.
A world tour already? I wish
畏畏 is great, didn’t know how i felt about the that spider hiphop snare but its grown on me.
Out frame karano is nothing too extreme but its nice and sublime.
Kokyuu is pretty, i love listening to it at work lmao.
Gloss is pretty too.
Honmousha X is amazing but that intro just gets skipped now cause, yeah it’s too long. Lmao.
This album is very very good. I need to listen more for a full opinion.
Watched the Blu-Ray yesterday. I missed out on the last few singles, so didn’t know any of the songs except zephyr and tada, mada, watashi.
Possible hot take: Candis and Valentina are garbage songs. Not sure why they ever went down the route of cheesy '80s synth pop. It’s catchy but repetitive and ultra-formulaic. The only good thing about this section was Kyo’s dress and pink high heels. Even if I didn’t like those songs, the quality of performance was great overall, and I definitely enjoyed everything else.
What’s the point of the ‘official bootleg’? They’ve done this before and I can’t understand why. The clips are too short. It’d be much better if they picked one full track from each show. Even if the shot was just from one camera angle, at least then the viewer can actually get into the music instead of having the equivalent of constant auditory blue-balls.
It’s so interesting to me how different the opinions are about Tue and his work in the VK/JRock sphere compared to the western music world. I’ve been reading complaints about his work since DEG teamed up with him - on the other hand, in the western world, his work with bands such as Meshuggah, The Black Dahlia Murder, and ABR is considered absolutely legendary
Not to say that the criticisms are unwarranted, because they absolutely are. It’s just wild to me how… mixed? inconsistent? his output seems to be
Just got around to finally listen to this album, and it’s really fantastic. But also it’s the most mommy issues and gender I’ve seen Kyo’s lyrics in a while
If he doesn’t, he’s sure tapped into the mindset rather convincingly with his lyrics. I do remember though hearing that he had a strained relationship with them at some point when he was younger due to him going into an artistic profession rather than a “real job”
It’s such a catchy bop, I can’t help but yell along to the bits of the chorus I know the lyrics for lmao