Sometimes it comes as the first album from a new band, trying to show what they’re here for.
Sometimes it comes from a veteran band, who have come a long way in their career and want to show that they still know what they’re doing.
Sometimes it comes out to punctuate a profound change of sound and direction, but trying to indicate that there is still something of the band’s original identity.
Sometimes it comes after a change in line-up to try to appease fans’ concerns about the new members.
Sometimes it comes about because no one had a better idea for a title.
Sometimes it’s a complete shitshow.
So, what do you think about self-titled albums? Do you love or hate them? Which are your favorites? Which ones do you hate? Which is the BEST japanese self-titled album?
And a little bonus game: pick a band’s discography and change the title of one of their albums to self-titled. Justify your choice
It’s really hard for me to choose because i barely know any self-titled VK album, (Hell, i thought that self-titled album are pretty rare in VK) but if i had to choose one its gonna be Girugamesh. 13’s Reborn’s production sounds so raw and amateur-ish in comparison to their self titled album. I mean the fact that Tatsuro and Miya from Mucc lends their voice in this album is pretty telling that they’re just getting started even though their sound post-Music were downright snoozefest, AND the fact that they choose to disband when their music started to picking up again.
Anyway i would recommend this album to anyone who was trying to get into VK but can’t stand the horny fanservice aspect of it, and hell, even to any animefans that get to know them through the infamous
GIRUGAMEEESHHH
Meme.
Bonus Note: I think Gauze deserve the s/t status simply because it match their aesthetics and the overall sound of the album. (Minus the heavier stuff i guess?)
Don’t really have a feeling on bands using their band name for an album title. It just usually comes across like they had no idea what to name their album. These aren’t in the vkei space, but some of the best albums ever put out are self titled (Slipknot and System of a Down).
With vkei, I can’t think of a S/T album that made as much wave as 12012’s. When it came out it was so polarizing because of the band’s new questionable direction. But it worked and people paid attention whenever they released something new whether it was to criticise it or check it out of curiosity. I don’t think its as bad as people say it is. In fact, there are some incredibly solid tracks on it. And you can at least say the songwriting and tone of the whole album is consistent throughout. It’s the first album that comes ti mind when I think self titled within the vkei space.
=====
Outside of that album, I can’t think of any that either hit Slipknot status of incredible or 12012 levels of wth did I just listen to. The ones I’ve listened to are:
GIRUGAMESH
Kagerou
RENTRER EN SOI
SCREW
The first 3 are great, but SCREW is a dud. Kagerou is maybe my favorite of the bunch for having a dark indie sound and for the song “Kako katachi shinjitsu”.
Kagerou’s self titled album is absolutely incredible. The tone it sets early on is incredibly engaging with its twisted mammoth of an opener (Meisou Honnou), and a nice little check point half way in with “Yami ni Warau Kuro”/“Marvelous na Kubikazari” back to back showcasing the range these dudes possessed together.
Also, whoever mentioned 12012’s s/t, i agree. I’m tired of pretending it’s a bad album.
I dont have any issue with bands doing self titled albums but as a creative group of people it surprises me a bit that they couldnt come up with a title that reflects where they are and what the album is all about at that point in time. Just seems lazy and like a lack of creativity to be honest but am sure each band would have valid reasons for making this choice. I just see the title of the album as quite an essential piece of the album as an artistic piece as a whole so if that’s missing something just feels a bit incomplete and lacklustre in my opinion.
