Owh hell yeah, I love this Mandigo theme. Now I can spruce up the background here as much as I want to (when I’m free to). Major thanks to this tip off.
Shall start with KinKi ♥
Centralised background, hence we should be able to play around with higher screen resolutions. This will allow more widescreen customisation. Meaning: MOAR images to pimp with the possibility of a larger canvas width.
Looking at the limited viewing space for 1024×768 screens, I dunno how I’d be able fit all six Shinhwa members tho’. *sheepish smile* So I urge all of you to please buy widescreen monitors in order to see all the missing parts. Akekeke.
Or you can just change your browser ‘zoom in’ function.
On another geeky customising move I made: Google Analytics tracker has been added! Er, so the pageviews figures aren’t gonna be huge or anything (note: estimating this blog will only hit less than 20 views per month) but I’m curious as to where my readers come from
Since my blog does sometimes manage to pop up in Google Search whenever I look for Jrock/Visual Kei info, ya know? *boasts*
Meetings, meetings, meetings. So this is how it feels like to have meetings all day long and not getting a single hour to do any of my work. Me not liking it much. But I need the effing money, right?
Er well actually, the money’s not a big driving factor for me (yet).
Phew. Made it right on time by nicking a few hours on 1st February! Yikes O_O TWELVE REVIEWS?! *shakes head*
Title: IN PHYSICAL *AWEFUCKINGSOME* Band: Ken (of L’Arc~en~Ciel) Verdict: 5 stars. I vote he should leave Laruku and continue as a solo artist then produce more bands. What an absolute kickass album. Unhampered by his band’s emo-punk style, these self-produced songs are stylish and classy. One of the best releases from 2009 (and last decade). Go for: ‘ETERNAL REST’, ‘IN PHYSICAL’, ‘SAVE ME’ and practically everything in this album! xD
Title: Metamorphosis *AWEFUCKINGSOME* Band: DEAD END Verdict: 4.5 stars. Morrie is by far the most sturdy vocalist with hardly any break in prowess after what… almost 30 years? Here’s some info on them just to prove my point. If you think veteran bands should stay away from making a comeback and further embarrass themselves like X Japan, spend some time to listen to this and be pleasantly amazed. It’s bound to make you swear off all those teeth-gnashing new metal-slash-hiphop stuff that younger bands have been spewing — if only for awhile. Because they totally bring back metal in Japanese rock. And it’s been a few months for me to actually hear something worth repeating beside Ken’s album thus I’m also awarding this with a Best of 2009 trophy. Go for: ‘Guillotine’, ‘Shinen’, ‘Dress Burning’, ‘Kill Me Baby’, ‘Devil Sleep’, ‘Meigou’.
Title: 羅針盤 (Rashinban) Band: Shinkou Shuukyou Gakudan NoGoD Verdict: 3.5 stars. Spunky and fresh. Yeah, a tad weird to describe it this way but their expert songwriting is really unique as opposed to other rising indie bands. After a year plus, I’ve familiarised with Danchou’s high pitch as something he’s good at *unplugs earbuds*. Handling ballads and metal riffs like nobody’s business, these talented boys are progressing really fast and looks like they’ll be debuting under a major label this year probably after March. So I’m looking forward to that. Go for: ‘Ring-a Ring-o’, ‘Mr.HEAVEN’, ‘Hakoniwa’.
Title: Gain Band: Sadie Verdict: 1.5 stars. Nothing spectacular from this new mini. I can’t even think up something nice to say. Ick… Just listen to ‘Regret’ and skip the others. Go for: ‘Regret’.
Title: Canticum Band: forbidden days of rhapsody Verdict: 3 stars. Mika has returned to the foray as the frontman, bassist and programmer of this electronica-metal project. And omaigawd he got fellow ex-Rentrer bandmate Shun to join him *dies happy*. Cough. Beautiful songs, by the way. Another plus point would be featuring vocalist, Rui, who suddenly came into everyone’s radar with his powerful voice. The mixing is beyond exquisite and should be listened to using superior headphones because 2 weeks ago I put this on speaker and thought it sucked. Oops. Go for: ‘REFILL’ (inst), ‘HANDCUFF’, ‘IN DELIRIUM’ (inst).
Title: 神羅万象 -摂理- (Shinrabansho -Setsuri-) Band: XodiacK Verdict: 1.5 stars. Guh. What happened to them? And what kind of production is this? Choppy songwriting and horrible quality — It’s as if they recorded in a garage all in one day. Go for: ‘Kimi ni Furu Zetsubou no Ame’.
Title: JUBILEE -Method of Inheritance- *HOT* Band: Versailles Verdict: 4 stars. In memory of Jasmine You, I couldn’t help sighing and remembering their first album which practically bled your ears with high speed guitar riffs. I’m not entirely fond of the gay Waltz-like strings in ‘Reminisce’ and tame ‘Amorphous’. Granted this is their first major album so it’s possible they turned down their intensity a notch somewhat? Nevertheless, this is a good album that benefits a HOT tag because they have their production down to pat. Excellent work! And pay attention to ‘Serenade’ for the underlying meaning. [Random note: Silly me, I only found out last month that Teru was from Aikaryuu. SLOW, Arfah!] Go for: ‘PRINCESS -Revival of Church-’, ‘Serenade’, ‘gekkakou’, ‘Catharsis’.
Title: us. *HOT* Band: the Underneath Verdict: 4 stars. Another 2009 album I overlooked. A little bit of everything can be found here: some old-Laruku, some AliceNine, some Inoran, some Pierrot. And I LOVE it. To death. So now when I’m completely digging it, they announce that they’re disbanding! What a shame. Technically, this is their last album but not their final goodbye since they’ll release a maxi single in March. One more good band bites the dust. Go for: ‘Chou no Koe -The scream of the butterfly-’, ‘Insomnia’, ‘Aria’, ‘Ghost in the Mirror’.
Title: ABINGDON ROAD *AWEFUCKINGSOME* Band: abingdon boys school Verdict: 5 stars. They deliver us the goods on a gold platter (again). Yet they still cheat us by releasing too many good singles. I counted only 5 new songs. Hey but nothing and nobody can deny the greatness of this album. No huge cult hit as of yet although I’m pitting my money on the severely angsty ‘Siren’ against the snazzy ‘PINEAPPLE ARMY’. Check out the Valkyrie remix, man. Go for: ‘PINEAPPLE ARMY’, ‘Siren’, ‘Kimi no Uta’, ‘From Dusk Til Dawn’, ‘STRENGTH.’ and yeaaah anything and everything.
Title: LASTICA Band: Karasu Verdict: 2.5 stars. I kinda have an image of them riding Harleys while cruising down Vegas in all-black leather outfits. Well, they’ve got the clothes right. Yet the song lacks the punch in the gut feel I normally get from Tats. And the repeating melody is tiresome after 4-5 runs. Not betting anything on karasu for now although they are pretty compatible with each other. Go for: Obviously ‘Lastica’ because they only have 1 song.
Title: Monad Band: Vidoll Verdict: 2 stars. Hm. Not really for me. *yawn* Decent, but definitely isn’t what I thought I could expect. Vidoll is quite an old band so why are they making platonic half-fluff like DuelJewel? I think I’ll just stick to fluff from SID or Ayabie. Go for: ‘Darwinism’, ‘hot cage remix’.
Title: 彩-irodori- Band: Ayabie Verdict: 3 stars. Ooh. This new change gets an approving nod from me. They’ve shrugged off their bubblegum poprock musical style to a mature blend of their signature oshare-kei with something I can’t quite put a finger on. ‘GAME’ is highly addictive! Go for: ‘GAME’, ‘Aitakute’, ‘Canary’.
I almost gagged when my mother praised Boys Over Flowers during dinner earlier. She said lately she’d hurry home after Maghrib prayers because BOF is extremely funny and has not one, but FOUR *gasp* handsome heroes. I dare not comment in order not to become supremely pissy with her =_______=;;;
Another 2 weeks left to Chinese New Year and I’m pretty excited about our family’s camping trip to Desaru.
Looong weekend, boring 5-hours ride down South, outdoor BBQ, noisy sisters, the pristine beach (yay!) and the perfect time to show off unveil my iPod Touch. Heheh.
[edit: not gonna name it Tsuyo, after all. i forgot my 1Tera is Tsuyo. oops]
Yeah, I kinda bought it just so I won’t die from mal-KinKi-nutrition (since I don’t have a laptop). But I refuse to install a video converter solely for the sake of storing vids. It’s not even remotely possible for me to choose what I might have time to watch and then spending time to decide is such a hassle. Boo!
So I’m cutting down brain-processing time by randomly downloading old old clips from Youtube. For example: concerts I haven’t seen, interviews, missing SDK eps and etc. An awesome alternative since the files are so much smaller ^_^
Hmm. Maybe I should dl those yet-to-be-subbed Ningen Shikkaku eps? Spoiler-ish, I know. But it’s not like I don’t already know the ending ne? Will see how…
Must remind self on Monday morning to lend Ria my HanaDan DVDs. The awesomest and bestest version of HYD ever in the universe which will NEVER be trumped by the sissy Korean one. There. I ranted. *pleased sneer*
Am shuffling all 30gb of Jrock but still feel bored to death. Yeah, slow day today.
Planning for the weekend doesn’t help either. I don’t even know what I wanna do other than sleep
Maybe I should follow up on Jess’ suggestion to teman me to Amcorp Mall or Petaling Street. Although cough my pocket’s pretty much empty already thanks to my brand new shiny iPod Touch. *lovingly rubs Tsuyo* Yes. I’m naming him Tsuyo xDD
Anyway. The office is (half) abuzz with Monday’s Annual Company Dinner at Hilton. Except for that oh so clever decision by the bosses to have a ‘Wear Something on top of Your Head’ theme that’s got me bothered. wth should I wear lah?? A headphone? A cap? *dusts out yellowish Kangta cap* This is like… the most decent cap I have pulak tu. Sheesh.
Right now I so wish I could own one of these Tsu4shi (read: Tsuyoshi) Ca4la berets =__=
Now that I have Internet connection (again), why do I feel bored to death? I’ve got 3 books lying around in my room being left halfway unread. Why would I rather spend 15 minutes refreshing my FB News Feed to read updates? *bangs head against wall*
Not in the mood to review this month. =___= I’m fresh out of ideas eventhough the list of VK downloads I had thought of going through is fast piling up. Well technically it’ll be February in 11 days so I’ll have at least 2 weeks to get inspired. Someone inspire me, please!
I was thinking of writing an uplifting one for the Underneath’s album from last year. Until they went and announced their breakup yesterday. Uhh so I dunno when I’d do it.
Goodbye, JAL. Thank you for the fond memory (and delicious food). [October 2009]
Now that they’ve gulung their tikar, there’s no longer a cheaper direct flight route to Japan. Apparently Kuala Lumpur is just not important enough for Japan’s biggest carrier company, ANA, because we have been scrapped off their flight plan. Ciskek. Damn MAS for being so expensive. I sure as hell ain’t gonna fly with them. Not unless ANA’s Singapore route is way too exorbitant.
Sigh. Here’s to hoping I am sturdy enough to save A LOT of money for our next trip in 2011.
I find myself dreaming more and more lately. My brain processing is probably going haywire. Must sleep early. Yes, must sleep early. Time is now 12:59 AM. Huh! Oh well, another 30 minutes would hardly affect my mental state, no? Mwahah.
Yara has just commanded me to stay awake. This time yet again, my slowpoke self just learned that he had been showing up regularly at Shokura with THEYbudou (KinKi’s newest backdancers). OMFG! Apart from his solo dance performance, they’ve also re-choreographed KinKi’s old songs! Absolute win. Rawr.
[edit] Ooooh what’s this I found? An old Music Jump clip with Yara. I feel Tonisen’s awkwardness. Haha. Just look at how jambu Tackey, Tsubasa and Yara were x___x
I had a disturbing weird dream of Lembu working with CMG on the upcoming Suju concert. (ﾟДﾟ|||) !!
Disturbing: It started with a radio interview of her boasting about how she’s making a huge comeback by roping in Super Junior for their first ever (official) concert in Malaysia.
Very Disturbing: CMG’s head honcho Mr. A was praising her. No wait, that’s not what shocked me. I mentally had an image of A as a pervy old man. Seriously. Where the hell did he come from?
Even More Disturbing: This dream totally switched scenes to Mr. A sexually harassing the Lembu in an office. Dear God, why why why me?
WTF Kinda Disturbing: The spankings continued on. But suddenly her face changed to…
…
……
DOMOTO TSUYOSHI?! Eeeeeh! =_____________=
Ok, so like… *facepalms* I understand the possible connection between her and the whole buzz regarding the concert. And maybe the harassment part was due to some ebooks I read before nodding off to sleep.
But the moment Tsuyo… Tsuyo… ^^;; Tsuyo’s cameo was definitely DEFINITELY due to some interesting NC-17 KinKi fics. The other reason why he’d suddenly trade places as the victim is because I can’t shrug off the fact that she is/was a big fan of him (still). *rubs goosebumps* Gomen na, Tsuyo-san!
A strange way to start the day. I wouldn’t have woken up at 9 if it wasn’t for her. Orang tua-tua selalu kata kalau mimpi pagi-pagi mesti yang bukan-bukan. Ish ish ish.
Eiiiiyer. So to cleanse myself from her image, I watched fancams from J Concert and momentarily forgot when I saw Yara! ♥
Point #1098792364934589 why I MUST save money for limited edition and normal edition DVD.
Reading kireira’s awefully fluffy translated KinKi Kids rumours led me down the path to *GASP* moar KK homo smut fics. In my heart, I’d rather not believe they’re gay but I can’t stop fantasising about the possibilities. Hahaha. This delicious depravity — I can no longer ignore Let’s make the flowers of love bloom!
From the viewpoint of history, today would be the first time I’ve blushed THIS hard.
After becoming all hot and bothered by the sweetness of KKL… the images and lines kept popping into my mind until I could hardly stop myself breaking into Cheshire Cat-like grins while walking to the LRT station on my way home. I had to mentally give myself a cold shower by thinking about my family’s upcoming CNY trip.
Yes, I’m sober now. At least for a few hours before I start searching for even moar smexy fics. *melts*
Need. To. Stay. Awake. I’ve got 22 more pages of Fhiz’s thesis to proofread. *rubs eyes*
Although Tsuyoshi’s solo albums proved to be helpful in keeping me company yesterday evening, Endlicheri is making me drowsy tonight. -__- Sorry, man. It’s Koichi’s turn tonight. Cough.
In the meantime, I’ve got beautimous MQ fancams of their 30th and 11th concerts queued up in CB (eventhough it’s sluggish right now, grr!!). Aaaand I’d need to sit down over the weekend to listen to 9 additional hours of KinKi concert rips. That means the total hours of KinKi Kids J Concert audios: 3 in Tokyo + 3 in Osaka = estimated 12.3 HOURS x_____x
Speaking of concerts… I shall stop bitching about X Japan’s Hollywood venture and Yoshiki’s super-duper-ego-stroking narcissist self. For now. Will wait for them to actually deliver us the four finalised PVs.
One day left to weekend ;_; HURRRRRRY UPPPPPP~
[note to self: NEED to review Ken's In Physical, DEAD END's Metamorphosis, NoGoD's Rashinban, Sadie's Gain and forbidden days rhapsody's Canticum so that I don't fail in providing awesome new stuff for you to explore]
I can’t download Koichi’s hitsumabushi-eating 2006 appearance on Ai no Apron! Hitsumabushi = super yummyfied looking unagi with rice dish.
Gah. Whyyyy won’t you move, dagnammit?! *bricks Mediafire*
Yesterday I kept ranting to Farah how we’d be able to do a sleepover at my house if and only when my parents would not be around. Guess what? My mom told me they’d be driving down to JB (with my grandmom) today just last night. =__= Last minute planning and a Sunday night? Haih. It’s another pass, then.
Ano… of course we’ll have to wait til Jla gets better to be able to do our first JSO (aka Jyaniz Sleepover).
In the meantime, please watch the below news report on KinKi’s J con, sankiu. You’ll get to see Kochan being his usual ojisan self while reacting to Tsuyo’s raburabu tribute. ♥
Reading up (some more) about KinKi Kids’ zodiac took up my working hours today. Oops. There goes productivity, down the drain… Whooosh!
My OTP doesn’t allow me to work seriously anymore. Not after our trip to Japan. I have a feeling I might get sacked sooner or later for becoming despondent and for other nefarious reasons.
What a tortorous week. Can’t the weekend come sooner? Speaking of weekends, Farah and I will be visiting JLa because she got admitted due to her recurring asthma. I didn’t realise sooner from the FB posts so I’m very sorry, my madu! Will make it up to you this Sat. =)
Oh! Someone has finally uploaded forbidden days rhapsody’s Canticum! But Sendspace is a bitch. I hate my connection right now. I’m sleepy. I’m whining so I should get this post over with by lamenting about how Yoshiki is ruining his band’s image as a legend.
X Japan’s “Made in Hollywood” four music videos is not so good news. For me. I dunno. Yoshiki just really suck nowadays with his broken promises, his obsession in trying to commercialise VK into the US market and the cancelled concerts. And him pulling in SUGIZO again and again is making me ill. Sugi-chan jumps from one project (Juno Reactor) to another project (this) TOO fast that his body would surely combust the next time he steps close to a nuclear reactor. Sorry, that was a pun due to his activist role. I know you don’t get it but whatthehey. Anyhoo~ If Sugizo complains about being so tired but still works his skinny ass off 24/7 then he should just stop and rest, yes?
No holiday ’til mid of next month. No concrete plan for our next concert viewing yet. Which reminds me that I’d need to transfer all D drive contents to my shiny new 1TB external. *grins* What a shameless way to promote.
2010 will be a weird year for me. Financially, I’m not supposed to spend extravagantly on materialistic expenditures that is deigned to bring me pleasure. Or so I understand from one Cancer forecast. May have to look for a CrabLion cusp-ish site so I’ll feel less guilty on buying DVDs. Mwahah.
Onnnn a slightly angsty mode, Andy’s soldier boy life is just 5 days away! ;_; He’s so gonna be thinner, ne.
Secondly, I don’t get why people are so stuck on proving why Koichi doesn’t publicly show his affection to Tsuyo. By telling other fans to not get worked up over his cold expression during Tsuyoshi’s love song recital, that blogger herself is strictly viewing the situation as a KKL extremist. Her own words degrades their relationship -’ghei love’ if you wanna call it that- to a one-track-mind bond.
C’mon kids, wake up and smell the flowers. Why torture Koichi for being himself? Tsuyo’s done that to Koichi too woh. I don’t see you getting sad over that.
Their bond is too profound for categories. *kicks*
p/s: Sugizo’s second tour for Cosmic Dance around Taiwan and Tokyo is done. Can we see some pictures, pls? *bats eyelashes* And ehem, finally a post I can tag with Shinhwa! (Mian -_-)
MU and MF is blardy evil so I’m downloading the raw file for yesterday’s Countdown con from CB.
Anyway, I have finished listening to 9.1 hours of three days (30th, 31st Dec and 1st Jan) worth of KinKi Kids’ J Concert. Huah penat gile telinga aku! Coz I’m using headphones in order to hear everyyyy little detail, ne. To make sure I don’t miss anything cough loveydovey, ne.
It was so much fun! Judging from since1997★’s pictures of the colourful stage and the echoing Oohs and Aahs, I won’t mind paying another huge sum if JE releases it as a KinKi You-ish sort of DVD packaging. Of course it must include the FULL parts of their 1-2 hours long MCs where they tease their kouhais (MA, THEYBudou and NYC Boys), KinKi’s random and super interesting storytelling and especially Koichi’s birthday poem recital! xD
And MA! Emm! Ayy! KinKi-san let their juniors talk more now therefore… YARA! YAAARAAA!! His giggly self has been so missed.
The crowd is really awesome too. Honestly. The fans made me feel like I was at Tokyo Dome with them. Ahhh there’ll be a few years for me to save money for a KinKi con. T___T
Gawrsh! The DVD’s sooo going to be #1 on my 2010 purchase list! （ ´∀｀）
Ooh yea well umm… I’d have to wait for their 2 days Osaka concerts to end first. Since the Tokyo leg didn’t feature a second kiss which usually accompanies the husband’s birthday celebration, here’s to hoping Tsuyo will ‘attack’ Kochan at the definite end of their tour to mark the success of their newfound happiness (aka their daughter, Pan-chan). *crosses fingers*
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