#the first is rocks off if you're wondering... super catchy

[stonedsoul]

this is fr one of the best stones songs ever to me

[blizzardsuplex]

Tagged by my partner in musical crime (in an ideal world LMAO), @trentreznorgf, to list ten songs I've been listening to lately! Here we go:

1.) It's Only Time by The Magnetic Fields -> Just a real pretty love song. :) Why would I stop loving you a hundred years from now? // It's only time; it's only time... 2.) Elevator Love Letter by Stars -> I was lukewarm on this song at first, but on headphones especially it's great! Very dreamy early to mid-2000s track. It's a nuclear show and the stars are gone // elevator, elevator, take me home 3.) Modern Chemistry by Okey Dokey -> I just love how this song mixes that laidback 2010s indie rock sound with such a classic-feeling melody in the chorus. I'm not a scientist, but I'm feeling the chemistry // mixing up emotions, watching them blow up in front of me 4.) Haiti by Arcade Fire -> This song just makes me feel so sad, 10/10. Soon, we will reclaim the earth // all the tears and all the bodies // bring about our second birth 5.) Corner of My Eye by Future Islands -> Also makes me sad, but in a more personal sense. I once had a friend // and we had a home // 'til they asked me to turn back // sometimes life is just like that 6.) Connect by Vampire Weekend -> I can't believe I'm a VW girlie (gn) thanks to prowres now great. Anyway stream Only God Was Above Us, it's pretty good! This is my fave deep cut. Now, is it strange I can't connect? // it isn't strange, but I could check... 7.) Dry Heat/Nice Town by Cheekface -> this song is both too funny and too catchy. Too good to work in a business // too good to work for anyone // nice town, a lot of anarchists 8.) Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift -> 1989 is my favorite TS album (as much I can have one, considering I am overall pretty ambivalent on her music), and this was always my fave song off it. Say you'll remember me // standing in a white dress, staring at the sunset, babe // red lips and rosy cheeks // say you'll see me again, even if it's just in your wildest dreams 9.) For by Dreamcatcher -> I'm not super big into K-Pop, but Dreamcatcher is my fave group easy (and my fave member is Dami if you're wondering). I just love how mid-century pop this sounds, okay? Baby, please don't leave me // this night is long and lonely, so... 10.) Autumn Leaves by Buddy DeFranco Quartet -> DeFranco is still my fave jazz clarinetist LMAO and this is my fave rendition of Autumn Leaves. Clarinets are so interesting to listen to!

Tagging: @shes-a-voodoo-child, @limbreaper, @milk-crater, @spaghettisaurusrex, @puzzle-paradigm, @princedevitt, and @coquinaclutch! I need more new music guys pls :')

[mikunology]

Mikunology Reviews #1: Boku wa Hatsune Miku to Kiss wo Shita (2013) (Pt.1)

Here it is, my very first album review! I figured I would do something I'm pretty familiar with first, so I decided to go with this one: a review of one of my favorite Vocaloid albums of all time, created by my favorite producer! Boku wa Hatsune Miku to Kiss wo Shita (or I Shared a Kiss With Hatsune Miku) by Mikito-P (2013)! This album also happens to be Mikito's first full studio release.

By the way, let me go ahead and state that I am not a musician, so I'm not as good at really phrasing my thoughts on things in a technical manner. But I still hope you enjoy my opinion :> I'm also a big fan, as stated, so I will probably get rambly > <" But let's get started!

Part 2 here

Hatsune Miku to Kiss wo Shita (I Shared a Kiss With Hatsune Miku): The eponymous title track: a soft rock ballad using Miku Dark (pretty sure at least) about a frustrated artist getting through life alongside Hatsune Miku. I won't lie that I'm a bit biased towards this song given its one of my favorites ever, but I like to think there's a reason for why I like it as much as I do. The strong-yet-not-overwhelming rock melody is very nice (especially paired with the piano), but most of all, I love Miku's gentle vocals: Miku Dark naturally sounds sad and tired, but the way she sings here seems almost warm given the subject matter. The lyrics are also very beautiful and relatable if you're a fan of Miku's; the struggle of feeling low confidence and finding comfort in a concept such as Hatsune Miku is written really wonderfully. A really good start to the whole album.

Shinzo Democracy (Heart Democracy): A really good second track, and a pretty popular one from this album? It has a more present melody going through it than in track one, but still with that signature atmosphere from Mikito. Miku sounds like Miku Dark here, too, but with a more airy, echo-y quality that reflects off the guitars  - I think it works well for the song. If you want something with a bit higher tempo than track one, this is where it is. I remember people talking about the PV in relation to the lyrics as well, since it can be interpreted as the narrator talking about himself in a sort of disconnected POV or talking about a gay love interest. Whatever floats your boat, I think!

Yuugure Twitter (Evening Twitter): This actually appears to be a slight remaster of the original song posted on NND - it's a bit cleaner, with better and clearer vocals and mixing and a longer guitar outro. I think I like this version of it best, to be honest, it really helps the song sell the sort of forlorn, dusky atmosphere it's setting. I also really like the way Mikito uses Miki - I really feel like his songs with her show his liking for the character. The guitar outro is also just…really good.

Kunoichi Demo Koi ga Shitai! (Even Though I'm a Ninja Girl, I Want to Love!): A MikuRin duet! This song is really goofy: just a fast-paced, lighthearted pop rock track following a kunoichi (a female ninja) and her efforts to be together with a noble's son despite the difficulties her job brings her. It's a really fun track, with a catchy melody and some fun, colorful visuals in the PV (plus Miku and Rin's tanuki/kitsune hoodies are super cute!). I also really like how Miku and Rin are framed like "narrators" instead of being characters in the story itself or being completely removed from it. Lastly, I really like the sort of "vrooooooom" noises Miku and Rin make at certain points, it gets you hyped up XD

Setagaya Night Safari: This one took me a bit to get into, but I can comfortably say I like it a lot nowadays. This one is a bit like track one in that the melody is a bit more…abstract? Than in like, Kunoichi. It also has these strange old-timey jazz segments at the beginning and end. But still! Miku Dark returns here again, and her vocals add a sort of melancholic wonder to the song, especially the chorus ("doko e iku no?"). A pretty good one, but I do think it might take a few listens to really sink in on whether you like it or not.

Tokyo Eki (Tokyo Station): A Rin solo track! I feel like this one isn't talked about very much, despite it getting a PV and everything. This is another atmospheric rock track about taking the train to see someone you love in the winter months. This track uses Rin Append (I'm assuming Sweet specifically) and I think she works really well! Like Miku Dark's vocals in Kiss wo Shita, there's a pleasant feeling of softness from how Rin sounds here, which fits the wintry vibe of the song. However, I still think that the premiere version of the song is the one using Len from ALL VOCALOID ATTACK 1…but whether you agree with me might be up to whether you enjoy Rin or Len's voices more. By the way, I really like the lead guitar and drums on this one.

Yuudachi no Ribbon (Ribbon of Evening Showers): This song comes from MAYU's demo CD! This one is more high-energy than usual, but still with a melancholic air about it. This song is about a pair of girls trying to hide their relationship, while a third girl (heavily implied to have feelings for one of them) threatens to expose them, all under a rainy sky. I really love the melody in this one; it's very catchy but also full of the emotion and drama you'd expect from a song with this sort of premise (helped by MAYU's voice), plus I like the vocal bits interspersed in the instrumental parts. My favorite part is the "issho ni kaero" part in the middle, where the melody changes up a bit before the bridge. Definitely one of my favorites from this album, and a great introduction to MAYU!

Bansoukou (Bandage): This is another one that took me quite a few listens before I liked it; this is one of the slowest tracks in the album, with another more understated melody. This is a ballad song, no real description on the lyrics/theme since it remains untranslated. I like this track way more now because of the slow gentleness of Miku's voice, the piano, and the great guitar melody during the outro, but I also feel it's a bit on the dull side in comparison to the rest of the album. You might like it much more if you enjoy slower rock ballads or shoegaze, though, it has a bit of a keeno-like feel to it. (Funny, since keeno is actually in this album.)

Hikoukai Nisshi (Private Log): Another more fun one! This song uses GUMI Power, and what a great use of GUMI Power it is (plus some giggling sounds courtesy of Yukari's EX Voice). This is a refreshing love song, with the PV setting against a very cute pirate Gumi. I really love the vibe of this track, it's very pleasant and perfectly captures the sunny seafaring adventure Gumi is on - the melody, as usual, is really great as well. My favorite part has to be the final chorus when Gumi's voice hits its apex, her final "susume" is so great and full of emotion! I love this one a lot, it remains one of my favorite Gumi songs.

Alright, Tumblr is telling me there's a character limit for articles on this site, so I guess I'm going to have to break this into two posts. Join me in part two, then, for the second half of the CD!

[leviathancries]

FAKEVOX

[Plus-Tech Squeeze Box] (2000)

Plus-Tech are a Japanese Picopop trio (They are a trio, not a duo. Wikipedia is WRONG!!!) who are known for their off the wall music and lively sound.

Plus-Tech Squeeze Box's first album, released in 2000. 'FAKEVOX' is all over the place, It's a kid who cant sit still. Full of wonder and life. High-pitched sounds and upbeat melodies are the backbone of this album. If this Album was food it would be a strawberry sundae. It's hyper sweet, cute and feels like a sugar rush.

(also on a side note. I have noticed that Plus-Tech have been featured a lot in British stuff, for example they have been on the BBC quite a few times and featured in a British Coca-Cola ad. Just thought that was interesting....) anyway on with the review.

Track 1: Channel No.17

"What time is it?!"

Plus-Tech really sets the tone of the album with this intro track. You are hit with all sorts of sounds from VOX samples to bowling balls and carnival sounds. It's fast and alive.

Track 2: early RISER

"Bouncy!"

Track 2 is quintessential 2000's hyper J-pop. This song reminds me so much of the Jet-Set Radio OST and I love it. Plus-Tech create super catchy ear worm songs that play on loop in your mind all day. It's so upbeat you can't even be annoyed at it.

Track 3: A Day In The Radio

"I'm a plus-tech girl friend!"

Track three is more vocal based letting Kamada sing. This is another cute song you can't possibly feel mad when listening to.

Track 4: Test Room

"1,2,3,4. Plus-Tech!"

Test Room is a super bright song. It's fast, lively and experimental. The vocal chop in this song carry it a long way. It's just so satisfyingly to listen to lol.

Track 5: rocket coaster

"Rocket coaster! la, la, la, la-la."

Track 5 is Plus-Tech's most popular track for a reason. It's definitely their most accessible song by far for a normal audience. It's got a nice duet going on, a catchy chorus and a light rock instrumental. Really sweet and cute song.

Track 6: Scene1 - launch a spaceship into space →

Track six is an interlude following the space theme of the album.

Track 7: ☆

"Have you ever met a great astronaut?"

Track six takes us right back into the cutesy vibe with an instrumental that wouldn't be out of place on a Frenesi album, especially with those tom drums and pluck-y melody.

Track 8: White Drops 

"fantastic..."

Man, White Drops. This song will always have a special place in my heart. I really do love this song. It's so nostalgic to me. It's so simple yet so affective, It's upbeat, endearing and... idk cozy?

Track 9: MILK TEA

"しまうのさー”

Milk tea is an other nostalgic song for me as I used to listen to it a lot. It's got guitar, synths, vocals and bleeps n bloops. what more can you ask for in a song to be honest?

Track 10: Scene2 - citybilly lived happily after

"BEEEWOOP! FUNNY GUITAR!"

Lots of sounds and a guitar. This song is like if you were at a fair on many, many substances.

Track 11: Sneaker Song!

"Why don't you tell me? hey! you're little rascal!"

Sneaker song goes right back to the hyper sound that the rest of the album follows. Lots of bleeps and gated sounds. This song has more of a pop-rock guitar lean though.

Track 12: ​clover

"いつのまにか降り止んだ雨"

Clover is a great outro because it changes the vibe of the album completely. It is the complete opposite of the rest of the album taking on a more melancholy down-tempo tone. A lot less vocal processing and FX. But the a happy sounding melody comes in creating a bitter sweet end to the album. This song reminds me of looking through old photos. Sad it's over, glad it happened.

Overview: FAKEVOX

FAKEVOX is a great introduction to hyper J-pop and Picopop, if any of this sounds interesting to you I highly recommend this album. It's sugary sweet with a lot of life to it.

Rating: 7.5/10

If there’s any typos or inconsistencies in this review it’s because I can’t be bothered to proof read it.