2013/02/23

TOUR START!


Today marks the start of GLAY's 2013 Arena Tour!!


Lucky Osaka fans, enjoy the concerts!

2013/02/21

THE BAWDIES 1-2-3 TOUR 2013


Earlier this month, THE BAWDIES started their 1-2-3 Album Tour. They will be venturing to ALL 47 prefectures in Japan. I was extremely lucky to get tickets to their lives in Miyazaki and Kumamoto. At the same time, I applied to their lives in Saga and Fukuoka, but I wasn't so lucky. I got a second chance though. THE BAWDIES announced not too long ago that they will be extending their tour... only this time, they will be performing at larger venues. Last weekend, I was able to obtain tickets to their live at Zepp Fukuoka on June 6th. 


I'm so looking forward to these lives! Doing Miyazaki and Kumamoto will be tough though. It will be a three-hour bus ride from where I live to Miyazaki City. I leave the following morning to Kumamoto, which is about a two-hour ride. Then, right after the concert, I will take the train back home that will take about two hours. Plus, this is THE BAWDIES we're talking about. Attending just one of their lives will absolutely drain you - I'm attending two, back-to-back. Oh. And I have work the following day, go me.

Let's get this party started!

2013/02/16

OSAKA ftw!

One week from now, GLAY will enbark on their 2013 JUSTICE & GUILTY Arena Tour in Japan. The first location will be at Osaka-jo Hall in Osaka. I really, really wanted to attend this concert, but I wasn't able to get tickets. From what I've experienced, GLAY lives in Osaka are simply the best! The fans are definitely more outgoing. I will be attending the tour on April 27 & 28 in Fukuoka and also on May 5 in Saitama.

Below is my live report on a GLAY live I attended in Osaka a little more than two years ago (wow! I can't believe that it's been that long.) Feel free to relive my crazy exposure to a GLAY live in Osaka!


GLAY's ROCK AROUND THE WORLD 2010-2011 TOUR @ OSAKA-JO HALL


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 Another fantastic concert from GLAY! Even though I had standing tickets way up in the nose-bleed section, I had the best time EVER!!! The back row looked like a dance hall; it was awesome!  And so many of us in my section kept screaming out their names!! It's nice not being the only one doing the screaming. I made good friends with the girl standing next to me. Omg, this girl was a head-banging freak---love her!!  I invited her to stand next to me before the concert began because she was standing behind me and I had a feeling she wanted to fit in closer to the railing. She thanked me profusely. Then 汚れなきSEASON came up. Omg, this girl was head-banging like her life depended on it. I was just laughing to myself. She was so~ into the songs; the entire back audience was. It was just incredible. When FATSOUNDS and 彼女 came up, she and I were doing all sorts of crazy stuff together! Us standing people where dancing the hell out of these songs! (Ok, not really "dancing"... body movements I guess.) Awesomeness!! I spoke with that girl (her name's Kaori) throughout the encore chants and after the show. We exchanged contacts and we're definitely going to a GLAY live together! Another friend gained! 

Live↓↓ 

 1. They changed up the MJ section (most likely because this is their 3rd time in Osaka). Instead of seeing the scrolling intro of "THE KING OF POP!" we saw "THE KING OF HIGHCOMMUICATIONS!!" and we screamed like mad! They played HICOMMUNICATIONS as the KIMSNAKE GLAY were in MJ Thriller gear doing the HC arm movements! We were doing it along with them! Love, love, love! At the end, the KIMSNAKE GLAY were struck by lightning (or something) and their after-look was just hilarious! 
 2. During the encore, Teru was trying to convince Jiro to do another Osaka Crash Night live. He asked us to yell out, "Osaka. Crash. Night. YAY!!!" We did that and Jiro said he wasn't convinced. Our reaction was, "Eeeeeeeeee."  Teru then asked us to try again. This time he said, "Osaka. Crash. Night.... YAY!!!" ((Osaka. Crash. Night. (ten) (ten) (ten) YAY!!! (As he said "ten" he gestured it by pointing.))) He said this quietly into the mic. We then did it and Jiro said he'll think about it. I'd really like to go if he does make another CRASH live. 
 3. There was a point where Teru made a small mistake. (Can't remember which song.) As he continued singing, he tilted his head to one side and gave this look. As if he would have said, "so, I goofed, who cares. lol" 
 4. They played "Apologize"!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ♥♥♥ (I miss 都忘れ though. I haven't heard it since the Fukuoka live. ;_;) 
 5. I've said this before, but I freaking love the FAME IS DEAD video!!!  The part when Hisashi smashes a guitar against Takuro's head is so~ funny!! He had the most insane look on his face while doing it too. Love it~ 
 6. I seriously love his solo in GREAT VACATION! I've always loved it!! But hearing it live; I fist pump my hands in the air to the beat.  
 7. Continuing with Hisashi; He came out with something new. We're used to seeing him with beer cans or his PSP, but this time, he was drinking one of these things↓

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 lol, he looked cute trying to suck the liquid out of whatever he was drinking. 
 8. Takuro received a standing ovation when he bowed to us at the end. I yelled out his name three times as I clapped. Many other people in my area were doing the same. When he rose, he mouthed off, "arigatou" twice. Takuro is such an amazing person and GLAY wouldn't be here if it weren't for him. Thank you so~ much!  ...I know I'm forgetting something. 

 Pictures↓↓

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The dome-shaped building is Osaka-jo Hall.

PhotobucketThe view of Osaka Castle from my hotel room.

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Night shot.


Saitama, here I come! I'll meet up with my other Japanese friend, Mizue, and her English speaking Japanese friend. Yay for making more GLAY friends. I will be stealing Jiro's "Favorite Things 100" idea from his first Caramel Books. (I love these books, btw.) I'll be doing my own 100 favorite things... only it'll be restricted to things in Japan like: places, personal items, food/drinks, things to do, etc. I'll post it once a week for the next 100 weeks. Yup, this'll last for almost two years. I plan to stay in Japan for an additional 2-3 years, so this will be done. 

2013/02/13

JUSTICE & GUILTY reviews


11thアルバム「JUSTICE」


1. WHO KILLED MY DIVA
2. ROUTE 5 BAYSHORE LINE(album ver.)
3. PARADISE LOST
4. LOVE IMPOSSIBLE
5. 真昼の月の静けさに
6. gestalt
7. JUSTICE[FROM]GUILTY(album ver.)
8. 傷だらけの太陽
9. 運命論
10. SMILE


The album starts off with the Jiro-composed number, WHO KILLED MY DIVA. (Uh, yes, that is indeed the name of the song. Way better than its preliminary name of "yeah,yeah,yeah (blank)" at least.) When I first saw the title, I couldn't help but laugh. I mean, come on, who wouldn't. Also because of the title, I had really high hopes for it. That was all shattered when I heard the song. Ugh, Jiro, seriously? The song sounds like something that would be played around a campfire in the American south.  I will say that I find the chorus to be a bit catchy, but that was when it finally grew on me. 

The next track, ROUTE 5 BAYSHORE LINE, made up for the horrid that my ears had to take from the previous song. This track was previously released on the「運命論」single. There are differences between the two, but I enjoy the single version just a bit more because the "twinkles" were left out in this version. I love the "twinkles!" Anyway, I absolutely adore this song. It has a very nice, uplifting feel to it. 

PARADISE LOST, is yet other great song. What amazes me the most about the song is its baseline. Oh my word. Jiro tore that thing up! I also like the guitar riffs during the chorus. The song itself has a bit of a Spanish feel to it, which is more pronounced during the chorus. Oh, I so, so love the guitar right after the second chorus, but before the guitar solo/intermission. Yes, I like being specific.

Continuing with the album's nice pace of good songs, in comes the next track, LOVE IMPOSSIBLE. I. LOVE. THIS. SONG. The style, vocals, guitar riffs/solo - It's an all-round great song!

The next track, 真昼の月の静けさに, is an OK song. I absolutely love the acoustic guitar at the beginning along with Teru's gentle and soothing singing voice. Afterwards, however, my attention just wonders off. I don't know. I really like the initial gentleness of the song, which eventually comes back near the end of the track.

The following track is the Hisashi-composed piece, gestalt. Oh man, this track sounds so dark, spooky and evil - fits Hisashi to the T! I like it and it makes for a nice transition to the next song...
  
Back to back Hisashi! The song, JUSTICE [from] GUILTY, is another Hisashi-composed song, which was released earlier as a single of the same name. Words simply cannot express my love for it. The song is all sorts of awesomeness!! Definitely the heaviest song on the album. It's a Hisashi/Takuro pair track and this 10-hit combo duo generally produce magic together. Just take a listen to the song for yourself. Your ears will thank you.

Next up is 傷だらけの太陽. Wow. Wow. Wow. This song is just so amazing. It's written and composed by Teru and he did this song justice; It's so powerful. Teru's voice is really astounding throughout this song. I particularly love the chorus. The part where he sings out, 「あなたは強く強く」 in the last chorus really grippes me.
"The sun is always shining behind the clouds." - this is faintly heard after the first chorus. It's meaning is a strong one, so strong that Teru has it tattooed on his upper left arm. Quite honestly, I can listen to this song forever and never get tired of it. 

The ballad, 運命論, was composed by Jiro. This is yet another fantastic song!  It was released as a single of the same title, but unfortunately, there is no album version/edit. Anyway, this song is so compelling and meaningful. Whenever I listen to this song, I tear up. 「夢の重さに負けないで」"Never give in to the weight of your dreams." Definitely words to live by. 
You won me over with this one, Jiro.

The final song, SMILE, gets none from me. I don't like the song. Granted, I've listened to it only three times and I don't think I can sit through another round of it.


12thアルバム「GUILTY」

1. Red moon & Silver sun~My Private“Jealousy”
2. everKrack(album ver.)
3. FACTORY
4. 冬の遊歩道
5. 華よ嵐よ
6. キリノナカ(album ver.)
7. 初恋を唄え
8. Bible
9. Ruby's Blanket
10. 君にあえたら


The album starts off with the Red moon & Silver sun rendition My Private "Jealousy." This version of the song was the kick-off song on GLAY's 2011-2012 Red Moon & Silver Sun Hall Tour. I remember loving it when I first heard it on tour. The first three minutes or so of the song is an orchestrated version of the original chorus. I really love how it later dives right into the actual song. You're waiting for it... waiting for it and then "bam" it hits off with the guitars. Love it! 

Next up is the Hisashi rock number, everKrack, which is quite simply a killer song! It was released as a single back in 2011 and I heard the mess out of the song, but I love this version a bit more. Takuro slam dunked that solo! 

FACTORY, is a compelling and thought provoking song that I love a lot. A definite favorite song of mine on the album. 
"We must make things better, but we don't know what to do." Chilling. 
(However, every little bit still counts. Do your research as to where and how your favorite brand of clothing is made. Don't support clothing brands that are known to have their employees work in deplorable conditions.) 

Unfortunately, for the next song, 冬の遊歩道, I haven't listened to it enough to give an opinion on it. Well, I quite simply don't care for the song. It's a ballad. I do love ballads, but just not this one.


華よ嵐よ, is actually a song that grew on me. Hisashi's guitar playing before the chorus is what I love most about the song.


キリノナカ is your typical Takuro song and an amazing one at that. It's yet another song that was previously released on a single, which I love to death. It's a mild rock number, but it's just SO good! I like the added guitar parts during the second verse.

The following song, 初恋を唄え, is another ballad that I'm still trying to get into. I really like the chorus though. 


The last three songs (Bible, Ruby's Blanket and 君にあえたら) were all previously release on singles and are edit-free on this album. I don't really have much to say about them. I love Ruby's Blanket the most. It's a Jiro-composed song and he did a wonderful job with it. I find the melody to be so sweet. Bible is an OK song. I don't hate it, but I'm not in love with it. 君にあえたら, is just there. I don't really care much for this song, but it is a very meaningful one.



There, I'm DONE!



Between the two albums, JUSTICE is definitely my favorite. I'm easily able to listen to the album with only a couple skips through songs I don't really care for. Now, that's not to say that I don't like GUILTY. The album does have its fair share of good songs, but for some reason, the album as a whole doesn't grab me as much as JUSTICE does. 

*bold tracks are favorites of mine.
*Teru designed the cover arts for both albums. 

2013/02/10

ALL GLAY'ed OUT

JUSTICE [from] GUILTY and Unmeiron singles along with the Summer concert 2012 bluray.
Absolutely love the singles!! The former is a HISASHI song and the latter a JIRO song.

HAPPY SWING issue #67. JUSTICE & GUILTY albums are in full promotion mode.
Yes, they misspelled "coming." 


GLAY featured on TOWER RECORDS' monthly tower plus magazine for the month of January 2013.
You know I took multiple copies of this, right?

The title of the JIRO composed song on the JUSTICE album. That title had me dying when I first saw it.

Release date is closing in!! (Also new album and DVD out for THE BAWDIES and B'z. Other bands I like.)

Gott'em!! ^o^v 

JUSTICE wallpaper looking mighty fine.
I definitely plan on writing my thoughts on these albums!