* the world “rasen” seems to be an important theme in the songs of Design. I saw it translated as “helix” referring to the DNA helix. I think this is probably accurate though the word “helix” is far less sexy in English. Here I like to think Kirito is talking about “the sins of the father.” What our ancestors did, the damage they did is ingrained in our genetics.

As someone who has been there and done that, I feel uniquely obligated to sound off on ASKEW magazine‘s debut issue, which is available as a free pdf download on their website. Go get it, I’ll wait.

The good news is… I didn’t burst into flame upon reading it. The bad news is… there’s a lot of “terminal bugs” that need a fixin’ before I can recommend the product safe for public consumption.

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So yeah. I was gonna play all coy and make you dance to my fife before sharing the exciting news but then I saw Kat blabbing it  everywhere. So, why not just say it?

purple SKY is coming back but not as a magazine. It’s coming back as an online writer’s consortium….er… blog.

My involvement in this new venture is merely as consultant and contributor. I will no longer be the editor. (Don’t cry for me Argentina, you know how much else I have on my plate –sing it)

For a long time I was entirely against the idea of coming back at all, but enough time passes and your sacred cows start looking like ground chuck. What really drew me back to the idea was Kat’s promise of our standards and style applied to the current multi-staff blogs out there. There’s so many thrilling possibilities in the medium. The turn around on interviews and live reports could be as little as a day or two. The multimedia applications (video, sound) provide unique chances to do crazy shit (I’m already brimming with some early ideas.) I’m loving the idea that writers will get feedback from the readers instantly through comments and will have a chance to open a dialogue (defend their work, talk shit) with the community. Also, I really like the idea of giving attention to all those bands we couldn’t fit in print even if it’s just a blurb or a short review. I hope it gives new voices who don’t have the time for their own personal blog a place to write. I adore what we did with the print magazine, but that was that and this is this. 

Expect to hear more sooner than later.

When I was working as editor for purple SKY magazine, I oversaw all the reviews (CDs, DVDs and live reports) submitted for publication. Many of these early draft submissions started from the same misinformed place in that hey insisted on informing the reader what they would or would not enjoy with language like, “you’ll love it” or “fans of BLANK, will like it.”

I was reading Roger Ebert’s Blog and he did a great piece on the rules that should govern critics, the very first (and only one really relevant to my point) of which is, “Advise (not Inform) the Reader.”

From his entry

No, we must tell the readers what we ourselves love or hate. If we work for employers who think we should “like more movies like ordinary people like,” we should make a donation in his name to the Anti-Cruelty Society.

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Bump of Chicken – Amedama no Uta (Candy Song)

Another work in progress. I understand the lyrics more than I was able to translate them. In particular the lyrics to the part where he talks about 1mm versus millions of light years seems to be more about the grand contrast than a literal translation of the distance measurements. Like compared to the light years it takes for matter to travel the galaxy, the distance between people is but a single millimeter. Or later in the song he compares billions of years to one second. Same idea in my opinion.

it’s because of my faith in you
that i know you won’t betray me
because i wouldn’t know it if you did
please don’t change who you are

because I have faith in you.

Translated by: Brian Stewart & Takako Sakuma

From the replacing of the “O” in Rock with a skull, H&MC’s new album Rock Pit indulges the rock dork within more so than any CD since their debut.  In the process it manages to answer many of the burning questions their last CD left us with. Namely, is Maki the only member now? The answer is no, there are other members and, in case you forgot, another vocalist. Another question? Wasn’t this band fun at one time? The answer, is yes, and they are again but not in the semi-calculated way of “Dive into Yourself” it feels much more incidental. This time the audience will birth the call and response for aggressively  kawaii songs like “Meki Meki,” and “Zero Sympathy” without prompting.  

Rock Pit has some of my favorite moments from High and Mighty Color yet. At these times it feels like they took their own rulebook and threw it out the window. Whatever sick need I have for H&MC music, is fed all it can eat and more. This is a band I had all but written off, but they have some new tricks yet.

 * this photo is a hold over from our shoot with them at Acen for purple sky. Taken by Kathy Chee.

Translated By: Brian Stewart & Takako Sakuma

So it turns out that Kirito (ex-PIERROT) has founded his own record label East Link Records in order to put out Angelo’s new mini album THE FREAK SHOW thus further following in the footsteps of his mentor Kiyoharu as per their joint interview for FOOL’S MATE way back during his first solo tour.
He has also done the annoying thing Kiyoharu’s band SADS did with their self-titled fourth album, and made it unavailable in record stores. The mini album is only available at live venues and through an online website.

So how did I get one? That’s one secret I’ll never tell. The other is the sad truth about how PIERROT broke up. Hahaha. I’m such a tease.

My first impression was good. Especially the following lyrics from the chorus to “He is a Monkey” which was renamed from the original “Christ is a Monkey” which was showing up on setlists last year.

「そんな正義に騙されないで、磔の詐欺師に唾を吐いて」(Don’t be fooled by such “justice,” spit on that crucified fraud.)

You go Kiri-chan. The whole song and accompanying video is a bit too Marilyn Manson but I’m really starting to think that no one does the jrock hard-as-fuck verses and wussy chorus better than Kirito and Ko. The record is a step in the right direction for Angelo and definitely has them stepping a bit outside the PIERROT mold. The chorus of “NEO HADES,” and the pre chorus of “Danmatsu ni Mimi Sumashite” seem especially fresh.. out of the 80′s.
Which works. Don’t get me wrong, I’m impressed that they are at least playing around. And is it me or is ToruXXX starting to sound like a real part of the band (especially on Destruction Impulse)?

Lots of fun on this album. Even the ballad “See you again” floats in an ungainly sort of way, thanks to a fun rhythm section that seems very unballad-ey in its heaviness.

Overall, it’s good to see Kirito still has some fight left in him.