The 69 of 2010
ROKKYUU's 6 best albums and 9 best singles of 2010 as well as the 69 of fashion!
Thomas – Gekijou Manifest
Following up brilliantly on their previous release, Personality, Thomas’ Gekijou Manifest beat out a long list of singles by better-known and well-established bands to make this list of the 9 best singles of 2010. The single features better than any other that careless rock sound visual kei was once known for and now sorely lacks.
Instant excitement bears down with the title track “Gekijou Manifest,” bright, digitalized guitar halting for a muttered word before the number really takes off. The busy verse and alternated growls against Masataka’s vocals are sure to have you mouthing along until the chorus takes off, melodic but never slipping into pop. This number is rock through and through with a constant driving beat, exciting guitar and a harsh but comfortable vocal line and melody.
“Psychedelic Mobile” kicks off with a funky bass solo teasingly supported by guitar and drums that will have your blood boiling if you don’t swing those hips to relieve the stress. A clash occurs when Toshi jumps into the fray on guitar to mash things up, but the dissonance is soon forgotten. Much like the previous number, the excitement is palpable. However, “Psychedelic Mobile” features a strong, pleasing vocal melody that will be dislodged from your memory only by Zun’s wonderfully recurring bass solo.
Capping it off beautifully, “Cold Delay” starts with carefully nurtured rising tension before Masataka cuts into it like a hot knife, vocal style deep and rich singing of the promises and sadness of words. The instruments keep a pace that is always pushing a little harder than expected beneath the spellbinding twist of the melody. Finally, the built-up tension is released in the suddenly bright tune of the chorus, unexpectedly growled lyrics producing shivers as Masataka persists with a uniquely rich but dangerous tone throughout.
If MUCC’s Karma was a disappointment, if you wish girugamesh would cut the crap and make more of their older music, if you like to jump around like an idiot while headbanging and screaming lyrics at the same time: This single is for you.
3 Track CD
Track List
- gekijou Manifest
- Psychedelic Mobile
- Cold Delay
- Leela McMullen
Leela McMullen is a strong believer in the philosophy "no music, no life." Having traversed the range of Japanese fandoms, she found her home at last in visual kei and has made it her mission to share what she loves most with the world. Leela completed her B.A. in Japanese language from Griffith University in Gold Coast Australia. She now lives and works in Japan, striving to bring you the goods, hot from the scene. Follow her on twitter for juicy hints of upcoming articles if you've got a bit of Japanese language under your belt! http://twitter.com/#!/LeelaInTokyo
Sarah began her journey into the world of Japanese music courtesy of L'Arc-en-Ciel back in the year 2000. Since then, she has combined a love of music and music journalism into writing for European Japanese music magazines and assisting with Japanese interest events in the UK. After graduating in Law from the University of Nottingham, she put 'the law-thing' on the backburner to dive into the live scene in Tokyo for 3 years. Sarah returned to the UK in September 2010 to do that 'law-thing' and now works for a Japanese ｂank in London. Her heart is always in the music and fashion in Tokyo and her life is balanced between her time in the UK and Japan. When she has time, she also blogs at http://lifeismerodii.blogspot.com
Laura Cooper started photographing rock and jazz bands at university. While completing a degree in English Literature, she was literary co-editor of the York University arts magazine and held poetry soirees with comedy jazz bands. Laura wrote for the now defunct UK Goth magazine Meltdown, as well as edited for an occult/spiritual website while she lived in York and London. She disappeared into the mountainous depths of Japan in 2006 and is now based in Tokyo, capturing rock bands in action.
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