I have a friend who is a hardcore music nerd. Whenever we meet he enthusiastically talks about the current sub-sub-sub-genre he is exploring be it turbofolk, jazznoise or heavy death ero-tronica. One day, out of the blue, he asked me "what is visual kei?" I have a hard time translating music into words so one week later I responded with a mix cd.
I chose 75 songs spread all over the two decades the scene has existed, limiting myself to max 2 songs per artist. The goal was to give a clear image of what visual kei used to be and what it is today presenting most of the major players but also a few wild cards. It's a massive collection, clocking in at just over 5 hours and 30 minutes, and a good introduction, though maybe a bit TOO meaty. Most songtitles are linked to a YouTube performance!
- BUCK-TICK - JUST ONE MORE KISS, 1988
- D'ERLANGER - LA VIE EN ROSE, 1989
- D'ERLANGER - LULLABY, 1989
- X - 紅, 1989
- X - X, 1989
- LADIES ROOM - SWAPPING PARTY, 1989
- ZI:KILL - Tero, 1990
- ZI:KILL - SUICIDE～想い出なんて…, 1991
- BUCK-TICK - 悪の華, 1992
- 黒夢 - 親愛なるDEATH MASK, 1992
- LUNA SEA - ROSIER, 1994
- 黒夢 - for dear, 1994
- BAISER - Dye, 1995
- D≒SIRE - DREAMS BURN DφWN, 1995
- Laputa - Scapegoat, 1995
- PENICILLIN - CHAOS, 1995
- PENICILLIN - Eternity, 1995
- Sleep My Dear - Ask for Eyes, 1995
- hide - 限界破裂, 1996
- LUNA SEA - G., 1996
- Shazna - Melty Love, 1996
- Deshabillz - He clever～能無シ達へ～, 1997
- Laputa - eve～Last night for you～, 1997
- Merry Go Round - ××体質, 1997
- PIERROT - Adolf, 1997
- Vasalla - PASSAGE, 1997
- BAISER - Phantom of Nightmare, 1998
- Dir en grey - Unknown...Despair...a Lost, 1998
- JE*REVIENS - Garden of E'den, 1998
- Lamiel - Eins, 1998
- Madeth gray'll - misantroop, 1998
- Malice Mizer - Syunikiss～二度目の哀悼～, 1998
- Aliene Maφriage - SUICIDE～洗礼の章, 1999
- Dir en grey - Cage, 1999
- Lareine - Je t'aime, 1999
- Phobia - La rouge fil, 1999
- Raphael - 花咲く命ある限り, 1999
- MUCC - オルゴォル, 1999
- Dué le quartz - 卍搦め, 2000
- kein - グラミー, 2000
- La'Mule - ナイフ, 2000
- Noir Fleurir - 時計の向こう側, 2000
- Phobia - 「VI」×2 section, 2000
- PIERROT - Creature, 2000
- DAS:VASSER - Over, 2001
- Kagrra, - 刹なる言葉, 2001
- Malice Mizer - Beast of Blood, 2001
- cali≠gari - マグロ, 2002
- GULLET - persecution complex, 2002
- Syndrome - アルビノ, 2002
- 蜉蝣 - 夕暮れの謝罪, 2002
- Blast - dearest, 2003
- D'espairsRay - MaVERiCK, 2003
- deadman - 盲目の羽と星を手に, 2003
- WERKMARE - ウイルス, 2003
- ガゼット - beautiful 5 [shit]ers, 2003
- 人格ラヂオ - お人形さん, 2003
- Plastic Tree - メランコリック, 2004
- ギルガメッシュ - Deceived Mad Pain, 2004
- deadman - follow the night light, 2005
- √eight - illational of the people, 2006
- Creature Creature - Paradise, 2006
- D - Sleeper, 2006
- exist†trace - JUDEA, 2006
- KuRt - Nickey Mouse, 2006
- Scar. - Blind, 2006
- D'espairsRay - SIXty∞NINe, 2007
- heidi. - 泡沫, 2007
- Rentrer en Soi - THE ABYSS OF DESPAIR, 2007
- 新興宗教楽団NoGoD - アトリア, 2007
- DELUHI - Two Hurt, 2008
- バイオレット - SPEED LIFE, 2008
- 9GOATS BLACK OUT - sink, 2008
- MUCC - アゲハ, 2008
- 新興宗教楽団NoGoD - 万黒深層大サァカス, 2009
BAISER - DYE
What would you change in this list? Which song is your favourite? Did it you get hooked? Changed your mind about visual kei?
I will probably dwell deeper into visual kei every once in a while, so look forward to explore the scene with me!
11 comments:
Nice list! Not too much I'd change about it, maybe some An Cafe? I hope you don't mind but I made an upload containing all songs as mp3s here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RVCWJEIO///kyui
Nice post, dude. I haven't listened to any visual-kei since my INTENSE hide (& X) fascination throughout all of high school (96-00), so most of my favorites are really dated. In addition to X/hide, I was always really partial to BUCK-TICK.
For me, the most representative and rawkus jams of the late 90s were:
Dice - hide (hide your face)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqc8FzZm71EDoubt - hide (spread beaver mix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vABxcKbCqtwProud (and ashamed) to say that I HAVE sung both of these at karaoke!
It was a good idea to put two different Dir en Grey songs and two different NoGoD songs in, ... it shows progression of bands in VK as well as the progression of VK itself.
You may also want to add another Dir en Grey song, to show that some bands moved away from the traditional "VK" sound and look itself, and went for more of a mainstream rock vibe... maybe something off of Withering to Death or Marrow of a Bone.
And... maybe some Psycho le Cemu for flavor? Excalibur, or MDK, I think.
This is an excellent representation of the evolution of visual kei, but I don't think your buddy is going to understand it without seeing some video. To really get what was going on in the late 90s, it isn't enough just to hear an overall deemphasis on technical skill, you have to see Gackt lowered onto the stage in his corny-ass wings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh-UPRIjxQc
Aside from that, this is pretty much perfect.
@kyui: *CHOUGH*
@ryan: the most awesome visual kei period was around 00, so your dated favorites are most likely good
@cryptomayhem: I think The Final was their final (harhar) visual release. And I never really liked PLC
@Allecto: I have compiled an appendix with pictures and youtube links for him already :)
I have to say, that this blog is amazing because it's all my highschool early college obsessions all in one place. This list brings back so many memories! I used to own a bunch of Shoxx's and Foolsmate's and I remember the back of them always were printed in black and white and only had content for up and coming bands that I only knew the names and faces of but couldn't find anything online. It's awesome you put them on this list, and linked their videos because I've never seen most of them before.
I think the song that got me hooked was probably Dir en Grey's Akuro no Oka (I think). I loved them for a very long time. And Kissou was a great album (so was Macabre).
The artist I wish you had on your list is Lucifer Luscious Violenoue because she was I think the only female vocalist in the vkei genre. And her music is quite good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHHgr1XV9V8&feature=related (this pv is beautiful). Kind of reminds me of Cocteau Twins or Cranes, maybe they were some of her influences?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nae8Zlhkiqs&feature=related
actually this one is probably better
@fei: thanks. I remember the days before YouTube, you where lucky if you could find a small shitty real video files of a pv taped from a third-generation VHS. We live in better times now!
And I think Akuro, Cage and raison detre is to blame for being most people's entry-drug. I'm more of a MACABRE guy but most ppl seem to think Kisou is the best one.
I did consider Lucifer Luscious Violenoue but I personally never really "got" her, I always thought she was more goth than VK. But I do have an all-girl band on the list, exist†trace, one of the few vk bands consisting of only girls. (another awesome one is DANGER GANG(デンジャー☆ギャング))
What did your friend think about it??
This is very cool! I would've love to have someone make something like this for me when I was new to Visual Kei lol!
I wouldn't change anything about the list I guess. Except...how about Miyavi? :)
@Dani: He thought it was cool but he is already at his next addition. He is very fond of the stuff from the early, jangly, ninties though. And Miyavi is in there as a Dué le quartz member :)