Hopes for album 4

[Scribble R]

Album 4 also applies to Tokyo Jihen's Album 4.

Can we assume that the jazz is over now? Will Shiina hand over all writing responsibilities again? Will Ukizawa die? Or will the band actually collaborate to create something awesome? Stay chooned for 2010.

[kuro_neko]

hmmm, well, after SG I think Ringo is spent. Between the tracks on SG and the ones she has given out to other artists, Ringo has probably gone through a large chunk of worthwhile material, and with the band being ready to go full time into production, I don't think Ringo will have a lot of time to write new music.

that being said, I think the next album will be similar to Variety in that it will be spear-headed by Uki and Izawa and hopefully they will have tried playing with new sounds and a new direction and we won't run into Variety 2. But as of right now I don't think it is looking too hot.

[Tokyo Jihad]

it will suck worse than Variety unless they decide to drop the "sound like a band" concept

[HEDOfloe]

^ what do you mean? isn't that the point?

[Scribble R]

I have a feeling that at best, it'll be just as 'good' as Sanmon Gossip. Ideally, I'd like all the songs to be Shiina-Ukigumo collaborations (If she's not exhausted by SG). Izawa just doesn't cut it IMO and should be restricted to two songs, even if one of his songs is my favourite VARIETY era song.

Bah, what am I talking about. This album will be VARIETY 2.

[Tokyo Jihad]

Originally Posted by HEDOfloe

^ what do you mean? isn't that the point?

No. the point is to make compelling (if not catchy) music. Sometimes a song calls for more than a singer, drums, bass, and keyboard.

[HEDOfloe]

oh, i see what you mean now. still, they're better off becoming a tighter band than adding bells and whistles to cover up sub-par songs. and, as i had said before, i really liked the variety songs live and maybe it's because they were just a band for that. i always love their rearrangements because they play them as a band and don't rely on playing things over the speakers.

[Tokyo Jihad]

umm...its not their performances that will help sub-par songs. Its writing.

Jeez Hedo, and I thought you had grown up =(

[HEDOfloe]

but that's exactly what i'm saying!
i said:

"they're better off becoming a tighter band than adding bells and whistles to cover up sub-par songs."

i think "tighter band" implies that they'll write better songs as opposed to tinkering with other effects and sounds that make it sound nicer. i know undoubtedly that there will be more uki and izawa compositions in the new album, and as neko said, ringo probably spent a lot of releasable material already. therefore, as i had said wayyy back when variety was announced with the song credits, that i wished it were more balanced than that and that's all i'm really hoping for. i feel that if they become a better band together, they should write better songs. they can bounce ideas off each other, be more critical of each other, etc. as Uki said in the interview, he felt they were a little tight during the ADULT sessions and they finally loosened up for variety. now that they feel better together and they had their fling, i think they can do better work. i just don't like the idea of their having done a lot already without ringo =/.

[Tokyo Jihad]

Originally Posted by HEDOfloe

i feel that if they become a better band together, they should write better songs.

Your logic is stupid.

"Gus, you're a great construction worker. Design a building for me!"