[TJ] 2007.09.26 - Variety (CD) [Album]

[boku belle gueule]

Originally Posted by cjhobbies00

Hmmm...I don't completely understand your point but I believe I should be offended in some way. Shiina "average" on stage? Don't like Kyoiku? Goddamn man.

Yes, Variety sounds like a bunch of third rate musiciens got together and aimed to regurgitate music in the Shiina style. that was your message in the second paragraph, non?

ho non! don't be offended. I don't have any part in the pro/cons Variety buisness going on around here . I don't have a precise opinion on it because it gets precise over the time for me. Things I really like are often not the thing I immediatly like. That's the case of Kzk, I was so into sousho trip that i was thinking shiina ringo couldn't do better, and when I listened to kzk first I said to myself "no she didn't do better" but after some listening it was an absolute "she did way better, what a genius!". So when I say I didn't listen much to kyoiku because I first found it mainstream that doesn't mean that it sucks for me but that simply means that I didn't really take time to listen to it .

You know we cannot debate on tastes, but we surely can on what tastes are. To make it short (which is often dangerous) to me everything is likeable, everthig is hateable, it is just a question of "context" and of "point of view", non?

P. S. : and for the "shiina ringo's average on stage" thing it is not her and only her, it is just that I would like to hear that close miking effect, that special fx, that overdriven violon or those background vocals on stage and instead of it, it's big reverb, clean violons and no choir... it's just a bit disapointing to me, I say average (which means ok) not mediocre!

[HEDOfloe]

Originally Posted by boku belle gueule

P. S. : and for the "shiina ringo's average on stage" thing it is not her and only her, it is just that I would like to hear that close miking effect, that special fx, that overdriven violon or those background vocals on stage and instead of it, it's big reverb, clean violons and no choir... it's just a bit disapointing to me, I say average (which means ok) not mediocre!

Oh, I see what you mean. I wouldn't call it average though. I also miss some of the things on the recordings as well. Especially the clapping that is on several of their songs. I always miss it when I'm watching the live performances.

[ophy]

Well, I love this album. It has it's flaws, but I love it. No, really, hear me out. I'm not knee deep in this Ringo civil war crap, so I probably won't be up for a debate with you all, sorry.

Truth be told, it does seem flat, in terms of song composition, but I really like how all the tracks are different. I get pretty turned off when everything sounds like a rehash of the previous song, so this doesn't disappoint.

But something is lacking here. I don't know what it is, but it seems as though other artists could have sung the songs, and it would have the same impact...does anyone feel this, as well? I'm not too sure why it feels so depthless and, at times, stale. I know it was written by all the other band members other than Shiina, but that's no reason for the songs to be lacking. They just need a push, it feels. They need to be more fine tuned.
..

But I do enjoy it, a lot. My ears were hungry for SOMETHING, so it may just be that I was happy just to get some new songs from Jihen.

[HEDOfloe]

Originally Posted by ophy

But something is lacking here. I don't know what it is, but it seems as though other artists could have sung the songs, and it would have the same impact...does anyone feel this, as well? I'm not too sure why it feels so depthless and, at times, stale. I know it was written by all the other band members other than Shiina, but that's no reason for the songs to be lacking. They just need a push, it feels. They need to be more fine tuned.
..

I do not like to use the fact that the album was not composed by Ringo, but the guys can't help it that they are not as talented as her so if you think the songs are lacking it must be because their writing skills are lacking. I personally think this is a great work for them because after hearing the original OSCA, I think the new one is a HUGE step up.

[Positron]

Well, to be fair it's not hard to vastly improve on the original OSCA. I mean, Ringo singing it automatically makes it at least 2.4 times better. Just reinstrumentalize and boom, you've got a good single/album track. I will give credit to the original, though; it is a good template (just badly executed by the Petrolz). The odd lyrics are awesome, too.

Still, the album comes off as a little too simple. I wouldn't have minded a little churching-up on quite a few of the tracks; they could've shielded a number of songs from outright hate that way.

[zach]

ophy, I believe you are spot on.

I'm revising my earlier statement that Goldfish Box is the only memorable melodic hook on the album. Princess Monthly has been popping into my mind from time to time too. It's quirky and somehow charming.

The sad thing about that song is I think (at the risk of blasphemy) it would be better if Tommy heavenly6 did it.

[fluffiethesock]

Which one is Princess Monthly?

[Silverrime]

Tsukigime-Hime

[Maou]

You guys are driving me nuts using the English names.

[fluffiethesock]

Originally Posted by Silverrime

Tsukigime-Hime

Ahh, thanks

Originally Posted by Maou

You guys are driving me nuts using the English names.

Agreed