2011-2012 Jihen Releases & Tour Discussion

[Maou]

Originally Posted by NIMH Rat

I don't see how someone can aggressively dislike this music. Sure, it's not Vivaldi meets the Stones (which is what I think a lot of Jihen/Ringo's most insanely negative critics expect every time a new song comes out), but it's not *bad* or insultingly mediocre.

I expect it to meet the standards Ringo set with her first three solo albums or even with the first two Jihen albums. The worst I can say about this particular song is that it's very safe. It's not bad, but it does nothing to stand out from any other rock song that will be released this year.

Can you imagine how much better this band would be with the composition quality from even Adult mixed with the more rock sound they've been using lately?

Originally Posted by Yahiko

you guys won't ever like a TJ song again, I don't see why you're still posting here XD

Do you remember when I posted that huge positive review of the Ultra C Blu-ray/DVD? Wouldn't bet on it.

Originally Posted by NIMH Rat

To everyone calling "Sora ga..." or Tokyo Jihen or post-KZK Shiina Ringo generic, mediocre, or just plain bad:

When I think of those words, I think of something like this:

Do you see or hear ANY difference?

Yes, I see a difference. One features a generic pop song while the other features a generic rock song. Who would have guessed you can be generic in multiple genres?

[BanFan]

The tiny preview seemed promising, but I feel pretty indifferent hearing the whole song. It just seems like there's so much build-up for a somewhat average song. The arrangement's really good, but I never seem to enjoy Kameda songs, except "Toumei Ningen" which I've recently grown to like.

Still looking forward to the other A-side track and their next album.

[justriiingo]

I think it is unfair for TJ to be compared to pop idols. TJ are musicians who write and play music while KARA are entertainers whose music is merely a canvas for their dance moves, trendy outfits and pretty faces (nothing wrong with that).

Just wanna add that generic in itself isn't a bad thing... I think a song can be generic and good ...

But perhaps we want to establish what is generic Japanese pop-rock? I'm suggesting Senkou Shoujou is pretty damn generic.

[BlueApple]

May I be so bold as to ask what makes a Tokyo Jihen song generic? I feel like the word is just being thrown around to describe a song you don't care for.

[Scribble R]

I think Kameda's the one musician in TJ who's been totally consistent in style. So it shouldn't be a surprise, really.

Kameda's songs, from best to worst IMO

1. Superstar
2. Put Your Camera Down
3. Shiseikatsu
4. Toumei Ningen (DO)
5. Senkou Shoujo
6. Sora ga Natteiru

Looking at it now, Kameda's songs haven't been THAT generic. They have this nice wistful/sentimental feel about them. But not this song. This is probably the first song where all the, er, J-Rock stars have aligned.

I wasn't trying to dislike it, but I used my imagination to replace Ringo's vocals with that of a male J-Rock singer and concluded that yes, I wouldn't like this song normally.

[Entry№1]

Originally Posted by BlueApple

May I be so bold as to ask what makes a Tokyo Jihen song generic? I feel like the word is just being thrown around to describe a song you don't care for.

I think that by "generic" they mean "common" - common harmonies, common rhythms, common arrangement, common lyrics, etc. I think this new song is definitely more "generic" than what we're used to hearing from TJ, but the song isn't that bad. Kameda's songwriting is very mainstream in comparison to SR's... not to say he's more of a sellout than she is (even though he has written/produced songs for a whole lot more artists than she has - and mainstream ones at that), but that maybe his tastes/preferences/influences are more mainstream as well.
I think Kameda has written better songs, but I'd be lying if I said I've not developed a sudden infatuation with this song. And like others have pointed out, the intro is charismatic, and TJ has a little grit again.
P.S. I love Kameda's songwriting and am very excited about upcoming singles/albums.

[a_grumble_cake]

Originally Posted by Scribble R

1. Superstar
2. Put Your Camera Down
3. Shiseikatsu
4. Toumei Ningen (DO)
5. Senkou Shoujo
6. Sora ga Natteiru

Well damn... the only song I like from this list is Sora ga Natteiru. I still love you, Kameda.

[Scribble R]

And it's his turn to have a lead-in single anyway </rationalisation>

Also, yeah -- they are being grittier this time and I hope it extends to Ringo's A-Side (although Takayuki Hattori + Ringo isn't usually gritty), and...Ukizawa are on the Kimaru/Sake to Geko side of things. But it never works like this. Also, there's the matter of *who* is composing *what* for the new album. Eek.

TJ is like some bizzare, multi-layered, nightmarish instance of 'too many cooks'

[justriiingo]

Originally Posted by BlueApple

May I be so bold as to ask what makes a Tokyo Jihen song generic? I feel like the word is just being thrown around to describe a song you don't care for.

You would be right to say that.
In general, I don't care for generic sounding tunes.
But it doesn't mean they are bad... they're just generic.

When I say a TJ song is generic, it is lacking those TJ signatures (SR's voice aside) that make it immediately identifiable as a TJ tune.

What would be some TJ signatures?
hm. Plucky guitar...

[Tokyo Jihad]

Originally Posted by Scribble R

Kameda's songs, from best to worst IMO

1. Superstar
2. Put Your Camera Down
3. Shiseikatsu
4. Toumei Ningen (DO)
5. Senkou Shoujo
6. Sora ga Natteiru

I am a compulsive ranker, so I can't help myself but chime in on my order.

1. Superstar (DO of course)
2. Toumei Ningen (DO of course)
3. Shiseikatsu
4. Put Your Camera Down
4b. Senkou Shoujo
6. This song
7 and 8. The Adult versions of numbers 1 and 2.

Can't argue that Kameda doesn't have a particular niche, huh?