Created an account just to say this:

[Maou]

Originally Posted by W3iHong

But really, listen to all the albums. Like what your mind is telling you, not these bunch of music-dictators.

I am positively offended by this statement. I am not a dictator. I have 19 years of playing experience and graduated from one of the top conservatories in the entire United States. I believe I have earned the right to be called a music snob and not a dictator, thank you very much.

[Glathannus]

As if whenever a new member actually has their own opinion, there's bullies uttering amongst themselves "Oh, look! It's someone who's not wearing our gang colors...".

[TurtleFu]

Glath, Jihad and Maou do have very strong opinions, and they voice them strongly. They can be overpowering, and conversations with them walk a fine line between debate and argument.

They can be intimidating, and while I don't fault them for that, it can be a turn-off for members to voice their opinions.



Oh shit, I just described myself.

[deadgrandma]

Sure, you look at the other music they listen to (apart from Glath, cause he seems to keep quiet about it), and it might be good, but its typical good, and while I appreciate the music for what it is, I just don't feel it. Not a fucking thing. It's too safe and sterile. And I'm sure they feel the same way. Music is far too individual.

So whether that leads to them ridiculing me or whatever, I don't really give a damn anymore.

So yeah, just listen to whichever Ringo you feel comfortable with the most. I did not really have a set order which I listened to it at the start. I don't know what kind of music background you come from, if you like rock then you'd prob be in the same boat as many people here and prefer the older stuff. If, like me, you are tired of rock and trying not to like the "mainstream", then you will probably enjoy the newer stuff a whole lot more. Not saying its what most people would define as pop, but it is fairly poppy. Which I have no problem with.

[justriiingo]

My take (after being a fan for almost 10 years):

KSK = SR being an experimental goddess
SS = SR refining her pop sensibilities, and being experimental
MM = demo tapes with proper production qualities. Raw, honest SR.
demo tapes = the most honest, truest form of SR

[kuro_neko]

Originally Posted by justriiingo

My take (after being a fan for almost 10 years):

KSK = SR being an experimental goddess
SS = SR refining her pop sensibilities, and being experimental
MM = demo tapes with proper production qualities. Raw, honest SR.
demo tapes = the most honest, truest form of SR

I'm going to get thrown to the wolves for this, but I think Tokyo Jihen is the most honest, truest form of SR. Ringo holds herself up to very high standards and whenever she makes solo music she overthink its to the nth degree, which is why she created the Ringo persona and said her ego went wild on KZK.

that being said, she was also a band girl, and she was pushed by her first band to go solo, so it makes sense after solo success she has chosen to front a band and let them do a lot of the work. At the end of the day Ringo may be a mad genius but that clearly takes its toll and I think being in Jihen is easier for her. I'm not saying her true form is lazy, but I think the Ringo we see in Jihen is a Ringo without a persona, its just her making music with a band, as opposed to Shiina Ringo, who is a very famous and almost imaginary persona she created for herself.

[TurtleFu]

^
I agree in some ways. TJ is Shiina just having fun, not trying to "redefine genres" or whatever. It's also her taking a break, because I always think, being "Shiina Ringo" (NOT "Shiina Yumiko") day-to-day must be hella TIRING.

@justriingo
KZK is definitely her finest work, and I don't know why people get so bent out of shape that her career and artistry peaked in 2003. Deal with it.

SS is that weird transitional album where it's sorta kinda rock and sorta kinda experimental, but doesn't commit to either fully. I am not as huge of a fan of it as others on this forum.

[Glathannus]

Originally Posted by deadgrandma

Sure, you look at the other music they listen to (apart from Glath, cause he seems to keep quiet about it)

Just cuz I don't spam the Currently Listening To thread, doesn't mean that my alternate interests are any secret in this community. I'm interested in most of the other artists Shiina Ringo has worked with.

As far as unrelated artists go, I was a soundtrack connoisseur before I got into Shiina Ringo. She was the very first Japanese musician I got into, in a non-OST capacity. That's how/why most of the music I've explored since then, has been related to her. Try exploring the discographies of half the artist's she's worked with, then tell me how much time you've got left for exploring any unrelated artists.

I've got massive stockpiles of unrelated music to listen to, which I simply haven't had time for.

[Tokyo Jihad]

Originally Posted by TurtleFu

MM is young Shiina. That's the best way to describe it. She really doesn't know how to use her voice yet and her songwriting is really bad in some songs. Shiina is who she is today in part due to the guidance she got from her producers, and MM shows that.

Thats right you edit out that paragraph

[TurtleFu]

Koko de Kiss shite. may be her biggest hit, but gosh is it a bad song.