Forum - View topicSound Decision - hyde
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jmays
ANN Associate Editor
 Posts: 1390 Location: St. Louis, MO |
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Wow, that's a pretty tight case. Personally, I don't consider things like animation sync-up when I'm just writing about music, but if you're going to be that reasoned and analytical, it's a worthwhile angle to take. Do you often approach anime themes in that way? Also, is there anything particular in Rewrite's lyrics that might be nice to know? |
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FakePurseNinja
 Posts: 1 Location: Karakura Town |
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Anybody who thinks that AKFG is better than L'arc~en~Ciel has about as strong of a taste in music as a person who thinks the Red Hot Chili Peppers kicks Queen's ass.
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shirokiryuu
Posts: 714 Location: Northern California (SF Bay Area) |
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AC Dragon Master said
just curious, what L'arc songs have you listened to? Their songs tend to vary a bit. |
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Kyuriko
Posts: 152 |
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I think that's taking it a bit far with opinion; maybe somebody else does think that Asian Kung-Fu Generation is better than Laruku, and they're allowed to think it. It doesn't make them wrong nor does it mean they have horrible taste in music… and they have just as much right to think that about people who think Laruku is better than Ajikan. As for me? I like both songs equally. I can't call myself much of a L'arc~en~Ciel fan because I haven't heard much of their works beyond The Fourth Avenue Cafe (which was a really good song, by the way) and Ready Steady Go. But, Ready Steady Go was a fun and upbeat song. After a while, the enthusiasm of it for me wears off and it's not one of my most favorite anime songs of all time, but I think it is still good and likable, and one that I'm willing to put on repeat. An Asian Kung-Fu Generation fan I am. Which is probably one of the reasons that I didn't like Rewrite as much as Ready Steady Go. Rewrite is great, and the animation is excellent for it as well and I think it suits the mood of the story section it is set in, but I think it's overrated. It took me a while to like it, because it's far from being one of Asian Kung-Fu Generation's best. I like their songs Rashinban and My World much, much better than Rewrite. Overall though, I think I liked Ready Steady Go better than Rewrite and that has to do with personal preference. I do think Rewrite was better, but I prefer Ready Steady Go since it's more upbeat and catchy, and those are the kinds of songs I like. |
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ACDragonMaster
 Posts: 405 |
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For anime themes, yes, I do consider the animation to be a part of the theme, insofar as it's associated with the series as a theme song. Which is why, as I mentioned, I *did* like Ready Steady Go once I heard it enough out of context, but despised it when I saw it as a theme for FMA. As for Rewrite, well, you can read the lyrics for yourself, first of all, but what really works is this- Rewrite is played with the end of the series. Even the title itself is appropriate, as the main characters are effectively trying to "rewrite" their mistakes and make things right again. But really, if you've seen the series, just read through a translation of the lyrics and think of how it might match up for yourself; if you haven't seen the series there's not much I can say about it without getting into potentially heavy spoiler territory.
Of ones I can name? Ready Steady Go, Driver's High, the songs used for the FMA movie... and I think I have heard others from time to time, but I can't recall names or anything. And while, like I said, I don't dislike their music, and it certainly makes its way onto my playlists along with other anime music I have, I'm not gonna go particularly out of my way to find songs by them like I might for, say, something composed by Yuki Kajiura. Though for the record, while I do like Rewrite, some of the other stuff I've heard by AKFG hasn't impressed me quite as much, and admittedly a little of my continued like of Rewrite *is* a bit of the association with its place in regards to FMA. As opposed to, for example, something like Ichirin no Hana by High and Mighty Color, which I first heard *out* of context and loved and seeing it in the context of a Bleach op just built upon that... |
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karenai_hana
Posts: 41 |
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As if you all aren't sick of all the analysis on the FMA OPs, here's my take on it.
Undo by Cool Joke is my least favorite of the four OPs. Not that the song doesn't fit the show - it does- but the singing really bothers me. I can't really describe it well, but it seems like he's attempting a really bad falsetto and failing at it. It's bearable in the short version of the song, but becomes annoying towards the end of the full version. Ready Steady Go is a rockin' song and is a lot of fun. But it's exactly what makes it great that makes it a terrible FMA song. Like ACDragonMaster, I absolutely hated it when I first heard it. It didn't fit the mood of the show at all and it felt really out of place. Rewrite is a great FMA OP because it fits right into what was happening in the series. I didn't start liking L'Arc~en~Ciel until Lost Heaven and Link. Although both songs are kind of dull and nowhere near as good as Ready Steady Go, the lyrics make them better suited as FMA songs and interested me enough to check out Laruku's earlier stuff. I'm not much of an Asian Kung-Fu Generation fan because from what I have listened to (which is somewhat little), there is nothing really distinctive that stands out. The most memorable part of Sol-Fa for me was the first few seconds of Loop & Loop, but Masafumi Gotou's lack of enthusiasm plagues everything else after that and makes the rest of the song forgettable. JMays described his style as "disinterested" and I agree. He seems to either strain through his vocals or sleep through them. Their most recent singles right before the release of their album Fan Club, Blue Train and World Apart, were pretty sleepy and drony. But enough about Laruku and AKFG, what about Porno Graffitti? Melissa might seem like just another catchy tune, but its lyrics of melancholy and despair really hit you. Unfortunately, you might not realize that when you are watching FMA. The best and most beautiful part of the song comes right after where the tv size cut of the song ends. That is also where you learn why the song is entitled 'Melissa'. The FMA Complete Best album will probably be the only release of PG's music in the US, which is a shame because they have a lot of great songs. Sorry that this post is so long and reiterates a lot of what has been said before. I've had these thoughts in me for a long while and I just need to get them out. I can probably write a full review on Faith, too. I guess I need more productive things to think about when I'm bored. 
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Fiction Alchemist
Posts: 438 |
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DELETED. UGH.
Last edited by Fiction Alchemist on Thu Sep 08, 2022 8:31 am; edited 3 times in total |
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Bell02
 Posts: 168 |
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I'm going to go out on a limb and make a generallization and say that America probably doesn't like Porno Graffiti. I remember people not liking the first intro song when I heard feedback from the begining of the series, but I donno. I still like them, even though they feel too mainstream for me. Asian Kung fu's style is just like that though. I guess its more love hate than I thought (because I generally remember them as being more well recieved) However I would say they are more close to the indie music scene then most other mainstream artists. I will agree that I don't like Fan Club as much, it does grow on you, but I just don't like it as much as Sol fa and Kimi Tsuna Five M. Either way, I think that is the aquired taste that spilts J-Rock fans from going to people like L'arc, Psyco le Cemu, Gackt, etc, and people like Stance Punks, 175R, and Asain Kung-fu. (Was trying to list popular people) I still have to say that I honestly am shocked that L'arc fans like Ready Steady Go so much, because I really think it is one of the weaker of their songs. (It's also really mainstream) |
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Josh7289
Posts: 1252 |
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First of all, I have no idea what being mainstream has to do with the quality of a song. With that aside, I like both Laruku and Ajikan to the same extents, and I have both SMILE and Sol-fa, and listen to both frequently and the same amount for each. I love the rich, deep vocals and strongs rock sounds of Laruku, and the more carefree, concert-style songs of Ajikan. There has to be a balance, after all! Oh, and right now I'm really looking forward to hopefully getting G∞ver from HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR! 
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dylan2d
 Posts: 6 |
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How can you say that? That's a horrible comparison considering Red Hot Chili Peppers is a different generation then Queen and there music is very different. A very horrible comparison, but nice try. Anyways, personally I don't really like l'Arc because they really do sound too mainstream. By too mainstream I mean that there is nothing different to their sound. Most of their music sounds the same. As for AKFG a lot of their music fails to amaze me as well. Although aoi no uta is awesome. Like any band, though, AKFG and L'Arc both have their good songs and bad. About the songs Rewrite, which is definetly not one of AKFG best, it's not a bad song, and neither is Ready Steady GO. But both of them fail to have something really different about them and they both sound like almost every other J-rock mainstream song. So the final point is...the songs are ok for theme songs to anime but nothing to rant and rave about. |
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maus
 Posts: 84 Location: The Netherlands |
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So according to your analogy, let me get this straight, I should be a person with horrible music taste, because I like AKFG better? You can't judge people on their taste in bands! It's also a very bad analogy. I'm actually a big fan of Queen (greatest band in musical history imho) and I like them better than the Peppers (also one of my favorite bands). What does that make me then?
I had the same sentiment as ACDragonMaster about Ready steady go! in relation to the anime. The mood in the series was serious and a little toned down when Ready steady go! began as intro-theme. The choice for that song as opening in that part in the anime was very poor with it's rather frivolous animation and hyped up music. It was very out-of-place. Maybe it would have fitted a less serious anime better (like Yakitate Japan for example). But maybe I should listen to it without thinking about its FMA context. Maybe I even get to like it. |
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Fireline
Posts: 29 |
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Would you like to pick up those names you just dropped?
Accept difference of opinion before spouting off and sounding silly. I may not like L'Arc, but I didn't criticize L'Arc fans, nor did I laud AKFG fans as better, nor have I seen anyone act in that fashion. Grow up. |
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Fireline
Posts: 29 |
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Porno Graffitti is so confusing sometimes. Some of their singles are wholly mainstream, while others (and most non-single album tracks) are really contrary to traditional radio fare. Strange. They have really gone downhill since Tama left, also.
Man, Fanclub is a letdown. There are three really good songs on it, a couple decent ones, and then all filler. While creativity and unconventional songwriting have never been AKFG's forte, Fanclub is almost entirely formulaic. Sol-Fa was certainly their best release, and still holds up as a great album now, which is likely why Fanclub is so disappointing. |
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shirokiryuu
Posts: 714 Location: Northern California (SF Bay Area) |
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[quote="Fireline"}
Man, Fanclub is a letdown. There are three really good songs on it, a couple decent ones, and then all filler. While creativity and unconventional songwriting have never been AKFG's forte, Fanclub is almost entirely formulaic. Sol-Fa was certainly their best release, and still holds up as a great album now, which is likely why Fanclub is so disappointing.[/quote] I actually like Kimitsunagi 5 m better because i like songs like N.G.S. and Kimi to Iu Hana. These posts makes it seems like people can't be both L'arc and akfg fans. But i'm an avid fan of both! |
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