(the) Road to the Deep East
Down Down, a creep around you, set a road to the deep east, Down Down, a creep around you, setting a road to the deep east, Down Down.... SEE NEW WORLD!!
[Search of the lost decade #4] SOUL'd OUT part2 -S.O. Triangle -
The magnetismm of SOUL'd OUT which grabbs our hearts and makes even a girl like Nakagawa 'the Otaku' Shokotan addicted must exist in the chemistry of three different characters, each of whom has a different musical background.
First of all, of all three members, it looks the human beat box and mc, Bro.Hi was a typical Japanese boy who loves hip-hop and new culture imported from United States when he was a boy. He used to be a rock star wannabe who admires THE WHO or Jim Morison, but later was impressed by the performance of THE ROOTS, and jumped to hip hop music, especially human beat box performance.
Meanwhile, the interest on hip-hop is common, but the careers and nature of other two members are very unique.
Shinnosuke, trackmaker of this group started his carrer as a musician as a trombonist in a brass band. Later, he was influenced by one of representative pop groups in 90s, ACCESS, and especially influenced by Asakura Daisuke, who is famous as a producer of TM Revolution until 2001. So, the track of SOUL'd OUT, which includes a lot of pop materials and synthesized sounds is the reference to this group.
Diggy-Mo, the main mc also started his musical career as a pianist, and learned a lot from classic music when he was a child. Even today, he lists Mozart or Bach as the musicians he was incluenced most, as wellas Jay-Z or Snoop Doggy Dogg.
But the most notable his musical attribution must be the influences from musicians in 80s, Southern All Stars or Okamura Yasuyuki. Southern All Stars is another Japanese musician which is very popular in Japan but ignored by other counties, but Diggy-Mo's very smooth and fluent rap which no other people, even a Japanese native speaker can't imitate must be the influence from the vocal of Southern All Stars, Kuwata Keisuke. Not only musical influence, Diggy-Mo admires Southern's achievement and says to make SOUL'd OUT 'Monster Group' like Southern All Stars or Mr Children which almost people in the nation love is his dream.
And after these three crews encountered and mixed in a melting pot, SOUL'd OUT was born in 1999. Of all their works, I'd like to pick up one of their representative 'Starlight Destiny' which sold the most copies and ranked #6 at Oricon Weekly Single charts in 2006.
(clip from youtube)
The reference to 90s pop songs from Sinnosuke, human beat box and old-school style rap from Bro. Hi, and very melodious, passionate verse from Diggy Mo are mixed altogether in one song and create their world which no other creature on this planet can. As they say in this song, this is the perfect S.O. Triangle.
Now they dropped a new album including this Starlight Destiny, but I'd like to also recommend 'Cozmic Travel, 'Gasoline' and 'Growin Kids' if you are interested. Especially, it's sure the person who loves 70s discotique song like 'Love Machine' from Morning Musume or 'Kimi ni Bump' from Ketsumeishi like me loves 'Gasoline.'
(you can try the song at sonny music online.)
--
Anyway, the search of my lost decade – the time when I lost myself in a jungle of seductive teens- ends here, for the time being. DOUBLE, m.o.v.e, and SOUL'd OUT. It looks the things I overlooked for ten years was evolution of black music, or R&B and hip-hop, which was imported from the United States last century and took root in this country, and bore wonderful fruits grown by the water flow circulates underneath of this country.
Of course, I know this research is not enough. There are some candidates appeared in this decade for the subjects of this search. For example, minmi, Bennie K, M-flo, Rip Slyme, Kick the can crew(KREVA).. and so on. When I find something new, or someone new which I think it's worth to write here, I'd like to restart this series and introduce them again.
(Series #1)
(Series #2)
(Series #3)
(Series #4)(this entry)
First of all, of all three members, it looks the human beat box and mc, Bro.Hi was a typical Japanese boy who loves hip-hop and new culture imported from United States when he was a boy. He used to be a rock star wannabe who admires THE WHO or Jim Morison, but later was impressed by the performance of THE ROOTS, and jumped to hip hop music, especially human beat box performance.
Meanwhile, the interest on hip-hop is common, but the careers and nature of other two members are very unique.
Shinnosuke, trackmaker of this group started his carrer as a musician as a trombonist in a brass band. Later, he was influenced by one of representative pop groups in 90s, ACCESS, and especially influenced by Asakura Daisuke, who is famous as a producer of TM Revolution until 2001. So, the track of SOUL'd OUT, which includes a lot of pop materials and synthesized sounds is the reference to this group.
Diggy-Mo, the main mc also started his musical career as a pianist, and learned a lot from classic music when he was a child. Even today, he lists Mozart or Bach as the musicians he was incluenced most, as wellas Jay-Z or Snoop Doggy Dogg.
But the most notable his musical attribution must be the influences from musicians in 80s, Southern All Stars or Okamura Yasuyuki. Southern All Stars is another Japanese musician which is very popular in Japan but ignored by other counties, but Diggy-Mo's very smooth and fluent rap which no other people, even a Japanese native speaker can't imitate must be the influence from the vocal of Southern All Stars, Kuwata Keisuke. Not only musical influence, Diggy-Mo admires Southern's achievement and says to make SOUL'd OUT 'Monster Group' like Southern All Stars or Mr Children which almost people in the nation love is his dream.
And after these three crews encountered and mixed in a melting pot, SOUL'd OUT was born in 1999. Of all their works, I'd like to pick up one of their representative 'Starlight Destiny' which sold the most copies and ranked #6 at Oricon Weekly Single charts in 2006.
 | Starlight Destiny (2006/09/27) SOUL’d OUT click the pic for the link to amazon |
(clip from youtube)
The reference to 90s pop songs from Sinnosuke, human beat box and old-school style rap from Bro. Hi, and very melodious, passionate verse from Diggy Mo are mixed altogether in one song and create their world which no other creature on this planet can. As they say in this song, this is the perfect S.O. Triangle.
Now they dropped a new album including this Starlight Destiny, but I'd like to also recommend 'Cozmic Travel, 'Gasoline' and 'Growin Kids' if you are interested. Especially, it's sure the person who loves 70s discotique song like 'Love Machine' from Morning Musume or 'Kimi ni Bump' from Ketsumeishi like me loves 'Gasoline.'
 | ATTITUDE (2008/01/23) SOUL’d OUT click the pic for the link to Amason.com |
(you can try the song at sonny music online.)
--
Anyway, the search of my lost decade – the time when I lost myself in a jungle of seductive teens- ends here, for the time being. DOUBLE, m.o.v.e, and SOUL'd OUT. It looks the things I overlooked for ten years was evolution of black music, or R&B and hip-hop, which was imported from the United States last century and took root in this country, and bore wonderful fruits grown by the water flow circulates underneath of this country.
Of course, I know this research is not enough. There are some candidates appeared in this decade for the subjects of this search. For example, minmi, Bennie K, M-flo, Rip Slyme, Kick the can crew(KREVA).. and so on. When I find something new, or someone new which I think it's worth to write here, I'd like to restart this series and introduce them again.
(Series #1)
(Series #2)
(Series #3)
(Series #4)(this entry)
[Search of the lost decade #3] SOUL'd OUT part1 - Diggy-Mo's Bizarre Adventure
Whenever I listen SOUL'd OUT, or when I think of it, I have to remember the name of the famous comic, Jojo no Kimyo na bouken.(Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.)
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, written by Araki Hirohiko started in 1987 in Shonen Jump. Araki's very characteristic art style and very realistic story-telling based on his original philosophy grabbed the boys in 80s, who got tied of unrealistic and childish fantasies like Dragon Ball or Kin-niku Man, and Jojo was welcomed by them with a kind of fanaticism of cult. Renewing the series and its main character, this manga continued for over 20 years, and even today, its sequel 'Steel Ball Run' based on American Old West is appearing in Ultra Jump.
However, although JoJo has a great popularity in Japan and almost every manga fan knows about it well, in other countries, including some Asian countries, it looks JoJo's name is not as popular as Naruto or Dragon Ball. Only some manga otakus know just because it is popular in Japan.
Like this case – Naruo and Jojo, while Japanese hip-hop artist like Rip Slyme or Teriyaki Boys is being recognized little by little by foreign countries, it looks SOUL'd OUT's name is not so popular , as well as JoJo in manga industry this moment in time.
Maybe there are several reasons. Like Jojo's too characteristic way of drawing - usage of a lot of additional lines and reference to fashion design - is not accepted by some people, SOUL'd OUT's 'flow', especially the one from main mc, Diggy-MO is too characteristic and hence not acceptable.
And just as Jojo's reference to Western rock musician's name – for example, the main character 'Jojo' is named after 'Get Back' from Beatles, and its rival 'DIO' is named after Ronnie James Dio – sounds very stale to Western people, the track from SOUL'd OUT, which uses a lot of electro instead of break beats must look odd to Western people who are very familiar to original hip-hop.
So, in a sense, it was natural that Araki and Soul'd OUT crews became very close friends after their collaboration in 'catwalk.' Araki , who had already been a fan of SOUL'd OUT, drew the cover illustration for 'cat walk' in 2006.
And in 'Steel Ball Run', two characters named after songs from SOUL'd OUT 'Wekapipo' (Wake-up People) and 'Magent Magent' (Magenta Magenta) appeared . SOUL'd OUT also made 'Voodoo Kingdom' for JoJo's movie,' Phantom Blood.'
Anyway, are they just products just for igrant Japanese who lives in small island country and don't know the original Western original products ? I don't think so, and I have to say, it is some artists fromavex who are deceiving ignorant Japanese like that with a lot of imitation from Beyonce or Aguilera.
Throw your fixed idea, and and don't think but feel it, just like when you eat Nattou. If you swallow the first mouthful , you'll be able to discover a very unique and attractive world fabricated in this mystic country.
As for Jojo, it must be a very common topic among manga fans in the world, so I leave it someone else, but in the next entry, I'd like to analyze the magnetism SOUL'd OUT more.
(Series #1)
(Series #2)
(Series #3)(this entry)
(Series #4)
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, written by Araki Hirohiko started in 1987 in Shonen Jump. Araki's very characteristic art style and very realistic story-telling based on his original philosophy grabbed the boys in 80s, who got tied of unrealistic and childish fantasies like Dragon Ball or Kin-niku Man, and Jojo was welcomed by them with a kind of fanaticism of cult. Renewing the series and its main character, this manga continued for over 20 years, and even today, its sequel 'Steel Ball Run' based on American Old West is appearing in Ultra Jump.
 | スティール・ボール・ラン 14 (14) (ジャンプコミックス) (2007/12/04) 荒木 飛呂彦 (click the pic for link to Amazon.com) |
However, although JoJo has a great popularity in Japan and almost every manga fan knows about it well, in other countries, including some Asian countries, it looks JoJo's name is not as popular as Naruto or Dragon Ball. Only some manga otakus know just because it is popular in Japan.
Like this case – Naruo and Jojo, while Japanese hip-hop artist like Rip Slyme or Teriyaki Boys is being recognized little by little by foreign countries, it looks SOUL'd OUT's name is not so popular , as well as JoJo in manga industry this moment in time.
Maybe there are several reasons. Like Jojo's too characteristic way of drawing - usage of a lot of additional lines and reference to fashion design - is not accepted by some people, SOUL'd OUT's 'flow', especially the one from main mc, Diggy-MO is too characteristic and hence not acceptable.
And just as Jojo's reference to Western rock musician's name – for example, the main character 'Jojo' is named after 'Get Back' from Beatles, and its rival 'DIO' is named after Ronnie James Dio – sounds very stale to Western people, the track from SOUL'd OUT, which uses a lot of electro instead of break beats must look odd to Western people who are very familiar to original hip-hop.
So, in a sense, it was natural that Araki and Soul'd OUT crews became very close friends after their collaboration in 'catwalk.' Araki , who had already been a fan of SOUL'd OUT, drew the cover illustration for 'cat walk' in 2006.
 | Catwalk(DVD付) (2006/04/26) SOUL’d OUT (click the pic for link to Amazon.comc) |
And in 'Steel Ball Run', two characters named after songs from SOUL'd OUT 'Wekapipo' (Wake-up People) and 'Magent Magent' (Magenta Magenta) appeared . SOUL'd OUT also made 'Voodoo Kingdom' for JoJo's movie,' Phantom Blood.'
Anyway, are they just products just for igrant Japanese who lives in small island country and don't know the original Western original products ? I don't think so, and I have to say, it is some artists from
Throw your fixed idea, and and don't think but feel it, just like when you eat Nattou. If you swallow the first mouthful , you'll be able to discover a very unique and attractive world fabricated in this mystic country.
As for Jojo, it must be a very common topic among manga fans in the world, so I leave it someone else, but in the next entry, I'd like to analyze the magnetism SOUL'd OUT more.
(Series #1)
(Series #2)
(Series #3)(this entry)
(Series #4)
[Search of the lost decade #2] m.o.v.e 10 YEARS ANNIVERSARY MEGALOPOLIS TOUR 2008@SHIBUYA CLUB QUATTRO
Even in a city of limited Internet access, where even ADSL is not popular, there are some ways to enjoy music. Some young readers may not believe, but suppose that you were a teenager Bon-Jovi fan in 80s living in Texas whose father is a famer. So, while I was recuperating in such a place, I could reach at music and it was almost the only way to console myself.
Above all, m.o.v.e's MEGA BEST, which gathered selected 15 songs from 10 years history and 20 remixed songs was literary best, and I really regret that I overlooked this group with a prejudice that this is only a group for Initial D theme. ( I've already seen them at a event with AAA before and bought their previous album 'GRID' before , though.)
Especially, I was impressed by their recent work 'SPEED MASTER' feat. 8ball, and the remix songs from #5 Burning Dance(Glitch remix) , #6 BREAK IN2 THE NITE(Mashup remix), #7 Freaky Planet(Discotique remix). Remix songs , especially the ones from avex are always crap, but this album is not the case. Above all, the Diecotique remix of 'freaky planet' is now one of my favorite songs in my life. Now I can understand the reason the composer and keyboardist of this group, t-kimura is sometimes admired as the god from all DTM amateur artists.
So, first thing I decided to go after I recovered was to go to the concert of m.o.v.e. Fortunately, I could get the ticket for the concert held at Shibuya Quatro, and I went there. Indeed, it was almost 7months that I go to a live concert .
--
(click the link to read the rest)
Above all, m.o.v.e's MEGA BEST, which gathered selected 15 songs from 10 years history and 20 remixed songs was literary best, and I really regret that I overlooked this group with a prejudice that this is only a group for Initial D theme. ( I've already seen them at a event with AAA before and bought their previous album 'GRID' before , though.)
 | 10th Anniversary MEGA BEST(DVD付) (2007/10/03) m.o.v.e details |
Especially, I was impressed by their recent work 'SPEED MASTER' feat. 8ball, and the remix songs from #5 Burning Dance(Glitch remix) , #6 BREAK IN2 THE NITE(Mashup remix), #7 Freaky Planet(Discotique remix). Remix songs , especially the ones from avex are always crap, but this album is not the case. Above all, the Diecotique remix of 'freaky planet' is now one of my favorite songs in my life. Now I can understand the reason the composer and keyboardist of this group, t-kimura is sometimes admired as the god from all DTM amateur artists.
So, first thing I decided to go after I recovered was to go to the concert of m.o.v.e. Fortunately, I could get the ticket for the concert held at Shibuya Quatro, and I went there. Indeed, it was almost 7months that I go to a live concert .
--
(click the link to read the rest)
[Series:Search of the lost decade #1] DOUBLE, 10 YEARS BEST -WE R&B-
Just like Japanese society calls the years from 1990 to 2000, the era in which socialists took the reign and economic growth stopped after the collapse of bubble economy, 'lost decade', in a sense, my life as an idol otaku (2000-2007) was a kind of 'lost decade'.
I have to confess, in this decade, my sense, or antenna to search hopeful musicians or songs as a music fan who used to listen all kind of songs from all genre in the world earnestly got a bit rusty. I was still listening works from some young and talented musicians such as Orange Range or Rip Slyme, but apparently it wasn't enough. I have to admit that I overlooked a lot of musicians who appeared while I indulged myself into hot pants between the hot legs from teens. (*)
Anyway, now now I'm back to non-otaku person's life, so it's a good chance to look back and re-value the music of this era. I'd like to name this project 'Search of the lost decade' project, and like to introduce the artists appeared in this era whom I overlooked but rediscovered by myself recently.
Today, to begin with, I'd like to introduce '10 YEARS BEST WE R&B 1998-2008', from DOUBLE
(track list: here)
Speaking of double, I don't say I didn't know her at all. As she bravely calls herself 'Queen of R&B' by herself (or at least her agency calls to promote this album), double is not as popular as Amuro Namie,' Queen of Hip-Hop', but her name is known as a kind of genuine R&B singer as well as Misia.
To give the conclusion first, it is truly awesome album. Through this album, we can enjoy all the masterpieces from this duo selected by vote from fans. Originally, DOUBLE was a duo of sisters 'double' like soulhead, but elder sister SACHIKO unfortunately passed out in 1999, and left Takako continued this group as 'DOUBLE.' We can also enjoy the evolution and growth of DOUBLE from double to DOUBLE era.
All the songs are best, but if I select 5 from 31, I'd like to recommend 'handle', 'shake', 'For me', 'Driving All right', and 'Emotion'. Especially, I realized the greatness of 'handle' which I recognized this group's name first in my life 8 years ago.
Now DOUBLE opened its 10th anniversary memorial website, and a lot of musicians are commenting and admiring the greatness and importance of double in Japanese R&B world. Koda Kumi says that 'Shake' was the first analog record she bought and double was the first and last artist whom she wanted autograph. Bennie K also emphasize the importance of double in Japanese R&B history. AI also admires everything of double, and especially, her outlook , and says 'yaritai desu!!' (I wanna do again!!) in a suggestive tone. It is not too much to say that if without DOUBLE, these Japanese representative artist couldn't be gave birth in this industry. Not only female musicians, some hip-hop artists like SOUL'd out or m-flo, Soffet , Douji-Tare also posting a positive message regarding this anniversary.
By the way, DOUBLE is also famous as one of the sexiest Japanese female musicians. Interestedly, as if to be a pinup girl, she also released a photo collection book named 'Gekkan Double'. As I've just noticed at this release, I haven't read it yet, but I couldn't help ordering it at Amazon as soon as seeing this cover!!!
Now Takako of double is 32. Not young, and Koda Kumi may say her amniotic fluid is getting rotten. However, as far as seeing the quality of this wonderful album and phot book, as a Queen Dark of R&B, or a counterpart of Amuro, Queen Light , visually and musically, she will always be a leading authority of of R&B in Japan in the future.
In the next entry of this series, I'd like to introduce another artist who celebrated its 10 anniversary recently.
(*)
But just in case, I'd like to add, it doesn't mean I write these series to complain and regret myself. As far as I experienced, in this decade, idol music has a certain kind of quality, possibility which overwhelms boring traditional pop songs. In addition, now I could see off Perfume's departure as an ideal heir of SPEED or Morning Musume, so I was satisfied, even if it was not the group I love the best.
(Series #1)
(Series #2)
(Series #3)
(Series #4)
I have to confess, in this decade, my sense, or antenna to search hopeful musicians or songs as a music fan who used to listen all kind of songs from all genre in the world earnestly got a bit rusty. I was still listening works from some young and talented musicians such as Orange Range or Rip Slyme, but apparently it wasn't enough. I have to admit that I overlooked a lot of musicians who appeared while I indulged myself into hot pants between the hot legs from teens. (*)
Anyway, now now I'm back to non-otaku person's life, so it's a good chance to look back and re-value the music of this era. I'd like to name this project 'Search of the lost decade' project, and like to introduce the artists appeared in this era whom I overlooked but rediscovered by myself recently.
Today, to begin with, I'd like to introduce '10 YEARS BEST WE R&B 1998-2008', from DOUBLE
 | 10 YEARS BEST-We R&B-(DVD付) (2008/02/06) DOUBLE、DOUBLE feat.VERBAL 他 details |
(track list: here)
Speaking of double, I don't say I didn't know her at all. As she bravely calls herself 'Queen of R&B' by herself (or at least her agency calls to promote this album), double is not as popular as Amuro Namie,' Queen of Hip-Hop', but her name is known as a kind of genuine R&B singer as well as Misia.
To give the conclusion first, it is truly awesome album. Through this album, we can enjoy all the masterpieces from this duo selected by vote from fans. Originally, DOUBLE was a duo of sisters 'double' like soulhead, but elder sister SACHIKO unfortunately passed out in 1999, and left Takako continued this group as 'DOUBLE.' We can also enjoy the evolution and growth of DOUBLE from double to DOUBLE era.
All the songs are best, but if I select 5 from 31, I'd like to recommend 'handle', 'shake', 'For me', 'Driving All right', and 'Emotion'. Especially, I realized the greatness of 'handle' which I recognized this group's name first in my life 8 years ago.
Now DOUBLE opened its 10th anniversary memorial website, and a lot of musicians are commenting and admiring the greatness and importance of double in Japanese R&B world. Koda Kumi says that 'Shake' was the first analog record she bought and double was the first and last artist whom she wanted autograph. Bennie K also emphasize the importance of double in Japanese R&B history. AI also admires everything of double, and especially, her outlook , and says 'yaritai desu!!' (I wanna do again!!) in a suggestive tone. It is not too much to say that if without DOUBLE, these Japanese representative artist couldn't be gave birth in this industry. Not only female musicians, some hip-hop artists like SOUL'd out or m-flo, Soffet , Douji-Tare also posting a positive message regarding this anniversary.
By the way, DOUBLE is also famous as one of the sexiest Japanese female musicians. Interestedly, as if to be a pinup girl, she also released a photo collection book named 'Gekkan Double'. As I've just noticed at this release, I haven't read it yet, but I couldn't help ordering it at Amazon as soon as seeing this cover!!!
 | 月刊DOUBLE (SHINCHO MOOK 97) (2007/12) TAKAKI_KUMADA details |
Now Takako of double is 32. Not young, and Koda Kumi may say her amniotic fluid is getting rotten. However, as far as seeing the quality of this wonderful album and phot book, as a Queen Dark of R&B, or a counterpart of Amuro, Queen Light , visually and musically, she will always be a leading authority of of R&B in Japan in the future.
In the next entry of this series, I'd like to introduce another artist who celebrated its 10 anniversary recently.
(*)
But just in case, I'd like to add, it doesn't mean I write these series to complain and regret myself. As far as I experienced, in this decade, idol music has a certain kind of quality, possibility which overwhelms boring traditional pop songs. In addition, now I could see off Perfume's departure as an ideal heir of SPEED or Morning Musume, so I was satisfied, even if it was not the group I love the best.
(Series #1)
(Series #2)
(Series #3)
(Series #4)
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Author:A man formerly known as snts26. Everything you half ass creaters create, I will DESTROY
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I sometimes listen to soul'd out. I have two of their albums and love listening to them occasionally. Other times I hate them and skip their music completely. It depends on my mood...
Oh, I hadn't imagined you listen to SO! It's sure they are not the type which people listen every day. It needs some energy to listen, or overcome lol.
I've only heard one song that they did and it was a collaboration with a now defunct duo called Heartsdales. It's a very catchy song if you haven't heard it.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sT8USrkLpd4
Some guy used the song to make an anime music video that won a bunch of fan awards for Haruhi Suzumiya, that's how I know of the song.
I knew heartsdales and 'Candy Pop', but I'd never imagined that the song was used for such a purpose.
But now I could understand why some anime fans know about SOUL'd OUT, not for JOJO's sake. And now I miss HEARTSDALES much T_T