So I recently got my third bass, a bass made by a Japanese-only company 'Killer'. I had to get it imported.
This bass is very nice, as I wanted a Les Paul style bass. It's a passive bass, a first for me, and it's very basic in terms of controls with a volume knob, a tone knob and a pickup selector. The body design is a sort of camouflage grey and its interesting to have a pattern for a bass design.
It sounds ace, and the neck is actually quite narrow in width. It's very easy to get around the neck, and it's perfectly rounded for my small hands. I tried playing it with a pick, fingerstyle and slap, and all three styles work great with the bass.
The only problem I have with this bass is that it's neck heavy. All this simply means to me is that I have to have the bass higher up, more so than my other two, so I'm not used to playing a bass this high.
I still need to play around with the bass some more to decide whether it'll replace my white Ibanez as my main bass.
Sunday, 26 August 2012
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
I'm missing the Green Day gig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(((((((
GAWWD. I only found out today that Green Day are playing in London this week (23/08)! It's way too short notice for me...
I'm still kicking myself as to how I didn't realise that the first band I properly got into were playing! They really got me into the notion of bands: I own all their albums, play them daily on the guitar and bass..... GAWWD!
They were also my first ever gig, back in 2010 at Wembley. That was one of the best gigs I've ever been to. And now I'm missing this gig, where they'll be playing NEW SONGS!! I'm really hoping for there to be like a second leg of this tour and they come back!!
I'm off to cry now...
I'm still kicking myself as to how I didn't realise that the first band I properly got into were playing! They really got me into the notion of bands: I own all their albums, play them daily on the guitar and bass..... GAWWD!
They were also my first ever gig, back in 2010 at Wembley. That was one of the best gigs I've ever been to. And now I'm missing this gig, where they'll be playing NEW SONGS!! I'm really hoping for there to be like a second leg of this tour and they come back!!
I'm off to cry now...
Monday, 20 August 2012
ESP RELEASE NEW DIR EN GREY SIGNATURE MODELS
Now forgive me if these instruments have already been out for some time. I just decided on a whim to check out ESP Japan's website and, BAM, there they were, DIR EN GREY's new instruments available for us mere mortals to buy.
For those that don't know (probably most of you), Toshiya is my all time favourite bassist, and a huge inspiration to me: my whole bass playing style is based off of his! I can't even begin to describe how I felt when I saw Toshiya's 5 string bass on the ESP website... I think I yelped...
This bass is just beautiful, but also slightly pricey. I'm hoping for either a cheaper version to come out, or I'll save up over a few years (4000£!!) to buy the proper ESP model.
The three new guitars, Kaoru's 7 string, Die's 6 string and 7 string are also gems. Kaoru is my favourite of the two guitarists, but I prefer the design of Die's guitars more, that kind of 'metal-telecaster' look. As much as I would like to get these guitars, all my attention is on the BASS.
This, and the announcement of a new DIR EN GREY single, has made my year.
I better start saving up...
For those that don't know (probably most of you), Toshiya is my all time favourite bassist, and a huge inspiration to me: my whole bass playing style is based off of his! I can't even begin to describe how I felt when I saw Toshiya's 5 string bass on the ESP website... I think I yelped...
This bass is just beautiful, but also slightly pricey. I'm hoping for either a cheaper version to come out, or I'll save up over a few years (4000£!!) to buy the proper ESP model.
The three new guitars, Kaoru's 7 string, Die's 6 string and 7 string are also gems. Kaoru is my favourite of the two guitarists, but I prefer the design of Die's guitars more, that kind of 'metal-telecaster' look. As much as I would like to get these guitars, all my attention is on the BASS.
This, and the announcement of a new DIR EN GREY single, has made my year.
I better start saving up...
Sunday, 19 August 2012
The Shy Bassist
Alright so it turns out that my band is playing our first headline gig in Camden. This will be our 5th gig. The two guitarists and the drummer are brilliant on stage. When they don't move around, it's usually because they're playing complicated stuff.
However...
I am a 'stare-at-the-feet' bassist, and it's starting to bug me and my bandmates. They want me to move around more (I will if there's a big stage, I'm just not much of a headbanger). My bandmates understand that what I play is hard and not just root notes, but to the crowd, they just see me as a 'boring' member of the band :(
What will I do??????
However...
I am a 'stare-at-the-feet' bassist, and it's starting to bug me and my bandmates. They want me to move around more (I will if there's a big stage, I'm just not much of a headbanger). My bandmates understand that what I play is hard and not just root notes, but to the crowd, they just see me as a 'boring' member of the band :(
What will I do??????
Thursday, 2 August 2012
RADWIMPS <シュピレヒコール> (sprechchor) Review.
1. Sprechchor
2. Dokuhaku
3. 22:20:12:5:14:2012
This is another band that I love. They are just a perfect band: great lyrics, singing, guitar, bass and drums.
I really like Radwimps 3 and 4 (the albums), but Altocolony or zetai zetsumei didn't cut it for me (don't get me wrong, they were still great, just not their greatest). Their single 'hakujitsu', which they released earlier this year was also a disappointment for me, and it sounded way too much like Flumpool. So when I heard the announcement of this single, I wasn't that excited.
The main track, the title track includes all the usual characteristics of a Radwimps song: a repetitive guitar riff, soothing and catchy vocals by Noda, and a strong rhythm section. It all explodes early on in the song, but it's nothing impressive. If this was on album, I probably wouldn't consider it a single. It's simply an average song (for Radwimps) and towards the end, it gets slightly boring. Hopefully, this song will grow on me as I listen to it more, it just didn't have that 'first-listen-blow-away' effect that songs like 'dada' and 'magic mirror' had.
The second track, 'Dokuhaku', just baffles me. It's an 8 minute long track, but it's Noda speaking over music. Now, knowing Radwimps, the 'lyrics' are probably very meaningful and resonating. However 8 minutes of listening to someone speak isn't really my cup of tea, and I've only listened to it the whole way through once.
Surprisingly the track I enjoyed most was the instrumental, '22:20:12:5:14:2012'. It's a refreshing listen, and it's back to rock for Radwimps. It's got some particularly nice guitar work in it.
Sorry this is such a short review, I've only listened to the single about 4 times.
Rating: 6/10
2. Dokuhaku
3. 22:20:12:5:14:2012
This is another band that I love. They are just a perfect band: great lyrics, singing, guitar, bass and drums.
I really like Radwimps 3 and 4 (the albums), but Altocolony or zetai zetsumei didn't cut it for me (don't get me wrong, they were still great, just not their greatest). Their single 'hakujitsu', which they released earlier this year was also a disappointment for me, and it sounded way too much like Flumpool. So when I heard the announcement of this single, I wasn't that excited.
The main track, the title track includes all the usual characteristics of a Radwimps song: a repetitive guitar riff, soothing and catchy vocals by Noda, and a strong rhythm section. It all explodes early on in the song, but it's nothing impressive. If this was on album, I probably wouldn't consider it a single. It's simply an average song (for Radwimps) and towards the end, it gets slightly boring. Hopefully, this song will grow on me as I listen to it more, it just didn't have that 'first-listen-blow-away' effect that songs like 'dada' and 'magic mirror' had.
The second track, 'Dokuhaku', just baffles me. It's an 8 minute long track, but it's Noda speaking over music. Now, knowing Radwimps, the 'lyrics' are probably very meaningful and resonating. However 8 minutes of listening to someone speak isn't really my cup of tea, and I've only listened to it the whole way through once.
Surprisingly the track I enjoyed most was the instrumental, '22:20:12:5:14:2012'. It's a refreshing listen, and it's back to rock for Radwimps. It's got some particularly nice guitar work in it.
Sorry this is such a short review, I've only listened to the single about 4 times.
Rating: 6/10
DIR EN GREY NEW SINGLE "RINKAKU" ANNOUNCEMENT
Right, so fans of this band will probably know that there's been a countdown on Dir En Grey's website. Well, today it hit 0 and it's the ANNOUNCEMENT OF A NEW SINGLE. As you can see (well, read), I am INCREDIBLY excited and this is the best piece of news this year so far. They are and will be my favourite band for ever and I can't wait to hear their new style.
As much as I love their deathcore-esque music, I really hope they don't just go heavier in this new single, which has been happening really since WTD. I'm really curious as to how Kyo's voice will sound after his problem, and whether the others will keep the same style and instruments from Dum Spiro Spero.
For those curious, 'Rinkaku' means 'outlines' in English, but knowing Dir En Grey, it's probably got a different meaning.
As much as I love their deathcore-esque music, I really hope they don't just go heavier in this new single, which has been happening really since WTD. I'm really curious as to how Kyo's voice will sound after his problem, and whether the others will keep the same style and instruments from Dum Spiro Spero.
For those curious, 'Rinkaku' means 'outlines' in English, but knowing Dir En Grey, it's probably got a different meaning.
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
New Music
So yeah I'm on my summer holidays and I'm pretty bored... it doesn't matter that I'm in Spain right now.
So I decided to do one of the things I do when I'm bored: rack the internet for new music, usually Japanese.
I discovered two bands so far: BORIS, an experimental band and ONE OK ROCK, a sort of hardcore rock outfit.
To be honest, a friend had suggested ONE OK ROCK to me, but the singer's voice just did not appeal to me, and the music itself was very standard rock, nothing special. However I gave them a go with the album 'Kanjo Effect', and the first track "Koi no Aibo Kokoro no Cupid" blew me away. It had a catchy riff and he sings in Japanese most of the time. I'm still getting used to 'Zankyou Reference', where it seems to be mostly English...
No words can describe how happy I was to discover BORIS. I actually discovered them by accident, after sending an e-mail to a magazine about Japanese bassists; the editor replied that he was currently doing an interview with the Japanese band 'BORIS'. So I subsequently searched them on YouTube and BOOM, I fell in love. To me, their selling point is that they sound like a heavier 'Yura Yura Teikoku', a psychedelic rock band that I LOVE already!
So I decided to do one of the things I do when I'm bored: rack the internet for new music, usually Japanese.
I discovered two bands so far: BORIS, an experimental band and ONE OK ROCK, a sort of hardcore rock outfit.
To be honest, a friend had suggested ONE OK ROCK to me, but the singer's voice just did not appeal to me, and the music itself was very standard rock, nothing special. However I gave them a go with the album 'Kanjo Effect', and the first track "Koi no Aibo Kokoro no Cupid" blew me away. It had a catchy riff and he sings in Japanese most of the time. I'm still getting used to 'Zankyou Reference', where it seems to be mostly English...
No words can describe how happy I was to discover BORIS. I actually discovered them by accident, after sending an e-mail to a magazine about Japanese bassists; the editor replied that he was currently doing an interview with the Japanese band 'BORIS'. So I subsequently searched them on YouTube and BOOM, I fell in love. To me, their selling point is that they sound like a heavier 'Yura Yura Teikoku', a psychedelic rock band that I LOVE already!
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