Cruel…cruel world…

Okay. Okay. I concede.

Dir en grey is my life, no matter how pathetic it is. Really, I don’t understand it myself. I mean, they are a very great band. I’ve never been centered around something so musically orientated in my life. What is this? I’m am not sure. I’m a pretty logical person though… I don’t become obsessed with anything for any totally ridiculous reason. Really, I’d rather go to a DEG live and meet the guys than have J.K. Rowling release another Harry Potter book. Ridiculous. Stupid. Maybe. I’m not so sure anymore. I want to understand, however, so that in a few years or so (or maybe months?) when I come off of my high I will know what caused the proverbial fog in the first place. It’s a band of five guys. *Slaps self* Get over it!

If only…if only…

I need a…life

So, basically, I just spent one and a half days (many, many hours of my life that could be used for a more prevalent purpose) looking through hundreds and hundreds of Dir en Grey photos, a lot of which I had already seen. In addition, last night, I spent from the hour of 10 until 1:30 a.m. reading, practically enough, Nishimura Kyo’s life story. My head is fucking throbbing. Too much Dir en Grey, you might ask? No. Of course not. When I go to actually do my homework, Ill probably listen to some good old DEGS, and maybe even pop in one of the Blitz DVDs. God. Someone shoot me.

Not, not you, you thing, you. *kick away* I think I might of killed a few brain cells though. Kyo is just that endearing.

Dir en Grey’s “Americanization”

At this point in time: November 12th, 2007, one can look upon any comment board, forum, etc., and find a plethora (yes, plethora) of varying ideas and opinions on the subject: Dir en Grey. Worldly renowned Japanese rock band as they are, the group has sustained a great deal of change since their inception ten years ago, most notedly in their image and music style. Therefore, there has been a great deal of arguing and complaining (whining, rather) about how one individual thought they were better then, that they suck now, or that they were at their peak whenever, yadda, yadda. If you are a considerable fan, like myself, you might have experienced some of the more…dogged, “Shut the f*** up, no one cares!” comments. Or, if you are a smarter person than me and a great deal of Dir en Grey fans, you stay away from those in the fandom rallying for an overtake, and revel silently in your love for the DEGS. However, since a great deal of fans are in fact, extremely opinionated, there will always be a plethora (yes, plethora) of people screaming murder in the name of their love for a visual kei Kyo.

A visual kei Kyo? Well, I’m not really so sorry to say this but… honestly… DIR EN GREY IS NO LONGER VISUAL KEI, AND WILL MOST LIKELY NEVER BE AGAIN. Get over it. Kaoru himself has commented on the change in the visual kei genre in regard to how the musicians these days put more emphasis on looks than the actual music, which leads to the reasoning that they won’t be going back. Even further, It seems that the band has given up costuming altogether, as seen in their dress during lives and PVs made within the last year and a half or so (Grief, and Dozing Green, mostly). I’m not so content in saying goodbye to the visual aspect of the tours and performances prior to 2006, or for that fact, accumulations like the Blitz 5Days and Vulgar[ism], but it certainly doesn’t make me love Dir en Grey any less, or give me any reason to bit** and moan as if Kyo had started experimenting with Country.

Really, Dir en Grey’s music style has not changed as dramatically as people let on. Sure, the Marrow of A Bone is a lot heavier than its predecessor Withering to Death. and it’s the only one of their albums where it took me a little while to tell some of the songs apart distinctly. However, Dir en Grey is still Dir en Grey, and the band is still to be enjoyed immensely. I, personally, like MOAB despite its difference. I, apart from many other fans, it seems, am able to enjoy varying types of rock. Also, the fact is that it’s Dir en Grey, no matter how people like to argue that fact. Kyo and the boys have been doing what they’ve been doing for 10 years now, and have made it this far in the Japanese, American, and European scenes. Obviously, they are doing something right, to have such a diverse and devoted fanbase. I have faith that DEG will continue to make amazing, epic, raw, despairing, music — just as they have ’till this point.

As for Dozing Green… Fans and normal people alike have argued about it to no end, especially because it is such a recent release. Has it been, what, three weeks? Wow, but it’s felt like years. Anywho… I’ve flinched by enough to notice that people are saying that Dozing Green sounds more like it’s from the Withering to Death. era, and are therefore rejoicing. Oh…wow. I, personally, don’t think that it’s anything like Withering to Death. as the instrumentals are still pretty structurally recent (MOAB similar) except for the fact that it is a little less hard than the recent. Furthermore, it is obvious by the single’s accompaniment, Hydra 666, that Kyo has not lost his love for the indecipherable scream/rawr/gurgle. Hehe…yum.

Why didn’t people freak out this much about the differences stretching from Gauze to Kisou? I mean, was it just that people didn’t notice the progression, or are all the fans these days total pansy-asses, who can’t handle Kyo’s screaming?

I have a feeling that the band is most likely enjoying the underground status that they have in America and Europe right now. That is, they have the fanbase (a rather large one at that) but don’t have to suffer through the shit that comes with being mainstream. I mean, if Kaoru wanted to walk the streets of L.A. (I mean…hypothetically. Why would he want to?) he could without the risk of being jumped (by fans, that is. There’s a good chance he’d be jumped otherwise). If he were to just dally down into Shinjuku middle-evening in Japan, there’s a good chance he’d be heavily bombarded, and not in the good way.

[Former Forward:] Since it is easily said that no one is reading this…I will just have to share my whole-hearted opinion. Maybe if I manage to stumble upon this when I’m older, I’ll think, “Wow, but at least I had a little dedication!” Or maybe, “Wow, but I cared too much about the wrong things, haha!” Oh, but that’ll be the day…anywho: ]

-to be continued-

Oh, melancholy.

Don’t you remember the days where I was able to edit my own theme? Because I surely do. Oh, but I miss my good old lack lf K2 format, and endless supply of needless shit. But I slapped that code’s ass. Yes I did.

Kyo is amazing. But you should already know that. I surely do.

Mmhm. Kyo.