Minoru Niihara - R&R Gypsy Show ( Autographed )

Once in a while, there's a release that is hard to obtain especially from Japan, but thanks to Starslayerjo, I got it, complete with Minoru Niihara's autograph in kanji. My opinion, in Malay then English.


( Click all photos to enlarge )

The full name of this double cd is
MINORU NIHARA LIVE!
R&R GYPSY SHOW
@KAGURAZAKA DIMENSION 2008.05.09-10



Tracklist ( I try to add some additional infos beside it )
cd 1
1. This Lonely Heart ( Loudness Hurricane Eyes 1987 )
2. Fever ( Minoru solo song )
3. Soldier Of Fortune ( Loudness Soldier Of Fortune 1989 )
4. The Night Beast ( Loudness Loud & Rare 1991 )
5. Shut Up & Buy ( Sly )
6. Dreams Of Dust ( Sly )
7. In My Dreams ( Loudness Hurricane Eyes 1987 )
8. Tagawa Hiroaki Gtr Solo
9. Ashes To Glory ( Minoru solo song )
10. 1000 Eyes ( Loudness Lightning Strikes 1986 )
11. I'll Never Hide My Love Again ( Minoru solo song )
12. You Can Do It ( Minoru solo song )
cd 2
1. Far Away ( ?? )
2. Funky Sueyoshi Drum Solo
3. Let It Go ( Loudness Lightning Strikes 1986 )
4. Terasawa Koichi Bass Solo - Lets Get Together ( ?? )
5. Strike Of The Sword ( Loudness Hurricane Eyes 1987 )
6. Esper ( Loudness Disillusion 1984 )
7. Rock N Roll Gypsy ( Loudness Hurricane Eyes 1987 )
8. Dream Fantasy ( Loudness Disillusion 1984 )
9. So Lonely ( Loudness Hurricane Eyes 1987 )
10. Take Me Home ( Loudness Hurricane Eyes 1987 )





( Korang perasan? Niihara skarang dah ada dua i? Nak kasi dengung lebih kot? )

Aku ada masalah kalau dengar lagu2 Loudness. Masalahnye ialah tahun2 pertengahan 80an dulu, kaset pertama aku dengar dari kumpulan ni ialah Disillusion English Version.
Oleh kerana tersangat bestnye kaset Disillusion ni, aku cam ada fobia gitu kalo dengar album2 Loudness lain, dan aku tahu album lain2 tak kan konsisten macam Disillusion. Akhirnye aku jadi hampa. Ni aku cakap perbandingan album, bukan dua tiga lagu satu album aje. Tu memang tak jadi hal.

OK, cd ni memang susah nak dapat. Apa aku tahu, kat Jepun pun hanya boleh didapatkan terus dari syarikat Minoru Niihara.
Jadi pasal nak sangat double cd yang aku tahu istimewa persembahannya, aku tercarik2 sampai akhirnye aku dapatkan dari USA, dari mamat ni yang dapat terus dari Minoru Niihara, siap ada tandatangan lagik.

Macam lawak ler gitu, Asia hantar USA hantar balik Asia.



Apa aku perasan dalam double cd ni..
- Persembahan live kat double cd ni kalo korang tengok musicians dia, dua gitaris siap keybods.
- Oleh sebab itu, Soldier Of Fortune versi dalam cd ni ialah paling menarik aku pernah dengar huhu. Dan Rock N Roll Gypsy tu ada tu keybods yang jadikan lagu ni tersangat pop.
- ENAM lagu dari Hurricane Eyes. Adakah ini album feberet Minoru?
- Disillusion tak boleh lari...dapat dua lagu pun jadi ler.
- Lagu2 Loudness semua tak lari dari versi ori.
- Lagu2 solo Minoru Niihara yang aku suka sekali, Ashes To Glory dah macam epic song gitu, slow laju semua ada. Best. Dan lagu I'll Never Hide My Love Again, judul dia je dah best kan? tersangat lah jiwang.
- Drums dan gitar solo jenis short and sweet.

Aku sekarang tengah tunggu, dan aku harap boleh dapat Show 2. Apa aku tahu, ada Ares Lament dan jugakkk Heavy Chain antaranye..
So, korang yang minat Loudness, maybe boleh carik cd ni, aku rasa korang mesti enjoy nye.

Dan aku harap, satu hari aku dapat nengok Loudness live huhu..





MilkyWays..MilkyWays...MilkyWays.....MilkyWays......

Maybe one day, I got some time to reflect my favourite albums of all time. An Iron Maiden album (SSOASS) wont be guranteed a top spot because it could be Belinda Carlisle's Runaway Horses or Loudness Disillusion English Version instead.

So, is this double live cd worth the hunt and the hassle in getting it?
The answer is a definite and absolute 666% YES.
This cd cant be obtain in normal stores even in Japan, so mine travelled from Japan to USA and back to Asia lol.

I am so happy to finally get it after searching for it for quite some time as I knew it will be a special official live recording and to have it autographed by Minoru Niihara makes me even happier even though sadly I have never seen Loudness live yet or never will.



My observations and opions of this double cd.
- Check out the musicians name list. Two Guitars, keyboards, backing vocals.
So this makes Soldier Of Fortune on this cd an interesting live version, and of course Rock n Roll Gypsy becomes the most happiest of pop songs.
- SIX songs from Hurricane Eyes. Two from Disillusion & Lighting Strikes.
- The Minoru solo songs are the most interesting. Ashes To Glory is a very epic song, and I'll Never Hide My Love Again is going to become a new slow rock favourite of mine.

So those of you who havent got this, try to get it because its worth the effort and the sacrifice of your hard earned monthly spendings.

I hope to get the Show 2 which is not release yet. I think Ares Lament & Heavy Chains were played live for that recordings.

This double live cd is a piece of treasure for Loudness fans, listeners and sympathisers out there.

LOUDNESS DISILLUSION (English Version) & DISILLUSION (original Japanese version)- Loudness 35th Anniversary Columbia Reissue. (Bulan April ni dah jadi bulan borak pasal rock Jepun part 1)

Salam
Moshi-Moshi
and Rock You All Around The World.

As usual I'll talk-cock and elaborate first in my disrespectful vulgar bazaar market Malay Language and then switched to my broken incoherent English Language.

Cammana nak mula? aku taip ni semua, senyum dan ketawa sorang2 depan laptop semua pakai memory kepala otak je, jadi kalau info salah. Mintak maaf.

okay.. Aku rasa berulang kali aku cakap DISILLUSION (English Version) ialah antara album yang paling aku minat sekali dalam hidup aku dan aku pernah buat post pasal album ni berapa tahun lepas sudah.

Tahun ni kumpulan Loudness sedang menyambut 35 Tahun lebih kurang sama macam kumpulan Search gitu (dan jugak kumpulan Anthem jugak tahun lepas sambut 30 Tahun sama jugak macam kumpulan Wings). Blue-Ray disc sambutan Anthem yang dalam disc tu ada konsert video dan interviews lebih 240 minit gitu lain kali aku review dan tunjukkan packaging untuk sapa yang peminat kumpulan Anthem.

Memang sesuai la tu Anthem main show panjang2 sambut 30 tahun, dan Wings memang champion la kan kat Stadium Merdeka, dari kul 10.40 malam sampai 2.45 pagi. Full audio bootleg kat youtube channel aku, aku rakam. haha. Aku gembira la untuk Anthem dan Wings ye tak? haha.


Jadi antara acara sambutan 35 Tahun kumpulan Loudness ialah syarikat label COLUMBIA di Jepun telah cetak-semula jumlah semuanya 11 albums kena mengena dengan Loudness yang memang aslinya diedarkan label Columbia.
Jumlah nye 11 album iaitu 4 album pertama Loudness masa zaman dorang masih jadi artis pasaran Jepun iaitu - Devil Soldier, Birthday Eve, Law Of Devil's Land, Disillusion, Disillusion (English Version), kemudian album Thunder In The East di mana mereka mendapat perhatian seluruh dunia, SPIRITUAL CANOE (ni ialah album awal 2000 di mana semua anggota asli Loudness bergabung kembali), Pandemonium dan tiga album solo gitaris Loudness Akira Takasaki.
Jadi jumlah semua 11.

Album-album reissue ni semua dengan remasters yang "disupervised" oleh ahli-ahli Loudness sendiri.

Jadi ni ialah satu alasan untuk aku 'úpgrade' koleksi Loudness aku.
Dan tentunya aku bermulakan dengan DISILLUSION (English Version) dan versi asli DISILLUSION.

Perbezaan DISILLUSION dan DISSILUSION (English Version) ialah, Disillusion ialah album pasaran Jepun yang kempat Loudness pada awal 1984. Seperti lagu rock Jepun yang kita ketahui selalunya liriks kebanyakkan dalam bahasa Jepun dan ada bahagian seperti chorus guna Inggeris. Dalam album Disillusion asli Jepun, cuma Satisfaction Guranteed je tak silap aku semua Minoru Nihara nyanyi dalam bahasa Inggeris.

Tetapi oleh kerana waktu tu mungkin nama Loudness dah mula pelan2 dikenali oleh peminat rock di tempat lain selain Jepun, maka Loudness pun dapatkan khidmat XXXXXXXXXXXXX (sorry aku lupa nama) untuk gantikan liriks Jepun dengan bahasa Inggeris dan rakam lagi sekali vocals album ni dengan seluruh liriks dalam bahasa English. Jadi album ni dipasarkan untuk pasaran International.
Rakaman album ni dibuat kat London.


Tapi kalau sapa masih simpan kaset2 Loudness cetakan ROADRUNNER. Yang kat dalam sampul ada taruk "Drugs are no fun" nye madah pujangga tu...

Kalau korang perasan sampul dia ialah artwork album Disillusion asli Jepun, tapi isi lagu nye ialah English Version. Ni aku cakap dari ingatan, kalau salah sorry... kaset aku semua dah abis dah buang atau hilang dah semua.

Perbezaan lagi satu ialah English Version ada satu lagu lebih. Iaitu instrumental Anthem Loudness Overture.

Ulasan dan pendapat aku untuk DISILLUSION (asli versi Jepun), dan DISSILLUSION (English Version) ialah tetap utuh tetap teguh ni album sebaik album muzik dari mula sampai abis.

- Untuk aku zaman terbaik Loudness ialah empat album pertama Jepun mereka, dan Disillusion ialah penghabisan yang paling unggul dan terhebat sekali untuk zaman Jepun mereka tu sebelum mereka menjadi kumpulan yang terkenal satu dunia dengan kehadiran Thunder In The East.
- Untuk aku Thunder In The East tu kira ok la, bagus la tapi lebih kepada ok dari nak cakap best giler.
- Untuk aku zaman label Atlantic Years nye album2 Loudness yang selepas album Thunder In The East, apabila dorang jadi famous terkenal satu dunia, ok la, sedap la jugak tapi lebih kepada rock yang maksud aku lebih kepada rock radio.
- Untuk aku So Lonely ok ok je tapi lagu asal So Lonely iaitu Ares Lament ialah terbaik dalam sejarah lagu jiwang. HOHOHOHO!!!!
- Untuk aku.. zaman Minoru Nihara keluar dan ganti dengan Mike Vescera aku suka jugak album Soldier Of Fortune , dan aku suka lagu Never Again.
- Untuk aku zaman Masaki Yamada (E.Z.O) nyanyi, zaman Masayoshi Yamashita keluar dan diganti dengan Taiji (X-JAPAN) dan kemudian Naota "Japanese Steve Harris" Shibata (founder, leader, songwriter, bassist ANTHEM), aku tersangatlah kurang. Ini serentak lebih kurang zaman mendiang Munetaka Higuchi keluar dan Homma (ANTHEM) masuk sebagai drummer.
- Untuk aku zaman 2000 keatas reunion semua empat anggota asli Loudness, aku suka Spiritual Canoe dan tak dilupai Biosphere. Ada beberapa lagu dalam ni dua album yang sangat terbaik pada aku.
- Sekarang ni Munetaka Higuchi dah mati sakit barah cancer, dan masa yang sama aku terus makin kureng dengan arah Loudness yang terbaru.

Tapi apa pun, beberapa album mereka tetap jadi pujaan aku terutama Disillusion dan pasangan nye Disillusion English Version.

Setiap lagu yang terbaik..., terutama aku pernah baca Minoru Nihara pernah cerita pasal Disillusion ialah album paling heavy yang dorang pernah rakam.
Album ni memang heavy, memang bukan rock la tapi heavy metal nak mampos nye heavy metal dan kebanyakkan nye laju dan sangat thrill dari mula sampai abis. Gitar solo giler2 dari Akira Takasaki merata2, bass dia cemerlang dan memang ada segmen memang terserlah contoh Butterfly nye mengejut2 nye part tengah lagu dan drumming Munetaka Higuchi penuh dan aneka ragam sangat la pada telinga aku. Suara Minoru Nihara memang terbaik la kan, dan ni zaman 1984 nye Minoru Nihara nyanyi dalam bahasa English. So bayangkan betapa indah.
Tapi tentu nya paling penting ialah kualiti setiap lagu dalam album ni.

Dari Overture sebagai instrumental pembukaan yang memang tak tahu apa nak jadi, terus masuk Crazy Doctor lagu live yang sangat popular, terus masuk ESPER, dan ESPER ni sangat hebat dan laju, lagu Butterfly yang macam bersahaja je tapi terus masuk instrumental terus terkejut2, lagu Revelations, solo Exploder yang mendebarkan dan sampai sekarang jadi acuan solo gitar Akira main live, Dream Fantasy lagu rock laju yang ada lirik keramat "UNDER THE SPELL OF A FOX GIRL", Milky Way satu2nye lagu aku sangat suka sangat, Satisfaction Guranteed juga sedap boleh goyang2 badan, dan terakhir dengan ARES LAMENT yang sedap, dan lirik pun cantik, dan ending yang paling terhebat.

Takde cacat cela langsung album ni la pada aku...

Above is the lyrics sheets of both Disillusion albums from the Columbia label re-issue "remastered with Loudness members supervision" of total 11 albums under Columbia label (8 from Loudness, and 3 from Akira Takasaki solo) to celebrate Loudness 35th Years Anniversary.

As above, One is in original Japanese version and the other the English Version.

An album that for me possibly one of my top 5 non-Iron Maiden or Belinda Carlisle albums that I like in my whole life. 

Traditional Heavy Metal with lots of crazy exciting solos, thrilling, amazing songs from start to finish, awesome music by each band member, the singer dramatic voice and something magical with how Minoru singing in English for the full album back then when Loudness are still a Japanese band.

Excluding Overture as its a short instrumental.
I would rate each song
Crazy Doctor 10/10
Esper 11/10
Butterfly 10/10 and 11/10 for the instrumental section.
Revelations 10/10
Exploder 11/10 and Akira can do what he like with his hair LOL!!!
Dream Fantasy 10/10 for the song and 20/10 for the English version lyrics.
Milky Way 100/10. Yes ONE HUNDRED OVER TEN.
Satisfaction Guranteed 10/10.
Ares Lament 1000/10. Yes a thousand.

Overall score for Disillusion English Version a perfect 666/666

Disillusion original Japanese version I would give 664/666 the neighbour of the beast because I dont understand the Japanese parts of the songs LOL!!


So thats about it...

Next... maybe I will talk about the new Anthem Blue Ray? If I can complete watching it. Its like over 4 hours long of the concert and some interviews.

LOL!!



Last photo CUTE OBI STRIPS .....  TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!

yang confirm takde lagi dan yang tak confirm nak datang pasal aku tak tahu mana nak beli tiket...

Two things..

Yang confirm takde lagi...
Keretapi Tanah Melayu dari lepas Woodlands immigresen sampai stesen Tanjong Pagar.
Jadi hari tu aku kerja malam, so pagi aku naik bas dari rumah S'pore dan spent time kat Stesen Bukit Timah untuk tengok KTM beroperasi hari2 terakhir di Singapura. Kira macam aku tengah tengok " hari ni dalam sejarah " live.




Jadi lepas train kul 8 blah, aku gi jalan2 atas trek. Kena hati2 je la. Danger dan bahaya tetap ada 24jam kalo tempat2 gini. Korang pun tahu berapa ramai dah kena langgar ngan keretapi, baik jenis KTM atau MRT etc pasal bermacam2 sebab, ada memang nak mati, ada pasal cuai silap anggaran kelajuan tren, ada pasal tiba2 pengsan dan jatuh, ada tengah tingtong, siap KTM driver cakap dia tak boleh lupa tengok amoi tu pandang dia, dia pandang amoi tu masa nak kena langgar, dah tingtong kan, dan sebagainya.

Nanti la aku post dan cerita panjang...Siap ambik gambar signalling dan throwing of points cara KTM kat trek lagi haha.





Yang tak confirm nak datang pasal selagi takde cerita pasal penjualan tiket aku tak mau over excited la..




Loudness kalo main in both Singapore and Malaysia will be a dream come true untuk ramai orang. Especially dorang punye hardcore fans.
Aku tahu ada dua orang kawan yang kumpul koleksi Loudness yang serious berbual koleksi dorang memang out of this world, serious berbual mungkin boleh celen mana2 kolektor Loudness kat mana2 la haha. Koleksi release Loudnes yang kebanyakkan semua original dari Jepun, memang susah nak dapat, rare dan kalo ada pun mahal, salute kat ni dua orang haha. Aku tahu ni dua memang terlompat2 berita Loudness nak datang ni haha.

dan tu hari, ada satu brader ni sapa aku, pasal tshirt aku pakai tarik perhatian dia, so borak2 kejap, terus kita buat kawan...tukar2 no henpon semua.
So dia cakap dia punye dream ialah Loudness datang lagi, dan aku tahu dia real fan cara dia berbual, siap uniform kerja tapi kalo perhati betul2, tali pinggang dia ialah tali pinggang Loudness. Best giler brader ni haha.

So bila Loudness datang, peminat2 cam ni tiga kat atas ni tentu will feel top of the world semestinya. Tak terkejut kalo dorang tunggu kat airport bawak banner besar2 haha.
Dan jugak untuk korang2 yang lain, tak payah bedek, Loudness mewarna-warnikan kehidupan korang dari dulu sampai skarang jugak kan? dan aku pun akan cuba untuk pergi...( bukan pegi airport sambut dorang, tapi harap dapat pegi salah satu show samada KL atau Spore, kena tengok keadaan dan budget ).
Ye la dulu Loudness main kat Sentosa, tu jam was Mike Vescera bukan Minoru Nihara, dan horror paling besar tu jam ialah aku tak dapat pergi. Sedih siak, ingat dalam hidup kalo miss tengok Loudness tu jam, paling rugi la, maklum zaman muda budak2 dulu haha.
Dengar radio pop rock, Adnan Maswan cerita pasal konsert tu, gigit jari haha. I will never forget what the Rockers punya penyanyi Joe cakap kat progrem Pop Rock ni lepas konsert Loudness tu masa kena interview ngan DJ. Nanti aku cerciter lagi.

But harap semua will proceed as berita yang digembar-gemburkan, aku kena harap ihsan kawan2 aku yang main facebook pasal seems berita Loudness main kat Kuala Lumpur dan Singapore 2011 ialah spread by facebook so far.


To be continued in detail

LOUDNESS THE LAW OF DEVIL'S LAND :Loudness 35th Anniversary Columbia Reissue.(bulan April ni dah jadi bulan borak pasal rock jepun part 2)

Salam
Moshi-Moshi'
and rock you all around the world.

Continuing on showing the Columbia Label re-issue of Loudness 35th Year Anniversary Celebrations with "Remasters supevised by the band members".

As usual I write first in my disrecpectful rude vulgar bazaar market Malay language, and then switch to my broken incoherent English language.

Kumpulan Loudness zaman dorang masih cuma jadi artis pasaran Jepun memang suka judul perkataan Devil Devil ni semua ye. 1982 Devil Soldier, 1983 Law Of Devil's Land.

Law Of Devil's Land ni untuk aku, adalah album kedua terbaik Loudness dibelakang dua-dua versi Disillusion yang aku berbual kons pada posting yang lepas.

Bermula dengan instrumental Theme Of Loudness Instrumental Part 2, yang tak menjanjikan apa2 yang ada kena mengena dengan ROCK langsung selain dari ayat intro pasal tentera setan.

Terus dari lagu kedua sampai lagu terakhir, memang heavy metal walau tak seheavy metal macam Disillusion,  tetap rock mampos abis. Ada lagu laju, ada tak laju tapi semua thrill. Dan gitar Akira Takasaki memang giler2 la kan, suara Minoru Nihara sedap, drums dia bass dia memang seronok sangat. Munetaka Higuchi dan Masayoshi Yamashita. Boleh ingat ok nama2 gini terbelit2.

Masalah untuk aku ialah aku suka sangat kat Disillusion, kalau aku tak dengar Disillusion aku akan cakap ni album sangat terbaik dalam sejarah.
Kalau kat album Disillusion pun ada slow down jiwang abis dengan lagu Ares Lament. Album Law Of Devil's Land takde la, kira semua sama ada lagu laju dan rancak dan takde yang terus slow abis meleleh. Mungkin Mr Yes Man lagu paling slow tapi heavy la kan kat album ni.

Dua lagu paling famous dan orang tahu kat album ni aku rasa sudah tentu In The Mirror dan Speed. Terutama lagu In The Mirror. Kerana ni dua lagu memang lagu2 live untuk sapa minat dengar Loudness nye muzik.
Lagu title track Law Of Devil's Land pun laju jugak... suara Minoru memang berhantu la zaman2 dulu tu ye... Orang Jepun cuba nyanyi omputeh.

Tapi lagu2 lain kat album ni pun gerek2 jugak... 
Show Me The Way aku suka sangat, 
lagu I Wish You Were Here sangat unik lagu ni kalau aku buat andaian sama macam lagu Scorpions Hey You gitu.
Black Wall. Ni lagu intro dia dahsyat. 
Sleepness Night pada aku ialah satu2 lagu generik gitu. Tapi tetap sedap terutama bila kat tengah dia slow down terus lepas tu pulak Akira solo.

Aku rasa la kan, kalau orang nak dengar Loudness la, nak mula dengar Loudness, aku akan suruh dengar ni album atau Disillusion la...
Thunder In The East dan seterusnya zaman Atlantic label bila dorang jadi artis International untuk aku macam, aku rasa aku kerut dahi la kalau nak banding zaman Jepun ni.

"WELCOME MY SOLDIERS!!
YOU ARE DEVIL'S CHILDREN."

Such a very rocking introduction.

And so begins the Loudness 3rd Japanese album from 1983, The Law Of Devil's Land.

Like I say, the 4 Japanese albums from Loudness (it becomes 5 if you split Disillusion and Disillusion English Version as seperate albums).. are the very best from Loudness ever.

Yes, they have memorable moments from the International albums starting from Thunder In The East, even the Mike Vescera years, and even the reunion years and I think Spiritual Canoe and Biosphere are really good albums,

but the early years, especially Law Of Devil's Land and of course Disillusion are the best to me.

This album is maybe most known for having the songs Speed and In The Mirror, but all other songs are just as awesome.
I Wish You Were Here is really the out of the box song on this album.. and its great.

Nothing much to say, to be continued and continued as always...

More photos of the packaging, the obi strip and whatever.

I really have no idea on all these text, but I guess it would make a great reading??

Last but not least..

Next Change...
(Akan Datang)

Anthem 30+ Blue Ray..
and I still have not finish watching it..

p.s Harap korang paham apa aku tengah berbual...

aku tak keharuan langsung buat blog ni haha... fast game giler pasal aku perasan dah seminggu tak update blog.
LEMAU!!

(BERITA) Japanese Rock Incoming News that excites me - LOUDNESS / ANTHEM / OUTRAGE etc

Salam and Greetings To All.
WARNING - This is a long post.

As usual, I will talk-cock in my style of Disrespectful Rude Market Malay Language, and then to my Incorrigible Broken English Language.

But first, I saw this poster on the internet and how fucking mentally frustrated I am.
Loudness, Outrage and currently for the past few years my favourite Japanese Heavy Rock band - Anthem.
All together in one show. DAMN! SHIT! How I Wish I Could Be There Moment. This is a dream line-up if there ever was one.
Its like BELINDA CARLISLE & VREID opening for IRON MAIDEN. LOL!!!

Speaking of a Japan show, Iron Maiden is playing two nights at the same place in April in Japan.

Now in another time another place, that would be suitable for fans with limited budget who is travelling especially backpacking to see their favourite band but able to stay put in one place and see Maiden play over two nights at same location.

I once did this for Festhalle Frankfurt which Maiden played for two nights in 2014.
Maybe I get a similar chance next time.

Dari berbual pasal ELLA rock melayu dalam posting yang lepas, kita pindah ke rock Jepun.
Sama hebat, tak lebih , tak kurang.


1) Poster atas - Loudness/Outrage/ANTHEM. Bulan Mei ni kat Jepun. Aku tak paham selain dari maklumat itu. Lain semua berbual Jepun. Pada aku la ni sangat terbaik kalau dapat pergi tengok persembahan ini dengan tiga band Jepun yang aku minat beraksi satu malam. 

-Loudness tentu korang semua tahu. 
-Outrage ni kadang2 la, kadang2 pada aku ni band lagi Metallica dari Metallica.
-Anthem, sapa baca blog ni tahu la betapa kemaruk aku dengan kumpulan Anthem ni.

2) Bercakap pasal Loudness, Loudness dalam suasana menyambut 35 Tahun sebagai sebuah kumpulan. Itu hari dah keluar remastered Thunder In The East, ada satu boxset giler bapak mahal dalam ada vinyl semua, ada satu edisi dua disc yang masih harga berpatutan, dan nanti bulan 3 nanti akan keluar versi remastered satu disc.
Ada 11 album yang asli nye dari syarikat rakaman Columbia akan keluar bulan March nanti dengan remastering membabitkan anggota Loudness.
Tak silap aku Lima Album Pertama Loudness (empat pertama yang aslinya untuk pasaran Jepun dan kelima ialah Thunder In The East, campur SPIRITUAL CANOE, PANDEMONIUM, dan tiga album dari zaman solo Akira Takasaki.
Kalau ada peluang nak dapatkan remastered version ni, 
Aku target album yang antara aku paling minat 
- Disillusion English Version
- Disillusion 
- Law Of Devil's Land
Untuk aku ni dua album atas ni terbaik terutama Disillusion English Version.
Disillusion tentunya album paling Heavy Metal dan untuk aku terbaik setiap lagu zaman Loudness bermula dulu sebagai band Jepun sebelum mereka dikenali dunia dengan Thunder In The East.

Untuk aku Thunder In The East ni macam Dio punye Holy Diver.
Orang ramai dan penulis2 puji macam nak mampos, hebat la apa la...
Untuk aku Thunder In The East tu bagus la, tapi typical rock album untuk telinga aku walau ada lagu best, sama macam Holy Diver.
Album2 lain lagi best, untuk aku la. 

3) Bercakap pasal ANTHEM pulak...
Anthem akan keluarkan satu live Blue Ray Disc, bertajuk ANTHEM 30+
Aku rasa seluruh Blue Ray ni ialah Anthem main live dan interviews dan backstage.

Senarai lagu nanti aku letak kat bawah nanti.. aku jumpa kat dalam tenet untuk sapa yang minat Anthem sini.
Ni aku rasa ialah album cover untuk ANTHEM 30+ Blue Ray Disc.

Akan terbit sama hari dengan 11 Remastered albums Loudness zaman Columbia records yang aku cakap kat atas tadi.

4) Outrage dan One OK Rock - Aku berbual kons cakap omputeh eh.

K , tukar cenel 3 ke cenel 5.

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So as the above,
Loudness is celebrating a sort of 35 Years Anniversary, that already have that expensive but really wonderful Boxset of Thunder In The East.
Unfortunately... Backpacking for Iron Maiden Book Of Soul World Tour is more important LOL!!!
so lets skip.
But next month, Loudness is releasing 11 albums as remasters versions with the involvement of the Loudness band members themselves.
So guess which ones I am going to go for?
of course the early years when Loudness was just a Japanese band.
The two Disillusion versions and Law Of Devil's Land should start of nicely.
Once I hope to get them, and if I really get them, I will blog it here. LOL!!!


As another of the photo I pasted above, 
ANTHEM is releasing a blue ray called ANTHEM 30+
I think that photo will be the cover of the album.
This I hope to have a copy.
ANTHEM has been my flavour of the month Japanese band for like? few years now. LOL!!!

continuation..

Lasrly Outrage...

They have recently released a mixture albums of cover songs from the Psychedelic Japanese Bands of early 70s, plus some traditional songs I believe (Kojono Tsuki) and also some of their own songs.

Album is called GENESIS I.

This is the cover above.

I dont have it. I think its good.
This is a video of their version of the song IJANAIKA from the 70s Psychedelic Japanese Band The MOPS.



Lastly,

ONE OK ROCK or something?

I knew they played Singapore. Never got to know about them. I think they are a younger band.

But then I think they will play Donington Park at Download Festival on 2nd stage Sunday (Iron Maiden headlining day).

If I can make it for this event, and I am trying to make it possible whatever the challenge$$$ LOL!!.
Maybe I can find some time to check them out?

This is the latest poster with their band name on it. See Sunday.

But it will be chaos and I dont know how the timetable will be like.
Seems its going to be confirmed Maiden will not clash with both SAXON and JANE'S ADDICTION, and I assume NAPALM DEATH on 4th Stage will also have stopped playing once Maiden hit the stage on Main Stage.
Its going to be a crazy Sunday.

OK till next time.


RONG RIVE WOCK N WOLL!!


Next post... Lets go for the best of British..
Not Iron Maiden, or Deep Purple or Black Sabbath or even Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest or Rainbow, 

but the more heavier and Satanic kind of music...

HUMAN LEAGUE AND PET SHOP BOYS among others.

Review Loudness 25th July 2011 Scape Warehouse Singapore

Cakap omputeh dulu..

This is what I saw and hear on 25 July 2011 Loudness Live in Singapore at Scape Warehouse during their 30th anniversary tour.

1) First Time I went to Scape. Unlike most of you lucky guys in Johor and Singapore who catch the legendary Sentosa 1989 show with Mike Vescera, this is my first time haha. Nice place for about 800 standing capacity, I think there are more space but I think there is those safety rules to comply. Full house definitely and as its a Monday evening, you see a few in office attire among the rock tshirts. Clear majority in attendance are Malays young and not so young and far from young haha.
2) Come across old and not so old friends. Always bound to happen when going for rock concerts. BIRDS OF THE SAME FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER.
I know some of them are loyal longterm continuity hardcore Loudness fans, so like I say, tonite show means a lot for these people.
3) Entry I got problem, line up and then turned away at the door because no tagging. So Line Up again another section.
4) Tshirts collection for pre-booking is very smooth. Thanks a lot.
5) I enter and Paul Danial Trio with Jatt Ali is already playing...

Sort of a Ronnie James Dio setlist...Fantastic performance by the four of them.. I manage to catch them playing Gates of Babylon ( Gates Of Babylon siak !!! legend giler ), Children Of The Sea, Heaven And Hell, Holy Diver, Dont Talk To Strangers... Jatt not need to sing as the audience especially those in front are singing for him...word for word. But when he sings, I hope Dio Disciples takes him on haha. I was hoping they play a Ministry Of Rock song but nope.
6) Jatt Ali sings " Gadis Ayu ", just that portion. I am so happy. Long Live BDB.
7) Wait for Loudness and I am nearer back, no mood to hustle and bustle nearer the front and I am trying to bootleg the show on my recorder so I guess I avoid the expected fanatcial singing-along by most guys in front haha.
8) Wait and see the Loudness crew preparing the stage.
Then its Loudness time..
9) Intro tape played. Drummer Masayuki Suzuki, then bassist Masayoshi Yamashita and Akira Takasaki appears and start play instrumental Fire Of Spirit.
10) Then Minoru Nihara appears and ask for the lighting staff to off certain lights as too bright for him, then he and Akira leaves the stage and call Masayoshi off stage too.
11) We wait again...about 4-5 minutes for them to sort out the issue.
12) Intro tape played again. Akira say sorry.
13) Played Fire Of Spirit again.
14) Minoru Nihara reappears wearing sunglasses this time, and they play Hit The Rails.

15) Minoru greets the crowd and say sorry for the earlier problem. He mentioned about Loudness having played here but for himself it is the first time.
16) Crazy Night next.
17) Heavy Chain followed.
18) Akira whispers to Minoru, so Minoru says Akira guitar needs tuning. So Akira talks about his age and Loudness debut, about Loudness 30 years anniversary, about the tiny Japanese guy who loves his Rock n Roll , and making jokes about the front row younger fans not born yet or something haha. I think he jokingly ask for a guitar to play accoustic. Then he introduce the drummer.
19) Akira ask for a drum solo. So Masayuki plays a drum solo.
20) Akira leads a 'we want more' chant, so Masayuki plays a second drum solo.
21) Akira then went to the drums and we got an Akira Takasaki drum solo.
22) Akira guitar tech joins in on the ending of the drum solo while preparing the guitar.
23) Masayoshi leads a 'we want more' chant next, so Akira went to the mic and ask for a bass solo.
24) So we get a bass solo. The crowd next ask for a Vocal Solo. Hillarious and very funny.
25) In The Mirror next, I always love these fast and furious Loudness songs so I guess thats why I love Disillusion the most, and I think Disillusion is the most tilted to heavy metal album by Loudness ever.
26) So Lonely next, what a surprise because its not played in the US Leg of the tour. I would prefer the original song that first appears as Ares Lament but beggars cant be choosers. Quite long version of So Lonely this one with Akira solo and everything hahaha. Near 8 minutes. I think everyone can sing along all nite long with this song and not get tired of it.
27)Exploder intro is played next, and Akira starts his solo which intertwined with Exploder. This is about 6 minutes long.
28)Like Hell continues the older 80s songs sequence.
29)Band Introduction next, Minoru talks a bit and joke about the new drummer being nervous backstage and introduced and ask applause for the drummer twice.
30) Get Away follows.
31) Black Star Oblivion next.
32) We got the intro Requiem and then King Of Pain.
33) Immediately follwed by Crazy Doctor. This version verses is sung in Japanese version not English version. I am happy to hear people singing along once the chorus switch to English.
34) Loudness leaves the stage.
35) What comes next is hillarious. Akira comes up on stage to tease the fans with his sayonaras and 'why you so quiet', but everytime he speaks, it has some in the crowd bursting with laughter including myself. Very cute way of speaking this Akira.
36) Let It Go. And I think this song takes everyone back to the 80s during their younger days haha.
37) SDI.
38) Loudness waves farewell.

About 107 minutes. Still waiting for a high quality complete bootleg of the show anyone? Mine pekak badak but I super like it haha. Tak jemu dengar.

After the show, bade farewell to friends who I dont know when I meet again or hear from again, and the words in most mouths is " WHITESNAKE!!!".


Cakap melayu sikit, happy la jumpa kawan2 lama dan tak lama sangat dan muka2 familiar hehe. Semoga jumpa lagi. Cam aku cakap, bila nak blah, yang disebut2 ialah 'Whitesnake'. Dan jugak aku survey jugak show ni sapa ramai pergi, so selain ada sebilangan kaum Cina dan Mat Salleh, majoriti terang lagi bersuluh budak mim jugak. haha. Tapi bagus, disiplin bagus, salute korang, dan jugak thanks a lot to the organisers. I dont think they are really focus on the heavy rock/rock n roll market but great job guys kat counters , kat pintu dan masa tagging and thanks for the cheaper tickets and tshirts. Cuma terkehel tak clear pasal tagging tu, or mungkin aku yang memang pekak. Semoga korang host lagi banyak genre heavy rock / rock n roll shows cam gini.




Baju belum bukak plastik pun...kawan aku cakap " nasib baik N dia betul " haha.. siot je.

my klasik - LOUDNESS' Disillusion ( English Version )

Segmen baru dimana saye pilih koleksi2 saye yang saye anggap "perfect album" dan memang favourite. Jenis album yang mula sampai abis semua lagu gerek giler. Saye tak mau pilih album kompilasi dan kalo boleh elak Iron Maiden pasal Maiden releases semua pun mesti la perfect kan? So lets begin.

( click all photos to make bigger )

To kickstart a new segment about my personal favourite " Perfect Albums ", I have choosen to review and post photos of the Japanese band Loudness " DISILLUSION ( English Version ) album.
There will never be an album like this again. No rock band especially from the West can ever do an album like this because its so unique.

DISILLUSION was actually released in two versions back in 1984, same music but Minoru Nihara recorded his vocals twice, one in Japanese, and the other one in English ( try imagining a Japanese Rocker in 1984 trying his best to sing in English with his Japanese accent all over the place and simple uncomplicated English lyrics which seems to be a direct translation from Japanese ) - the result, mind boggling. Together with one of the most exciting, thrilling and lots of surprising change of tempo and melody, loud entertaining playing and solos by Akira Takasaki, heavy rhythm section by Masayoshi Yamashita and Munetaka Higuchi, plus one of the most beautiful and haunting slow rock of all time "Ares Lament" and you have for me the best rock album of all time to come out from The Land of the Rising Sun.


DISILLUSION
released 1984
1. Anthem
2. Crazy Doctor
3. Esper
4. Butterfly
5. Revelation
6. Exploder
7. Dream Fantasy
8. Milky War
9. Satisfaction Guranteed
10. Ares Lament

Total Running Time - 40mins 18sec

Ask any older rock and metal listeners in both Singapore and Malaysia about Loudness and 99.9% of the time, they can either sing or humn you a favourite Loudness song of theirs, start talking about guitarist Akira Takasaki or maybe all you get is just a simple, " Heavy Chain ", which arguably is one of the most famous foreign song in the history of the Malay Rock Annals.

I first discovered the cassette tape of DISILLUSION back in 1987 when I was in secondary school, it was on the Roadrunner label with the " DRUGS ARE NO FUN " campaign slogan prominently displayed on the inlay. The cover was not as above but the Japanese language version artwork ( mosaic of an ancient Samurai warrior climbing some cliffs ). It was so exciting that the cassette stayed in my walkman all the time, till the old routine of lending it to a friend who lent it to another friend and you wont see your stuff again. But the album sticks on my mind all the time and it was one of the first cd I ever bought back in the 90s.



song by song review-
I ever read in an old Hit Parader interview that Minoru Nihara said DISILLUSION was the heaviest and most metal album ever done by Loudness. And rightly so.. This album was from my understanding recorded in Europe, and this was the album that was promoted by Loudness travelling to perform in the Western countries, which then result in them getting the international major label Atlantic signing them up to release their 1985 Thunder In The East album worldwide.

For me, Loudness prime was on this album and even when they were an international act later in the 80s to 90s, even later on with a " white man " Mike Viscera taking over the vocals, and the famous four reuniting in 2000 till now, I cant love any other Loudness era and albums as I love DISILLUSION. Except maybe on 2001 reunion album Spiritual Canoe there was this two songs called End Of Earth and Stay Wild which is super great for me, unfortunately the singing is in Japan so I dont understand them.



1. Anthem ( Loudness Overture )
The introduction. An instrumental of " light " music, sort of a national anthem of some country, which kinds of makes the anticipation of whats next all the more higher.

2. Crazy Doctor
When the singing starts, I am not surprised if some people asked " What language is he singing in? Is that in English? " :-)
Up to now, I believe this song is still a live staple when Loudness performs. It still appears in most live dvds of Loudness gigs after their reunion from the 2000 onwards.
Very catchy, very heavy, and that Akira guitar solo at the middle of this song - The kind that makes the world stands still.

3. Esper - The fast, heavy but melodic tempo continues with this song. Esper relates to science fiction imaginary. " Oh yeah never ending fire, Energy, secret mystery..Energy.."

4. Butterfly - The tempo drops a bit for this song. Seems to compare some woman with a butterfly, flying here and there. Not sticking to one place. The song has dramatic change of pace during the solos.

5. Revelation - In the 80s, its nothing out of the ordinary to have a heavy rock n roll band with all the fancy clothes and hairstyles singing praises for their parents in a metal song. " Father Wishing I was you, Good and strong as you ".
Those were the innocent years where everyone is having fun and life is good and balanced, when we work to live, not live to work. 20 years later to present times, its more about work and worrying about money.



6. Exploder - Akira's solo that makes the world stands still.

7. Dream Fantasy - Ah..my favourite fast track. Especially for that "OI!!" after the solo. The lyrics is so hilarious " Under the spell of a foxy girl ". The Japanese bands have all these incredible English lyrics ( check out X JAPAN my favourite Japanese band ever ).

8. Milky Ways - The best vocals for this album must definitely go to this song. It sounds like a teenybopper singing about Superman, The Galaxy, The Universe. The most beautiful song for me.

9. Satisfaction Guranteed - " You want Wock and Woll? You want it lowd? We'll drive you cwazy , knocking our heads ". Fabulous!!! A fantastic heavy metal song.

10. Ares Lament - which begins with " You made me smile when I think of you.. ", sigh..
This is the predecessor of So Lonely, that famous Loudness song from Hurricane Eyes album which appears in most Loudness compilations.
I guess this song is so good that they remodify it to become So Lonely, I wonder why cant they just use this song instead of remaking it as So Lonely. For me, Ares Lament is the best Loudness ballad every followed closely behind by Never Again.
The ending of this song with Minoru's melodic humming and Akira's solo is so perfect. What a way to conclude this album.


The OBI strip, anyway, the cd that I have is just a normal one. Maybe one day I want to get the remastered version of both the English and Japanese version if I can afford it, because DISILLUSION have so much great memories for me.

So you guys out there, maybe you just want to check out DISILLUSION. No regrets.





You make me smile when I think of you
Although you're many miles away, far away
But my heart's lonely, I love you still
This clown can't laugh today

* My arms are open for you
I need to hold you closer
Can't you see, you leave me so breathless
Why do you do this to me
I can't go on without you
I'll never leave you any more

** I am so lonely, so what can I do?
Oh baby, oh baby
I am so lonely, so lonely for you
Oh baby, oh baby

I have nowhere to go, no one to hold
Nothing to keep me here, I've thrown it all away
My heart is lonely, but still I'll try
This clown won't cry today

Ooo....oooo....
ooo....oooo....

koleksi Loudness kawan aku / santiago 09

baik Malaysia atau Singapore, dari awal 80an sampai nari, majoriti peminat rok melayu mesti tahu Loudness. Tapi susah nak dapat info,audio dan video Loudness pasal dorang kan Jepun.
Aku ada dua kawan lama yang aku tahu minat Loudness.
Koleksi dorang meriah dan memang true fans. Kalo Akira Takasaki tahu ada fans gini, konpem besok Loudness datang walau 20 tahun dulu dorang datang aku tak pegi.
Tu hari aku gi rumah one of my fren ni, ni sebagian koleksi giler Loudness dia aku sempat snap. Enjoy!!!

( CLICK ALL PHOTOS TO ENLARGE )


Best kan??



lagik.. best kan?



ni dari tahun berapa ntah tapi early days Loudness jugak.. Aku pun tak tahu apa nama boxset ni tapi one of the first and very rare. ni tak ramai kot pernah nampak benda ni... ni memang rare giler. Lawa eh.
dan tengok kat deretan blakang tu..ada lagik..



ni memang dah tahap tak boleh accept, siap ada koleksi mini-cd. ni pun aku rasa tak yah cakap tapi aku cakap lagi sekali - ni rare nye benda siak. Boleh nengok perbandingan saiz yang merah kat kiri tu ngan normal cd kat belah atas tu.



it was a bit rushing jadi aku tak sempat nak godey2 koleksi dia banyak2...tapi koleksi dvd dia pun...marvellous. semua pun ada haha. sebahagian dari nye cuba nengok kat deretan belakang tu..lupa nak cakap, koleksi ni smua ori.

so gambo atas tu jugak ialah sebagian buku2 photobook , tour book dan apa book aku pun tak tahu cakap jepun. Tapi...gambo2 lawa... macam Ross Halfin nye Maiden photobook jugak huhu.



hah, ni lak thunder in the east nye photo book ke story book.. dahsyat wooo. Rare giler lagik. aku rasa ni post yang banyak sekali perkataan rare haha.



contoh betapa best photobooks jepun, ni stage by stage gambar pembikinan pentas Loudness.



Loudness loudness jugak, tapi rok melayu tak dilupakan...Excellent condition kaset Aces' Hidup. Also, korang nengok deret belakang tu...


Ni baru satu kawan aku nye koleksi, lagi satu belum lagik, ni lagi satu ni dia taruk semua kat dalam satu binder besar giler warna hitam huhuhu..Aku dulu pernah pinjam dari dia early 2000s gitu, bayangkan waktu tu internet belum popular sangat dan koleksi dia dah ribut, macammana dia dapat aku pun tak tahu tu jam...
aku masih ingat, takut siak aku bawak balik koleksi dia naik bas, berat giler, aku siap peluk, takut tertinggal dalam bas huhu.


nasik tambah..
60,000 kat Santiago Chile last week.
Gambo2 peminat kat sana..
(click all photos to enlarge)


tak tahu ni dua klips ok ke tak kalo korang klik
http://static.ironmaiden.com/clips/Rod9.mov
http://static.ironmaiden.com/clips/Rod1.mov
****
ni dia radio broadcast untuk show.. an excellent live recording.
http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=zkdbqbt3r8d
Enjoy