D

[Geisha]

Well, I am just guessing now, but since overseas fans can "preorder" the single until the end of August, maybe they're waiting until then to ship them all together?

Someone on another forum emailed CoolJapan and got told they would start shipping from today. I hope that's right and we don't have to wait until 31 August. I caved in anyway and downloaded a rip until my CDs arrive (no doubt they will get stopped by customs and take even longer ). I really like the b-sides too.

I was wondering about the reason, since it came pretty out of the blue, at least for me. And I'd really like to know if the label dropped them, or if Asagi was just fed up with their label.

I'd like to know the reason too. I asked a Japanese friend to have a look at Asagi's diary but now that seems to be down. *sigh*

 

[Xanadu]

I hope they really do it, I can't wait to hear the songs in good quality, I really liked them, although I only listened to a pretty poor rip.
I liked especially the openings to be B-sides, and a lot of people are complaining that the single sounds boring to them. As always.

All their diaries seem to be down at the moment, maybe they're having issues with the site in general.

 

[Mirai]

Oh, D are really great. I like their songs and them, as people.
I was a member of staff n their live in Russia.

They are really sweet and warmhearted! ^^

 

[Xanadu]

The CDs have been shipped indeed, at least mine is already stuck in costums.

But their blogs are still lost, I wonder what's going on there.

 

[voixdinferno]

mines not yet shipped u_u

 

[Geisha]

My CDs arrived on Thursday, didn't get stuck in customs, even though I added a flag case. I never got a shipping confirmation though and my order is still showing as "processing".

The making-of is sweet, especially Hide-Zou's explanation of his costume: the 4 feathers across his heart are the other members and together they're D. I love how they always explain the meaning behind their costumes, so much thought seems to go into their work. There's also a close-up of Asagi's birdcage crown. It's made from braided hair and inside sits a little blue bird.

a lot of people are complaining that the single sounds boring to them. As always.

Well, I think D are a great example for the fact that taste is subjective. Some people complain constantly that they don't sound like 2004-06 anymore and that their newer stuff is boring, those who like their more mellow stuff complain about the death growls, some complain that everything sounds the same and some complain that they can't decide which style they want to play. And of course some want them to "grow up", drop their visuals and play normal metal without poppy choruses. I have to admit that I don't like everything they release because they experiment a lot and I don't always like the result or the style they choose, but I admire their sense of adventure.

But their blogs are still lost, I wonder what's going on there.

Yeah, I wonder if it has to do with the switch over to GCR. Perhaps someone forgot to flick a switch or pay a bill and they haven't noticed yet since they're on tour ATM. Fortunately my friend had a chance to look at Asagi's entry and sent me this summary:

D decide to leave their management company, because if they think they will do international tour and so on, they think that it is hard to produce over 20 songs every year at the moment. This is not because avex or smile company want to kick them out. actually they tried to keep them, but they decided to leave.

They are going to work with old staffs (They are not saying the staffs are from avex or smile but they are saying that the staffs are people who they have been working since they were indies)

Basically they are saying thank you to all avex and smile company people who they had been working with. and they are saying that even if they go back the indies label again, their quality will not change so please look forward to it.

I hope they made the right decision.

 

[a-amanitin]

I hope they made the right decision.

I hope so, too. They could really use a proper break from their former relentless release schedule.

Synthelement has been translating D's diary entries (mostly Asagi's Walls of Text, including his latest) for a while: Nyasagi, if anyone is interested. Entries are locked but she checks comments and requests frequently enough.

 

[Xanadu]

Thank you for letting us know, Geisha, that was indeed insightfull. It sounds pretty reasonable to me, if they don't feel they can produce 20 goods songs in a year because it is to much, it seems to be the right decision to slow it down a little, and to go back to the indie status again.
At least I hope it will help them.

Well, to "grow up" - if growing up means getting as boring as bands like the GazettE; I am completly against it.
Still keeping their visuals just proves that they stand behind their concept, and that's a good thing in my opinion.

And a.manitin, thank you for the link, I might take a look.

 

[Manneking]

I listened to their new single in its entirety yesterday - I really like it because the lead single has dropped the same structure like Tightrope, In The Name Of Justice & Akaki blahblahblah (even though they're all solid tracks). The guitar solo is pretty interesting as well, I'm guessing Hide-Zou composed this?

The other two tracks are alright, the other b-side is pretty reminiscent of 7th Rose and has a really cool ending. Whether their indies or not, I'm probably still gonna follow them. They seem to be one of the only bands that haven't gravitated towards being totally crap musically with a decent visual image -cough versailles cough-.

 

[Geisha]

It sounds pretty reasonable to me, if they don't feel they can produce 20 goods songs in a year because it is to much, it seems to be the right decision to slow it down a little, and to go back to the indie status again.
At least I hope it will help them.

I hope so too and I agree that their reasons sound very sensible. Good to see a band choose quality and sanity over making as much money as possible.

Still keeping their visuals just proves that they stand behind their concept, and that's a good thing in my opinion.

I agree. Their costumes are usually linked to their songs, so they aren't just eye candy.

I listened to their new single in its entirety yesterday - I really like it because the lead single has dropped the same structure like Tightrope, In The Name Of Justice & Akaki blahblahblah (even though they're all solid tracks). The guitar solo is pretty interesting as well, I'm guessing Hide-Zou composed this?

Asagi composed the title track and track 3 (the 7th Rose-ish one), Tsune composed track 2.

Whether their indies or not, I'm probably still gonna follow them. They seem to be one of the only bands that haven't gravitated towards being totally crap musically with a decent visual image -cough versailles cough-.

Yeah, I didn't get the impression that they tried to accommodate mainstream tastes when they were major, except perhaps with Day by Day. I dumped them long before they went major and when I caught up with them again I was surprised at how good their new stuff was. Many of my favourite D songs are from their major period; I especially like how they started to experiment with medieval and world music (I mean in a serious song writing way, not just "oh, those costumes will look cool on our next CD cover") and I hope they will continue that.

Synthelement has been translating D's diary entries (mostly Asagi's Walls of Text, including his latest) for a while: Nyasagi, if anyone is interested. Entries are locked but she checks comments and requests frequently enough.

Thank you for the link.

 

[Xanadu]

Well, chances are pretty high that they will stay "open" to other influences, if I recall correctly, especially Asagi was really open minded in this personal taste for movies and books as well, in fact I was really surprised to see that much "Western" stuff listed by him - quite unusual.

And (unlike Versailles) I can see Asagis "concept" lyrics getting somewhere, even when there's more than one album between them.
For example Schwarzschild, Nocturnal, In the name of Justice, Day Walker ... they all are part of the same story, and the listener is actually able to follow that story.

And I agree with Geisha, their major stuff has been quite good, 7th Rose was a great release especially. (in my opinion.)

 

[Geisha]

7th Rose is my favourite D album, although I always skip Day by Day. The lyrics are heart warming, but the music just isn't my taste at all and I don't think it suits D particularly well. But I love everything else on that CD, especially 7th Rose, 13gatsu no yumemi oka, Karakuri emaki and Mikazuki youranka.

I think D's CDs should come with instruction booklets or something. There's so much that casual listeners or people who don't read/understand Japanese are missing, like Asagi's vampire novel and his very in-depth song explanations, complete with historical, scientific and philosophical background.

 

[Xanadu]

I totally agree with you there, he always ends up explaining his songs in some interviews or his blog anyways, so he could just make those explanations part of the album.
It would be much easier for most listeners who don't have the time to keep up with every interview or his lengthy blog posts.
Especially since is blog is still down I think.

Day by Day... I will be honest, I was shocked when they released it, but it's okay for an anime-opening I think, though the "real" albumtitles itself are a lot stronger than this single.

I wonder which direction they will take after "L'oiseau Bleu" though.

 

[Geisha]

Hmm, I think L'Oiseau bleu was a bit of a new-ish direction for them already. I don't recall them using that sweeping symphonic type vibe much before. They do alot of bombastic stuff, but usually more towards heavy rock rather than piano, synth and angel choirs. I wouldn't mind them doing a bit more along those lines though, I think it suits Asagi's voice really well. And he said that he wants to learn the piano. It will take him a while, if he can find the time at all, but D with live piano could be interesting.

Other than that, hard to say. I usually just sit back now and let them surprise me.

 

[Xanadu]

Now, give me five minutes to stop myself from picturing Asagi turning into a huge drama queen like Yoshiki and breaking down theatrically on his piano....

okay, I'm back

I think they might step away from the whole "Vampire Story" for a while, since Asagi stated in an interview that he isn't really sure how he wants to end it - so maybe we might just think about it some time.

Maybe the "Blue Birds" starts a completly new story? Or it could be a part of his Alice storty... he should just tell us already.

But I agree with you, I trust D to come up with something good after their tour, so I'll just wait.

 

[Geisha]

Slightly old news already but since it hasn't been posted here yet: D now have an official Facebook (currently being flooded with birthday wishes for Asagi).

http://www.facebook.com/D.Officialpage

They will also stream their tour final on Wednesday live on the internet. This is their new Ustream channel:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ust-1

Unfortunately, 18:00 JST is 10:00 GMT, so I probably can't watch it as I have to work. Still, a very sweet idea. Oh, and the diaries are back.

 

[Edgey]

Just got back into them again. It was more of a hiatus of forgetting to listen to the new stuff. XD

((don't judge me, it took me three years to finally watch my one Kaya DVD! ))

 

[Cerceaux]

They're going to be at PMX I think.

Link

 

[Geisha]

Yeah, so much for getting some rest. They also have a new mini album coming out in November. Looking forward to it.

 

[Geisha]

OK, so the mini album is out now. It has a traditional Chinese/Triad theme. The sound is quite heavy but it also has some nice mellow parts and they incorporated a lot of traditional Chinese instruments. Personally I really like that; I think D have a knack for mixing rock/metal with traditional music.

Typically lavish PV of the title track, Huang di: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-mqQ6YRUcM

Note the "D" number plate on the black stretch limousine, lol.

My other favourite track so far: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qbP0jQNcuw (audio only)