Juka in HIZAKI grace project.

[Hime]

Got my copy today~ I... got what I wanted~! that would be Juka I suppose

I was very happy to see that he wrote lyrics as well *-*

 

[nintendods]

So my copy shipped to my school mailbox and I don't think they forwward ems packages so I won't get this till a week from monday.

 

[Geisha]

I personally think Mana has more skill than his compositions usually show, and I've always liked his playing, but we don't ever see solos from him like we do HIZAKI, which would be nice every once in a while. I don't personally feel that HIZAKI's guitar solos redeem the rest of his composition, though; Mana is definitely a more seasoned composer

I agree (although I'm not a fan of guitar solos, so I don't really miss them in M10M). I think people, especially those who play guitar themselves, focus far too much on soloing and other obvious displays of technical skill. Perhaps from their perspective every guitarist must feel the natural urge to demonstrate his skill as clearly and often as possible, so if Mana chooses not to then that must mean that he's incapable of doing it. I think that's a very simplistic and narrow-minded way of thinking. We know from his work with MM that he can play pretty intricate stuff if he wants to and I doubt his skill has decreased since then. I think he's holding back for the benefit of the composition as a whole and I don't understand why he is being criticised for it. Shoving your skill into people's faces at every opportunity may look impressive on the surface but doesn't achieve the harmony and emotional depth that Mana's compositions have. As I said before, I like HIZAKI's work because I like old-school Indies VK and I do like this album but in terms of composition it lags considerably behind M10M.

I also think people let their personal taste cloud their judgement. Extensive soloing isn't an indicator for quality of work and if Mana really was the hack he is often portrayed as he would have hardly secured deals with three international record labels (one of them a well established and respected label that has otherwise no interest in J-Rock), he wouldn't have been invited to headline one of Europe's largest music festivals and professional musicians like Samsas Traum, Anorexia Nervosa and Emilie Autumn wouldn't endorse his work.

 

[DixSerina]

I agree (although I'm not a fan of guitar solos, so I don't really miss them in M10M). I think people, especially those who play guitar themselves, focus far too much on soloing and other obvious displays of technical skill. Perhaps from their perspective every guitarist must feel the natural urge to demonstrate his skill as clearly and often as possible, so if Mana chooses not to then that must mean that he's incapable of doing it. I think that's a very simplistic and narrow-minded way of thinking. We know from his work with MM that he can play pretty intricate stuff if he wants to and I doubt his skill has decreased since then. I think he's holding back for the benefit of the composition as a whole and I don't understand why he is being criticised for it. Shoving your skill into people's faces at every opportunity may look impressive on the surface but doesn't achieve the harmony and emotional depth that Mana's compositions have. As I said before, I like HIZAKI's work because I like old-school Indies VK and I do like this album but in terms of composition it lags considerably behind M10M.

As a guitarist myself, it's nice to hear people that think the same way I think about compositions and solos. I also don't like guitar solos, except for a few on rare occassions that really seem fitted and where they're suposed to be.

I also agree that Mana has definitly shown some rather intricate guitar work in Malice Mizer, Bel Air, and Shiroi come to mind right off, and him and Kozi's dual guitar style in Malice Mizer is very similar to dual guitar solos, without it actually being a solo.

 

[eMiNaTiC]

...should i be worried if my order still has not been shipped?...usually cd japan ships like the next day o_O

 

[Elec]

I wouldn't be to hasty in saying that we guitarists focus "too much" on certain aspects and instead say something more along the lines of focusing "more" on a particular aspect. And all that.

 

[Geisha]

It depends. If the only conclusion you can draw from the fact that Mana's more recent compositions don't include ostentatious displays of technical skill is that he is a crap guitarist/composer then you are focusing too much on these aspects.

 

[Elec]

I think I like the Elec you think I am more than the Elec I actually am.

 

[Geisha]

What Elec do I think you are?

 

[flowersofnight]

I think this thread has kind of ceased to be about Juka, Hizaki, or Hizaki Grace Project in any substantial way. :/

Anyone wanting to discuss "Dignity of crest" (esp. to post some lyrics or scans) should start a new thread. Same goes for any other new releases or activity HGP might announce. I kind of dropped the ball on this one by not locking as soon as the CD came out, like I do for most of the other "pre-release hype" threads, but better late than never.

EDIT: and let's also put new HGP/Juka stuff in off-topic. He isn't in M10M anymore, right?