Album Review: Overture by Kazha
by Lori Huston
*****
(preview)
Overture is the first full length album released by Kazha, a Los Angeles-based Japanese rock band (complete artist profile: Kazha; interview with vocalist Kazuha Oda: Getting to know Kazuha Oda from Kazha).
It came out in April 2010 but I’ll be honest -- I had never heard of
Kazha until about August when I started researching the group for their
artist profile here on AznLover. Right away their music appealed to me
because I have a soft spot for goth metal and melodic hard rock. The
more I listened while trying to understand Kazha’s artistic vision, the
more their songs drew me in, until I finally had to purchase their CD.
(Please read the rest of the article HERE at AZNLover.com)
VAMPS - Pureblood Rock 'n' Roll
by Lori Huston
*****
(preview)
Since the end of the grunge era, truly creative hard rock has been
relatively scarce. Lately, mainstream charts seem dominated by pop acts
whose music may be catchy, but often lacks a certain depth and intensity
for rock fans. So who will resuscitate rock ‘n’ roll for those of us
with a taste for thumping bass and heavy guitars? Enter VAMPS and
their refreshing high energy, uncompromising style. This Japanese band
strips hard rock down to bone and blood, putting the stomp back in fans’
boots with concerts in the art form’s American birthplace and
throughout the world. Though they capitalize on the recent social
phenomenon of vampire infatuation, this is merely an embellishment to
the real meat of VAMPS’ work: creating original compositions that honor
the members’ origins while forging a fresh interpretation of true rock.
(Please read the rest of the article HERE at AZNLover.com)
The Rising Star of Asian Filmmakers
by Lori Huston
*****
(preview)
With unique combinations of dark drama, visual lushness and gripping
action, Asian films have become beloved by audiences around the world,
cementing the reputations of big-name directors like Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Lust, Caution) and Yimou Zhang (House of Flying Daggers, Curse of the Golden Flower). A few Asian-American directors like Justin Lin (The Fast & The Furious, Better Luck Tomorrow) and Wayne Wang (The Joy Luck Club, Maid in Manhattan)
have also broken into the mainstream Hollywood scene. But in the
industry as a whole, Asian film makers have been comparatively few and
far between. From the looks of recent developments, that’s all about to
change.
(Please read the rest of the article HERE at AZNLover.com)
Kazha
by Lori Huston
*****
(preview)
Kazha’s musical style ranges from soulful, jazz-tinged pop to the verge of goth metal, often within the same song. Frontwoman Kazuha Oda’s clear, ethereal vocals overlay and intertwine with guitarist Hideki Matsushige’s
alternately melodic and aggressive grooves. Lyrics are largely sung in
English, with a sprinkling of Japanese. According to Kazha’s description
on CD Baby’s website, they “combine the softness of a falling feather
with the heaviness of a hurricane.” The band joins the small number of
elite artists who successfully blend dark and light elements to create
elegantly driven, darkly sophisticated rock music.
(Please read the rest of the article HERE at AZNLover.com)
The Slants
by Lori Huston
*****
(preview)
Riding the cutting edge of eighties-retro resurgence, The Slants’
brand of synth-driven dance rock makes you want to hop into some
Converse high tops and skinny jeans, and head for the nearest skate park
with their tunes blasting through your ear buds. But The Slants don’t
merely rehash 1980s music; they add a hint of edgy guitar to original
songwriting and top it off with a generous garnish of Asian American
pride. Judging by their rapid climb toward success since their debut in
2007, they’ve hit on a winning formula. From the beginning, the band has
undertaken an impressively demanding tour schedule, packing in
head-bobbing crowds at venues ranging from small clubs around their
hometown of Portland, Oregon to large anime conventions across the
nation, to major stages like SXSW. They describe their music as
“Chinatown dance rock”, which actually gives a pretty accurate idea of
their sound: rhythmic electropop with a somewhat aggressive boost and
subtle Asian overtones.
(Please read the rest of the article HERE at AZNLover.com)
Miyavi: More Than Meets the Eye
by Lori Huston
*****
(preview)
Regardless of personal musical taste, it doesn’t take long to recognize
the talent of the self-designated “guitar samurai” known as Miyavi
(or MYV), and the best introduction is to hear it firsthand. Miyavi’s
pretty boy looks are quickly belied by his blistering slap guitar
prowess and rough-edged rocker’s voice. In this artist’s eleven-year
career, he’s already released ten full length solo CDs (of which three
are compilations and one a remix album), plus one EP. Major record
labels Universal and EMI have signed his projects. In addition, he
appears in live concert footage on thirteen DVDs, and has starred as
himself in a feature film (Oresama, 2004 Japan).
(Please read the rest of the article HERE at AZNLover.com)
