Not saying there aren't western influences there, it just doesn't do anything to try and stand out from the crowd. They've got a sound, it's a good one, and I could listen to it if I just wanted to chillax and park my brain for a spell. Some songs, like "Gotta Kick Start Now", sound western and kinda like a more rocking The Yellow Monkey.

Otherwise, it sounds like a band who wants to get a fanbase without doing anything too daring or atypical.

What would you expect them to do? And who are you comparing them to?

I guess if you like visual kei they might seem boring. But I think Visual kei bands have flashy look but god awful sound. And VAMPS have good sound (made for live performances) with a regular look. And I love their concerts.

I hated live performances until I got into L'Arc and HYDE.

What do you consider daring or atypical? Examples?

Not even referring to visual kei here, as much as I adore it. A fair number of bands who start off doing visual stuff taper off and do a more tamed appearance, and oft times for the better. Don't get me wrong, I loves me the old days of Malice Mizer and all that jazz, but MM at least had a decent sound behind 'em- Klaha for the win.

Well, like Galneryus? They're pretty rocking j-rock, again not sounding too much like it, with a unique vocalist for a power metal group. Monoral also is pretty good, although they sound more apt for the 90s than anything. =P Also, GuniW Tools is a good example of some abstract musicianship, and man do I enjoy that stuff. Scarcely my fault the connection got even stronger recently, but I'm a fan of Luna Sea, too. Very radio friendly, too, for a good chunk of it, like the dearest VAMPS.

I'm not saying all bands have to be off the wall like Zeni Geva and Polysics or something, and I'm not even nay-saying VAMPS. It just seems done before, is all.

@VAMPkito
Yeah I'm a massive X Japan and VAMPS fan. It's because I've loved Laruku for years really...

Don't worry I know all too well about people online confusing them(hide and hyde) and people liking stuff just because it's Japanese.

@GUEST above who is speaking on VAMPS' sound. Well VAMPS is meant to be fun. If you want something different or not so radio friendly than listen to HYDE's FAITH album or L'Arc~en~Ciel's DUNE or a million other albums out there.

Obviously L'Arc is a major part of hyde and that is where he pushes boundaries and makes some really great music with the other 3. He does that alittle with VAMPS' but Vamps is more about ''sex blood and rock n roll''.

I think he obviously wants Vamps to be very popular and they are very!

Plus Galneryus kinda suck..
They are good technically but I find their music unmoving. I can't find one of their songs that is reall beautiful like VAMPS' ''Sweet Dreams" XD

If we're talking about "daring and original" in the context of VAMPS vs. X Japan in the year 2010, I'd say it's no contest. X Japan no doubt totally pushed the boundaries in the 80s and moved the Japanese rock scene forward tremendously, but their music hasn't changed since then. Even their recent songs, like IV (a song I enjoy from time to time), sound stuck in the 80s. Compounding the issue is that their look really hasn't progressed past 80s hair metal either (those outfits, really guys really). X Japan is so retro now, and with the exception of a niche market of goofy metalheads skulking around Hollywood Boulevard, Americans are definitely not into throwback 80s rock material.

VAMPS, on the other hand, sound fresh and look fresh. KAZ and HYDE aren't making music that sounds the same as the stuff they put out when they first hit the scene, unlike X.

While I'd like to go to see both bands, if I had to pick one, it would be VAMPS.

And just in case...



Even the World Cup octopus choose VAMPS ^^

Before freaking out over anything, I'm waiting until anything is official. With X Japan is so hard to tell, and who knows, things can change. ...even if things were official I'd be worried.

But that being said, if X Japan happens to play LA same day as VAMPS, I will be in California and I will be seeing X Japan. Sorry Hyde, I've seen you 4 times, and again in NYC = 5 times - if I'm flying to California for a concert for the first time, it needs to be epic. It needs to be X.

Preferences for everyone though, I suppose, are different~.

vegetapr69, you are hilarious ! awesome! I pick VAMPS as well !!

(07-11-2010, 08:12 PM)vegetapr69 Wrote: And just in case...

Even the World Cup octopus choose VAMPS ^^

Oh my...! I cracked up so loudly at that.

Im with the octopus on this one.