Visual Kei music

[LenorePoe]

What do you think of Visual Kei music? I love Dir En Grey, personally.
What do you guys think?

[Nihil]

I prefer my J-rock not so visual, heh. I feel like most visual kei bands have no 'soul' in their music... Not substancial enough, or something like that. Also, too many bands have music way too similar - when the music isn't even good.
It seems to me that japanese men think that all it takes to be a good band is turning into, well, sparkling tranvestites. No offense intented to Mana, I really like his music. lol

[allyssa]

I love the aesthetics of the culture as well as the videos but I agree sometimes the music doesn't seem as important as the image..I still have a profound respect for visual kei as a fashion I find it tremendously beautiful and individual and expressive!

[TheFeatheredÆtheling]

I like some older visual kei music quite a bit. Anything by Malice Mizer is very nice in particular. 'Kind of a hybrid of classical, rock, and video game music.

I agree with Nihil: Mana-sama is an outstanding composer. In my opinion, Malice Mizer/Moi Dix Mois defines "Goth".

[LenorePoe]

But are goth and visual kei the same thing? I think they have similar tastes, but I think Visual Kei goes places goth would not.
And yes, it seems Visual Kei does focus a lot of the look, but then again, what's so wrong with that?

[Nihil]

Well, there's nothing wrong with focusing on the look. Unless the look is all the band cares about, it's quite nice to see the styles they come up with.