The worts era of Malice Mizer

[TangledKaya]

I've been wondering for awhile, what does everyone think is the worst era of Malice Mizer? Wether it be because of vocals, compostions, what ever.

I voted the Tetsu era......I don't like his singing.

 

[Shinjirugurai]

I think the Klaha era, cause well, the style didnt suit me as much as the other eras did, even if its good music, and the Klaha era was realy short too..

 

[Elec]

Haha, all 3 represented in the first 3 posts!

I didn't like the Gackt era. Now, don't get me wrong: the music is pretty good (OH WAIT except for Voyage which to me is a taint on their career), Gackt's voice is my favorite out of the 3... but their aesthetic was appalling to me. It's like everyone went completely out of their way to look terrible.

...although there are lots of things I don't like about the Klaha era too... Hm... we'll see. Voyage + visuals = largely crap era.

 

[DementedThingie]

For me, the era that I liked the least was the Gackt era as well. Although I did like some things from voyage... I'm in love with Transylvania ^^; I don't know why, but that song just got to me XD But yeah... I loved all of them, but Gackt era the least.

 

[Geisha]

The Klaha era is my favourite MM era both musically and visually but I have trouble deciding which era is the worst. The Tetsu era had great visuals but I can't quite warm to Tetsu's singing. I like the music of the Gackt era (including most of Voyage) but, like Elec, I have a serious problem with the visuals. I think I'll sit on the fence some more...

 

[Formless]

Gackt era. See Elec's post for my reasons. I really hated the fact that they'd play pre-recorded music and just prance around. Probably why I don't like PLC either.

 

[Elec]

Gackt era. See Elec's post for my reasons. I really hated the fact that they'd play pre-recorded music and just prance around. Probably why I don't like PLC either.

See also more than half of the bara ni idorareta concert.

Don't...don't even get me started on PLC.

 

[Formless]

Gackt era. See Elec's post for my reasons. I really hated the fact that they'd play pre-recorded music and just prance around. Probably why I don't like PLC either.

See also more than half of the bara ni idorareta concert.

Don't...don't even get me started on PLC.

True. Hence why Tetsu era is my fave!

 

[Lone_mushi666]

well, i agree with Elec about Voyage not being a "great" cd (for the most part)....Trannsylvania is really the only song i like in the least
although, what they lacked in Voyage i think they made up perfectly in Merveilles- the music was unique and versatile, and Gackt's singing was, imo, the best out of the three eras.

Bara no Seido was more of a "beautifully" made album...and the visuals did become much better during this era too.
but...i still like Gackt's vocals over Klaha's (only by a bit). maybe, if he would have sang in more songs, i'd change my mind.

and like Tangled said, i never warmed up to Tetsu's singing so, i voted Tetsu

 

[MMike]

I like all three eras a lot though the Klaha era is with no dount my favourite.

I had a bit of a problem deciding between Tetsu and Gackt but I decided that the Tetsu era is my least favourite because... I don't know really... there isn't has much stuff from the Tetsu era as the others so I haven't fallen as much in love with it. Also I get tired of the Tetsu era more than the others... for the same reason, there isn't that much stuff from it (like photobooks and DVDs and such).
Maybe a stupid reason but it was the only one I could think of.

 

[Camuflagem]

i don't agree with the argument that Gackt era is bad because it had pre-recorded music(or even the bara live)....because: 1) not all songs have guitars and 2) MM had stage-acting, it is part of the band's concept. I mean...look at Bara live...it is like the peak of a visual rock live, imo. The scenary + gorgeous costumes + stage acting + they actualy play their instruments....the only "problem" is just that not all the songs have guitars :\ but yu~ki is always playing his bass and klaha's singing is not fake.

 

[Elec]

i don't agree with the argument that Gackt era is bad because it had pre-recorded music(or even the bara live)....because: 1) not all songs have guitars and 2) MM had stage-acting, it is part of the band's concept. I mean...look at Bara live...it is like the peak of a visual rock live, imo. The scenary + gorgeous costumes + stage acting + they actualy play their instruments....the only "problem" is just that not all the songs have guitars :\ but yu~ki is always playing his bass and klaha's singing is not fake.

It may all be part of the band's concept, but I don't really enjoy the concept. The best performances, in my mind, are when they're playing as a band. I think they tried to be more 'deep & technical' than they actually were. If they cut all the staged bits I would be 300% more happy with it.

 

[Formless]

i don't agree with the argument that Gackt era is bad because it had pre-recorded music(or even the bara live)....because: 1) not all songs have guitars and 2) MM had stage-acting, it is part of the band's concept. I mean...look at Bara live...it is like the peak of a visual rock live, imo. The scenary + gorgeous costumes + stage acting + they actualy play their instruments....the only "problem" is just that not all the songs have guitars :\ but yu~ki is always playing his bass and klaha's singing is not fake.

I don't think they're very impressive then as a band if they're onstage acting (poorly mind you) and not even playing the music. Even the dances are repetative and.. not even really dances. The only ones who should really get the most credit is the people actually playing the song, the composer, and the person singing which in some cases wasn't an actual band member.

 

[Wandering_Fox]

Um... My favorite era is the Gackt era, but I still love the other too as well... I just like Gackt better... I like Klaha's voice and Tetsu's voices about the same, but I definatly perfer the music in Tetsu's era... I can't decide... Gomen ^^;

 

[Camuflagem]

if you think that mm had to cut down on acting or just remove it completly, then they would be just another regular band :\ i remember that mana said on an interview that he wish that mm was something different from all other current bands, even in the way that he composes and play his guitar. I know that musicians are expected to play their instruments all through the live, but then again MM is different. To completely enjoy the music, you must listen to the song and try to understand their visual world that they try to build. It is not for everyone.

Also, i don't think they acted poorly...they are not actors, but in those two MM movies they showed that they have some talent for acting. in tetsu era they used a lot of guitar work...the songs were mostly rock, but in gackt era they tried many other styles that didn't had much or any guitar, and that does not mean that it was bad. Not only MM uses synth in their lives. i think it is not something to have shame of, they are talented musicians and do not have to prove anything to anyone like having to play hard guitar solos. I am all for them playing their instruments, yes....but also i think they are more than just plain musicians, they could send their message through many other ways than just music, and this is a beautiful thing.

 

[Elec]

if you think that mm had to cut down on acting or just remove it completly, then they would be just another regular band :\

They would have been a band I wasn't at all embarrassed of watching though.

i remember that mana said on an interview that he wish that mm was something different from all other current bands, even in the way that he composes and play his guitar. I know that musicians are expected to play their instruments all through the live, but then again MM is different.

That's just it; they seemed a little over-confident to me. And his comment about his own playing... he's certainly no technical virtuoso, so again I attribute this to the classical pomposity... not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm not going to just take his word for it.

To completely enjoy the music, you must listen to the song and try to understand their visual world that they try to build. It is not for everyone.

I must do no such thing. I'm very well-read on everything they're trying to put forth in their music, so I just think they spend too much time in interview explaining what they were trying to do than actually pulling it off.

Also, i don't think they acted poorly...they are not actors, but in those two MM movies they showed that they have some talent for acting.

I've been in dramatic arts since I was a small child and acted in many a straight play and had leads in musicals, and they have precisely very little talent for acting. I can think of no theater critic who would find Mana's extremist minimalism appealing. Maybe Yu~ki and Kozi were interesting (particularly Kozi), but the acting is not at all watchable to me.

in tetsu era they used a lot of guitar work...the songs were mostly rock, but in gackt era they tried many other styles that didn't had much or any guitar, and that does not mean that it was bad.

You're right here, so it's just a matter of taste that I prefer their guitar songs.

Not only MM uses synth in their lives. i think it is not something to have shame of, they are talented musicians and do not have to prove anything to anyone like having to play hard guitar solos.

They don't have to be prog-rock super-stars but they do have to compose and produce competently.

I am all for them playing their instruments, yes....but also i think they are more than just plain musicians, they could send their message through many other ways than just music, and this is a beautiful thing.

This sums up your opinion nicely and I respect this.

This is just the Spirit of Debate coming out. :-P

 

[Arison]

I have also been in the performing arts since I was young, and can also say that their acting and dancing was quite mediocre. The dances they did were more arm and leg choreography than actual dancing.

As for my least favourite/worst era, Gackt era, hands down. The music was not to my like, the aesthetics, costumes and visuals were awful and cheesy, and it just seemed to be brought down from the other eras...

Klaha era is still my favourite.

 

[Formless]

Not only MM uses synth in their lives. i think it is not something to have shame of, they are talented musicians and do not have to prove anything to anyone like having to play hard guitar solos.

Synth isn't something to be ashamed of. In fact I'm a huge fan of synth, but there are bands with synth that actually play their synth at their shows. I find it much more respectable to play the synth when it's a very prominent part of the music. And Gekka no Yasoukyoku (in case it's going to be brought up) along with the single drum pads they were "playing" were not doing a thing at all. Anyone with any sort of musical experience can tell that.

 

[navate]

Tough poll.

I adore the Tetsu era, and I adore the Klaha era, and I adore the Gackt era, too. But if I break it down...I love all Tetsu songs, nearly every Klaha songs, but many Gackt songs are sub-par to me. Esp. Voyage-era stuff, and even a few songs or merveilles are a little hit-or-miss. So, is only because it lasted the longest so had the most room for error...Gackt's era gets my vote, purely by number of good vs. bad.

 

[Camuflagem]

They would have been a band I wasn't at all embarrassed of watching though.

Well...that's a feeling you get from them. I don't get embarrassed at all...i find it very interesting and entertaining.

That's just it; they seemed a little over-confident to me. And his comment about his own playing... he's certainly no technical virtuoso, so again I attribute this to the classical pomposity... not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm not going to just take his word for it.

If they are not confident in their own work....who will be? an artist must be confident in her/his potential,imo. Maybe mana is not the best guitar player in the world, but the melodies that he creates (as a whole) pleases me very much. Maybe he (as a composer) likes to give attention to all aspects on composition, not only his part (guitar). Sorry, i am not a musician, so i can only speak with my feelings while i listen to the songs.

I must do no such thing. I'm very well-read on everything they're trying to put forth in their music, so I just think they spend too much time in interview explaining what they were trying to do than actually pulling it off.

hm. i would like to point out le ciel concept here, if you read the gackt interview on faith's site and get to see the pv and the l'espace live after you get the exact or aproximate idea of what he was talking about. Maybe not all ideas that they wanted to achieve could be completly clear to everyone, but i think this keeps things interesting ^^ i like to guess what the stuff they make mean.

I've been in dramatic arts since I was a small child and acted in many a straight play and had leads in musicals, and they have precisely very little talent for acting. I can think of no theater critic who would find Mana's extremist minimalism appealing. Maybe Yu~ki and Kozi were interesting (particularly Kozi), but the acting is not at all watchable to me.

Ok...i didn't say they are great...i said they have some talent. I agree that mana and klaha aren't very good as actors. And while i like Kozi and Gackt 's acting, but sometimes they overreact in some scenes. Yu~ki's acting and Kami's are ok, i think.

They don't have to be prog-rock super-stars but they do have to compose and produce competently.

from what i could hear all members have talents as composers (except Gaz). But i think Gackt, Mana, Kozi, Tetsu, and even Klaha are great. Of course, they are not perfect, but not many bands have awesome solo projects like MM does....for example...i find the Luna Sea's related solo projects so boring, except for The Flare. Also L'arc 's are boring too and from Buck-Tick's i only like Atsushi's one. I think the MM musicians are quite gifted.
oh, and i get the feeling that Kami would develop nicely as a good composer too. (if he had more time, that is).

This sums up your opinion nicely and I respect this.

thanks for this comment.

And Gekka no Yasoukyoku (in case it's going to be brought up) along with the single drum pads they were "playing" were not doing a thing at all

hm. In gekka they tried to focus more on presentation, indeed. And i have to also agree here with the drum pads...it did not work so well, i think it gets boring after a while. But then again, they only played with these drum pads in the more industrial songs, and they didn't have any guitar lines to play :\ while it is very cool to listen on the cd, the live performances lacked a bit in these songs.

hm about what arison said about their dance: as i don't expect them to be exceptional actors, i also don't expect them to be exceptional dancers ^^;; I mean, it is only a plus like the visuals. If you see a band that you really enjoy the music, but their visuals are crap, would you hate them? I think no, and that's the same with the other things (dancing, acting) ...it is a plus that they, at least, are trying to improve their performance for their fans.(or for themselves...whatever... )

I may not be a musician, but i also had experiences with acting and dancing (more dancing than acting though ) ^^ but yeah..these are all my opinion anyway. i wrote too much i think people are getting tired of me already.