L'Arc~en~Ciel

This time, we'll have a J-Rock band that is really well-known in Japan.

Probably one of the rock icons of Japan, L'Arc~en~Ciel has been in the J-Rock industry for 16 years-- and counting.

L'Arc~en~Ciel, name inspired from a French movie of the same title, started on 1991 by bassist tetsu (Testuto Ogawa) with recruits hyde (vocalist), hiro (guitarist) and pero (drummer). After a year hiro left the band, followed by pero. tetsu then recruited architectural design student ken (Ken Kitamura) to be their new guitarist, and on the same year, sakura (Yasunori Sakurazawa) as their drummer.

Fame
Their success rose when they released their debut album DUNE on April 1, 1993 under an indie record label Danger Cure. The following year, they signed a contract under Sony Music Japan and produced their second album Tierra, followed by heavenly in 1995 and True, which sold millions, in 1996.

Downfall
The band reached the lowest point of their career when drummer sakura was arrested for drug possession in early 1997. Their popularity fell big time, their albums were taken out from the record bars, and their upcoming single, The Fouth Avenue Cafe, was withdrawn as the ending theme of the anime Rurouni Kenshin. sakura eventually left the band on October 4, 1997.

Comeback
It was a very uncertain if L'Arc~en~Ciel will be able to recover, however, they still continued appearing in some magazines and then formed a cover band "The Zombies". They were able to perform at Reincarnation 97 Live in Tokyo Dome which had 56,000 people watching. Also, at the same event, they found yukihiro, their new drummer. They released Niji, their new single after sakura left, in 1997.

Career
In July 1, 1999 they were able to release two albums, ark and rey, not just in Japan but also in different Asian countries. These album made it to the top Oricon charts, and both albums sold two million copies each. In 2000 they released another album, REAL, and the single Spirits Dream Inside, ending theme to the CG animation film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.

Hiatus
The band went on hiatus after Spirits Dreams Inside and worked on their personal projects from 2001 to 2002.

Second comeback
L'Arc~en~Ciel performed a series of seven concerts which was called Shibuya Seven Days that surprised their fans. In February 2004, they released READY STEADY GO, their new single after Spirits Dream Inside. The song was used as the opening theme for the popular anime series Full Metal Alchemist and topped the Oricon charts. On March 2004 they released yet another chart topper single, Hitomi no Juunin, and released their most awaited new album SMILE. On June of the same year they introduced P'UNK~EN~CIEL, a gag of their band wherein they swapped places.

US Debut
L'Arc~en~Ciel made their US debut by performing in the anime convention Otakon in Baltimore, Maryland on July 31, 2004, wherein approximately 12,000 people attended. A DVD release of the concert was out on May 31, 2005 which was titled Live in USA.

Continuing
In 2005 L'Arc~en~Ciel released various singles, and then worked on the new album AWAKE. Included in the album is LOST HEAVEN, closing theme for the movie Full Metal Alchemist the movie: Conqueror of Shambala. They then performed the AWAKE tour, which highlighted their song Neo Universe. The also did an Asian tour titled ASIA LIVE 2005. In 2006, the band went back to their solo projects. hyde composed the music for Mika Nakashima as Nana in the much-awaited movie NANA. On November 2006 the band celebrated their 15th anniversary by performing in two shows in the Tokyo Dome. The band will be releasing a new album, SHINE, on spring 2007.

Recommended
Lost Heaven - ending song for the movie Full Metal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shambala
Spirits Dream Inside - ending song for the movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Blurry Eyes - theme for the anime Initial D
Dive to Blue


Dive to Blue


Ready Steady Go LIVE in Maryland

Eraserheads

hello!

Since Red already introduced me, here's my post on OPM Rock, our very own Eraserheads. They've been my idol since i was in elementary, and here are some facts i know about them

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History

Eraserheads was the band that most of other pinoy bands today look up to and idolize. Eraserheads came to life in 1989, from the band Sunday School comes Ely Buendia(rhythm guitar/lead vocals), Raimund Marasigan(Drums), and from Curfew Marcus Adoro(lead guitar), and Buddy Zabala(bass). They got the name Eraserheads from the movie Eraserhead.

From there they started gigs around their campus in UP Diliman and around Manila. After some time the band decided to write their own songs because they’re not good in covering other band’s songs. Not long in 1991 their songs was heard by BMG records Philippines and after a year they released their first album entitled “Ultraelecrtomagneticpop!”, with the hit single “Pare ko” which went to the top of the charts. After that came their second album “Circus” with “Alapaap” and “With a smile” Their third album, “Cutterpillow” with the song “Ang huling el bimbo” and “overdrive” the album turned gold even before it hit the stores in early 1996. Then the Christmas of the same year they released their fourth album entitled “Fruitcake”. After that comes the album other popular albums they made.

They were so successful that they also did gigs not only in the Philippines but also in Singapore and in the U.S. They won so many awards not only in MTV Asia but also in MU 107 Rock Awards and other radio station and Music Awards for their albums and Singles that reached the top of the charts. This is one of the reasons why many aspiring bands idolize them.

Latest News

All of you may already know that Eraserheads has already disbanded in 2002 where they went on their separate ways forming their own bands. Ely formed a band named The Mongols but it wasn’t successful as the Eraserheads so they formed a new line up and named their band Pupil. While Raimund and Buddy continued and formed Cambio after Marcus left Eraserheads. After Cambio, Raimund formed another band named “Sandwich” where he is sole vocalist and lead guitarist. While Buddy still plays bass for The Dawn, Twisted Halo, and the Sun Valley Crew.

Three years later in 2005, the bands namely 6 Cycle minds, Imago, Sugarfree, Radioactive sago project, Brownman revival , MYMP, Sponge cola, Barbie Almalbis, Kitchie Nadal, South Border, Paolo Santos, Orange and lemons, Rico J. Puno, Various Artists and Cueshe all contributed in reviving songs and making a tribute album for the Eraserheads entitled “Ultraelectromagneticjam”. This is just the proof why The Eraserheads and their songs are still popular now because people still listen to it even though they're not whole as a band anymore.

Must Hear Songs

-Pare ko

-Ang huling el bimbo

-Overdrive

-Alapaap

-Ligaya

-Magasin

-Poorman’s grave

Olivia Lufkin

Irrashai!

As what Red Ollero a.k.a. 'Plasticbagman' posted, I'll be handling Japanese Rock, or J-Rock. I've been a fan of Japanese music ever since I got myself addicted to Japanese Animation (or anime). So for my debut post, I'll be featuring an emerging J-Rock artist that got her debut from an anime (which I also watch).

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Olivia Lufkin

Daughter of an American father and a Japanese mother, Olivia Lufkin, or simply OLIVIA, is a female solo J-Rock artist.


Discovery of a talent
OLIVIA was discovered by top Japanese music label Avex Trax and was teamed up with two other female artists, forming D&D in the late '90s which had a Eurobeat sound.

However, OLIVIA seemed to have huge potential as a solo artist and so she was dropped from D&D in late 1998 and went on a solo career, still under Avex Trax. She released nine singles, all of which are alternative rock, from 1999 to 2000 and later was compiled in her first album synchronicity which was released late 2000. Two singles followed in 2002 and 2003.

Downfall of success
Unfortunately, OLIVIA's highest Oricon (top entertainment chart in Japan) record was #29 with her second and third album. Though with not much success, she continued to produce her own songs and decided not to go mainstream. Avex Trax then decided to transfer her to their 'indie' sublabel cutting edge and produced four English-only mini-albums. She then released her second album, The Lost Lolli, which was English-only but only made it to #111 in the Oricon charts. She then had an unofficial hiatus and worked as a model and fashion designer.

Comeback
Although The Lost Lolli was not a big hit in Japan, Avex Trax released an overseas version of the album, reflecting OLIVIA's good foreign career (since only top-selling artists had international releases). Her long absence was broken when it was announced that she will be recording the ending song for the anime NANA (adapted from the manga of the same title) under the name OLIVIA inspi' REIRA(TRAPNEST) (Reira Serizawa being the character in the anime that she is portraying). The pilot episode aired April 5, 2006 and the single, titled a little pain, was released on June 28 of the same year which debuted in the Oricon Top 10 Daily Charts.

What new with OLIVIA?
OLIVIA released the album titled The Cloudy Dreamer on January 17, 2007 which reached #15 in the Oricon Weekly Charts. Songs included in the album are the new opening and ending songs for the anime NANA and the ending song for the live action drama Jigoku Shoujo. She recently performed in the Pacific Media Expo (PMX), an event that covers Japanese entertainment in general, in Los Angeles.

Must-hear songs

• a little pain - single; first ending song, NANA; included in the album The Cloudy Dreamer.
  
• Wish - single; second opening song, NANA; included in the album Untitled (as OLIVIA inspi' REIRA(TRAPNEST)).
  
• Starless Night - single; second ending song, NANA; included in the album Untitled (as OLIVIA inspi' REIRA(TRAPNEST)).
• Dream Catcher - ending song, Jigoku Shoujo Live Action; included in the album The Cloudy Dreamer.
  

References:
Olivia Lufkin at Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Lufkin
Olivia Lufkin Online
http://www.olivialufkinonline.com/
Olivia Lufkin's Official Website
http://www.avexnet.or.jp/olivia/

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Hello! Welcome to out blog! If you didn't know yet. ANAKARKAR! is a Rock n' Roll blog. Each post features a band. We will give some info about them and maybe recommend some songs in the end. I will be handling Foreign Rock, Vinno handles OPM Rock and Tori handles J-Rock.

Lets get it started! (HA!)

and what better way to get started than kicking it off with LYNYRD SKYNYRD!

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Origin
Lynyrd Skynyrd is one of the most critically acclaimed US Southern rock bands. The band originates from Jacksonville Florida, its founding members were Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Allen Collins (guitar), Gary Rossington (guitar), Larry Junstrom (bass) and Bob Burns (drums).

Before Lynyrd Skynyrd they were known as several other names such as My Backyard, One Percent and The Noble Five. It wasn't til the 1970's where the Band was named after the Band's strict Gym teacher Leonard Skinner. Leonard Skinner would enforce their school's dress code so much that he got people suspended because of it. He even went as far as telling the boys: "You boys ain't never gonna amount to nothin'."

Leonard Skinner was wrong. Not only did Lynyrd Skynyrd make multiple-platinum albums but just recently, they were inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.

The Legend of Lynyrd Skynyrd
In 1973, The band recorded their first album featuring the legendary song, "Free Bird". "Free Bird" reached #19 in the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song also became a Rock n' Roll staple in radios and concerts.

A year later, they released their next album, "Second Helping" featuring another classic title, "Sweet Home Alabama". With this the band's popularity continued to rise and it would continue to rise with the release of albums "Nuthin Fancy" in '75, "Gimme Back My Bullets" and "One More from the Road" in '76 and "Street Survivors" in '77. It seemed nothing could stop them.

The Crash
Unfortunately, all of this was halted by a career-changing event. On the 20th of October 1977. The airplane carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina to LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana crashed near a forest in McComb, Mississippi. The incident killed singer/songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. The crash left none uninjured. This was the end of Lynyrd Skynyrd

Post-crash and resurrection
After the crash, several band members went on and formed their own bands.

In 1987, The band would reunite, consisting of the crash survivors plus the original vocalist's brother Johnny Van Zant. This would continue on until today.

Right now, the Band is set to be on tour this year together with Country legend Hank Williams Jr.

Must-Hear Songs:
Free Bird

This concert was 3 months before the infamous Plane Crash.

Sweet Home Alabama

Although the band seemingly attacked Neil Young in this song, They really have no bad blood with each other. Ronnie Van Zant even wore a Neil Young T-shirt in the Freebird video.