I think it was Episode 5 where I gave up, where Tsuyoshi calls on a psychic to bring upon the ghost of Bob Hope. (I'm sure Crunchyroll chose a more well-known comedian here in the States to replace whichever Japanese one he asked to conjure up.) Once that "bit" was over, I just stopped watching.

Answer me this: why does Yuko continuously try to make "Selamat pagi!" (the Indonesian term for "Good morning!") funny? It wasn't the first time, it wasn't the second time, and I'm pretty sure that at the 100th time she said it, it still wasn't humorous.

Watch "Azumanga Daioh!" or "School Rumble" if want to see a slice-of-life comedy done right. "Nichijou" was bad. Not the worst, though. (That dishonor still goes to "Akikan!")

THEY'RE GREAT MUSICIANS!

It is a hard decision for me, Blueonic and Leraine, and that's why we're currently contemplating our options. We love doing the radio show, but right now our current schedules are conflicting the available times that there are for the station this summer. We are thinking about possible times (or keeping the original Wed. 3-6 p.m.), but it's really up to the trio as a whole.

We record our Podcast shows on Saturdays, but we usually start work on topics for it on the previous Tuesday. Not to mention all the articles we write for both B3 and ESH. So by the time Wednesday comes around Blueonic & I are usually out of it. Not to mention we used up all of our material for both the site and the Podcast show, so it makes me feel bad and a somewhat betrayal of our listenerbase when we are forced to do a censored version of what we already did the week before.

My main concern, of course, is the bands that we promote. I make damn sure to do everything I can to help showcase their broad and amazing music, and when I am not on the radio I feel like I'm not doing what I promised myself I do. That is why I felt that doing a Podcast would be the next-best thing, and on top of that we are reaching out to a broader audience by playing this stuff on a non-timed basis.

However, like I said I have not made an official decision in regards to whether or not I plan to keep "No Borders No Race" going as a radio show or a Podcast show. I am eternally grateful for everything that WMWM has done for me since we began, and in no way would I ever want to do anything to, well, kick them to the curb. I love being behind that microphone, playing great music, those wacky sound effects and being able to reach out to the Salem community.

I thank you for subscribing to the Podcast, and I hope you enjoy our antics on B3, but please note that my heart is still in the radio show. The problem is, like I said, finding the time & energy to do it.

- KBD

I'll subscribe to the podcast, regardless.

--peter

Yes, I wish OR the best too. I hope they can spread their wings to the whole world.

And yeah, maybe telling people not to buy the album is harsh, but here in America it's tough for people to get their hands on a test listen (since some Japanese sites lock foreigners out of sampling songs on artists' official web pages). That's why I say if money's tight then just skip the album and wait for it to become cheaper.

And yes, as one may read the previous comments some people do get irritated by an opinion that doesn't agree with one's beliefs. (Believe me: I was ticked that critics trashed Louis XIV's album "Slick Dogs and Ponies," one of my favorite CDs.) My opinion says the album is bad, and yours and the others here say it's good.

But I think we can all agree that we want Orange Range to keep kicking ass and rocking their hearts out. Hopefully they do that for many years to come, with hopefully some success outside of Asia. (America needs a J-VOLUTION, like, now!)

Anyway, thx for replying my comment. I appreciate your concern to OR's music. Maybe you're really disappointed, but I think telling others not to buy this album is quite harsh, coz, just like what you see, there are people who love this album.

well, I think the translation is right. I'm not Japanese.. (^^") You can tell OR that. Artists do need critics to be better.

I know almost nothing bout Momusu songs. But my friend is a great fan of them. Back to this: everybody has their opinion and taste. Thx for sharing your opinion with us. Just, please don't be too harsh. There are people who get irritated by this posting.

And no, I don't feel lost because I had to buy the album to find out it wasn't great. In fact I'm glad I bought it so I can warn others not to do the same. (I do say download "Oni Goroshi" on iTunes, as that is one of OR's best tracks. It's also in the movie "The Good, The Bad, The Weird.")

You speak of the color of Orange Range's music. Their previous albums were vibrant of bright colors. This one was just plain gray. But like I said: this was a misstep for them, and I hope they'll turn it around and wow me on the next album.

And as Shinrei pointed out Orange Range are amazing live. I can only vouch for the YouTube videos I've seen, but they seem to have a great energy to them when they're on stage. And from what he says these songs from "World World World" sound great live, so perhaps the fault is not on them, but on the people who produced the album. Put the tracks in the hands of someone like, say, Timberland, Taku Takahashi or Rick Rubin and I think they would've been fantastic. And yes, Satori Shiraishi did produce "MusiQ," the band's most successful album, and usually it's good when they work with the same producer. Unfortunately it might seem that Shiraishi is losing his touch, and needs to take a look back at what made "MusiQ" stand out from the rest of the stuff.

So yes, sometimes it's not the fault of the band, but rather the one behind the control boards. This could've definitely been one of those situations, as Orange Range usually brings their A-game to the studio.

but like Shinrei said, try to express your opinions in a language that is not too rough so. This was not even exactly called a review, you were too subjective.

You claim to follow the development of their music. Shouldn't you understand the color of their music? So you dont know anything about Orange Range music, dont you!

And yes, my choice of words could've been chosen better, but as someone who is a huge fan of OR (and having to fork $35 to buy and import the album) I was pissed off at what I wound up paying for: a poor album by a band that's known to have a clean record of great work. For me I was immensely disappointed. Calling it "garbage" was my way of expressing my anger towards how bad I felt this album was, and maybe it's not the best way to say it's bad. But I had a deadline, and it was the only word I could think of at the moment. Next time I will think of a better way of saying how bad an album is.

If I were to tell Orange Range myself on how to do better next time, I would say just three simple words: Remember your roots. (I think, in Japanese, the equivalent would be あなたの過去を忘れないでください, or "Please don't forget your past" as it is translated in English. If I got this wrong, feel free to correct me. The more I learn the better I'll be at mastering the language.)

I thank you for your comment, and I hope one day to have the chance to see Orange Range live in person. (**crosses fingers that they come to Boston one day**)

PS: I think we can all agree on one thing, though: "World World World" is still better than any of the garbage Morning Musume has ever released. (And that's one comment I will never apologize for, even if it's starts a 2ch flame war.)

I've also been listening to Japanese music for over ten years. Granted it's not a lifetime of knowhow, but I've listened to thousands of albums by Japanese artists from various genres. I've even been told by my Japanese friends that I know more about the music scene than they do (their words, not mine).

My advice to you is to never doubt someone's opinion just because he's not from Japan. Also do me a favor and YouTube monobright, a far better Japanese band.

Ruruu:
I do appreciate Orange Range's work. Like I mentioned I'm a fan of their past albums, but this CD was really not up to their standards. (It was reminiscent of, dare I say, a Johnny's album. **shudders**)

What I think happened was Orange Range was forced into making another album, and this is what the outcome was of it. It happens to a lot of bands. I wasn't fond of Weezer's last album for exactly the same reasons I didn't like OR's: it wasn't up to their standards. But a timeframe was made, and I think they had to release it or face a penalty.

I do know that making a song isn't easy, as I have many friends who are musicians. Our fellow B3 member Pink Taco has been writing songs for many years, and she's told me she's had songs that have been incomplete for years. If you want a more famous example, it took R.E.M. over fifteen years to write "Bad Day." (And let's not forget about Guns 'n Roses' "Chinese Democracy." Fifteen years for that one to come out!)

I do appreciate your opinion, and I thank you for your comments.

My advice, TRY TO WRITE WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND.

thanks

"World World World" is a travesty, and a giant insult to their long-time listeners. If you were a true follower of their music, you would realize this! If you wanna hear what real J-POP rock music is supposed to sound like, pop in a Bump of Chicken or BEAT CRUSADERS album. Better yet: if you want real Japanese rock 'n' roll, I've got two words for you: the pillows.

I can offer you so many more options to listen to instead of this piece of shit.

ありがとう！

Try to respect people's work, and not even insult!!!!

My apologies,
Shades

German bands mentioned (off the top of my head):
**Eisbrecher (Icebreaker)
--Eisbrecher(icebreaker)
--Antikorper (anti-bodies)
--Sunde (sin)

**Ooph!
**Sperm
**Rammstein (Castle of the Ram; literally "Ram Stone")
**Die Apokalyptischen Reiter (The Apocalyptic Horsemen) [This is the band who's name I butchered; apologies]

Ken-chan = Zaraki Kenpachi

Thanks again fellow Bastard
Blueonic

My thanks to Ninjasistah and Pandalicious for giving us this chance. These two are also very awesome.

I am glad to have you guys on board!
May your blogosphere be full
and your mead never....dry

I will have to stop by sometime