are you Okay ?

[Pierro]

Hey guys! Where are you?

Nobody here to comment the news about the new single of the best Japanese singer Koshi Inaba?

Have all B'z fans passed away? I wouldn't believe it if Arthuro and I would be the two last ones...

Anyway, I hope you all find your Salvation anywhere.

[Lebon14]

For myself, I have no plan to buy the single because I don't have any interrest in Koshi's solo.

[ontto]

Yep, I put the order goin. And ordered Shanes Live in Osaka too. Both from cdjapan

[outlaws0020]

I can't wait for it to be released! I've bought both of them already of course
By both I mean "Okay" and "Take Your Pick"

For myself, I have no plan to buy the single because I don't have any interrest in Koshi's solo.

Yea, we know...

[Pierro]

Oh la Lebon ! Qu'est-ce que tu me racontes là ?

Inaba's solo is maybe the best that japanese music can produce since 1997, and how can you like B'z that cannot exist
without Inaba's voice but not Inaba's solo career?

Anyway, I'm glad to see that you're not all dead!

[Lum]

Well, I can understand Lebon... I like Inaba's solo but he alone doesn't have that special aura B'z have. And the same goes for Tak's solo too.

Anyway, I still have to pre-order Okay, I'm waiting for YesAsia free shipping XD
And I want to buy the European version of Take your pick... Probably will be less expensive and they'll see there is some insterest here too.

[Nat.ty]

I just got a job and I don't have much time to post here, but I'm too excited about Koshi's news! <3

[all_out_attack9]

I'm alright! I'm looking forward to Koshi's solo! (^_^) Though I would have to hear a preview before I decide to buy the single. ^^

[Pierro]

Well, I can understand Lebon... I like Inaba's solo but he alone doesn't have that special aura B'z have. And the same goes for Tak's solo too.

Anyway, I still have to pre-order Okay, I'm waiting for YesAsia free shipping XD
And I want to buy the European version of Take your pick... Probably will be less expensive and they'll see there is some insterest here too.

I think B'z is more commercial and has to respect some commercial rules.

But Inaba in solo has more freedom for two reasons. He doesn't have the commercial pressure that B'z has always on the shoulders.
And musically he can do as he wants while with B'z he must always follow the musical wish of Matsumoto.
I think he knows very well how to write lines on Matsumoto's music but he's not free enough to totally express himself.
That freedom and free expression are what we hear in his solo works and it's really good to hear.

I must say meanwhile that Inaba must also little by little obey commercial rules. In 1997 he could release an album, Magma, without any single. And it's maybe his best solo album. Now it seems that he must release a single as substitute for B'z while Matsumoto is releasing an instrumental album with no single.

On his second album Shian, he did an opennig song for an anime, and I really think that this song Overture is the weakest of the album. Because it's made to please the audience. (especially if you compare with Touch on the same album) I fear he has done the same thing this year with kono te wo totte hashiridashite.
Well, we can't expect an incredible song from a title done for a TV show...

We know B'z does compromises and does it well but I like very much Inaba's solo because I feel it could be the music B'z could make with less compromises and if Matsumoto would not do all by himself.

But this single Okay has two tracks done with Stevie Salas, and the american rocker is a guarantee for strong rock music. So it's okay...

[Lum]

Well, every single musician who aspire to sell has to follow some commercial rules. B'z are not exception in this, but I still think they're quite atypical in japanese musical industry. This is probably beacause 1. Vermillion records it's their label , and 2. they are so successful now they can decide to not publish an album every single year and so on.

As for Inaba's solo work, I totally agree with you about his freedom. I respect it a lot as I can feel it's very personal. Just a couple of days ago I was watching en dvd and it really shows Inaba's feelings about his solo career. Still I don't think he has - as music composer - Tak's ability.
Simply I think B'z take the best of both, and that's explain why they are so good. And they both know this, because they never thought to let B'z go, even after Inaba begun his solo career. And he could have the chance - he has more personal popularity than Tak, and his solo sold better. But I like to think they both see B'z as their HOME 

[Pierro]

Hi Lum,

As you, I think B'z is atypical in japanese musical industry. They sell the most since 1988 but they don't do this kind of music they call "Jpop" (even if many people think B'z is Jpop). Their rock has also nothing to do with any typical Jrock. But they do compromises and that is sometimes an artistic problem. For exemple, OCEAN should never be the last song on the album MONSTER. The album was perfect without it but someone surely asked them to add a "new" version of this well-sold single, just to sell more.

If you see the solo career of Inaba, he has made just 4 albums since 1997. It's the rythm of many European bands and artists. But you're right, Inaba alone hasn't maybe the strengh for doing much music and without being encouraged by Matsumoto (who is so prolific). We remember that Matsumoto decided at the beginning of B'z that Inaba would be the one who would write the lyrics. So Inaba developped a talent for writing because of Matsumoto and then a talent for creating music maybe also because of Matsumoto.

Yes! B'z must be their HOME. And I hope they will take care of it and make less B'z music now. I mean, an album every two a thee year would be perfect. They should reload their inspiration and take the time to do the best music. They don't need to release 3 single in a year and an album every year. (but taking the time to live (and not to work) seems to be an anormal concept in Japan)

[Lum]

It's not just the kind of music B'z do to make them atypical (there are others rock band in Japan  - maybe not so successful, but they exist). Since 1993 they never released an album every year. And there are many artists that make "single collection" instead of albums, just adding a couple of song. They don't do that. If a song isn't created of an album, they don't put in it, even if it's a big hit - just think of Taiyou no komachi angel. Who wouldn't fit their first Oricon #1 in an album? The only exception to this could be ultra soul and OCEAN. But I don't think someone forced them to put them in albums, they're just too perfectionist to release something they aren't 100% satisfied of.

As for Inaba, I think his interest in writing music grew up when he started working at the arrangements with Matsumoto. He can keep working at his solo with this irregular pace because his main work is with B'z. Could he write an album every year? I'm not so sure...

I think in the future B'z will keep relasing an album every 2 year. Maybe they'll do less live-gym but more showcases or live in smaller places - I think they're less expensive in physical strenght, and they fit perfectly in a smaller place.

[Arkard]

I can't see why you wouldn't be interested in Koshi's solo works if you like B'z Maybe you should listen some, Lebon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nok5smV5WsU&

I honestly think Inaba's done some solo stuff that rivals the best B'z works. Most of the time what he does it just ok music, but he's at his best when doing stuff that isn't too similar to B'z. That's why I'd rate his first two solo albums high (especially Magma). The Tooku Made single is full of great tracks too. He does some really good rocking stuff, like Sono switch wo ose, but I think his solo stuff is at best when doing this chill stuff like Little Flower, Nami etc. Quite different from what you'd expect from him.. Also, the second track on his Wonderland single is honestly one of the best songs ever made (Anata no Koe dake ga kono Mune furumasu)!

But, don't wanna praise him too high.. expect for a couple of tracks I found his last full solo album, Peace of Mind, kinda boring Interestingly enough, at that time Inaba did some of the best B'z tracks in Arigato & Banzai.. do I have a point? Well, maybe taking the time off from B'z can result in that creative spark to be found once again when they "regroup"..

[Lum]

Well, it depends... Peace of mind was in 2004, I don't think he wrote all of the tracks of this new album (anyway, I dreamt its release date would be August 19th XD) in the last year, but along 6 years... It's a lot of time.
So I'm not sure if you can consider it like taking time off from B'z 

Yet I'm quite convinced we'll have at least a new b'z single in 2010.

[Arkard]

Heh, good point about writing the songs But if they take time off from B'z activities, they'll surely come back refreshed so to speak..