Petty arguments.

There's some things that needed to be argued with, and what I mean by that I meant the more serious issues. Racism. Homophobia. Sexism. Transphobia. [The people who stereotype and fetishize an entire race, but that can fall under racism.]

I get it, most people in most fandoms are young teenagers. At that age I was impressionable, easy to lose my cool, and to dive head on into arguments. While I'm still that way, to a certain extent, it gets tiring and I just don't like dealing with it anymore. I don't care if you don't like my favorite band, or if you hate my favorite character.

It's too much of a hassle to tell you why I love these things and why you should just leave it alone.

We as human beings, we're never satisfied. Especially when it comes to music. You like what you like, if your band doesn't do what you like anymore sometimes you get angry and you bash on it. It's happened with many bands, not just the GazettE in general.

I learned to move on from a band who doesn't interest me anymore, I just simply don't listen to their newer music and leave it at that. Because a band can choose what direction they want to go with their careers, and I've learned that they don't owe a damn thing to us fans. "We're what created them." Well, yes fans are a big part of the deal-but they still have their personal freedom to do what they please with their music.

I don't know where I'm going with this, honestly I suppose I'm trying to say is....Not everyone is going to share your views. You're not going to like everyone in the fandom. I can say that in the Sixth Gun fandom alone I've accumulated a few people who disliked me and I dislike back. I ignore them and they ignore me.

It's best to eventually just move on with your life, be the mature one and if you have to stand up for yourself then do so. Also don't be afraid to stand up for your friends in the fandom.

Sometime fandoms are cruel and well, annoying.

My favorite albums.

To note this in the beginning, I'm going by my own personal tastes of what I liked. It doesn't matter if the album as a whole got good ratings with the critics or fans, if I happened to love it enough to keep listening to it five times a day it's going to be on this list.

And besides, music is rather...subjective. We all have our personal favorites and dislikes when it comes to music as a whole. While I love one band, you might loathe them-and that's fine. As long as we appreciate those differences and respect it, we're going to be cool. I see many lists on youtube about people's favorite bands and albums, and people comment 'what about this band/album?!' well my good sir, go make your own list then.

Now with that pushed aside, let's get started.

Stacked Rubbish-The GazettE

STACKED RUBBISH was the first the GazettE album I have ever owned. I'm pretty sure every person here remembers their first album from their favorite band, and that's partially the reason why this album is a personal favorite. When it came out, it sort of got bad reviews and not many fans seemed to like it aside from maybe Filth in the Beauty.

But I absolutely adore this album, my copy's case is just about beat up because of how many times I keep putting it in my boombox. [Yes, I know my computer and Ipod is a thing but....eh.] I'd say a favorite from this album is definitely Calm Envy, which I'm pleasantly surprised they're including in their TRACES BEST OF BALLADS. 

I have a lot of personal reasons for this being my favorite album, or at least one of them from the GazettE. Bare with me too, considering the fact that there are two more from this band coming your way.

VENA-coldrain 

You'd be hard pressed to find a song from coldrain that I don't like. VENA is just a prime example of how good they are, and how good they can be. After the concert I didn't stop listening to this album for weeks, it was almost as if coldrain had replaced the GazettE as my favorite band. Honestly, if I'm not listening to them, I am listening to coldrain.

This album is just a combination of great songs, with a feature from Papa Roach's Jacoby in the song Runaway. [I really want a version with just Masato though, it sounded bomb live.] 

 

 

Our Own House-Misterwives

Misterwives is a band I stumbled upon accidentally via Finding Carter. I simply liked the song Vagabond used for the show, and then I suddenly started listening to literally every song that they had out. Our Own House is an album that I play quite frequently when listening to them on Spotify, and honestly it's worth paying 12.99 a month just for that feature.

Aside from their more popular songs like Reflections and Not Your Way, my favorite song off the album will have to be Oceans. It's a really good song, and Mandy Lee's voice is really soothing when I need something to calm myself down with.

Badlands-Halsey

My friend introduced me to her, well I already knew who she was-but she made me want to listen to her. And though I don't listen to it as much, I still catch myself jamming out to it here and there. It really is a good album, and Halsey really is a good artist. Possibly a favorite off the album is the song Colors, but like my friend-happen to like the stripped version better.

For some reason listening to that reminds me of being in California.

Beautiful Deformity-the GazettE

 

Honestly speaking, when it comes to the GazettE....their album DIVISION wasn't my favorite. I thought 'Okay, cool-maybe I'm just not a fan of their direction anymore.' But Beautiful Deformity restored that faith in them. When I first heard TO DAZZLING DARKNESS, I was in awe and happy that they were making good music again.

I'm not saying DIVISION was bad, I just didn't like most of the songs. Or cared for them. 

So it was nice to have Beautiful Deformity come out, at least for me.

 

DIM-theGazettE 

 

I was going to place another album before this one, so it didn't seem like a 'my favorite GazettE albums' list. But I couldn't think of any other albums that I listen to more than these ones. So DIM it is. I want to say that NIL is in tie with this album, as far as how much I listen to it-but I placed DIM simply because it was unique from their other albums.

I wasn't sure what it was, but I really like the dark undertone it seemed to have. And honestly I hope they do an album almost like it. My favorite era was DIM as well. 

--

While I would love to do more, I have to sleep. [lol] So I will simply leave it at this for now. 

What about you?

What are your favorite albums by your favorite artists?

What is coldrain to me?

I say this a lot, but there wasn't a band that impressed me like the GazettE until coldrain. While they're two different types of music, I can appreciate the differences in them both and enjoy them to the fullest.

I was a casual listener, and though I was highly excited to see them for the first time at the Loading Dock-it wasn't until after the show that it really spiraled. I discovered them because Aoi tweeted about their album "The Revelation" and I was intrigued. It was about two years I believe that I was listening to them periodically, and then they announced their show in Salt Lake.

Meeting Masato the first time.

Granted, I read reviews of their performances beforehand to sort of get a feel of what they were like. And people had nothing but good things to say, and I wasn't disappointed. I was one of the first people in the venue, so I secured a spot at the front of the stage. I was right in front of Sugi. [I believe he kind of spit on me a little, but we alright Sugi. We alright.]

I'm not going to talk about their performance, but about how it meant to actually see them and meet the two members I did meet that night. [I sort of met Ryo? If you count waving at him, and him waving back as meeting.]

Masato was really kind, case in point-he allowed me to take a photo with him. I didn't expect to run into him after the show, but the venue was small and I ran into him again three more times. [I promise...I wasn't stalking him.] My brother talked to him a bit I think about merch, but they didn't accept cards so I had to run and grab cash from the nearest gas station. When I came back, it was Katsuma running the merch table.

Katsuma is really sweet, honestly. I was scared of him at first, because in pictures and even on stage he seemed a little intimidating. I wasn't sure what it was, but I asked about the hoodie and as an afterthought I said I would also buy their Vena Album. He smiled sweetly and said "thank you!" while processing the purchase. I thought about asking him to sign it, but my nervousness kicked into highgear and I just thanked him and left. [Without a photo too ;-;]

In the weeks that led after the concert, I listened to VENA and the Revelation albums nonstop. I don't know what it was, I didn't pay attention to anything else but coldrain. And it was surprising to me considering I never had a band do this before to me after I got into the GazettE. I've had bands I've liked, and listened to-but I would just eventually either stop or just casually listen to them.

But I listen to coldrain almost everyday. I don't care what time of day it is, whether I'm on my lunchbreak or at home-I'm playing one of their albums. And honestly it feels good, they make me feel like I can make it through the day.

I was super sad that I didn't get to see them when they came back with Silverstein, but....it was either go to Vegas to see them OR see the GazettE in California and you all know what I chose. But I was soon blessed to hear they were coming back for Warped. I was on edge about seeing them honestly, but I got tickets anyways.

This time around, I tried not to be too shy. I tried to talk to them, tell them how good they were-but alas I was shy again. I could barely tell Masato I saw them at their first show in Salt Lake, and his response was to smile and say 'thank you'. It meant a lot to me however, for me to turn the corner and to lock eyes with Katsuma. He greeted me with a smile, even though it wasn't quite my turn.

I asked them to sign their album 'the Revelation', and then before I left I asked Katsuma for a hug. I talk about this a lot, but it really meant a lot. Masato offered a hug too, and so I hugged the rest. I remember certain things about each member when I hugged them too!

So Katsuma just gave me a quick hug, but I think he hugged a little tighter. I wonder if he knows......that he's my favorite. Masato was sweet as always, as I said as soon as he saw me hug Katsuma he was like 'hey' and opened his arms. Ryo was just like 'oh hugs? Okay.' it seemed like, same with Sugi. He just went with it.

But Yoko almost killed me, he gave me a squeeze with a big smile on his face. He was like "Have a good day!" and honestly whenever I feel bad about something....I remember that. I think to myself, "Yoko wants me to have a good day, and god dammit I will have a good day!"

[Where am I even going with this?]

I feel that, like the GazettE, coldrain is a band that will help me get through the day. They give me strength, not only to make it through hard times-but to also stand up for what I believe in.

[I'd like to know that the drum tech they had for Warped Tour, totally watched me sing along to Wrong and laughed. So thanks...drum tech guy.]

[I also caught Sugi's guitar pic, it's in my purse. <3]

Being apart of a fandom, while not entirely being in it.

Not sure if the title made sense, but I hope by explaining to the best of my ability I will be able to convey my feelings.

I've been in different fandoms for almost 15 years now, whether it was a fandom to a certain anime show I happened to like at the time or a movie fandom. Though I made friends from these fandoms, and lost contact with most-I feel like the most influential fandom I have been has been the Sixth Gun fandom.

For better or for worse, I was connected to this fandom through many different ways of social media. It started with deviantart, but ultimately I found myself using my twitter platform more than anything else.

I used to rant a lot in the beginning, because certain things frustrated me and I was willing to get into fights with half the fandom over it. Whether it was over HERESY leaked photos [which still upsets me, come on] or even just stupid comments that I felt were unnecessary. I've learned to block out those who don't matter, talk to those that do; and keep to myself.

I do this because I don't want the GazettE to be something that is tainted, I don't want to look back on my years of being a fan and think 'Wow, that was really unpleasant.' And of course there are going to be moments where things are unpleasant, and I get upset. But I feel like it's best to let go of the reigns and let people be their own stubborn selves.

The last time I got into a fight was with a fan who generalized an entire ethnic fanbase based on the actions of a few fans. What was said really upset me, and even seeing their url now bothers me which is why I stray from tumblr anymore. I look back at it and still find it unpleasant to think of, and also another person who I won't mention argued with me about lives being cut short when that rumor was never true.

Fans are stubborn, they have their opinions and they voice them even if it may sound harsh. Fans whine about the CD's,|Merch|DVD's being too expensive and wanting them for free. I had a fan accuse me of having a lot of money for buying the CD's, when I work a minimum wage job and can barely afford to get a lot of the merch.

And HERESY? Well that's just another argument, but I'm not here to talk about that.

I've made and lost friends in the fandom, and I've learned that I'm okay with the very few people I talk to via twitter. I follow some too, and just lurk on their pages and laugh at some of the things they will say.

It's more relaxing, and whenever drama pops up I'll watch from afar and just take a deep breathe. Of course if anyone is coming after my friends, or anyone in my inner circle without any plausible reasons to then I will probably join in if it's warranted.

But over the course of the last year, when I made the personal decision to not be a huge part of the tumblr fandom and even the entire fandom as a whole; I felt more relaxed. Of course I still fangirl with what little people I talk to now, but it's still nice. Because I don't have to worry about pleasing everyone.

And I don't have to worry about offending everyone, or even being offended. If we're upset with each other, which is rare, we talk civilly about it and move on with our lives. Most of the people I'm friends with are adults, and it's nice to talk to people who act their age.

I learned that I don't have to be a fan of the GazettE or any band to impress anyone either.

It really is nice, not paying attention to most of the fandom anymore. Really nice.

[Side note: I'm not saying 'the Sixth Gun fandom is horrible and I hate you' I'm just saying that I can't be that involved anymore. If that made sense.]