Listen/Review:

[@Chan_Fry]

I apologize for taking so long to get to all the comments... (My wife had a late flight right after this video went live, and the flight kept getting delayed, so we spent a lot of time with that last night -- she didn't get in the air until after 11 p.m...) Thanks everyone for watching!

[@elliott8339]

Chan, you're the man! Love the format. I really appreciate that you're reacting and commenting on songs others are ignoring on KZbin.

[@Chan_Fry]

My main advantage over "others" is that I'm *only* reacting to / reviewing Band-Maid. :-) (And that I don't care about clicks and all the other bells and whistles...) So I can completely focus on this amazing band...

[@the-future-could-be-bright]

Just want to say....I really enjoy your reviews. You are a fan rather than a reactor who reacts to 10 tracks from different bands each day. A pleasure to watch and share your passion. Keep up the good work!

[@Chan_Fry]

Thank you! (I realize a lot of folks don't get it, and that's okay. And I really don't want to make my intro any longer by explaining, LOL. But maybe I should... "I'm not a reactor. I don't care whether you subscribe. I don't have a Patreon. I'm just listening to Band-Maid and saying what I think/feel about it.") :-)

[@tinyhato]

Wow, your top 10 list is all over the place. Awesome! "You" - Love the guitar tones in this. I think it makes the song really stand out. "Awkward" - So good. I love how it feels like it's going to explode after the first chorus but they pull back. Then when they do explode after the second chorus it's so satisfying. And Akane's fill into the final chorus is perfection! They had to bridge the gap between the explosion and the more mid-tempo last chorus and she nailed it. Call me crazy but I think that without a fill like this, the ending doesn't work as well. It would have felt a bit like something was off. To me anyway. For me these little things can change so much. Band-Maid does it right (well, what I consider right) so much more consistently than any other band that I've ever heard. Have a great day!

[@Chan_Fry]

Thanks! (My top ten list changes with each step in this journey... "Manners" and "Black Hole" are on there from many months ago, when I first started listening to this band; looks like it'll be a while before I get to touch them again.) "guitar tones" (in "you.") -- During this video, I obviously focused on the lead vocals and drums, but when I watched my finished/edited video on my TV, I the guitars stood out a ton more -- totally different speaker sound -- and I could barely hear the drums at all. So I now understand what you mean. :-) "Awkward" -- yes, an exercise in restraint. They take us to the edge and then step back, more than once, before the solo erupts. :-)

[@russellpotter7294]

I find myself going through the albums concentrating on the drums and the work they do when at first I may have missed the significance of all that Akane contributes. But that way does lie madness. The variety in every song never makes it a hardship to re listen to the same album a few times and find fresh insight and interest.

[@me262a1]

Smile is my all time favorite mostly because of Akane's drums.

[@Chan_Fry]

It won't surprise me if I spend the rest of my life going through this catalog repeatedly, always finding new twists and surprises. The drum work is something that certainly stands out as "most improved" over time (at least in these first few albums).

[@daft73games]

*Decided by Myself* has always stuck out for me. Something about it just makes me smile. 😃

[@Chan_Fry]

While editing this video for upload, I think I was more impressed with "decided by myself" than the other two... I think it's growing on me. :-)

[@froopax1468]

„You“ is one of my favorite Band-Maid songs!

[@Chan_Fry]

I can see why. :-) Very memorable chorus and the musical composition is something I want to keep hearing over and over...

[@froopax1468]

@@Chan_Fry I was so happy when they played the song on the 10th anniversary spin off show in February, the archived video was an instant purchase for me!

[@polskabob359]

I listen to secret my lips every day

[@Chan_Fry]

I understand this sentiment (I haven't gotten to "secret My lips" yet, but I will soon!) For months, I listened to "Be OK" daily. :-)

[@Davey-Boyd]

"You" live is awesome! The crowd singing all Miku's Wow Oh Oh parts is spectacular! I saw them play it live last October in Akita. "Awkward" is my all time favourite song - though "Akasimahen" the Maiko version is even better.

[@jwoodjapan]

"Akasimahen"--that Saiki sigh is right up there with the Mona Lisa smile.

[@Davey-Boyd]

@@jwoodjapan Yeah, it completely destroys me!

[@Chan_Fry]

On my list (I have a spreadsheet now!) it looks like Band-Maiko didn't hit the scene until 2018 ("secret MAIKO lips") and then the rest weren't released until 2019... So I'm debating whether to handle those chronologically like the rest, or to squeeze in the "covers" (remakes) with the songs they belong to.

[@Davey-Boyd]

@@Chan_Fry When you get to the Maiko songs, play the original then the Maiko version back to back. It will make the differences very clear.

[@grahamreed8774]

Ah! Awkward. One of my favourite all time (60 years of listening to music) songs. Stylish, beautiful arrangement. It has a sort of jazzy, prog feel. Everyone shines, but Saiki, Saiki- genius. Kanami's final solo is to die for. You are sort of correct about the jam style, in that Kanami has a database of previously un-used riffs and melodies to choose from if required.

[@Chan_Fry]

Kanami certainly made it feel natural, like they were sitting around trading riffs and kinda fell into the song. Genius. As for Saiki, it took me far too long to recognize how essential she is to the Band-Maid sound... (What convinced me was listening to a hundred other Japanese women vocalists... None of whom approach what Saiki's voice does to me.)

[@Kenji_Onoda]

Miku's funk strumming in the song “Awkward” is a unsung hero.🕊

[@Chan_Fry]

I did notice one quick clip of a Zemaitis closeup (while I was editing) and realized "Oh, that's MIKU on that part." She had already come so far by this point. :-)

[@philcalvino884]

Your comments at the end about working multiple ideas into a song: that nailed it for me, because that is exactly why I keep coming back to Band-Maid -- it just never gets stale. Awkward is one of my B-M hall of fame songs: it's got that patented Kanami build, tightening the tension with each verse, exploding at the end.

[@Chan_Fry]

I think "Awkward" is one that will grow on me over time... I do like that teasing sensation : "we're going to go full blast now! Just kidding! Wait another verse!" :-)

[@AndersonConnors]

Oh, I don't think I'd heard Awkward before... Brilliant! I see what you mean about the riff behind the vocals - Kanami is a mastermind... And Saiki? I can't imagine this song with a different vocalist. Awkward might be my new favorite Band-Maid song.

[@Chan_Fry]

I figured you'd latch onto "Awkward". :-) And I agree about Saiki... I didn't realize at first but then I tried a hundred other Japanese bands with women vocalists and I haven't yet found one that comes close to Saiki (for me). In fact, the vocals turned me off to a bunch of those groups...

[@waynebenedict5785]

Three more brilliant songs off a thoroughly fantastic album!

[@Kevin6059]

I think there was an awesome version of "You" on the recent 10th Anniversary Spinoff stream.

[@Davey-Boyd]

Indeed there was!

[@me262a1]

They played this at Houston in '23. That and Secret My Lips. Hell of a show!!!

[@Chan_Fry]

Cool! Maybe they will eventually release a few of those as "official live" videos. (Like they did for the tour-ender at Yokohama.)

[@Davey-Boyd]

@@Chan_Fry Yes, the version of "Moratorium" they played was epic, about time they actually released a live of that! The live of "Screaming" would be another good candidate too!

[@Kevin6059]

@@Davey-Boyd 💯🔥

[@tasminoben686]

Dankeschön!❤😂

[@Chan_Fry]

Thanks for watching/listening!

[@TomClark-Futoura]

A truer title to an album, there isn't. Thx Band-Maid, and Chan!

[@Chan_Fry]

Great point. I should remember to point that out in my next video... And I hate that I can't say "just bring it" without immediately thinking of the movie line: "it's already been broughten!" LOL

[@TomClark-Futoura]

@@Chan_Fry 👍😂🤘

[@bbobjs]

"you." became a sleeper favorite for me along with Don't Apply the Brake, Alive-or-Dead, Dilemma and Why Why Why.

[@Chan_Fry]

"Don't Apply The Brake" is a fun song indeed, especially coming so early in their career. "you." is on another level in my opinion, but I might feel differently on a different day. :-)

[@bbobjs]

​@@Chan_Fry Yea, I think "Don't Apply the Break" wouldn't be in my top half of Band-Maid songs, it's just that song from New Beginning that I admit to dismissing on my first several listens (I rank it 6th on that album). Same with the others listed, they're my sleeper favorites, it took a few listens for me to appreciate them.

[@johnverley1739]

Crappy day at work, got home and needed some Band Maid. Went to YT and there’s Chan first in my suggestions. Just what the doctor ordered. Thanks Chan, excellent as usual!

[@Chan_Fry]

Glad to help! Band-Maid is perfect for so many situations...

[@ral8452]

that 'awkward ' live is a classic

[@Chan_Fry]

Yes, very well done. Looks like that entire show was a huge peak for Band-Maid, pre-Covid.

[@Jonas_S_]

I listen to 'You' and 'Fate' pretty much every day (Fate is on WD, I know). Perfectly crafted Hard Rock Songs! 😎🤘

[@Kevin6059]

Love both of these songs.

[@me262a1]

Throw in "Shake That" and that's me.

[@me262a1]

I get an old Yardbirds vibe from "FATE". Love it!

[@Chan_Fry]

"Fate" is something I hope to get to before long... I think it's the next album after this? (I have a single between them...) But I totally agree about "you." The composition is incredible.

[@Jonas_S_]

@@Chan_Fry Yep, the next album after this one! A whole lot of great stuff on that one (as in, all of it 😉)!

[@ral8452]

i would like to see 'you' live, now i have to find that

[@me262a1]

The big stage is Houston. I was there! kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6amlHtsj5KXirM

[@Chan_Fry]

I just typed "band-maid you. live" (without quotation marks) into the YT search and it's the first result for me. The video's title is "BAND-MAID / You. (Live in Tokyo 2018)" Personally I'm visually distracted by a LOT and the textured overlay combined with lyrics on screen (in at least two colors) would have been a bit too much while I'm trying to listen and watch the performance on camera. :-)

[@Chan_Fry]

@me262a1 : Those were the two shows nearest me but I was still too new to Band-Maid back then. I won't miss them next time. :-)

[@me262a1]

@@Chan_Fry The 2019 show in Dallas was already sold out by the time I tried to get tickets. I'm in Fort Worth and went to Dallas 2022, Houston and Minneapolis (second off the rail right between MISA and Kobato) in 2023. I'm still mad I missed Austin but I was dead on my feet. LOL I made a hi-lite video of Houston. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmWlmKKKipVgjq8

[@chakouyang2545]

Awkward is a favorite of mine thanks for sharing

[@Chan_Fry]

It won't surprise me if it grows on me too, partly because it's so unique. :-)

[@HaroMatsuRestarted]

I love the “you.” they did live at the spin off show in February, it really grabbed me by the chest 😊 Also I love the Shinkiba Studio Coast version of Awkward with Kanami guitar intro, might be my favorite performance of it🕊️

[@Chan_Fry]

Imagine trying to choose a set list from this band's catalog. ("We can only play 22 songs tonight, so which 80+ songs do we withhold?")

[@geoffb5]

That live Awkward is my favorite version of it.

[@Chan_Fry]

It's an excellent version to be sure. :-)

[@bradmenpes809]

Just Bring It - the best hard rock album since Appetite for Destruction. Every song is a banger, with many of them the best songs Band-Maid have ever written/recorded. Great deep dive reaction!! I don't know if anyone except John Reeves (on his Patreon - full album reaction) has reacted to You. (which is a great funk/jazz/hard rock song) or Decided by Myself (another great hard rock song).

[@Chan_Fry]

Appetite was my all-time favorite album for many years. I think as I aged, I tired of all the angst about drugs and sex that's packed into that album -- certainly a product of its time. I love the breath of clean, fresh air that Band-Maid brings to hard rock -- as far as I can tell, they've steered clear of the pitfalls that brought down so many '80s bands. :-)

[@bradmenpes809]

@@Chan_Fry I agree with every word you wrote.

[@bandmaidfanATL]

17:08 Sometimes Mincho must explode.

[@Chan_Fry]

Yes! And I love how Akane leads her into it, like "c'mon, Mincho, you won't get a better set-up than this!" :-)

[@jwoodjapan]

Thanks, Chan, enjoyed your insights into these songs. Three seems like a good number to do per session. All three of these are unheralded but solid Maids' songs. My fav is Awkward but it took me a few listens to get into it (I'm like that for a lot of their songs). I have a feeling it will grow on you if you keep listening to it. I haven't always felt that Kanami's first solo fit the song, but it seemed fine in this live performance. The outro solo is one of my favorites of hers. The longing in it . . . One thing I noticed is that I couldn't hear the instruments as well in the studio cuts as I did in the live one. Is this from the compression I'm always hearing about? It really makes a difference when it comes to enjoying the songs. Looking forward to more reactions/reviews from you.

[@Chan_Fry]

Thank you! Yes, "Awkward" is one that seems like it will grow on me over time. :-) As for the compression... I assume some of the sound differences are the fact that I'm playing them in different software (the live was obviously in my web browser, and the studio tracks were from my CD), and possibly the way my recording software (OBS) handles the different inputs. Maybe the sound card figures into that as well.

[@drogonr9318]

I love these three songs, esp you and Awkward. I esp like the live version from the 2017 Studio Coast performance. Thank you for reacting to them.

[@Chan_Fry]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@me262a1]

"secret My lips" deserves its own video. Maybe with "secret MAIKO lips".

[@Chan_Fry]

I'm still internally debating with myself whether to keep Band-Maiko in chronological order (2018 for that song and 2019 for the rest) or pairing the songs with their Band-Maid originals... I'm leaning toward chronological at this point but I could be convinced of the pairing idea too. :-)

[@me262a1]

@@Chan_Fry Oh man, I forgot about the different release dates. Either way I'm looking forward to it.

[@polskabob359]

Of course secret my lips gets it's own video

[@Chan_Fry]

I ALMOST squeezed it in here, but my editing software starts to choke on videos longer than 30 minutes, LOL. So it kinda worked out. :-)

[@polskabob359]

@@Chan_Fry you'll need 30mins for secret my lips ,trust me , do secret maiko lips too

[@craigfenson]

the seminal album. 🤘🔥

[@Chan_Fry]

Definitely. Previous albums had hints, foreshadowing, teasers, but this... This is the full debut of Band-Maid in my opinion. :-)

[@bandmaidfanATL]

Miku had fun with her Zemaitis and pedalboard with Decided By Myself, Po! 🕊️ Chunky chugs.

[@Chan_Fry]

I guess so! I haven't seen a live version of this but I do like the heavy sound of the backing guitar in that song.

[@bandmaidfanATL]

Just Bring It is Band-Emo.

[@Chan_Fry]

If so, then color me emo. :-)