Jrock: Alice Nine

Alice Nine (originally stylized as アリス九號. or alice nine.) is a 5 member band of the visual kei persuasion formed in 2004. They have a versatile repertoire of songs ranging from pop to a harder rock sound. They describe their original concept as being a blending of East and West. And, unlike so many bands, their lineup has never changed and remained intact. I have to say they are the very first visual kei band I fell in love with, so they remain my favorite.

So far only 2 of their CDs are available [legally] for download in the U.S. I really wish you could buy from different countries’ iTunes stores without hassle because most of their music is available via iTunes Japan. I really want their complete discography, but it’s hard to afford the costs of their physical CDs plus overseas shipping. In their discography, I have included the links to the places where you can legally download their music in the US [yes, you have to PAY for them, but it's worth it and cheaper than imports].

Alice Nine’s official Japanese site: http://web.pscompany.co.jp/alicenine/
Alice Nine’s official English site: http://www.myspace.com/alicenineofficial

I first fell in love with Shou. Let’s face it, most people notice the vocalist who is always in front first. Then Saga, then Nao, then Hiroto. Finally, after watching the Alice Nine channel on Nico Nico Douga, Tora has grown on me. He always seemed so foreboding in pictures and certain interviews, but seeing him on that show proves he really isn’t.

Members:

Shou is the vocalist and lyricist for the band. He is very vocal during lives, but tends to be more quiet during actual interviews.
Birthday: 5 July 1981
Height: 177cm [5’8”]
Official blog: Showbiz
Official twitter: @AliceNine_SHOU
Favorite song lyrics written by Shou: “White Prayer” is my overall favorite, but I don’t think there are lyrics that Shou-san writes that I don’t like.

Hiroto is one of the guitarists for the band (and is the shortest, not to mention youngest, member). Like all of the other members, he helps compose Alice Nine’s songs.
Nickname: Pon
Birthday: 4 May 1985
Height: 167cm [5’4”]
Official blog: Red Hot Blog
Official twitter: @alice9_hiroto
Favorite song composed by Hiroto: “Velvet”

Tora is the other guitarist for the band. Like the other members, he also composes songs for their albums and singles. He is also the host of the band’s Nico Nico channel.
Birthday: 17 September 1980
Height: 182cm [5’9”-5’10’]
Official blog: Viva My Blog
Favorite song composed by Tora: “Q.”

Saga is the band’s bassist and is quite the character when you see him on Nico Nico (he is usually the one stuck with doing the various events the staff put the band through to get their new PVs played). He also composes music for the band.
Nickname: Saga-sama
Birthday: 24 June 1982
Height: 175cm [5’7”]
Official blog: Saga’s Jelly Fish at Midday
Official twitter: @AliceNine_saga
Favorite song composed by Saga: “MIRROR BALL”

Nao is the band’s drummer and their leader (hard to believe at times, ne?). I am not sure if he composes any of the songs or if it is just Tora, Hiroto, and Saga, but he does contribute to the creative and arrangement process. He is also known for his obsession with Akihabara.
Height: 170cm [5’5”]
Birthday: 31 July 1980
Official blog: Naoの(´┏_┓｀)

Discography:

**Last updated 10/3/2011**
**Just a note that I will not necessarily list all the different types of singles. I usually just list the regular edition. The special editions usually come with bonus footage and PVs**

「虹の雪」「Niji no Yuki」 [21 December 2011]

Regular Edition
[CD]
01. 虹の雪 [Niji no Yuki]
02. NEMESIS
03. 闇ニ散ル桜 [Yami ni Chiru Sakura]

Type A Edition
[CD]
01. 虹の雪 [Niji no Yuki]
02. NEMESIS
[DVD]
01. 虹の雪 (Niji no Yuki) MUSIC CLIP
02. 虹の雪 (Niji no Yuki) MUSIC CLIP MAKING
03. 閃光 (Senkou)(Live at “7th THEATER” 2011.9.9)

Type B Edition
[CD]
01. 虹の雪 [Niji no Yuki]
02. NEMESIS
DVD
01. I. (Live at “7th THEATER” 2011.9.9)
02. 風凛 (Fuurin) (Live at “7th THEATER” 2011.9.9)
03. GEMINI (Live at “7th THEATER” 2011.9.9)

Heart of Gold [7 September 2011]
Single available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01. Heart of Gold
02. Ray
03. Haikara Naru Rinbu Kyoku

BLUE FLAME [8 June 2011]
Single available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01. BLUE FLAME
02. Zankyou Whiteout
03. G3

Gemini [9 February 2011]
CD available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01. I.
02. RUMWOLF
03. Stargazer:
04. 4U
05. Shinkiro
06. KING&QUEEN
07. Entr’acte
08. SENKOU
09. Furin
10. GEMINI-0-eternal
11. GEMINI-I-the void
12. GEMINI-II-the luv
13. birth in the death – Bonus Track- [SE]
14.Overture

Stargazer: [11 November 2010]
Single available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01. Stargazer:
02. Sinkiro
03. Karma

Senkou (閃光) Standard Edition A [25 August 2010]
Single available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01. SENKOU
02. Le Grand Bleu
03. Solar Eclipse
04. NAMIDA NO ARU BASHO [EXTRA MOVIE] SENKOU MUSIC CLIP(Pachinko Sengoku Muso version)

Senkou (閃光) Standard Edition B [25 August 2010]
Single available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01. SENKOU
02. Le Grand Bleu
03. RAINBOWS(Live at ZEPP TOKYO 2010.4.10)
04. BLUE PLANET(Live at ZEPP TOKYO 2010.4.10)

Alice Nine Complete Collection 2006-2009 [24 March 2010]
MP3 album available via iTunes, Amazon, Maru Music
01. Kowloon – Nine Heads Rodeo Show
02. Fantasy
03. Velvet
04. Number Six
05. Jewels
06. White Prayer
07. Tsubasa.
08. Cosmic World
09. Blue Planet
10. Mirror Ball
11. Rainbows
12. The Beautiful Name
13. Hana

NAMAE HA MADA NAI [1 March 2010]
Single available from YesAsia
01. TIME MACHINE
02. MELLOW NI SHIZUNDE
03. HANAICHIMONME

HANA[hæ・nə] [5 August 2009]
Single available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01. HANA[hæ・nə]
02. SLEEPWALKER
03. HIGH AND LOW

Vandalize [14 January 2009]
MP3 album available via iTunes, Amazon, Maru Music
01. the beautiful name
02. Hyakka Ryouran
03. RAINBOWS
04. Kiss twice, Kiss me deadly
05. CROSS GAME
06. Subaru
07. www.
08. Drella
09. Mirror Ball (Vandalize Edition)
10. innocence
11. Waterfall

CROSS GAME [10 December 2008]
Single available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01. CROSS GAME
02. [atmosphere]
03. Mugen -electric eden-

RAINBOWS [6 August 2008]
Single available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01. RAINBOWS
02. Strawberry fuzz
03. KOCHORAN(bonus track)

MIRROR BALL [26 March 2008]
Single available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01. MIRROR BALL [theme song for 2008 movie Aquarian Age]
02. Miracle

ALPHA [28 November 2007]
CD available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01.ZERO
02.cosmic world
03. AO I TORI
04. JEWELS
05. 9th Revolver
06. -Dice-
07. NUMBER SIX.
08. KOU SAI 09.
WHITE PRAYER
10. ERASER
11. BLUE PLANET
12. Cradle to[Alpha]

TSUBASA. [24 October 2007]
Single available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01. TSUBASA.
02. RURI NO AME
03. FOLLOW ME

White Prayer [6 June 2007]
Single available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01. WHITE PRAYER
02. SUTOREI Cat
03. THE LAST EMPIRE

JEWELS [21 March 2007]
Single available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01. JEWELS
02. ROSARIO
03. "13"

BLUE PLANET [4 October 2006]
Digital Single via download only in Japan
01. BLUE PLANET

NUMBER SIX. [4 October 2006]
Single available from CDJapan
01. NUMBER SIX.
NUMBER SIX. PV making B

Zekkeishoku [26 April 2006]
CD available at YesAsia and CDJapan
01. Corona (光環)
02. Velvet (ヴェルヴェット)
03. Fantasy
04. 3.2.1.REAL -SE-
05. Haru, Sakura no Koro (春、さくらの頃; Spring, the Time of Cherry Blossoms)
06. Dead School Screaming – 3:49
07. Kokkai no Kurage -Instrumental- (黒海の海月; Jelly Fish of the Black Sea)
08. Jelly Fish
09. World End Anthology (ワールドエンドアンソロジー)
10. Q. ("Question") 11.
Kowloon – Nine Heads Rodeo Show- (九龍; Kowloon)
12. Armor Ring

FANTASY [22 February 2006]
Single available from YesAsia and CDJapan
01.FANTASY
02.Lemon
03.TENTAI umbrella[bonus track]

akatsuki / ikuoku no chandelier [22 February 2006]
Single available from CDJapan
01. 暁 Akatsuki
02. 幾億のシャンデリア Ikuoku no Chandelier
03. 暁 (オリジナル・カラオケ) Akatsuki (Original Karaoke)
04. 幾億のシャンデリア (オリジナル・カラオケ)