[quote="Mafu"]I really don't think that the quality of the radio rips are [i]that[/i] bad. It's more than enough to get a full impression of the song and be able to know if it's a song you can dig. It's literally just ripped from the radio. If you were in Japan listening to it on InterFM, it would sound exactly the same.[/quote]
Sorry to be so blatantly contrary, but I really do think the radio rip is just [i]bad[/i]. Not a jab at your efforts because, as you say, it is ripped straight from the radio, but I think the quality issues are insanely distracting. Aside from the distortion and garbling of pretty much every single instrument in the song, the guitars and drums are mashed together during the chorus until they're almost indistinguishable, to the point that it's difficult to make out what each instrument is doing (the lead guitar, especially). That's my only substantial complaint, but as the chorus is undoubtedly the high point of the song, it kind of ruins the experience for me.

Back in my day our hearts fluttered for some bullshit 98 kbps rip with skipping and a bootleg recorded from some kid's jacket pocket.

I really don't think it's that bad, though - I've been listening on my laptop's speakers rather than my headphones and was able to hear plenty of interplay between the guitars and bass at various points. For a radio rip, this is actually very nice quality, I thought.

Hrrrm. I like both versions of "Radio Telegraphy." No real complaints either way. "Debris" is...not bad, but not catchy for me? Somehow sounds slightly different than what I'd expect from Moondust or even TRIAL, in a good way.

It's those sexy guitarpeggios.

lol the backing vocals on the title track

I just keep getting more and freaking more excited about this album.

OK, seriously everyone...

Am I so out of the loop that I can't find out how you're hearing Debris and the title track of the album? When I find cool stuff, I try and post a link. Can someone please post a link to where this is being heard/seen, because I'm not seeing it on Youtube. Just preordered the album this past Thursday, so I'm kind of excited to hear more... instead of just hearing [i]about[/i] it.

Apparently, my pre-order from CDJAPAN comes with a poster. I'm wondering if it's the same poster seen [url=http://pillows.jp/p/information/newrelease/3363.html]HERE[/url] from the "Cheer Store". Should be cool to have, and it looks like a lot of other shops are giving away goodies like postcards and stickers if you haven't pre-ordered your album yet.

Also, there seems to be something on [url=http://pillows.jp/p/information/newrelease/3363.html]the pillows' main site[/url] saying there's a limited edition available on the Buster's store, but Google translate isn't making a lot of sense. It says something about "the pillows TOUR 2015 "Lostman go to City" being included. Anyone able to clarify if that means footage from that tour will be included? If so, that'd be awesome if someone with a Japan address could pick it up, since that setlist featured the return of songs like Freebee Honey, Spiky Goose and Wakare no Uta (Song of Farewell). Would LOVE to see those three songs live on video. I was lucky enough to see Freebee Honey live in 2005, and it was indeed glorious.

[url]http://deadlistparadise.blog91.fc2.com/blog-entry-435.html[/url]

And one last note, the pillows have a new Youtube channel up, and have put up the full video for One Flew Under the Cuckoo's Nest, which is the first full vid I've seen.

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyXsn6nIcbM[/url]

Wait, are previews up?

[quote="Mafu"][quote="Son Goshin"]Also, I know that Sawao went on record to say that the "4th Movement is the Last Movement". But that could be years; the 3rd Movement itself was nearly 20 years long. So why the posts alluding to a very near retirement? There is nothing I've seen that even hints the pillows are close to done, seeing as there are plenty of musicians that go well into their 50's and 60's making music. Perhaps not at the same frenetic pace, but there nonetheless. Is there something in Japanese interviews the "common people" haven't been made aware of yet to suggest the end is near?[/quote]

Correct me if I'm missing something, but I can barely find any instance of Yamanaka ever saying anything about the "4th movement". The only thing I can find is a single interview back during the 20th anniversary in 2009 where he responded to a comment about how the 3rd movement has lasted a long time with "yeah, I guess a 4th movement isn't needed", or something like that. There's an interview from around the time of Moondust's release where he said something about the band entering their "end stage", but nothing about a new movement.

I wouldn't get too invested in the "4th movement" idea. We've heard two Stroll and Roll tracks by now. Do they sound so wildly different from their other recent music that they suggest entering a 4th movement? I don't think so. Literally, the only thing suggesting a "4th movement" is a t-shirt, and I think that's a pretty shitty source of information.
But... what if the "4th movement" is simply just a new era for the band rather than a major sound overhaul like the previous movements? Jun is gone, they're playing with a bunch of new bassists, they're off Avex... Those shakeups would be enough to spark a new era, right? Maybe so, and call it a "4th movement" if you want, but if you're going to listen to Stroll and Roll expecting a major sound departure, you are probably going to be disappointed. Also, if the "end stage" is the start of the "4th movement", we've already been there since 2014.

And yeah, nothing suggests eminent doom and immediate retirement, but the Avex contract ending is a pretty big thing. I don't know the details of the current situation (being produced by Delicious with distribution by King Records), but I'm pretty sure that means that they're basically self-produced now. If that's the case, they're no longer contracted to produce, say, an album a year, and have no contract obligation to fulfill.
From here on, they'll produce any new music at their own pace, and can call it quits at any time. But speculation aside, the fact is that the band is in their "end stage" now. We don't know how long it will last... Hopefully they'll at least keep it up for a 30th anniversary mega party. I'm just sayin'... we should appreciate the pillows while they're still kickin'.[/quote]

I don't know how I missed this for almost a month. You're probably right. I thought Sawao had explicitly said something about a "4th Movement", but I suppse it was just the shirt. Also, if the band is in their "end stage" now, hopefully that timeline will extend at least another decade. thanks for the insight Mafu.

[quote="Son Goshin"]Am I so out of the loop that I can't find out how you're hearing Debris and the title track of the album?[/quote]
Mafu runs a [url=https://www.facebook.com/pillowsjp/]fan page on Facebook[/url] where he posts constant updates including radio rips and setlists. Head over there for the new songs!

[quote="Son Goshin"]Also, there seems to be something on the pillows' main site saying there's a limited edition available on the Buster's store, but Google translate isn't making a lot of sense. It says something about "the pillows TOUR 2015 "Lostman go to City" being included.[/quote]
Would be insanely awesome if footage from that tour was included with the new album but as far as I can tell the "Limited Edition" of [i]Stroll and Roll[/i] only includes the three new PVs as bonus material.

[quote="dimsim3478"][quote="Son Goshin"]Also, there seems to be something on the pillows' main site saying there's a limited edition available on the Buster's store, but Google translate isn't making a lot of sense. It says something about "the pillows TOUR 2015 "Lostman go to City" being included.[/quote]
Would be insanely awesome if footage from that tour was included with the new album but as far as I can tell the "Limited Edition" of [i]Stroll and Roll[/i] only includes the three new PVs as bonus material.[/quote]

Yeah, that bit is saying the song One Flew Under the Cuckoo's Nest was first played at shows on that tour. D;

Now that Son Goshin mentions it, I actually would really like to have seen those [i]Lostman Go to City[/i] shows. "Flag Star", "Split Emotion", "My Girl" and "Gazelle City" are favourites that we don't get to hear too often. The band actually pulled something similar for that 2008 tour (also under the name [i]Lostman Go to City[/i]) where they brought back some lesser-played cuts like "Beehive" and "Nowhere" (a recording of one of those shows is on the [i]Blue Song with Blue Poppies[/i] DVD).

to Stroll and Roll!

Debris... I sort of like it, but I'm a little put off by the first parts of the chorus.

Radio Telegraphy, pretty good, I've warmed up to it quite a bit.

I'm still feeling mixed about One Flew Under the Cuckoo's Nest, I don't know. I feel like it wants to be two different songs and settles for something in the middle. It has the atmosphere of a ballad but the tempo is just jam, jam away. It's a little tiring to listen to. I like the vocal melody. Overall, it leaves me wanting.

I just noticed you can get pillows albums on itunes from Wake Up to now. Pretty neat... kind of hard to recommend anywhere from half to 3/4 of the songs from Ooparts - Horn Again though. Pied Piper, I feel like I can't give an objective opinion about because it came out right when I started at the business college and I have some bad memories attached to the first year involving sharing the pillows with classmates... There are songs on there I quite like though. Trial is pretty good, though.

I was expecting "[url=http://www.mediafire.com/download/ls2qmvtdy81l7fq/Locomotion%2C_more%21_more%21.mp3]Locomotion, more! more![/url]" to be "the Engrish track". Glad I was wrong.

Very reminiscent of some of the Predators songs. I'm digging the energy and feel of it, thanks for sharing!