If you're into rock, you can't go wrong with Demetori's Sinen (Shinen?) and Il Mondo dove e Finito il Tempo. Also, pretty much everything ever by nazz-can, one of the groups published by =Neutral=. (Was that group's name changed?)
I hate when people ask this, because inevitably it leads to "Well, what genres do you like" "I like all kinds of music" and then a billion uploads by people with very disparaging tastes makes the OP realize that no, he doesn't really like all kinds of music.
C-CLAYS is one of those groups where there's a lot of people making a lot of genres, all of whom are individually credited and have unique styles. Not unlike IOSYS, they have some good stuff and some outstandingly shitty stuff. Quite unlike IOSYS, their hit rate is actually high enough to justify keeping the whole album most of the time.
CYTOKINE (god damn fuck stop it with the caps I hate that shit) recently released an electronic album, 492357816. I haven't heard any of their other work, but this is very well-done. Worth picking up.
dBu is very hit-or-miss. For the most part, he does "upmixes", giving the original tunes better samples and pretty much leaving it at that. Being one who does the remix thing because they're unique songs (sort of) this does not appeal to me at all. However, back in C77 he released two albums, one of which was a sort of ambient/trance bit which (wouldn't you know it!) his fans hated. I, for one, loved it. Haters gonna hate.
Another band I really should hear more of, now that I really listen. Levo Lution's Skyrise is an outstanding electronica album whose category I will not attempt to butcher with my ignorance. On the whole, it's simultaneously chill and upbeat, more passive than house but more active than trance. This is one of the albums I would recommend to anyone, touhou fan or otherwise.
An offering from this very R7, MA.S Attack's 珍時怪異 is a very...unique album. I've listened to it three or four times now, but I still can't quite figure out how to describe it. I'm gonna let you listen to it for yourself.
This next one...Let's just leave it at "Yellow Magic Orchestra tribute EP." Good, but you might not fully appreciate it if you aren't into YMO, which not many people are these days.
I'm getting really tired of writing up these little reviews at this point, but that's more because I don't have a separate Touhou folder within my music folder. I feel like I might want to one of these days, but with the number of bands breaking into original albums I'm hesitant. In any case, Re:Starlights & An Umbrella. Really fun album. Check check it. Yo.
And to finish off the mostly-electronica uploads, one of my personal favorites. It's very unique among Touhou arrange albums, and for some people it's something of an acquired taste. If nothing else, listen to it to say you've heard it.
With the one major genre out of the way, it's time for rock and metal. Joy.
BLANKFIELD is remarkable in that they are essentially the progenitors of Touhou metal. There was rock, but nothing you could really, honestly call metal until these guys showed up (or so I'm told). They do mix in some synthesizers, but the sheer weight of the metal elements drown them out enough that it only serves to balance the sound, keeping it interesting. They're still one of the best, if you like it fast and loud. Two albums from these guys:
CROW'SCLAW (Just what is it with these guys and capital letters?) is another of the prominent Touhou metal bands. They're a bit more "pure", I guess, but I don't really like them as much as BLANKFIELD. Again, I only really bothered with two albums.
As previously mentioned, Demetori. Holy shit yes. While the majority of their work is metal (of various subgenres) Sinen is the iconic Touhou arrange album. Spanning an impressive variety of styles while never failing to deliver incredible work from all members involved, the album is a solid 8 tracks of rock, metal, lighthearted jazz, melancholic piano, and the Touhou answer to Freebird. If you download only one Touhou album, make it this.
Knights of Round is another compilation album, featuring a single track for each participating guitarist. As is usually the case, quality varies. I actually only kept it because my favorite guitarist did a track on it, and I don't think I've ever listened to the whole thing because of that. Shame. None of these uploads are mine, so if there's a problem then I can't help you.
Kota-rocK (The only thing worse than all caps is random caps. God damn it.) is one of those quietly loved circles. No one really shouts for them when conventions roll around, but everyone's appreciative when it gets uploaded. I think I can see why. In each of their songs, the classic rock quartet pounds out a quick melody but shares front stage with piano synth that keeps just enough of the frantic feel of ZUN's original compositions to allow the guitarists to play with the melody as much as they like without feeling too out-of-place. Or something. I don't have as much of them as I should, and I plan to rectify this when I'm done here.
Sometimes I think I like things just because I've had them for so long. UI-70 is one of these cases. Almost comically low-strung guitar that really doesn't bring anything particularly special to the table. It is however worth noting that they did a song with Demetori, which appears on both their Sinen and UI-70's 朧夢紅月 ～Vaguely Dreams of Scarlet Fullmoon～. Try it out, I guess.
And this is where I stumble across things that I forgot I had. This is actually pretty decent, but I mean. There's only so much you can say about rock before you start repeating yourself.
Sekken-ya deserves special mention, in my opinion. They're one of the most consistently fun and listenable bands that does Touhou, and actually one of the ones that got me into Touhou remixes (alongside Demetori.) I won't comment on their skill (protip: don't watch them live) but as far as writing music goes, they're absolutely top tier.
And on that note (ha) it's time to break into the stuff that I couldn't fit into one of these genres. Mostly compilation albums and piano, though there are a few from odd genres.
...By which I mean "time for my connection to crap out and reset an upload four times at 90+%". Fucking hell.
Starting things off is Diverse System. I've only got three albums, but apparently that's all they've put out. Mostly acoustic guitar with guest appearances from various classical instruments, anima I and II are really beautiful. thE, on the other hand, is a compilation album featuring mostly electronica with a bit of metal and the same acoustic style they know and love. Alstroemeria's Masayoshi Minoshima also contributed with a Flowering Night that I know a certain friend won't let me get away with not plugging. Overall, I'd say all three are worth your time.
Dxtliant Child - Utopia Far East isn't really remarkable as a piano album, but the artist behind it pulled such an outstandingly bro move that I cannot let it go forgotten. In its original packaging, along with the .flac, was "Just a text."
"This is a remix album of the touhou project. We can just at least treat it as a piano playing version.
For there is no chance for me to go to Japan and C77,this album is published via Share-EX.
Encoded by Free Lossess Audio Codec File Filter 1.2.1.When error occured in playing,please try foobar2000 v0.9.6.9.
Please E-mail me if found any problem in copyrights.
Enjoy your C77.
This, on the other hand, is the most outstanding piano arrange album I have ever heard. I've been told that the pianist has done work elsewhere, but I have yet to find more by him. If you enjoy piano music in the slightest, I urge you to listen to this.
Forest306 should be a familiar name to just about everyone by this point, but I'm not here to make assumptions. Acoustic guitar, harmonica, and wooden blocks make up most of the simple but fun arranges on this album. I've only got the one, but it should be enough to either spur you into action or get people to shout at me until I do the work for you.
So this one somehow managed to slip by me in the Electronic post. 狐夢想屋 put out another album, 恋色マジックオーケストラ, which as you may expect depending on how observant or literate you are is another YMO tribute album.
k-waves LAB, also known as Kou Ogata, is one of those guys you've probably seen on Youtube or Nico that records themselves playing a bunch of different instruments and making a song all by themselves, not unlike Beirut. Using a wide variety of instruments with very unique sounds, his arranges feel very...bardy. Hard to describe, etc. etc. copout copout but really, listen to it.
This is another compilation album, and while a few of the tracks are kind of interesting it's really bad overall. The same guitarist I mentioned for Knights of Round appears here, and makes Crystallized Silver sound absolutely incredible. I'd recommend it solely based on that, but with the variety of styles and genres (I am getting so tired of that phrase) there's sure to be at least a little bit here for everyone.
ORIN SaGa -Tril of Billion- makes me cringe every time I look at it. I think I have made my taste in names clear. Musically however, it's really quite impressive. As the name suggests, it feels like the soundtrack to a PS1 era video game. Unlike the name suggests, it does branch further than just SA stage 5. Don't worry about that.
I've got to admit, I have a soft spot for post-rock and shoegaze. If your album is in one of these two genres, you've got to fuck it up pretty damn hard for me to not like it. That said, have some of the only Touhou shoegaze I've ever seen: Minimum electric design.
I actually only just picked this up off a thread on /jp/ a day or two ago. I haven't listened to it enough to say anything more than "It is delicious piano." He does play around with it a lot, too, which is always good. If you still need a good reason to download it: Love Colored Master Spark, ragtime edition.
This is more of a /jp/ general-interest piano arrange album, featuring themes from Air, Ragnarok Online, and even Miku Miku ni Shite Ageru. You didn't specify Touhou, though, and even if you had Invisible Full Moon makes an appearance so ha!
How did I miss two albums in Electronica? Because I have trouble telling the difference between general doujin music and touhou arrange albums based on the name alone. I somehow doubt anyone particularly cares, though, all things considered. Blah blah good album blah unique varied blah download.
This album makes me happy. There are no other words that could describe it more thoroughly and more succinctly. Cheerful, upbeat arranges of the EoSD soundtrack done with acoustic guitar and piano backings to accordions and flutes, every single song is awesome enough to make up for how adorable it is. And no, it's not moe-moe vocal faggotry. These guys write actual music.
Another piano album (I still say it's the coolest instrument) from SOUND HOLIC which apparently has a pretty good reputation. Lovely arranges, with most featuring an appearance of a different type of instrument to complement the style. An interesting approach, but all the damn tracks are named "<style> Piano Arrangement feat. <instrument>". That the name is my biggest complaint is a good thing.
Speaking of SOUND HOLIC, have you ever heard of SWING HOLIC? They're up to 5 albums now, and in my opinion they've only been improving. From the very beginning, they've used actual instruments (or if not, samples that sound really damn convincing) and playing some serious swing, jazz, and lounge music. This is one of the releases that I always scour the internet for when I know it's coming.
And if that just isn't enough jazz for you, here's another one. Primarily focuses around the piano (wouldn't you know it) but still features a full jazz band, sure to delight.
And now, for something completely different. WAVE is responsible for this monstrosity of a compilation album, spanning three discs and three "themes". This is the fucker that kept resetting on me, so I don't want to hear any complaints. The album itself is almost too long to describe here, but if you have liked anything I have posted thus far there is almost certainly something in here for you. The entire thing is outstanding, if you ask me.
This one's the first and only a capella (mostly) Touhou album I've heard, and it's actually really quite delightful. Major points from me for having a good Beware the Umbrella.
Gonna have to reupload that one later. In the mean time, the Shishimai Brothers came out with this one not too long ago. Very interesting album whose genre I am either incapable of or too tired to pin. It feels sort of like they pretty much wanted to make a rock album, then decided to use nothing but unconventional instruments.
This is another one of those bands that always gets recommended but falls into the background. I only actually have the one EP, too, which is a shame. They're really quite delightful. This one starts on rock, then swiftly turns into a sort of jazzy accordion and piano mix of 3rd Eye and lingers around that mood until the end, where the guitars kick in for a very impressive Septette.
Somehow I managed to forget all about Kishida Kyoudan and the Akeboshi Rockets. They're one of very few vocal bands that don't completely piss me off, and they're branching into original tunes that are actually pretty damn good. I'm kind of proud of them, in a weird way.
Classical Japanese instruments, such as the koto, taiko, and shamisen take the stage in this one. A compilation effort among three prominent artists (whose names I have forgotten), this one is extremely well-done and worth having in any collection.
And to round things off, some chiptune! Who doesn't like chiptune? I've been told that there's better out there, but I've also not been directed to any of it so here's a nice big "fuck you" to everyone who pulls that shit. If you can't back yourself up, don't bother arguing. ROCKGIRL! Yes. Right. Hobby Atelier Carrotwine (趣味工房にんじんわいん) is known for all kinds of crazy stuff, but to be honest none of what I've heard has really appealed to me except for this. In fact, when it was released it was met with such popularity that they went ahead and did a sequel that lives up to the first. Sweetums.
Man. I have more than I thought I did. I hope you (or someone out there) gets some use out of these posts. And always remember: No matter how hard you wish it to be true, commercial music isn't universally bad. Look harder, ask around, and open up your mind a little.
I'll throw in a supporting vote for CROW'S CLAW and Demetori for instrumentals, and Sekkenya and Kishida Kyodan for vocals, and toss in for COOL&CREATE while I'm at it. There's two vocalists for C&C: the girl isn't all that great, but the guy, Beatmario, is awesome and does stuff with Sekkenya at times(Sekkenya used to be C&C's backing band until 2008.)
Also for instrumentals, Azure Sands(I think that's the right circle) is worth looking into for jazz.
If so, I'd recommend WAVE (especially the works of Morrigan), marasy (you can never get wrong with this guy) and Aojiru, to name a few. Here are some examples:
>>4077 Last one. I mean it in the sense that the first half or so is the song, and while it could end there they decide to devote equal time to a guitar solo. The result is delicious.
>>4081 Ah, I see. Didn't notice the resemblance, but I agree with you on the delicious part.
And while we're on the Demetori topic, I really want to recommend Shout at the Devil. This is the album that got me hooked up with Touhou (and Demetori, especially), and the thing is that this album has, if I'm allowed to say, the best heavy metal arrangement of Paradise ~ Deep Mountain, even better than CROW'SCLAW arrange of the stage theme in my opinion.
The lack of replies (aside from that massive fucking wall) is disappointing. There are hundreds if not thousands of albums, and you guys can't suggest more than that? Come on!
>>4197 There were very thorough replies. I don't know what else you expect, especially given that there were no indications of genre preference.
While these aren't albums I'd have to recommend Alstroemeria Records, dBu, Golden City Factory, DDBY, and TAMUSIC. There are loads of others, some of them with names written in hiragana or kanji which I can't be assed to find and copy down.
If y'all don't mind, I think I'm just gonna use this as an excuse to stay on top of uploading new Touhou albums that I find and like. This is unfortunately a rare occurrence, so don't expect massive dumps like in your average /jp/ thread.
First of two is another true orchestral arrange album. Absolutely stunning arranges, on par with if not better than some of the things that appeared on WAVE's ARCHIV-EAST earlier. I'm looking into these guys when I get a chance.
And on the completely opposite end of the spectrum is another from Ruxia, fresh from R7. I kind of glazed over the other album of theirs that I uploaded, but this really is an excellent electronic group. Very chill arranges on this one, but still quite engaging.
I'd say the mix is closer to 50/50, and even if it were true, being "worse than the original" isn't exactly an insult when it comes to the Touhou soundtracks.
That's like saying Gold is worth shit compared to Platinum. You're gonna get rich selling either.
