1 That Starcadian video, they got every penny's worth out of the thirty, maybe forty bucks spent on props and costume and effects.

I like the Kaliyo track. The low-speed chanteuse coffee-house sound has some appeal.

That "Boom Boom Boom" remix is sharply done. Swiftly approved.

Babymetal. Does nothing for me, but I'm delighted to no end that the band exists. Like, of course Japan has a gothi-loli death-metal act. OF COURSE.

The Sabaton track is both awesome and hilarious all at once. Like... that's your thing, guys, and what the hell, go for it. Rock out with your history book out.

2 GD, I'll have you know the Starcadian video cost $200!

re: Babymetal: the lead singer, Su-metal, is 18... and she's been part of the band since 2010.

Sabaton actually solved a problem I've been staring at for a month or so...

3 I just exposed someone to Babymetal today, using the Gimme Choco vector, and after listing all the things wrong and horrible about it, he clicked on another video. And another. A few minutes later I heard "Wembley?!?", and I knew that a soul had been lost.

Speaking of their ages, I continue to be astonished by the fact that there's a Japanese musical act with three cute young girls that always presents them fully dressed and in character. No "bikini DVD in Okinawa", no "promotional photo shoot in gym clothes", nothing. Even their previous activities with the parent group were pretty much all in conservative school uniforms. They're practically over-the-hill for the Japanese cheesecake market now, but the management continues to show restraint. Rather refreshing, actually.

-j

4 Re:Babymetal  And of course a niche foreign band is available for free on amazon prime music