Album Rating: 3.0

@Ebola check out his Forn EP or his She Waits Patiently EP. Compelling stuff.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Seconded! I do like this one but I can definitely see why the older sound would have more appeal. Illusory Sense is gorgeous.

this whole mimicing topic just makes me think about rap and the whole "freestyle" debate lol

Album Rating: 1.5

What’s the freestyle debate?

My guess is that he compares how Ichika fakes his guitar playing skills to rappers who say that they freestyle but in reality use ghost writers
Havent heard this yet but if the compositions are good and written by him it isnt really that big of a deal that he cant play fast irl but the problem is lying about it

The freestyle argument is about whether or not a freestyle should be (1) improv'd vs pre-written (2) one take vs edited punch ins. Lupe Fiasco going off the dome on Sway in the Morning is undeniably a freestyle. But what about Kendrick Lamar's Backseat Freestyle, thats pre-written and recorded with a hook and punch ins. How is that a freestyle? And in the middle you have something like Mural by Lupe Fiasco again where it's all off the dome improv but dome via numerous punch ins and numerous sessions. Is that a freestyle?

This dude seems like hes on the Backseat Freestyle end of the spectrum lol

Bold to assume the guy is lying about just one thing concerning his guitar playing skills or lack thereof.

He is on the spectrum for sure

Reminds me of the Dragonforce (studioforce) arguments ppl were having c. 2008.

“Arguments” is not really accurate - ppl were shitting on them relentlessly, but ig power metal lends itself to that outside of its fans

Or even the whole autotune thing from back in the day.

I lean more in the “who cares?” side of the argument and if Ichika can’t play this stuff live, does it really take away from him as a composer?

But I also agree with Calc’s sentiment lol, it’d just be cool if they were honest about this stuff, but ultimately I feel it’s like an electronic composer/producer. No one with any sense is giving an electro artist grief for using generous click tracks in a live setting.

I think there'd ultimately be no issue if it weren't for the label of "virtuoso" being placed on this fella and him leaning into it.

Album Rating: 1.5

“and if Ichika can’t play this stuff live, does it really take away from him as a composer?”



I based my review for this album solely on his compositional skills…. And they suck.

it's the unwarranted fame that pisses people off. musicians who actually took the long road getting passed over for sponsored gear and high-visibility press in favor of someone who used smoke and mirrors to get there.

Album Rating: 3.0

Ichika is bringing himself down by collaborating with so many featured artists and adding trap beats to a lot of his recent material. He’s at his best when it’s just him and the guitar. No gimmicks

Album Rating: 3.0

@Sevengill I would argue his fame is deserved based on his earlier work. But now he’s squandered it with poor choices

he's a bum and so is every other internet guitarist. I'm mad because I made a bunch of well-received piano covers in high school but "youtube musician" wasn't monetizable yet and I had to go get a real job instead, and now I'm bitter about it so I talk trash on dying music forums in my spare time.

>:c

Haha fair enough Gonzo, it’s also a well composed review at that ;)

this dude is good in 20 second videos. a full album seems silly.