The year 2018 will remain unforgettable for me, around february 14th, I Discovered Scandal... I was watching a Babymetal video on Youtube when I saw a notification for a song called "Platform Syndrome". 
I watched the video, a red Fender Strat.. cool, a Marshall amp.. so cool.. a beautiful guitarist with pink hair !!!  and just the best song of the last ten years for me, I have been literally blown away by this amazing band !! 

I spent the next months discovering a lot about Scandal and buying all their albums and some DVDs.

What a pity that all their videos and albums have disappeared from digital platforms since few months (at least outside of Asia)‚ that's the only wrong things about this year.

I hope 2019 will be full of new songs...   


And you, what are your thoughts about Scandal in 2018?

It was last year that I found out about SCANDAL, but it is probably this year, that I really started to dig into their stuff. 

Everything, the older stuff they did with their uniforms on, to the most recent stuff they released, I fell in love with everything. Some people might not appreciate their change in style, musically or not, but I love the mature SCANDAL of 2018 as much as I adore the younger SCANDAL of 2008. 

I really appreciate the performances they did this year too. A mystery tour, a hall tour, a debut 10th anniversary tour, and 2 international tours to satisfy international and domestic fans (it is quite unfortunate that all their music video and songs were taken down in all platforms). Plus, the fact that I was able to attend their show of Honey Asia tour held at summer, this year, really makes be appreciate all the events held this year. 

Overall, I will have to say I really enjoyed SCANDAL of 2018, and I can't wait for the newer stuff that will hopefully be released in not so distant future.

I thought they were great this year. I really have nothing to complain about. I think this was the year when maybe you could say their transition to a more mature band was complete, or they became more comfortable with that concept, or however you want to put it. But somehow they seem more into what they're doing now than I feel like they did for the couple years before this. And at the same time, they haven't really lost anything (other than their actual outfits) from when they were younger. They've just added new elements, and now they have the balance right between all the different facets of Scandal as a concept and band.

It also helps that "Honey" is a really fantastic album (despite the audio quality sounding more like a demo tape), which grabbed me from the beginning but has only grown on me more since its release. I still listen to it regularly almost a year later, which I didn't do with "Yellow" or "Hello World". I think Mami is kind of a genius songwriter - some of her melodies are actually really complex, and also really satisfying - and I'm just kind of amazed that the band may be even better with mainly Mami writing the songs than they were when they had all these famous songwriters. They're all just ridiculously talented in ways that nobody even knew when they started out. And this was the year when I think Mami really brought it all together for a full album in terms of songwriting.

And I've had fun this year watching their personal styles further develop too. I looooove seeing Haruna walking around in Doc Martens, for example, now that I know those are her own shoes that she likes and not part of a band costume. They've all gotten a lot cooler, and I feel like that accelerated this year. In past years their street styles have all seemed kind of regular, just trendy Japanese clothes, but this year they're going more punk and rock even in their street clothes and their hairstyles and makeup. That may be part of maturing too, not feeling beholden to current trends anymore.

And of course this was the year they came back to NYC and I got to meet them, so that was something!

If I had anything to nitpick, it's that their output has slowed down a bit and they're not as prolific as they used to be. That's probably partly the extra workload of writing their own songs now combined with just getting older and maybe not wanting to push quite as hard (and they deserve to be able to slow down a bit if that's what they want). Of course they are touring all the time too, but they've always done that in addition to releasing singles, albums and live video discs pretty much constantly. This year, we pretty much just got "Honey" unless I'm forgetting something. Though it does seem like they're teasing something today that's upcoming...

I personally would love a new live disc, but I don't really know what they could even release that would top what they've done before.

HONEY was a great record. The lasses seem to be more mature in a lot of aspects - may it be songwriting, live performance and outward appearances. Not much in the way of new material for 2018 otherwise, but for a band of their vintage, I think its kinda expected. The new SCANDAL fan may find it frustrating, but the older fan prolly find their evolution into the band they are now from their younger selves having to dish out new material every other month a good thing. Quality as opposed to quantity.

Interesting to see them doing less festivals this year.  Quality vs quantity again, perhaps.

If they keep on making great material like how they have done this year, and do so for the next decade and so forth, albeit sparingly (eg an album every 5 years) - I can imagine myself not listening to their stuff for years, only to pick up a newly-released album and watch a live performance as I would enjoy the company of an old friend.

I've been following Scandal since 2013, and I feel every year since then they always trying to do something new/exciting to make every year different. I feel this year was a really successful, but mature year, with the release of Honey(a fantastic mature album). Haruna turning 30 this year, and commemorating by releasing her own photo book (which I do not regret buying) , which to some may seem fan servicey, but to me I see a mature adult women doing what she want and taking photos. Plus having each member hand making their own stuff to sell at their store. 
And how can I forget about that U.S/ Mexico tour this year, how cool was that?

But I agree, they have been kinda slow with releasing new songs these past couple of years. Its completely understandable, especially with the constant touring and other non music related activities. But its like having your favorite TV show going on a long haitus after just a few new episodes. I hope they announce something at the Xmas live next week. .hail.

Star~world96 wrote:I hope they announce something at the Xmas live next week. .hail.

They almost definitely will, if not before... I don't know if they've posted this elsewhere but on Facebook they are definitely teasing something today. Looks like a heavily cropped part of a logo or title, with no other commentary. Probably going to lead up to the Xmas show where they'll finally announce what it is.

I only came to know the band this year, but oh boy it's been a ride. I immediately fell in love with this band in a way that probably only happened to me before once, back in 2009 when I got *really* into The Beatles. I let almost every other band I usually listen to on the wayside and pretty much only listen to Scandal now.

Thanks to this band I've been able to also travel to another country, meet some cool people, meet them and attend to an amazing concert on my birthday! There's not much more I could ask. I hope we get a lot more stuff next year and that I can attend to another concert. It was an amazing experience, the best concert I ever went to by far, even better than when I saw Paul McCartney live back in 2010.

It will be hard to add anything original here that hasn't already been expressed, especially since I agree with Spacecadet close to 100% (I definitely part on the not listening to "Hello World" much).

If all Scandal did this year was release "Honey" I'd say it was a very good year for me.  This was without a doubt the best new album I bought this year, and not because it was from Scandal.  It was literally that good.  Traveling to see them three times and meeting them twice even made the decade satisfying.  

The last time they came to the states I had just discovered the band and everything was so new I had no idea what to expect when seeing them live and meeting other fans.  I also had no clue about the obsession with getting in line 12 hours before the show.  This time through the excitement was much higher, and I felt euphoric coming out of the shows, especially the one in Anaheim.  As much as I want them to be popular enough to sell out larger venues, I want to keep experiencing them in smaller clubs.  I go to so many concerts and can confidently say there is so little competition for a relative meld of band, songs and crowd.  This year really made that obvious to me.

And about "Hello World"-- a fan in Dallas let me know this album actually existed as a vinyl record.  Waiting for this to arrive in the mail and putting it on my turntable for the first time was as momentous for me as waiting for "Honey" to be released and listening to that for the first time.  The only difference is "Hello World" is my favorite album and I have it so completely memorized that having another copy should not have been as much a thrill as it was.  Listening to it fresh from the record jacket, realizing this was the real start of Mami's songwriting genius only added to my admiration of Mami (and her writing partner, Rina) for all that she has created for the band to record since they did the song "Standard."  It's quite an evolution, and a good variety of styles and melodies.  I am really looking forward to whatever they produce in 2019, no matter the frequency.  As already expressed, they seem to be focusing more on quality than quantity these days, and I am totally fine with that.

While Honey is indeed a great album (if you didn't go ape for it at first, keep trying, it's a grower), it only produced one new single (while carrying over 2 previous ones), and it's been pretty quiet for those of us viewing from the sidelines. Very few TV/live performances. No dvd/blu-ray. Boo hoo.

I appreciate they were out there working hard and entertaining a megaton of luckier folk, though. When I figure out how to get to one of their Japanese shows maybe and am guaranteed a good spot ($$$ will be no object), I'll have to make it happen. I get the feeling that those opportunities are gonna get fewer and further in between, however.

I'm excited to see what 2019 brings. Hopefully it mops the floor with 2018.

I will fondly remember 2018 with four things: my OJT, my graduation, my eventual return to school for second degree and for SCANDAL!

There's an interesting (and maybe funny) backstory to my discovery of SCANDAL but I don't feel like sharing it. I mean there's the typical Youtube exploration and Anime connection but the MAIN trigger for me to seek for them is too private to tell but it sure did happen this year. Love you 2018!

Nothing much to add. It was really good year for SCANDAL. Honey was a good album  and it is very nice that they toured in the US which is very nice for the local fans there. I hope next year they release a good album. I hope a bit that it's sounds like Hello World, my favorite SCANDAL album. I think SCANDAL is on a good way. It will be interessting, how the new stuff will sound like. Maybe like typical a SCANDAL song from Rina/Mami (Freedom Fighters, STORY (for Airi Suzuki))

This 2018, aside from "Honey" which I loved, what I will remember most is the fact that they came back to Mexico. And this time to my city! Last time on the "Hello World" tour my wife and I had to travel to Mexico City to see them live, but this last year on the "Special Thanks" they took the time to come to Monterrey!  .clap. 
A lot easier on my wallet.  .uhuh. 
Holy mother can Rina smash those drums! Chou-impressive to watch her live! 


Eagerly waiting for another album, single, anything!!!

I think 2018 was a tough year for Scandal.

HONEY didn't move as many units as previous albums. They released far fewer singles and videos. Yes, they did a tour, but they also lost international visibility (videos pulled, streaming pulled etc). I am not sure if that tour actually paid off (meaning: Made a profit). In general very tough to increase the international footprint with those odds against them (when other bands rack up 4+ million views on youtube on their videos).

And now they have their own label - which made me wonder if their previous label wanted to dump them after the album and the tour performed less than expected. *sigh* I worry about their future a bit. For purely selfish reasons of course - I want more music from them

But maybe I am reading too much into all this...

Honey is probably my 2nd least favorite album, and the only one they released this year. Since I got into Scandal only recently though, I spent most of this year looking at their older stuff (until it all got taken down). Tour seemed like it was great, even though I couldn't go. If their new label helps them put their old songs back up, I'm all for it, but if not, oh well. Overall, I think it was pretty mediocre.

AntaBaka wrote:I think 2018 was a tough year for Scandal.

HONEY didn't move as many units as previous albums. They released far fewer singles and videos. Yes, they did a tour, but they also lost international visibility (videos pulled, streaming pulled etc). I am not sure if that tour actually paid off (meaning: Made a profit). In general very tough to increase the international footprint with those odds against them (when other bands rack up 4+ million views on youtube on their videos).

And now they have their own label - which made me wonder if their previous label wanted to dump them after the album and the tour performed less than expected. *sigh* I worry about their future a bit. For purely selfish reasons of course - I want more music from them

But maybe I am reading too much into all this...

I think you have to remember that HONEY came out two whole years after Yellow, and they didn't just do one tour. They had their Honey tour in Japan, which almost all the lives sold out, one in other Asian countries. Plus the U.s/ Mexico tour, which i know a couple of shows have sold out. I don't think the tours or the album performed badly, because they did make a whole lot of profit from every show they go to. The album on the other hand is up for debate but there are A TON of digital sales for it.

And it's Highly doubtful that SONY wanted to dump the band, the band clearly stated that they've wanted to change record labels for a long time, so it's was the bands decision to change.

Though I agree with you on having most of the videos taken down internationally,it didn't help with the promotion of Honey, but I think it's all part of the "changing label" process. As you see, their trailer for Masterpiece single can be viewed internationally, which is a good sign for future videos from them. Think of them just starting over, taking over their own music and decisions and stuff. There's nothing worrisome about anything currently, the girls are confident about the future and want to constantly make more music. 
Heck they might go back to releasing more singles per year, they got the rights to do so. .cool. of course that's wishful thinking lol

I'm right here with you on the wishful thinking for more music  

Yeah, I may just be overthinking it. From their historie is just felt like a major slow-down in output. And putting almost two year old songs on an album which is so preciously short already... well, there is another thread about that. I just want fresh music  

I have the feeling Sony did not want to extend their contract because SCANDAL don't sell enough for SMEJ. I mean SCANDAL has never got something like a gold album. But of course they are not the first Artist who are now at Victor Entertaimend who was before at Sony. Problematic is that it look like Sony Music has all of their rights at their old songs and especially MVs.

I discovered Scandal with the release of Yellow.
I was surprised about the fresh sounding music but the album didn't really grab me.
I started collecting other releases and turned big fan of the band.
For me Honey is the best album and i find it nice that the opinions on that album are so diverse.
Good music should make people talk and it does spring a nice discussion among the fans.
second favorite is Standard. It has really good vibe but most i play the Scandal show and encore show albums. Very good mix.
I mention the other albums because i find they are really mixing and perfecting their old and new styles as they grow more mature. I do hope the energy of an album like Honey stays with the next album.
Hope they can really do what they want to with their own recordlabel now.
Can't wait for the new album.

I was incredibly fortunate to have seen them live after ten years of being a fan during and Honey was a great album the label change was challenging but I hope it can get smoothen out this year.

I have not always liked the Musical direction they have gone in since the begining but I really like them as people and musicians and their music is their choice, I will always want to see what they do next.

tonymiller wrote:I have not always liked the Musical direction they have gone in since the begining but I really like them as people and musicians and their music is their choice, I will always want to see what they do next.

Like in the very beginning? Or since 2018?

@LK

I loved their early almost Punk style with "Space Ranger" but then they became more polished and moved away from that, like I said though their music is their choice and they have come a huge way as musicians since then.

@tony
I see. I admit I also like their earlier songs more. But you're right, their music is their choice! I'm glad you stayed true to them all these years.