8 reasons

Here reasons 1 to 8 (get it?) on why I think Do As Infinity is a great band.

#1. Versatility, Genreless Music

As JaMe USA said, "Do As Infinity's music cannot be classified into a single genre." As evidenced by their solo work, Tomiko has a pop-jazz preference, Ryo love punk-rock, and Dai is a man of eclectic tastes in instruments. Their styles blend together effortlessly. They constantly straddle the lines between genres so that it becomes difficult to figure out DAI's sound from one song alone. To get a sense of this, contrast the acoustic first single, Tangerine Dream, and the Jinghu-focused Shinjitsu no Uta to upbeat, rockout songs like For the Future and Meramera.

#2. the Do! Creative contest

Twice a year, Avex Trax and Do As Infinity holds a songwriting contest open to all of their fans. "Your age and past experience is no object. If you have a song for DoAs, here's your chance!" they say. The winners' tracks are later performed by the band and included in their albums or singles. Here, DAI is doing something thoughtful by giving amateurs the opportunity to break into the business and making the fan experience into one that is interactive. They also recognize their large international fanbase by having directions in both Japanese and English.

#3. Live Concerts

DAI started out with street live shows, and since then live performances continued to be something they value highly throughout their career. Their performances are known to be excellent. They sound the same in person as they do in the albums. They held a free concert to celebrate their reunification. They also have many songs that seemed designed specifically for concerts, such as Let's Go to A-Nation and Jidaishin. Honjitsu wa Seiten Nari's music video was entirely of the concert where the song debuted.

#4. Years of Experience

Frankly, I'm disturbed by the age at which performers are becoming famous these days. How these kids sing about life and love when they're too young to have a rich life experience is beyond me. Their sometimes means that they can provide a lot of energy in their performance, but it ends up being an unrefined and messy sound. DAI's members are twice the age of some of the teenage popstars today, and DAI has the technical skill that comes from those years. It's that experience that gave Do As Infinity the vocal control, saavy guitar solos, and smooth musical transitions that they have now.

#5. Fun with Word Play

DAI loves having little jokes, puns, and shoutouts in their song. The band name itself is already a reference to the first member. They have a tradition of starting the name of each album with the last letter of the previous album. Many of the older singles are homages to old school bands, like Tangerine Dream. DAI loves to reference their own songs as well. Their single Shinjitsu no Uta (Song of Truth) resulted in a book called "Your Song", an album called "True Song", and Dai's indie label named True Song Records. It's not surprising to find song lyrics that contain the name of a previous single. Lastly, "dai" means great, which results in the Great Tour Band and a Great Supporters album.

#6. Low Key Image

While some musicians take extraordinary care to pick out image concepts and capitalize off of that reputation, it is very clear that DAI does not rely on a manufactured concept. Pre-reunion, it was common to see them be rocking simple tees & jeans at their concerts and in their promotional material. Post-reunion, they have cleaned up a bit, but still have an easy-going style. They make it blatantly obvious that they never consider cliche images. The result is that the whole product feels more genuine.

#7. No Drama

Some stars are plagued with scandal, whether it be for something overt action or a minor slip-up that sent raging fans into a frenzy. DAI does not have this problem. The most scandalous event that ever occurred with DAI would be their breakup, which left fan wondering what causing the disbandment. Yet DAI handled even that with ease, by holding a fantastic farewell concert and never alluding to the cause.

#8. Positive Song Content

Do you ever feel like there are just too many love songs out there? Do As Infinity offers a needed refuge from heartbreak songs. While they do have love songs, the majority of their tracks have upbeat, uplifting lyrics. These songs encourage you to aim for your goals, stop being your own worst enemy, and never look back. Other songs celebrate the day or the fun, precious moments with friends. I think these positive lyrics reflect Do As Infinity's own enthusiatic outlook in their own lives, making them even more likeable.