Zetsuai 1989

also a tormented back story. easy to see, and more evolved relationship. alike in sex scenes (there are, but only as fan service). 

Fuyu no semi is one of the few animes within the yaoi genre that hit you on an emotional level this deep, other than ai no kusabi which i can see has already been recomended. So i recomend Zetsuai, a yaoi classic that came out in the early nighties this touching tale of forbiden love through the eyes of a man that feels nothing will tug at anyone's heart 

A music setting, shounen-ai and plenty of angst dominate Be-Boy and Zetsuai. In both we have a romantic relationship between a singer and a person not involved in the music business. Be-Boy is more light hearted, though, and has plenty of fluff while Zetsuai is virtually charged with extreme angst, dark pasts and plenty of emotional suffering.  

Fake and Zetsuai both deal with the problems that arise from a romantic relationship between two men. Fake is light hearted with a thriller related plot while Zetsuai is much visceral and dark, fans of one should be interested in the other, though. 

Yaoi, angst, and music: Gravitation and Zetsuai revolve around these themes. In both cases same gender relationships pose a dillemma to the protagonists as does dealing with a constant pressure that fame entails. Gravitation has a great deal of comedy elements that tone down the angsty mood, Zetsuai on the other hand is rather dark and takes angst to a paroxysms of a violent nature. 

Even though they are set in different times and their characters have a different relationship, Ai no Kusabi and Zetsuai/Bronze are really alike. Both are old school and their artwork is gorgeous; all sex scenes are tasteful (not really explicit, and not vulgar) and both revolve about one person's obsession and desire to posses someone else. The relationship between the characters is deeper, more tortured and complicated than in any other yaoi anime I've seen .They are both 10/10 in my list!