Video Interviews, Ikebukuro (#10)

Tokyo Trawler Catch of the Day: Demian, USA

Artist: The Damage Manual

Tune: Sunset Gun

Record: The Damage Manual (2000)

Demian's essential rating: 5/5

Demian's Message to the People: "Check out TokyoTrawler.com, Dystopiaq.com and TokyoAnaba.com"

The Interview:

The Tokyo Trawler’s Essential Review:

"A mish-mash* of that kind of the electronic, grungy* electronic, analogue syth, digital syth with the rock", is how Demian described this song, and, despite sounding like the kind of crap* you get when you use a free internet translator, it has, upon listening to this tune, proven to be quite an accurate description*. Whilst this is certainly a 'grimy'* number, the layering* and production has the sort of precision* you might expect from something coming out of the so-called 'industrial' genre. With an utterly* infectious* guitar riff, this lyrically dark effort is the sort of song that has clearly influenced younger bands of more mainstream* backgrounds*.

Category: A frowny-faced, head-boppin' street strutter

The Tokyo Trawler's message to the people: A song only fully appreciated when playing air guitar on your spanner.

To download or not to download?? 4/5 (ESSENTIAL)
iTunes available: Yes
勉強のキーワード: mish-mash, grunge, crap, description, grimy, layer, precision, utterly, infectious (3), mainstream (2), background (3)

Sunset Gun URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmoVIKDlZS8

Video Interviews, AMAZING GRACE TATTOO SHOW, Ginza (#8)

Tokyo Trawler Catch of the Day: Mark, USA

Artist: Metallica

Tune: Harvester of Sorrow

Record: ...And Justice for All (1988)

Mark's Message to the People: "Listen to this song, it can change your life"

The Interview:

The Tokyo Trawler’s Essential Review:

Category: A frowny-faced, head boppin' street strutter

Lyrics that speak of pain, beatings*, murder and infanticide* set the precedent* for quite an aggressive atmosphere here. Add to the mix a tantalisingly* short guitar solo, and vocals that would give a chorus of your dad's entire power tool collection, your mum's Hoover* and your sister's hairdryer a run for their money*, and we have quite a powerful song. By no means* overwhelming* and actually quite listenable, this kind of song is unlikely to ever become a mainstream hit, but there will always be those with which it makes a deep impression. Cover up the name of the band, and you can find some quality musicianship* and maybe even a meaningful message.

The Tokyo Trawler's message to the people: My Grandma ain't gonna like it.

To download or not to download?? 3/5 (WORTH A LISTEN)
iTunes available: Yes
勉強のキーワード: beating, infanticide, precendent, tantalising, Hoover (vacuum cleaner), a run for (one's) money (idiom), by no means, overwhelming, musicianship

Harvester of Sorrow URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhu22Iy8fGk

Tokyo Trawler Recommendation #9 (24/02/10)

Artist: Jurassic 5
Tune: What's Golden
Record: Power in Numbers (2002)

Category: A frowny-faced, head boppin' street strutter

Not your average rap tune. Like it or not, this is one thing we can all be certain of when considering this song. "We take it back to the days of 'Yes y'all in'", suggest Jurassic 5 here, and whilst not pretending to know exactly what that means; if in those days rappers used fixed loops*, pleasantly sparse* production and big, truly bop-inducing* beats, then I have to agree. Lyrically, J5 are keen to distance themselves from 'gangster' rap culture, stressing* the importance of the skills of writing and delivery*. With such academic principles*, and not an 'f-word' in sight, one might consider this essential music study material.

The Tokyo Trawler’s message to the people: For beginners and veterans alike, no harm'll be done by letting J5 be your rap professors.

To download or not to download?? 4/5 (ESSENTIAL)
iTunes available: Yes
勉強のキーワード: loop (music), sparse, to induce, to stress, (verbal) delivery, principle (noun)

What's Golden URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsZKrctSDaw

Tokyo Trawler Recommendation #6 (17/01/10)

Artist: The Clash
Tune: Death or Glory
Record: London Calling (1979)

Category: A frowny-faced, head boppin' street strutter

You recognise* the album cover, and if you've ever wondered what all the London Calling fuss* is about, then read on. That 'Death or Glory' paints a fairly accurate picture of the 21st Century alternative* music scene shows just how far ahead of their time The Clash actually were. Confronting the issues of personal ideals versus temptation*, style versus substance and all the mistakes in between, lyricist Mick Jones alludes to* some very 'unpunk' self-doubt. Despite not being musically as complex or dynamic as some of it's LC contemporaries*, it is that rock simplicity - together with honest and 'real' lyrics - which make this song truly essential.

The Tokyo Trawler’s message to the people: Go on, the allure of that album cover (and my review, of course) is too much to resist... Give it a listen!!

To download or not to download?? 4/5 (ESSENTIAL)
iTunes available: Yes
勉強のキーワード: recognise, fuss, alternative, temptation, to allude to (something), contemporary (n.)

Death or Glory URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79iZy_DqoyI

Tokyo Trawler Recommendation #1 (15/10/09)

Artist: Rancid
Tune: Salvation
Record: Let's Go (1994)

Category: A frowny-faced, head boppin' street strutter

You'd struggle to find a song which personifies* punk more than this sub-3min effort. The lyrical simplicity*, crunchy, scratchy guitars and fist-in-the-air harmonic chorus all contribute to the catchiness* of this little gem. A punk song very much in the old-school* mould, even for the vast majority of the public who prefer not to align* themselves with the genre, this song can still offer something interesting. The lyrics tell of a class divide, the two sides of the fence. The concept of peering* over that fence, and the feeling of being out of place ("I'm in your front yard, under suspicion"), is perhaps something we can all relate to*.

The Tokyo Trawler's message to the people: Request it at your boss' retirement party

To download or not to download?? 4/5 (ESSENTIAL)

iTunes available: Yes

勉強のキーワード: to personify, simplicity, catchy, old-school, align, to peer, to relate to