Tokyo Trawler Recommendation #13 (20/05/10)

Artist: The Streets
Tune: Has It Come to This? (Original Mix)
Record: Original Pirate Material (2002)

Category: A deep thinker/twilight zoner

"This ain't a club track", explains lyricist Mike Skinner, in his intriguingly* relaxed, almost conversational delivery. I can tell you, he's right, this really ain't a club track. A thoughtful evolutionary* reinterpretation* of the 'UK Garage' urban music genre* which was prevalent* around the turn of the Millennium, the production is a marriage* of music styles, which helped this song to achieve huge success in both urban and alternative arenas at the time of release. Lyrically, the song deals with the familiar theme of suburban frustration, but the attention to detail* is stunning, and it is this which makes it less of a rap tune, and more of a cultural narrative*.

The Tokyo Trawler’s message to the people: "Videos, televisions; 64s, PlayStations"... Geez, people actually had disposable cash back in '02...

To download or not to download?? 5/5 (DO IT NOW!!)
iTunes available: Yes
勉強のキーワード: intriguing, evolution, reinterpretation, genre, prevalent, marriage, attention to detail, narrative

Don't Look Back into the Sun URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTS6INVmZGI

Tokyo Trawler Recommendation #12 (27/04/10)

Artist: The Libertines
Tune: Don't Look Back into the Sun
Record: Don't Look Back into the Sun (Single, 2003)

Category: A whisky sippin' foot-tapper

One of the things that happens to you after living in Japan for a while, is you begin to appreciate that raw things can, in fact, be palatable*. Unlike a fine slice of fresh sashimi, however, this tune has great longevity*. Deliciously raw, without being too 'retro'*, this sub-3 minute ditty* still sounds fresh, and leaves the listener wishing for an extra minute of the irresistible* melody, sunny lead and outbursts* of drum madness. Lyrically, this song is at odds with* it's upbeat* instrumentals and rather bouncy vocals, with the content perhaps serving as a harbinger* for what was to become of this turbulent* band.

The Tokyo Trawler’s message to the people: A future classic, if it isn't already.

To download or not to download?? 4/5 (ESSENTIAL)
iTunes available: Yes
勉強のキーワード: palatable, longevity, retro, ditty, irresistible, outbursts, at odds with (someone/something), upbeat, harbinger, turbulent

Don't Look Back into the Sun URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g207eTzVw0

Video Interviews, AMAZING GRACE TATTOO SHOW, Ginza (#9)

Tokyo Trawler Catch of the Day: Colin, USA

Artist: Modern Life is War

Tune: I'm Not Ready

Record: Witness

Colin's essential rating: 4/5

Colin's Message to the People: "Hardcore's a family, and we need to realise that"

The Interview:

The Tokyo Trawler’s Essential Review:

"It's not for everyone". In Colin's own, honest words, this tune will never find it's way to karaoke classic status. In spite of* this, there is a certain epic* quality to the opening riff*, which wouldn't be out of place in the action scene of a war film. The building-up of this intro, however, leads us into repetition*, and the unpleasant* feeling that the pleasure* has been in the anticipation* of something great that never came. Undoubtedly* heartfelt* delivery, and a certain depth to the lyrical content are not enough to lift this song's head above the surface of the great pond of American rock mediocrity*.

Category: Keep the bathroom cabinet locked

The Tokyo Trawler's message to the people: Deep, but I ain't gonna be humming it, let alone whistling it in the park anytime soon.

To download or not to download?? 2/5 (IF YOU'RE BORED)
iTunes available: Yes
勉強のキーワード: In spite of (something), epic, riff, repetition, unpleasant, pleasure, anticipation, undoubted, heartfelt, mediocrity

I'm Not Ready URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sABSoZHSE8k

Tokyo Trawler Recommendation #11 (07/04/10)

Artist: The Notorious B.I.G.
Tune: Dead Wrong (Remix ft. Eminem)
Record: The Notorious B.I.G.: Greatest Hits

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

They told me not to. In fact they begged* me not to. To include what is possibly one of the most explicit* songs ever recorded in my personal recommendations surely isn't cool. Well, this song is just so good I suppose had to say 'f**k that'. A unexpectedly great remix with production which fits perfectly both with the aggressive lyrical content and with 'Biggie's' trademark* loose* delivery, Eminem makes a worthwhile* appearance at the close*. Here is a tune that will blow you away*. Not only due to the simply blood-curdling* story, but because it's raw*, real and, in terms of delivery, a true marker* that all hip-hop artists can aspire* to.

The Tokyo Trawler’s DISCLAIMER to the people: Don't play it to the kids. Please.

To download or not to download?? 5/5 (DO IT NOW!!!)
iTunes available: Yes
勉強のキーワード: to beg, explicit, trademark, loose, worthwhile, at the close, to blow (one) away (idiom), blood-curdling, raw, marker, to aspire (to)

Dead Wrong (Remix ft. Eminem) URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8ZsZnpuofk

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

trawler//trash (#4)

This time, trawler//trash features Tokyo-based British illustrator Rob Kidney. His second appearance, Rob Kidney has an impressive CV of design and illustration work across a variety of media. Some great stuff is displayed on his Chopups blog (chopups.blogspot.com), which consists of innovative and thought-provoking pieces inspired by Tokyo and Tokyoites. Rob's illustration style is nothing short of totally unique, and his commentary has the ability to strike a chord with anyone who's had first-hand experience of 21st Century urban life.

Video Interviews, Shibuya (#7)

Tokyo Trawler Catch of the Day: www.madyour

notme.com, USA

Artist: Drake

Tune: Houstalantavegas

Record: So Far Gone (EP)

www.madurnotme.com's essential rating: 4/5

www.madurnotme.com's Message to the People: "www.madyournotme.com"

The Interview:

The Tokyo Trawler’s Essential Review:

Category: A hump 'n' grinder

On the surface*, it sounds the same as a shoal* of other songs that have come swimming out of the US 'R'n'B' scene in the last ten years, and whilst the façade* is about as engaging* as a can of sardines*, Houstalantavegas' interior does have more to offer the listener. Lyrically, the song focuses on a somewhat mysterious female character, offering a speculative*, yet intelligent and frankly sad commentary*. However, the broad, soothing* vocals don't quite compensate for the repetitive* chorus, and whilst the midway rap bridge is a welcome intermission*, you can't help wondering just how long this guy spent trying to perfect his Kanye impression*.

The Tokyo Trawler's message to the people: Don't tell Kanye, you never know what he might do.

To download or not to download?? 2/5 (IF YOU'RE BORED)
iTunes available: Yes
勉強のキーワード: surface, shoal, façade, engaging, sardine, speculative, commentary, soothing, intermission, impression

Houstalantavegas URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd7n8bjLnOM