Tokyo Trawler Recommendation #16 (16/09/10)

Artist: Blur

Tune: Coffee & TV

Record: 13 (1999)
 

Category: A deep-thinker/Twilight-zoner

Sometimes the beauty of something is in it's simplicity*, especially if you're partial* to a bit of modern art. Couple simplicity with effortlessness*, and you may well have an ingenious* piece of work. On Coffee & TV, there is little in the way of experimentation* or the unexpected, but as a result there is huge appeal in the lack of complexity*. An easy listen, with steady but far from intrusive* drums, layered guitars with a slight crunch and subtle* harmonies, Blur are well within their comfort zone* here. That's no bad thing though: this is the musical equivalent* of the best Chicken Korma curry you ever had.

The Tokyo Trawler’s message to the people: Easy on the chillies.

To download or not to download?? 4/5 (ESSENTIAL)
iTunes available: Yes
勉強のキーワード: simplicity, partial to (2), effortless, ingenious, experimentation, complexity, intrusive, subtle, comfort zone, equivalent

Coffee & TV URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXRVX1AKAew

News - September 2010 日本語のニュース

皆様いつもお世話になっております!!

もちろん、いつも日本人に「Tokyo Trawler」をもっと使いやすくしたいので、

これから全ての記事の勉強キーワードはハイパーリンクになっていて、ただクリックするだけで、

言葉も表現も「goo英和辞書」で引けるようになります。

勉強キーワードの中で、新しい言葉や曖昧な表現がありましたら、

ご自由にクリックして辞書を使ってください。

「Tokyo Trawler」って英語の勉強にEssentialだと思いますよ！！

これからも、よろしくお願いします!

東京トローラ

Tokyo Trawler Recommendation #15 (12/09/10)

Artist: Cheap Trick
Tune: Surrender
Record: Heaven Tonight (1978)

Category: A foot to the floor, windows down-er

If I ever caught my parents 'rolling* on the couch' and listening to Kiss records, I'm sure I'd be quite shocked and disgusted*, and I'm almost certain* that the last thing I'd do is write a song on the matter*. Well each to his own, because here, a song was written on the matter, conjuring up* some bizarre* images whilst pointing out* to the listener that they probably don't know what their parents got, or even get, up to. Catchy, unmistakably* '70's', and littered* with references* of the time, there is enough brain candy* to paint an accurate picture of the scenario, and perhaps even have you doubting your folks' innocence.

The Tokyo Trawler’s message to the people: I hope, for your own sake as much as theirs, that you never find your parents falling off any Indonesian junk.

To download or not to download?? 3/5 (IT'S GOTTA BE DONE)
iTunes available: Yes
勉強のキーワード: to roll (2), disgusted, certain, matter (2), to conjure (2), bizarre, to point out (動詞), unmistakable, littered(動詞), reference, brain/eye candy

Surrender URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zhul9E6arw

Tokyo Trawler Recommendation #14 (21/07/10)

Artist: Jimmy Eat World
Tune: The Middle
Record: Bleed American (2001)

Category: Foot to the floor, windows down

A catchy* rock song has never been the 'coolest' or 'hippest'* thing to enjoy, but, let's be honest, as in the case of an ugly* receptionist, aptitude* at the job at hand sometimes overrides* any of those shallower* notions*. With bright vocals and strong bass backbone, clean and simple are two of the adjectives that immediately spring to mind* when listening to The Middle. Lyrically, we are treated* to the kind of inspiration we wished we would have heard as a teenager: "You know you're doing better on your own/So don't buy in", but, then again, this song wouldn't have been cool enough back then...

The Tokyo Trawler’s message to the people: Don't be cool, be sensible.

To download or not to download?? 4/5 (ESSENTIAL)
iTunes available: Yes
勉強のキーワード: catchy, hip (adjective), ugly, aptitude, to override, shallow, notion, to spring to mind (idiom), to treat (5)

The Middle URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ7ZvxXvn90

Apology and News - Summer 2010

Gobusata shimashita.

In our language, that means that the Tokyo Trawler has been a busy man and hasn't updated the blog for some time... However, true to his unyielding work ethic, he is back to his talking in third person, trawling the streets of Tokyo ways, hoping to pick up little-known works of art, be they musical or tangible. Watch this space for a steady stream of updates.

In an interesting and certainly news-worthy development, the Tokyo Trawler has sold out.

He has allowed his brand to be expanded and taken to the masses. Really, he's just kidding. An interesting character, and old friend of the Trawler's has (with exclusive permission, of course) just started his own version of the Trawler franchise, in the form of the Design Trawler blog. Rather than trawling the streets, the Design Trawler searches down eye-catching household and interior design pieces by any means necessary. Written by a veteran of design journalism, the blog provides an array of interior design ideas and inspiration for those who value the living space around us.

Check it out now, www.designtrawler.com

trawler//trash (#5)

Kenichi Tanaka is a talented young man. Take a look at his University graduation piece (either English or Japanese versions below), which has been widely acclaimed here in Japan. Remember, it's a satire piece, so don't get too angry!!

日本語版

Japan - The Strange Country (Japanese ver.) from Kenichi on Vimeo.

English version

Check out Kenichi's other work at the following link:

http://kenichi-design.blogspot.com/

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