Tokyo Trawler//special (vol.1): Got Faded Japan Interview

Welcome to the first edition of Tokyo Trawler//special, a new section of the blog which features extended interviews with especially productive Tokyoites, namely bloggers, podcasters, artists, musicians and other weirdos... In contrast to the regular 'Video Interviews', //special will feature an extended interview and questions about the interviewee's activities and work in Japan.

Vol. 1 features Tokyo's Got Faded Japan bloggers, 'zine producers and podcasters, Johnny and Shank. Coming from a skate and BMX background, these US natives have made it their business to dig out the weird, wonderful, and just plain f***ed up news from Japan and the rest of Asia. Never shy of a drink or two, these guys' blog, podcast and 'zine are all full of wit, fun and comment on the darker side of Japanese culture. Well worth a look. Here's the info:

Blog/Main site: www.GotFadedJapan.com
iTunes search: Got Faded Japan

Tokyo Trawler Recommedation #17 (28/10/10)

Artist: The Cure

Tune: Cut Here

Record: Greatest Hits (2001)
 

Category: Keep the bathroom cabinet locked

Having a distinctive* voice and a distinctive sound, and not becoming engulfed* by cries of "they're songs all sound the same!", is no mean feat*. Well, The Cure have, over the years, mastered the balance, and on Cut Here, they play to their strengths. Whilst both lyrically and vocally, this song is nothing short of being heartfelt* and melancholy*, the playful, almost sugar-coated guitar and keyboard combination refuses, in triumphant*, paradoxical* fashion, to bow to the weight of vocalist Robert Smith's loaded words. A song with a wide-ranging appeal, and spanning* a number of genres, a tale of regret has never tasted this sweet.

The Tokyo Trawler’s message to the people: A perfectly balanced sweet and sour diet. 

To download or not to download?? 4/5 (ESSENTIAL)
iTunes available: Yes
勉強のキーワード: distinctive, to engulf, no mean feat, heartfelt, melancholy, triumphant, paradoxical, to span (動詞)

Cut Here URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sKWrpaEw0k

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 Diary2

Latest Tokyo Trawler News etc...

News of the new type of Tokyo Trawler interview, featuring interviews with interesting characters across Tokyo and Japan about their work. First up, and coming soon, is an interview with the guys from Got Faded Japan (podcast and blog). Check out their site, and their podcast, for an interesting, and rather different look at the news from Japan and across the world. Well worth a visit, and pretty damn funny.

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