Category Archives: Music

September 2012 albums

Here are the album reviews I wrote for the September issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last weekend. Some Nights -Fun. (Fueled By Ramen/Warner) Time Capsules II -Oberhofer (Glassnote/Hostess) You drop your guard for only a minute … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Notes on Summer Sonic 2012

What a difference a year makes. As with last year’s Summer Sonic, Tokyo edition, I started the festival Saturday morning with the first act on the Sonic Stage, which this year happened to be Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, the mostly self-invented … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Talking to The Very Best

One of the very best shows at last month’s Fuji Rock Festival was The Very Best, an electronic dance act built around the beats of Johan Hugo, formerly of the production duo Radioclit, and the vocals of Malawi musician Esau … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

August 2012 albums

Here are the album reviews I wrote for the August issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last week. Cancer 4 Cure -El-P (Fat Possum/Hostess) Contrast -DJ Kentaro (Ninja Tune/Beat) As long as there’s been a style of … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fuji Rock 12

I’ve attended the Fuji Rock Festival every year since 1998 and worked for the Fujirockers web site every year since 1999. I won’t say this year’s was the best but it was definitely the most fun I’d had at the … Continue reading

Posted in Me, Music | Tagged | Leave a comment

July 2012 albums

Here are the album reviews I wrote for the July issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last Monday. Trespassing -Adam Lambert (Sony) Magic Hour -Scissor Sisters (Polydor/Universal) Asking Paul Rodgers to fill in on vocal duties was … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

June 2012 albums

Here are the album reviews I wrote for the June issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last Friday. Blunderbuss -Jack White (Third Man/Sony) Boys & Girls -Alabama Shakes (Rough Trade/Hostess) Jack White is the premier rock star … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beastie Boys, Yokohama Arena, 1999

This is a review I wrote about a Beastie Boys concert at Yokohama Arena in 1999 for the Japan Times. Sean Lennon opened the Beastie Boys concert at Yokohama Arena on February 6 with a 30-minute set that was sharper … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Leave a comment

May 2012 albums

Here are the albums reviews I wrote for the May issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last Wednesday. MDNA -Madonna (Interscope/Universal) Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded -Nicki Minaj (Cash Money/Universal) While it’s difficult to get worked up over … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Levon Helm changed my life

The Band was the first rock group I paid any close attention to. While growing up in the 1960s I was as obsessed with AM radio as any other white suburban American kid was; or maybe even more so. At … Continue reading

Posted in Me, Music | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment