Category Archives: Music

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Fountains of Wayne play to the choir

Yesterday I attended the first of Fountains of Wayne’s two-night stand at Ebisu Liquid Room in Tokyo. Though not sold out, the show was suitably packed to provide the sort of sweaty love-in the group tends to enjoy from its … Continue reading

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April 2012 albums

Here are the album reviews I wrote for the April 2012 issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last weekend. Wrecking Ball -Bruce Springsteen (Sony) Voice of Ages -The Chieftains (Hear/Universal) That Bruce Springsteen would make his latest … Continue reading

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Mar. 2012 albums

Here are the album reviews I wrote for the March issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo earlier this week. Le voyage dans la lune -Air (Virgin/EMI) The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo -Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross … Continue reading

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February 2012 albums

Here are the album reviews I wrote for the February issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last week. The Dreamer/The Believer -Common (Warner) Freedom of Speech -Speech Debelle (Big Dada/Beat) Several times on Common’s new album, the … Continue reading

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