Category Archives: Music

June 2011 albums

Posted on May 25, 2011 by philipbrasor

Here are the album reviews from the June 2011 issue of EL Magazine, which went on sale in Tokyo today. So Beautiful or So What -Paul Simon (Hear/Universal) Helplessness Blues -Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop/P-Vine) This year Bob Dylan and Paul … Continue reading →

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May 2011 albums

Posted on April 25, 2011 by philipbrasor

Here are the album reviews from the May 2011 issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed throughout Tokyo today. Computers and Blues -The Streets (679/Warner) Lasers -Lupe Fiasco (Atlantic/Warner) There’s something irresistibly intriguing about an artist who quits at the … Continue reading →

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Little Barrie, in case you care

Posted on April 13, 2011 by philipbrasor

Japan Times asked me to write a preview of the upcoming Little Barrie shows a few weeks ago. I’d interviewed Barrie Cadogan, the leader, in 2006, but I’m not sure that’s why they asked me; not even sure why they … Continue reading →

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April 2011 albums

Posted on March 26, 2011 by philipbrasor

Here are the album reviews from the April 2011 issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo yesterday. 21 -Adele (XL/Hostess) Seasons of My Soul -Rumer (Atlantic/Warner) By now we’re way past the point where new pop artists recycle … Continue reading →

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March 2011 albums

Posted on February 27, 2011 by philipbrasor

Here are the albums I reviewed for the Mar. issue of EL Magazine, which came out last Friday. Also, be sure to check out the new EL website at http://elbuzz.tv. Hotel Shampoo -Gruff Rhys (Ovni/Hostess) Jonny (PIAS/Hostess) By rights the … Continue reading →

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Idol Chatter: The Evolution of J-Pop

Posted on February 26, 2011 by philipbrasor

The following article originally appeared in the April-June 1997 issue of Japan Quarterly, a now defunct English-language publication put out by the Asahi Shimbun. For a continuation of the story, there is an article I wrote for The Japan Times … Continue reading →

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Keepin’ on: No Age in the age of anything

Posted on February 18, 2011 by philipbrasor

The heady rush that punk delivers is indistinguishable from its hard-fast-short credo, and what emo has drained from the punk experience isn’t so much its native cynicism but rather its performance rigor. Years ago punk cured me of my consumerist … Continue reading →

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Local Natives are restless: Club Quattro, Jan. 31, 2011

Posted on February 3, 2011 by philipbrasor

I often find it difficult to distinguish one post-millennial indie rock band from another, at least in terms of writing about them. In fact, I find it comforting that many are associated with specific geographical regions. It makes it easier … Continue reading →

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February 2011 albums

Posted on January 25, 2011 by philipbrasor

Here are the albums I wrote about for the Feb. issue of EL Magazine, which comes out today. Though we continue to use the term “CD” in the magazine, I’ve decided to change the related blog post to “album” since … Continue reading →

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Remembering dismembering: A conversation with Travis Morrison

Posted on January 7, 2011 by philipbrasor

Last year, Travis Morrison announced that his old band, The Dismemberment Plan, was reuniting, and next month the group will be touring Japan. When they disbanded in 2003, their penultimate show was at Shibuya O-Nest, a headlining capper to a … Continue reading →

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