Monthly Archives: December 2011
Great pop music denied to Japan in 2011: Kara’s Step
While I was putting together my gleefully self-indulgent 2011 Top 10 girly bubblegum pop tunes list, there was one song that I didn’t include but perhaps should have. It was by probably the most successful Korean group in Japan at … Continue reading
Filed under Features
New band recommendations for 2012
Another short piece I had in today’s Japan Times was a list of five bands I recommend for 2012. A couple of them have been around for a while (since 2010) but none of them have releases other than their … Continue reading
Strange Boutique (December 2012)
Here’s my Japan Times end-of-year roundup column. I’ve not much to add really other than that AKB48 are really the worst thing ever. I do think it’s worth mentioning (and this is my view, not that of the japan Times … Continue reading
Filed under Features, Strange Boutique
Classic Pop Corner — Saori Minami/Chisato Moritaka: 17-sai
It’s a bit of a recurring theme from me that mainstream pop in Japan peaked in the 1970s and never really recovered that sense of melodic depth, economy and vitality. This song, 17-sai (“Seventeen years old”) is an interesting one … Continue reading
Filed under Classic Pop
Perfume: JPN
This Japan Times review of idol trio Perfume’s latest album proved a bit controversial, with some J-pop fans angry at me for comparing them to Girls’ Generation, which seemed like a reasonable comparison to make since both groups released electropop-influenced … Continue reading
Friends: Let’s Get Together Again
This review originally appeared in Japanese on Goblin.mu. Having secured their claim as home to Japan’s answer to chillwave with last year’s Hotel Mexico album “His Jewelled Letter Box”, Kyoto’s Second Royal Records seem intent on staking out ground in … Continue reading
Feature: Nagoya music scene
A couple of pieces from the Japan Times about the music scene in Nagoya and the general Aichi area here. The first one is an overview of the Nagoya music scene, focussing in particular on the role of the city’s independent … Continue reading
Filed under Features, Interviews
Interview: The Human League
Not strictly Japanese music, but a couple of months back I did an interview with Susan Ann Sulley from synthpop demigods The Human League in advance of their first Japan shows since the mid-80s. We talk a little bit about … Continue reading
Filed under Interviews
Strange Boutique (November 2011)
November’s column came out of a growing sense of unease among musicians about the way police all over the country seem to be cracking down on clubs and live venues for allowing people to dance after certain times. Needless to … Continue reading
Filed under Strange Boutique
Strange Boutique (October 2011)
October’s column dealt with an issue that I’m still ambivalent about, namely the pay-to-play system in place throughout most of Tokyo’s live scene. On the one hand, it’s obviously shitty to make bands pay for the privilege of appearing onstage, … Continue reading
Filed under Strange Boutique
