“Pictures Here are my favorite pictures from the trip thus far. I can’t believe how amazing some of these turned out. My camera is INSANE. Props to John, who bought it with me. thanks johnzey. Click on any image to see the full size picture in another window. Some of these make great backgrounds!
“
“In the previous blog entry I think it kind of came across as, “”who as has amazing japanese”" as if I bragging about my own abilities. My Japanese is nothing compared to any of the people I hung out with yesterday. I still have a long ways to go! sorry if anyone misunderstood that.”
Yes. Today was the day I needed. Since I came to Japan I’ve been surrounded by people that speak mostly English. It’s extremely difficult to learn a foreign language when everyone around you is speaking the wrong one.
But today was nice. I had a Japanese test, lunch with my good friend Mari, and dinner with a Korean friend Kyung Ho, who also speaks amazing Japanese. I spoke in almost entirely Japanese today, and I learned a shit ton. THIS is what I need.
Although…it doesn’t help to write these blogs in English. ROFL!!!!!11!
““
“About around a year ago I wrote a blog entry about Incubus new song, Anna Molly. In it, I said, “”it’s very rare that the first time you hear a song you know it’s going to be in your top 25 playlist for the next year.”" It’s hard to find a song so amazing that the first time through it becomes one of your favorites.
But quruli has done it! I just got their song, “”baranohana”" from iTunes Japan, and let me tell you: It is absolutely amazing. Since downloading it 3 hours ago I haven’t stopped listening to it. Play count should be around 50 by the end of the day.
Steady guitars, soft vocals, and an electronic melody lead this beautiful peace. Feels a bit like death cab for cutie meets the killers meets acidman. If you can get this song, do it. You won’t be disappointed.”
“bonobos. My favorite band of all time, certainly a difficult position to hold! What is it about bonobos that outweighs Shiina Ringo and THE BACK HORN, among dozens of others, to make them…the best?
It all started a long time ago. Well about a year and a half ago, during the end of my freshman year of college. At this point I was listening to mostly ‘abstract’ music: Shiina Ringo, DJ Krush; music very similar to what’s found in the tutorial videos I created. I love this style of music primarily because of the complexity. You listen to Shiina with a pair of nice headphones and your head will damn near explode with awe, especially songs like Souretsu and Shuukyuu. It’s hard not to be impressed!
Just before leaving for Japan to meet Airi, I discovered bonobos band through www.Keikaku.net. This is a fantastic website that provides in depth biographies of the great underground J-Pop scene. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of ‘above ground’ J Pop is good, but the stuff most people don’t know about, that’s what really shines! I was browsing the profiles and bonobos was the first band to really catch my eye. “”Reggae”" Now that’s a genre I don’t typically wander in.
Let me talk about reggae for a bit. In America, there are little to no solid ‘reggae’ bands. Many bands are usually mistaken as reggae because they produce ONE song with a Jamaican feel. Examples include Matisyahu, Sugar Ray, and 311, granted “”Someday”" and “”Amber”" are both incredible songs. Then people assume the only other kind of reggae is the type with a black guy bellowing over a set of marimbas. Enter Japan: There is literally a SEA of reggae artists with all sorts of styles: Reggae Rap, Reggae Rock, Reggae Electronica, etc. Chances are there exists a Reggae_______ band for every genre.
So how does bonobos stand out? What’s so great about them? To know about bonobos is to know about Fishmans. Fishmans is legendary among Japanese reggae bands, even among all Japanese bands! The standout vocals are really what defines this band. Instead of rapping, instead of bouncing along the percussion, lead vocalist Shinji Sato simply sings. His ridiculously high voice is filled with emotion and leads every song through every direction imaginable and without faltering. I highly recommend the song, “”Hikouki.”"
But while Fishmans are an incredible band, they don’t tickle me in quite the same way as bonobos. It could be the abundance of English vocals, which typically destroys a Japanese song, in my opinion, unless they are produced perfectly as in Heartsdales. bonobos, on the other hand, embraces their roots, and sing almost exclusively in Japanese, which I absolutely love. The subtle electronic elements in bonobos’ tracks make them slightly more enjoyable for me as well. Sometimes Fishman’s gets a bit too experimental and my interest wanders.
So now, I gotta describe exactly what bonobos sounds like. bonobos are, maybe more than any band I’ve ever come across, accessible. You can listen to almost any of their songs for the first time and instantly understand why they are so great; they’re simple yet creative. Case in point: ‘Thank You For the Music’ This was the first bonobos song I ever heard, and easily one of their best The song is led by a tri-percussion: clapping hands, bongo drums, and a standard kit. Light guitars and a bass line provide accent as the high vocals carry a melody that’s so catching it’s scary. And while there is English in the lyrics, “”Thank You for the Music”" fits in perfectly with it’s clearly discernible meaning. The song is so bright; all your cares drift away as you get lost in this amazing piece. I live in a fraternity full of guys that don’t speak Japanese and yet at least one person will be mumbling, “”sankyu for za myusic”" everyday. It’s that catchy.
Of course, one of bonobos’ strong points is their consistency. Of every bonobos song I have ever heard (and I own them all) there are maybe two that I rated three stars. Every song on “”Electlyric”" is 4 stars and above, and only one song on “”A, Un”" is less than 5. And it’s not like the music is so free and breezy that you’ll lose your interest. The nuances in every song keep things interesting; you’ll want to listen until the end. Then there’s the vocals. Oh dear. Lead singer Sai has the incredible ability to put emotion into a song through a high vocal range. Typically you’ll hear punk guys screaming in the low range, as in THE BACK HORN and Linkin Park, or maybe Shiina Ringo grinding out a chorus somewhere in the middle. Bonobos has a MALE vocalist and he can hit a high note with more emotion than any female vocalist I’ve ever heard. Instances such as the climax of “”Atarashi Hi”" really exemplify this.
Surprisingly enough, bonobos has a very large variety of music, with both slow, fast, and even hyper-speed (listen to “”Floating”") songs. Some songs that are perfect for studying, other songs that you want to do nothing but listen to. Sad songs, happy songs, depressing songs, carefree songs. There’s one song on the ‘Golden Days’ mini album called, “”Kind Gravity”" that’s nothing but a quiet set of piano chords, nearly non-existent percussion, and vocals. You name it, they got it. And yet they always manage to pull it off in a distinctly reggae feel. Now that’s cool.
So really, what is it that makes me LOVE bonobos? Let me start from the beginning again. I discovered this band just before leaving to Japan to meet Airi. I got back from Japan after purchasing two more of their albums, and then I started to listen. Now, if you don’t know the story about Airi or not, the end result is that things didn’t turn out too sweet and for a while I was the most depressed I’ve ever been. Luckily, I had 3 solid bonobos albums at my side, keeping me sane. One of my fraternity brothers once asked me, “”how can you push through this? Isn’t it hard for you?”" My answer to him was, “”without this band, I honestly don’t think I could. They’re keeping my spirits at a manageable level.”"
Finally, much like Shiina Ringo, THE BACK HORN, and any other truly talented band, bonobos is incredible live. I would argue their live performances outweigh the CD recordings. “”On and On”" is perhaps the greatest live song I’ve ever seen, with an absolutely beautiful mix of percussion and brass.
Maybe it’s because they pulled me through some of the rougher parts of my life. Maybe it’s because on average bonobos has the highest song ratings in my music collection. Or maybe it’s because they’re a goofy Japanese reggae band. The fact is I love this band more than the rest!
Sank yu for za music!
Top Songs:
1: Beautiful
2: Atarashi Hi
3: Haru No Arashi
4. Gozen No Hikari
5. On and On”
I decided to take a break from my homework for a bit. Today was the first day of class and we already have a ton of homework. I’ve been working since I got home 4 hours ago. But it’s so nice having a major you like, I don’t mind spending hours a day studying Japanese. As long as I still have time to exercise and eat each day, I’m good to go!
On a more nostalgic note, I created a sampler roughly 3 years ago called HW break in which I tricked on a bunch of bark at a lake by my house. LOL @ THAT!
omelette, then more Japanese. PEACE!
I start school tomorrow, IN JAPAN!
That is crazy. Actually tomorrow is the opening ceremony and I’m sure it’ll be a blast. I’ve already met a ton of friends at Keio; everyone here is really friendly. It’s quite the different vibe from my fraternity. I felt a lot of people were still struggling to find themselves there. Everyone here has got a plan and is eager to learn, it’s really a great environment! The fraternity was a lot of fun for sure, but it’s nice to have a change of pace.
But get this. I looked down today and had 6 mosquitoes on me at one time. WTF.
Also, quit taking pictures of yourself. Yes, I am talking about you.
“I’ve decided to write articles on my three favorite musical artists. There will be permanent links to these articles anywhere their name is displayed on the site.
Tonight is Shiina Ringo.
Shiina Ringo is a genius. She is literally a genius. From “”Kokode Kisu Shite”" to “”Toumei Ningen,”" Shiina covers all musical genres with incredible grace. Her deep lyrics, emotional vocals, and mind boggling complex music easily makes Shiina Ringo my favorite musician in the world.
I’ll begin by addressing Shiina’s third solo album, “”Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana.”" This is hands down my favorite album of all time. Furthermore, this is the only album in my 20 gigabyte collection to receive a perfect score: 5 stars for every song. Meaning: at one point each song on this CD was my favorite song. The lyrics for the album are written in old style Japanese and every song flows precisely into the next, making it necessary to sit down and listen all in one go. I believe an analysis of this album would be a good way to analyze Ringo as a whole.
Note: while listening to Shiina Ringo it’s essential to be properly equipped with a nice pair of headphones. The intricacies in this album are worth their weight in the extra cash you’ll need to hear them.
1. Shuuykuu: The first song I ever heard from Shiina Ringo. A friend of mine sent it to me during 9th grade. From that day until now, the song continues to amaze me with it’s complexity. There must be 20 different instruments in this song alone, and get this: Ringo composed the music for ALL of them. Like I said, she’s a genius. From the terrifying intro to the wicked style change 60 seconds in, this song grabs hold of you from the beginning and takes you on a roller coaster ride through madness, weaving through a rainbow of emotions. This is also the first song used in my Center of Gravity tutorial, if you’d like to listen (although the quality is rather low).
2. Doppleganger: This song is introduced with fuzzy percussion, a jewelry box solo, and low quality sound bytes. Things pick up after a minute: the tempo doubles, several new instruments kick in, and the vocals fall underwater. Oboes and flutes lead the song rest of the song. The wonderful solo is a blend of percussion and disorder, which drop off into the last minute of steady snare taps. The sounds ends brilliantly with what at first seems to be the CD skipping but is later realized as a return to the jewelry box from the beginning.
3. Meisai: This song is great for comparing Ringo to other musicians. Why? Because for the most part, it’s a pretty standard rock song. Guitars, basic drum kit, non-altered vocals, and a bass. Oh yea, and a CRAZY fiddle. Unlike most songs, which are led by the guitar, a Chinese fiddle plows the way in this upbeat rock tune. It’s standard song is most other regards, but anything ‘standard’ done by Ringo ends up as polished perfection. This track is a shinning example of that: a brilliant rock song, but with an angry fiddle. The conclusion is clever, with the sound of Ringo lighting a cigarette, almost as if to quell the stress and commotion of the song.
4. Odaijini: The albums only, “”slow song.”" 4 very distinct elements work together to make this beautiful piece work. First is the tormented vocals, delivered perfectly by Ringo’s nasal voice. Accompanying the vocals is a simple piano backdrop. These elements alone would make a beautiful song, but of course Ringo brings it to a different, bizarre level instead. The third element is an odd yet suitable radio broadcast, filled with static and indiscernible language. The final piece, a wailing distortion guitar, pulls everything together for a somewhat controlled chaos.
5. Yattsuke Shigoto: This song has the coolest intro I’ve ever heard. Imagine you’ve just turned on an old radio and are flipping through channels looking for something you like. There is a classical station, a french talk show, and a whole bunch of static. You find a station you like and the song starts. About 15 measures in the downbeat hits and the static cuts out. Suddenly the song you were trying to find on the old radio becomes a symphony playing 5 feet from your face. Symphony: that’s the word to describe this song. With no conventional ‘rock’ instruments, this piece makes do with strings galore, pianos and even a harpsichord. The 5 note whistle 3 and a half minutes into the song is Ringo at her best: it’s as if the person that turned on the radio has caught on to the song, and is whistling along. The ending is played out perfectly between the piano and harpsichord. This is the last song of my titanium ankles tutorial, if you’d like a sample.
6. Kuki: A haunting bass line with foreboding cellos sets the dark tone for Kuki, which is the perfect complement to Yattsuke Shigoto. Violins pick things up about 30 seconds in, and the tone is lifted. Just when things begin to brighten, the violins cut and piano leads things back into the dark. The song continues to play out in a similar fashion: an inevitable struggle to escape from darkness. All through the song it feels as if we’re bending over backwards to break free. Each chorus makes a futile attempt to lift, only to be destroyed by the verse. The final chorus explodes with the an absolutely beautiful high note melody, putting an end to the depression.
7. Toroshiku: Before beat boxing became mainstream, ringo used her voice as the beginning percussion in Toroshiku. The song is so simple to begin with, nothing but voices. Melody, bass, percussion: all handled by the vocal folds…for a bit. Suddenly an intense racket explodes from nowhere, completely changing the pace of the song. Before you can catch your breath, the clamour is ripped away and things return to normal. For the rest of the song, individual instruments from the original uproar tease the verse, only to return as a whole during the obnoxiously brilliant chorus. A final style change is added towards the end of the song, which returns to the original pace before sliding into Okonomide.
8. Okonomide: A smooth jazz like piece led by a steady harpsichord and simple drums. The song really shines during the chorus when the vocal melody is reinvented in one-two pairs. An obscure train broadcast is played during the latter half of the song, and yes, it somehow fits in perfectly. Ringo splices the last “”thank you”" and uses it as additional percussion for a measure. The climatic chorus is preceded by a ‘teaser’: the sounds of crickets chirping with Ringo singing over it. The fade into Ishiki with the sound of compressing gasses is my favorite section on the album.
9. Ishiki: After thoroughly listening to this album more than 25 times, I’ve decided that Ishiki is my overall favorite track. Playful is the best way to describe the song. A light guitar and flute work together throughout the piece, guiding the vocals, which are some of Ringo’s best. She covers a wide range with some of the most intense lows in her collection. Although it is probably the most ‘simple’ piece on the album, the melody is simply golden. The song gives me the same anxious joy I get just before finishing my homework. It was the second song of my titanium ankles video and ends quickly to the sound of rail cars and ‘do not cross’ signals.
10. Poltergeist: The song has perhaps the strangest blend of styles ever: circus instruments and strings. It feels like you’re walking through a carnival with a symphony following you. And just somehow, it works out incredibly. The wispy melody is just the ticket!
11. Souretsu: This is the single most complex song I’ve ever heard. An almost evil strings intro coupled with sitars set the stage for another petrifying track. The overall tone is extremely dark, with instruments coming and going just to dampen the mood. Layers upon layers of vocals in addition to the haunting organs tear the melody back forth. The final style change makes the song feel as if is rising from the dead, absolu
tely brilliant! The track ends with the volume doubling as every instrument used on the album is slowly added to the melting pot of insanity.
Now THAT is an album. With every instrument, every note, and every word for each song chosen and composed by ringo, it’ easy to see what makes this woman a musical genius. And that’s just ONE of her albums. Each album is distinctly different, touching genres like metal and reggae and everything in between. If you’re into rock, check out Muzai Moratorium. Feel like Jazz? Pick up Adult. I have never met someone that wasn’t impressed by the beautiful complexity of Ringo’s music. Check her out.
Top Songs: 1. Keshou Naoshi 2. Ishiki 3. Souretsu 4. Tomei Ningen 5. Kabukichou no Jou”