[Song of the Day] ゆらゆら帝国 - ひとりぼっちの人工衛星

Song of the Day
Today's song of the day is a sad song from Japanese band name  ゆらゆら帝国 (Yura Yura Teikoku) and the song title is  ひとりぼっちの人工衛星 (Hitori bocchi no jinkoueisei)
which means "A Lonely Satellite" 

This song came out in 2007 and I've been listening to this song most of the time on my iPod and never get bored maybe because the lyric plus the music is making me sad and feel lonely at the same time. This song is talking about a satellite floating alone in the space and look down to the earth. So, the satellite can see people, sea, mountains, places and this made the satellite miss the earth so much.

Yura Yura Teikoku (ゆらゆら帝国, literally The Wobbling Empire) is a 3-piece band from Tokyo's underground music scene centered around Kōenji. They have an eclectic sound usually described as psychedelic rock. (source: wikipedia)

[Movie Review] Tokyo Sonata (2008)

Movie Review
At first I thought this film would be a depressing film to watch, but I was surprised that the film was actually very uplifting. Although it was a sad story, it has a very powerful message if you watch it to the end, that will encourage you to move on even when life gets to its darkest moment.

This story was about typical problems of a dysfunctional family in Japan. The leader of the family lost his job and was afraid to tell the family, the elder son joins American army and go to war, the younger son wanted to learn the piano but the father forbids him, the wife was depressed of trying to hold the family together. The film was so delicate and beautiful. It captures the feeling of each character and the whole depressive atmosphere of Tokyo as well. The pace was slow but not boring because you can follow the story very easily and you can sympathize with each one of the characters.

Definitely a must see movie!
9/10

 

Tokyo Sonata (トウキョウソナタ Tokyo sonata) is a 2008 film directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. It won the award for Best Film at the 3rd Asian Film Awards and received 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards nominations for Achievement in Directing and Best Screenplay. At the 2008 Cannes Film Festival it won the Prix Un Certain Regard. (source: wikipedia)

[Flick of the Day] Tokyo Story (1953)

Flick of the Day
I had a chance to watch this film at Japan Foundation Theater last year and I think this film is very unique.
It's a very simple but touching and profound film about the relationship between youth (sons), elder ship (parents/Grandparents) and also death itself.
Tokyo Story is not incredible for how massive it is, but for how simple its story and characters are. These are snapshots from every day life put into a context that is thoughtful, powerful, and engaging. A true masterpiece.
One of the greatest movies ever filmed.
撮影される最も大きい映画の1本

Japanese theatrical release poster

Tokyo Story (東京物語 Tokyo Monogatari) is a 1953 Japanese film directed by Yasujiro Ozu. It tells the story of an aging couple who travel to Tokyo to visit their grown children. The film contrasts the behavior of their children, who are too busy to pay them much attention, and their widowed daughter-in-law, who manages to host them properly. It is often regarded as Ozu's masterpiece, and has appeared several times in the British Film Institute lists of the greatest films ever made. (source : wikipedia)

[Song of the Night] Mono - Pure as snow

Song of the Night
While I was listening to this song, and I was thinking how great they sound. Then, I realize about life even though I can't say much about life. But when I listen to music like this I think a lot about it. What's life? We want to live, everything lives. Every human being, every animal and every plant. Life is such a beautiful thing. We have to appreciate nature, the world. Live your life and be one with the things of the nature. There are so many emotional moments connected to it.

It's a pure magic..

Mono are a post-rock group from Tokyo, Japan formed in 1999. The songs, all of which are instrumental, are usually focused on layered guitar melodies. Strings and pianos are also prominently featured in some songs.(source : wikipedia)

[Song of the Day] Atoms For Peace - Default

Song of the Day

Atoms For Peace is a supergroup formed by Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar and piano), Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea (bass), longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich (guitar, keyboards, synths), Joey Waronker of Beck & R.E.M. (drums) and instrumentalist Mauro Refosco (percussion)

I hated this at first listen, no melody whatsoever, but it does make you appreciate the textures more. After I digested this song for a while I think Thom Yorke found such a wonderful melody in this very complex chord progression. So, this album going to be really interesting and I'm quite looking forward to it.

8/10

[Song of the Night] Ryuichi Sakamoto- 'Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence'

The music is part of the film soundtrack of Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983) Japanese film directed by Nagisa Oshima. The more well known version features David Sylvian on vocals accompanying with Mr. Sakamoto.


This song just pure perfection. I can't stop listening to it. I can listen to it over and over again all day. I'd be so happy if one day I learnt how to play this song on a piano.
Absolutely gorgeous tune....

様々な感情を優しく美し­くしかしはっきりと訴えかけてくる芸術です。
ありがとう坂本先生。

Original Japanese poster

Round Midnight with Bill Evans Trio

Always a joyous experience listening to this. My Foolish Heart was the third tune of the Bill Evans Trio's first afternoon set at the Village Vanguard in New York that Sunday June 25th 1961. The trio played five sets altogether that Sunday. Interestingly, ironically, the first set opened with LaFaro's 'Gloria's Step' and the last set closed with his 'Jade Visions'.

 (Bill Evans – Piano, Scott LaFaro – Bass, Paul Motian – Drums)

[Song of the Day] Peace - Bloodshake

Song of the Day

I think their music is very rarely entirely revolutionary on its own. Stylistic influences are recognizable often, which is why a lot of people compare them to other bands.  I really like Peace, but they're not entirely mind-blowing refreshing, even though they are a breath of fresh air on the indie scene. 

8/10

[Album Review] Foals - Holy Fire

Album Review
I think this is the most assured Foals have ever sounded. I was a little disappointed that the new heavier ground they touched on the track 'Inhaler' and 'Providence' wasn't explored further, and they've lost a little bit of raw energy. But it's certainly catchy and the most accessible Foals have sounded.

A fine album from a fine band.

7/10

[Song of the Day] きのこ帝国 - ユーリカ

Song of the Day
The name of this band is kinoko teikoku which means "Mushroom Empire" name of the song is "Eureka"
I have to admit, it took me a while to get used to this song. I feel scared a bit at the first time I'm listening to it, but now that I've listened to it countless times, I absolutely love it. This is definitely more experimental than their older songs, but I'm still in awe of this band.
pretty amazing
8/10

Starting my first review with "My Bloody Valentine"

After 22 years, My Bloody Valentine released new album 'm b v' 


"My Bloody Valentine" have a massive impact on me and the way I've listen to music.Their album "Loveless" was came out in the early 90's and I heard for the first time 7 years ago when i'm in high school and I immediately felt in love with the album. It's the most influence album of all time in my opinion. It's created some of my favorite genre such as post rock, shoegaze, etc.
One thing i can only say for My Bloody Valentine  it's a fact that you can fall in to their music.
It's a very psychedelic thing, it's a very open space, it was create a universe for you. There's a lot of elements to this album It's still feel new and interesting  even though, it is very difficult nowadays to create ground breaking music and this album follow in the same way of "Loveless" you may think "How could possibly be groundbreaking?" I fell that it's almost like "Loveless" is broken all the ground which is this band can do, but My Bloody Valentine have a proof to us that they can still create groundbreaking music and continue to influence bands all over the world today. 

My thought on this album are
it's not as good as "Loveless" but still really beautiful sound.
In the album "Loveless" for some people might take a lot of time to digest and if that how it was for you and you have to sit down for quite awhile to get into "Loveless" then this album might take even longer and if you never got into My Bloody Valentine this album might not be the album that's get you into them. If you got loss in "Loveless" you might never get out of "m b v" because "m b v" is even more psychedelic, it even more spacious, it's even louder.
On this album the band take everything in all directions the song writing is very strong.
I think the band put a lot of afford in this album. I feel like My Bloody Valentine always create timeless music and they can take all the time to writing songs, producing the album, mixing it, recording. they can take as long as they like because it's not music that can grow old quickly
it's not disposable. It's music that you can't really forget and you can't really just say "Well, you know that was from a long time ago It's not relevant anymore."
My Bloody Valentine will always be create relevant music. If they create another album in 20 years. The album will still be relevant on the day that comes out in the 20 years after.

BBC said "Strip away the two-decade ‘delay’ and it’s a perfect follow-up to Loveless." 
I'm 100% positive someone has been waiting a long time to say this in a review.

It's an absolutely phenomenon album.It is a contender of album of the year maybe, maybe not you can definitely expect in the top 5. 

9/10