Without Maps / Samoans split cassette
I designed and hand-made the packaging for a split cassette EP. There was one song each by Without Maps and Samoans. If you move the tab on the left up or down, the letters change to say either of the band names.
Dead Spex - Her Knee, And She
I designed and hand-crafted the packaging for my old band's EP. It's still available from 49s vs Dolphins, a record label I help run.
Soundshock articles
I've been contributing regularly to Soundshock.co.uk, the most popular UK music webzine without a print publication. Here are excerpts of the latest ones, and links to the full articles.
The Dismemberment Plan live review.
(@ Shibuya O-West, Tokyo)
"...The sort of people who care about bands like this REALLY cared about The Dismemberment Plan. Considering that they split up some 7 years ago, anyone who can claim to have actually seen them gets major show-off points among friends. This reunion - in celebration of their recently re-released "Emergency & I" album - is among the wildest dreams for some people but, yes, that's definitely them, standing up there in shirts and cardigans, a little more facial hair but not too old yet, playing the songs again..."
Full article: [click]
Mono interview.
I originally wrote and asked the questions in Japanese, then translated them into English for the article.
"...Everything they release seems to get called "their best yet", and this was no different. After this much time, I wonder what inspires the band to make something so powerful. The answer, Goto says, "is going to sound kind of weird. When we compose, it's like we just have to convert the inspiration welling up inside us into sound. At shows, each band member works together to share that inspiration with the people who came to see us."..."
Full article: [click]
Across The Sun - Before The Night Takes Us (album review).
"...Across The Sun's distinguishing feature is their taste for the dramatic. The crooned, clean vocals warble on about hearts and salvation or something, over both chug-a-lug riffs and "meaningful" reverberous chasms. The guitar frequently peals off into a Hollywood, "riding the horse into the sunset, injured but triumphant" kind of guitar solo. Songs often feature violin or piano, because they are grown-up instruments that are classy and stuff..."
Full article: [click]
Protest The Hero - Scurrilous (album review).
"...Protest The Hero are back with their latest contribution to the hardest difficulty setting on Guitar Hero. As usual, their fretboard tapping is impressive simply as a feat of stamina..."
Full article: [click]
Conan / Slomatics (split EP review).
"...The implication is that the music has somehow tapped into some ancient, older power. It's transmitting the wrath of Thor, or Mars, or nature itself. But, if it had really managed to channel the essence of rock, then it wouldn't need to..."
Full article: [click]
Wolf - Legion of Bastards (album review).
"...Perhaps you've heard of Iron Maiden. They play in stadiums to tens of thousands of people, and are easily one of the most famous bands to ever have existed. They've written more albums than they've had birthdays, and that's saying something. Oh, you have heard of them? So have Wolf.."
Full article: [click]
The Dismemberment Plan live review.(@ Shibuya O-West, Tokyo)
"...The sort of people who care about bands like this REALLY cared about The Dismemberment Plan. Considering that they split up some 7 years ago, anyone who can claim to have actually seen them gets major show-off points among friends. This reunion - in celebration of their recently re-released "Emergency & I" album - is among the wildest dreams for some people but, yes, that's definitely them, standing up there in shirts and cardigans, a little more facial hair but not too old yet, playing the songs again..."
Full article: [click]
Mono interview.
I originally wrote and asked the questions in Japanese, then translated them into English for the article.
"...Everything they release seems to get called "their best yet", and this was no different. After this much time, I wonder what inspires the band to make something so powerful. The answer, Goto says, "is going to sound kind of weird. When we compose, it's like we just have to convert the inspiration welling up inside us into sound. At shows, each band member works together to share that inspiration with the people who came to see us."..."
Full article: [click]
"...Across The Sun's distinguishing feature is their taste for the dramatic. The crooned, clean vocals warble on about hearts and salvation or something, over both chug-a-lug riffs and "meaningful" reverberous chasms. The guitar frequently peals off into a Hollywood, "riding the horse into the sunset, injured but triumphant" kind of guitar solo. Songs often feature violin or piano, because they are grown-up instruments that are classy and stuff..."
Full article: [click]
Protest The Hero - Scurrilous (album review).
"...Protest The Hero are back with their latest contribution to the hardest difficulty setting on Guitar Hero. As usual, their fretboard tapping is impressive simply as a feat of stamina..."
Full article: [click]
Conan / Slomatics (split EP review).
"...The implication is that the music has somehow tapped into some ancient, older power. It's transmitting the wrath of Thor, or Mars, or nature itself. But, if it had really managed to channel the essence of rock, then it wouldn't need to..."
Full article: [click]
Wolf - Legion of Bastards (album review).
"...Perhaps you've heard of Iron Maiden. They play in stadiums to tens of thousands of people, and are easily one of the most famous bands to ever have existed. They've written more albums than they've had birthdays, and that's saying something. Oh, you have heard of them? So have Wolf.."
Full article: [click]
Without Maps - Cellar Tapes ep design
I did the artwork for "Cellar Tapes", the debut release by Without Maps. It comes out on 11th April, via 49s vs. Dolphins records - a label I run with my friends.
I should note that my colleague at 49s did the text and spraypainting. All I was responsible for was the front cover.
You can listen to the songs at the 49s vs Dolphins website, which is here:
http://49svsdolphins.bandcamp.com/album/without-maps-cellar-tapes-ep
I should note that my colleague at 49s did the text and spraypainting. All I was responsible for was the front cover.
You can listen to the songs at the 49s vs Dolphins website, which is here:
http://49svsdolphins.bandcamp.com/album/without-maps-cellar-tapes-ep
Gay For Johnny Depp - What Doesn't Kill You, Eventually Kills You review
A review of "What Doesn't Kill You, Eventually Kills You", by Gay For Johnny Depp, for Soundshock.
"...In truth, the sex puns and swearing simply conceal the same anti-establishment message that punk's been banging on about for years..."
http://www.soundshock.co.uk/index.php/cd-reviews/2903-gay-for-johnny-depp-what-doesnt-kill-you-eventually-kills-you
Trap Them - Darker Handcraft review
A review of "Darker Handcraft", by Trap Them, for Soundshock.
"...It's one thing to punch your listeners in the face, but quite another to get them to enjoy it..."
http://www.soundshock.co.uk/index.php/cd-reviews/2860-trap-them-darker-handcraft-album-review-metal
Boris Live In Japan DVD review
A review of the new live DVD by the Japanese rock band Boris, over at Soundshock.
"...the band cover everything they do with an enveloping sludge that takes over any space in happens to flow into - including both the Tokyo live house this DVD was filmed in, and your front room..."
http://www.soundshock.co.uk/index.php/cd-reviews/2761-boris-live-in-japan-dvd-review-metal
Japan's Stereo
I've started blogging about music in Japan for a website called "My Ninja Please". Here are some subjects, excerpts and links:
The Dismemberment Plan
...The Dismemberment Plan played together from the late 90s to the early 00s. The sort of people who care about bands like this REALLY cared about this band...
Sour
AKB48
...Part of the reason for the band’s omnipresence is their strength in numbers: that “48″ isn’t meaningless. Never mind media coverage, they practically have enough members to visit each fan in person. Their music videos are a cuteness overload on par with a puppy-dog stampede. There are enough bright colours and dazzling smiles to give you a migraine...
Using English
...The implied meaning is that music without comprehensible lyrics is as pointless as an inflatable dartboard. But where does that leave your average Japanese artist, or indeed any musician whose native language is less universal than English? If the listener is foreign, do a band’s songs become worthless? If a Japanese tree falls in an American forest, does it make a sound?...
All Tomorrow's Parties
...November’s best music news was the announcement of All Tomorrow’s Parties’ first Tokyo concert. If you happen to be a British music nerd then you already know who they are – a company named after an old Velvet Underground single that consistently books the bands you thought you’d never get to see...
The Dismemberment Plan
...The Dismemberment Plan played together from the late 90s to the early 00s. The sort of people who care about bands like this REALLY cared about this band...
Sour
...Sour have released a new music video. Incidentally, the word “released” in that previous sentence could easily have been replaced by a verb like “uncorked”, or perhaps “unleashed”. The project deserves that much drama – it’s less of a video and more a state-of-the-art web extravaganza...
AKB48
...Part of the reason for the band’s omnipresence is their strength in numbers: that “48″ isn’t meaningless. Never mind media coverage, they practically have enough members to visit each fan in person. Their music videos are a cuteness overload on par with a puppy-dog stampede. There are enough bright colours and dazzling smiles to give you a migraine...
Using English
...The implied meaning is that music without comprehensible lyrics is as pointless as an inflatable dartboard. But where does that leave your average Japanese artist, or indeed any musician whose native language is less universal than English? If the listener is foreign, do a band’s songs become worthless? If a Japanese tree falls in an American forest, does it make a sound?...
All Tomorrow's Parties
...November’s best music news was the announcement of All Tomorrow’s Parties’ first Tokyo concert. If you happen to be a British music nerd then you already know who they are – a company named after an old Velvet Underground single that consistently books the bands you thought you’d never get to see...
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