“Dog Years” DVD (director: Warren Sroka and Brent Willis)

Smart and emotive indie

This little indie film comes across with little fanfare or notice, but damned if it doesn’t deliver with an entertaining and complex storyline that I fell into right away. Featuring both directors (who are also the writers, commendably) in the lead acting roles, “Dog Years” is the tale of a pair of estranged American brothers who find themselves together in Tokyo (both for different reasons), and working to resolve their family issues in very different ways.

The pair don’t get along, being of completely different temperaments and attitudes. Elliiot’s dismissive attitude towards his brother Ben’s overbearing positivity is gradually eroded, until he starts to see a light at the tunnel during his business trip to Japan. Ben’s relationship with the culture also becomes strained, but the brothers come to terms with their predicaments in different ways. This is a story of human interaction and maturation, and it works pretty well.

Billed as a sort of comedy-drama, even on the packaging, I found “Dog Years” to be a bit more serious than that. It’s not perfect, but there’s solid acting and a great story here that make for a really enlightening and engrossing watch. No spoilers here, but suffice to say, this is a completely worthy little indie film with much to offer. Nice work, guys.

MVD Visual

"Electric Button (Moon & Cherry)" DVD (director: Yuki Tanada)

This small-time Japanese indie from first-time director Tanada doesn't succeed with glitz nor glamor, but gets by with (I hate to say it, but it's true...) charm and heart. It's a tale of a virginal young man (Tadokoro) who joins an erotic writers club, only to find that the club's most successful writer is a young woman. Taking him under her wing, the young woman (named Mayama), proceeds to school the young man in the art of sex, putting him through all sorts of trials, presumably as fodder for her own literary work.

Without giving away too many spoilers, Todokoro finds himself at a crossroads well into his sexual education, and things take a turn for the worse. With a small amount of humor, a realistic script, and a tantalizing amount of sex, "Electric Button" is a charming adult drama that deserves a bigger audience.

Tidepoint Pictures/MVD Visual

Sake: SAKEMOTO - Premium Junmai Sake

Always wanted to try some really good sake, and thanks to SakeOne (an American sake importer and brewer), I can say I've had something really delicious from the sake realm.

SakeMoto is a sake imported from Japan and crafted with rice from the Yamaguchi region, and brewed with mountain-sourced water from the Nada region. Not being much of a Japan-o-phile, this all means "nada" to me, but it sounds good, anyway, being all pure and natural.

Getting down to the tasting, SakeMoto pours, naturally, clean and clear. The aroma is slightly fruity and even wine-like. The taste is also light, with a hint of sweet fruitiness (again, wine comparisons abound). It all concludes with a dry, warming finish. 

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SakeMoto is a subtle and very tasty sake, easy to sip and enjoy. It's a modest (and wine-caliber) 14.7% ABV, and retails in the USA for about $11 per 720mL bottle. I say, pick this one up (it's available in all states, as well as Canada, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean). I will definitely be having SakeMoto again!

Thanx to Skye Morgan and Charles Communications for the opportunity to try this one!

SakeOne site

"1-Ichi" DVD (director: Masato Tanno)

This 2003 Japanese prequel to the classic "Ichi The Killer" is less horror, more bloody, street-fighting action film. And it works just fine. Subtitled in English, "Ichi" is based on a popular manga comic series, and is a tale of Shiroichi -- a soft spoken, backward wuss who "gets off" on watching violent street fights. Yes, you read that correctly. He gets hard-ons (and more) while watching people get beat-downs. Well, Shiroichi (aka Ichi) gets bullied and beaten himself for his passive ways , and before long, his rage builds. When he finally releases his internalized anger, he annihilates an entire street gang, murdering everyone in a bloody rage.

Along the ride, we see rival fighters attempting to one-up their "schoolmates" in bloody, violent fist-fights, oftentimes vying for the attention of the squealing schoolgirls. Ichi is always on the periphery, never wanting to take part in the fights, but when he does, it's quite a blood-bath.

"1-Ichi" isn't a brilliant film, by any means, but it is a fun and ultra-violent romp (with elements of humor) that could only come from Japan. I liked this one.

(Unearthed Films)

Mono - "For My Parents" album teaser

Due for release on September 4, 2012 via Temporary Residence, Japanese kings (and queen) of awesomeness, Mono, release their new studio work, "For My Parents". Here's the first teaser video. I am stoked.

Shonen Knife - "Live At Mohawk Place 2009" DVD

Possibly the best-known (and most beloved) Japanese rock act on these shores, this Osaka-based trio have, for 25 years now, cornered the market on cute garage pop-punk. Yes, the 3 ladies of Shonen Knife sing songs about jellybeans, giant kitties, banana chips, and how much they love chocobars. It may sound silly, but it's somehow endearing, and not forced or childish. And as cute as Shonen Knife may be, they prove that they have the musical chops to match. Imagine a collision of the Ramones with the Monkees, add some Hello Kitty, and you shouldn't be far off the mark. Shonen Knife's catchy, melodic, and energetic tunes are full of spunkiness and upbeat vibes. They are simply adorable, and their heavier songs kick ass, too. This live DVD was filmed in Buffalo on the band's 2009 tour, and shows a small but enthusiastic audience soaking in Osaka's favorite daughters' energy and infectious charm. It's well-filmed, the band were on fire, and this one should please just about anyone. I am left more a fan now than before, if that tells you anything!
(Good Charamel Recordsvia MVD Visual)


Shonen Knife site

Mono - "Holy Ground: NYC Live With The Wordless Music Orchestra" CD/DVD

Among their post-rock brethren, Japanese loud-soft rockers Mono are perhaps the most disciplined and symphonic of all. Their devastatingly intense live shows are consistently among the very best concerts I've ever seen, and it seems I'm not alone in that sentiment. So, joining up with a full orchestra to perform for 2 consecutive nights in New York doesn't seem much of a stretch for this band.

Building with the string section in the opener, "Ashes In The Snow", Mono and the Wordless Music Orchestra lead into the swarming crescendos of "Burial At Sea", as the band rides a cascade of swirling noise and bombastic percussion. "Pure As Snow" is epic -- with mop-haired guitarist Taka Goto kicking over his chair and attacking his guitar and effects boxes with reckless abandon. My favorite, "Halcyon (Beautiful Days)" is as beautiful and majestic as it gets, with the orchestra enhancing the band's gorgeous melodies and crushing finale.

Mono's strength lies in their mastery of juxtaposing gentle, soft guitar lullabies with powerful waves of amped-up noise. Their music is simultaneously energetic, lilting, monolithic, gentle, cathartic, peaceful, savage, and sorrowful...yet it always finishes with unquestionable hopefulness and humble humanity. "Holy Ground" is possibly the group at it's pinnacle. Mixing by Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Isis, Soundgarden) brings the live experience up to par with the studio recordings, while the DVD is a no-frills (but multi-camera) affair that more accurately represents the live experience than their 2007 tour documentary, "The Sky Remains The Same As Ever". "Holy Ground: NYC Live" is a splendid package, and priced more than reasonably. It's a must-see for fans as well as those curious about Mono's blindingly evocative and gorgeous experimental rock. (Temporary Residence)

Mono's website

Unholy Grave - "Grind Killers" CD

Ah, this one is interesting. Unholy Grave are a veteran grindcore act from Japan who've released spades of split LPs, EPs, and cassettes since 1993. This 23-track, 34-minute blast was recorded live in a Dutch studio, and is a growly, lo-fi clot of brief grind blasts that could easily be a mid-80's UK act. Tracks are pretty well interchangeable, save for a faithful (and humorous) cover of the Ramones' "Beat On The Brat", and Unholy Terror's political direction is definitely more punk than metal. Tracks like "No Racial Superiority" mince no words. And a number of anti-terrorism tracks also show that Unholy Grave aren't all about fantasy or "evil" for evil's sake. This is pure, uncut crust/grind cut from the same cloth as early Napalm Death. Cool and fun. (Selfmadegod Records)

Unholyspace