Despite the Internet’s love of the form, the list brings with it a few unpleasant side effects. Being completely cliche, for one. More subtly unnerving, though, is the implication of expertise one takes on by making a “best” list. Plenty of comment-box philosophers have shed light on this – “what makes YOU entitled to tell…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUQs_1BGskU&hl=en_US&fs=1&] One of 2010’s better J-Pop surprises has been IMALU. Her song “そんな名前 欲しくないよ” has been one of the best singles of the year thus far, it’s mix of feel-good pop rubbing against her rather ennui-rich voice. Now she follows that number with “Uh Uh,” the title track to an upcoming film I know nothing…
Arashi “Troublemaker” – A college friend of mine once told me Arashi was her favorite Japanese boy band because they debuted the same year she started junior high in Japan. After spending more time with Arashi’s music and the current-day junior high school girls who adore them (I’m a teacher, gutter-minded people), everything suddenly makes…