Lost In Translation

The Great Burger

The Great Burger has some pretty tasty burgers with homemade buns in Harajuku, however, the bacon cheese burger's bacon is really ham-which is disappointing. Also, ketchup and mustard in packets-those squeeze bottles are a minor luxury-it's worth the splurge.

Festival Drum

A drum for a matsuri in Suidobashi over Golden Week.

 

In Search Of A Character

I just finished reading Graham Greene’s journals from two separate African journeys in the book In Search of A Character. It contains “The Congo Journal” and “Convoy To West Africa.” Both of these journeys resulted in novels based on his experiences there: A Burnt-Out Case and The Heart of the Matter (one of my personal favorites since it was the first Graham Greene novel I read). I really enjoyed these brief journals. I have always enjoyed Greene’s travel writing in books like Journey Without Maps and The Lawless Roads and these journals provide that kind of detail and description. I guess it isn’t essential reading for the average Greene reader and only of interest to scholars and big fans-I expect to read his autobiographies soon as well as some of the biographies out there eventually.

Double Tall

Here's a latte from a funky Seattle-independent style cafe, Double Tall, in Harajuku.

 

Gateways To Geekery: The Fall

I know a little about The Fall and like the little I've heard, but they have so many albums that it's a little bit intimidating to try and figure out where to start hence the AV Club's write up is useful:

Why it’s daunting: At more than 30 years and (with the new Your Future Our Clutter) 28 studio albums, The Fall is one of the most prolific and longest-running bands to ever squirm out of the British post-punk scene, but its frequent stylistic shifts—thanks primarily to leader Mark E. Smith, who tends to sack his bandmates whenever the wind changes—makes it difficult for newcomers to find a proper point of entry. The group’s biggest fan, John Peel, once famously said that the reason he loved his favorite band so was that “they are always different; they are always the same,” by which he meant that Smith’s caustic speak-sing renders even his greater leaps of faith (into say, flaccid Eurovision synth-pop or mock country) into something that’s still unmistakably The Fall. 

But by that same token, neophytes could easily come away with a blinkered or even completely inaccurate impression of what the band is capable of, based solely on a handful of out-of-context songs. Not helping matters: a seemingly bottomless well of redundant, repackaged compilations, assemblies of alternate studio takes, and live albums that confuse even the most diligent collectors. And did we mention that The Fall’s most consistent qualities are its tendency toward repetition and abrasion, while Smith’s hectoring, peculiarly pronounced-ah! vocal style is often put into the service of freeform absurdist narratives full of slanting Wyndham Lewis and H.P. Lovecraft references, inside jokes about obscure British estates and long-gone politicians, and surrealist wordplay that values meaning less than rhythmic punch? Add all that to Smith’s hunchbacked, cantankerous anti-charisma, and it’s little wonder The Fall has always retained an air of cult exclusivity.

Possible gateway: 50,000 Fall Fans Can’t Be Wrong: 39 Golden Greats

Ma-La-Menso

Ma-La-Menso is a chinese restaurant in Lumine 1's The Kitchen at the B2 level in Shinjuku station that has some great lunch specials. Here is the mabo dofu, a bargain at 780 yen.

 

Anvil: The Story of Anvil

I recently watched the documentary on the heavy metal band Anvil: The Story of Anvil and found it very compelling. You have to hand it to these loveable losers they just won’t give up on what they love so much. They are loveable characters as well-Lips and Rob-have been best friends since high school and now are in their 50s pursuing their dreams of rock stardom. The film shows them suffering through an excruciating European tour and the recording of a new record with the producer of their well-received and cherished debut, which lands them in Japan at a huge rock festival playing to one their largest crowds to date. This mirrors their start where they played a big rock festival in Japan with bands like Bon Jovi. It seems that with the success of this film they have been able to quit their day jobs and devote their full time to rock-n-roll. It is truly an inspiring story.