Go to a different city in a different country anywhere in the world and you’re going to find a unique independent music scene with artists whose sound can defy classification. Live from Tokyo proposes that the underground music scene in the thriving Japan metropolis deserves special recognition for its mixture of rock n roll and various other influences. Jumping from one musical artist to the next in Tokyo’s underground world, the documentary proffers up a selection of live performances and talking heads reinforcing the supposition that Tokyo is truly unique in its flavor. Maybe it is, but the feature is poorly edited together and the talent on display nothing that ever begs to be shown to the world, so you’d never know it.
Supporting aspiring local musicians is important, just as Live from Tokyo aims to do, as it introduces new qualities to the mainstream that might never have been assimilated otherwise. As some of the live musical displays prove just how valuable the underground influence can be, there are just as many agonizingly awful artists in the fold to subsequently sabotage the film’s argument. Sure, everyone has different tastes, and so what I’m calling garbage could be someone else’s cup of tea, but there are genuinely acts here that can’t really be incorporated into the mainstream, and that’s where the film’s overall purpose becomes unclear. For as much as Live from Tokyo argues in favor of the necessity of underground musicians, it seems to be trying just as hard to call what they do art, and thus gets lost between the two discussions. Furthermore, if the underground music scene in Tokyo is truly as vast as the film says, why do all the acts sort of blend into one another? For a film that wants to boast of the city’s musical diversity, it fails to gather the right variety.
DVD Bonus Features
There are none.
"Live from Tokyo" is on sale August 23, 2011 and is not rated. Documentary. Directed by Lewis Rapkin.
