indie return

Sorry. I've been busy. The next post I wanted to do was a huge review of The National, but that would have taken a lot more effort and time than I could have afforded to give at that point.

But I am here! And I'm hoping that I can start downloading new music again (and re-downloading all the old music that I lost, too).

Last week I spent $140 on tickets to Dark Was The Night, an concert and HIV/AIDS benefit show featuring artists (including the National, Bon Iver, Feist) that played on the CD of the same name for the same cause. I haven't told my parents yet. Anyway, I picked up the CD itself today, and will give it a listen tomorrow. I'll post who's playing at the concert later. It's on Sunday May 3rd at Radio City Music Hall. I'm thinking it'll be something of a post-SAT reward.

But for now, Wolf Parade. I've been listening to these guys all week, and for some reason I can't get enough. I think Wolf Parade is what the Strokes would be if they went indie. I'm not describing them very well, but here is a video of their song "Dinner Bells." I don't know why the video is what it is.



Also, I bought really sick Mix-Style headphones at Urban Outfitters last weekend. They're from Japan. And like all things from Japan, they are really sweet (the sound quality is fantastic, they look crazy, and they keep my ears warm!)

Dedicated to Olivia Harris

THE SONG THAT STARTED IT ALL.

This song is probably the reason that Olivia and I spend so much time on the seventh floor of the school building playing guitar and screeching like no one's business. It's so much fun, singing as if there aren't teachers all around us giving us strange looks!

This is the beloved intro song of the classic Taiwanese Drama, Meteor Garden. Weird that the video for the song is from some other drama, but anyway, without further ado, 情非得已 by Harlem Yu (DUDE that rhymed!):


By the way, I'm sorry if the video doesn't work or loads slowly, embedding was disabled for each of the uploaded videos of this song on YouTube, so I had to look for it on tudou. It looks cool, though, right? :D

You're making good progress with your Mandarin, Olivia. Keep up the hard work, Pal!

I won't forget you.

After a semi-forceful/hostile text message from Olivia (ah, affectionate badgering! <3), I am here with a quick but necessary update!

This song was sent to me a while ago by one of my dearest friends, and I love its sweet and heartwarming sound (and lyrics). It's one of those feel-good songs that I just can't get bored of. Unfortunately I don't know much at all about this group and can't give them a good introduction, but according to the video info, this song is from thirteen years ago in 1996 (it makes me feel lovingly embarrassed thinking about American music from the 90's). Here it is, "Cherry" by SPITZ with English subtitles for your viewing enjoyment:


I hope this friend of mine knows I'll never forget her, and everyone else dear to me, you know who you are (or at least I really hope you do). You show me kindness and shape me each day, and you make me a better person; thanks, and this song goes out to you! :)

Dedicated to Lisa Chen

She's so lucky... 

and Brittany knows all about it.

Ripped off of the potato website! TUDOU!! LOVE LOVE LOVE

Love at First Listen

He may look like your average emo-kid, but he's not, I can assure you. His name is Adam Lambert, and he is a top 13 semi-finalist currently in American Idol. He is really really amazing, and he rocks the Pete Wentz look with no fear. He is all sexy and all beautiful vocals. His falsetto is outrageous. God bless this man. He deserves a legitimate and long-lasting career.

He writes his own stuff, has played Fiyero in Wicked LA, performs in cabarets, and sometimes dresses like Freddie Mercury. I'm deeply in love.

This evening, he performed "Black or White" by MJ, and he was SO amazing. As soon as someone gets the video online without  looking like it came from directly from a small TV, I am downloading it for keeps. But for now, I'll leave you with Satisfaction.

Fearless

Jazmine Sullivan, a Philadelphia native who sounds very much like Lauryn Hill, is extremely talented. Already featured on Jimmy Kimmel and with 5 nominations from the Grammys, she is an accomplished singer/songwriter who has just created her first album with mostly her own works. Of course, she is an R&B girl, but she sounds remarkably Caribbean in her biggest hit "Need U Bad". That song is just slamming, and she wrote it along with Missy Elliot (my favorite). It is well crafted and polished, and it is clear that this Missy Elliot protege is learning well from the hitmakers. Her other large hit "Bust Your Windows" is purely enjoyment, from its lyrics about the satisfaction of dealing with your cheating man by hurting the merchandise, to its infectious and could-care-less, matter-of-fact vocals. The background swell of violins and cellos in what could be the dance of death adds to the rising drama, while the beat that occasionally pulses through continues to make us follow in-step with Jazmine. Her other well-known song is "Lions, Tigers, and Bears", and it's a very sweet song about love and the fear that can take over. Anyhow, without further adieu, I give you Jazmine, and I'll leave you "Lions" as well as "Bust Your Windows". But go look up Need U Bad. It's fantastic!

Unfortunately, her website prevents me from giving the official video. Ah well.

let's go!

Greetings, greetings! =D
I, too, have been recruited to contribute to this blog by the lovely Olivia. While this whole thing is still in its early stages, let me just get this out of the way: my taste in music is not nearly as sophisticated nor my knowledge as vast as that of either of my partners in crime. I love Asian music, and have a penchant (SAT vocab, woohoo!) for Asian pop in particular. Come to think of it, my computer is relatively new and ALL of the music on it so far is Asian... So basically, expect a lot of it from me. I'll mix it up as often as I can with different kinds, but that's where my general comfort zone is. Maybe I'll even surprise you sometimes. :)

Oh and I decided I'm going to try to use proper capitalization on this blog. It's pretty difficult for me since I'm used to using all lower-caps, but hey. Everyone else is doing it. And it looks classy.

When trying to decide what music to put in my first post, sticking with one of my old faves seemed like a good place to start. Five Treasure Island (F.T Island for short) is a Korean group consisting of five boys ranged from ages 16-19. Unlike many Asian pop groups that simply sing, these boys also do their own instrumentals, and man are they good at it. They're cute as a button, to boot! Here's their debut song, self-titled F.T Island or Gok Miri Mannaboki:

This song has really kept its place in my heart! No matter how many times I hear it, I think it still keeps its charm. I highly recommend F.T Island's first album, Cheerful Sensibility. It features a healthy mix of peppy, uplifting songs and emotional, heartfelt ones. Sad to say I haven't listened to any of their newer stuff though. I'm a little intimidated by it... FTI recently went through a strange sort of gothy punk rock phase. Hard to believe, right? It kind of seems to be a necessity to Kpop... Lots of groups went through similar phases. They seem do be done with that now, but Wonbin (the first singer in the vid) is no longer in the band! :( so sad...

cooking with gas

I just heard on NPR that one of my favorite superfly neo-soul people, India.Arie, has come out with her new album Testimony Vol. 2: Love and Politics, and so I thought I'd share. India commented that this album and its predecessor, Testimony Vol. 1: Life and Religion, are both labors of love that she truly feels are her works done to the best of her ability. Apparently, she created the Grammy-award winning Voyage to India album in four months because she was told that if she churned it out, she would win a Grammy. It was true, but churning it out left her unfulfilled, as she felt that the album was far less polished than she wanted. The truth of the matter is, if Voyage to India was her unpolished album, all I can say is dayum, girl, I can't wait to hear polished! She has such an effervescent style with a voice that sings with real joy. There is a beauty in her lyrics as well, full of love as well as beautiful metaphors and rhymes. I have so much love and respect for India.Arie, so go download her album! I'm doing that right now... 

I'll leave a tidbit...

This is called "Therapy"

hello

My dear friend Olivia invited me to write this blog with her.  So here I am.  My music taste is far from comprehensive, but I'll give what I can and what I like.  I'm more into the idea of suggestions from other people than dispensing advice to others about music.  We'll see what happens.

Two facts about me:

- I guess most of my musical forays are in the rock realm, leaning closer to what people call indie/folk/alternative/I'm-not-sure-what-people-are-calling-it-these-days.  Olivia and I share a love of rap songs with dances (a la "Crank That" and the "Cupid Shuffle"), Tracy Chapman, Nina Simone, and the acoustic guitar.

- In terms of favorites, I prefer albums to artists.  For example, I'm a huge fan of Ray LaMontagne's Trouble.  Till The Sun Turns Black, however, was pretty bad the last time I checked.  More on that later.

For now, a sweet little video/song that I posted on my blog a few months ago.  I'm obsessed with it and trying to learn it on my guitar.  I want to marry her.

#67.2 - St Vincent - Marry Me
by lablogotheque

First Post!

Welcome to new blog.

It is music based love. Tag teamed, we recommend our faves and new and upcoming music we hear. It's pretty cool.

First Suggestion:

Go see MJ concert- Yes, MJ, our favorite reclusive and extremely successful artist is going to have the last 10 concerts, and then it's curtains. Problem #1: They are in London.

Anyone up for some ocean hopping?

USA Today has the scoop:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2009-03-05-jackson-comeback_N.htm