last.fm charts

Taking advantage of my upgraded account (thanks Anna!), I made some last.fm chart images yesterday (never again!) and wanted to post them here ^_^ Yes yes, I have no artistic skills, so close your eyes before you will be blinded by the following images! *_^


My friend the photographer ^_^


Love Maaya and loves "gravity" ^_^


Peace.

Ah, you can open your eyes again now ^_^

Won Fu

It was love at first listen for me. I must like funky music a lot ^_^ Won Fu is a Taiwan band that makes funky punky cute pop/rock music. Whenever I listen to them, I nod my head and dance/jumps around grinning like an idiot. Oh, yeah. Won Fu's songs ranges from cute pop tunes to heavy electric guitar punk rock songs, which is delightful. Their fun lyrics mixed with a sarcastic humour also makes me laugh every time. I guess Won Fu makes "wake up" + happy drug music ^_^



Sample Track: DoReMi



Sample Track: Peach Elegy

Cao Fang MVs

More Cao Fang! (because I'm loving her new cd right now ^_^) Cao Fang only made around 2-3 MVs - unlike most mainstream Chinese singers - who makes a MV for nearly every song they sing (lol, sometimes the MVs get very repetitive). Anyway, I believe Cao Fang have one MV for her debut album "Black Perfume" and one new MV for her new album "Meeting You." Since her 2nd album just came out, I only have a "preview version" of her MV "Meeting You." However, you'll get the point ^_^ and I like the "Black Perfume" MV more anyway :P

Cao Fang rocks!

Watch: Black Perfume
I love this MV, so very different from the usual Chinese pop fluff MVs.

Preview: Meeting You
I guess Cao Fang likes dolls ^_^

Watch: I want to sing myself to you (lol I do really bad translations don't I *_*)
Hmm, four people sings this song together. From what I've read, I think this is the opening song for a college student singing competition show. I think Cao Fang might've been one of the participants, but I'm not sure. Anyway, Cao Fang did not compose the song. Another guy (who also sang in the song) did.

Enjoy ^_^

Cao Fang (Icy)

Today... is a happy day. Cao Fang's second album "Meeting Me" came out. There is so much to say about Cao Fang - she is a very, very talented mainland singer and songwriter. She is real. She is independent. She is original. She is what "girl power" is all about. Her songs are beautiful, mellow acoustic melodies mixed with occasional folk, indie, rock, and even jazz sounds. I love it. "Meeting Me" is similiar to "Black Perfume," Cao Fang's first album, in its overall acoustic mellowness. However, as much as I enjoy this album, her first album is definitely the more "original," indie one.

That said, Cao Fang is one of my favorite mainland singers. Listen and embrace her music. She deserves to shine.

http://caofang.net/
http://blog.sina.com.cn/m/caofang

Sample Track: 孤单的独白 (Lonely Monologue)

A rough translation of her words in the beginning of the song:
Living in this city... everyday moves so fast. Day and night passes with the blink of an eye. Soon, I will sing the last song for you. I hope that the happy moments in life will last longer. Thank you for listening.

Peppertones

Listening to the first few songs on Peppertones' (Korean) debut album "Colorful Express," I didn't know whether to laugh or cry - the songs resembled so much like Cymbals - a Japanese group that makes upbeat, happy, and funky indie-pop music. After a few listens to the whole album, I decided to laugh and be happy ^_^ Peppertones are awesome - they're a Korean Cymbals with a fun electronic/dance twist. Aw, the wonderfulness of Korean electronic pop music :o)


Sample Track: High Romance (Radio Edit)

929

929 is a Taiwan duo that sings mellow acoustic indie music. I'm spending my Sunday soaked in their relaxing, simple melodies.

http://929.agoodday.com/


Sample Track: 什么都不做 (Doing nothing)

Echo

Post rock, indie rock, hard rock... Echo (Taiwan band) makes them all. When I first got their debut album and listened to the 2nd track, I thought the whole album was going to be hard-rock. However, to my delight - this album has a bit of everything - fast beats, post rock, mellow rock, etc. and I was happy. Check them out ^_^

http://www.echoband.com/




Sample Song: 木雕轮盘 (Wood-carved disk)

Sai Ning

The only reason why I wasn't satisfied with Sai Ning's debut album is that it's too short. Other than that, "Pearl Hotel" is a nice & relaxing indie-pop album. Even though this album only has 5 songs, each song has its own flavor and style - ranging from light acoustic pop to mellow ambient indie. I can't wait to hear more from her.

http://www.saining.com/


Sample Song: Sai Ning

Grassland Music Compilation

This was an interesting compilation album. I thought it was going to be mainly HK indie at first, but after I listened to the whole album and did a brief search on the net, only "My Little Airport" and "The Marshmallow Kisses" are from Hong Kong. The other three featured artists in this album were either from Southern CA (Majestic), UK (Language of Flowers), and Japan/France/Russia (The Konki Duet). My Little Airport and The Marshmallow Kisses of course, makes light funky indie pop music. Majestic is a US band that makes happy, light music resembling The Beatles. Language of Flowers (UK) also makes light acoustic music similar to Camera Obscura. And lastly, The Konki Duet - three girls from Japan, St. Petersburg, and Paris, makes weird but cool acoustic/electronic music ^_^

http://www.hitoradio.com/shopping/7_1_1_1.php?prod_sn=PM05040001


The Konki Duet

Sample Track (from their official site): Do Family

Language of Flowers

Sample Track (from their label site): Leaving

Majestic

Sample Track (from their label site): Sunday Driver

Khalil Fong

Sample Song: 春风吹 (Spring wind blowing)

I haven't seen a quality new R&B/Pop Chinese new artist in a long time - so I was pleasantly surprised when I listened to Kahlil Fong's debut album today. His album has everything a great R&B/Soul album need - great melodies, nice beats, not to mention catchy lyrics too ^_^ Anyway, I enjoyed pretty much every song on this album. So the sample song was randomly chosen :P

Look out Leehom & JJ Lin wahaha, you guys have competition! *_^

Le Petite Nurse

http://www.lpnurse.net/

Le Petite Nurse is a Taiwan group that makes nice, upbeat rock music. I really enjoy their music, especially this song ^_^



Sample Track: 爱情游戏 (Love Game)

The 4 r&b gods of China

Let's take a pop break! ^_^ Here are the 4 guys that are huge in China/TW/HK/etc. etc. (and who girls drool over all the time hahaha). Since they're so popular in Asia, sharing samples of their songs is pointless here :P So fun (and sometimes weird) MVs will do ^_^

#1 Jay Chou

hmmm, you can always get a girl with blue hair :o)

MV: Mysterious Jay Chou with funny beard

#2 JJ Lin

*tear* I look better as a robot *_*

MV: *tear* I'm a useless person :(
(yes his lyrics literally says that :P)

#3 Leehom Wang

yes yes, bow down to me Leehom hehe

MV: Leehom goes to wonderland and meets girl of his dreams blah blah blah

#4 David Tao

yeah my shirt is more expensive then your monthly salary :P

MV: Ehh????? (I didn't get this video at all)

Don't misunderstand - I love all these guys ^_^ but I just wanted to make fun of them a little today wahaha.

*runs away from angry fan girls*

IndieBlog Update

http://www.newbeesmusic.com/english/main.htm

Another really good mainland c-indie compilation album. The overall feel of this album is relaxing mellowness (except the rap songs by Kungfoo *_^). Since I have quite a few favorite songs here, I've included two sample songs ^_^



Sample Song: No Colour - 夜影 (Night View)

This song is nice & laid-back. *goes into dreamy mood*



Sample Song: Crystal Butterfly - 灵山 (Spirit Mountain)

This song is also quite mellow - which I love. Crystal Butterfly is more indie-acoustic mellow as opposed to N.C.'s new-age/more instrumental-ish mellowness. They're both great though ^_^

at17

at17's new album "变变变" (change change change) is out out out!!! ^_^ When I first listened to the album (I was tired & had a cold) I was definitely a bit disappointed. However, listening to it again (no cold anymore!) and I'm starting to really like it ^_^ This 3rd album kept the electronic/acoustic charm of the first two albums, it also has a really nice English song called "I'd go back" (last track) and 2 mandarin versions of 2 of my favorite songs! I'm glad at17 is still making quality indie-pop music in HK! Yay ^_^

http://www.peoplemountainpeoplesea.com/at17/



Sample Song: 冲冲冲 (sprint sprint sprint)

Blasting this at top volume feels awesome :o)