News & Vidoes grabs

◎ Arctic Monkeys debuted new songs(Dangerous Animals , Pretty Visitors, Go-Kart and Crying Lightning) in New Zealand.
◎ Here's the album cover and tracklist of U2's new album No Line On The Horizon
◎ Emmy the Great - First Love
◎ Beirut - La Llorna
◎ Of Montreal - An Eluardian Instance

Which Bitch?

The View也是個馬不停蹄的樂團.前年的首張專輯Hats Off To The Buskers讓他們成為眾所注目的新團之後,他們也積極的開始巡迴,接著又投入新專輯的錄音. Which Bitch?就是他們最新的成果,雖然背負著眾所皆知的＂第二張專輯＂壓力,在Which Bitch?還是可以感受到這幾個Dundee出身的年輕小子依然有著與當初一般的衝勁還有對音樂的熱愛. 專輯開場曲Typical Time 2是首只有一分半鐘的輕快小品, 口琴加上鋼琴的簡單對奏呈現了一股難得的美國西部風情. 接著的是5Rebbeccas這樣龐克玩性的熟悉風格. 更讓我帶著好奇心期待著接下來的驚喜. 再來的One Off Pretender應該是整張專輯最讓我喜愛的,除了rap(應該說是英式數來寶)風格的vocal之外還有狂放的節奏都讓它成為最讓人耳目一新的歌曲. 高漲的情緒卻在Unexpected中弦樂的拉扯下慢慢平靜,深情又感傷的The View不常見,這難得的心碎情歌實著是意料不到. 接下來的幾首也是夾雜著回歸到人們所鍾愛的The View風格,和異於往常的激情/平靜,不但明顯的聽出比起第一張專輯他們更勇於放入背景聲音,也毫不遲疑的大膽展現The View豪放時而又細緻的編曲. Which Bitch?不能說是個傑作,但也扎實的順著The View一貫的曲風和路線扎實的前進著. The View再來還會帶給我們什麼樣的創作,非常直得期待.

download link:
The View -One Off Pretender

cheers!

News & Vidoes grabs

◎ BBC listed the rising music stars of 2009
◎ Ryan Adams in the Black Cab Sessions
◎ There's no surprise knowing that Noel Gallagher was once part of the "Man City firm"
◎ Official video : Paul McCartney - 222
◎ +/- {Plus Minus} - Unsung
◎ Bruce Springsteens - Life Itself
◎ I believe it's a bad idea for Lily Allen to be the new assistant of the new Doctor Who, and I haven't even decided if I like the new Doctor :(

Revolutionary Road

轟動一時的電影「鐵達尼號」已經是一九九七年的往事，十一年後，Kate Winslet與Leonardo DiCaprio的再次攜手，主演改編自Richard Yates同名小說的<Revolutionary Road>，飾演一對人人稱羨的五零年代夫妻。

<Revolutionary Road>並不是什麼甜蜜美好的故事，曾經相戀並共組家庭的兩人在面對生命中的考驗和找尋生存意義的同時，不但開始質疑兩人之間感情的真實性，也在現實的壓迫下放棄了自由。April與Frank這對夫妻的性格可說是南轅北轍。理想主義的April不斷的想要逃離現實生活，但卻也沒有明確的抱負；Frank盡著一家之主的職責，有個枯燥但可養家的工作，年輕時的夢想也都不得不放棄了。兩人在這樣無奈的狀態下過著生活，直到有一天April突然提出了全家搬到巴黎去重心開始新的生活的瘋狂想法，鬱鬱寡歡的Frank也被這個誘人的計畫說服了。但也就從這個計劃將要展開之際，April與Frank遭遇了很多現實因素的阻撓，兩人的關係也不再如當初相戀時甜蜜，甚至發展成一種殘暴的相互虐待…。

Kate Winslet與Leonardo DiCaprio完美的詮釋April與Frank複雜的關係與心理的痛苦掙扎，兩人在此片拍攝完成後都瘦了一大圈。精彩的對手戲可以深刻感受到他們心靈上的脆弱，尤以Kate Winslet演出一名堅強、有主見卻又迷失人生方向的女子，非常令人動容。Leonardo DiCaprio也將失意上班族的混亂情緒展現無疑，大喜大怒的波動和細膩的表情變化也讓觀者看的心驚膽顫。(兩人也以此片入圍了今年的金球獎最佳男女主角喔！)

有誰想過，「鐵達尼號」過後十一年的今年，Kate Winslet與Leonardo DiCaprio已經是全球影壇上的巨星。兩人不只是票房號召，也是資深好萊塢演員擁有傑出演技的代表。有兩位主要演員和非常成功的配角選擇，是一部發人深省、後勁十足的悲劇。

This Week's Tunes

The Rest
Everyone All At Once
MP3: Walk on Water (Auspicious Beginnings)






Montt Mardie
Science
MP3: 1969







Morrissey
Years Of Refusal
MP3: I'm OK By Myself







The Black Keys
Attack and Release
MP3: I Got Mine







The Revisionists
The Revisionists
MP3: Monday





Even it's the week of my finals, I still wouldn't stop listening to great music!
Happy New Year!

Ghost Town

平常待人冷淡,刻意遠離人群的牙醫師Pincus（Ricky Gervais）在一次身體檢查的手術過程中意外死亡了七分鐘,因此成為個擁有陰陽眼的他,開始受到許多紐約的鬼魂們騷擾,爭相要Pincus幫他們完成遺憾,受不了眾鬼魂的糾纏,Pincus勉強答應了Greg Kinnear鬼魂的要求,幫他破壞遺孀的新戀情,Pincus這個超沒人緣的牙醫在面對許多陰魂不散的鬼也漸漸發展出了不同的人格... 電影的情節並不是什麼前無古人的大創新,但衝著這是Ricky Gervais本人登上美國大螢幕的作品,說什麼也要看看! 結果也的確不是一般的"鬼魂完全遺願後順利升天"電影,除了Ricky Gervais的嘲諷式無情碎碎唸增添了不少笑點,整部電影也有許多”默默嘲笑”歷年來鬼魂片的情節和台詞. 雖然說電影名稱是”Ghost Town,” 但最重要的還是活著的人如何看待這些死去親友,我們對死者的情緒（不管正面或負面）都是綁著他們在這個世界的最後一條線,總要有個closure才會讓生者釋懷.
”Ghost Town”的成功之處除了雖可預期卻不落俗套的劇情, 每個角色的深度和演員精彩的詮釋都讓觀眾深深著迷也放聲的開懷大笑. 還有一個讓我意外的驚奇處就是電影巧妙的用了Beatles的"I'm Looking Through You," 不但非常符合電影的笑點,用的還是電影中少見的Beatles原版歌曲! 當然,片中美麗的紐約也是一大看點喔!

MP4: The Beatles-I'm Looking Through You

Cheers!

This Week's Tunes

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Pershing
MP3: Think I Wanna Die







Dan Auerbach
Keep it Hid
MP3: I Want Some More






Paper Moon
What Are You Going To Do With Me? EP
MP3: What Are You Going To Do With Me







Fall Out Boy
Folie A Deux
MP3: What A Catch Donnie (Acoustic)

Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses

From their new album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

Christmas 2008

People living in North America or Europe might find this unbelievable, but today, in Taipei, the sun is still shining like mad and I'm actually wearing shorts! How I wish I could have a white Christmas~ For all my college and long-time friends, no matter where in the world you are right now, I wish you a very happy Christmas!

The Chipmunks with David Seville-The Chipmunk Song
Gene Autry-Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Frank Sinatra-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Andy Williams-It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
John Lennon-Happy X'mas (War Is Over)
Judy Garland-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Cheers!

News & Vidoes grabs

◎ Yeah Yeah Yeahs posted a new song "All I Want For Christmas" on their MySpace page.
◎ Block Party - One Month Off
◎ Pitchfork pitches their 50 Best Albums of 2008, which is the most agreeable list I've seen so far.
◎ 20 Albums that Stereogum are most excited to hear in the coming 2009.
◎ Mark Ronson named 99 of his favorite musical acts, leaving out one spot for a future band.
◎ Jack White and Cate Blanchett interview each other for Interview Magazine.
◎ Little Joy - No One's Better Sake

This Week's Tunes

So much has happened lately. Just as my life seems to be heading toward a dead end, amazing things happened. I've always been looking for a silver lining in these last few months of my student life; so many memories has yet to be made, so small portion of my dream has been fulfilled. The challenges I'm facing may not be as grave, still, I felt slightly overwhelmed by the fact that people could trust me enough as to give me such missions. Cheers!


Maia Hirasawa
Though, I'm Just Me
MP3: And I Found This Boy






Cat Power
Dark End Of The Street
MP3: Dark End Of The Street






Northern Portrait
The Fallen Aristocracy
MP3: Crazy






Anya Marina
Slow & Steady Seduction, Phase II
MP3: Move You

News & Vidoes grabs

◎ I'm definitely not the most excited one about Blur's reunion, just look at the graffiti on the London Millennium Bridge!
◎ Rolling Stone's Top 100 Singles of the Year and Top 50 Albums list.
◎ Read the reasons behind SPIN Top 40 albums of the year.
◎ NME also released their top 50 album list!
◎ The Decemberists announced the track list for their new album "The Hazards of Love," due out March 24.
◎ Eagles of Death Metal - Wannabe In LA

Blur reunited!

Blur confirmed to NME that they'll be reunited for a Hyde Park show on July 3 ! After the 2002 break, there were numerous rumors about them getting back together or that they're officially breaking up. This is the first time they've talk about an exact date and some more gigs in the UK, it's the moment all the Blur fans has been dreaming of for years.

"It just felt it was right again," declared Albarn of Blur's return. "It somehow feels like there's something for us to do again, we're not completely useless or pointless, we've got a reason to exist."

No doubt the show will have the hottest tickets in the world!!

My favorite albums of 2008

Looking back at all the albums I've been listening this year, many of them will surely be my beloved ones for years. Almost all the big names were on my list but ,at the same time, I was also feeling a bit awkward for the lack of diversity of my list....Anyway, with the releasing of Oasis,Last Shadow Puppets,Coldplay and Sigur Rós, it's been a marvelous year to music lovers of my kind. With great expectations, I can't wait for another new year of great music.

[MY FAVORITES ALBUMS OF 2008]


The Last Shadow Puppets
The Age of the Understatement






Ra Ra Riot
The Rhumb Line






Coldplay
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends






Beck
Modern Guilt






Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend






The Raconteurs
Consolers Of The Lonely






Sigur Rós
Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust





MGMT
Oracular Spectacular






Oasis
Dig Out Your Soul






Flight Of The Conchords
Flight Of The Conchords
[Foux Du Fafa]





The Magnetic Fields
Distortion





She & Him
Volume One






Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down
We Brave Bee Stings And All
[Bag of Hammers]




[Other of my favorites:]
Bloc Party-Intimacy
Kaiser Chiefs-Off With Their Heads
Cajun Dance Party-The Colourful Life
Carla Bruni-Comme si de rien n'était
Fleet Foxes-Fleet Foxes
Glasvegas-Glasvegas
The Killers-Day & Age
Conor Oberst-Conor Oberst
Death Cab For Cutie-Narrow Stairs
Department Of Eagles-In Ear Park[In Ear Park]
Headlights-Some Racing, Some Stopping
M83 - Saturdays = Youth
Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
Deerhunter - Microcastle
Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?[Waving Flags]
Elbow - Starlings
Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
TV On The Radio - Dear Science

cheers!!

News & Vidoes grabs

◎ The nominations list of the 51st Grammy Awards
◎ Lily Allen - The Fear
◎ Check out the list of Uncut and Mojo's Top 50 album of 2008
◎ Noel Gallagher is ready for a solo album and I'm ready to buy it.
◎ Kanye West beat Guns N' Roses on Billboard's album chart