Top 2007

Top 5 Movies of the Year:

I was rather selective with the movies I watched in 2007, depending on Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus for good measure. It turned out pretty well because I had some genuine difficulty picking just 5 from an eclectic mix of 20 odd, mostly excellent films I caught in the past year. In no particular order, though I've attempted to pick movies from different genres. A pity no Chinese movie impressed enough to make the list, though I thought Lust.Caution was a worthy contender - poignant, beautifully melancholic, well acted, and great production values all around, but slightly lacking in the 'wow' factor - minus the sex.

Click posters for reviews

Top 10 Albums of the Year:

Six of '06's Top 10 released new albums in 2007, but sad to say, none of them made the list. I was positively underwhelmed by F.I.R. and 林宇中's new releases, while 张惠妹 and 櫻桃幫 suffered from lack of exposure on my part. 曹格 and 林俊杰 failed to surpass their past efforts, allowing newcomers to take their place in this year's list.

2007 saw me getting into indie music in a big way, thanks in large part to sodagreen. 'nuff said about them. Cheer Chen was a logical progression, being an acclaimed earlier protege of sodagreen's mentor-producer. Having also featured in 2005's edition, I've always had something for her girlish voice and intimate compositions. The Decemberists' indie rock formula is refreshing, unlike anything on the pop charts - much like sodagreen when I first heard them, while NIN strikes a chord with their inspired alt rock sound.

And then there are the usual suspects - Stefanie and Tanya, both on their first new release after switching labels, and finding renewed success. Peggy's long-awaited album didn't disappoint - juxtaposing a fairy tale theme with greyish undertones, it was sombre (real dark) but brilliant. Fish and Ayaka represent the successful commercial releases, delighting with their mainstream, k-friendly tunes.

As usual, I only rank albums I purchased (but not necessary released) in 2007, which is a lot, actually. I don't even want to know how much I spent on all these CDs lest I die of haemorrhage of the heart.

And once again, in no particular order. 11 albums listed in view of sodagreen's dominance - their first two albums should have been in past years' Top 10!

Click cover art for reviews (if available)

《無與倫比的美麗》 蘇打綠

《小宇宙》 蘇打綠

《蘇打綠同名專輯》 蘇打綠

《花的姿態經典實錄》 陳綺貞

《許願盒》 許哲珮

《逆光》 孫燕姿

"Goodbye & Hello" 蔡健雅

《崇拜》 梁靜茹

"First Message" 絢香

"The Crane Wife" The Decemberists

"Year Zero" Nine Inch Nails

Block Leave Musings 1

The army, like the internet community, has a penchant for using abbreviations. Incidentally, I belong to both, so I am inclined to use them frequently. So for those clueless about all the army talk, this list might come in useful. Not that it's of any practical value, or anyone who doesn't serve NS will bother to know...

Today's driving lesson went pretty well, thanks in large part to a more patient instructor who bothers to explain stuff instead of just shooting off his mouth whenever I make a mistake. Btw I sent an email to BBDC requesting not to see the first instructor again, egged on by Louis and my dad. It wasn't meant as a complaint - I made an effort to explain that I was equally responsible for being such a terrible driver - but it appears that they are treating it as such, and I feel slightly guilty about it. But at the same time, I think such instructors should be reined in.

And sodagreen's coming to Singapore again on Thursday! They will be having a live showcase ($18) at a club/pub at Clarke Quay on National Day night, but since I'm already going for their concert at RP on Saturday, I think I will give that a miss. Unless aj, who has curiously become quite despo to go clubbing/pubbing decides to drag me along and pay for my ticket. LOL. Now that the smoking ban is in place, there's more reason to chiong, just that I totally cannot hold my liquor...

A good way to get into sodagreen if you don't dig alt/indie stuff is through 蓝眼睛. It's one of the band's more commercialised tracks, being a duet with the very mainstream Angela Chang. However, it's actually the best duet I've heard in ages - one that has meaningful lyrics, and isn't laden with saccharine sweet vocals - Angela does deserve some credit in this respect.

Cheer Chen's doing a concert in Singapore as well. I wanna go! But all these expenses, and I still need to save up for my overseas trip... I need a job!

Voices

Just got hold of these albums from two of the most talented and acclaimed female singer-composers in the mandopop scene today. My wallet is bleeding, but they totally deserve the support. Highly recommended!

And I am loving sodagreen more and more by the day!

Not to forget my latest recommendation from Stef's album. Interesting lyrics.

飘着
作词:陈镇川 作曲:李伟菘

空气中 呼吸都凝着
我让思考放空
看你转身上楼
我知道 这就是答案了
还能怎么感受
那残余的温柔

当黑夜 清晰过白昼
当快乐 赔上了所有
当理智 熬不过放纵
你的神色什么都淡了
我还守着爱飘着

da la la la...

你回头 就像往常笑着
好像在原谅我
绑住你的自由

当黑夜 清晰过白昼
当快乐 赔上了所有
当理智 熬不过放纵
我的神色什么都算了
却还守着爱飘着

错在明知是错
快乐该怎么选择
我爱错 我只能选择沉默
不该嘶吼

当盲目的黑夜 清晰过白昼
当奢侈的快乐 赔上了所有
当假装的理智 熬不过放纵
每个路口 怎么转都错
我进退不得 谁救我

飞不进你梦中 偷一点感受
飞不回原来我 冰冷的躯壳
就这样漂浮着 悲伤的穿梭
感觉掏空 灵魂不在了
爱情突然失重 在飘着

da la la la...

My Top 10 CDs of 2005

Instead of offering a retrospective look at the past year, I have decided, on this last day of 2005, to pick 10 noteworthy CDs amongst the 25 odd that I bought in the past 12 months. Sorry I don't download songs, so the selection is pretty limited and if your favourite album isn't up there,too bad. =P I have put them in order of my personal preference.

1. 五月天: 知足最真杰作选
What can I say, all the greatest hits, and I really love all the new songs!! I was actually quite disappointed with their previous 2 albums, but this one reminded me of the Mayday during their good old days. An album that should not be missing from any decent collection.

2. F.I.R.: 无限
The trio's sophomore album which met with with mixed reviews. Personally I didn't like it initially too, but it grew on me after putting it on "loop" for a week. A good mix of upbeat tracks and memorable rock ballads, overall a diverse and universally appealing sound that surpasses their debut album in all respects (except originality...).

3. 孙燕姿: 完美的一天
Well, my first ever and no. 1 idol. I wouldn't bear to place her out of the top 3. But she certainly deserves this spot based on merit, for her willingless to experiment and move away from commercial pop. There isn't a song as endearing as 同类, but quite a few decent tracks, and she demonstrates that she has matured not only as a singer, but also as a composer and producer.

4. Mika Nakashima: Best
Remarkably mellow vocals, and the arrangements are refreshingly different from mandopop and English pop. You don't have to understand Japanese to fall in love with the catchy melody and silky-smooth delivery.

5. 林俊杰: 编号89757
My favourite male artiste, relegated to 5th spot probably because his album was released relatively early in the year. I didn't like the title track, and his other hits are sorta overplayed (on radio as well as at KTV...). Nevertheless, a laudable effort in coming up with a concept album (pretty rare nowadays in the mandopop scene) powered by his almost flawless vocal techniques.

6. Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms
7. Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here
8. 陈绮贞: 华丽的冒险
8. 周杰伦: 十一月的萧邦
10. Corrine May: Fly Away

Honourable Mention:

• Do As Infinity: Do the A-side
• Utada Hikaru: Single Collection Vol. 1
• Kate Bush: Aerial