Gorgeous MV from Japanese artist Utada Hikaru. Hikaru has tried to break out in the U.S. with middling success, which is a pity because she’s hugely talented, one of the few Japanese artists I’ve found whom I enjoy more often than not.
In theme, if not in style, she’s finally moved out of high school. I do love this girl.
So good. How do they never fail to impress?
Song from The O.C. soundtrack – Nada Surf‘s “If You Leave”. Nada Surf is an American alt-rock band formed in 1992. They released their fifth album “Lucky” in 2008.
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Download(right-click)
If you’ve never listened to Asian music, it’s about time you started, or at least tried it, if just for the sake of the musical multiculturalism. Here is a sampler of the good songs I’ve collected over several years of listening to Asian music.
Asian Music Intro Mix – Tracklist(pdf)
The mix is composed of Asian pop, ballads, and indie music to get you started – mostly Korean and Chinese(including Taiwanese) with a few Japanese songs thrown in. I’ll be making another mix for Asian hip-hop and rap because that is an entirely different (often better) thing.
Tracklist:
Love this Christian hip-hop/rap song with an incredibly strong beat and gospel overtones. I really like what I’m seeing of Group 1 Crew – they’re filling a much-needed gap for musically powerful, faith-centered rap.
Download(right-click)
I was so taken with the song “Holding on to Nothing” when I heard it on the following lovely Asian drama MV that I went off to find more about the band, and having listened to their music I am officially a convert. If you like Secondhand Serenade, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus or any of those other rock/emo pop bands who occasionally craft amazing love songs, then you should like Lovers and Liars. A minty-new band from Tennessee, Lovers and Liars is a four-member band consisting of Stacy Hogan, Adam Nagel, Jason Stout, and Stephen Taylor. Formed about two years ago I think, they released their first EP, Before and After the Awakening, in fall 2009, and recently got signed by a major label (deservedly, in my opinion).
Download “Holding on to Nothing” by signing up for their mailing list.
Their bio testifies: “We broke with rock tradition, trading Les Pauls and Marshall stacks for lead piano, drum machines, and synthesized textures. Switched straightforward rock shouting for a more diverse approach, using a variety of vocal deliveries to convey more complex sonic ideas. At the core, though, we stuck to hooky, personal songwriting, something that all too many of today’s otherwise worthy “experimental” groups seem to forget to do.”
Their Facebook page is beautifully tongue-in-cheek and humorous, and they’re clearly determined to have the personal touch with their small but devoted (and growing) fanbase, since one of them personally messaged me (in an entirely non-creepy way) when I joined their fans on Facebook.
Join their fans on Facebook
Lovers and Liars Myspace
New electro-hip hop summer jam from Taiwan by Manchuker featuring Canadian artist Meighan Nealon and producer Adrian Gariba called Summer of Mine. Manchuker will be releasing his first independent album “Hip Hop World” in August 2010. RT Asian Hip Hop Times
-from Colormekatie, a blog full of sunshine
Have a sunshiney song, too. “Lucky”, by Jason Mraz feat. Colbie Caillat. The ultimate warm, bubbly pop love song.
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Download (right-click, not uploaded by me, as always)
