[Re-TROS 重塑雕像的权利］TV Show (Hang the Police)

Rebuilding the Rights of Statues--- one of the greatest rock bands in modern China...

[Qianqian Zhang 张浅潜］A river that runs backwards.

倒淌河 by missjmusicjournal

Have you ever seen a river that runs backwards? Probably not. According to common sense, all rivers run towards the east. However, in northeast China, in Qinghai province, a river does run towards the west, and is therefore called "the river that runs backwards" or Dao Tang He 倒淌河.

Well, I'm not gonna give you a lecture about this geographical wonder here. Just wanna introduce today's single-"Dao Tang He", by Chinese indie/folk female singer Qianqian Zhang.

Though not related to the natural sight itself, the song's does address to a metaphorical river--- time. Zhang writes about the desire for life and youth, the remembering of the past, and the longing to go back into time... The beginning with strumming of guitar and the soft humming of vocal sets a vision like the running water. Zhang's vocal is crisp and ethereal. She's an indie-folk artist from mainland China who incorporates many elements in her music. It is amazing how she keeps slow songs full of subtle energy with her melodic chorus and well-developed tempo.

[New Pants 新裤子乐队] New Pants@Coachella+New York

新裤子(REMIX) by Missj Musicjournal

"New Pants will be heading to Indio, CA in April to perform alongside heavy-hitters Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon, Black Keys, Duran Duran, The Strokes, Interpol, Kanye West, and others at this year's Coachella music festival. "   

see Douban page for New Pants

See full lineup for Coachella festival here. 

btw, I'm getting a sore throat today... Come on, when is New York ever gonna warm up?

[Radiohead] "I may be paranoid, but no android."

These days I've been listening to Radiohead a lot, REALLY. This was triggered by their recent release of the eighth album-- "King of the Limbs". This alternative rock band has been one of my gems.

Here's one of my favorite tracks from their old albums--- "Paranoid Android". This masterpiece was released in Radiohead's third album "OK Computer" in 1997. The title derived from Marvin the Paranoid from Douglas Adam's The Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxyseries of books. The song was inspired by an unhappy experience in a bar in Los Angeles.

Starting with the mid-tempo acoustic guitar backed by shaken percussion, Tom Yorke's vocal entered with electric guitar spanning an octave and a third --- "Please could you stop the noise I'm trying to get some rest"... The rising vocal captures the inner struggle of someone who's trapped in his anxiety and paranoia, and just makes you wanna scream out. The emotion of accusing grows more and more intense with the distorted guitar solo. Its lyrics is dark and "paranoid", suggesting themes of insanity, violence and objections against the world of machines and capitalism.

Well, somehow the guitar and percussion cools my head effectively in the heat of brainstorming for school paper... that's one of the reasons why I adore RH so much. XD

[Deserts Chang 张悬] "My life will find its way, I say--- "

It's a pity that I missed the Taiwan indie singer Deserts Chang (Zhang Xuan, 张悬)'s visit in New York City in Januray this year. Since encountering her album "MY LIFE WILL" back in 2008, I fell for her unique style--- sober, free and self-possessed. This girl impressed folks with her melodic guitar and the wisdom that outweighs her age in the lyrics written by herself.

First album, "MY LIFE WILL"

Second album, "HONEY... I DON'T KNOW YET" 亲爱的....我还不知道

Third album, "IF YOU ARE COLD" 如果你冷

Fourth album, "CITY" 城市

She said-- "music is just a mirror, in which you see the reflection of your own life". Her music is contradictory but simple, just as she is, just as life is.

Here's one of her songs & one of my favorites, from the first album "MY LIFE WILL", "Stateless 无状态".

--- Sit back and imagine you are sitting by the sea, or riding a bike along the seashore, cool breeze touches your face, it's a catharsis in a most calm and serene way.

無狀態

作詞：張懸
作曲：張懸

我喜歡永恆的短暫
化主動為被動的昏暗
所有公允的景觀之中，我都不存在

我喜歡邂逅的對白。抹有某部電影的光彩
你要我給的，應該也如此的
是這答案

不要把美好的故事留下來
不去制約，被制約﹔沒有習慣
我喜歡獨白勝過眾人的綵排

不要讓眼淚成為生活的客串
不去制約﹔被制約，等待遺憾
我酷嗜孤獨的愛

我喜歡永恆的短暫
化主動為被動的昏暗
所有公允的景觀之中，我都不存在