#its one od my favorite show ost's ever.

[shenmeizhuang-blog]

current standing + more rambles

Confession time: I haven’t touched a single episode of anything since binge-watching the final 16 episodes of Glory of Tang in one sitting because the ending shook me that much of my busy busy life. I’m likely not going to make much progress watching shows in the coming months. (Yes, the one summer there are like 10 long-form cdramas I’m really anticipating is the one summer I have multiple programs and internships, some even without any wifi.)

Completed 

Candle In The Tomb (鬼灯吹之精绝古城): Produced under Daylight Entertainment (Nirvana in Fire, Ode To Joy, Battle of Changsha), naturally this show has high production values, allowing for passable and even visually appealing CGI when dealing with supernatural elements. The acting in this show is definitely solid, and the post- Cultural Revolution 80s context created a strong background resulting in Hu Bayi’s leadership, Pang Zi’s greed, as well as cultural differences when meeting Chinese-American Shirley Yang. However, the surrounding characters aside from our main trio ultimately felt rather disconnected. 

One of the most frustrating aspects of the show is its...sheer nothingness. Sometimes I watch an episode of the team traversing the desert, and I wonder to myself, wait, what actually happened this episode? Supposedly you have this entire elaborate set-up, as well as the cliffhanger ending Season 1, along with supernatural elements like the zombie, 火瓢虫, Shirley’s identity/bloodline, but along with the bursts of slowness, build-up, and anticipation leading sometimes to intense reveals is ultimately lots of frustration and an urge to fast-forward through everything. 

I can’t say this was a bad show because it seemed that nothing occurred in this to qualify as “bad”, and the production values are very high, but ultimately it’s not something I would recommend for others to watch. What can I say? Jin Dong is attractive ^o^

The Glory Of Tang Dynasty (大唐荣耀): If you’ve been following my Tumblr, you would know that I’ve been raving about this show for the longest time. 

At a whopping length of 92 episodes, beating out the 80-ep My Own Swordsman as the longest show I’ve ever seen to date, Glory managed to remain well-paced -- even fast-paced -- taking the detailed narrative throughout many twists and turns as we watched the turmoil of the Anshi Rebellion, conflict in Uyghur, Empress Zhang’s ambition, and finally Li Chu’s ascension. The ending, albeit tragic, ultimately provided a very touching and appropriate closure to the long journey of watching this show throughout nearly 3 months (!). 

However, despite my praises, let me acknowledge this -- ultimately, Glory is a flawed and problematic show. Initially, discussions on this blog led me to think that it was solely just genre expectations, but having thought things through, I’ve come to this conclusion: the show doesn’t know what it wants to be, or -- the show wants to be too many things.

Given the historical context, admittedly there are so many things to cover: you have our OTP, Emperor Daizong and Consort Shen, whose capture by the enemy rebellion forces and mysterious disappearance creates the perfect formula for angst. You also have Daizong’s intriguing ascension to the throne, as well as Empress Zhang’s ambition to become something akin to the next Wu Zetian. In addition, you have Prince Li Tan’s tragic story. Then there’s the Anshi Rebellion itself, with an entirely new cast of characters. What should the show focus on? From where should we place a focus or perspective? These are difficult questions to answer, which is why I’m not a drama scriptwriter. 

Given these 92 episodes, overall everything is nicely developed and fleshed out. Don’t know what to do? How about we incorporate . . . everything? Overall, the writers did do a great job to mash all these elements into a cohesive plotline, but ultimately, this show still lacks a focus. Is it about Zhenzhu? Li Chu? Zhenzhu and Li Chu? What about the surrounding political set-up? 

By principle, I always feel that a story should stem from a single idea -- the 76-episode Legend of Zhen Huan was ultimately a character study, with surrounding arcs paralleling and contrasting to Zhen Huan’s story. 

Which is not to discredit this show -- I still loved it for its gorgeous costuming, solid acting, piercing and fun dialogue, multifaceted characterization, and the OSTs are things I feel on a spiritual level. (I’m running out of time here, I’ll probably write something more cohesive later.) So I can still confidently say this was still one of my favorite period dramas that I would still strongly recommend. Alas, subs!

Watching

Medical Examiner Dr. Qin (法医秦明): After the sheer goriness of episode 2, it gets less gory, with cases involving intact bodies. Loving the trio’s dynamic and adoring the show. It’s also what I’ve been watching while eating Lunch ;)

On-hold

Q Series: Life Plan A & B (荼蘼)

Considering

Fox’s summer (狐狸的夏天): Tan Song Yun!!! (but when do I have the time~)

Surgeons (外科风云): Technically I watched the first 10 minutes of Ep 1 raw, only to realize -- I don’t know anything about Chinese medical terms. It’s subbed on DramaFever, so I will check it out at one point. 

[jmsa1287]

A Year in Review: The 50 Best Albums of 2016 (20-1)

A continuation of my favorite albums of 2016. Click here to check 50-21 and below find the top 20.

20. Drake - Views

Drake’s Views isn’t the magnum opus he hoped it’d be. Nevertheless, Views is a massive and impressive effort, finding Drake at his best and his worst. With 20 tracks, Views Drake throws a lot at the wall, allowing fans to curate their own version of the album.

19. Postiljonen - Reverie

Swedish dream pop band Postiljonen return with Reverie -- a record that’s not an evolution but a sound the trio has perfected. Full of sweet nostalgia and etherial synths, Reverie is a solid album built on Postiljonen’s strengths.

18. Maren Morris - Hero

Maren Morris’s studio debut Hero is spunky, confidant and fun. Never becoming preachy or silly, Morris’s new batch of music puts her in the same league as Kacey Musgraves and an early Taylor Swift.

17. Yumi Zouma - Yoncalla

Bursting with sunshine and delightfully beautiful, dream pop band Yumi Zouma’s debut LP Yoncalla is a wonderful love letter to dream pop and Swedish acts like Air France and The Tough Alliance. 

16. Tiffany - I Just Wanna Dance

After having a hugely successful career as one of the members of the iconic K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation, Tiffany Hwang branched out in 2016 with an incredible solo effort I Just Wanna Dance. A mini-album that is jam-packed with lush pop and dance singles, rivaling Western stars like Ariana Grande and Katy Perry.

15. Various Artists - La La Land Official Soundtrack 

It’s only fitting the best film of 2016, La La Land, has some of the best music of the year as well. Stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone might not be the best vocalists Hollywood has to offer -- but that’s not the point. The musical’s OST features the film’s vibrant songs, including stand outs “City of Stars” and “Someone In the Crowd.”

14. METAFIVE - Meta

For fans of Japanese 80s pop, METAFIVE’s debut Meta is a spectacular record. Comprised of members from groundbreaking '80s Japanese acts, Meta is an ode to the music the men once made. The album is an excellent piece of music that is not only inspired by modern funk and '80s J-pop, but also borrows from sophisti-pop, It's an interesting blend of music coming from some of the most talented and smartest musicians Japan has to offer.

13. Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman

Ariana Grande continues to satisfy on her third album Dangerous Woman. It’s her third album in four years, but on her latest effort, Grande has never sounded better or more daring. Dangerous Woman has some of the singer’s best singles to date, proving Grande is here to stay.

12. Britney Spears - Glory

It might be easy to write off a Britney Spears record in 2016 -- considering the abysmal Britney Jean in 2013. But Brit’s return with Glory is more than just a quick paycheck and it is the pop icon’s best record since Circus. With its moody cohesion and well-structured songs, Glory doesn’t have many missteps. A solid record from a performer near and dear to pop culture’s cold heart.

11. BLACKPINK - Square One / Square Two EPs

One of the most dynamic new K-pop groups, BLACKPINK’s two EPs, Square One and Square Two, are a thrill ride. Though the EPs have a combined total of just five songs, the records are an exciting offering and feature some of the best songs of the year. Anyone listening to BLACKPINK should excited for what foursome have to offer in 2017.

10. M83 - Junk

It is understandably no easy task to follow up a breakthrough album that launches a musician's career. M83's Anthony Gonzalez has been making cinematically nostalgic and epic music since the early 00s. After crossing over in 2011 with Hurry Up, We're Dreaming and the single "Midnight City," Gonzalez's latest album Junk is a direct response to fame: He hates it. Junk is a fascinating album that purposefully sets out to sound bad (the album title is Junk after all), finding the French band taking on 80s trends like muzak, corny sitcom theme songs, and trashy euro dance bangers. But Gonzalez and co. pull it off, making Junk an enjoyable album with some incredible jams.

09. How to Dress Well - Care

How to Dress Well's Tom Krell has fully embraced his sound and his wonderful voice. On Care, Krell, who started off his career blending R&B with lo-fi experimental music, incorporates current pop trends, like EDM and tropical house, into his moving odes of love and loss. Once tucking his falsetto behind a blanket of reverb and synthy production, Krell now puts his voice front and center, which is accompanied by a hi-fi and clear production.

With help from artists like Fun's Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen, Tegan and Sara, Grimes), indie musician CFCF and dancehall producer Dre Skull, Care has more in common with Justin Bieber's Purpose than Burial's Untrue.

08. The Radio Dept. - Running Out of Love

The Radio Dept. has been absent for far too long: Running Out of Love is the Swedish indie-rock band's first album in six years. And the new album proves to be a magnificent return and well worth the wait. Lead single "Occupied" is an epic way to come back. Clocking in at seven minutes, the brooding song samples the iconic dark synths from Angelo Badalamenti's Twin Peaks "Laura Palmer's Theme." On the hypnotic "Swedish Guns," the band opts for a slight reggae tinge but holds on to their jangly guitars, making the song an interesting blend of old and new.

Unlike some dream pop and shoegaze acts, the Radio Dept., comprising members Johan Duncanson and Martin Carlberg, put time into crafting their lyrics, even though their vocals are often buried in the mix or blanketed in fuzzy reverb. The band has always been political, and things are no different on Running Out of Love.

07. The 1975 - I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it

When the British band the 1975 first burst onto the scene, they were a joke: With songs named "Sex" and "Girls," the group wasn't taken seriously. But their sophomore album I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it is undeniable, showing the 1975 is more than a novelty.

Emulating music from the 80s is something every pop musician seems to do. But its something few artists get correct. The 1975 impeccably call on a wide range of artists, including Price, David Bowie, My Bloody Valentine and Janet Jackson. I like it... is full of stellar songs, like "The Sound," "A Change of Heart," and "Paris," all of which carry an emotional heft with brazen lyrics: "Mr. Serotonin Man, lend me a gram /You call yourself a friend?/I got two left feet and I'm starting to cheat/On my girlfriend again."

06. Terror Jr - Bop City

Sometimes music just needs to be addictive and catchy. Not every song needs to carry the social commentary of a Beyonce song or needs to be game-changing like a string of Drake singles. Terror Jr's Bop City is a collection of fun pop songs that run away with PC Music's subversive take on Top 40. The mysterious trio, which may or may not feature Kylie Jenner, blend trap, electro and a dash of Lana Del Rey to create a minimalist pop album that's sexy and intriguing; a rare combination.

05. Carly Rae Jepsen - Emotion: Side B

Only Carly Rae Jepsen, one of pop music's most interesting and daring artists, can release a throw away collection of B-sides that's actually one of the best albums of the year. The leftovers from Emotion, the best album of 2015, thrive in their own space and sound anything but toss-offs. Side B shows Jepsen's range; in one moment she's Cyndi Lauper and in the next, she's channeling a-ha. If Side B is a gathering of songs left on the cutting room floor, I can't imagine what she'll delver on her next album.

04. David Bowie - Blackstar

David Bowie's final album Blackstar will go down in music history. His farewell album might be about the iconic singer leaving Earth but it sounds full of life, offering Bowie's most interest and exciting music in decades. It thrives with creative ideas, proving Bowie was taken from us too soon. From the hypnotic acid-jazz title track to the devastating final song "I Can't Give Everything Away," Blackstar celebrates Bowie's life with his death. It's a mind-blowing statement that could only be pulled off by one of the best musicians to ever live.

03. Beyonce - Lemonade

Beyonce exists in a realm of her own. She doesn't compete with anyone; she's no longer even a pop star - she's her own genre and her own medium.

Lemonade is the second visual album from Beyonce, which first debuted as a film on HBO earlier this year. Listening to the album, Lemonade is about one woman's journey as she learns about, processes and, eventually accepts and moves on from her husband's infidelities. But watching Lemonade, Beyonce frames her music in a completely different way, showing that her struggle is one that several women - especially women of color - have endured for generations.

Politically charged, emotionally gripping and relentlessly beautiful, Lemonade is one of the most confidant and powerful records of the last decade.

02. ANOHNI - Hopelessness

ANOHNI's Hopelessness is one of the pieces of art that has taken on a stronger meaning in the wake of Donald Trump becoming the next president of the United States. Her album is critical of a number of hot button issues, ranging from human rights to climate change. (One song, aptly titled "Obama," sharply criticizes the outgoing president for not carrying out the promises of hope he championed during his 2008 campaign.)

Hopelessness is a complex electronic record, politically fueled and remarkably dark. With her signature striking vocals, Hopelessness is a culmination of frustrations and protests backed by waves of experimental electronic music from producers Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never.

01. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo

The Life of Pablo is an album stitched together with brilliant moments. There really isn't one full song that's perfect from start to finish (except maybe the house-infused "Fade"). Instead, Kanye West gives us the perfect album for the social media age: An album that feels endless, ongoing and always evolving - West was still adding songs to TLOP months after the album was "officially" released.

West gave his fans a behind-the-scenes look on how his music is made: A frantic, 11th hour method that was more like a college student finishing a term paper the night before its due date than a genius crafting a masterpiece. Sharing manic updates via Twitter, West gave glimpses of his album, which changed titles three times and had a track listing that continued to grow. In the end, however, TLOP is West's most joyous work: It's a huge party and everyone is invited.