Almost Buddhist - 戲‧論

Who: Snow Patrol Where: Ireland What: Indie/Alternative Rock When: 2018 Been listening to this album from time to time. And this is not the one you’d have to take just one listen to get hooked up to, since there’s only few catchy tunes but no bulk of catchy songs that Snow Patrol used to come up with in their works like ‘Final Straw’ or ‘Eyes Open’. ‘Wildness’ marks the longest gap since their last studio full-length effort ‘Fallen Empires’ from almost 8 years ago! Well, the longest doesn’t necessarily mean this is the best of theirs of course. There’s one or two songs that I can’t feel connected to no matter how, yet it’s the best album I’ve been listening to so far this year. As I thought they’d probably follow the footsteps of another pop rock band like Coldplay, they’ve proved with ‘Wildness’ that they’re still the Snow Patrol that I used to adore for the sentimentality and sincerity they put into their music!

Who: Future Islands Where: U.S. What: Synthpop/Indie Rock When: 2017 They’re an American synthpop trio. This is not an album you’d get hooked up with by just one listen. The more you listen to it, the more layer of musical richness and passion you’d dig up. It’s full of emotions, lyrically and vocally. Songs like ‘Time On Her Side’, ‘Ran’, ‘Ancient Water’, are rather addictive. Some are sentimental enough to make you go tearful, like ‘Through The Roses’ that really struck me for quite a while. Is there anyone who could see me through the roses, through the lights, the smoke and the screen? Is there anyone who would agree with me that it’s not easy just being human? Who would be there to pull it through together with me? ‘The Far Field’ is sort of a surprise to me. Hope there’d be someone real and ‘beautiful’ right ahead to surprise me as well. Alright, go get it and enjoy! Peace!

Who: Radwimps Where: Japan What: Indie/pop Rock When: 2016 Makoto Shinkai’s animated film ‘ Your Name ’ is why I got to know this indie rock band from Japan. The film itself is just a so-so experience but the soundtrack by Radwimps is unforgettable. Music’s universal. It’s true, no matter if it’s singing Mandarin, Japanese, English or what, as long as it’s able to conjure something however sad or happy up in your mind, you’ll love it, though the lyrics may be suggesting the complete opposite of what you’re feeling. It seems like the more you’re ignorant of the lyrics, the more you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of the music. ‘Human Bloom’, Radwimps’ latest album, is the best of theirs to me to date. I have no idea what they’re singing at all, but every time I listen to it, it makes me feel a great deal of delight, and also a bit of poignancy that love comes so slow but goes so fast. Maybe that’s the way it is. Or maybe I’m just deluded to think so! Go find ‘Human Bloom’ wherever ...

Who: Passenger Where: British What: Folk/Rock When: 2014 I’ve been drowning in Passenger’s songs lately. Passenger is not a band. It’s just this one English singer-songwriter who’s got a great voice, and capable of making lyrics that tell stories and allow you to simmer down and feel as a human being! His music’s truly a comfort for those like me living in a city full of annoying noises most of the time. He left school at a very young age, and started off as a nobody but a busker on streets, and now has made his way to stardom, performing in stadiums in front of thousands of people. Still he writes songs true to his heart, and doesn’t care if they make it to the chart. Not everyone has the courage like he did to be determined to leave the comfort zone and stick to his dreams. Maybe we all need to drop the fear for being failed and hurt again so that we can get through the shadows and discover what’s probably more beautiful ahead! ‘Whispers’ is one of Passenger’s albums tha...

Who: Blue October Where: America What: Alternative/Pop Rock When: 2016 Not sure if it’s supposed to be a happy album but it’s definitely the sunniest one I’ve ever got from Blue October, surprised! A house’s just a cold hard place but a home’s a lot more than that. It might take years to try to build a house into a home but fail just like some who might’ve now given up believing in things so called relationships or redemptions. Thanks to the frontman Justin Furstenfeld’s very GOOD luck to have had GOOD families and GOOD friends around, for the first time ever, I didn’t feel blue at all listening to Blue October. Men would change after all, for better or worse. In fact, we’re always changing! Try it

Who: Toe Where: Japan What: Instrumental/Math Rock When: 2005 If being tired of any vocals, or simply hankering for some intricate exhilarating guitar sounds and insane drumming, here’s Japanese Toe’s debut for you to feel relaxed and even blissful. I’ve been listening to it over and again, and still find it sunshiny, full of delight and hope, thanks to the magic of instrumental math rock that provides a lot of space for one to personally interpret, feel and ponder! And if you go check out their live performances on Youtube or something, you’ll definitely wish them to come rock you in your face soon, but until then… Try it

Who: Foals Where: England What: Indie/Alternative/Math Rock When: 2008 Before I’m going off for a real while, here’s terrific ‘ Antidotes ’ prescribed by Foals for you to enjoy on the upcoming holidays. It’s their debut, and their second best to me! Foals’ albums may not get to impress you in full sometimes but they’re always able to strike you with at least one song or more. In this one, it’s ‘Big Big Love (Fig. 2)’ in particular that gives me goose bumps every time I take a listen. Not saying other songs aren’t as good, they are in fact, if you appreciate their elusive lyrics, groovy funky guitars, outstanding bass and drums! If you can’t get enough still, here their sophomore, ‘ Total LifeForever (2010) ’, and their latest, ‘ What Went Down (2015) ’ that are equally enchanted enough to shoot you to cloud nine I believe! (Click the links to download the albums. Enjoy them! Enjoy holidays! Enjoy life! Peace!)

Who: Foals Where: England What: Indie/Alternative/Math Rock When: 2013 It’s not new but I’ve been enjoying it coz it’s so damn great in terms of groovy, intricate and delicate rhythm guitars, terrific drums and bass, and decent vocals. I said decent coz it’s probably the only weak spot of Foals, but the lead singer Yannis sounds so much more confident than before in their latest ‘What Went Down’. Foals have become one of my favorite rock bands in rent years. ‘Holy Fire’ is their third yet the best of the best! There’re songs that will hold you either in trance or in ecstasy. None of them is a waste or a shame! Once you play it, you just can’t stop! Try it

Who: Blur Where: UK What: Indie/Alternative Rock When: 2015 Don’t judge by its cover. This is not a Chinese album. ‘The Magic Whip’ is Britpop legend Blur’s new full-length studio album in 12 years, and the best, I guess, they’ve ever come up with. I don’t like the label ‘Britpop’ on them coz what they’ve been doing is nothing pop, and some of which are completely alien in fact. You see what I mean if you try ‘13’ and ‘Think Tank’. People usually compare them with Oasis, but there’s nothing incomparable really. They were more daring and insane to be avant-garde while Oasis tended to stay in their own comfort zone. This album’s inspired by the city Hong Kong where people ‘live in tiny houses of their own mistakes’. Sad but true! HK made this much long-awaited album possible, but it’s not just about it for sure. Try it

Who: Amber Run Where: UK What: Indie/Alternative Rock When: 2015 New is not necessarily good, but Amber Run, a British new band, is certainly good enough to make a spark, at least in my heart, with their debut album ‘5 AM’ that lacks no melancholy addictive songs like ‘I Found’, ‘5 AM’, ‘Just My Soul Responding’, to make one sad and weepy indeed. Thought they’d be either too deep to catch or too shallow to stick around, but they took me right out of the blue! Try it

Who: Death Cab For Cutie Where: America What: Alternative/Indie Rock When: 2015 With long time member Chris Walla’s ‘bittersweet’ exit, only 3 are left now. Still they sound fresh and rejuvenated though they’re no spring chicken. This is their 8 th studio album already, the best, I guess, since ‘Transatlanticism’ and ‘Plans’. 4 hit singles aside, ‘Kintsugi’ has got more exhilarating stuff like ‘Everything’s A Ceiling’, ‘Good Help’, ‘Ingenue’, as the proof that ‘DCFC’ have not yet lost the touch on artistic tunes and poetic lyrics. They’ve made a comeback for certain, after stepping down ‘Narrow Stairs’ and throwing around ‘Codes And Keys’, telling you now not to be ashamed of your scars and wounds but to accept them as part of a brand new you. That’s what kintsugi really means, isn’t it? Try it

Who: Imagine Dragons Where: America What: Alternative/Indie Rock When: 2015 ‘Smoke + Mirrors’ is not an album you’d love at first listen but it’s gonna grow on you if giving it a few more tries. This Imagine Dragons’ sophomore may not be of all your favorites but there’s certainly a song or two that’d haunt and stay in your mind, like ‘It Comes Back To You’ and ‘Dream’ for me, particularly the latter crying ‘we all are living in a dream. Life ain’t what it seems. Everything’s a mess. All the sorrows I’ve seen. They lead me to believe that everything’s a mess’, so poignant but so true! Try it

Who: Imagine Dragons Where: America What: Alternative/Indie Rock When: 2012 They’ve got an alternative cover but a pop heart, or the other way round if you like. Whatever, that’s how I feel about them. They seem to have struck a pretty good balance between doing what they like and doing what most of us would probably like. ‘Night Visions’, their impressive debut, is of smash hits, some heavy and depressing, some encouraging and fun. First listen to it may sound like no big deal, but then you’ll get hooked up and start to sing along. Strange! They’ve nothing ordinary in short. Try it

Who: Kodaline Where: Ireland What: Alternative/Pop Rock When: 2015 Guess they’ve become my second most favorite band aside from Switchfoot, Blue October, Death Cab For Cutie, Fight The Bear, and stuff. This sophomore of theirs sounds familiarly exciting, catchy, encouraging, and a bit of delight and poignancy at the same time just like their debut that I’m still so fond of in fact. Though the tunes may bore a bit as taking too many listens, this album still works like a shot of pep when you feel bad about life and too weak to carry on at times so… Try it

Who: Kodaline Where: Ireland What: Alternative/Pop Rock When: 2013 They’re from where U2’s from. This their debut feels like a mix of earlier Snow Patrol and Coldplay, but with slightly catchier tunes and simpler lyrics of much romance and hopes. I’m more than fine with every song in this album to be honest. It’s from two years back but it still sounds exhilarating and fresh, and a little bit sad of course. I guess sometimes a bit of melancholy is all we need to be able to feel alive, ain’t it? Try it

Who: Damien Rice Where: Ireland What: Folk Rock When: 2014 In ‘Closer’, a viciously romantic film, Damien Rice was made renowned for his melancholy way of singing and songwriting that could be pretty hard to take indeed when you’re left alone at night, hurt, estranged or bereaved. After 8 years of almost no-show, he’s finally come up with this CD of 8 songs only, but they’re all by no means short and light. Guess he really had to take his time to live and experience it to make it a song. And you might not mind taking a few more listens to be able to get the picture he’s picturing, and hopefully get wind of your inner voice as well that might’ve been trying to reach you all along! Try It

Who: Fight The Bear Where: Britain What: Alternative/Indie Rock When: 2013 I don’t care whatever ska rock is, or what it takes to be a band of that genre. Neither do they I guess. I’m talking about ‘Fighting The Bear’, a rather new British rock band having released 3 studio albums already. ’38 Degrees’ is their third and latest, also the one and only album of theirs that I can get to download and have a taste. Tell you what, you’re never going to forget it. It’s an impressive work full of energy, hopes and fun without making any effort to curse, preach, or instigate. Strong vocals; simple, moving lyrics; awesome, zealous guitar riffs and drumming, the best album I’ve ever listened thus far this year! Try it and rock on!

Who: Escape Plan Where: China What: Alternative/Pop Rock When: 2013 This is one of very few Chinese rock bands that I appreciate and enjoy, while there’s a lot I neither appreciate nor enjoy at all. ‘Earth’ is a debut by Escape Plan, a stylish looking band of four young men very into British rock I guess coz they look British and the music they’ve been playing is also kind of British. It makes me think of Coldplay but somehow different. They’re considered Indie Pop or New Wave or stuff. Whatever, it sounds hopeful, exhilarating and sentimental at the same time. And their live shows are absolutely world class, but we’re not seeing them making any commercial attempt yet. Just can’t wait to get a bite of their probably even greater sophomore. Try it and rock on!

I used to be so into pop songs at first, and then ditch it completely and move on to pop rock particularly, but now I’m only a fan of indie rock. Not like before, I no longer go to record stores for CDs or something coz there’re lots of sources on the Internet that I can get to try from time to time so conveniently. Some help me relax. Some encourage. Some makes me sentimental again. I thought I could keep music at bay, but we all need it sometimes, whether to feel better or worse, don’t we? So starting this year, I’ll share some of my favorites with any of you guys out there who feel like I feel right here at ‘Almost Buddhist’. Who: Switchfoot Where: America What: Alternative Rock When: 2014 Not particularly great as I thought it should be, but it’s still a pretty decent album certainly worth a listen, especially when your mind’s kinda empty and feeling’s kinda numb. I’ve been following them for years. Musically, they always dare to try something new for their albums. Lyr...

Zealous, fun, powerful pop punk sound. ‘Move Along’ MV struck me so back then. This sophomore of theirs sure would make you feel like The All-American Rejects could be something so great, but pitifully they’re not quite. Their following efforts ‘When The World Comes Down’, and ‘Kids In The Street’, are just there to tell they’ve somehow lost their touch. Soon they’re gonna have to fade I guess, but ‘Move Along’ will stay. This is an album you have to take a few listens to get addicted to. The lyrics may seem a bit bizarre but the music is so mesmerizing. ‘Hot Fuss’ that makes The Killers the best British band from America, is a no-idea after all, but ‘Sam’s Town’ is certainly more on reality than fantasy. Whether or not you’re a fan of The Killers, only if you’re a rockaholic, I suggest you take a ride to ‘Sam’s Town’. Chuck is a guy who saved Sum 41 from a war zone. So this album is in fact a dedication to Chuck himself, and those peacekeepers risking their lives to kee...