GuanAd's Haven

Lately, I've been thinking if my life is like one of those one-hit wonder musicians - you know those that diminished after one album's fame, those that showed high potential but never really lived it up, those that basked in past glory but couldn't steer forward. Can't help but think if I'm like this too - both academically and in my career now.

On a separate note, I think through some of the best sophomore albums in my memory and the top 5 sophomore albums (viz not one-hit wonders) are as follows.

1. Jay Chou's Fantasy
His second is the epic following a cool debut eponymous album - the rest thereafter are just IMHO pure remixes based on Fantasy (frankly I can't hear a distinctive tune in the rest of the albums). With ninjas, nunchakus etc, the album always reminds me of cold Melbourne, huddling for warmth in Calvin Chua's car to Jay Chou's Fantasy, and a 2-week grad trip 5 years ago which seemed now 50 light-years ago. Defining album which defined a part of my life.

2. Oasis' What's the Story (Morning Glory)?
Admittedly, the first album (Definitely Maybe..cool oxymoron)was much better. The second was incoherent and what's with that "We're bigger than God?" comment? But who can forget the tunes of "Wonderwall", "Don't Look Back in Anger" and "Champagne Supernova" (even though we hardly understand what the heck the lyrics meant)? Those JC days...brit cool was in, apathy ruled, budding romances that didn't work out, and studying seemed so irrelevant at all...those dangerous days of being wild. Listening to the album is like sipping a 10-year old Claret at night and waking up to morning glory (no pun intended).

3. The Killers' Sam's Town
One would expect a weaker response following its commercially successful first album (Hot Fuss) but they proved me wrong. Sam's Town is loud, cogent, impactful and reflects my current state of life: "aggressively, we all defend the roles we play". Can't help but reiterate the review magazines' favourite cliche: "the Killers killed all sceptics..." Indeed, the Killers is one of the strongest bands that has emerged in recent years together with Franz Ferdinand. And you know what, the band's name is taken from a New Order MTV. I love New Order and therefore I love the Killers, as cliched as the name may be.

4. The Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream
Admittedly, I bought SP's third album "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" first. But Siamese Dream had a larger impact on me. I played "Today" when I received my A-level results. Despite apathy (see point 2 above), I made it to University by God's grace. But in retrospect, I didn'think so much about God then. I thought more about emulating Billy Corgan (by shaving my head although I told my mum that it was a barber malfunction) and his dual-toned voice. Who can forget Soma and Mayonnaise? "Fool enough to almost be it, cool enough to not quite see it". Alternative rock at its best. Siamese Dream was ground breaking for SP's career, as well as my life.

5. Radiohead's The Bends
Their third (OK Computer) is the Best Album ever, I solemnly agree. But The Bends was definitely a sign of things to come. No one ever comes close to Radiohead in the ways that they could express creative energy in such cool melancholic fashion. Look beyond their commercially successful hits (viz High and Dry) and you'll empathised with their writings and moved by the music (experimental sometimes as it may be). I felt this band's never faked it. It's a pity Radiohead's in recluse now. More doses of melancholy will be handy at this juncture of my life.


p/s: not forgeting Portishead, Franz Ferdinand, Annie Lennox, Stephanie Sun, all of which who had excellent sophomore efforts, but it wears me out writing about these things.