Showing 71 - 80 of 314
Tomorrow Starts Today
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 24/02/2019
» From returning to college, starring in the Netflix series The OA and getting pregnant, New York-based singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten has had a busy few years prior to the arrival of her fifth studio outing, Remind Me Tomorrow. The record, helmed by indie rock's go-to producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Future Islands, Unknown Mortal Orchestra), reflects those changes in her life via a stylistic shift that emphasises less on the guitars, but more on other instruments like synths, pianos and even occasional drones.
Recalling her past life
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 10/02/2019
» While much has already been discussed about the 2016's viral YouTube video in which super producer Pharrell Williams became visibly in awe of singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers and her demo of Alaska, Williams' organic reaction never gets tiring to watch. It's pure, genuine and far more emotional than any of the today's TV singing competitions could ever hope to elicit. And, thanks to that very video, Rogers has garnered well-deserved attention, amassed a sizeable fanbase, and struck a record deal with Capitol Records -- all in just over a year.
The Art of Growing Old
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 03/02/2019
» "Attending an unplanned party/ Never ready, didn't really wanna come/ Saying 'hello' to acquaintances/ Gotta be careful not to smile too much/ It just wouldn't be appropriate," without knowing the track's title, the opening verse of The Charapaabs' debut single, Sala Kon Sao (Funeral Party), reads like something of a typical introvert's diary. As the second verse arrives, it becomes clear that the aforementioned "party" is actually a funeral where "the host refrains from making an appearance" (worth noting a clever wordplay here -- ook long, literally "out of coffin", is used instead of ook rong, which is a Thai expression meaning to make an appearance).
The sharpest tool in the shade
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 27/01/2019
» We're not even a full month into 2019 and it seems like the Thai indie music scene is already readying itself for another year of solid offerings. Leading the pack is none other than The Dumbs, a Winai Kitcharoenjiranont solo project. If that name doesn't ring a bell, Winai is one of the co-founding members of The Charapaabs, an elderly-themed concept band who's bestowed upon us a series of memento mori-inspired cuts like Funeral Party, Annual Check Up and Hello Monday. (Side note: keep an eye out for a review of their long-awaited debut LP, Maha Moradok, coming next Sunday.) He's also the brain behind TypeThai, a popular Facebook page and a YouTube channel that celebrates-slash-satirises Thai idiosyncrasies in all their glory.
Widescreen memories
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 20/01/2019
» Ever since I embarked on this music-criticism journey some five years ago, it's always been a personal mission of mine to be as diverse as possible when it comes to the albums I choose to review. While I'd like to think that mainstream and independent/left-field artists are equally given a chance to shine in this column, there's still a whole world of music out there that needs its due recognition. Which brings me to drummer-turned-piano virtuoso Eiko Ishibashi, a celebrated Japanese musician who, thanks to US-based label Drag City, is getting her releases outside of her native Japan.
No rest for the wicked
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 13/01/2019
» Just when you thought shed put Rest to rest, the internationally renowned French chanteuse comes back strong with a five-track EP that brilliantly complements it
When good intentions backfire
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 06/01/2019
» "Sometimes/ It falls upon a generation/ To be great/ I ask all humanity now/ To rise up/ Then we can all stand/ With our heads/ Held high," begins the Chris Martin-curated Global Citizen EP 1 with opener Rise Up featuring an excerpt from Nelson Mandela's now-iconic "Make Poverty History" speech. It's an apt start given the wholesome intentions of this EP, although it feels slightly jarring to hear one of the world's greatest speeches getting paired with the euphoric synths supplied here by the Norwegian production behemoth Stargate. The song is clearly engineered for a stadium/festival setting, so casual listening might not be the best way to approach what would otherwise be a stirring anthem.
Top 20 singles of 2018 (Part 2)
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 30/12/2018
» As is tradition, we're wrapping up the year with a special two-part series featuring some of the best music to have come out locally and globally over the past 12 months. Culled from our 40-plus playlists stretching back to January, these tracks represent trends, cultural highlights and states of mind that reflect the times we're all living in (and trying to make some sense of). Without further ado, we're picking up right where we left off last week with our countdown to No.1. On that note, thank you for sticking with us until the very end -- here's to the new year of fewer whales choking on plastic bags, of nobody getting trapped in a cave, and maybe -- just maybe -- of an election.
Top 20 singles of 2018 (Part 1)
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 23/12/2018
» As is tradition, we're wrapping up the year with a special two-part series featuring some of the best music to have come out locally and globally over the past 12 months. Culled from our 40-plus playlists stretching back to January, these tracks represent trends, cultural highlights and states of mind that reflect the times we're all living in (and trying to make some sense of). We present to you this week the bottom half of our annual round-up, a vibrant batch consisting of pop mainstays like Mariah Carey and exciting newcomers like Hana Vu and Now, Now. And with that said, here's to a new year of fewer whales choking on plastic bags, of nobody getting trapped in a cave, and maybe -- just maybe -- of an election.
It's all peachy
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 09/12/2018
» Apart from the show's male winner Rangsan "Songkran" Panyaruen, The Voice Thailand Season 2 gave us a handful of female vocalists who'd showed strong potential including Violette Wautier and Rapeeporn "Lukpeach" Tantragoon. The former, as you may well be aware, has just started self-releasing her own music to wide acclaim. Lukpeach, on the other hand, found herself snug under the wing of Malama Collective, a co-op record label founded by Bangkok-based indie-music streaming platform Fungjai.