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Today’s Shuffler: Ernie Hsiung

Ernie Hsiung is the creator of 8Asians.com, a collaborative blog of different people of Asian descent with a decidedly western point of view. But before he created 8Asians last year, Ernie’s been writing in his award-winning blog, littleyellowdifferent.com for over seven years. Some of his blog has been featured in publications such as USA Today, The Advocate, Genre and some of his adventures have been chronicled in a book, humbly called “The Very Best Weblog Writing Ever By Anyone Anywhere In The Whole Wide World, Vol. 1.” Digging for other things on Ernie, we come across the following notes from friends, written as blog comments:

Ernie is warm, funny, neurotic, adventurous, geeky, shortish, yellowish, and gay. You’d definitely go with him to get coffee, but be forewarned: he doesn’t hold his alcohol well. One drink and he’s on the floor.

Through the six or so years Little, Yellow, Different has been around, Ernie has bared a considerable portion of his soul and the intimate lives of his friends and especially his family. See that haunted look in the photo above? There’s a history behind that face, and the archives are peppered with his triumphs, defeats, highs and lows. It’s one thing to bare your soul; quite another to put all the blood on display for all to see.

Over the last six years, Ernie has taken periodic breaks from his blog to reevaluate his place in the universe or lick his wounds after the latest trauma has passed. The universe has always welcomed him back with open arms because he’s worth the wait.

Now, on to the shuffle…

It’s All True
Tracey Thorn
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vlJbTxelw6k
I’m a huge fan of “Everything But The Girl,” thanks to a little Todd Terry remix of “Missing” that I listened to over and over again in college. This is my favorite track from her solo album - her sultry and sad vocals complement the driving electronic beat nicely. This is my pinnacle “dance in the kitchen while you’re washing dishes” song.

Postales
Federico Aubele
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sO_n4KUpbRM
I’m a big fan of Thievery Corporation, and I’m a big fan of Gotan Project. So when someone in Brazil that I met off a social network recommended this Argentine down-tempo artist to me, well, there’s no real way I’m going to NOT like the album. I listen to this track in bed before I drift off to sleep - the accordion and classical guitar is perfect to chill out to.

In My Pocket
The Cat Empire
I can’t find a good video for this song on YouTube. This is a damn shame, because this is an incredibly fun song by an incredibly fun Australian fusion band - you know, those rock, rap, ska fusion bands that have a brass section that play songs that frat boys smoke weed to. Should you get a chance to listen to this song, wait until the “na na na na” part, and I guarantee that you’ll have the tune in your head for the rest of the week. Coincidentally, this is the only song in this shuffle mix where it’s a guy singing vocals. Draw your own conclusions.

遭難 (sounan)
Tokyo Jihen
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dKu-CT-4E3s
I picked up both of Tokyo Jihen’s albums when I went on vacation to Tokyo this year. I won’t lie — because this song is in Japanese — I have no idea what lead singer Shiina Ringo is singing about. I don’t care. This song rocks.

Over It
Katherine McPhee
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dfzEbmBEh_Q
Up to now, if you didn’t know any better you would think I’m only into indie, or at the very least, non-mainstream music. This is an outright lie, as I’m actually one of the biggest whores of pop music you’ll ever meet. Case in point, Katherine McPhee, runner-up to Taylor Whatshisface in American Idol. Pop music — especially cheesy ballads — is awesome because they capture one emotion amazingly well: the feeling of getting your heart ripped out from your chest and being stomped into a million pieces. Or convincing yourself that you will get over said heart-ripping, when everyone knows you’re really just fooling yourself.

I had a couple of heart-stomped-on moments this year, and Ms. McPhee has done wonders for my sanity. For that, I am truly grateful.

Dream
Priscilla Ahn
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_M-K8FTW2F0
I first heard about Priscilla Ahn on MP3 blog aurgasm.us, where the following comment was posted on the blog: “A songbird voice, if ever I’ve heard one. She makes me relax and feel like I am sitting right in the middle of nature. To be able to sing a song and bring a near 60 year old woman back to feeling like she’s 12 again is an amazing feat.” Yeah, that pretty much describes it nicely. The song makes me want to cry too.

Last 5 posts by shuffled

• Shuffled! Adrian Tomine - May 15th, 2008
• Shuffled! Ed Lin - May 8th, 2008
• Shuffled! Catzie Vilayphonh - May 1st, 2008
• Shuffled! Danny "Dandiggity" Le - April 24th, 2008
• Shuffled! Goh Nakamura - April 17th, 2008

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