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Shuffled! is a weekly column appearing every Thursday here on BPRLive. Each week, we welcome a person from the APA community to share some thoughts about the music they listen to. Check out the Shuffled! archive for past articles.

Today’s Shuffler: Thomas Chan

Thomas Chan writes and plays for the Boston rock band, Forget The Girl. A Contemporary Writing & Production alum from the Berklee College of Music, Thomas was born and raised in Boston which formed his two passions: sports and drinking (and not necessarily in that order). Being of Chinese descent, Thomas studied classical piano as a youth but picked up a guitar and heavy metal in junior high. After several ska, punk, and pop rock band failures, Thomas formed Forget The Girl with friend Michael Hong in 2002. Other than rock ‘n roll by night, Thomas freelances as a songwriter, instructor, and sound engineer.

Now, on to the shuffle…

Believe In What You Want from Clarity
Jimmy Eat World
First of all, Clarity is one of the most important rock albums of the 21st century. I’m not talking about Top 40 Hits albums, I’m talking albums that are meant to mean something in its entirety. “Believe In What You Want” is a classic example of the sound that seems to be so popular today but somehow misses the whole point. In this tune, you have an all out melody with a half time chorus. I heard this album near the end of college and was floored. Then again, you can never go wrong with Jimmy. The production is a bit weak sauce but you know what they’re trying to do and hearing the intention in their case, in many ways, is the beauty.

Japanese Robot from Ripe
Skavoovie and the Epitones
What a great local band from way back when! I was really into 3rd Wave Ska and used to play in this wacky Punk/Ska band called The Rockets! back in the mid-90s. I remember seeing Skavoovie at The Paradise when this album came out and thinking these guys were ridiculous (in a good way). They had a Korean guy playing keys and he made me proud. At the time, I wasn’t even aware of Asian-Americans in rock ‘n roll nonetheless one who played with soul and played it like he meant it. Great catchy tune from a great album from a great city.

Two from Easy Tiger
Ryan Adams
It’s a shame that so many people in bands these days don’t even know who Ryan Adams is… even worse when they confuse him for Bryan Adams! Man, I gotta tell you, as an Asian-American, it’s hard to explain to people that you have a love for country/rock. A great songwriter and storyteller, THE strength in the genre if you ask me, Ryan Adams always churns out songs that you take home with you. “Two” is such a simple tune with minimal production and a back-to-basics feel. This album, too, is fantastic. A not very embarrassing place to start if you’re just getting into Ryan Adams.

Gas In My Car from The Green Album
Skankin’ Pickle
Oh wow…I haven’t heard this in awhile! Mike Park has always been a hero of mine! I remember in High School sending him a copy of The Rockets! demo and he wrote me back telling me to keep him updated and sent me a couple of free stickers and a Chinkees CD. Skankin’ Pickle…what can you say about them? How do you even categorize them? I, too, played Tenor Saxophone and seeing a fellow Asian-man fronting a ska/punk band and during the mid-90s was awesome. I mean, this band was a variety show to begin with. Punk roots, a female bassist, an Asian-man singing, and two minute songs. And from what I understand, his label, Asian Man Records, is still up and running and doing well!

Across The Sea from Pinkerton
Weezer
Okay, seriously, this is the album. I remember skipping school to drive to Newbury Comics to pick this up and then driving to an undisclosed location, parking and listening to this three times through. No lie. It’s only like 30 minutes long or something and is just perfection. Rivers Cuomo has done so much for this generation of bands and modern rock songwriters and “Across The Sea” is a stellar example of heart-on-your-sleeve emotions without sounding tacky. This is one of those albums that would always make any list of mine involving what ten albums would I take with me if I was stranded on an island or something. This song in particular actually demonstrates some interesting musical ideas…you have a statement, development, recapitulation, direct modulation, elements of constant structure, cycle five motion, etc…just brilliant stuff.

Last 5 posts by shuffled

• Shuffled! Delia - August 14th, 2008
• Shuffled! Giles Li - August 7th, 2008
• Shuffled! Alexander Chee - July 31st, 2008
• Shuffled! Terry Park - July 24th, 2008
• Shuffled! Theresa Vu of Magnetic North - July 17th, 2008

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