14 書香人生 B O O K S & R E V I E W S SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2010 • TAIPEI TIMES Softcover: Hong Kong CD Reviews:

By David Chen and Andrew C.C. Huang China’s journalists Staff Reporter and Contributing Reporter t’s hard to tell whether Mando-pop superstar With its busy drumming and some impressive Wang Lee-hom’s new film Love in Disguise (戀愛 classic rock-style wailing from Xiao Cha, On the Road find chinks in 通告 在路上 ) is the cinematic accompaniment to his new ( ) goes deep into prog-rock territory. Though the album, or if Wang’s new album The 18 Martial band borrows from Radiohead’s heart-tugging, world- Arts (十 八般武藝) is the sound track to his directo- weary attitude a little too much on Tranquil Universe the state’s armor Irial debut, since the two projects are so tightly knitted (寧靜的宇宙), right down to the quiet interlude with just together. acoustic guitar and vocals, the song is well executed Mostly a formulaic vehicle that breaks little new thanks to its arrangement and the band’s judicious use Watchdog journalism has flourished ground, Wang builds on his self-coined “chinked- of distortion and sampling. in China over the past decade as reporters out” sound on The 18 Martial Arts, his 15th studio The Tic Tac sounds surprisingly cohesive and tight album, and further promotes his own signature sound for only having started in 2008. One of the best tracks and editors risk their careers and in contrast to the output of Mando-pop’s two other on the EP, though, shows the band at its loosest and heavenly kings (the R ’n’ B of (陶 ) and the most jubilant. Noah’s Ark (諾亞方舟), a piano-driven sometimes their lives to expose official (十八般武藝) “Chinese flavor” 中國風( ) of (周杰倫)). The 18 Martial Arts rock number, proves that Taiwanese indie rock can be corruption and government malfeasance The album’s “chinked out” sound is mainly established Wang Lee-hom (王力宏) quirky and make you feel good. by a few tracks that merge hip-hop defiance with the Sony Records by J. Michael Cole Green!Eyes calls Sleeping Bag a single, but the CD Staff Reporter serenity of traditional Chinese music. The opening track also comes with two additional tracks, which provides Dragon Dance features snippets of drumming from a fuller picture of this trio’s brand of modern rock. Chinese dragon dances in a titillating declaration of The brainchild of and guitarist Yuchain espite strong control of cultural pride. Last Verse of Boya (伯牙絕弦) is the result Wang (王昱辰), Green!Eyes also includes two seasoned information by the state, Publication Notes of yet another sparkling collaboration between Wang and musicians from the indie scene. Bassist Levon Hsu D the characterization of Mayday’s (五月天) front man A-hsin (阿信), who previously (許哲毓) is a member of the beloved group Tizzy Bac, Chinese journalism as invariably elevated Wang’s hip-hop driven Along the Plum Blossoms and drummer Luo Tsun-lung (羅尊龍), who goes by propagandistic and uncritical of (在梅邊) with classical Chinese literary prose. the name Johnlien, plays with Boyz & Girl and Sunset the authorities is an unfair one. For Wang’s fusion music reaches new heights on the Rollercoaster (落日飛車). a minority of reporters, watchdog album, with traditional music elements performed by the Wang, who writes and sings in English, is a talented journalism is their raison d’etre, a China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra (中央廣播民族樂團). young musician with a keen ear for atmosphere. calling that forces them to play a On the single Match, Rice, Oil, Salt, Soy, Vinegar, He surrounded his whispery quiet, ethereal vocals constantly shifting game of cat-and- Tea (柴米油鹽醬醋茶), Wang extols the virtues of life’s A-Ming’s Songs (阿明之歌) on Sleeping Bag with warm, glassy tones from the mouse with the state apparatus and ordinary pleasures. The lyrics, written by songstress Orange Doll (橘娃娃) Mellotron (a vintage synthesizer) and layers of acoustic corrupt local politicians who, more Vivian Hsu (徐若瑄), detail the bliss of everyday Himalaya Records and electric guitars. The song has a dreamy quality, and often than not, are the object of happiness in an unexpectedly poetic way. it probably helped that Wang had the EP mastered at their reportage. Hard-earned hip-hop credibility aside, Wang’s forte Abbey Road Studios in London. This noble tradition finds its continues to be his soaring R ’n’ B ballads rendered in Old Time Lovers and Pirate Song, which were roots in baogao wenxue (報告文 his unique ABT accent in the vein of You’re Not Here recorded live, offer a more realistic picture of the band. 學), or reportage literature, which (你不在) and The Only One (唯一). The two theme songs Wang’s vocal timbre brings to mind Death Cab for Cutie’s artfully blends fact and fiction from Love in Disguise, Things You Didn’t Know (你不知 Ben Gibbard, while the drawn-out, noisy guitar jams nod to expose actual events. One of 道的事) and Until the End of the World (天涯海角), are the to Wilco. Johnlien’s funky, syncopated drumming and the pioneers of the genre was the Investigative Journalism latest entries in Wang’s romantic pop canon. Hsu’s solid bass lines provide the right space for Wang’s China Youth Daily’s Liu Binyan in China: Eight cases Though lacking innovation, The 18 Martial Arts does admirable guitar skills and lyrics, which come across (劉賓雁), whose stories exposing in Chinese watchdog journalism boast Wang’s polished musicianship and his newfound as intensely personal and sometimes cryptic. injustice in the 1950s earned him confidence in staking out his own signature style. — David Chen the designation of “rightist” and Edited by David Bandurski — Andrew C.C. Huang landed him in a re-education camp and Martin Hala fter an eight-year hiatus, Mando-pop veteran until the late 1970s. Only during the 184 pages hree indie bands worth a listen released new U Have to go rocker Chyi Chin (齊秦) returns to the music period of soft liberalization in the EPs this summer, and all three offer a current scene with A Beautiful World (美麗境界), an Hong Kong University Press The Tic Tac 1980s, however, did investigative glimpse of a maturing scene feeling its way Self-released aptly titled opus that flaunts his polished journalism in a form recognizable through Western rock influences. vocals and new state of mind. to Western news consumers emerge Orange Doll (橘娃娃), a four-piece group from AFormerly known as a singer-songwriter with a in China, especially after then- which could damage the reputation TKaohsiung, which put out its first recording in 2003, has penchant for rock anthems and infectious ballads, Chyi premier Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽) in 1987 of the party, are often dropped the standard sound that appeals to Taiwanese youth this time returns as an interpretive singer. incorporated the term yulun jiandu by news organizations or used as outside the mainstream. With nine covers and only two new tracks, Chi (輿論監督), which literally means neibu cankao (內部參考), or “internal The three-track A-Ming’s Songs (阿明之歌) is full of makes each of A Beautiful World’s songs his own with “supervision by public opinion,” into references” — classified documents showering distortion from electric guitars, metronome- his subliminally emotive voice. his annual report to party leaders. meant for limited circulation like post-punk rhythms and spacey interludes. The opening track Happystance (偶然), a movie This form of journalism is the among party officials (reporters But Orange Doll’s post-rock noise is balanced by theme song from 1976, features Chyi’s spine-tingling subject of Investigative Journalism sometimes quote from a neican, but breezy chord progressions and dreamy melodies carried vocals with background vocals by Chen Chou-hsia (陳秋 in China, which explores eight cases do so at great personal risk). This by the airy voice of female vocalist and guitarist Wama 霞), who first sang the number. of watchdog journalism as told from practice, added to journalists’ close Chen (陳力寶). The Song of Zhangsan (張三的歌), originally sung the perspective of the prominent cooperation with police, is one of the She sings in accented English, unapologetically, by folk icon Li Shou-chuan (李壽全) in 1987, is an reporters themselves, who were reasons why some journalists have on the chorus to I Don’t Mind If You Forget Me. Her Sleeping Bag inspirational anthem that has been transformed by invited to the Journalism and Media been accused of working as spies choppy phrasing works because it sounds honest and Chyi’s lovelorn vocals into an ode to romance. for the state. In other instances, a Green!Eyes Studies Center at the University personal. The song has a melancholic undertone, but the Self-released The inclusion of overly familiar pop tunes such as of Hong Kong to share their major news organization like Xinhua mood is liberating: Chen sings with abandon, as if she Leave Me (離開我) (originally by Momoko Tao (陶晶 experiences. We follow reporters who will attempt to “beat” smaller or has discovered solace in the song’s rousing cadence and 瑩)) and How I Envy You (我多麼羨慕你) (originally by throw caution to the wind as they commercial-oriented publications to retro-pop jangle. Maggie Chiang (江美琪)) come across as a bid to up the follow their lead, reporting on such a story to pre-empt further reporting Orange Doll’s music speaks to a youthful innocence, album’s salability. However, even when tackling Faye well-known cases as the saga of Wu and sanitize it before it can cause but it hints at more than just mere escapism. One of Wong’s (王菲) Chess Piece (棋子), Chyi proves that he Fang, a woman who was disfigured damage to the party’s image. the EP’s more memorable tracks, Little Donkey (小毛 is capable of putting his personal stamp on other and abused by powerful local Under this system, watchdog 驢), deals sensitively with the topic of suicide through a people’s work. officials, the Henan AIDS epidemic, journalism becomes more an act of child’s imagination. What Chyi displays on this album is his astonishing the China Youth Development civil disobedience, the consequences The Tic Tac’s sound displays an equal amount of knack for taking previously esoteric folk or rock tunes Foundation school charity scandal, of which are often negative for both polish, but with less noise. The four-piece Taipei band and rendering them elegantly accessible to fans of pop. a drug rehab center in Guangzhou the reporters and their employer. plays indie-pop full of lush orchestration, melodrama The two new tracks, Like Madness (像瘋了一樣) and where women were forced into Even news outlets that seem to “get and big rock ’n’ roll drums. Long in Hatred and Short in Time (長恨苦短), are well prostitution, the widespread away” with an investigative story are Pianos, synthesizers and violins adorn this four-song chosen gems. exploitation of taxi drivers in Beijing, eventually haunted by their actions, release, U Have to Go. On the title track, the band’s male AA BeautifulBeautiful WorldMind ((美麗境界美麗境界)) The album features work by the string section of a cover-up of a deadly mine explosion as happened to the China Economic lead singer and guitarist, who goes by the name Xiao Cha 中國愛樂 Chyi Chin (齊秦) Beijing’s China Philharmonic Orchestra ), which in Shanxi Province, the rise and fall Times after it reported on the taxi (小茶), croons with bittersweet urgency, and the song’s ForwardForward Records Music is balanced well with pop melodies. of Li Zhen (李真), a Hebei Province scandal in Beijing. Later that year, deceptively catchy chorus will stick in your head. —Andrew C.C. Huang official who became drunk with its request to propaganda officials power, and the SARS epidemic. The to increase its publication frequency only important subject not covered was turned down. in the book (and one wishes it had All the authors agree that yidi Hardcover: US been) is reporting on ethnic tensions, jiandu (異地監督), or cross-regional such as in Xinjiang or Tibet. reporting — media in one particular province reporting on sensitive REPERCUSSIONS events in another province — is a Every chapter is fascinating reading powerful instrument for reporters. ‘You can’t think of these people as people’ that not only provides an insider’s “By taking advantage of political account of the events themselves, decentralization,” one writes, “the could attend Little Rock Central on a battlefield packed with youngster whom the army couldn’t but more fundamentally, exposes the media can minimize the risk of This is the best book High School. It is associated with civilians need constant and close redeem. There was something that Publication Notes story behind the story and highlights disciplinary action when dealing by far about the honor, not atrocity. It was only supervision. This didn’t happen. went beyond drug offences, ADHD the professional — and sometimes with sensitive stories.” Many of the natural that it would be tasked The best of 1st Platoon’s lost diagnosis and his mother kicking personal — risks taken by the cases presented in Investigative Iraq war — a rare with the most dangerous area of leaders was Sergeant Kenith him out of the house at 14. Before reporters and the news organizations Journalism in China were the combination of cold operations in the Iraq of 2005 to Casica. A photo shows James dropping out of high school, that employ them. A postscript result of this chink in the Chinese 2006: the “Triangle of Death.” Barker, one of the rapists, with his Green entertained classmates at accompanies each chapter, in which system’s armor. truth and warm There are three basic things arms around gentle giant Casica. lunchtimes by smashing drinks the authors discuss the significance That opening, however, appeared compassion, writes to avoid in war: getting killed, The expression on Barker’s face cans on his forehead. After the of their case for journalism in China to have closed in 2005 after Beijing being convicted of war crimes as he hugs Casica is pure bliss. murder-rape it was reported that: as well as the lessons learned. News broke a story about violent Vietnam veteran and having a commanding officer Barker has found a replacement “Green was jumping up and down The system in China, in which clashes over land requisition and novelist who thinks you are useless. B for the father who died when he on a cot and they all agreed that media organizations pay reporters a in Hebei Province, prompting Company’s ill-fated 1st Platoon was 15, but soon afterwards the that was awesome, that was cool.” piece rate according to the number local party leaders to request the Edward Wilson avoided none of these. By the surrogate father is dead as well. Frederick acknowledges of words published, discourages Central Propaganda Department end of their deployment, 11 of Casica was openly friendly to the the adrenaline buzz of battle risk-taking, as journalists can ill to impose restrictions on cross- By Edward Wilson 1st Platoon’s 33 members were Iraqis. When he was teased as a but does not attempt to gloss afford to see their stories censored, regional reporting and “dangerous The Guardian, London dead or in jail for murder. Why? “hadji hugger” he reminded his over war’s inherently brutal and therefore unpublished. “Safe,” meddlers.” A full ban on exchanges This isn’t a book for armchair war According to their commander, men that they were there to help and dehumanizing nature. He is uncontroversial stories, therefore, of newspaper articles between junkies. It’s about what Wilfred Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Kunk, the Iraqis. If Casica had lived, also a master at describing the are the preferred option, not only by provinces was fully implemented in Owen called “the pity of war.” it was all their fault: “You 1st Abeer Janabi and her family would psychological effects. The most journalists, but news organizations July 1 this year. The center and the pity of Jim Platoon are fucked up. Fucked also be alive today. feared weapon of today’s wars is Black Hearts: as well. The prospects of investigative Frederick’s account is the murder up! Every single one of you!” The most toxic of 1st Platoon’s the ubiquitous IED (improvised One Platoon’s Descent into Madness Looming above this “self- journalism in China are not bright, of the Janabis, an Iraqi family, Colonel Kunk was straight out of leaderless soldiers was Steven explosive device). “There is in Iraq’s Triangle of Death but hope stays alive thanks to a discipline” is a mechanism that and the rape of their 14-year-old Catch-22. His officers referred Green. His psychosis seemed nothing you can do ... no release By Jim Frederick defends the Chinese Communist small army of Chinese Don Quixotes daughter by four US soldiers. The to his control-freak outbursts as obvious to all except the army’s for the anger and adrenaline.” The Party (CCP) through a web of laws who have taken on the windmills. most chilling aspect of the crime “getting Kunked” or being under mental health professionals. On IED saps morale and spawns hate 500 pages and regulations, the frequent closure Investigative Journalism in was the casual manner in which the “Kunk gun.” He seemed to a combat stress report, Green’s for the population: “How could Macmillan of news outlets, lawsuits, transfers, China does those truth-seekers it was carried out. It was almost have had every tact and empathy statement of “interests” as “none you not want to kill them, too, for threats, intimidation, physical justice by telling their stories and a jape — something to break the instinct removed: 1st Platoon’s other than killing Iraqis” was protecting the person who just violence and the revocation of showing that Chinese media, though boredom of endless hours at a seven killed in action “were dead dismissed as “normal.” The alarm tried to kill you?” immediately revealed the names credentials. The repercussions are severely curtailed, is nevertheless checkpoint. The soldiers did it because of their failings,” and the bells began to ring only when he Inevitably, there are echoes of the whistleblowers, Justin especially harsh if a news report is no monolith. Practitioners of true because they had the power to survivors were “quitters, crybabies killed a puppy by throwing it off of Vietnam, the most chilling of Watt and John Diem, who risked seen to be linked to “social unrest.” reportage are “shouldering the do it; they didn’t need a reason and complainers.” Such leadership a roof. At every step the army which comes from a 1st Platoon retribution and scorn by reporting As the CCP announced in late 2001, door,” and if enough people apply why — almost the invasion of is not unknown in the US military. failed to protect the Iraqis from soldier: “You can’t think of these the murders — but he did the “the news media ... must always limited force to the door, the cost Iraq in microcosm. Sometimes it works, but when it Green and Green from himself. people as people.” The same right thing. follow the leadership of the party.” to each person will be minimized. The rapists were from an doesn’t, the results can be bloody. His discharge papers, citing a dehumanization that led to My Lai Black Hearts is the best book Since then, stricter regulations have Armed with the lessons derived from infantry platoon in the US army’s Everything that could go wrong pre-existing personality disorder led to the murder of the Janabis. by far about the Iraq war — a rare been implemented, most of them this book, and with the addition most elite division, the 101st did go wrong. The platoon’s best marked by “indifference to the And in both wars, the soldiers who combination of cold truth and under President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤). of Netizens and citizen reporters Airborne, which provided “the leaders were killed early on, and suffering of others,” came too late. refused to tolerate dehumanization warm compassion. At all times, the interests of the — who receive little treatment here Band of Brothers.” It was the the remaining soldiers were a He had already committed rape were the real heroes. To his party override the truth and define — Chinese reporters could win the division sent by Eisenhower to mixture of seething resentment, and quadruple homicide. credit, Colonel Kunk acted quickly Edward Wilson’s latest novel, the media’s role in society. Stories next round in the information war. enforce civil rights legislation and indiscipline and combat In retrospect, it was obvious and decisively. He may not have ‘The Darkling Spy,’ is published that are deemed too sensitive, or But the game is far from over. ensure that nine black children exhaustion. Young soldiers that Green was a troubled handled the matter tactfully — he by Arcadia