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• Jay Chou and Say Anything

Artist: Jay Chou

Album: Capricorn

Are you tired of annoying, overplayed American music, especially when it conveniently plays on the radio at the precise moment you are abruptly woken up, consequently, making you most desirous of smashing your alarm clock? If so, Jay Chou’s Capricorn may be just for you! With his hodgepodge of R&B, stunning rap, sweet ballads that make you want to waltz — even by yourself — and a crazy, catchy polka number, this fantastic album is never endingly delightful and refreshing. It’s just that simple. And the beauty is, you don’t even have to know Mandarin to give it a go and like it ever so. — Justine Chan

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Artist: Say Anything

Album: Say Anything

My love for Say Anything died with high school. I won’t hide the fact that I still believe ...Is a Real Boy is a wonderful album and one of my top favorites from good ole high school, but most of the band’s post-Real Boy work has been sub-par at that. With their latest self-titled release, Say Anything has continued to lyrically and emotionally regress, culminating in the opus of “Crush’d,” which I want to believe is a joke with lyrics like, “did it hurt when you fell from heaven girl?” Regardless, I’m simply disappointed in the work from a band that I expect more from. It’s not terribly bad, just terribly disappointing. — Amanda Shively

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