diaoman
10-03-2008, 01:39 PM
I compiled these rankings of Jay Chou albums based on one criteria: the number of AAA songs on an album. If there a multiple albums with the same number of AAA songs, then there would be a comparison of the albums' E-factor (escapism factor- the ability of the albums' songs to transport you to another world) and the enjoyability and lasting appeal of the songs.
What makes a AAA song? If it's a ballad or slow song, it should stimulate your emotions and give you goosebumps every time you hear it. AAA slow songs are perfect for listening while doing homework or when you're heartbroken.
If it's a fast song, it should be catchy and have your head bobbing to its catchy rhythm. For all others, they should have the E-factor and memorability.
You can't judge an album just because you really like one to a few songs on the album. They're just AAA songs....doesn't mean the whole album is AAA.
IMPORTANT: This is just my opinion. The difference is that I'm giving legitimate reasons behind my opinions instead of blatantly stating my preferences and judging albums by how good certain songs are in them.
Rankings
1. Capricorn
Review: Jay Chou has finally redeemed himself from his past sub-standard albums. If Jay had an album that encompassed almost all the best elements of his past work, it would be this one. To be specific, it included songs that implemented elements from Jay's rich, high E-Factor Zhong Guo Feng songs (Track 8), smooth and flowing R&B (Track 3), awesome head-bobbing hip-hop (tracks 4 & 11), epic and also head-bobbing rock (track 2), and relaxing and feel-good elements (Paddy Fragrance, tracks 5 & 10). Not only was it a compilation of the best elements of the past, but also it had some new flavors (Tracks 1 & 9). The album conveyed its theme congruently and really had the power to transport you to another world (figuratively). Almost every song on this album is AAA. This album definitely deserves album of the year at GMA's.
AAA songs: 9
(Since the names of the songs are all mixed up, I just provided the track numbers)
- Paddy Fragrance
- Track 02
- Track 03
- Track 04
- Track 05
- Track 08
- Track 09
- Track 10
- Track 11
Note: Even though I have already listened to the songs on Capricorn, I will still buy the album like I've always had w/ other Jay albums!
2. Seven Mile Fragrance
Review: My former favorite Jay album. This album has some of the most beautiful and emotion-inducing ballads every written. Excuse and Stranded are the reasons why I say this. Barring certain movie songs that Jay made, those two songs should be the default songs to listen to for any emo moment (not that I'm emo). Particularly Excuse, which set the bar for Jay Chou ballads.
Qi Li Xiang just screams high E-factor. Hell, the whole album has high E-factor.
Expect this album to be in many people's top 3...
AAA songs: 8
- Qi Li Xiang
- Excuse
- Grandma
- Checkmate
- Stranded
- Chaotic Autumn Festival
- Duel of Trapped Beasts
- Zhi Zhang Zhi Shang
3. Ye Hui Mei
Review: Ah, the album that became the borderline between new school Jay style and old school Jay style. This album still contains the most diao fast songs of all time (Name of the Father, 3rd Year, and Same Kind of Tune). To offset the awesomeness of its fast songs....on the other side of the spectrum, it has some of the most relaxing Jay songs (East Wind breaks and You Can Hear). The only things lacking in this album were AAA love ballads...
AAA songs: 6
- In the Name of the Father
- Cloudless Day
- 3rd Year 2nd Class
- East Wind Breaks
- You Can Hear
- Same Kind of Tune
4. Fantasy
Review: Many people have Fantasy as their number 1 Jay album. I feel Fantasy as an album was a little overrated, no offense. The reason for its popularity was probably because of a few AAAA (yes 4 A's) it had....namely Can't Open Mouth. Can't Open mouth is definately a AAAA and one of the few AAAA's that Jay has ever made. However, compared to the above albums, Fantasy as an album is slightly less enjoyable. As apparent with older Jay albums, most of their songs' novelty wear out with repeated plays. It's still a phenomenal album, though not aged too well...
AAA songs: 6
- Love Before the Century
- Simple Love
- Ninja
- Can't Open Mouth
- Shanghai 1943
- Sorry
5. November's Chopin
Review: A good album with some outstanding songs (particularly Attacked from all sides, nocturne, and Hair Like Snow). However, this album started a downward trend of fewer AAA songs per album (with exception of Capricorn), leaving Jay fans a little underwhelmed compared to past albums. Fantastic compared to other artists.....underwhelming compared to Jay's other more exciting albums.
AAA songs: 6
- Nocturne
- Hair Like Snow
- Black Sweater
- Attacked from All Sides
- Feng
- Romantic Cellphone
6. Jay
Review: An excellent first try by Jay. For the song Wife, I am absolutely positive it has the highest E-factor for any song. It's exotic, modern, and beautiful. I imagine being in a beautiful, sunny-climate, coastal ghost town somewhere in Venice, Italy, or Greece for some reason. It's one of my favorite songs from Jay. Unfortunately, I can't consider the awesomeness of that one song to judge the whole album. Overall, the Jay album is a pretty good album.....underrated, perhaps.
AAA songs: 6
- Starry Mood
- Wife
- Hei Se You Mo
- Istanbul
- Tornado
- Reverse
7. Still Fantasy
Review: Another album part of the downward spiral of Jay-standard quality. After listening to the album over and over again, I've always had the feeling that it was incomplete. You know, the feeling you get after you've watched an awesome movie......that feeling wasn't present after listening to this album. It was still pretty decent though......just sub-standard.
AAA songs: 6
- Listen to Mama
- Qian Li Zhi Wai
- Herbalist's Manual
- Retreat
- Red Imitation
- Rosemary
8. Eight Dimensions
Review: Now, this is just my preference. I just didn't dig songs like Dragon Fist (for a while I did), Grandpa's Tea, Return to the Past (sounded too much like Backstreet Boys), Blacksmith of Milan (it was very good the first time I heard it), or Last Battle (boring song no offense). The album has many songs I usually skip listening to on my mp3. Decent album....but underwhelming.
AAA songs: 5
- Orcs
- Iron Box on an Island
- Secret Signal
- Where's the Train Going
- Split
9. Cowboy on the Run
Review: This album had too many filler songs like Rainbow, Dandelion's Promise, and Sweetly. These songs are either just adapted from the movie Secret or are just plainly unenjoyable. Jay should stop using film-adapted (anything adapted) filler songs and stick with original material. CotR has its fair share of AAA songs, but as an album, it's underwhelming.
AAA songs: 5
- Rainbow
- Blue Porcelain
- I'm not Worthy
- Tear
- The Longest Movie
--------------
So I've given my ranking list for all of Jay's albums. Please comment on my list and maybe share your ranking lists as well (based on the quality of the albums of course)
What makes a AAA song? If it's a ballad or slow song, it should stimulate your emotions and give you goosebumps every time you hear it. AAA slow songs are perfect for listening while doing homework or when you're heartbroken.
If it's a fast song, it should be catchy and have your head bobbing to its catchy rhythm. For all others, they should have the E-factor and memorability.
You can't judge an album just because you really like one to a few songs on the album. They're just AAA songs....doesn't mean the whole album is AAA.
IMPORTANT: This is just my opinion. The difference is that I'm giving legitimate reasons behind my opinions instead of blatantly stating my preferences and judging albums by how good certain songs are in them.
Rankings
1. Capricorn
Review: Jay Chou has finally redeemed himself from his past sub-standard albums. If Jay had an album that encompassed almost all the best elements of his past work, it would be this one. To be specific, it included songs that implemented elements from Jay's rich, high E-Factor Zhong Guo Feng songs (Track 8), smooth and flowing R&B (Track 3), awesome head-bobbing hip-hop (tracks 4 & 11), epic and also head-bobbing rock (track 2), and relaxing and feel-good elements (Paddy Fragrance, tracks 5 & 10). Not only was it a compilation of the best elements of the past, but also it had some new flavors (Tracks 1 & 9). The album conveyed its theme congruently and really had the power to transport you to another world (figuratively). Almost every song on this album is AAA. This album definitely deserves album of the year at GMA's.
AAA songs: 9
(Since the names of the songs are all mixed up, I just provided the track numbers)
- Paddy Fragrance
- Track 02
- Track 03
- Track 04
- Track 05
- Track 08
- Track 09
- Track 10
- Track 11
Note: Even though I have already listened to the songs on Capricorn, I will still buy the album like I've always had w/ other Jay albums!
2. Seven Mile Fragrance
Review: My former favorite Jay album. This album has some of the most beautiful and emotion-inducing ballads every written. Excuse and Stranded are the reasons why I say this. Barring certain movie songs that Jay made, those two songs should be the default songs to listen to for any emo moment (not that I'm emo). Particularly Excuse, which set the bar for Jay Chou ballads.
Qi Li Xiang just screams high E-factor. Hell, the whole album has high E-factor.
Expect this album to be in many people's top 3...
AAA songs: 8
- Qi Li Xiang
- Excuse
- Grandma
- Checkmate
- Stranded
- Chaotic Autumn Festival
- Duel of Trapped Beasts
- Zhi Zhang Zhi Shang
3. Ye Hui Mei
Review: Ah, the album that became the borderline between new school Jay style and old school Jay style. This album still contains the most diao fast songs of all time (Name of the Father, 3rd Year, and Same Kind of Tune). To offset the awesomeness of its fast songs....on the other side of the spectrum, it has some of the most relaxing Jay songs (East Wind breaks and You Can Hear). The only things lacking in this album were AAA love ballads...
AAA songs: 6
- In the Name of the Father
- Cloudless Day
- 3rd Year 2nd Class
- East Wind Breaks
- You Can Hear
- Same Kind of Tune
4. Fantasy
Review: Many people have Fantasy as their number 1 Jay album. I feel Fantasy as an album was a little overrated, no offense. The reason for its popularity was probably because of a few AAAA (yes 4 A's) it had....namely Can't Open Mouth. Can't Open mouth is definately a AAAA and one of the few AAAA's that Jay has ever made. However, compared to the above albums, Fantasy as an album is slightly less enjoyable. As apparent with older Jay albums, most of their songs' novelty wear out with repeated plays. It's still a phenomenal album, though not aged too well...
AAA songs: 6
- Love Before the Century
- Simple Love
- Ninja
- Can't Open Mouth
- Shanghai 1943
- Sorry
5. November's Chopin
Review: A good album with some outstanding songs (particularly Attacked from all sides, nocturne, and Hair Like Snow). However, this album started a downward trend of fewer AAA songs per album (with exception of Capricorn), leaving Jay fans a little underwhelmed compared to past albums. Fantastic compared to other artists.....underwhelming compared to Jay's other more exciting albums.
AAA songs: 6
- Nocturne
- Hair Like Snow
- Black Sweater
- Attacked from All Sides
- Feng
- Romantic Cellphone
6. Jay
Review: An excellent first try by Jay. For the song Wife, I am absolutely positive it has the highest E-factor for any song. It's exotic, modern, and beautiful. I imagine being in a beautiful, sunny-climate, coastal ghost town somewhere in Venice, Italy, or Greece for some reason. It's one of my favorite songs from Jay. Unfortunately, I can't consider the awesomeness of that one song to judge the whole album. Overall, the Jay album is a pretty good album.....underrated, perhaps.
AAA songs: 6
- Starry Mood
- Wife
- Hei Se You Mo
- Istanbul
- Tornado
- Reverse
7. Still Fantasy
Review: Another album part of the downward spiral of Jay-standard quality. After listening to the album over and over again, I've always had the feeling that it was incomplete. You know, the feeling you get after you've watched an awesome movie......that feeling wasn't present after listening to this album. It was still pretty decent though......just sub-standard.
AAA songs: 6
- Listen to Mama
- Qian Li Zhi Wai
- Herbalist's Manual
- Retreat
- Red Imitation
- Rosemary
8. Eight Dimensions
Review: Now, this is just my preference. I just didn't dig songs like Dragon Fist (for a while I did), Grandpa's Tea, Return to the Past (sounded too much like Backstreet Boys), Blacksmith of Milan (it was very good the first time I heard it), or Last Battle (boring song no offense). The album has many songs I usually skip listening to on my mp3. Decent album....but underwhelming.
AAA songs: 5
- Orcs
- Iron Box on an Island
- Secret Signal
- Where's the Train Going
- Split
9. Cowboy on the Run
Review: This album had too many filler songs like Rainbow, Dandelion's Promise, and Sweetly. These songs are either just adapted from the movie Secret or are just plainly unenjoyable. Jay should stop using film-adapted (anything adapted) filler songs and stick with original material. CotR has its fair share of AAA songs, but as an album, it's underwhelming.
AAA songs: 5
- Rainbow
- Blue Porcelain
- I'm not Worthy
- Tear
- The Longest Movie
--------------
So I've given my ranking list for all of Jay's albums. Please comment on my list and maybe share your ranking lists as well (based on the quality of the albums of course)