Album Review Corner
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Hi all.
I would be doing an album review of the latest CDs I have, or whatever new CDs I lay my hands on. -
then post your views here?
did anyone have ah liang's new album...okok, i noe the album out for very long liao, but anyway, i like the "bei bao"...but knowing mi, i sure wun buy...heheh
i only but albums of singers who can compose their own songs...
leaving dai peini, stella, and a past dated jacky cheung's english album...
but i think dai peini is going to win the battle for mi to part with my $$
anyway, (i type here coz i lazy to find back the topic i posted long ago) Fan WeiQi's album is a good buy. The variety of songs inside is truly appealing... i listen to all the MP3s b4 getting the album. And there are lyrics of Lin Xi in it (one of my fav lyricist). -
Sorry for the late review. Just got my hands on some new albums recently.
SINGER: PENNY TAI (DAI PEINI)
WHO IS SHE: THIS IS HER SOPHOMORE EFFORT...A MALAYSIAN SINGER WHO WON A FEW AWARDS IN THE MALAYSIAN EQV OF JIN QU JIANG
TITLE OF ALBUM: ZEN YANG (HOW)
RELEASED BY: EMI
Well, do not compare Penny with Chen Qizhen and Sandee Chan because their music varies.
Penny's music is more folksy, but I would say forgettable. The only songs I can remember are JIAN DAN and ZEN YANG. I think the song XING LE LIANG NIAN, SHUI LE LIANG NIAN. HU RAN is also one of the songs not to miss out too. HAO GAN JUE is now playing on 93.3fm now...my feelings are neutral to it.
You could tell that is album is made for the commercial market. However, the quality of the songs are not compromised at all. This album is worth supporting. There are a couple of quick numbers in the album.
Do support Penny!
BEST LYRICS: ZEN YANG (She wrote for her ex-bf)
RATING: B+
[This message has been edited by Zilchster (edited 14 March 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Zilchster (edited 14 March 2001).] -
SINGER: CHRISTINE FAN (FAN WEIQI)
WHO IS SHE: THIS IS HER DEBUT ALBUM. EX-UNDERGRAD FROM HARVARD (MAJORING IN ECONS), MODEL, WHO DROPPED OUT FROM HER STUDIES TO PURSUE HER CAREER. CLAIMED TO BE DECCAS' REPLACEMENT FOR Mavis Fan
TITLE OF ALBUM: FAN FAN DE SHI JIE (Fan Fan's World)
RELEASED BY: Decca
Fan Fan...at first did not think much of her...thought she was just another girl with a pretty face.
She was kinda of shy of performing (singing), but managed to overcome her fear, and here she is. She even wrote 3 lyrics herself.
Her songs...Forgettable! This album is a a safe effort, a mix of some fast songs and sentimental ballads. Her voice...not too bad...and she has assembled quite good producers and lyricists for her maiden effort.
Some of the songs in the album are cover versions...up to 3. Zuo An An wrote 2 of the songs in the album. Anyway...the songs YIN WEI, XIANG TAI DUO, DAO BU LIAO (lyrics: Fan Fan, Music: Zhang Hong Liang)...are some of the songs that are etched in my mind. MEI TIAN by Zuo An An is not bad too.
This is an album suitable for easy listening and proves fan fan isn't just a pretty face.
BEST LYRICS: DAO BU LIAO
RATING: B+
[This message has been edited by Zilchster (edited 14 March 2001).] -
SINGER: JULIA PENG (PENG JIAHUI)
WHO IS SHE: TAIWANESE SONG BIRD WITH A BIG VOICE. THEY SAY THAT SHE COULD HAVE MADE IT BIG IF AH MEI HAD NOT COME OUT DURING THE SAME TIME. ALSO HER BF IS CHEN GUOHUA, WHO WROTE A FEW SONGS FOR HER. IT IS RUMOURED THEIR R'SHIP ISN'T SO GOOD NOW.
TITLE OF ALBUM: SHUO ZHEN DE(TRUTHFULLY)
RELEASED BY: BMG
Horror! Horror! When I first listened to HUI WEI, I have to admit that I did like the song, but the lyrics is ultra-depressing and the tune sounds like ZOU ZAI HONG TAN NA YI TIAN. Then again, Chen Guohua (her bf) is the composer to both songs. It sounds like those songs in the early 1990s. Those who like depressing and bitter songs...this is ur cuppa tea.
Her previous album, First Time was a success...at least it helped her to scale to new heights...this album is a little disappointing.
Track 1 is 199 JI DE TA...okie...she is really good with the falsetto here and this song on the whole is not like drowning in bitter medicine.
Track 3 is SHUO ZHEN DE. It is written by Julia herself. This song suits her the best, and I would say it's one of the best songs in the album.
Track 6 LIAN AI DONG WU...is an interesting song. This is also one of the more outstanding songs in the album. Helps bring out Julia's vocals. Track 7 YOU ARE THE ONE is very karaoke friendly. Track 8 is by Yuan Weiren...but it's like kinda odd...
BEST LYRICS: SHUO ZHEN DE
RATING: B -
Sorry...have not been buying any CDs for the time being...so there's not much of a review to post...so once there are some nice CDs...i would update the page.
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me would like ta donate one......i have juz da best of da pump album...it's very nice esp their 'if...' and 'rhapsody in blue'....and not forgetting pruple the orion....nice songs..if u like r&b and dance music..u juz have ta give this album a try....
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Sorry for the overdue review of some albums...Juz laid my hands on 2 albums recently...and hence...dutifully review them for you.
SINGER: NA YING
WHO IS SHE: SHE IS CHINA'S BIGGEST TIAN HOU...AND FAYE WONG'S BEST FRIEND
TITLE OF ALBUM: BEST OF NA YING (NA YING JING XUAN - ZHI YING QING GE)
RELEASED BY: EMI
This is a compilation of songs of the days when Na Ying was under the record label EMI. She has now moved over to Warner Music. She has been nominated a few times in the Golden Melody Awards...including this year 2001. This compilation boasts some of her hits and very nice songs...consists of 15 songs including another old hit song BAI TIAN BU DONG YE DE HEI.
If you have never bought any of her albums...you might want to fork out 18 bucks for this compilation. It's really worth it...for some good songs like ZHENG FU, AI GAN CUI, AI YAO YOU NI CAI WAN MEI, MENG XING LE, MENG YI CHANG, YUAN DU FU SHU, BU GUAN YOU DUO KU...and some songs from her XIN SUAN DE LANG MAN album.
RATING: B+ -
SINGER: GIGI LEUNG (LIANG YONG QI)
WHO IS SHE: EKIN CHING'S GIRLFRIEND...THE ONE WHO BROKE EKIN AND MAGGIE UP.
TITLE OF ALBUM: AMOUR
RELEASED BY: EEI/FORWARD MUSIC
This album is a pleasant surprise...even for a non-Gigi fan like me...even though I have some prejudiced against her. However, after listening to this album, I must admit that it is really a nice lovely album, just that some of the songs are pretty short. The songs are really meant for easy listening...btw...she looks more like an elegant woman from all the photos...rather than a little girl. good image makeover.
There is only really quite fast song...like DAN WO AI SHANG NI...track no 3 QUAN NIAN WU XIU...There are quite a number of jazzy ballads like AMOUR Track 2, AI YAO JIA YOU track 9 and Happy Ending Track 5. If you all remember who Gu Hao is...he contributed to 1 song in tis album and another lyrics to another. Gigi's does not have the best vocals around...but well...do support tis album.
Let me introduce some songs to you.
Track 1 HUA HUO: This song is composed and lyrics are written by Gigi herself. Piano, keyboard, programming also done by Gigi herself. I find the lyrics really touching...and meaningful. Although she can't be said as a prolific composer...it is a good effort.
Track 2 AMOUR: Lyrics and music by Zuo An An (AGAIN)...anyway...this song is in line with some diamond commercial...quite a nice song...but the lyrics seem a bit sad.
Track 3 QUAN NIAN WU XIU: Like Dang wo ai shang ni that kind.
Track 4 TIAN SHI YU HAI ZHUO: A nice touching song...written by Zheng Hua Juan (wrote dang wo ai shang ni, tian yan mi yu, cinderella and tai wei qu)...but the tune sounds very zheng hua juan...and hmm...sounds like tai wei qu and cinderella (hui gu niang) at times...but still a nice sentimental ballad
Track 5 HAPPY ENDING: By Gu Hao
Track 6: AI QING HAI: Written by our own Li Si Song...this song is those sentimental ballads tat is easy on the ears...like the lyrics too.
Track 7: LIAO TIAN: Tune...is catchy...written by Jin Cheng Wu...but i appreciate the lyrics written by Lin Xi...and it goes really well...
Track 8: XING FU: Tune by Tanya...tune too short...but once again...nice tune...if u support tanya...u would like tis song.
Pls reply if u have any comments.
RATING A-
BEST LYRICS: A tie between HUA HUO and LIAO TIAN
[This message has been edited by Zilchster (edited 20 April 2001).] -
thanx zilchester, ur reviews helped lots
just got the amour cd, thanx to your review!
-Tomahawk -
Does anyone have any comments to the reviews I posted? Have anyone of you out there bought the CDs I've reviewed...
Would be doing a review on Elva's new album once I lay my hands on it. -
SINGER: ELVA HSIAO (XIAO YA XUAN)
WHO IS SHE: One of the four small heavenly queens of Taiwan with really good record sales.
TITLE OF ALBUM: MING TIAN (TOMORROW)
RELEASED BY: VIRGIN MUSIC/EMI
Firstly, I must admit I am an Elva fan. But I shall try my best to give a fair review of the album.
Let's talk about her image...well...her image has definitely improved in this one. No doubt one of my friends remarked that she looks a little like Coco...actually she does minus the glam factor. But in this album, they up the glam factor a little more than her first and second albums. She doesn't look cute or so...in fact i find her more mature looking than elva...even her songs too...Elva isn't that pretty...but well...her image has improved since the first album...
Now here's the producing factor and the people involved in this task...For this album...3 great producers are assembled...Jae Chong...Jim Lee and Chen Wei. In fact...Elva did have a part in the production...as in she dugged out her collections of CDs, and shared with the producers the kinda music (R&B...soul) she likes...Chen Wei contributed 2 compositions...Sky Wu with 1...Sakura again...Jae Chong...I think she has assembled quite a big band of reknowned lyricists for her album...with Yao Qian penning the lyrics to 6 songs...Lin Xi 2 songs...and Yao Ruo Long and Yu Guan Zhong having one each...in fact...they said there was no coaching to be done on the harmonising or so like tat...IN track 3 Let It Go...Stanley Huang raps with her...COOL.
Music wise...well...to those who are expecting a lot of saccharine filled ballads...or those songs mourning over heart-break and those love ballads...i am sorry...but u wun probably find these in the album. Although there are quite a few sentimental songs...but they are done R&B style. In this album, Elva has tried out several different styles, Latin, Gospel, Soul and R&B. If you are a fan of Mariah...Whitney...Toni...Brandy and Monica...All Saints...TLC...these kinda...well...this album is sure to be the in thing for you. I personally like these kinda songs...so yah...i find this album a really good refreshing change from all the mainstream love ballads (although her first song is a r&b ballad)...The only complain is that most of the songs are covers of other songs...like her first album...but then...still good...so it really depends on taste...this is an album u need to listen to slowly...probably on a relaxing evening...late at nite...quite alrite...juz put ur heart to listen...I muz admit...Elva has a flaw...i cannot find her feelings when she sings...hmm...hope she can improve on this point...most importantly...all the songs bring out the uniqueness of her voice...her zhong di yin...well...all the songs actually suit her voice...and brings out the quality of her voice...kudos to the team...
Her album in no 1 on TCR Records and Rose Records...on the former...her album sold 42.52% of the whole record store sales...the next is only 6% or so...so yah...as for the song to song breakdown...i would update it with time...
Do support Elva...refreshing album and change in this low-season of albums.
RATING: A- (if you love American Pop)
RATING: B+ (if u were expecting love ballads)
BEST LYRICS: In fact all of them are good...might not outdo Faye's FABLE...but they are all good. But do pay attention to Track No 5 CHANG HUA DUAN SHUO...Lin Xi is such a zany lyricist.
RECOMMENDED SONGS: Track 1->MING TIAN, Track 2->MI MI, Track 3->Let It Go (Really cute and entertaining), Track 4-->Tian Shi Zan Shi Li Kai, Track 6->WO AI NI NA ME DUO, Track 7-->XIA YI CI LIAN AI, Track 8-->AI QING MEI, Track 9->DA YING WO
Any comments?
BEST LYRICS: CHANG HUA DUAN SHUO, TIAN SHI ZAN SHI LI KAI, MING TIAN, AI QING MEI, LET IT GO
[This message has been edited by Zilchster (edited 08 June 2001).] -
I mean...I do like Coco up till a certain extent...but then...coco does have a stronger voice than elva's...but point aside...
Coco started out not singing r&b actually...but anyway...coco's album is not as 'bad' as elva's album...in her true lover u and me...i found the songs so so...i thought how american could it get man...i feel tat elva is more american than coco in this way...at least from her third album...more to authentic american kinda pop album.
Isn't it unfair to compare elva with coco? juz tat coco was away to do her english album...than elva popped up? their voices are diff...their images are diff...maybe songs a bit the same...but let's not compare elva wif coco...and even so...coco could break out of taiwan...and if elva is little coco...wat the heck? she might one day go international...and where would jolin be then? Nevertheless dun compare...
Jolin doesn't suck...juz tat her songs are not as nice as elva's...her songs are more cutesy M2M tat kinda...and the lyrics really very wu liao...in fact elva's album has very good lyrics and more meaningful...Jolin's songs also so immature lor...i tink yao qian saved the best for her and sandy lam... -
I know i am repeating myself...but the review should fit snugly here too.
Hello all...this is an album review of Elva's album from The Straits Times Friday 27 April 2001. The reviewer gave her album a four star rating out of five...very rare for this column.
Here's the review extract...
The Cappucino Girl is back.
This time Elva Hsiao returns as a shampoo girl with lustrous black hair - and a brand new album that is as exciting as her new publicity shots for her third release.
The title track MING TIAN which opens the album Mrs Guy Ritchie's Music with its droning electronic backbeat and Hsiao's sometimes distorted vocals. But she offers more variation in terms of melodic progression than Maddy's track.
Tomorrow, the album - whihc comes with a bonus VCD of footage of her concert last year also sees her working with a slew of interesting names. Take for instance Sky Wu who wrote the music for the funky yet sultry after burner Secret on which she also raps in english. The album also features Stanley Huang rapping on Let It Go.
Also be on the lookout for the track Next Time I Fall In Love which features the return of Japanese R&B diva Sakura whom Hsiao worked with on the latter's album HONG QIANG WEI.
These two tracks as well as a Angel's Temporary Departure and Keep your Speech Short remind u of the music of J-pop R&B goddess Misia and of the fact Hsiao's forte lies in R&B.
Beyond R&B, tomorrow also embraces the 2step/UK Garage movement in tracks like Love's beautifuk and Third-time in love.
Like Misia Hsiao's music teases u with juz a little bit of soul while retaining sufficient pop sensibilites to attract a mainstream audience. -
My top 5 chinese albums this year are Stefanie sun's my desired happiness, Jiang mei chi"Tenderness of both hands", Penny Dai"So What", Stella Ng"Wait" and Gigi leung"Amour". These albums are rated by me sequentially from No. 1 to 5. Can I seek attention from all voters in this forum to help me vote and decide which album is the most worthwhile listening out of my five albums.Thanx.
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Not Stella. There are so many others better around? Have u heard Chen Shanni or not?
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juz wanna comment that the reviews you provide are really not bad at all. i may not like all the albums that you have recommended but you have a way of giving comments about them...its really appreciated...very good work!
btw, i like your review on elva's new album..detail and unbiase.....and i love her songs in this album, esp. "next love", " tomorrow" & "promise u". hope that you pple give it a try too yeah...will grow to like it in no time. -
Thanks for the comment...I have to agree with you that the album needs some time to get used to and to like...juz as Shihan said...u need to listen to a few times to like it.
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Chen San Ni?! Her songs are very nice but look at her personality! She's 2 proud as she said that Jolin is the No.9 worst singer. What the f**king hell is she speaking?! I know she's a great composer but her songs sure won't enter the Top 20 933 songs one. Not even No. 20. Yang Nai Wen is better. I like her, she's so cool. i really like her attitude! She's the singer where one day I can join her gang. Looks like she's a gang leader and I love it!!! Ha Ha!
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Unfortunately...u cannot spell her name so correctly...Sandee Chan aka Chen Shanni...her music dun need to enter the top 10 charts...but i tink she is a great composer and singer...much better than jolin mah! Anyway Jolin is not the no 9 worse singer...becoz...they r not in the order or 'merit'.
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Hi everyone,
To those avid fans of this particular corner, sorry for disappointing you all by not posting any reviews here...did not buy many new albums recently. Just got a copy of Karen Mok's SHI ER LOU DE MO WEN WEI...dunno if i should review or not...since it is an old album...but I picked up Yang Naiwen's new album YING GAI today with the review going to be up in a day or 2. Look out hopefully for reviews of Sammi, Yuki and Guang Liang's albums. -
SINGER: FAITH YANG (YANG NAIWEN)
WHO IS SHE: THIS IS HER NEW ALBUM AFTER WINNING THE 2000 GOLDEN MELODY AWARDS FOR BEST FEMALE VOCALIST.
TITLE OF ALBUM: YING GAI (SHOULD HAVE)
RELEASED BY: MAGICSTONE
I am sure a lot of people remember Yang Naiwen for her acting cool while presenting this year's Golden Melody Awards and in 2000 when she just uttered thanks after accepting the award and left the stage promptly.
About this album. This album is produced by her boyfriend Lin Weizhe. Faith has always insisted on having one album every two years instead of the usual 1 year plus. For this album, she cut her hair short, revealed a little flesh, and adorned a more sophisticated elegant look, which I could say quite a success.
Now onto the music. She managed to grab one song from Chen Xiaoxia (who wrote TA BU AI WO, HUI LAI, PENG YOU, CHENG QUAN etc). There were a few singers eyeing this song ZHU WO XING FU (track no 2)... e.g. Annie Yi Nengjing and Huang Yingying.
The tune is kinda like the circa 1980s. Hmm...something like Huang Yingying would sing. It is very hard to imagine that Faith would sing such a song, but I do relish her efforts and she did ample justice to the song. The lyrics is very touching, but I guess you need some time adjusting to.
The title of the album Ying Gai, is derived from the song of the same name, on track no 1. Written totally by Chen Shanni, this song reminds me of Wo Gei De Ai...it's quite long and it tends to repeat here and there....very reminiscent of Chen Shanni. Hearing Yang Naiwen singing this song, reminds me of Chen Shanni...
Queen is the song you currently hear over the airwaves. The music is very Brit-rock like Oasis...slightly toned down...the lyrics are pretty interesting.
Surrender on track no 8 is the longest song at 6.28mins. It is an English song and the lyrics and melody is written by none other than Faith herself. I would say this is one of the best tracks of the album. It sounds totally professional Western Pop Rock.
In this album...you could fine tunes and lyrics written by Chen Qizhen, though most of the bulk is by Lin Weizhe. This album is a good pop rock album...but somehow the music tends not to leave a lasting impression because the arrangement is pretty much the same. Her voice may sound monotonous and lazy...but that's the way it is meant to be.
OVERALL RATING: B+
BEST LYRICS: YING GAI -
TOOK TIS PART OFF
[This message has been edited by Zilchster (edited 22 June 2001).] -
Taking up space so this part here goes...anyway...the review is up there.
[This message has been edited by Zilchster (edited 22 June 2001).] -
SINGER: SAMMI CHENG (ZHENG XIUWEN)
WHO IS SHE: HEAVENLY QUEEN OF HONG KONG
TITLE OF ALBUM: WAN ZHENG (COMPLETE)
RELEASED BY: WARNER MUSIC
No matter how Sammi is advanced in her music in her Cantonese albums, she still has to yield to the tastes of the Taiwanese market.
Due to the success of Mei Fei Se Wu, in this album, Sammi included a fast track with Yuki (this newcomer who is a guy...quite boyish) rapping. This song is DU YI WU ER...meant for a coffee commercial. It is from her Cantonese album...and in turn from a Korean pop song.
The other song is Mei Li Ran Shao (Firing Glamour-as given by the CD)...This song is reminiscent of Madonna's Ray of Light...with the nice ambient mix to it...So far these 2 are the songs that stand out from the whole album.
The rest of the other songs are pretty normal Sammi stuff...it is very different from her previous album QU AI BA...where there was a visible change in her style...(due to Chen Shanni)...but most of the ballads are those common normal commercialised ballads...like Que Xi...Chu Jie that kinda...great for listening though...
She assembled Yuan Weiren (contributed 2 songs to this album), Kay Huang (Huang Yunling), Bao Xiaobo and Li Si Song as producers for her album.
I can't say which one of the songs deserve to be awarded the best lyrics...because they are all quite so so...none really stands out.
OVERALL RATING: B