By Your Side (Collectible Version) (CD+DVD) DVD Region All

Being an artist of Jacky's caliber means that he can take certain artistic risks, and don't let the sentimental words by the man written in the booklet and first single "Long Time No See" (Track 6) fool you - By Your Side manages to take plenty of risks while maintaining an overall mainstream-friendly tone. Best of all, you can even tell that Jacky is having fun. By Your Side starts with "Looking to Fate" (Track 1), a funky track that is so hip that it even features Jacky rapping his heart out. Thanks to producer/famed drummer Jun Kung (who produced three tracks on this album), By Your Side not only gets off to an energetic start, it also jumps into the dark side with "Original Sinner" (Track 2), a hardcore rock track about...global warming. Yes, in addition to his usual ballads, Jacky has gotten socially conscious with tracks such as "Original Sinner" and "It Really Cannot be Solved With Love?" (Track 5), where Jacky delivers lyrics (written by composer Alex Fung) such as "Wars can't bring you peace and order," and "Wars just end with death and fear." Even if you don't buy the message, you can still fall back on the musical aspect, especially the intense "Original Sinner", which now qualifies as the scariest song about global warming ever.

Do relax, because By Your Side can also qualify as a soothing album. Much of the tracks are done in a breezy acoustic pace, such as title track By Your Side (Track 3) and "I Don't Wanna Be" (Track 7), both produced by Taiwanese composer/producer Xiao An. They are done in the style of American light rock groove that lightens the tone greatly after the intense "rock with a message" tracks. Even ballads such as "There's a Place" (Track 4) (written by up-and-coming pop artist Khalil Fong) and "Long Time No See" are written and produced in such a minimalist manner that they remain easy on the listeners while maintaining a certain elegance. These tracks aren't written to challenge Jacky's vocals (nor future karaoke patrons), and he manages to find other ways to make his delivery equally effective.

On the other hand, the faster-paced tracks, the weak spot in Life is like a Dream, have taken a turn for the groovy thanks to producers Jun Kung and Alex Fung (of the Invisible Man). Both "An Unfinished Lesson" (Track 8) and "Worry Song" (Track 9) help to bring the album to an energetic end by matching the arrangement with its "don't worry, be happy, and all you need is love" message. Jacky even wisely leaves the most somber song, a cover of "Wishing Us Longevity" (Track 10), at the very end to close By Your Side with a bittersweet goodbye.

Perhaps the worst thing about reviewing a Jacky Cheung album, particularly this one, is that it means it would be years before his next album. By Your Side really is that good - it's engaging, energetic, soothing, intense, and even risky. It doesn't quite gel into a complete album because the pace starts and stops too often, and it ultimately plays like a compilation of new songs rather than an integrated whole. But that's a small complaint, because By Your Side is already undoubtedly one of the best Chinese albums of 2007. Just imagine what Jacky can do with better arrangements.

by Kevin Ma