Super Sunshine (MV Encore Version) (CD+DVD) DVD Region All

An outstanding debut album can be a double-edged sword, setting up expectations that are hard to live up to, but Gary answered with a second album that surpassed his first. The most surprising thing about Superman is that it is actually a less commercial effort than his first; at least half the songs on that album should not be attempted at karaoke. Gary boldly experimented with different genres in a way that felt original rather than fusion, and he largely answers that call again with his third album Super Sunshine, using his commercial success as license for artistic freedom rather than CM tie-ins.

Gary has the uncanny ability to turn questionable musical gimmicks into genuine musical ventures, be it his cover of Superwoman to his latest Super Sunshine which samples You Are My Sunshine, a song that I have no desire to ever hear but keeps rearing its cheesy head everywhere. I was worried when it made its way to Gary, none the least because Super Sunshine is a frankly awful song title. But the sampling works surprisingly well, blending the familiar lyrics and melody into an uplifting, layered number that's equal parts R&B, pop, and gospel and exercises the full range of Gary's vocals.

Super Sunshine is only the first track in an album that again sees the Malaysian singer-songwriter wholeheartedly experimenting with different sounds and tricks. These experiments may not play as well with fans who are justified in wondering what happened to their heart-melting ballads, but it really shows that Gary has no intention to just hand the listener what sells. After all, there can't be too much of a market for a song like "The Wake Up Song" (Track 2), a carefree boogie blues rock track that bites into Elvis baritones and sax interludes. Also cut from the same cloth but less odd, flamboyant jazzy piano rock ballad "Nice Guy" (Track 6) is strong and memorable, with an easygoing melody and confident, unfettered vocal performance from Gary.

Other curious confections include the refreshingly arranged and thoroughly pleasant "Get Some Fresh Air" (Track 5), a mellow beach song of sorts with ocean waves, child-like mischief, and Bossa Nova lightness. I would even call "Get Some Fresh Air" cute, if not for "Love Love" (Track 9). There's nothing that says Taiwan cute like doubling your Chinese characters, and "Love Love" embraces it fully with sweet lyrics, light melody, and a cute music video. There's also the Caribbean Super Marioland rhythm and folk Cantonese intro that help make the song unabashedly fun and sincere in its cheesiness. Though the sound is very different, the mood and atmosphere remind of George Lam and Sam Hui's smiling love songs from the 70s and 80s.

Gary still offers his fair share of ballads, all of which are excellent. "Singular" (Track 7) is this album's "Betrayal", heavy on emotion with a better, if less catchy melody. The song picks up from soft angst in the first half to a stronger outcry in the second half, effectively using a simple change in volume and vocal projection to make the song grow in sound and emotion. This same sense of growth in arrangement and vocals can be heard in the expressive piano and string ballad "Love to the Last Second Without Regret" (Track 8). The most karaoke-friendly ballad is "Helpless" (Track 3), with lilting verses melting into a soaring refrain of poetically stirring lyrics: "Love is a helpless kite/Pulling on the person you care for most/Love has past, I'm still here/Destined to drift alone." Equally affecting is "Little Sister Wants Happiness" (Track 4), a soft ballad-with-a-message about an abandoned young girl, with a traditional folk refrain that is admirably simple and effective, free of the fusion arrangements common in recent years. Special kudos go to "Love's Loneliness" (Track 10), a slow-burning piano jazz ballad evocative of 1930s lounge numbers, and Gary's superb vocal performance.