King Of The Road

Taking a step back from the electronic pop of his last album, Anthony Wong uses "road music" as his theme this time, experimenting with folk and country compositions. Musing about the journey on "Guangshen Expressway " (Track 1), the highway connecting Guangzhou and Shenzhen, the album's opening road song is a laidback country guitar number with easy beats, earthy sentiments, and a wonderful little harmonica interlude. Chow Yiu Fai's lyrics wax about the realistic emotions and experiences of those who have to run back and forth between borders to earn their keep. Moody yet comforting, the song makes for an empathetic grassroots road anthem that reaches out quietly to the listener, especially in its lingering last line that voices the humble hearts of many weary travelers: the hope that "a little happiness can be reached".

An interesting companion track to "Guangshen Expressway" would be "Dear Margaret" (Track 11) which also looks at the world through a car window, observing the green traveler with "more luggage, less experience". Penned by Wyman Wong, the song captures a kind of quietly inspiring moment when two travelers cross at the same intersection, but at different stages in life. In the song's final line - "Sincerely wish you the best / To make it to a new world" - one can imagine the commuting traveler of "Guangshen Expressway" sending his thoughts to a tired backpacker, yet to taste the fatigue of life's road.

Traveling to farther places, "Same World" (Track 4) jives to a silky melody by Steve Wong, with funky brass and string arrangement that creates an atmosphere somewhere between old school and exotic. The lyrics, again by Chow Yiu Fai, talks about a traveler who can't seem to escape the same places and person no matter where in the world he goes. English-language folk number Teardrop (Track 5) haunts in a different manner with an organic and ethereal melody, carried by Anthony Wong's crystal-clear voice which, if possible, sounds even more sensual in English than Chinese.

As a road music album, King of the Road's journeys are often figurative rather than physical, taking listeners down the road of life through a mix bag of hopes and insecurities. Ruminating the hope of holding on to youth and happiness in the bustle of life, "Safety Amulet" (Track 3), composed by Anthony Wong and Leung Kei Cheuk (Gaybird), sounds almost like a CCM song with its church choir-like opening and refrain, if not for the uncanny arrangement that includes everything from synthesizer to acoustic guitar. The similarly themed "Afraid to Die" (Track 2) also takes on a gospel elegance in its emotional build-up and vocal arrangement. A gentle ballad that goes through the different tastes of life, "Remembering Bitterness, Pondering Sweetness" (Track 8) evokes both Chinese and Western folk elements in its lyrical themes, lilting melody, and harmonic vocals reminiscent of the 60s folk and harmonic rock of Beegees and The Brothers Four.

With an alternative pop melody competing against folk rock instrumentals, odd beats, and synthesizer, 20 (Track 9) has such an eclectic sound it would fail by conventional standards, except Anthony Wong is never conventional. The song and ultimately this album works because of its strong Anthony Wong flavor and willingness to defy convention.