YumCha!
»
Professional Reviews - Music
Browse
- ycec Editor's Picks By Category
- esid Editor's Picks - By Editor
- yca Feature Articles
- ycpc Professional Reviews
- Awards & Festivals
- ppid Music Pop Chart
- yceb Entertainment News
- About YumCha!
-
Ten Days In The Madhouse (CD+DVD) (Limited Boxset)
Denise Ho (Singer)
After wrapping up her works so far at East Asia Records, Denise Ho delivers her most ambitious project yet with Ten Days in the Madhouse. Released with a documentary by Hong Kong director Yan Yan Mak (Butterfly) and an exhibition for charity, Denise shows that a multimedia project by a musician can be about something more important than clothing tie-ins. As the title suggests, the Ten Days in the Madhouse project is mainly out to show a kinder perspective of society's outcasts, including recovering mental patients. Having a Hong Kong pop album that's not all about broken hearts and dancing already earns it plenty of points for effort. Similar to Andy Hui's 2006 album In the Name Of... (a... [read more]
-
-
Fu Jia Tian Xia (AVCD)
Fama (Singer)
I was standing in a Mong Kok record store one late afternoon, looking at a shelf of new records. Suddenly, a young girl moved past me and picked up two CDs. Looking at it, she began to slightly stomp her feet in excitement and went straight for the register. However, the CDs she picked up were not your typical idol pop – they were Fama's live album and their latest The Richest in the World. In just over a year, the Canto-rap duo has managed to overcome the stigma of rap in Hong Kong pop music ("it's not singing!") and their boss Edison Chen's personal scandals to be one of Hong Kong's favorite pop groups, and they did it purely through making some of the most entertaining music in Hong Kong.... [read more]
-
-
Orange Moon (Hong Kong Version)
Khalil Fong (Singer)
2008 has definitely been the biggest year thus far for Khalil Fong's young career. With 2007's Wonderland being his first release sold outside of Hong Kong, Khalil has suddenly found his fan base growing exponentially over the course of the year. He also managed to play his biggest concert to date with two packed shows in Hong Kong (this reviewer present at one of them). With this much success to follow, Orange Moon may be Khalil's toughest album yet because of all the anticipation. Instead of furthering his brand of integrating classic western R&B with Chinese lyrics, Khalil has chosen to tone things down, opting for a gentler, more ballad-oriented sound. Orange Moon is certainly his most... [read more]
-
-
Why
Juno Mak (Singer)
At one point during the rap/spoken word section of "Vomit" from Juno Mak's latest album Why, he says in English the words "cash on demand". This is perhaps the most fitting word to Juno's musical career at his current record label thus far. After all, this is the company that could afford to make a 20-minute 35mm short film along with Words of Silence, produce a fully computer animated video for the single Lam Man Lung, and spin off Chapel of Dawn into a long-term multimedia project that even includes a clothing brand. With no supplement or spinoff, Why is a relatively barebones album from Juno and his older brother/record company boss TK. With songs written by established songwriter-singers... [read more]
-
-
Voice (Normal Edition)(Japan Version)
Nakashima Mika
After taking a slight detour to American Southern gospel 20 months ago with Yes, Mika Nakashima returns to her pop roots with her 5th full-length album Voice. This time, the album's sound mostly has the same gentleness found in Yes, but it moves much closer to the mainstream-friendly pop that will be more accepted by pop fans. The genres follow a tried-and-true formula, and the album features far less experimental musical elements than her 3rd album Music. It's clear that Mika and her record company want to bring back some of the fans she might've lost after Yes proved to be too much of a departure for the singer. Voice will likely be the album to do it. The songs in the album are clearly... [read more]
-
-
Capricorn (CD+DVD) (Regular Edition)
Jay Chou (Singer)
Taiwanese pop superstar Jay Chou attempted to satisfy the complaining masses last year by trying something new in the form of Cowboy on the Run, the country-style dance track that either surprised or baffled fans. After a relatively quiet year, Jay is back with Capricorn, his 9th yearly album. After eight years, Jay's style is already well-known to fans and non-fans alike, so I'll just answer the most important question in everyone's mind: Yes, Capricorn is more of the same established Jay Chou style. This means if you're a Jay Chou fan, you'll love it, and if you're not, then you'll probably have the same complaints. However, criticizing Capricorn for doing the exact same thing as the last... [read more]
-
-
Infinity Journey (CD+DVD)
Ivana Wong (Singer)
In the Hong Kong pop world, some professionals have solidified their status at a certain positions, leading to the phenomenon of behind-the-scenes stars. For example, Lin Xi and Wyman Wong are now Hong Kong's star lyricists, Mark Lui has become the star songwriter-producer, and even Paco Wong has become the star manager. However, the emergence of several songwriters-singers in recent years has blurred that line between pop singers and behind-the-scenes professionals. One of the most successful cases is Ivana Wong, who got her big break performing a side track she wrote for a Jacky Cheung concert. Since then, she has found plenty of acclaim and popularity both as a songwriter and as a singer.... [read more]
-
-
Apocalypse (Normal Version)(Japan Version)
Inoran
Like most group-based musicians, Inoran's solo career could only take off when Luna Sea, which he helped co-founded with lead man Ryuichi Kawamura as the guitarist, was not active in making music. However, unlike these solo musicians, Inoran actually continued collaborations with his old Luna Sea bandmates; he even started a new band with Kawamura after Luna Sea disbanded in 2001. Despite his continuing role in the new band, he still managed to release his 5th solo album only a little more than a year after his previous album Niraikanai. While a title like Apocalypse seem to suggest that Inoran's target audience is those that like their rock hardcore and their guitars loud, the album's... [read more]
-
-
Guitar Fever (24K Gold Disc Edition)
Leo Ku (Singer)
With the Hong Kong music market undergoing a sales slump, record companies are trying to make pop albums with stellar recording and mastering processes in order to attract music fans to actually buy CDs. Hacken Lee first established this new trend with his "everything in one take" Concert Hall series, which saw both fan and critical acclaim. Now it's time for Leo Ku and his team at Gold Label to follow the trend with his latest album Guitar Fever. Produced entirely by Mark Lui, the album's liner notes boast the various technologies used to produce the album. And nothing spells "prestige" like Gold Label sinking a large amount of money to produce a limited set of Japan-made 24K-gold discs.... [read more]
-
-
Trinka Trinka (ALBUM+DVD)(First Press Limited Edition)(Japan Version)
OLIVIA
Imagine Cyndi Lauper crossed with electronic rock-pop and you have a rough idea about the music of Olivia (full name Olivia Lufkin), who was last providing the music for the character Reira in the animated version of Nana. Her almost doll-like voice and musical style may bring back horrid memories of late 90s Eurobeat for some, but her latest mini-album Trinka Trinka is an energetic dose of alternative bubble gum rock that works perfectly at its current length. With only six tracks, the mini-album gets right down to business with opening track Trinka Trinka (Track 1), which may just be the most childishly kinky name for sex ever created. The electronic bubble gum pop style is most apparent... [read more]
-
-
In Motion (CD+DVD) (Version 2)
Joey Yung (Singer)
After working with multiple producers for her last three albums, Joey Yung returns to a one producer-one album format for her 13th Cantonese album In Motion. However, this time the producer isn't early collaborator Shu Man, who was the sole producer on several earlier Joey albums. Instead, In Motion is entirely produced by the versatile Carl Wong, who also served as the musical director for Joey's concert earlier in the year. While Shu Man used interludes that made his albums a singular experience, Carl Wong is more focused on the workings of the individual tracks. The result is a nicely paced album that's a significant improvement from Glow, but still cannot measure up to Shu Man's previous... [read more]
-
-
Distance (Japan version)
Utada Hikaru
Nearly two years have passed since Hikaru Utada released her debut album, a perennial megahit with over eight million copies sold. In the build up to her next release, Hikaru ignored all the hype and quietly devoted herself to writing great new songs. However, even so, a feeling of something big gathered over her horizon. Now the wait is over, and the result is a colorful and versatile collection that includes collaborative work with TAKURO of Glay, R&B mixes, distorted guitar work that penetrates to the heart of rock n roll, beautiful combinations of acoustic guitar and strings, and much more. The production relies on elaborate digital audio mixing, but Hikarus breathing and candid vocal... [read more]
-
-
Communication!!! (ALBUM+DVD)(First Press Limited Edition)(Japan Version)
Leah Dizon
There hasn't been a Japanese pop star in recent memory that has reached widespread Panasian appeal as quickly as Leah Dizon. Since releasing her first Japanese single in February 2007, Leah has captured enough attention of Asian male pop fans that her record company quickly moved to release her second album within a year. Communication!!! is an unlikely step in Leah's pop career. Not as strong in vocal or attitude as ero-kawaii (erotic-cute) pioneer Koda Kumi, but more risqué than the usual squeaky-clean female idol, the album attempts to present Leah as a more all-around pop singer with both her choice genre of R&B and more mature rock songs. The album also marks a continuing challenge for... [read more]
-
-
Panic Fancy (ALBUM+DVD)(First Press Limited Edition)(Japan Version)
Orange Range
When I first listened to Japanese rock-rap-pop group Orange Range's 2004 breakthrough second album Musiq, I couldn't listen to the entire album at one. Sticking too close to their root as a rock band, the songs in Musicq (save for a few mid-beat ballads) grew continuously bombastic until the point it exhausted me, and I simply skipped around for the hit singles. Those hit singles have also earned enough goodwill with both fans and their record company that despite falling sales, they have produced an album that tiptoes so closely at the edge of commercial music that it may split their fanbase right in half. Panic Fancy still has the usual mix of the fun energetic rock songs and mid-tempo... [read more]
-
-
Jam Hsiao (Hong Kong Version) (CD + Postcards)
Jam Hsiao (Singer)
Jam Hsiao's rise to fame was a rare one for an Asian pop act, in that it was purely based on a display of talent. Long before the release of his self-titled debut album, Jam had plenty of opportunities to show off, namely through the Taiwanese talent show One Million Stars and his memorable performance at the 2007 Golden Horse Awards. It's no surprise that his long-awaited debut album is easily the most anticipated debut album on the Taiwanese pop scene since former competitor Aska Yang dominated the charts with his own debut earlier in the year. Thankfully, with a slate of experienced songwriters and producers providing materials that play well within Jam's broad vocal range, this is a... [read more]
-
-
Lady K: Transformations
Kary Ng (Singer)
Amidst the numerous Cantopop albums with incoherent English names recently, one finally lives up to its name. Ex-Cookies member Kary Ng's third full-length album Lady K Transformation really does signal a young pop star coming into maturity (hence "Lady") and going beyond the usual disposable pop ballads. Kary and executive producer Gary Chan have created an album with a distinctive adult identity and well thought-out pacing that also makes it one of the most engaging Cantopop albums of the year. While Kary's previous album In Control was a struggle between fan-friendly ballads and more mature upbeat songs, Kary's producers have gone mostly in the way of the latter style this time around,... [read more]
-
-
Urban Emotions
Hins Cheung (Singer)
Last year, I wrote that Hins Cheung's previous album Ardently Love marked his transition from a pop artist to a pop singer, and that it took away what made him such a special pop artist in the first place. Apparently, Hong Kong pop fans didn't agree and made it one of the best-selling albums of 2007, deciding that Hins is better off not making his own music. After a successful round of concerts comes his 3rd full-length Cantonese album Urban Emotions. Again, the album features no new works by the singer-songwriter himself, but the success of Ardently Love has apparently earned him a bit of goodwill with his record label bosses, with the album featuring some surprisingly new musical... [read more]
-
-
Don't Want To Let Go
Eason Chan (Singer)
After 12 years in the Hong Kong music industry, Eason Chan has earned enough goodwill from his fans that he can take risks without alienating them. As a result, he was able to release 2007's dance album Listen to Eason Chan. On the other hand, Chan continues to build his Asian fanbase amidst heavy competition with Mandarin albums that take a safer commercial path. Such is the case for his latest Mandarin album Don't Want to Let Go, his first original Mandarin work in a little more than a year. Thankfully, Don't Want to Let Go isn't a Mandarin version of his Cantonese album, as was the case with his previous Admit It. Produced entirely by frequent collaborator Jim Lee, Don't Want to Let Go... [read more]
-
-
3-Faced (Independent Version)
Elva Hsiao (Singer)
3-Faced, the 9th album by Elva Hsiao, marks a major turning point for the Taiwanese pop star's career: It's her first album under her brand-new expensive contract with her old record label EMI. In return, EMI has spared no expense at making sure their brand-new investment is no less than a hit seller with two expensive music videos and blanket advertising. It's no surprise that Elva and her producers are not about to take on any musical risk, which means that 3-Faced is more of the similar mainstream-friendly pop-R&B hybrid that made her a star. Despite Elva's voice being well-suited for soul and R&B, 3-Faced takes a direction far closer to performance-oriented dance tracks and typical... [read more]
-
-
Covers (ALBUM+DVD)(First Press Limited Edition)(Japan Version)
Jero
In 2007, a blind young man named Hiromasa Shimizu walked onto the stage and gave an enka performance so touching that audiences were moved to tears. He ended up winning the Best Performance Award for the year for the show, and released his own enka album this year as well. However, he lacks the natural stage presence that the other enka discovery from Noto Jiman has. After all, nothing shocks and awes a Japanese audience like a young foreigner of African-American descent belting out enka tunes in front of a live audience. That's exactly what Jerome White Jr. did in 2003. With his hip-hop appearance and humble personality, Jero (White's stage name) has rocked the Japanese music industry as... [read more]
-
United States - English
Bookmark & Share