CD Reviews

Meal Number 2 [2nd Version] (2號餐)

Nan Quan Mama (南拳媽媽)

Sony

Since the releases of its debut Nan Quan's Summer (南拳媽媽的夏天) last year, four-piece Mando-pop/rap outfit Nan Quan Mama has become one of Jay Chou's (周杰倫) pet projects. The award-winning crooner has produced and made cameo appearances on the group's music videos and has helped pen the odd tune or two for the group.

Originally released in mid-August and then re-released with a bonus VCD last week, Nan Quan Mama's second album, Meal Number 2 once again sees the combo choosing to mix it up with a blend of Mando-hip-hop/rap, Mando-pop and straight forward love ballads.

If you happen to be a fan of, or are simply very familiar with Chou's music, then you'll probably find much of Nan Quan's material a poor substitute for the real thing. Whether penned by the self proclaimed "King of Mando-pop" or not, much of Nan Quan's material sounds too Chou-like.

From the album's opener, the moody orchestrated piano driven Mando-hip-hop number Daybreak (破曉) to final cut, the mushy Mando-pop standard Angel's Hero, there's very little, if anything unique about the material. That's not to say its bad it's just for the most part the tunes remain all too predictable in both style and execution.

The four-piece does manage to throw one curveball at listeners. The breakneck power-pop number Wild Thing (野東西) makes for a pretty good listen. Although quite out of place on a predominantly slow and meandering album that goes nowhere, the tune proves that should the four-piece ever choose to drop Chou as their mentor and inspiration they certainly face a future, albeit one far removed from whence they came.

Long Time No See (好久不見)

5566

Warner

Taiwan's most plugged boy band released its third album to much hype late last month and, according to one interview, the boys hope the album's less teenage pop/hip-hop oriented sound along with their new "mature" image will prove popular with both long term fans and newcomers to the group alike.

Chances are even if you've never heard 5566 you've seen their faces adorning 7-Eleven stores, as the

President Group played a big part in promoting the band a couple of years ago. Needless to say, with so many 7-Elevens the promotion worked wonders and 5566 went on to score a string of hits. Both of its previous albums fared exceptionally well in local charts and the group's rare performances were sellouts.

So what's new?

Well, what's new is the sound. Gone is the teenage cutesy pop and instead 5566 have grabbed the studio engineer by the throat and set out to impress with an interesting set of musical vibes and song that are more mature and, dare we say it, better then before.