Fans of Taiwan's number-one musical son longing to relive the action of Jay Chou (
The double-CD package features a selection of tunes recorded on that balmy autumn night. Chou warbles, croons and, of course, mumbles his way through 25 numbers that range in pace and style from slow, hypnotic Mando-rap numbers such as My Construction Site (
The recording has quite obviously been re-mastered and any and all bloopers and duff notes have been erased, which gives Incomparable Live 2004 more of studio recording-like live effect rather than a raw one.
Not that this spoils the fun, however. Fans can still close their eyes and imagine they were there, as Warner's studio engineers made the wise decision not to omit Chou's between-song banter. It might not be complete and it is cut short in parts, but you've got to hand it to Warner for adding a personal feel that all too many local live albums lack.
And if all that isn't enough to satisfy one's cravings for Chou, then those looking for more can purchase the special Incomparable Live 2004 CD set that comes complete with a VCD featuring music videos for Common Jasmine Orange as well as a glossy poster of the wonder boy himself.
Never able to stand still and gestate musically, Wu Bai (
Veering away from the tried-and-tested rock/blues format, Wu Bai has set out to capture the hearts and minds of the electonica/dance crowd with his latest mixed bag of material.
Packed with loops, edits and a host of dance music-like effects, it might sound as if the grand-old-man of Taiwan alt-rock has forsaken his roots. Scratch just under the surface of the tunes, however, and you'll find a host of well-produced, well-executed guitar-driven rock numbers.
The album's opener, Li Hai (
There are a couple more standard Wu Bai ballads thrown in for good measure, but for the most part Two Faced Man is an electronica/rock crossover album.
The material may be far removed from anything Wu Bai and China Blue have ever previously attempted, but the album is, without a doubt, an exciting and original piece of work from one of Taiwan's best musicians.
Over the past 15 years, award winning actress and songstress Wan Fang (萬芳) has released 17 solo albums, appeared on countless compilations and amassed a whopping library of tunes.
While wading through these recordings must surely have given the compilers at Rock Records a real headache,they have still managed to do a pretty good job of bringing out the best in Wan Fang.
The album is concise and expertly plots the singer's highs and lows, luckily with a greater emphasis on the former rather than the latter. The double-CD set contains nearly all of Wan Fang's Top-10 hits and proves that time has been kind to Wan Fang's brand of Mando-pop. Regardless of whether Wan Fang is in soulful or standard mature bubblegum Mando-pop mode, there's not one duff tune on the CD, which places her in the top of the Mando-pop acts.
Sure, you might not find her vocal prowess as sexy or sultry as that of other female acts, but Wan Fang remains one of the few songstresses in Taiwan who can hold a tune and, more importantly, who writes her own material.
The Great Leap Forward 2005 (
Rumored to be the first part of a trilogy of albums that will see Tao exploring "new and exciting musical directions," some of the tunes are a far cry from his more mainstream studio releases such as 2002's hit Black Tangerine (
To create his new sound, Tao has teamed up with a host of performers, songwriters and studio gurus including leggy classical crossover female ensemble 12 Girls Band (
The result of these musical couplings has enabled Tao to mix and match various contrasting musical genres. None of the album's 13 tunes follow the same musical path and, while there's still an underlying R&B/soul feel to many of the numbers, the creative collaborations have paid dividends.
Tao successfully blends rock, R&B and Mando-pop basics with elements of classical Beijing Opera and electronica. Tracks like the weird and wonderful opener Ghost Overture (
The highlight of the album, however, is the marvelous piece of 70s glam-rock, Sula & Lampa (Sula
Jason Han says that the e-arrival card spat between South Korea and Taiwan shows that Seoul is signaling adherence to its “one-China” policy, while Taiwan’s response reflects a reciprocal approach. “Attempts to alter the diplomatic status quo often lead to tit-for-tat responses,” the analyst on international affairs tells the Taipei Times, adding that Taiwan may become more cautious in its dealings with South Korea going forward. Taipei has called on Seoul to correct its electronic entry system, which currently lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan),” warning that reciprocal measures may follow if the wording is not changed before March 31. As of yesterday,
The Portuguese never established a presence on Taiwan, but they must have traded with the indigenous people because later traders reported that the locals referred to parts of deer using Portuguese words. What goods might the Portuguese have offered their indigenous trade partners? Among them must have been slaves, for the Portuguese dealt slaves across Asia. Though we often speak of “Portuguese” ships, imagining them as picturesque vessels manned by pointy-bearded Iberians, in Asia Portuguese shipping between local destinations was crewed by Asian seamen, with a handful of white or Eurasian officers. “Even the great carracks of 1,000-2,000 tons which plied
It’s only half the size of its more famous counterpart in Taipei, but the Botanical Garden of the National Museum of Nature Science (NMNS, 國立自然科學博物館植物園) is surely one of urban Taiwan’s most inviting green spaces. Covering 4.5 hectares immediately northeast of the government-run museum in Taichung’s North District (北區), the garden features more than 700 plant species, many of which are labeled in Chinese but not in English. Since its establishment in 1999, the site’s managers have done their best to replicate a number of native ecosystems, dividing the site into eight areas. The name of the Coral Atoll Zone might
Nuclear power is getting a second look in Southeast Asia as countries prepare to meet surging energy demand as they vie for artificial intelligence-focused data centers. Several Southeast Asian nations are reviving mothballed nuclear plans and setting ambitious targets and nearly half of the region could, if they pursue those goals, have nuclear energy in the 2030s. Even countries without current plans have signaled their interest. Southeast Asia has never produced a single watt of nuclear energy, despite long-held atomic ambitions. But that may soon change as pressure mounts to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change, while meeting growing power needs. The
RSS