Getting the best of Foo
Foo Fighters Concrete And Gold Sony
FIRE and ice. Quiet and riotous. Hell and nirvana. Fast and slow. Metal and silk. All these contrasts come to mind when listening to Concrete And Gold, Foo Fighters’ ninth studio album.
It begins with Dave Grohl crooning soothingly, “I don’t wanna be king, I just wanna sing love songs” on the short and sweet T-Shirt, which starts off deceptively slow but kicks off halfway through with a signature soaring Foo Fighters rockout that segues perfectly into thumping first single Run.
From there, the album flits seamlessly from metal-esque screamfests (Run) to mid-tempo MOR (Dirty Water) with some acoustic-led quietness in between (Happy Ever After [Zero Hour]). There are moments on the album when it sounds like classic Foo Fighters (the band’s 2002 album One By One comes to mind). But on the other hand, on some tracks it sounds like the band is trying its best to rock and headbang its way out of that particular style.
The album includes collaborations with the Kills’ vocalist Alison Mosshart on The Sky Is A Neighborhood (one of the album’s highlights for me) and the blistering La Dee Da (which also features saxaphonist Dave Koz, of all people), Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman on the menacing, smouldering title track, and indie pop band The Bird And The Bee’s Inara George on Dirty Water.
With Paul McCartney also playing drums on Sunday Night and Justin Timberlake apparently popping up to sing “la la la” on one of the tracks, there is a danger of the album sounding like a incoherent mishmash of different musical styles.
But to the band’s credit, Concrete And Gold never sounds like it is anything other than a Foo Fighters album. In fact, it’s one of the band’s most listenable albums in recent years, with each of the 11 songs providing enough unique moments to hold your attention throughout the entire record.
All in all, there are moments of gold in this album, but for the most part, it’s as solid as concrete. — Michael Cheang Red Velvet
The Red Summer SM Entertainment
DUBBED the “summer mini album”, Red Velvet’s latest extended play certainly lives up to that reputation. The Red Summer is a sizzling affair that highlights the girl group’s more vivid and upbeat side.
Red Flavor kicks things off with an in-your-face summer jam. The songs waste no time extolling its made-toparty quality by opening with its stomping chorus.
It’s relentlessly catchy, but not in an annoying way like the group’s previous title track Rookie.
That public-friendly appeal continues sonically on You Better Know which sees the group venturing even more into EDM territory.
It also highlights Red Velvet’s dual concept of sweet and sassy perfectly, blending a ballad-y pre-chorus with a soaring electrified hook, and creating an exciting synergy for the K-pop outfit.
Elsewhere, tracks like Zoo and Mojito extend the feel-good dance floor vibe of the record.
Granted, The Red Summer is not as experimental as some of the group’s past releases. But if the music here indicates anything, it’s that Red Velvet are poised to be K-pop’s queens of summer. – Chester Chin
Bunga Citra Lestari It’s Me BCL Aquarius Musikindo
“I’M a woman in love,” declares Indonesian songstress Bunga Citra Lestari (BCL) from the get-go in the opening track, Aku Wanita, of her new album, It’s Me BCL.
The phrase sets the tone for the rest of the album, which is brimming with sentimental love ballads. BCL, who began as a TV actress and has two albums under her belt, proves she’s a master in delivering romantic songs yet again.
Akulah Cinta, for instance, sees the singer, who married Malaysian actor Ashraf Sinclair in 2008, tenderly pledging her unfailing loyalty to the love of her life.
Then there’s Rindu Kamu, a syrupy sweet love song about two people staying true to each other in a long-distance relationship.
What’s interesting is it features actor and martial artist Joe Taslim on the track. Together, they give such a tender performance. I’m surprised Joe hasn’t pursued a music career.
Another beautiful duet is Hari Bahagia featuring Daniel Christianto. The gorgeous, pianodriven track sounds like it’s going to be a staple on wedding day playlists all over.
But the highlight of the album has to be Jera (Hatiku Masih Milikmu). Steeped in emotions, it is a poignant ballad about holding on to a lover who, unfortunately, has found love in another.
Another notable number is Tundukan Dunia, a sprawling inspirational anthem about chasing after one’s dreams despite the odds. There’s a grandeur to it which could lend itself nicely as a theme song for one of those sporting events. In fact, it’s a theme song for sports film, 3 Srikandi, about three women who made history and became Indonesia’s first Olympic medalist.
About half of the 10-track album comprises songs that were released a lot earlier, whether as a theme song for films or TV dramas, leaving only a handful of new material.
Nevertheless, for listeners who aren’t familiar with the singer’s work, It’s Me BCL is a good place to start, with track after track of strong melodies and evocative lyrics. – Kenneth Chaw