music stories in October 2009

'Angelic' Mariah Carey in Seoul to Promote 'Imperfect' Album

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Pop superstar Mariah Carey's new album might be called ``Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel,'' but she charmed everyone at a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. Wearing a fitted black mini-dress and knee-high boots, Carey made her grand entrance at the press conference with a flurry of camera flashes lighting up the room. ``Annyeonghaseyo,'' Carey said, smiling at the room full of local and international reporters at the Rose Hall of the Grand InterContinental Hotel, Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. ``I'm very excited to be back here in Korea after six years. I always said I wanted to see my fans and experience different things in Korea again,'' she said. She arrived Monday evening in Seoul to promote her 12th album. ``Yesterday, at the airport, we were tired, but when we saw the fans there, and the fans were beyond supportive. I feel like I have a family all over the world, and here is part of my family too,'' she said. Asked about how she came up with the album's title, Carey said she originally co-wrote a song with her husband Nick Cannon about society's obsession with perfection. ``Society seems to make people feel bad about not being perfect, especially in the entertainment business. I thought, wouldn't it be cool if that would be the theme of the album and speak to the people who may be growing up, and you feel you're not good enough ... It's one of those things when the title makes the record,'' she said. While she had a lot of fun making the album, working with producers like Tricky and Dream, Carey said she wanted to make an album she really liked. ``We weren't trying to make hits, we just wanted to make good music,'' she said. Known for her glamorous image, Carey looked particularly youthful with her bouncy curls and sexy curves. When asked for her secret to looking so young, she admitted she is ``eternally 12.'' ``Because when I was 12, there was good and bad things, but I'm still the same person when I was 12, so why not still be 12? But 12 with the nice hair and makeup artist,'' she laughed. It's an image she shed when she played a dowdy social worker in the film ``Precious,'' produced by Oprah Winfrey. ``Lee Daniels, the director, told me to look homely and ugly so that no one would recognize me. `I don't want any type of hair that looks like you, and I'm going to put a small mustache on you and stuff under your eyes. You're going to be hideous and then you're going to lose yourself in the part,' he said. That's what we did." "Yes, I hated looking like that, and yes, I walked past the mirrors (gesturing with hands over her face) and like ugh, but the main thing I had become the character. I was fortunate to be part of the movie,'' she said. Carey already has a long list of accomplishments, including five Grammy Awards, 18 number one hits on the Billboard charts and millions of albums sold, but she's still trying to find the right balance between her career and personal life. ``Some people didn't live their lives wanting to be entertainers. I did. I make music, I perform, this is who I am. I do definitely want to have a family. I got married a year and half ago ... It is difficult to do both things. I have to take time to eventually to have a family with no dysfunction, it's hard, and also try to make music. It's a balancing act,'' she said. During her stay in Seoul, Carey will appear on several TV shows, including MTV Korea and ``Yoo Hee-yeol's Sketchbook," which will air Oct. 23 at 12:15 a.m. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Kasabian Talks About New Album 'Lunatic Asylum'

British rockers Kasabian introduced a new dark, electronic-infused sound with their album "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum." / Courtesy of SonyBMG By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter With the quirky title "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum," fans and critics alike have been trying to figure out what British rock band Kasabian's latest album is really about. But frontman Tom Meighan says the title has no relation to anything, other than "it's the words that I actually like." "I like the idea of madness, and music kind of entwines. If you call an album that, it pretty much gives you the freedom to go wherever you want. That's what I was interested in," he said in an e-mail interview. "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum," the band's third album, topped the U.K. charts this June. Meighan says guitarist Sergio Pizzorno was inspired to make the album after watching a TV show about a mental asylum. "One night, Serge watched a program on a mental asylum on TV, and he had this thing to make an album that's really out there and the journey. It's the kind of thing, (where) each song's different and has a different characteristic and that's how it happened," he said. With dark, electronica songs "Underdog," "Vlad the Impaler" and "Fire," the album is nothing like the rock music their fans are used to. Critics gave mixed reviews, but Kasabian is not affected by them. "It's an album with 12 really good songs on it, that's all to me what it is. It just throws it into another world and it's completely different to the first two records, which is what we're about," Meighan said. Kasabian was formed in Leicester in 1999, with Meighan on vocals, Pizzorno on guitar and Chris Edwards on bass. Drummer Ian Matthews joined in 2004. Kasabian, who won the Best Live Act award at the 2007 NME Awards, impressed Korean fans when they performed at the Pentaport Rock Festival in 2007. Meighan says it was also an "amazing" experience for the band to perform here. "The energy there was, you know, monstrous," he added. Although there's no word on a Kasabian concert in Seoul anytime soon, Meighan said fans can always expect their shows to be magical. "You can literally be on fire," he said. Amid their success, Kasabian still manages to keep it real. The secret, Meighan says, is "you just gotta be yourself." cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Album Reviews

Shakira 'She Wolf' (SonyBMG) Colombian superstar Shakira is back with her third English-language album filled with Latin-infused electronic tracks. The title track ``She Wolf" offers hip disco beats and wolf howling, but oddly enough it works. Shakira's voice goes from falsetto to throaty growls, creating songs with multilayered vocal tracks. The Neptunes produced several songs, including ``Did It Again" and ``Long Time" with its thumping Latin beats, while Wyclef Jean worked on their duet ``Spy." The 32-year-old made some risky choices in her attempt to break away from her pop-rock image, but it paid off. Overall, ``She Wolf" offers fresh and innovative music that stands out from the rest of the pack. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia Mercedes Sosa 'Cantora' (SonyBMG) Legendary Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa died of kidney and liver failure on Oct. 4, but her music legacy lives on. ``Cantora," which means ``woman singer" in Spanish, is Sosa's last album. It is filled with collaborations with Latin musicians from different genres, including pop, rock and tango. Sosa's voice is powerful and expressive, even at 74. She sings with both old friends and well-known stars, such as Joan Manuel Serrat on ``Aquellos pequenas cosas" and Shakira on ``La Maza". ``Cancion Para un Nino en la Calle," (Song for a Street Kid) is a brilliant collaboration, combining Rene Perez's rapping with Sosa's singing. Another good duet is ``Razon de vivir" with Lila Downs. This amazing collection of collaborations ensures Sosa's career ended on a high note. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Pop Singer Mika to Perform in Seoul

Pop singer Mika will be performing in Seoul for the first time, Nov. 28. / Courtesy of Yellow Nine By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Pop sensation Mika will be bringing his fun, catchy music to Seoul for the first time next month. Mika, whose hit songs include ``Grace Kelly'' and ``Big Girl (You Are Beautiful),'' is holding his first solo concert Nov. 28 at the Melon AX-Hall, Gwangjang-dong, Seoul. Mika was born Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr. Aug.18, 1983 in Beirut, Lebanon. He grew up in Paris, and later London where he attended Westminster School and the Royal College of Music. He left school to make his debut album with Casablanca Records. In 2007, the London-based singer-songwriter quickly gained critical acclaim for his first album ``Life In Cartoon Motion,'' filled with fresh-sounding pop music. Mika has said the songs mostly deal with coming-of-age issues he dealt with when he was growing up. The first single ``Grace Kelly'' spent five weeks on the number one spot in the U.K. charts, and the album sold four million copies in just 10 months in Europe. His falsetto voice and music earned him comparisons with Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Prince, Robbie Williams and David Bowie. Mika also became known for his flamboyant on-stage persona and eccentric personality. Mika won British Breakthrough Act in the 2008 Brit Awards, where he also received nominations for British Male Solo Artist, Best Album and Best Single. ``Grace Kelly'' also received a nomination for Record of the Year at the 2007 Grammy Awards. The 26-year-old Mika, who also plays the piano, just released his second album ``Boy Who Knew Too Much.'' It included catchy and upbeat songs ``We Are Golden,'' ``Blame it on the Girls,'' and ``Blue Eyes.'' Mika's popularity in Korea has been helped by the fact that his songs have been widely used in Korean TV shows and commercials, such as SK Telecom, Asiana Airlines and KB Kookmin Bank. When the concert date for Seoul was finalized, Mika posted the message ``Seoul here we come" on his Twitter account (twitter.com/mikasounds). He is also scheduled to hold concerts in Tokyo and Hong Kong next month. Tickets are 99,000 won. Melon AX-Hall is located near Gwangnaru Station Line 5, Exit 2. For information, call concert organizer Yellow Nine at (02) 3444-9969(English booking available). Tickets are also sold on Auction Web site ticket.auction.co.kr (1566-1369) or Yes 24 Web site ticket.yes24.com (1544-6399). cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

'Fierce' Beyonce Rocks Seoul

American superstar Beyonce performs "Deja vu/ Crazy in Love" at her concert at Olympic Gymnasium, Olympic Park, Seoul, Tuesday evening. / Courtesy of SonyBMG By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Superstar Beyonce once again proved she's currently one of the best stage performers in the world, as she hit Seoul, Tuesday, for the first of two concerts. Whether she was dancing with a fiery attitude or singing soulfully on stage, she captivated the crowd from start to finish. Never mind if the show started 30 minutes later than the 8:30 p.m. start time, the crowd roared with approval as the lights dimmed and Beyonce appeared on stage, looking like a golden goddess in a sexy costume. The pop icon started the "Beyonce I AM" concert brimming with high energy as she performed "Deja vu/ Crazy in Love." "Welcome, Seoul, Korea! Are you ready to dance," she asked, as the crowd responded with deafening screams. She showed her seductive Sasha Fierce side with strong and sexy dance moves with "Naughty Girl," "Freakum Dress" and "Get Me Bodied." The concert transitioned to a much slower pace, when the Texan native, who was wearing a white leotard and cape, performed the ballad "Smash Into You." For "Ave Maria," she donned a stiff white skirt and veil, making her look like an angelic bride. In the middle of the song, she switched to Sarah McLachlan's "Angel" and Schubert's classical version of "Ave Maria." Beyonce once again changed costumes, this time wearing a tough-looking black leather outfit for "If I Were a Boy," which included lyrics from Alanis Morrisette's "You Oughta Know." Fans were treated to home video clips of a five-year-old Beyonce singing and dancing for her family during "Radio." Her old clips were shown on the screen side-by-side with live images at the concert. Then, she appeared on a small stage in the middle of the concert hall, delighting fans in the standing section. She cajoled the crowd into singing "Irreplaceable," and also performed a medley of Destiny's Child hits, "Bootylicous," "Bug A Boo" and "Jumpin Jumpin." No matter how complicated or strenuous the dance moves seemed, she always made it look effortless. One lucky male fan got the chance of a lifetime, when Beyonce approached him and asked for his name. The fan looked obviously thrilled at the fact that the singer had just said his name. Once again changing into a body-hugging sparkling gown, she reappeared to sing the Etta James classic "At Last," followed by another crowd favorite, "Listen." For the finale, the crowd was treated to a montage of YouTube clips of people dancing to the monster hit "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." Then the 28-year-old, wearing a beaded black leotard, recreated the iconic dance choreography she made famous in the music video as the crowd screamed. The concert stage was simple, with a glass mini-stage for the all-female band, stairs and a LED screen that showed impressive visual effects and videos. But it was renowned designer Thierry Mugler's glamorous costumes that showed off Beyonce's hourglass figure and long legs, which certainly caught everyone's attention. For the encore, she dedicated "Halo" to the late pop icon Michael Jackson, who she had always admired. By the end of the show, Beyonce graciously thanked her Korean fans. "Thanks for being a beautiful audience tonight. It's been so much fun. Every time I go on tour, I always look forward to being in Korea. Thank you," she said, flashing a brilliant smile. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Eric Benet, D’Sound to Perform in Korea This December

R&B singer Eric Benet will perform for the first time in Seoul on Dec. 19 at Yonsei University Auditorium in Seoul. / Courtesy of Private Curve By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter R&B singer Eric Benet will be performing in Seoul for the first time in December. Benet, whose soulful R&B songs are quite popular among Korean fans, will be holding a concert Dec. 19 at the Yonsei University Auditorium. This is part of concert organizer Private Curve's new "Music Likes Me" series featuring local and foreign artists from Dec. 18 to 31. Benet made his debut in 1996 with the album "True to Myself." He followed it up with "A Day in the Life" in 1999, which included the smash hit "Spend My Life With You." The song, a duet with Tamia, also topped the U.S. R&B charts and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group in 2000. Benet married actress Halle Berry in 2001, but they divorced in 2003 amid allegations of infidelity. But Benet bounced back, releasing his third album, "Hurricane," in 2005. It was his 2008 album "Love & Life" that showed the R&B singer-songwriter had returned to top form. The single "You're The Only One" became his first Top 20 hit in two years. He received two more Grammy Award nominations, including Best R&B Album. With his soulful vocals, Benet is one of the most admired R&B musicians among Korean R&B singers and idol groups. Korean fans are already abuzz over Benet's upcoming concert. He is expected to perform hit songs such as "You're The Only One," "Chocolate Legs," and "Spanish Fly." Meanwhile, Norwegian pop jazz group D'Sound is scheduled return to Seoul with a concert Dec. 19 at the AX-Hall, also part of the Music Likes Me series. D'Sound is known for its unique sound combining elements of pop, acid jazz, funk and soul music. After the departure of original member Kim, D'Sound is now a duo composed of vocalist Simone and bassist Jonny Sjo. The band has released several albums since 1997, including "Talkin' Talk," "Doublehearted" and "My Today." Some of their popular songs include "Enjoy," "Talkin' Talk," "Do I Need a Reason," "Tatooed on my Mind" and "People are People." Korean fans are also eagerly awaiting D'Sound's concert, as the duo is expected to perform new music. Their first album in four years, "Starts and Ends," will be released next month. For Benet's concert, tickets are 99,000 and 88,000 won. For D'Sound's concert, tickets are 77,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com. For reservations in English, e-mail info@privatecurve.com or call (02)563-0595. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Album Reviews

Backstreet Boys `This is Us' (SonyBMG) The Backstreet Boys are back with their 7th album. "This is Us" represents the group's return to the dance music that made them famous in the 1990s. The Boys have made a keen move, especially with electro pop dominating the airwaves these days. "Straight Through My Heart" and "All of Your Life (You Need Love)" are filled with trendy European dance beats, with the help of Lady Gaga's producer RedOne. The album isn't just dominated by dance tracks. The Boys also include hip-hop and R&B-infused songs like "She's a Dream," featuring T-Pain, and "If I Knew Then." Fans won't be disappointed with pleasing pop ballads "This is Us," and "Undone" (produced by OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder), that show off their vocals. Overall, the album has a surprisingly mature sound for the Boys, but offers nothing we haven't heard before. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia Kings of Convenience 'Declaration of Dependence' (Warner Music Korea) If you're looking for some stripped down music, then pick up a copy of "Declaration of Dependence." The latest album from Norwegian folk duo Kings of Convenience, composed of Erlend Oye and Eirik Glambek Boe, features more of their quiet acoustic tunes. They continue to impress with refreshing guitar music (plus some bass and violin), and open and honest lyrics. From the first track "24-25," the album's numbers are always soothing and easy on the ears but never dull. There's a mix of breezy songs such as "Mrs. Cold," "Me in You" and "Rule My World," while a somewhat melancholic sound can be heard on tracks "My Ship Isn't Pretty" and "Riot on an Empty Street." ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Beyonce Brings 'Sasha Fierce' to Seoul Show

Superstar Beyonce returns for two concerts, Oct. 20 and 21, at the Gymnastics Stadium, Olympic Park, as part of the “Beyonce I AM ... ” tour in Seoul. / Courtesy of B4H Entertainment By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Pop superstar Beyonce is hoping fans will enjoy seeing not just her real self, but also her fabulous alter-ego Sasha Fierce, when she hits the stage for two concerts in Seoul this week. "This tour will be really special for both me and for my fans. This is the concert that I show my two real sides of my personality. I really hope you enjoy and meet the 'real' me, myself, Beyonce, and Sasha Fierce at the show," she said, in an email interview. Beyonce, who arrives Monday, will be performing Oct. 20 and 21 at the Gymnastics Stadium of Olympic Park, as part of the "Beyonce I AM …" tour. The pop diva performed here in 2007, and the experience proved to be as memorable for her as it was for fans. "Seoul was the only place that I had two night shows. I still remember that people got so excited and so passionate during the show, and I could feel that they were enjoying the music itself. I even got so excited even after the show was finished. Seoul was a beautiful city by itself, but the people were so good, too. I will always remember them forever," she said. The multiple Grammy Award-winning artist introduced Sasha Fierce as her sexy alter-ego when she released the two-disc CD "I AM… Sasha Fierce." Stepping into Sasha's glamorous heels on stage has gotten easier through the years, but it does not involve the high-maintenance rituals that everyone might assume a diva would demand. "I can make the transition from Beyonce to Sasha Fierce really fast. I don't have any crazy rituals beforehand. I get in maybe two-and-a-half to three hours before each show. I do my makeup on tour myself and get my hair done. Then we all come together, say a prayer and do a little stretch," she said. But preparations for the concert tour sound grueling, as Beyonce talked about 12-hour-long rehearsals and practicing choreography in heels. "I have a rule that when I have my heels on, everyone has to have their heels on too. Sometimes the dancers are like, 'Oh, God, we hope Beyonce comes in late,' because I'll go all day. And in the end, I'll have blisters and my toes will have bruises," she said. The demanding workouts do help the pop star maintain a sexy figure, which she shows off in concerts and music videos like "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." Standing out for its simplicity and choreography, "Single Ladies" nabbed the Video of the Year award at the recent MTV Music Video Awards. Out of all her videos, it was the least expensive and took the least amount of time. "And it ended up being the most iconic. I absolutely did not expect that," she admitted. On days off from the tour, the Texas-born beauty enjoys sightseeing, visiting churches and museums and even riding a bike around the city. "It's great to do something normal every day. It keeps me grounded," she said. Beyonce, who is married to hip-hop superstar Jay-Z, is in no hurry to start a family ("In five years, yes probably," she says). She has a lot going on right now, with a world tour and a "sexy and seductive" fragrance to be launched next year. And she's already thinking of new projects, like developing a videogame-incorporating dance choreography, and producing films, perhaps a documentary about her life or a film loosely based on her father's childhood. Despite her busy schedule, Beyonce clearly loves what she's doing. "The truth is I really love what I do. I live for it. I've invested so much of myself in my career that I cherish it. I've worked too hard to do something to damage what I've basically dedicated my life to. I still definitely get a high every time I get onstage. But it's not just the performing. It's also coming up with creative marketing ideas and doing cool collaborations, like my fragrance," she said. "I love everything about this." Even after working her exhausting concert tour ends, Beyonce is not the type to go on extended vacations. "I think after maybe a month or two months, I'd be really bored. But I don't see myself working this hard for the rest of my life. It's just too much to do forever. I thank God I started touring and building a fan base when I was really young. So now if I took off a couple of years, I think I'd still be able to come back, go on tour and do records. I'm still a young woman," said the 28-year-old. She also describes herself as an "all or nothing" type of woman. "Either I'm doing absolutely nothing and relaxing ― reading a book, sitting by the ocean and not answering any questions ― or else I'm hands-on and giving 100%, working really hard," she said. Tickets range from 80,000 to 160,000 won, and are available at ticket.auction.co.kr (1566-1369) or YES24 www.yes24.com (1544-6399). The concerts start at 8:30 p.m. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Album Reviews

Barbra Streisand `Love is the Answer' (SonyBMG) Barbra Streisand's latest album ``Love is the Answer'' debuted at number 1 on the U.S. charts, proving the legendary diva is still very popular. With the help of producer and jazz singer Diana Krall, Streisand makes an impressive return to the music scene with an album of jazz tunes. Streisand's warm voice is as clear as ever and brimming with a rich maturity. All the songs are about love and heartbreak like ``Make Someone Happy,'' ``Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,'' and ``You Must Believe in Spring,'' making it the perfect soundtrack for a quiet, romantic evening. Streisand gives such stirring, unflinchingly honest interpretations of each song. Krall also took to the piano on ``In the Wee Hours of the Morning'' and ``Here's that Rainy Day.'' As this album shows, Streisand only seems to get better with age. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia Trey Songz `Ready' (Warner Korea) With his third album ``Ready,'' American R&B singer Trey Songz is poised to fill in the void left by R&B stars like R. Kelly and Usher. Just a look at the song titles, ``Ready to Make Luv,'' ``I Invented Sex'' and ``Yo Side of the Bed," and you'll know what most of the album is about. Songz's album is a solid effort, with its mix of R&B, rap, hip-hop, racy lyrics and radio-friendly beats. He enlists rappers Drake, Fabolous, Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy to give his songs a bit of edge. Standout tracks include ``I Need a Girl,'' ``Successful,'' the immensely catchy ``I Invented Sex'' and the fun ``LOL :-)." ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Martin Solveig to Play This Week

French DJ Martin Solveig will liven up the club scene with shows in Seoul and Busan this weekend. / Photo by Romina Shama By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter French house music DJ Martin Solveig has performed in some of the hottest clubs and parties around the world, but he can't forget his time in Seoul. ``It was quite memorable. I played in a hotel lobby," he told The Korea Times, in an e-mail interview. "It's very rare for us in Europe to play in a hotel because that would bother the customers too much and we wouldn't be allowed to do that. It seemed that everyone in the hotel came to the party and it was big, but also like a home party so that was quite exceptional.'' Solveig is in town this week, with two gigs in Seoul and Busan. He's looking forward to performing before enthusiastic Korean crowds, adding that the city's club scene is fast gaining a good reputation among Europeans. ``It's extremely famous for us Europeans because we know it's a very good one. People in Seoul are extremely interested in music, very aware of the artists or the DJs they go check out. They know exactly what they want, what to expect: if you're doing well, they will give you ten times more than the Europeans. If you don't do well, then you're in trouble,'' he said. Born in Paris in 1976, Solveig grew up listening to classical music, but as an adolescent he was drawn to different kinds of music. ``When I was 13, I asked Santa Claus for a turntable to be able to mix records over the radio. That was the way I learned how to beat sync music and to get the first feel of being a DJ,'' he said. While he really liked electronic music as a teenager, Solveig admitted that part of the allure of DJ-ing was ``the idea of organizing parties with my friends in my parents' garage and obviously getting the girls!'' By 18, he landed a residency at the famous La Palace club in Paris. ``Of course, I was a lot into electronic music, so I found it interesting to interact with the music as I was not a musician in a traditional way. I found it very easy,'' he said. His ideas for music come almost naturally for Solveig. ``Most of the time, it's when I'm on my scooter. I have a melody that pops into my head, then I just translate it with a microphone or a keyboard and that's it,'' he said. Among his musical influences are rhythm-and-blues and black music from 1960s and '70s, funk, Prince, Bjork, Fela Kuti and Serge Gainsbourg. These days, he also listens to Lykke Li, Architecture in Helsinki, The Strokes and Daft Punk. Solveig does not follow any of the trends in music today. ``Honestly, I don't really know where the music is headed. It moves faster and faster and it's also a lot more global than it used to be. At this time, it's all about electronic and even a lot about digital music, computerized. I'm okay with that and I think it's just an element of creativity and that everyone can make something out of it. Probably, it will go back to some more acoustic or organic things. As long as we have fun, it's cool,'' he said. Solveig will be a special guest at Club Heaven, Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, Friday. Tickets are 20,000 won before 11 p.m., and 30,000 won after 11 p.m. Call 1644-8466. He will also be the main draw for French Night at the Murpii Club, Novotel Busan, at 10:30 p.m., Saturday. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Album Reviews

Mariah Carey `Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel' (Universal Music Korea) Superstar Mariah Carey is back with her 12th album ``Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.'' Expectations were high, but Carey's first single ``Obsessed''' failed to make much of an impression despite grabbing headlines for its supposed references to rapper Eminem. For the second single, Carey does R&B version of the somewhat mushy Foreigner song ``I Want to Know What Love Is.'' Fans who are used to Carey's blustery vocal style will be disappointed, since she chose a more laidback vocal style. The album leans heavily to slow jams like ``H.A.T.E.U.,'' ``The Impossible,'' and ``More Than Just Friends,'' and not enough of the show-stopping ballads she's known for. ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia Jay-Z `The Blueprint 3' (Warner Music Korea) Jay-Z is undoubtedly one of the greatest rappers of all time, but his album ``The Blueprint 3'' does not quite live up to the hype. He makes quite a splash with ``D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune),'' which probably hit a nerve with many singers and rappers who rely on the popular program to keep them in tune. In the album, Jay-Z worked with the hottest acts around such as Rihanna and Kanye West on ``Run This Town,'' Young Jeezy on ``Real as it Gets,'' Pharrell on ``So Ambitious,''' but it does not sound particularly fresh. His duet with Alicia Keys ``Empire State of Mind'' is one of the better tracks on the album, along with the Timbaland-produced ``Off That'' featuring Drake. ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia