album reviews January 2010

UK Rockers Muse Rocks Seoul Muse lead singer and guitarist Matthew Bellamy performs at the Olympic Gym #1, Olympic Park, southern Seoul, Thursday evening. / Courtesy of 9Factory By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter British rock band Muse kicked off the New Year with an electrifying concert, Thursday evening at the Olympic Gym, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. The virtually sold-out audience didn't seem to mind the freezing temperatures outside and a delayed start. The crowd roared with excitement as lead singer and guitarist Matthew Bellamy, bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard appeared on stage. Muse performed ``Uprising,'' the first single off their latest album, ``The Resistance.'' They followed it with ``Map of the Problematique,'' and ``Supermassive Blackhole.'' ``Gamsahamnida, Seoul,'' Bellamy said to the cheering crowd. Known as one of the best live bands around, Muse did not disappoint. With slick graphics in the background, the band gave powerful performances of ``New Born,'' ``Butterflies & Hurricanes'' and ``Hysteria.'' Bellamy's haunting falsetto voice and skillful guitar solos impressed the crowd, as well as Howard and Wolstenholme's drum and bass jams. Muse also played songs from their latest album such as the Queen-influenced ``United States of Eurasia,'' ``MK Ultra,'' ``Undisclosed Desires,'' ``Resistance'' and ``Unnatural Selection.'' For a band with just three members, it was impressive how Muse managed to perform with consistent intensity and keep the crowd's energy at a high level throughout the hour-and-a-half concert. The night would not have been complete without Muse performing hit songs ``Starlight'' and ``Time is Running Out.'' They closed the concert with ``Stockholm Syndrome,'' while huge white confetti-filled balloons came bouncing out into the crowd. Muse came back for a two-song encore: ``Plug In Baby'' and ``Knights of Cydonia.'' ``Thank you very much. You guys are amazing,'' Howard said. ``See you soon,'' Wolstenholme added, which raised hopes among fans that Muse will come back for another show. With their Seoul concert, Muse once again proved why they're considered one of the most thrilling live bands around. It was the band's third time to perform for Korean fans, after a concert and headlining performance at the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival in 2007. The Seoul concert was Muse's first stop on the Asia-Pacific leg of ``The Resistance Tour.'' Other concerts will be held in Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong through next month. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Album Reviews Original Motion Picture Soundtrack `Nine' (Universal Music Korea) The ``Nine'' soundtrack is comprised of songs from its star-studded cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Marion Cotillard, Judy Dench, Sophia Loren and Fergie. As the lead actor, Day-Lewis does well in ``Guido's Song.'' Cotillard, who plays his wife, shines in ``My Husband Makes Movies,'' while his mistress played by Cruz oozes sex appeal in ``A Call from The Vatican.'' Hudson creates a playful atmosphere in the 60s-inspired track ``Cinema Italiano.'' Fergie, lead singer of the Black Eyed Peas, seduces listeners with the engaging ``Be Italian.'' While most of the cast prove to be able singers, the songs themselves are not very impressive. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia Original Motion Picture Soundtrack `Avatar' (Warner Music Korea) The outstanding visual effects of director James Cameron have made ``Avatar'' a blockbuster hit, but the music by award-winning composer James Horner has made it even more memorable for viewers. Horner has managed to create an exotic and otherworldly soundtrack, yet classically orchestral. The music transports listeners to the enchanting world of Pandora and the Na'vi people. ``Jake's First Flight'' captures the high spirits of the character as he learns to fly, while ``Destruction of Hometree'' is hauntingly sad. British singer Leona Lewis sings the lovely theme song, ``I See You.'' ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia Green Day Promises to Rock Seoul American rockers Green Day will hold their first concert in Seoul, Monday evening at the Olympic Gym #1, Olympic Park. / Courtesy of Warner Music Korea By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Grammy award-winning rock trio Green Day promises to put on a spectacle for Seoul, when they hit the stage here for the first time Monday evening. Green Day, composed of vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool, wants fans to enjoy themselves at their first concert here at the Olympic Gym #1, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. ``We want everybody to have a good time at the concert. We don't want anybody getting hurt. That's punk, playing a show, having a party, having a good time. Come and expect to have a great time and see a great rock show! Because it will be one,'' Green Day said, in an e-mail interview with The Korea Times. Green Day has come a long way from starting out in Berkeley, Calif. in the early '90s to recently being voted Best Artist of the Decade by readers of U.S. magazine Rolling Stone. ``Boulevard of Broken Dreams'' was also voted Best Song of the Decade, while ``American Idiot'' was named Best Album of the Decade. ``We think we truly believe this is like our era. It's a defining moment for us. It's a monumental moment for us, this record and the last record. We're just glad people are excited about the new album. We worked our asses off on this record. And so, we think people are going to be really excited, even more excited, when they actually hear it,'' the band said. Green Day's politically charged rock opera, ``American Idiot,'' released in 2004, reaped critical and commercial success. It topped the charts around the world receiving Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album and Record of the Year. Their follow-up album, ``21st Century Breakdown,'' released in May 2009, was also a big hit. Last year, ``American Idiot'' was turned into a stage musical at the Berkeley Repertory Theater, using songs from the last two albums. Now, the musical, directed by Michael Mayer, will be making its Broadway debut in April. ``Mayer, who directed the musical `Spring Awakening,' created this story and it's like 'Jesus of Suburbia' kind of trapped inside his own head. When we saw the workshop, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. … It's amazing and a dream come true,'' Green Day said. Armstrong was very much involved in the musical adaptation, closely working with Mayer. ``Mayer kept e-mailing me different versions of his scenario and I was totally into the experiments I wanted to do. The next thing I want to do is write something completely new for Mayer to direct," Armstrong said. Despite their success, Green Day wants to keep pushing their music to new levels. ``It's important to us that we're still looked at as a punk band. It was our religion and our higher education. We'd like to just keep developing and evolving musically as a band,'' Green Day said. As for their plans this year, the band is excited to go on tour again. ``We think the support that we got with our last record, from the tour and just everything, gave us the opportunity to push ourselves further. It's given us the confidence to trust ourselves and the process enough to want to dig deeper. And here we are. And now we can't wait to take this thing on the road and play some shows. We really look forward to rock the world in 2010,'' they said. The Hyundai Card Super Concert VII: Green Day concert starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are nearly sold-out, but prices are 88,000 and 99,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Guitar Legend Jeff Beck in Seoul for First Times Guitar legend Jeff Beck will perform in Seoul for the first time March 20, Olympic Indoor Hall, Olympic Park. / Courtesy of Private Curve and Dream Club Factory By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck is coming to Seoul for the first time in March. Beck, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, is considered one of the best guitarists of all time. ``Jeff Beck: The 1st Live Concert in Seoul'' will be held at the Olympic Indoor Hall, Olympic Park, March 20. Beck is one of a few musicians who have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, as a member of the Yardbirds, and as a solo artist. He was also ranked 14th in Rolling Stone's Top 100 Guitarists of all time. Many of Korea's rock musicians, such as Lee Seung-hwan, YB's Yoon Do-hyun, Boohwal guitarist Kim Tae-won, and Jang Ki-ha of Jang Ki-ha and the Faces, have looked up to Beck. The British guitarist is renowned for his experimental and spontaneous playing and technique. ``Writer Gene Santoro hailed `his strong vibrato, his fierce attack and fat tone, his acute microtonal sense of pitch when he bends or slides into a note, his sophisticated sense of melodic and rhythmic playing, his ability to wring painfully true notes from up by the guitar's pickups (and) his continuing use of the electric guitar to generate textures as well as notes.' Beck cultivated a singularly expressive voice on the guitar that obviated the need for a singer _ or at least gave Beck the option of choosing to work with or without one throughout his career,'' the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame described Beck on its Web site. Beck was born in Wallington, Surrey, England in 1944. He first made a splash when he joined the Yardbirds in 1965, after Eric Clapton left the blues-rock group. While with the band, the Yardbirds released the memorable singles ``Heart Full of Soul,'' ``I'm a Man'' and ``Shapes of Things.'' After leaving the group in 1967, Beck started a career as a bandleader. He had a few hits, including ``Hi Ho Silver Lining.'' The same year, he formed The Jeff Beck Group, which included future stars Rod Stewart and Ron Wood. They released two albums, ``Truth'' and ``Beck-Ola,'' and broke up before the Woodstock Festival, where they were supposed to play. Stewart went on to become a solo singer, while Wood later joined The Rolling Stones. Beck also formed a rock trio with bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmen Appice. As Beck, Boggart & Appice, they only released one album, in 1973, which included the Stevie Wonder-penned ``Superstition.'' After the trio went their separate ways, Beck focused on instrumental music, allowing his guitar to take center stage. In 1975, he released the all-instrumental rock-jazz masterpiece ``Blow by Blow,'' which was produced by George Martin. It was Beck's best-selling album, hitting number 4 on the Billboard album charts. He followed it up with another impressive album, ``Wired,'' also produced by Martin. These two albums are considered Beck's best works. In the 1980s, he released the solo albums ``There and Beck,'' ``Flash'' and ``Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop,'' which won Best Rock Instrumental Album at the 1990 Grammy Awards. In 1992, Beck was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time, as part of the Yardbirds. Beck released ``Who Else!'' in 1999, his first album of original music in a decade. This was followed by ``You Had It Coming'' (2001) and ``Jeff'' (2003). In 2009, Beck was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the second time, as a solo artist. Tickets for Beck's concert will be sold starting Wednesday (Jan. 20) at ticket.interpark.com. The concert is presented by Private Curve and Dream Factory Club. For more information, call (02) 563-0595. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Ke$ha `Animal' (SonyBMG) Ke$ha makes an impressive debut as a pop star, with her first single ``TiK ToK'' landing on the top of Billboard's single charts for the first two weeks of 2010. ``TiK ToK'' has shades of Lady Gaga, but Ke$ha describes her music as ``trash-glam-pop-electro.'' Listen to ``Animal'' and you'll know exactly what the 22-year-old pop singer-rapper means. The album is filled with perky dance tracks with lyrics that will appeal to a youthful audience. She talks about creepy older men hitting on girls in ``Dinosaur,'' stalking her crush in ``Your Love is My Drug,'' and partying hard in ``Party at a Rich Dude's House.'' The slick sound is courtesy of top producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin. Whether you like Ke$ha's songs or not, there's no doubt that the infectious beats will stick in your head. _ Cathy Rose A. Garcia Original Motion Picture Soundtrack `Sherlock Holmes' (SonyBMG) British director Guy Ritchie's irreverent film adaptation of ``Sherlock Holmes'' offers action, mystery and thrills. It's only appropriate that the soundtrack by award-winning composer Hans Zimmer is as equally thrilling and exciting. Zimmer, who has done soundtracks for ``Dark Knight'' and ``Lion King,'' gives listeners something new. The album opens with ``Discombobulate,'' which starts off slowly but quickly turns into a rollicking piece. ``I Never Woke Up in Handcuffs Before'' is a crazy and fun number, while ``Not in Blood, But in Bond'' is a strangely haunting melody. ``Psychological Recovery … 6 Months'' is well-suited for the suspense-filled scenes in the film. _ Cathy Rose A. Garcia Album Reviews One Republic `Waking Up' (Universal Music Korea) One Republic, best known for their breakout hit with Timbaland ``Apologize,'' is back with their second album. The band haven't seemed to tinker much with their formula for success, which is perhaps why ``Waking Up'' has shades of their debut album, ``Dreaming Out Loud.'' There's a lot of pop-rock tracks like ``Made for You,'' ``Everybody Loves Me,'' and the title track, ``Waking Up.'' Vocalist Ryan Tedder, who has written songs for Kelly Clarkson, Beyonce, Leona Lewis and Westlife, comes up with good, radio-friendly material. ``Marching On'' seems poised to be this album's ``Apologize,'' even receiving the same remix treatment from Timbaland. The standard version includes two extra songs, including a live version of Tears for Fears' ``Shout,'' while the deluxe version includes a CD of five additional songs. While it doesn't quite break new ground, it's still a good sophomore effort. ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia OK Go `Of the Blue Colour of the Sky' (Warner Music Korea) OK Go's third album, ``Of the Blue Colour of the Sky,'' is a fun mix of disco, funk, electronic and pop music, with obvious influences from Prince. It opens with the irresistible ``WTF?'' in which lead singer Damian Kulash even sounds like Prince with his falsetto voice. There are some catchy 80s-inspired tracks like ``White Knuckles'' and ``End Love,'' but also slow ones like ``Skyscrapers'' and the lovely acoustic number ``Last Leaf.'' The rock anthem ``All is Not Lost'' will likely be a favorite at OK Go's concerts. The Chicago-based band doesn't shy away from experimenting with a new sound, and it obviously works with this album. But one thing remains the same _ OK Go's penchant for innovative eye-catching music videos. Be sure to watch the colorful, trippy video for ``WTF?'' ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia Adam Lambert `For Your Entertainment' (SonyBMG) Adam Lambert may not have won American Idol season 8, but he has certainly generated more publicity than the winner, Kris Allen, due to his flamboyant personality and a controversial performance at the American Music Awards. He lives up to the hype with his solid debut album, ``For Your Entertainment.'' Lambert mixes up different musical genres, obviously keen on not being pigeon-holed into just one. He collaborated with some of the best in the industry, including Muse's Matthew Bellamy (``Soaked''), Weezer's Rivers Cuomo (``Pick U Up''), Linda Perry (``A Loaded Smile''), and Pink and Max Martin (``Whataya Want From Me''). His personality shines throughout the album, especially in ``Fever,'' penned by Lady Gaga. ``Time for Miracles,'' which was initially on the ``2012'' soundtrack, is also included as a bonus track. ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Album Reviews

Beyonce `I Am ... Yours' (SonyBMG) Pop superstar Beyonce is undoubtedly one of the most exciting performers around today. Fans can experience the Beyonce concert experience with the CD and DVD ``I Am ... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas.'' The concert features 30 songs, including the catchy hits ``Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),'' ``Irreplaceable,'' ``Halo,'' ``Sweet Dreams,'' and ``If I Were a Boy.'' Beyonce continues to impress with her strong vocals, powerful dance moves and charismatic stage presence. It also offers behind-the-scenes footage that gives a glimpse of the real Beyonce. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia Snoop Dogg `Malice in Wonderland' (Warner Music Korea) Snoop Dogg returns to form in his 10th album ``Malice in Wonderland.'' The rapper's new album is full of collaborations with the hottest names in hip-hop such as Lil Jon, R. Kelly, The Dream and Soulja Boy. The tracks are a fusion of the gangsta rap that Snoop popularized, with today's trendy R&B and pop beats. ``I Wanna Rock,'' which samples ``It Takes Two'' by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, is a sure-fire hit with its catchy riffs. There's a lot to like in this album: ``Gangsta Luv,'' ``Pimpin Ain't EZ'' featuring R. Kelly, and ``Special,'' featuring Brandy and Pharrell. Snoop doesn't exactly offer anything groundbreaking musically, but the album is still good fun. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia Kaori Muraji `Kaori Muraji Plays Bach' (Decca) Classical guitarist Kaori Muarji has made a foray into the architectural world of J.S. Bach. Bach's Cembalo Concerto Nos. 2 and 5, along with ``Air on a G String,'' have been arranged for guitar and orchestra. The album makes the disparity between the cembalo (harpsichord) and the guitar quite palpable, since they cover different tonal ranges. At the same time, Muraji evokes an aura of a time long gone, and suggests that the guitar is not unlike the Baroque instrument in its capacity to express great intensity or quiet meditation.Also included are guitar solos ``Choral Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude'' and Partita No. 2. ―Lee Hyo-won