I'm not s'posed to talk to strangers...
Written: Jul 16 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A fine collection of well-known Wong tunes, both uptempo and ballads.
Cons: A couple tracks are kind of...weird.
The Bottom Line: One of Wong's best albums to date, even with the occasional slip.
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| shimatani87's Full Review: Lovers & Strangers by Faye Wong |
It's strange how we in the Western world come across artists from other countries. Most of the time it seems to be accidental, but on rare occasions, some of our most favorite hobbies can draw us into the world of another culture's music.
Such is the case for one Faye Wong. One of the biggest -- if not the most well-known -- names in Chinese pop music, she was relatively unknown in the West until she was chosen to perform the love theme to Final Fantasy VIII in 1999. That song, Eyes On Me, threw Wong into the hearts of gamers across the globe.
Shortly after the game's Japanese release, Wong released this album, her second with then-label EMI. Capitalizing on her Final Fantasy-induced success, the album is one of Wong's most well-known to date, containing a hodgepodge of genres and styles that runs the gamut from alternative rock (album opener The Last Blossom, which incorporates some lovely orchestration against the grinding guitars and crashing drums; the almost -- at times -- meditative Century of Loneliness, whose nearly-gentle verses give way to a louder, more strident chorus) to synthesized techno-pop (Spectacular, a rather formulaic and slightly generic-sounding pop-rock number that was used in a commercial for Pepsi -- Wong has personally stated that the track is one of her least favorites).
Amidst the louder pieces, however, there are many ballads, which is where Wong truly shines. Yes, her innovative pieces are catchy and fun, but her slower pieces allow Wong to display her finely-timbred and lovely voice, such as on the lovely acoustic piece Moon At That Moment or the almost-mystical-sounding Passing Clouds, whose ethereal atmosphere brings to mind a mist-covered glen filled with fairies and other mythical creatures. Truly beautiful pieces, her ballads.
However, while Wong makes some giant leaps forward musically, her genre-wandering and experimentation does lend itself to some rather embarrassing missteps. While Wong has a wonderful voice, it can't save her from such near-disasters as the album's title track, an almost Caribbean "lounge"-sounding piece with repetitive lyrics and some incredibly disturbing children laughing in the background (one of whom is Wong's daughter Dou); in addition, After the Beep suffers from a case of genre identity, sounding at times like a laidback R&B piece and also like it'd be at home in an elevator or two -- the slow, sleep-inducing atmosphere would certainly fit.
Wong has, not only with this album but also many others, shown that she is an incredibly versatile artist. She handles each song with incredible care, crafting it with her voice until it's unmistakably hers. While there are a few bumps in the road, Only Love Strangers is a fine starting point for those who are just discovering her music. She certainly delivers. Recommended.
Faye Wong: "Only Love Strangers"
[ EMI | Released 1999 ]
01. The Last Blossom [ 5:16 ]
02. Moon At That Moment [ 3:54 ]
03. Hypnotize [ 4:28 ]
04. Only Love Strangers [ 3:45 ]
05. Century of Loneliness [ 5:20 ]
06. Butterfly [ 3:59 ]
07. Passing Clouds [ 4:12 ]
08. After the Beep [ 4:17 ]
09. Overthrown [ 4:27 ]
10. Spectacular [ 4:49 ]
11. Watching Over the Wheat Fields [ 5:21 ]
12. Postman [ 4:22 ]
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
shimatani87
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Member: Zach Jones
Location: Urbana, IL
Reviews written: 117
Trusted by: 17 members
About Me:
St. Louis-bound graduate student with a passion for pop.
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