Latest Reviews
April 10
Artist: Kim Del Fierro
Title: Inhibitions
Genre: Dance/R&B
Rating: ****
The one thing that dance music has going for it is that people still like to dance. Kim del Fierro's debut album, "Inhibitions," is likely going to keep them dancing. Former Asian Spokesmodel, Del Fierro has joined Wraith Records, owned by Francisco Palorda, formerly of Velocity Records - the label that featured Buffy. Not missing a beat, Palorda has created a dance music diva in Del Fierro - and it works well. The debut single, "Hey DJ" is the head-bobbing anthem for the album and is dedicated to all of the DJs out there. The infectious, hard-pounding rhythm mixed with catchy hook and a fast-rhyme from Paw Ray combines into a successful formula that is sure to keep people dancing. The rest of the album contains R&B/funk/hip-hop influenced music some of which are stylized with the currently popular South Asian Indian instrumentation and rhythms ("Smooth" and "Let It Go"). The album does contain two ballads that break up the more dance oriented nature of the album. Overall, it's a noteworthy debut.
Favorite Tracks: "Hey DJ"
Nels
Artist: Eugene Song
Title: Gesture and Mumble
Genre: Rock
Rating: ****
Formerly of the Francis Kim Band, Eugene Song has gone solo with his own EP. His voice is reminescent of 80's new-wave/rock vocal bands like the Psychedlic Furs and Simple Minds and the music ranges from rock to rockabilly. Of course, those who didn't grow up in the 80's might not recognize these bands. That being said though, Song manages some playful lyrics as heard in such songs as "Easy on the Eyes" and "Drunk Man" to the Rockabilly "You Were Right" (recall Stray Cats when hearing that one). Overall, the EP is a fun journey that doesn't take itself too seriously - and that is where this EP succeeds.
Favorite Tracks: "Fear of Flying" and "Easy on the Eyes"
Nels
Take the Lead is a movie based on the true story of a man who teaches ballroom dance to inner city high school students, while helping them learn a few lessons about life along the way.
Pierre Dulaine, played by Antonio Banderas, is a ballroom dance teacher and enthusiast. After witnessing high school student Rock (Rob Brown), in the midst of an act of vandalism, he approaches school principal Augustine James (Alfre Woodard), telling her that ballroom dance can teach certain values to the students. She puts him in charge of the kids in detention. Dulaine initially meets skepticism from both the students and the school board, but he is convinced that he can enter the kids in a professional dance competition at the end of the term. The kids eventually warm up to Dulaine, and show him how his tango can blend with their hip-hop moves.
Our experience of other movies that contain a dancing theme ("Dirty Dancing", "Flashdance") as well as movies about an unconventional teacher in the inner city ("Stand and Deliver", "Dangerous Minds"), cause us to expect the heart-swelling feeling that comes with the triumph of achieving a near-impossible goal. This movie does have some moments that are touchingly cute and a few displays of great dance talent, but this meaningful feeling is lacking in the all-important climax. A few essential race and class issues are faced, as well as some moral ideals of trust and respect. However, the many main characters (and their sub-plots) lack development, which causes the ending to feel scattered and a bit empty.
The acting, in general, is good all around. I was very impressed by newcomer Yaya DaCosta, who is completely convincing as the "tough-girl-on-the-outside" LaRhette. Dance Basco adds flavor as the impulsive and talented Ramos, and Antonio Banderas is charming and natural from start to finish.
An Interview with Dante Basco
Lianne: In Take the Lead, your role is more prominent than the kind that is usually given to an Asian actor in a movie set in the inner city. How did this come about, and how do you feel about it?
Dante: I feel really good about the character of 'Ramos' in my new film, "Take the Lead." It's set in the inner city and the fact of the matter is there are a lot of Asians living in the inner city and being able to play a character like 'Ramos' will show a more well-rounded view of the Asian experience in America.
Lianne: What types of dance have you learned in your lifetime besides breakdancing? What was it like to have a dancing role in a movie?
Dante: Well, dancing was my first love and my brothers and I were all breakdancers. At a young age, we all received scholarships to study ballet at the San Francisco Ballet Company...that was most of our formal training, although there were also some classes in jazz and tap. We also learned about traditional Filipino dances. My oldest brother, Derek, was the best at those.
Lianne: You convincingly played an inner city high school student in this movie. What did you have to do to prepare for this role?
Dante: I grew up in very blue-collar neighborhoods: Pittsburgh, CA (east of San Francisco) and Paramount, CA (next door to Compton) so playing an inner city high school student came pretty naturally. Beyond that, I watched a lot of New York films to catch the flavor of the city, and I hung out with my friends in NY. I also watched "Saturday Night Fever" a lot during filming because I wanted to put a lot of what John Travolta did into his character...a NY kid who's a great dancer filled with cockiness and arrogance but also filled with a lot of heart.
Lianne: Congratulations on your success over the years. Tell us a little bit about some of the projects you are working on presently and what you have planned for the near future.
Dante: I'm finishing up the second seasons of two animated shows, "American Dragon: Jake Long" on the Disney Channel and "Avatar: The Last Airbender" for Nickelodeon. I'm also creating a film and television project as well as recording an album with my brothers, simply titled, "The Basco Brothers."
Previous Reviews
May 2005 (Music: the PACIFICS; Books: What Wendell Wants; Movies: King Fu Hustle, Seoul Raiders, Leave Me Alone; Comedy: Take Out Comedy 2005)
April 2005 (Music: Jargon, Kite Operations, Twilight Sentinels, Jack Tung; Books: What Wendell Wants; DVD: Jin: The Making of a Rap Star)
February 2005 (Music: Jordan Segundo, Bento, Ravish Momin's Trio Tarana, Cynthia Lin; Books: Born to Lose)
January 2005 (Music: Anna Maria Flechero, Kristine Sa, Honore, The Francis Kim Band; DVD: Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle; Movies: House of Flying Daggers, Yesterday Once More; Books: I Do. I Did. Now What?)
December 2004 (Music: Project J, Justice, Lawrence Chang, Erica O'Young)
October 2004 (Music: Slowjam Sessions Volume 1; Movies: Masters of the Pillow, Ong Bak)
September 2004 (Music: Janeska, Elemnop; Books: Total Strength Training for Women)
August 2004 (Music: Benny Mao, Phuz, Bastion, Charlie Liu, Emilio; Movies: Protege De La Rose Noire, Jiang Hu, Moving Targets)
July 2004 (Music: Pam Tan, Mion, Johnny Hi-Fi; Movies: Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle)
June 2004 (Music: Teri Untalan, John Flor Sisante)
May 2004 (Music: Kite Operations, Titofelix; Movies: Star Runner, Herbal Tea, Turn Left Turn Right, Hidden Track, Fantasia, Floating Landscape)
April 2004 (Music: Alvendia, Bryan Chan, Mion, William Hung; Movies: Running on Karma, Anna in Kung Fu Land, Kill Bill Volume 2, Kikujiro, and The Way Home)
March 2004 (Music: Putnam Hall, Organic Thoughts; Movies: Charlotte Sometimes, Infernal Affairs 3; Books: Bringing Down The House)
February 2004 (Music: Vienna Teng, Odessa Chen, Akamai Brain Collective, Justin Young, One Vo1ce, With Love, Stereostar FM)
January 2004 (Music: Chops, One Vo1ce EP, Moulann; Movies: Torque, Good Times, Bed Times, Shiver, Infernal Affairs 2)
December 2003 (Music: The Francis Kim Band, Himalayan Project, Sonic Orange, and Jeff Hsin; Movies: Men Suddenly in Black, My Dream Girl, and The Last Samurai)
November 2003 (Music: Harlemm Lee, Fiona Wong, and Adagio; Movies: Truth or Dare: 6th Floor Rear Flat and So Close)
October 2003 (Music: Kevin So and Kaila; Movies: Marrying the Mafia, Heroic Duo, Kill Bill, and Under the Tuscan Sun)
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