Latest Reviews
February 6
Artist: Jordan Segundo
Title: Jordan
Genre: Pop
Rating: ****
Two years after becoming one of Top 32 finalists in "American Idol" Season 2, Hawaii's own Jordan Segundo releases his much-anticipated debut album! "Jordan" provides a variety of genres from R&B to a bit of Alternative, showcasing the singer's strong and versatile vocals. Half of the album is comprised of covers in which Jordan performs remarkably, especially in Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" where he duets with Kanoe Gibson (Miss Hawaii 2003). Fave singer/songwriters Glenn Medeiros and Justin Young contribute songs as well. Jordan himself takes upon writing two tracks. Although expect more development in voice and songwriting as time goes on. This is a fine debut for the young Segundo!
Favorite tracks: Be the One, So Many Reasons, For the Love of You, Let's Stay Together
LeRoid
Artist: Bento
Title: Absent Without Leave
Genre: Alternative/ Indie Rock
Rating: *****
From the Bay Area comes Scott Iwata, Elvin Reyes, Ang Mesina, and Jamie Quon also known as Bento. What began with just an acoustic guitar and cover songs is now a pleasantly produced debut gem. Bento rocks with infectious melodies and smooth vocals from Scott Iwata. Behind the music is Elvin Reyes, former co-founder of Classified Records and producer of Jocelyn Enriquez, Pinay, and Julieplug. Remember the good ol' sounds of Classified Records? Well it hasn't stopped. Reyes, who was last to join Bento, has helped complete the band's sound and vision. I hope Bento continues their journey and gains the attention they deserve- they are one of the best new artists to emerge from the Bay Area music scene. Pick up "Absent Without Leave" at select retail outlets or drop by the website for more info!
Favorite tracks: Point of no return, Know it's not too late, Beautiful girl, Won't hurt
LeRoid
Artist: Ravish Momin's Trio Tarana
Title: Climbing the Banyan Tree
Genre: World
Rating: ****
East Indian percussions with Chinese influenced Violin mixed together into a jazzy, ethnic combination called "Climbing the Banyan Tree." The trio consists of Jason Kao Hwang (Violin), Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz (Oud, Bass), and Ravish Momin (Drums, Percussion, Voice). It's a surprising mix that captures the listener's attention and throws them into almost a meditative state. That isn't to say the music is mindless by any stretch of the imagination. The music has so many little intricacies that I found myself saying "that's an interesting sound" and "there's another interesting sound" throughout. If the world were this like Ravish Momin's Trio Tarana, we'd all be living in harmony and chanting along.
Nelson
Artist: Cynthia Lin
Title: Blue and Borderlined
Genre: Folk Rock
Rating: ***
Singer/Songwriter Cynthia Lin has released her debut CD titled "Blue and Borderlined" for all to hear. She blends a primarily guiar-folk rock base with some jazz vocal stylings and comes up with listenable CD. Vocally Lin has been called a Joni Mitchell crossed with Ella Fitzgerald. She has quite a smooth vocal range that fans of artists such as Vienna Teng will enjoy. Musically, the songs on this 5 track EP have a sense of quiet and loneliness, but not in a sad way. It's the type of music that you can listen to while by yourself at home and still come away with a smile.
Nelson
Author: Bill Lee
Title: Born to Lose: Memoirs of a Compulsive Gambler
ISBN: 1-59285-153-3
Publisher: Hazelden
From the author of "Chinese Playground" comes the latest in his true story. This time author Bill Lee takes us on a journey into the world of a compulsive gambler, one that he knows and understands personally. "Born to Lose" is the Lee's honest and often times painful journey of how he keeps fighting his addiction. From Lee's early childhood in Chinatown where he would accompany his father to gambling parlors to early schooling where he would often bet baseball cards, his addiction led him to bigger and, unfortunately, more painful events in Vegas.
As I read about Lee's fight to control himself of his obsessive-compulsive disorder and his low self-esteem, I found myself hoping upon all hope that the situation I was reading about was his "rock bottom" and that he could only get better from there. Each time, I was disappointed that he'd fall into a bigger hole and then wondered if there truly was even a bottom for Lee. Lee does a great job in personalizing a compulsive gambler's troubles and drawing the reader in. And in the end, you still know that it will take a life-long strength and an ongoing committment to Gamblers Anonymous' 12-step program for Lee to keep his addiction at bay, if nothing else but for the sake of his son Eric.
Nelson
Previous Reviews
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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