Latest Reviews

July 30
Artist: Pam Tan
Title: unknown
Genre: pop/R&B
Rating **

Many of you music lovers who love music might not be too interested in listening to Pam Tan. I reviewed all four tracks found on Pam’s website which you can listen to for free. Pam’s music is a blend of R&B and pop but it has more of a pop feel to it. I love jamming to a song with a good beat because it does wonders to your mood. Once you feel that beat hit it will get you bobbing your head and shaking your booty. Too bad I didn’t get that feeling listening to her music. Pam’s tracks lack that rump shaking beat but on the other side her voice was a pleasant surprise. I hope to see more depth in her lyrics and maybe rethink the names of her track titles. I wasn’t particularly found of “What’s spicier than spicy?” This track had a beat similar to an old 80’s kung-fu movie. I can see some potential in her and with some fine tuning to her lyrics she has a chance to become a great pop artist.

Ray

July 11
Harold & Kumar: Go to White Castle
(John Cho, Kal Penn, Paula Garces)
Directed by Danny Leiner

In the tradition of "Dude, Where's My Car?", "Van Wilder", and "Road Trip", comes a story of two underdogs who embark on a wild journey to find what their souls are craving for...White Castle burgers! The film is hilarious and you'll find a likable chemistry within Harold (Cho) and Kumar (Penn). Aside from the burgers, Harold looks for love with Maria (Garces) while frustrated with bully coworkers and Kumar conflicts with family expectations and lack of weed. There are so many cameos, from Anthony Anderson to Neil Patrick Harris aka NPH! It's high times, "not so PC" jokes, chicks, bullies, homosexuality, the police, nerds, and a runaway cheetah galore!

Overall, these Asian-American protagonists conquer obstacles I'm sure many of us Asian-Americans have faced. Props to screenwriters Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg who felt that they were tired of seeing the same people on screen. Harold & Kumar- our new Cheech & Chong?!

In theatres, July 30th!!!

Check out www.xanga.com/HaroldLee and www.xanga.com/DocKumar

LeRoid

Mion has released her full length CD. I reviewed a few of the preview songs in April and my impressions, after listening to the CD well over 20 times, then are the same as now - this is an interesting album that takes chances. Is that good or bad? I leave that up to the listeners to decide. For me, the album provoked some interesting thought because the music took many sounds and put it all together - East and South Asian influenced sounds in particular. Lyrically, I was a bit disoriented by some of the songs, quite honestly. "You Not Me" and "Karma" are good examples of such songs. There is a lot of feelings of anger in the lyrics and they come across as a juxtaposition of the visual image of Mion. Perhaps that was intended but for me it was hard to match the strong female perspective of the lyrics with the softer visual images. I will be interested to see how Mion grows and develops in the future as a vocalist and lyricist.

Favorite Picks: "Don't You Want Me"

Nelson

The rock genre, as of late, seems to have been inundated with Asian Americans so it takes something unique to make a band stand out. Johnny Hi-Fi is one of those bands that brings something different. With a definite pop edge that reminds me of the British Pop-Rock genre (think Radiohead), they could easily be heard on MTV here in the US as well as in Asia, Johnny Hi-Fi is anything but your standard boy-band. There are even a few Chinese songs too. For those of you into less edgy rock and the idea of shredding guitars dueling isn't your thing, Johnny Hi-Fi will satisfy without the boredom that often comes with pop-rock music.

Favorite Picks: "Fading Away" and "The Most Beautiful Fan"

Nelson

Previous Reviews

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)

If you have a have an Asian Pacific American project coming up (CD, video, film, book, more?) and are looking for more exposure let us know about it and we will try to review your project so that others can find out more!

AArisings, along with KQED radio show, Pacific Time, are seeking to increase our Asian American music library for future reviews. If you would like to submit your CD for possible review and/or airplay on the radio, please contact AArisings by clicking here.

If you would like to be a reviewer for AArisings, let us know and we'll contact you with more information.

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