Mayday (Wu Yue Tian) - 5th Album (Release in Nov 2004)
Rating:
****4
I didn't intend to be mean when i review this album. I didn't expect they would come up with another album so fast after TIme MAchine. Because this is their 5th album, I was full of expectation. But I have to reserve that anticipation after listening to their 5th album. There are few good tracks but they just fail to leave a lasting impression in your brain.
Recomended tracks: Track 2, Track 3 - Rubbish Truck (La Ji Che), Track 4, Track 5 - Let Me Take Care of U (Rang Wo Zhao Gu Ni) & Track 6.
Final conclusion:
1) a bit too pop and sentimental.
2) lack of good composition.
Mayday (Wu Yue Tian) - Time Machine
Rating:
*****5
Hooray! Mayday is back with a brand new album entitled Time Machine after a good 2-year break since they temporary disbanded in 2001. Presently Mayday takes the helm as one of the coolest rock band in Taiwan with Ah Xin (vocalist) as the front- man, composing most of the songs. There are 5 members in the band.
The album has a good mix of punk rock, slow rock, rap rock and ballades. My favourite song is "Du Zhen" (Gambling God). The song starts off with some kind of Latin Mexican- style guitar intro, then consequently follow by drums. Midway, Ah Xin does some rock rap, though a short one, it nevertheless intrigues me. It also has a melodic and memorable guitar riff.
Track 4, "A Mu Si Zhuang", a punk rock track strucks off with a message "Mayday, mayday, we got problem. Only to be answered back "Hey, boy! It's your problem". Though a brief one, it is refreshing and cuts into your mind permanently. Another punk track is "Zhai Ze Yi Miao", which makes me feel so youthful. I keep shaking my head while listening to this song. As the lyrics says, "In this second, happiness is the most important".
Track 1, track 3 and track 9 rock hard as usual, meting out their trade mark mayday stuff.
On a slower and softer mood of rock is "Er Wo Zhi Dao" (I Know), "Shen Ming Yuo Yi Zhong Que Dui", "Wo Men (Shi Shi Ke Ke)" (We, Every Moment),"Shi Guang Ji" (Time Machine) and "Jiu Hao Qiu" (Ball 9). Track 2 is my favourite rock ballades among them.
My verdict on this album:
1) On par with their first album, which is a classic (also, the best!) to me.
2) Better than their third album "People Life, Ocean Wild", which was released just before they disband. Personally, I like Mayday's 2nd album more than their third album. Because I found their 3rd album very "Japanese rock" in production. But some argue their 3rd album is a classic. To me, the 3rd album is the least attractive among all the 4 albums. Looks like even fans of Mayday can have different opinions on their albums.
3) To fans of Beyond and Chinese rock, I strongly recommend Mayday to you guys.
4) In one of the entertainment show, Mayday were asked whether they are going to release a "Gai Ban" (modified version) CD. Ah Xin strongly retaliates that there is NOT going to be a "Gai Ban" CD because this would be cheating his fans. I can't agree more. That's absolutely true. Because you can always see idols promoting "Gai Ban" version CDs in Taiwan entertainment shows. So, what are u waiting for? Grab the album fast.
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