CD : Mhiew Kunatarn - bon kae buer

This is a new morlum album by a singer we never heard of before but we like it a lot... well some of it anyway. The first track, the title track, is fine pacey morlum but then we get to track 2 "Birthday naew naew". I think we can live without a morlum version of happy birthday. The track really does step the tightrope between being dreadful and inspired and maybe is a little too gimmickry.

Fear not because the next track, the slow loogthung-ish "Kuen fan hai khao" is excellent. With interesting instrumentation such as some really harsh 80s synths and cool guitar. The rest of the album bops along and has an interesting variety of songs, the singing isn't bad. Overall this is a pretty good effort.

Rating : 7/10

Click here to get this CD

MV : "Wittalai lhai jai" by Vit Hyper

The quality is not very good on this one, it looks like it was recorded off the TV. But this is our current favourite song anyway. Vit is from the group Hyper of course and this is his solo work.

CD : Bew Kalayanee - pieng soang rao

This is Bew Kalayanee's second album, the first was "nobra nora" of course which was a great song though overall we were not that keen on her debut, it was good but could have been better. So on to her second album then, this has the Nescafe tie-in "pieng soang rao" (the MV of which has oh so subtle product placement, no we are being really sarcastic). The song is great though, Bew has upped the rock a bit on this album.

We like this album more, it is a little more assured and powerful. And is positively joyful on the pacey "nah ruk nuk lah" that rocks along with some tasty guitar. She is at her best though on the slower songs like "loog khong poh" where her rich voice can really be showcased. We await album #3 with interest.

Rating : 8/10

Click here to get this CD

New Releases (25/10/07)

• Got Jukkrapun - Khor Tode Tee Kid Tueng
  5th album
• Prame Preeyagorn - Ngao Boh Mee Wun Yhood
  Debut album from new R-Siam singer, we heard some preview tracks and it sounds good
• Lookprae Uraiporn - Poo Bungkub Mhoo
• Banyen Raggan - Pleng Puen Baan Esarn Tai
• Poifai Malaiporn - Jatukarm Kon Jon
• Ton Chai - Hao Doang Doang
• Various - Loog Thung Sao Sieng Thong
  This is a good compilation of Grammy's female singers including songs by Tai Orratai and Praewa Patcharee.
  

CD : Duay Ruk Dae Kroo Sa-Lah

This is a compilation album showcasing Grammy's female loogthung and on evidence of this they have a good selection of artists. Track 1 is by Tai Orratai and as you would expect "Khor kae roo kao" is a fantastic song, actually its one of the best we have yet heard Tai done in our opinion. The MV is also great, especially when Tai appears on the screen 3 times. The song is so heart-felt too. Tai has an uncanny way of packing emotion into a song.

Another highlight is Praewa Patcharee's "Jeb tee tong jai" (MV link), how can you resist a song where the singer stands on a giant flower? We really like the way Praewa looks genuinely depressed as she is singing.

Jakkajan Wanwisah also scores well with "Kued hord boh jing", to be honest her recent album didn't set our world alight but we will revisit it again after hearing this song. Ratchanok Srilophan and Tuktan Chollada also have good songs on this album (and great MVs too). There arn't really any weak songs on this album, maybe Earn's fast song was a bit so-so. Actually the fast songs (which arn't many on here anyway) are a bit average but that doesn't detract much more the fact the songs on here are fantastic.

Rating : 10/10

Click here to get this CD / VCD

CD : Nui Suweenar - Fah Kwarng Klang Krung

Nui Suweenar's debut album and on this evidence she should be making a few more albums at least. Nhai wah jah mai jai aorn is a wonderful song, a slow dramatic soaring ballad drenched in organ, a bit like Procul Harem only totally different.

Some of the uptempo songs are a bit terrifying though and the album doesn't match up to the brilliance of the above song. Nui's voice is nice and rich and very listenable. The album is worth it alone for the above song, though some of the others arn't bad either, only maybe not great either.

Rating : 7/10

Click here to get this CD

MV : "Pee srao kao luem" by Ajareeya Bussaba

We love Ajareeya Bussada, so much so that if one day we has a daughter we will call her Ajareeya. Usually she does fast dancey songs but here is a slow song from one of her earlier albums. Actually its nearly a year since her last album so we are eagerly awaiting the new one!

MV : "Somchai 2007" by Jintara Poonlap

Is it just our imagination or does this Jintara song sound like it has the same tune as MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This"?!

CD : Golf Sirikwan - dancer poo torn

This is the debut album from Golf Sirikwan, an exciting new loog thung singer, and very good it is too. From the off the album takes you into an energy packed new world. There are whistles! There are yelps! There are bells! There are horns! And that was just track 1 (the title track)! Actually "dancer poo torn" is a very good song and the perfect statement of intent.

Following on from that is the more restrained but no less wonderful "Poo chai jai rai".

In fact the rest of the album is very good too, i listened to it waiting for a duff track. None came.

Rating : 8/10

Click here to get this CD

CD : Sear Napat - kum diew tee kao jai

You can tell Sear Napat is the real thing just by looking at the cover of the CD, sat there with her guitar she just looks "real artist" and thankfully the substance is on the disk too. Sear's voice is wonderful : rich, deep and warm. The music terrific ballads such as the title track "kum diew tee kao jai" and the exceptional song "chun mai dai ngoe" with it's killer pop hook and emotionally charged chorus. The whole world should hear that song.

Really it cannot be given justice in mere words, this album is so good it transcends mere written language. Sear's voice washes over you like an aural waterfall. So what a debut.

Rating : 9.5/10

Click here to get this CD

CD : Mint Nicha Makharmwharn - poo tai

Mint is a new singer and very very lovely she looks too, perfect in every way... oh wait this is supposed to be a music review. So what is her debut album like? Its not bad at all, her voice is a little weedy sometimes maybe but the music bounces along in a very infectious manner and the overall effect is good both on high tempo tracks like the title track and the wonderful "Chat wab" and slower numbers like Message kon ngao.

So she looks great and the music isn't bad at all. A great debut.

Rating : 7/10

Click here to get this CD

Music Videos :

Poo tai (Youtube)
Nhoo ror poh yok (Youtube)
Chat wab (Youtube)

Welcome to Thai Country Music Blog

Welcome to this blog, which is dedicated to Thai country music - lukthung, morlam and music for life.

What is that then?

Luk thung "child of the field" is the true pop music of Thailand, for a long time it was under the shadow of westernised pop but in recent years has seen a resurgence in popularity and cross-fertilisation with the harder dancier music morlam from the north east of Thailand.

What is on this blog?

Lots of music videos, also CD/VCD reviews, our charts, pics. We hope you like it. If so please link to us!

CD Reviews index

Index of CD & VCD reviews.

• Ajareeya Bussaba - dancer 3 katah kor jai
• Ajareeya Bussaba - hua jai... mee ngarn kao
  
• Ajareeya Bussaba - job kao
• Ajareeya Bussaba - subparode
  
• Anda - vol 4
• Ar Lek - kum sabarn
• Aum Nuntiya - wai teen yasothorn
• A-Zeer - self-titled

• Bao We - Bao We 3
• Bao We - vol 4
  
• Bew Kalayanee - buntuek pleng ruk
• Bew Kalayanee - kumlung jai jark dan klai
• Bew Kalayanee - nobra nora
  
• Bew Kalayanee - pieng soang rao
• Boonta Muangmai - kwam wung... bon tarng sai mai
• Bua Bunchitar - fhun khong poh kum khor khong mae
• Bua Bunchitar - yoo tee nhai jai kor kid tueng

• Cream Pimwalai - nang sao khon mai

• Dear Sasitorn - hua jai nuk soo
• Dokfah Tahchana - mai mee chun nai jai ter
• Dokruk Duangmala - dai rub kiet pen fan kao

• Earn The Star - bud chern khong kwarm kid tueng
• Earn The Star - kum kor jark wa tee khon took ting
• Earn The Star- yah mong karm kwarm sei jai

• Fangkaew Worasamon - mark kwa puean dai mai
• Film Narinthip - self-titled
  
• Fon Tanasoontorn - ruk nee mai mee luem

• Golf Sirikwan - dancer poo torn

• Janet Kiew - thank you tee ruk
• Jintara Poonlap - Jintara krob krueng
  
• Jintara Poonlap - mor lum sa orn 5
• Jintara Poonlap - sao thong dok jarn
• Jintara Poonlap - yoo karng ter samuer
• Job Sabuy Heart - narm tar poo chai
• Jomkwan Kulyakorn - ber nee yark mee fan
• Joom Chanida - huk koy ploi khao
• Jukkajun Wunwisar - muer took kwam ruk ha jer
  

• Karaked - yark pen khon tee don ai huk
• Karaked - Karaked klang fhon
• Klin Patoomma - poo chai khon raek
• Kluay Stamp - huk kiew suer duay mue plao
  
• Kratae - khong kwan tee nong khor
  
• Kratae - perd jai sao tae
• Kumwarn Weerawech - warn kung warn
• Kunta Na Nakorn - happy happy

• Lookpud Pimchanok - khor tua pai roang hai
• Luang Kai - kae toe mar bork wah kid thueng
• Luang Kai - ruk lhao ruk diew

• Maitai Jaitawan - nuk soo hua jai serng
  
• Mam Pimanrum - yhark plien narmsakul
• Mekkara Sabaphone - bor son khon mee meer
• Mhai Muang - keb ruk wai tee plai roong
  
• Mhiew Kunatarn - bon kae buer
• Mint Nicha Makharmwharn - por tai
• Morgan - modify
• Morgan - self-titled

• Natalie Sripetch - likasit hua jai
• Nidnoi Nantaporn - mai aow pee chai
• Nong Mild - ngarn kao
• Nongpang Natthida - kor anuyart kid hord ai
  
• Noo Meter - khon derm tee koon kei
• Noo Meter - kwam ruk kwam wung kwam fhun
• Norradee Srichachol - torn jai luek luek
• Noy Stamp - theep song
  
• Nui Suweenar - fah kwang klang krung
• Nui Suweenar - khon nee fan chun
• Nui Suweenar - nui sung fan

• Oil Araya - kid tueng jung
  
• Oiy Kraton - narm tar mai lai kuen
• Orn Orradee - ber toe ber hong

• P Saderd - jikko num kao
  
• Parn Thanaporn - sao parn
• Pituk - sathanee narmtar waylar ngao
• Poonim PimUbol - lod lor dai bor ai
• Por Parichart - arom ngao... sao tor jor wor
  
• Prai Warunya - yord phai jai pee
  
• Prame Preeyagorn - ngao boh mee wun yhood
• Prik Wharn - fan nai fhun
• Punnawaree Pojjanasoontorn - sao noy chiang mai
• Pure Pure - kong len pood dai
• Pure Pure - ruk mai chai itim
  

• Ratchanok Srilophan - kien fhun wai karng fa

• San Naka - kor sadang kwarm kid tueng
• Sao Mard Mega Dance - sao lard pro
• Sao Mard Mega Dance - dao mahalai
• Saowaros Roongpailin - ror sai khon jai dum
• Sear Napat - kum diew tee kao jai
• Siriporn Umpaipong - muer yarm baan muan ruam mit
• Sofia, Kluay Stamp, Eak & Ple - chuan nong rong pleng
• Songkrod Chama - khon kra jok
  
• Songkrod Chama - tarm har sao nui
  
• Suchada - aok huk rueng khum khum

• Takkatan Cholada - nao sang neon
  
• Takkatan Cholada - tanon kon fun
• Takkatan Cholada - dok neon barn kum
• Takkatan Cholada - kon ngao tee kao jai ter
• Tai Orratai - fhun yung klai jai yung ngao 
  
• Tai Orratai - khon kai muer klai barn
• Tai Orratai - kon nai kwarm kid hord
  
• Tai Orratai - mar jark din
  
• Tai Orratai - morlum dok ya
• Tai Orratai - pasa ruk jark dokyah
• Tai Orratai - song jai mar klai chid
  
• Thoo Daranee - bor aow... khon kee ju

• Various - dao roong luk thung thailand : hua jai tai fhun
  
• Various - duay ruk dae kroo sa-lah
• Various - jatura thung
• Various - luk thung nong mai tai dao
  
• Various - pleng ruk grarb tuk mae
• Various - the rough guide to the music of Thailand
• Vit Hyper - chai park rai pood taen jai ying oak huk
• Vit Hyper - koh vit
  
• Vit Hyper - muk ngai lhai jai lhork luang
• Vit Hyper - wid chanid pised

Index of VCD reviews :

• Sieng Issan - ruam dao sao
  

Useful links

A growing list of lukthung / morlam / thai country links...

Record Labels

Warning : Lukthung record company websites are on the whole not very good!

• GMM ARATiST - Gateway to Entertainment
  
• R-Siam
• Nopporn Group
  
• Music Train
  
• Sure Audio
  

Artist dedicated fan sites

Some artist websites, some appear official and some are not. But on the whole superior to the record labels' websites.

• Tai Orratai
• Takkatan Cholada
  
• Fon Tanasoontorn
  
• Jintara Poonlap
• Ajareeya Bussaba Hi5
  
• Kat Rattikarn
• Fon Tanasoontorn
• Jingleedkao Wongtewan
• Earn The Star
  
• Mangpor Chontida
• Fangkaew Worasamon
• Pamela Bowden article on Chicago Reader
  

Online CD Stores

I use eThaiCD but other online CD stores are available.

• eThaiCD
• Thai CD Express
• Thailand CD
  
• Thai Mega Mart
• Thai Shopping (just seem to sell 1 Tai Orratai CD for now)
  

Other Sites

• Daily Luukthung (in Japanese)
• Luktung Blog
• Luktung Network
  
• Morlam Luktung
• Introduction to Morlam includes a biog of Jintara
• VJ Fon (Hitstation)
• Thai Star Booking
• Modern Radio 95FM
  

Watch Thai TV Online

• MVTV Hitstation (via viewmy.tv)
• World IP TV
• Jump TV
• Thai TV Network
  

If you have any other relevant links you think should be on here let us know by leaving a message below. And if i link to your website i'd appreciate you linking back to mine...