Tuesday 30 December 2008

Top 10 Lukthung songs of 2008

I haven't heard every Lukthung song this year but i've heard a lot, some songs might be off 2007 released albums but i heard them this year! For fairness each artist has only been allowed the 1 song in the top 10 (otherwise Tai Orratai would have had about half of the songs there!) So having taken all that into account, in my opinion the best 10 songs are :

1) mai lhor tae ruk jing - Arid Waamak



2) mar jark din - Tai Orratai
3) mar la woey - Kraetae
4) boh lhuer yhung hai whung laew - Jintara Poonlap
5) poo sao tai barn - Karaked
6) jeb nee puer ter - Fon Tanasoontorn
7) bao nuk rean yai - Dear Sasitorn
8) ber kai yao fao ror - Pu Sriwilai
9) ter tao nun - Film Narinthip
10) mue dai sima - Newkoi Kannika

Monday 29 December 2008

Top 10 Lukthung CDs of 2008

Its that time of year again, i.e. the end, where thoughts turns to reviewing what came in the year before. Later on in this series we will list our top 10 lukthung songs of 2008 and finally the top 10 artists of the year but first of all what were the best 10 CDs. On this blog we reviewed dozens of CDs and procured many more so what was best in our opinion?

1) Tai Orratai - mar jark din
Tai Orratai's 5th album was released at the end of 2007 but we didn't receive it to the first week of 2008. A superb collection of songs starting with the title track, a few slight mis-hits with faster tracks but when Tai sticks to her slow sorrowful tracks she is unbeatable! I played this album so much this year that if they had such a thing as pay-per-play i would have been bankrupt by April.



2) Bew Kalayanee - buntuek pleng ruk
Bew Kalaynee is really starting to build a good career now, we like how she is adding rock power and attitude to good solid lukthung tunes. This album was her best yet.

3) Jintara Poonlap - yoo karng ter samuer
Jintara's second CD for RS was much better than the first with well written and well performed songs in a variety of styles.

4) Various - Dao roong luk thung Thailand : hua jai tai fhun
A compilation album, this time from a reality show. They are always a mixed bag but hopefully you find some pearls. Arid Waamak's song "Mai lhor tae ruk jing" was one of those, brilliant. Some of the other songs are pretty good too.

5) Vit Hyper - koh vit
OK he didn't give us "Wittalai lhai jai" again but tried his best to repeat the formula on this album which was much better rounded and balanced than the last one.

6) Dear Sasitorn - hua jai nuk soo
Best debutant of the year, a superb collection of well-sung and inventive tracks on the rockier side of lukthung. Excellent roots music.



7) Karaked - yark pen khon tee don ai huk
Karaked was one of the first lukthung singers i ever got into and delivered the goods on this latest album, smooth and competent. And gorgeous.

8) Noo Meter - kwam ruk kwam wung kwam fhun
A terrific series of songs early on this album, track after track of radio friendly rock balladish-lukthung. Brilliant.

9) Bua Bunchitar - fhun khong poh kum khor khong mae
A very good debut, maybe a little too dominated by 1-2 really good songs and a few that were... lets be charitable and say fillers. But very promising all the same.

10) Ajareeya Bussaba - hua jai... mee ngarn kao
Ajareeya's comeback, a blistered fusion of styles and energy. Beyond brilliant, it came late in the year otherwise would probably be higher up the top 10.

Sunday 21 December 2008

MV : "Pen huang der jar" by Tai Orratai ต่าย อรทัย

My favourite artist these days is Tai Orratai so of course when her new album came out i had to get it on CD and VCD! The VCD came this week and this is one of the songs off the album. It has a Chinesey feel to it both musically and visually. As for the album its good but not quite as good as her last one, but then again that was perfect. Might just need to give her new songs time to bed in so to speak. I'll review Tai's album in full next year some time so i won't give away much. Her position as my Queen is secure for the time being lets just say that.



Who is the chick in this MV by the way, very cute (though to be quite honest overacts massively). She has appeared in a couple of other videos i have seen, including one on the last Tai CD.

Wednesday 17 December 2008

MV : "Jarng mun ter" by Kratae กระแต

This is off Kratae's third album which was released a month or so ago. The album is quite nice though i feel it lacks some of the passion and energy of Kratae's previous 2 albums. Maybe too many late nights, are those bags under your eyes Kratae?



Anyway its a nice if basic up-tempo song. The dance routines are smooth and serviceable. Professional if not that exciting, like the song. Hey it sounds like i am really down on Kratae, i still love her just that she wasn't quite as awesome as usual this time, just pretty good instead of great. You can't win them all... unless you are a banker.

Sunday 14 December 2008

CD : Nui Suweenar นุ้ย สุวีณา - nui sung fan

Nui Suweenar made her debut last year on another record label and her debut was not bad though only had 1 song that really stood out. Her second album is on RS and she looks mighty fine on the cover, love the bandana! So she looks good but does she sound good?



Yes! The first song is the title track and is a superb fast track with some nice guitar and a well sung chorus. She fits in many words into the fast chorus without any mangling of any syllables, a sign of vocal skill. "Bundit kreed yang" which follows is a laid back slow song. Nui again sounds good on the song though strains with some of the notes slightly. Following is the harmonica led "Ma tee lhung wung taeng". She sounds better on it, the key suits her voice better. Her vocals are clear and have a nice tone. The song has a nice basic melody.

The tempo is back up on "Lhob fon tee sork tuek" which has a nice dance beat and up a bit more tempo for "Khon dum jai dee". Nui's vocals really work well here. The song drives along determinedly. But what we need now is a bit of passion and drama. Aha "Khon koi khon klai" is next, a slow song with a bit of emotion in it. Superb song sung really well, powerful chorus. After the title track the best song on the album.



"Oak huk hai lhob tai" is a faster and more country-ish song with a jolly little beat and accordion. "Sao ta kom arom khem" is a fast song driven by some super fast guitar chords, sounding not unlike the opener of an Ajareeya song. Nui tackles the song well. "Kum kuen khon sode" has some fast guitar work but more rock influenced. The song drives along well in a rock-pop meets lukthung way. Finally "Bin lah ha koo" starts off with some violin and reminds me of an Irish song at the start. Its OK but nothing more than OK.

Overall a very good album with just a couple weaker songs but those songs are still not that bad. I'm so happy her album is great too, i feel such a fraud fancying a singer who is rubbish. She isn't.

Best songs : Nui sung fan, Khon koi khon klai, Kum kuen khon sode

Rating : 9/10

Click here to get this CD

MV : "Aow-wa-sarn" by Noy Stamp น้อย-แสตมป์

Kluay and Noy Stamp both release solo albums as well as together. I got Kluay's a few months ago and its pretty good though oddly i didn't play it that much. I'm not sure why, it might be just because i had got a lot of other albums at the same time. Time is the one resource we can never increase.



Anyway Noy's album i got a few weeks ago and it also very good. I like this hard rock song off it especially.

Wednesday 10 December 2008

MV : "Narm nai tar" by Bew Kalayanee บิว กัลยาณี

Bew was the third lukthung artist i ever bought anything by (the other two being Jintara and Mai Saowapar - whatever happened to her?) It was Bew's debut album too which was OK though you suspected Bew wasn't really the person on the cover but rather someone RS was trying to create and it jarred a bit.

Subsequent albums seem to be much more Bew and not manufactured (i could be totally wrong of course but her current image seems much more natural and comfortable) as she develops a cool rocky hard edge to her lukthung. Especially her third album which is among the year's best and includes this song.



"Narm nai tar", my current favourite over the last couple of weeks. It starts off with some nice contemporary piano and then into Bew's lovely vocals, which are smooth yet gutsy. The song probably has some cross-over appeal. The video is maybe a bit basic, just being a performance video, but the song is #7 on the album so they obviously ran out of budget. I don't mind though, i prefer to see Bew anyway and not some contrived storyline. Lovely woman, lovely song.

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Introducing a new style to this blog - less mechanical and more conversational

It happens in the life of every blog, the owner wonders if he is doing the right thing. Often it happens after 1-2 posts (and if you have a Blog that's not been updated since 2005 why not kill it so someone else can use the name!) The "midlife crisis" of this blog was reached recently. It had become a bit of a mechanical grind to update the blog.

I had a schedule worked out, 2 MVs back to back then a CD review, 2 more MVs then some CD artwork then 2 more MVs et cetera. Fine, it kept the blog updated every day but was... boring. So instead i am going to break from the old mechanical style and writing short posts that either contain a MV and some pics or a slightly longer post with a review. Instead all posts will try and maintain a bit of a conversation... and may also include MV/pics/review or whatever. The daily update grind will also be dropped though i'll try and maintain 3-4 postings a week.

It may make the blog more readable, not that i think anyone does read it. Its very low on the Google rankings anyway, even though its the only english language resource for lukthung that actually updated (or seems so anyway - not that i am bitter of course). So maybe more conversation will bring in the punters?

So welcome to version 2.0 of this blog.

MV : "Tang cai maa tua" by Dalhar Tunyaporn ดาหลา ธัญญาพร

Not heard of this singer before but its a nice song.

Thursday 4 December 2008

CD : Ajareeya Bussaba อาจารียา บุษา - hua jai... mee ngarn kao

Ajareeya's comeback (and 5th album), eagerly awaited by myself and i am sure many people and it does not disappoint. The album starts off with some blistering fast tracks including the rollicking title track with it's pounding percussion and piercing vocals and sheer energy. An amazing way to start the album as is the following "Taeng ngarn kun hur". A good fast song with some interesting musical touches. "Bon jao mae" has more, with plenty of traditional instrumentation and a modern fast beat. This album is very adventurous musically, as if cut free of U2 Ajareeya is free to explore a more interesting sound.



"Aab ruk nai hua" is a slow song which comes in 2 versions, and a nice pop song if a bit too basic compared to these other songs but certainly by no means bad. "Jum jon tai" is really something though, sounding like Sunita Leetikul (another favourite of mine) with it's laid back bluesy soul feel. A terrific song and miles away from anything Ajareeya did before. "Jer tae ngoo" returns us to fast songs, before Ajareeya's forte though on this album she has come a long way and is equally comfortable on slower songs too.

So great fast songs and greater slow songs. This is the best Ajareeya album by far and maybe the best album all year. She looks great too, but unlike a lot of artists can back it up on record. Essential.

Rating : 9.5/10

Click here to get this CD

Monday 1 December 2008

New Releases (01/12/08)

  • Poj Suwannapun - kwam fhun lae kwam ruk
  • Noy Stamp - theep song (below)
  • Oil Araya - kid tueng jung
  • Poifai Malaiporn - mun tong torn
  • Prame Preeyagorn - made in din klone
  • Air Suchawadee - sao hiser
  • Sathika Supunsa - nhoo nar baan nork
  • KrataiKaaw Daoroong - oak huk kor koom

Friday 28 November 2008

Top 5 CDs of November 08

1) Bao We - Bao We 3
2) Maitai Jaitawan - nuk soo hua jai serng
3) Ajareeya Bussaba - hua jai... mee ngarn kao
4) Tai Orrathai - kon nai kwarm kid hord
5) Nui Suweenar - nui sung fan

Thursday 27 November 2008

MV : "Kid tueng jung" by Oil Araya ออย อารยา

One of my current favourite songs. I got her CD this week and its excellent.

Tuesday 25 November 2008

Saturday 22 November 2008

CD : Por Parichart ปอ ปาริชาต - arom ngao... sao tor jor wor

Probably Por Parichart's second album though her first for R-Siam, and it starts off in very familiar RS territory with the title track, a big slow song with a memorable melody. Probably got a nice MV too. Not that original a start then but it works so why change it? There are some nice tones in the song too.



Following up "Ja mai klub baan mue plao" is a similar pace and starts with some pipes. Por's voice is pretty good, not the best but you'd say not that far off. Her tone is good on this and the following "Wan ngao ngao kub kao kong krai" (also a slow song).

For some variety "Krai suk kon bon tarng fun" is a faster paced country song with some jaunty guitar picking. Her voice also works well with songs like this and the emotional big song that follows "Roo juk tae ruk mai dai" that also has a lot of interesting things going on musically. So this is a very good RS album, very commercial of course, everything is professionally done, it maybe lacks a bit of edge and fire but when everything is as well done as this, who cares? Por is a great addition to RS' roster and doesn't look too bad either.

Rating : 8.5/10

Click here to get this CD

Friday 21 November 2008

MV : "Jeb toe yaun fourwheel" by Daukor Toongtong ดอกอ้อ ทุ่งทอง

This was recommended for me when i went to Youtube today so why not put it here too? Good morlam.

Thursday 20 November 2008

MV : "Nhee hai glai tao jai ruk" by Nongpang Natthida น้องแป้ง ณัฐธิดา

Another song off Nongpang's album, they put plenty of money into the MVs with a variety of storylines not just 10 variations of the same MV as you sometimes get!

Wednesday 19 November 2008

Monday 17 November 2008

Sunday 16 November 2008

CD : Mhai Muang ไม้เมือง - keb ruk wai tee plai roong

Mhai Muang's third album and its full of fine tunes, quality backing and musicianship and great vocals. Track 1, "Keb ruk wai tee plai roong" is a great case in point, it starts off with some relaxed humming and builds into a bright little tune with some nice whistle and relaxed laid back vocals giving it a great contemporary feel. Maybe a better song though is "Luem gun laew gar" which has a very traditional start before building up into a "big" song.



One criticism of this album though would be that it is a bit one-paced. "Gasalong glub baan" for example is a good tune with laid back vocals with a yearning edge to them but its much like quite a few of the other tracks on the album. But i suppose if your template is a good quality one why deviate from it? "Nitarn bai mai" for example is a restrained beautiful tune with good musicianship but lets the vocals shine. An enjoyable laid back and relaxed ride.

Rating : 7.7/10

Click here to get this CD

Thursday 13 November 2008

Monday 10 November 2008

CD : Maitai Jaitawan ไหมไทย ใจตะวัน - nuk soo hua jai serng

This album gets off to a great start, the tricky little tune that is the title track, with tasty guitar, great lukthung melodies and a sing-a-long chorus. I really like the following "Jai bor muk dee" with it's airy piano and guitar intro and powerful (and rocky) deliberate tune. "Kae mong kor mee hang" is back to more traditional lukthung territory and continues the high standard of musical arrangements so far.



You might expect a track called "Rock and Lao" to have rock guitars, and it does, maybe a little too obvious. Another sing-a-long chorus and lots of hot guitar licks. It is a lukthung song though and not a rock ballad and bounces along very enjoyably. Maybe for a return to the rock ballad of earlier try "Bor luem...kor pluem leaw" with it's slow intro but then it heads back to quick rock edged lukthung and is another good song. They are all good songs so far actually. I really like the melodies and tones of "Kid hord sao barn pern", the keyboard synths so delicate. This is a very inventive album full of great tunes. The vocals are maybe not the best in the world but certainly not terrible if just a little weak though the songs are sung with plenty of feeling which compensates.

Rating : 8/10

Click here to get this CD

Sunday 9 November 2008

MV : "Kratai kub tao" by Cathaleeya Marasri คัทลียา มารศรี

The tortoise beating the hare as always been an inspirational story to me as i don't move very fast.

Saturday 8 November 2008

MV : "Rahus hua jai" by Nongpang Natthida น้องแป้ง ณัฐธิดา

I like this MV, Nongpang looks like she is stuck in a video game. I've put a number of her MVs on my Youtube channel.

Friday 7 November 2008

Pics from new Tai Orratai CD

The goddess (well mine anyway) returns! The new Tai Orratai CD is now out and here is some of the artwork.







Thursday 6 November 2008

Wednesday 5 November 2008

MV : "Tum nob nam ta" by Nongpang Natthida น้องแป้ง ณัฐธิดา

Another song by the young singer Nongpang, i got her album today and its maybe the best of the year... maybe.

Tuesday 4 November 2008

CD : "Bao We 3" by Bao We บ่าววี

Bao We's 3rd album for R-Siam though the first i have got, i have quite liked his songs in the past but never got around to getting his albums, anyway this album starts off with the customary big radio friendly song with a rock ballad edge "Mang mao ngao jai" which no doubt has a MV that's been getting plenty of plays.



"Sator liam thong" is a fast song with a guitar led melody and a good chorus, its followed by the slower and also rock edged "Nok ha fah" which is sung well and some nice instrumentation too both modern electric and traditional.

Organ drives the tune of "Mah hao pra krapong" which is a lot more lukthung than some of the earlier songs. Its followed by the superb "Ruk kin mai dai" with it's steady and slightly bluesy beat. "Kum sa-ra-parb" like some of the earlier songs is led by guitar chords and rock drums and goes straight into Bao We's strong vocals. The effect is very good. This album is full of great songs. I can't really fault any of the songs, they are either great or not-quite-great-but-still-very-good. So this is definitely a recommended album.

Rating : 8.2/10

Click here to get this CD

Monday 3 November 2008

Sunday 2 November 2008

MV : "Sia dai" by Kratae กระแต

As you can see from the new releases Kratae's third album is out now, here is a song from the second album.

Saturday 1 November 2008

New Releases (01/11/08)

  • Tai Orrathai - kon nai kwarm kid hord (6th album)
  • Bew Kalayanee - greatest hits
  • Cathaleeya Marasri - nong kai
  • Nongpang Natthida - aok huk mai mee hed phon (debut)
  • Kratae - perd jai sao tae (3rd album)
  • Fon Tanasoontorn - pen fan kun ma
  • Koong Suthirath - nueng nai duang jai
  • Au Puntarng - yah aow narmta dub fai
  • Noknoi Uraiporn - rod fai sai narm tar

Wednesday 29 October 2008

Top 5 CDs of October 08

I.E. the ones we played the most.

1 : Noo Meter - kwam ruk kwam wung kwam fhun (-)
2 : Jintara Poonlarb - yoo karng ter samuer (1)
3 : Jomkwan Kulyakorn - ber nee yark mee fan (-)
4 : Dear Sasitorn - hua jai nuk soo (-)
5 : Tai Orratai - mar jark din (4)

Dear Sasitorn VCD back

Tuesday 28 October 2008

Monday 27 October 2008

MV : "Wen wuk puk jai" by Salee Kanittha สาลี่ ขนิษฐา

Salee Kanitta has a new album out, here is a song from her older one. As she is a Nopporn artist her new album is likely to sound pretty similiar!

Thursday 23 October 2008

CD : Dao roong luk thung thailand : hua jai tai fhun

Released at the end of last year this is a compilation to go with a singing contest of some kind i think (i don't get the TV channel its on so don't know a great deal about it!) There are 12 songs by 12 artists here, we won't review all of them just the ones i felt were most notable.



Lets start off with the best song on this compilation, "Mai lhor tae ruk jing" by A-rid, one of the best songs of the year i think, terrific slow song with a heavy rock guitar and powerful vocals. A chorus to die for, once the song ends you just want to listen to it again. So i did, and again, and again...

"Suk kon bon fah" by Sai is another slow song but led by some mouth organ before going into some great vocals. The backing is low key to let Sai's voice be centre stage. This song also has a great chorus and melody.

"Krai jah mai jeb" by Cream is also good, though not as much as Sai. Her song has more traditional touches but the vocals arn't quite as strong though still not bad.

"Ter yhoo nhai" by Aom is a fast and bouncy song. These are harder songs to pull off well (though mfairly easy to do adequately) but Aom does a reasonable job and she has a decent if unremarkable voice. "Bork kao duay narm tar" by New has some nice vocals, he has a bit of atmosphere to his voice.

There is a good mixture of styles, melodies and voices here. And a lot of talent on show. I wish singing contests here were so blessed.

Rating : 8/10

Click here to get this CD

Tuesday 21 October 2008

MV : "Perd jai sao tai" by Kratae กระแต

This blog is 1 years old (well actually it was a few days ago but i forgot), to celebrate... my favourite MV from 2007 which was off Kratae's first album.

Monday 20 October 2008

Sunday 19 October 2008

Friday 17 October 2008

CD : Nong Mild น้องมายด์ - ngarn kao

An admission, i usually dislike child performers but a few Youtube viewings of her songs persuaded me to give Nong Mild a try and with trepidation i began to listen to the CD and... actually its not that bad at all. Often young girl singers go too far in being cute and squeeky, and often get away with being rubbish because they are kids. Personally i don't believe in patronising children, if they are rubbish tell them, well Nong Mild isn't rubbish... she is actually pretty good.



The title track is a great start, all youthful exuberance and energy, excited girly vocals on a bouncy tune but the singing is good and clear and not too squeeky. As can be expected there are a lot of fast dance tracks here like "Pa ka poo Koo Aeon" and "Nah ka-la-to" but they bounce along enjoyably, the music is well done and the melody suits the vocals well.

Aha a slow song at last in "Tuk mae", Nong hums along with the tune to start with which actually sounds quite different, i can't recall that many lukthung songs i've heard recently that do that. Good song anyway, though its followed by another fast song in "Ta-lad taed-tae" which is maybe the worst on the album. Here her vocals sound a little too young and she strains a bit with the tune. Just skip that one, the rest of the songs are well worth a listen. Its a good album, Nong's vocals being very good, a lot better than quite a few grown-up singers i could mention.

Rating : 7.1/10

Click here to get this CD

Tuesday 14 October 2008

Pics from Prame Preeyagorn CD

Prame Preeyagorn's album "Ngao boh mee wun yhood" was released last year admittedly but finally got around to scan the booklet.



Sunday 12 October 2008

MV : "Tam haa som-chai" by Mangpor Chonticha แมงปอ ชลธิชา

Another nice Nopporn MV, they are generally quite similarly but nice and colourful anyway. This is an older song by Mangpor who has a new album out now.

Saturday 11 October 2008

CD : Jormkwan Kulyakorn จอมขวัญ กัลญากร - ber nee yark mee fan

I like this album, sometimes her vocals sound a little strange but the overall effect is very good. The title track starts things off and is a really enjoyable easy going mid-tempo track, sung well. "Nueng puen nueng fan" is slower and has some great harmonica work. "Fan khao tae rao hueng" has a great, what i call, stepped melody by which i mean the song's tone changes subtly a few times to enjoyable effect.



To be honest i don't like some of the faster songs so much, "Aim boon" for example is a bit messy though OK. A much better fast tune is "Choke dee mee ngern chai". The slower "Sakod tae kum wah ngao" is better though and has some nice guitar. This is a well-made album and well worth checking out though maybe has no stand-our tracks.

Rating : 7.5/10

Click here to get this CD

Wednesday 8 October 2008

New Releases (08/10/08)

  • Ajareeya Bussaba - hua jai... mee ngarn kao (5th album)
  • Mangpor Chonticha - arlai pee aew (special album)
  • Rock Ae Ae - self-titled debut album
  • Sunaree Rachseema - mue thue mike jai rong hai
  • Salee Kanittha - zabb jeed zabb jard
  • Nui Suweenar - nui sung fan
  • Yui Yardyer - pood mai kid
  • Siriporn Umpaipong - jaew bong nai glorng comp
  • Sathika Supunsa - ruam hit tid dao 15 pleng dunk compilation
  • Bao We - vol. 3

Leew is back!

Sunday 5 October 2008

CD : Ajareeya Bussaba อาจารียา บุษา - job kao

This is the last Ajareeya album to date as far as i know but there are signs a new one is coming soon, anyway this is a very enjoyable album with the fast dancey numbers you expect from Ajareeya but also a couple of really good slower songs. Lets start with the fast songs, "Kammarthep mue mhai" is a good example. A good beat and tune well delivered, great chorus too. "Mai ruk luey lhor" has some nice guitar work. The title track, which starts the album off, also has a great tune and Ajareeya's vocals sounding as good as ever.



I prefer slower songs however and this album has a couple of great ones. "Mai roo wah ruk" is a sweet acoustic song, well sung and a sad tone. The best track, and to my mind the best Ajareeya song of all, is "Ploi pai tung jai ruk" with it's sad ballad air and terrific guitar work. MV is superb too. I hope any future Ajareeya albums work off this as the results could be fantastic.

Rating : 8.3/10

Click here to get this CD

Saturday 4 October 2008

Thursday 2 October 2008

Top 5 CDs of September 08

Our top 5 CDs this month, i.e. the ones we played the most!

1) Jintara Poonlarb - yoo karng ter samuer (-)
2) Bew Kalayanee - buntuek pleng ruk (1)
3) Songkrod Chama - tarm har sao nui (-)
4) Tai Orratai - mar jark din (4)
5) Am Apassara - aok huk pai daeng (-)

Tuesday 30 September 2008

MV : "Say saeng" by Job Sabye Heart (alt version)

An alternative version of the MV for this song, one of my favourites this year so far.

Monday 29 September 2008

CD : Orn Orradee อร อรดี - ber toe ber hong

Nopporn's Orn Orradee is a nice enough artist but if you have heard any of the record label's stable before you can pretty much guess what this sounds like. The opening title track for example has a nice melody, lots of reverb on the vocals and a basic simple tune but it could have been on a number of other Nopporn albums. They obviously know what their fans want and provide it but it would be nice to be surprised.



"Nuk karn mong" follows the opening track and has a jaunty tune but the vocals are a little high-pitched. "Lod poong nhoi pee" has some nice instrumentation, the tune starts off guitar led and has some nice organ. "Mar sai dee kwah mai mar" is my favourite track on the album, a slower more ballady tune with a relaxed melody. I also like "Mali raek yam" with it's very slow haunting melody. So not a bad album but how much is Orn Orradee and how much is the record producer, i suspect its not 50-50.

Rating : 7/10

Click here to get this CD

Saturday 27 September 2008

Tuesday 23 September 2008

Monday 22 September 2008

CD : Songkrod Chama ทรงกรด ฌามา - tarm har sao nui

A solo album by Songkrod from the band Chama, the first track is a great start to this solo career. "Nang fah" is a terrific song, very radio airplay friendly with a great chorus and tune and a rock ballad-ish air, tied in to a film i think, the MV of the song seemed that way anyway.

Its followed by a more restrained but also highly listenable "Yhark pen kon tee ter tong karn" but also has a good melody and is sung well. The title track is very different however, a fast track with some good guitar and organ.

"Ngarn kao" is also a fast track, with some funky 70s guitar licks. I like Songkrod's vocals throughout this album, he has a crisp clipped style of singing that matches the robust tune. "Gae prao hao" is back to a rock-edged mid-paced song. Like many of the songs on this album its a powerful piece of work. Great solo album.

Rating : 8.5/10

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Tuesday 16 September 2008

Monday 15 September 2008

CD : Kluay Stamp กล้วย แสตมป์ - huk kiew suer duay mue plao

A solo album by Kluay Stamp but it sounds pretty much like Stamp do anyway, rocky songs sung well. My favourite track is the title track "Huk kiew suer duay mue plao" which has a great tune and plenty of riffs though it oddly lacks that little bit of stardust to elevate it from being a good song to a great one.

Another good song is the opener "Young ruk gun yoo mhai" with it's guitar led melody and even pacing and sung gutsily. "Narm ning lhai luek" is slower and more mellow but still has plenty of tasty riffs and a nice solo. Later on the album we have a track like "Jicko park soi" which is less rock and more lukthung and has a nice jaunty tune. The overall feel of the album is very rocky though and very good too, just falling short of greatness but still very worth having a listen.



Rating : 7.4/10

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Sunday 14 September 2008

MV : "Eak krueng khong fhun" by Mhai Muang ไม้เมือง

Great song that got quite a bit of airplay (or videoplay on Hitstation anyway) a while back.