JJ Lin [No. 89757] (Third Album)

一千年以前 A Thousand Years Before (Yī Qiān Nián Yǐ Qián)
木乃伊 The Mummy (Mù Nǎi Yī)
编号 89757 No. 89757 (Biān Hào 89757)
莎士比亚的天分 Shakespeare’s Talent (Shā Shì Bǐ Yà De Tiān Fèn)
突然累了 Down Lately (Tū Rán Lèi Le)
明天 Tomorrow (Míng Tiān)
简简单单 Simply (Jiǎn Jiǎn Dān Dān)
无尽的思念 I Miss You (Wú Jìn De Sī Niàn)
盗 Thou Shall Not Steal (Dào)
听不懂没关系 Gibberish (Tīng Bú Dǒng Méi Guān Xì)
来不及了 We’re Out Of Time… (Lái Bú Jí Le)
一千年以后 A Thousand Years Later… (Yī Qiān Nián Yǐ Hòu)

The album starts of with the intro 一千年以前 A Thousand Years Before (Yī Qiān Nián Yǐ Qián). This instrumental is quite melancholy. The main instrument being the flute, it sounds very traditional and makes you think of long ago, almost ancient times. Its nice and a bit moving.

The next track on the album is the somewhat mid-tempo 木乃伊 The Mummy (Mù Nǎi Yī). I actually expected this song to be more up in the tempo, but I’m pleasantly surprised that it was not. The arrangement is really nice, it seems to draw you in and I loved the air or wind sounds at the beginning. JJ has a nice voice, that’s a give in, but I really liked how soft his vocals were in this, it gave this song a rather intimate feel.

The next track on the album ups the pace a bit with 编号 89757 No. 89757 (Biān Hào 89757). I don’t understand why JJ Lin’s songs always come across as so brief, I could barely even get into the song before it was over. It also seemed to just end and I really dislike when songs end so abruptly because it always confuses me. The arrangement is pretty rhythmic and consistent and JJ’s vocals suit the rather cool atmosphere of the song. I just wish it didn’t seem so short.

The next track on the album brings the pace back down with 莎士比亚的天分 Shakespeare’s Talent (Shā Shì Bǐ Yà De Tiān Fèn). Ah, this song seemed brief as well, which is a shame because I was enjoying it a lot. It sounded so sweet, but a sad kind of sweet. The longing of the guitar melody and JJ’s even moreso longing vocal performance; it creates such an atmosphere of melancholy.

The next track on the album is the weepy 突然累了 Down Lately (Tū Rán Lèi Le). I say weepy, because during the chorus he sounded like he was whining. I still like this song though. It sounds so familiar, especially at the beginning, it sounds like an American song I’ve heard before, but I can’t really put my finger on it. I like how natural this song sounds and JJ’s rather sincere vocal performance.

The next track on the album is the underwhelming 明天 Tomorrow (Míng Tiān). I’m wondering what I’ve always been listening to, because I recall always liking this song, but at the same time I recall always thinking it was down-tempo. Its more along the mid-tempo range, sounds a bit edgy arrangement wise, but bland and flat. JJ’s vocals are OK, but nothing that really wows. This song is pretty forgettable.

The next track on the album brings the temp back down with 简简单单 Simply (Jiǎn Jiǎn Dān Dān). This is a pretty simple song, it certainly reflects the title. I love how soothing the arrangement is, it seems to just wash over you in the nicest of ways. JJ sounds awfully nostalgic, I just got that vibe. His vocal performance is lovely, I know… lovely? Yeah…

The next track on the album keeps the down-tempo’s coming with 无尽的思念 I Miss You (Wú Jìn De Sī Niàn). Is this song really over three minutes, because it played more like two. I mean one minute JJ is singing low and nice-like and the next thing I know he’s getting into the song and straining all over the place and it just left me exasperated, because there was like no need for it. This could have been good, but it plays like an interlude song and not a good one either.

The next track on the album is the confusing 盗 Thou Shall Not Steal (Dào). The title is rather odd, but I choose to just ignore that fact, especially considering how ‘thou shalt not kill’ would have suited the atmosphere of this song a lot better. This song is rather aggressive, but it makes me curious, because I’m not sure what he was going for or why towards the later half he features some random tidbits of a couple of his other songs, I mean what was the point of that? This song plays without being felt and I found that I didn’t really care for his vocal performance.

The next track on the album is the up and down 听不懂没关系 Gibberish (Tīng Bú Dǒng Méi Guān Xì). This song is a bit weird to me as JJ jumps from down-tempo to about mid-tempo and though its creative and different, I just wasn’t really feeling it. The down-tempo parts are pretty boring and the up-tempo where’s he’s rapping/talking just isn’t very memorable.

The next track on the album is the interlude 来不及了 We’re Out Of Time… (Lái Bú Jí Le). Uh… some people are talking frantically, its a bit dramatic, but forgettable as well.

The last track on the album is the ancient sounding 一千年以后 A Thousand Years Later… (Yī Qiān Nián Yǐ Hòu). Oh, this song sounds so ancient, but that could be because of its traditional arrangement. This is quite literally the first song by JJ Lin I ever heard, but at that point I had no idea it was him singing this song or about him for that matter. I use to listen to this everyday, agonizing over who the singer was and wishing I knew so I could look for some more of his music. I was so surprised when I finally listened to this album and heard this song, it was really crazy. I only wish I could find out the singers of some of my other favorite songs from back in my mix-tape well CD days. I really like the flute in this, very nice and different. JJ also gives a good vocal performance. In all truth this song has dimmed a bit, since I find that I don’t really care for it as much as I once did, its still a good song though and a nice end to the album.

-GRADE: B-/C+
Rating: *1/2 stars

JJ Lin’s third album No. 89757 is OK but its not very memorable, not in the least. It’s a twelve track, ten is you exclude the intro and interlude, album, but it plays more like a mini album, because the songs are so short you blink yours eyes and they are over. JJ introduces nothing new or even different this third time around and by no means can this hold even a lighted match to his second album. The only songs that have even some semblance of being remembered once the last track fades is The Mummy, Shakespeare’s Talent and A Thousand Years Later…. No. 89757 plays a bit like Usher’s album 8701, you think its going to be good, but in the end its pretty underwhelming.

JJ Lin [Music Voyager] (First Album)

就是我 (I’m The One)
会读书 (Books)
翅膀 (Wings)
星球 (Planet)
冻結 (Freeze)
压力 (Pressure)
女儿家 (The Girls)
星空下的吻 (Heaven’s Kiss)
让我心动的人 (My Beloved)
会有那么一天 (Someday)
不懂 (I Don’t Know)

The album starts off with the lame 就是我 (I’m The One). The arrangement sounds very juvenile, I don’t even really care for it. JJ’s vocals were all right, but nothing to write home about. He sounded a bit childish during the chorus. This is a song that will appeal only to certain people, I’m one of those people that it does not appeal to. I think its annoying.

The next track on the album is the up-tempo 会读书 (Books). I actually thought this song was going to sound educational? Anyways, the arrangement is very frenzied, and sounds like some bland futuristic type stuff from a supernatural movie made early in the millennium or from the 90’s. JJ’s voice was like in the previous track all right, but this song just went completely over my head and I couldn’t be bothered to care.

The next track on the album is the sad ballad 翅膀 (Wings). I was glad that JJ slowed it down after the first two up-tempo’s disappointed, for the moment I’ve  had enough of up-tempo. I don’t think I’ve ever paid attention to this song, but I sure did this time around. It’s really a good song, with a nice simple arrangement and nice emotional vocals from JJ. I really enjoyed how the song rose towards the end, and it seemed like he really got into it.

The next track is one of my favorites, 星球 (Planet). Oh, I really love this song and its one of the first JJ Lin songs I ever heard. The arrangement is so simple, but it really absorbs you and its so fitting. It does really give you this ‘planet’ like feel. JJ’s vocals were one of the best I ever heard from him, and he really gets into the song and that just makes it all the more enjoyable. I love songs that compel me so much I have no choice but to sing along with them, even if I don’t want too. This is a under-rated track from him, and that’s really too bad, because its one of his best songs.

The next track on the album is the down-tempo and way lovely 冻結 (Freeze). This is my favorite track off the album, and really its just an incredible song. The arrangement is so quietly powerful, it really just goes through you. JJ’s vocals are once again at there best, and I love when he sings the chorus he puts so much feeling into this song, and its just so felt. This is another under-rated song from him that is so good it hurts.

The next track on the album is the underwhelming 压力 (Pressure). This is another up-tempo track that delivers nothing but fail. The arrangement is aggressive an it snags your attention for a second and only a second, then you could care less about it because its so basic. JJ’s vocals are decent for a song like this, but I wasn’t impressed. I also thought the action movie sound effects and talking was pointless, but it fit in with the song in a sense. I mean this song is a lot better than the first two tracks, but its just not my cup of tea.

The next track on the album is the up-tempo 女儿家 (The Girls). I’ve never really liked this, but its a pretty decent song. The arrangement is typical, I’m not saying it like its a bad thing, it does sound pretty dated and flat though. JJ’s vocals were nice as well, went with the whole frenzied pace of the song. I did enjoy the chorus though, he seemed really into it. This is a lot better than the other up-tempo’s I’ve heard, but its not really a song I’d go for. He has much better up-tempo tracks.

The next track on the album is the confused 星空下的吻 (Heaven’s Kiss). This is a song that I both like and dislike, but alas my dislike has won this battle. This song wouldn’t be so bad if it was sung like its sung during the chorus, instead of the way its sung during the verses. The verses are very irritating and quick, then we transition suddenly into the harmonic chorus, and it fluctuates. The chorus is nice, but its not enough to stop this song from getting on my nerves. Its almost like, ‘make up your mind, fast or slow? you can’t have both!’

The next track on the album is the semi down-tempo 让我心动的人 (My Beloved). The arrangement was really nice, I quite enjoyed it. JJ’s vocal performance was very nice in this as well. There’s not much I can say about this song, other then that its a nice, somewhat sad, semi ballad.

The second to last track on the album is another down-tempo, 会有那么一天 (Someday). This is more of a sad ballad than the previous song had been. The arrangement is a bit mournful, but it goes well with the whole flow of the song. JJ’s vocals were also really sorrowful in this, and really absorbs you in the song. I really liked how JJ’s voice reflected the emotions in mood conveyed in this song, to make you feel heavy.

The last track on the album is yet another down-tempo, 不懂 (I Don’t Know). It pretty much goes the same route as the last two songs, a simple and fitting arrangement, nice vocals from JJ. I thought Someday was the best, and though I liked this, it was a very forgettable song to leave the album on.

-GRADE: C-
Rating: * star

JJ Lin’s first album Music Voyager is quite the forgettable album. I’ve never too much paid attention to this album, the few times that I have listened to it, and for good reason. I like the fact that I started reviewing because it really helps me to separate the songs I like from the songs I dislike and on top of that allows me to fall in love all over again or wonder what I was thinking the first time I listened to said album. This album makes me wonder the latter. The only good songs on here are of course Wings, Planet and Freeze. The three slow songs towards the bottom are nice, but hardly memorable, the others are forgettable. Music Voyager is most definitely his worst and most mediocre album (I have yet to listen to Sixology). He only got better from here… thank goodness.

JJ Lin [Cao Cao] (Fourth Album)

Only Told You (Zhī Duì Nǐ Shuō)
Cao Cao
Perfection
Sign Waves
Originally
Eternal Life
Love Yogurt
Metamorphosis
Now That She’s Gone
I’m Not The On You Want
Prince of Pop
Down

The first track on the album is the down-tempo, Only Told You (Zhī Duì Nǐ Shuō). I was always under the impression that this song was called, Sarangheyo, I guess I was mistaken. This is a lovely little ballad, that really showcases JJ’s smooth vocals. The arrangement is really lovely, a nice little twinkly piano like melody that really pulls you into the song, and makes it very sweet and touching.

The next track ups the pace to about mid-tempo. Cao Cao (Cáo Cāo), is a very dark, ambient song, with a lot of edge. Normally I don’t like songs like this, because they do nothing for me, however I do like this. The tone fits JJ, he doesn’t always have to do light rnb or pop songs and I like how the song stays consistent.

Next up is a nice little down-tempo track, that I suppose is the Mandarin version of Down. Perfection (Shú Néng Shēng Qiǎo) is a nice rendition, but I must admit I like the English version more, even if this one is much longer. I really like the arrangement, it’s very calm, and I love JJ’s tone in this, it really made the song touching. It felt like he was talking about how self-aware he was, how he was going to make it, no matter what.

The next track is the mid-tempo, Sign Waves (Bō Jiān Dài). Though I like this song, I find myself a little irked with it. I really feel as if it should have been a little faster, I mean the song stays consistent, I like JJ’s edgy vocals, and the arrangement made everything feel rather exciting–but I kept getting the impression that it should have been an up-tempo track, and that drags the enjoyment down a bit.

The next track, Originally (Yuán Lái) is a rather sweet and touching down-tempo song. I really love JJ’s voice, the tones he make really brings emotion into the lyrics, as well as the rising of the arrangement, which makes this song very heartfelt.

The next track is the down-tempo Eternal Life (Bú Sǐ Zhī Shēn). JJ keeps the down-tempo tracks coming with this one, which is really nice. The arrangement has a very traditional feel to it that really draws you into the song. I also like JJ’s soft vocals, it really gave way to an atmosphere of ‘eternal life’.

Yogurt Yogurt Love (Ài Qíng Yogurt) the next track, is a really cute and simple song. I mean there is nothing overtly interesting about it, but it’s just that JJ’s vocal performance was so childish and light and it brought a nice little charm to this song, as well as the arrangement which would have made a wonderful instrumental.

The pace finally picks back up with the next track, Evolution (Jìn Huà Lùn) . Not that the down-tempo tracks were bad, it’s just good to come up for a little air every once in a while. I liked the whole flow of this song, which is a good thing, because I don’t normally go for songs like this. It has a lot of variety arrangement wise and vocal wise, which keeps the song interesting. I did actually enjoy the song break, and I think this would make for a very intriguing PV.

JJ slows the pace down once again with the next track, Now That She’s Gone. It’s an incredibly slow-paced song, with barely any arrangement and plays like an accapella track. There’s nothing really going for this song that makes it stand out, or even makes it interesting, but JJ’s sincere vocal performance does enough.

The last track on the album is the short, I’m Not the One You Want (Nǐ Yào De Bú Shì Wǒ). The up-tempo-ness of the song really reminds me of this one David Tao song that I can’t remember at the moment. This song just comes and goes, because it’s so short. I think that maybe if it was longer I would have enjoyed it more, since it had the potential to be a really catchy tune. In the end it’s a rather dull way to end the album.

The next track is the nice yet forgettable Prince of Pop. This is an update and I’ve finally gotten around to adding this song to the review, though with how brief it is it should be a bonus just like Down. The arrangement is light and poppy, nice on the ears and JJ gives a good vocal performance, though I can’t help but see this song as pointless.

Ah, but he doesn’t end the album on, I’m Not the One You Want. Instead JJ tacks on the nice, down-tempo and rather mellow Down, a song sung entirely in English, and GOOD English if I must say so myself. There isn’t a hint of an accent. I enjoyed this more than Perfection, since for some reason their just seems to be more emotion and depth; longing and sincerity.

-GRADE: B+
Rating: ** stars

JJ Lin’s fourth album Cao Cao is not a bad album in the least, in fact it’s a pretty good one. I believe that the only problem I had with this album was the length, and the fact that it isn’t as memorable as it should be. JJ’s smooth vocals are good as usual. I like his voice, because it’s the type of voice, just like Faye Wong’s that can pull off simple songs like Eternal Life and Love Yogurt; there was a bit of variety on this, but nothing that jumped out and held your attention. The arrangements were pretty basic with the exception of Evolution which had a lot going for it. JJ Lin continues to stay consistent, and improve, so even if I didn’t like this album this time around as much as I did the first time around, I can cut him some slack. It’s decent, and has a fairly high replay value.