Shi Kang Jun
Fire Light (Huo Guang)
I admit, my first impression of this album wasn’t the greatest. Blame it on 愛中飛行 (Love in Flight). This piece makes me feel like “Dude, are we there yet? Are we there yet?”. Until…One fine day, my iPod decided to play 還沒瘋 (Not Yet Crazy) on shuffle and I was like, “Wow…what happened? Who’s that?” This definitely ain’t your typical “nyanya nyunyu” (my endearing term for bubblegummers) artist. Thank God for another anti-sugarpop soul!
This album is heavily influenced by British rock. If you listen only to the melody, you wouldn’t think that this is a Mando album. Jones has this soft but bold rock vocal, which is utilized properly in this album. Judging the songs individually, I’d say they’re well composed arrangement wise. (I didn’t pay attention to the lyrics). However, packaging them together makes the whole album somewhat monotonous. All the songs sound too similar, each carrying the same pattern: play rock guitar, slam the drums, hit the high notes, and put falsetto here and there. After listening to the album a few times, there are only 3 pieces that stand out for me and that is 還沒瘋 followed by 黑夜過後 and 穿越時空. However, don’t get me wrong, this is still a way more valuable buy than Vic Zhou’s any day!
About Jones himself, from what I read online, he apparently is just an ordinary dude from Singapore who decided to abandon his Interior Architecture business to pursue his music career. One might question whether it is a good move or not. Well, I think so, he’s very talented and Mando pop needs more people like him. In a nutshell, I accept his good intentions and give him credits for throwing in a different flavor. I hope that he will try to diversify his products in the future and I definitely look forward to his next album.
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Track Listing:
1. 愛中飛行(信跨刀合唱) [Ai Zhong Fei Xing: Love in Flight] [Duet with Xin Kua Dao]
2. 變質 [Bian Zhi: Deteriorate]
3. 還沒瘋 [Hai Mei Feng: Not Yet Crazy]
4. 火光 [Huo Guang: Fire Light]
5. 麻痺 [Ma Bi: Numb]
6. BEAUTIFUL WORLD
7. 變不了 [Bian Bu Liao: Unchangeable]
8. 冷凍 [Leng Dong: Freeze]
9. 穿越時空 [Chuan Yue Shi Kong: Passing Through Time]
10. 解藥 [Jie Yao: Cure]
11. 曙光 [Shu Guang: Dawn]
12. 黑夜過後 [Hei Ye Guo Huo: After The Night Has Passed]
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Click here to check out his official site
Written by Tanti on Jan 17, 2006
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10 Comments, Join the discussion
Ev0n
Yea Jones album iis great.. ii brought hiis album! i’m waiting for his next album.. i lurve his vocal, damn powerful.. When i 1st heard “Hei Ye Guo Huo” i fall in lurve wif tis song and most of all his voice.. After tat den i noe who is Jones Shi Kang Jun started to support hiim.. So you guys do support hiim do.. Buy hiis Album.. Buy Zhen Ban hohz.. haas..
Jan 18th, 2006
passerby
信跨刀合唱
Xin Kua Dao
Feb 12th, 2006
passerby
信跨刀合唱
Xin Kua Dao
Feb 12th, 2006
random
about time people start to notice jones. smart move by avex to sign him. i was surprised he isn’t more famous. he definitely needs more publicity cuz this guy could go far
Feb 15th, 2006
Tanti
I agree with ya random. He definitely can go far. I start to like 麻痺 [Ma Bi: Numb]
now. This album definitely is growing on me. :)
To passerby:
Not really sure how I should respond to your comment there. :)
Feb 16th, 2006
maoxi
My personal fav track is: beautiful world
This is the only Mandarin (exclude Faye Wong’s) album I have, among those Western CD collections…
He is incredible, i always link him to Dave Matthew, in some ways they are so a-like.
Go go go Jones.
Mar 12th, 2006
tracy
i am big fan jones i like this album is so good … jones song is very good song jones shi kang jun was cool & handsome i like jones shi kang jun i suppot him all the way jones rock.
Apr 24th, 2006
faatinah
this IS a good buy. and Jones not only gave up his business to pursue his music career. he had to give up his girlfriend too. O_O
May 11th, 2006
Joanne
i haven’t gotten to hear all of his songs yet, but i have heard “huo guang”, “chuan yue shi kong”, and “beautiful world” so far. i love “huo guang”, and the pv is so beautiful. it really is so personal since it really reflects those feelings he had when he had to leave his girlfriend behind to pursue his career in music :(
Jul 22nd, 2007
shanlyn
i’m curious. WHERE DID JONES GO!?
even he disappear for about 2 mths, till now i still listen to all his songs.
really hope he can just release his second album =/
Apr 29th, 2008
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