Music

The Best Vietnamese Albums of 2011

  1. Trang Nhung – Son. Trang Nhung crafted a superb contemporary folks record with great song choices, vocals and arrangements.
  2. Lê Cát Trọng Lý. Ms. Le’s self-titled debut showcases her songwriting skills, guitar chops and singing talent.
  3. Công Lâm – Chàng Trai Việt. Backup by strong orchestration, Công Lâm shows what it takes to be a Vietnamese man through his charming, authoritative tenor.
  4. Ngọc Quy – Hồn Có Mơ Xa. With Ngọc Quy’s fine baritone, classiness and warm intimacy, this album is perfect for late-night relaxation.
  5. Hiền Thục – Thiên Sứ. With effortless flow, classy arrangements and the ability to dig deeper into the lyrics, Hiền Thục has found her own voice in Trịnh Công Sơn music.
  6. Ánh Tuyết Hát Trịnh Công Sơn. Ánh Tuyết interprets Trịnh Công Sơn music with her lower alto rather than her soprano. The result is mesmerizing.
  7. Quang Tuấn – Chiều Vàng. Even though the album is on the safe side, Quang Tuấn delivers the songs as perfect as the way they were written.
  8. Quốc Khanh & Đan Nguyên – Nhớ Mẹ. Two sons of the veteran who shared the same asperation brings some freshness to Vietnam war tunes.
  9. Nguyễn Hồng Nhung – Dường Như. Nguyễn Hồng Nhung delivers classic ballads with soulfulness and tastefulness, but lacked the uniqueness. The strength of the album, however, is from new tunes like “Duong Nhu” and “Nghiet Nga.”
  10. Đàm Vĩnh Hưng – Anh Còn Nợ Em. Đàm Vĩnh Hưng returns to his syrupy signature that once made him popular.