Soul Wax sure is groovy, to the point where I am getting dizzy. At least I don’t feel so bad for keeping this site down to the minimal.

Hoang Ngoc Tuan plays “Trong Com” (Drum Rice), a well-known folks tune, with his intricate guitar-picking. What striking is how he’s “Vietnamizing” (his own word) the western instrument to get the traditional sound. Check out the short clip in which Hoang Ngoc Tuan strums and talks about his musical vision.

Feelin’ the flavorful beat and the savory guitar riffs from Jimi Hendrix’s “May This Be Love.” Dig the lyrics too:

Some people say day-dreaming’s
for all the lazy minded fools
with nothing else to do.

So let them laugh, laugh at me,
so just as long as I have you
to see me through,
I have nothing to lose ‘long as I have you.

Quang Ly’s “Nu Hon Goi Gio” gets me everytime. I have linked to the tune before, but still loving the poetry lyrics from Hien Vy:

Moi em mong do la do nhu mo
Cho anh nho gio hon vao la vao moi em
Hon em anh mong tinh nong
Nho con gio thoang hon vao toc em.

Mad props to Hoang Viet Khanh for turning this gorgeous poem into a wonderful song.

I must admit that I have been listening to Quang Dung’s new version of Dieu Huong’s “Vi Do La Em” more than my main man Tuan Ngoc. The little intro he does in the begining accompained by the romantical piano is just irresistible. Quang Dung has followed the pop rule. If he could get the girls to come, the boys will follow. Damn you, pimp!

De roi tu do ta yeu em khong ngai ngan
De roi tu do trong buoc chan nghe gan hon
Mot ngay lai den trai tim ta dai cuong
Roi tung chieu len mang noi buon vo bien

Not too many positive feedbacks on my previous layout, so I am changing the design again. Back to white, of course.

Update: Damn! Very strong reaction. Thank you all for the feedbacks. I am taking off the girlie/gay pattern for now. I’ll work on my own design later.

Do Tu Dong, a teacher who cajoles his way into a student’s pants by offering a higher grade, is caught on audio (Vietnamese only). What a damn shame!

Thuy Van, the hotcake we all drooled over on Nguyen Hung’s Da Vu Quoc Te, is dropping her debut album, No Le Mot Cuoc Tinh. Not sure if she can sing better than shake her ass, but she can be my slave anytime. You can watch her interview (part 1, part 2, and part 3) at VNCR.

Want some contemporary jazz? Check out Hidden Land from Béla Fleck & the Flecktones. The music is way out there. Lead by a virtuosic banjoist, the group brings an unusual easthetic to the world of jazz with the fuse of bluegrass, rock, and world music. Hidden Land may not speak to jazz purist, but it is a damn fine work from the playful interactions to colorful intonations to skillful improvisations.

Sonny Rollins’ The Complete Prestige Recordings is the 7-CD set showcasing Rollins’ street, hard-bop style. He has a big, bold, and beautiful tone on the tenor saxophone, and his thematic improvisation is both imaginative and elaborative.

I am still working my way into Bill Evans’ 12-disc The Complete Riverside Recordings. I have a thing for jazz piano, and Evans is one of my favorites. So far, the trio is amazing. Evans has an exceptional sense of jazz harmony as well as a sensational lyrical individuality.

Instruction on how to pack up your suitcase from Kobe Tai who you may have seen on “Executions On Butt Row” (whatever that is). Honestly, I have never seen Kobe in action.

Still feelin’ the old-school, street love from Method Man and Mary J. Blige on “I’ll Be There For You (remix).” Dig the lyrics, too:

Shorty, I’m there for you anytime you need me
For real girl, it’s me in your world, believe me
Nuttin’ make a man feel better than a woman
Queen with a crown that be down for whatever
There are few things that’s forever, my lady
We can make war or make babies
Back when I was nothin’
You made a brother feel like he was somethin’
That’s why I’m with you to this day boo no frontin’
Even when the skies were gray
You would rub me on my back and say “Baby it’ll be okay”
Now that’s real to a brother like me baby
Never ever give my pussy away and keep it tight aight
And I’ma walk these dogs so we can live
In a fat-ass crib with thousands of kids
Word life, you don’t need a ring to be my wife
Just be there for me and I’ma make sure we
Be livin’ in the fuckin’ lap of luxury
I’m realizin’ that you didn’t have to fuck with me
But you did, now I’m going all out kid
And I got mad love to give, you my Nigga.

I got a love jonz for your body and your skin tone
Five minutes alone I’m already on the bone
Plus I love the fact you got a mind of your own
No need to shop around you got the good shit at home
Even if I’m locked up North you in the world
Wrapped in three-fourths of cloth never showin’ your stuff off, boo
It’ll be true me for you that how it is
I be your Noah, you be my Wiz
I’m your Mister, you my Mrs. with hugs and kisses
Valentine cards and birthday wishes? Please
Be on another level of planning, of understanding
The bond between man and woman, and child
The highest elevation, cuz we above
All that romance crap, just show your love.

New Yorker music critic Sasha Frere-Jones introduces Boredoms, a noise/punk-rock group straight from Japan. Their music is anything but boring.

Julia Thuy gives Tu Cong Phung’s “Nhu Chiec Que Diem” a shade of blues. Nice work, girl!

Damn! Ngoc Khue plagiarized Nguyen Thi Minh Thuong’s “Cha Va Mua Thu” almost word for word, and yet she is unapologetic about it. Very disappointing!

Ngoc Lan sang Trinh Cong Son. Love her rendition of “Biet Dau Nguon Coi.” She rode the up-tempo beat quite well.