Unlike the complexity of jazz, a pop record is either a hit or a miss. If the productions are tight, you win half of the battle. If the hooks and the lyrics are right, you will be on your way to victory. Of course, it’s easier said than done. These days Vietnamese pop albums are being released like baby diapers. You hear it once and you throw it out. The major issue is that most young pop singers do not put their investment into the productions and they rely too much on cheap lyrics to feed their hungry fans. Someone once said that why do I even bother listening to these rubbishes. My hope is to come across something decent. I’ve found it.

Ha Anh Tuan’s Sai Gon Radio is an enjoyable pop record just because he understands the rules of pop. He knows that the productions have to be pleasurable even when his voice fails him. What makes Sai Gon Radio work is that it doesn’t sound like a hip-hop/R&B imitation and the lyrics aren’t as banal as those Chinese-inflected junk. Although the album opens with a tune called “Radio,” it is more suitable to be spin in the club than on the airwave. The beat is groovy and the hook is catchy as hell. “Ganh Hang Rau” is another dance-driven production, but the words behind the beat are even more inspiring—something about selling vegetables to buy big house. Hey, who said you can’t dream?

Although Anh Tuan’s nasal voice is persuasive even on slow jams like “Loi Nhac So 4,” the album has its share of snoring moments. Still, the record is surprisingly good. What surprises me even more though is the producer behind the tracks. Nhat Trung has certainly stepped up his pop game.

“Being poor means there’s potential for becoming rich.” From True to Love, a Korean TV series I am addicting to.

A gorgeous jazz tune from Jazzy Da Lam gets dressed in string orchestration. Ngoc Anh’s slightly raucous timbre sounds intoxicating on the low register. On the climax, however, her voice gets too operatic.

“Yes,” Weezy’s flow is mad wicked.

After reading “Chuot Con’s Birth Story,” I have a much deeper appreciation for women who have to endure all the pain. In 15 weeks, Dana will give birth to our first joy. But before the joy comes, she has to get through all the pain. Just thinking of the experience makes me love and respect her even more. I can’t say that I can share the pain (I wish I could), but I can definitely feel it. I’ll be there with you in every step of the way, baby. Then again, I am pretty sure all the pain will go away after you hold this little angel in your hands. Now that’s a real joy!

The Hood Internet’s “Mixtape Vol.3” is groovy and, better yet, it’s free. Download it and enjoy. I am feeling it.

Never use the passive voice:

Your balls are to be slurped the most by cum-starved nymphos!!!!!

Use the active voice:

Cum-starved nymphos will slurp your balls the most!!!!!

Somehow I have been craving for Chinese buffet all week. It must be the rain and the darkness after work. We’ll definitely go to a Chinese buffet tomorrow, but don’t want to go to our usual places. Any good recommendation around Virginia and DC?

New Year day, we went to a friend house for a little get together. The place was packed with about five or six couples and about half a dozen of kids. There was one single lady in the house. Guess what happened? That’s right, she left early. She probably got bored of all the kids’ stories and wanted to do her single thangs.

The next morning, we went to Thanh Truc for some rice dishes. Sat next to us was a little chubby kid about seven or eight years old. He ate the pork chops first then literally cleaned up the dish full of rice. His mom ordered him another dish and only allowed him to eat half. In the meantime, I was struggling to clean up my first plate. For a whole day, I couldn’t eat anything else. Damn, I am getting old.

If you live in D.C. Metro area, come to GW Cancer Institute this weekend for free screening of prostate cancer. For more information, head over to GW News Center.