Album Reviews

Jennifer Lopez `Brave' SonyBMG

Singer-actress-fashion designer Jennifer Lopez has just released a new album, but the media is going crazy speculating on whether she's pregnant or not. Gossip aside, ``Brave'' represents her return to R&B and hip-hop music.

J.Lo described her album as ``feel-good music,'' which is true for catchy dance tracks like ``Stay Together,'' ``I Need Love,'' and ``Do It Well,'' featuring rapper Ludacris.

While she does well on upbeat songs, it's not easy to ignore Lopez' thin voice in songs like ``Never Gonna Give Up'' and ``Mile in These Shoes.'' Overall, the album lacks much of Lopez' trademark sizzling Latin-inspired sound.

-Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Mandy Moore `Wild Hope' EMI

Actress Mandy Moore is making a comeback as a singer/songwriter with her fifth official album, ``Wild Hope'' four years after ``Coverage'' in 2003.

This album shows off her mature musical talent instead of outmaneuvering fellow stars Britney, Jessica, and Christina on the pop charts.

Moore exerts her rich, country-rubbed and even Sheryl Crow-reminiscent vocals on this album which includes her first single, ``Extraordinary,'' a melodic pop number with her clean vocals.

Standout tracks include the much-heralded ``Gardenia,'' ``Looking Forward to Looking Back,'' ``Slummin' in Paradise,'' and the title track, proving Moore's full-fledged vocals.

-Chung Ah-young

Beethoven Complete Cello Sonatas EMI

Celebrated cellist Yang Sung-won has partnered with renowned pianist Pascal Devoyon to offer all five of Beethoven's cello sonatas _ a first in Korea. These pieces represent all of what is commonly accepted as being the three musical periods of the hearing-impaired maestro.

This album would be the perfect addition to your CD collections this fall, as the deep resonating vibe of Yang's cello blends harmoniously with Devoyon's lyrical piano tunes.

The album also includes three musical variations of Mozart's pieces from ``The Magic Flute" and Handel's ``Judas Maccabaeus.''

Produced by Grammy-winner Tony Faulkner, the album was recorded in London's famed Henry Wood Hall. Yang had previously won the Gramophone Editor's Choice and Critic's Choice awards for his 2000 Zoltan Kodaly recording.

- Lee Hyo-won