Album Reviews

Kasabian

`West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum'

(SonyBMG)

A couple of months ago, British rockers Kasabian gave away free downloads of its single ``Vlad the Impaler'' on the Internet, a good marketing ploy to get more fans. Apparently it worked since Kasabian's third album debuted on top of the U.K. charts.

However, the album doesn't quite meet the high expectations from fans who embraced their early hits ``Club Foot'' and ``Shoot the Runner.'' Kasabian does come up its trademark electro-infused rock songs like ``Where Did All the Love Go?'' and ``Fast Fuse,'' but falters with acoustic tracks such as ``Thick as Thieves.''

-Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Flo Rida

`R.O.O.T.S'

(Warner Music)

American rapper Flo Rida's sophomore effort is a good mix of pop, electro, dance, and hip-hop tunes. His first single ``Right Round,'' featuring Ke$ha, topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts for good reason. It's one of the catchiest tracks on the album, thanks to the sampling of 80's New Wave group Dead or Alive's ``You Spin Me Round.''

Flo Rida also gets a boost from some of the hottest artists around. Ne-Yo added a smooth R&B flavor on the mid-tempo ``Be On You,'' while Nelly Furtado helps out on another sure-fire hit ``Jump.'' He also collaborated with Akon (``Available'') and Wyclef Jean (``Rewind'').

Laurent Korcia

`Cinema'

EMI Classics

Named Victoires de la Musique's Instrumental Soloist of the Year, Korcia Laurent Korcia is one of the most distinctive violinists of his generation.

The French artist's 1719 ``Zahn'' Stradivari instrument gives flight to lush, kaleidoscopic moods, ranging from romantic melodies like ``Yumeji's Theme'' (``In the Mood for Love'') to something more dramatic like Saint-Saens' ``Danse Macabre'' (``Rules of the Game''), which is famous here as part of figure skater Kim Yu-na's repertoire.

Such instrumental compilations are aplenty. But what makes this album special is that the violinist's serious interpretation moves you in a most profound way. Just as one music critic said, beneath the magnetic charisma and sweeping passions of his violin, Korcia is an artist of a tragic nature.

-Lee Hyo-won