Journey
Nicky Wu
The title of this album harks back to one of Nicky Wu’s best-known solo hits, Wish You A Smooth Journey, taken from his 1992 debut solo album, Wind Chaser.
Of course, the Taiwanese was already a star before that as the best-looking member of the boy band trio, Little Tigers, and not their strongest singer.
Maybe this is a reason for the 19-year break between the new album and his last, 1997’s Hero.
Another is that he has been focusing on acting, including in the hit period television drama, Scarlet Heart (2011).
On Journey, the opening synthesizer strains of Lonely By Nature already sound dated and, unfortunately, Wu seems resolutely stuck in the past. Even the title track fails to muster much excitement.
Perhaps the song of greatest interest is Hand In Hand, a duet with Cecilia Liu, his co-star from Scarlet Heart and now his wife. The track itself is nothing too exciting, though it does end on a sweet note with the chiming of wedding bells.
(ST)