生命是一次奇遇

So, here we are at the drastic departure section of Overload’s 超载 career. I won’t beat about the bush and just say that you’re not going to like this, and I don’t really feel it’s for me either. Why’s that? Well, because the singer’s face is on the album cover, any rock and metal features were traded in for soft rock and a bit of electronic pop, plus the whole thing still sounds very much a product of China at the time. A brief summary of Chinese popular music: ballads are good, emotion is good, and guitar solos are good in practically any song, especially emotional ballads. My conclusion is thus very simple: Overload wanted more money and a higher profile and someone found a way to make that happen.

The nice things I can say about 生命是一次奇遇 (“Life Is an Adventure”) include admitting that the singer does have a fairly nice voice, especially if you are a high school student who needs to study 18 hours a day and this is what you hear during your 5 minute break (I’m not making this stuff up); also, the band plays well and nothing seems out of place. This is nowhere near as annoying as Western pop’s worst during the early ‘00s, but it won’t appeal to many people reading this review either. Be warned that only the first song has any energy as a normal rock song, even though ‘孤独的长跑手’ showcases some livelier electronics and slightly strained vocals, though this is nothing more than what made Jay Chou (super big star in China) famous in 2000. The rest is limp, soft pop for people with headaches.

Need I write on? Probably not, but just to be clear... Overload changed their sound totally from the self-titled debut to this effort, and aimed for an entirely different demographic. Metal listeners do not need to bother with 生命是一次奇遇, although they could learn a bit of culture by giving it a spin.