Koo Chung
Parallel
Ten original acoustic rock songs, abounding in intelligent lyrics, sharp insights and honest expression, give you much in which to sink your teeth.
The titles alone pique your interest, and opener "Scenery and Faces" starts the project off strong with its articulate verse: "I love permanence like the friend I never had/ I want innocence to linger longer than your average fad/ and I'm not out to live a life of mere content/ but it's more that I am dealing with the fact that I am bent/ out of shape and tarnished like unfinished gold/ who wonders if he'll ever take some useful shape to hold." Koo's greatest strength is his willingness to expose his own inner struggle and his ability to express it with power and integrity. On top of all that, he is a master producer, as these sparkling arrangements indicate.
Standout track "Chase Me Away" brings to mind his occasional stage-mates, Shane and Shane, with its acoustic softness. It is a stunning tale of the flesh and its terrible burden, wonderfully spun by a master story-teller. Rocker "Photo Love" is equally quick, capturing the tantalizing illusions of love. There's more adroit story-telling in the upbeat rocker "Least of These," the tongue-in-cheek tale of Thomas who wants his "life to be discomfort-free." Koo's guitar-driven songs are very accessible and well-constructed; listeners will quickly be drawn in by his vulnerability and honesty. Check out his ode to friendship, "I Know, You Know," speaking to the affectionate and unspoken "knowing" that takes place between true friends. He offers more of his habitual truthfulness in the uptempo, playful "Do the Same." Koo manages to sing an upbeat song about the pain and precariousness of loneliness; not easily done but his warm vocals make it all go down easily. Closer "Up To You" is a quietly acoustic revelation of the struggles of doubt.
Koo Chung is beginning to get some of the recognition he deserves now. Snap up "Parallel" quickly and you can say you were in on the early wave of Koo-love. I expect there will be much more to come.
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