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This review is really late but so is my discovery of the plethora of music sharing communities on livejournal. Many reviews of music to come. But first Zhang Li Yin’s debut album I WILL

Zhang Li Yin has a voice that makes me so happy. She is ridiculously talented and besides her stage fright with Kim Junsu she holds her own very well. Overall, the album only had 4 songs that I would put on repeat and a few times I winced at Zhang Li Yin’s attempting to riff in ways that her voice does not allow. Regardless, I LOVE Zhang Li Yin singing in Chinese even though I have NO idea what she’s saying. (review after the jump.)

Intro (featuring Super Junior’s Han Geng)- Han Geng, please whisper to me when your free.
初恋- Ballad… It’s not very stand-out, but I like the bridge and the chorus. Zhang Li Yin is a bit rough with some of the notes in the intro but overall her performance is good.
A Flame For You- This song is too poppy for my liking and I will never be able to forget the dancing that accompanied the live performance of this song. But it’s so damn catchy.
星愿 (I Will)- I was expecting the title track to be complete awesomeness. It’s good but not the amazingness I wanted it to be. It’s one of the better ballads on the album, however. The worst thing about this song though is that one note near the end that ends up sounding like a cat cry [EDIT] which is a Beijing opera technique (Thanks, Amy). I had no idea it was something traditional.
幸福的左岸 (Happiness’ Left Shore)- Another ballad… I have nothing to say about it because once again it’s not very unique. The best thing about it is Zhang Li Yin showing off her voice (no negative connotation there).
后 (After)- I love, love, love this song. This is that break-up song that everyone has and Li Yin sounds bad ass. The beat helps too, it has pop-funk vibes. One of my favorite songs on this album because it strays from the ballad forlornness and because Zhang Li Yin sounds bad ass, like she’s two seconds from drop-kicking this guy. (That could just be my impression though ).
交错的爱 (Wrongly Given Love)- Duet with I-have-no-idea-who SHINee’s Jong Hyun(!), it’s nice. Once again it’s not an exciting ballad but it’s pleasant, it’s good, the harmonies are nice but then they have that nineties shredding guitar in there T.T
相信爱 (Beliving in Love)- Zhang Li Yin is a ballad singer, an awesome ballad singer and this song is reminiscent of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston circa late 90’s, early 2000’s (when they were in their peak). I really like this ballad, it’s slow and the melody is nice. It sounds like it belongs in a drama OST, which may or may not be a bad thing. Regardless, this is one of the better ballads.
纯真的爱 (Pure Love)- I really like this one, from the beginning I could tell I was going to enjoy listening, it very R&B and soul. It’s a duet it with Bing Yang. Might be my favorite ballad.
One More Try- Poppy, upbeat, sassy. Another favorite on the album which is surprising seeing as I tend to have an aversion to songs that are so pop-tastic.
Y (Why…)- This song is great, everyone knows. Great piano driven ballad.
Timeless (featuring Xiah Junsu)- It’s not just because I heard the Korean and English versions of this song first that I like this one the least. First I think that the song sounds fine sung in Chinese but it’s not as pleasant to listen to. Whoever mixed this song did not do a very good job. The levels were so different from the Korean version and the reverb effect added to Li Yin’s voice was not doing it for me.

Overall, I think that Zhang Li Yin is a great singer with so much potential. She needs to work on pitch and riffing but she has such a strong trademark voice that I love her to pieces. I hope her next album is more…unique. I don’t think she should just depend on her voice to stand out but also the producers she works with. This debut was solid but Li Yin can do better. SM please do not fail her!