Leaving the Lights On: A Day In the Life of Victor Woo (2008)

This double-disc album is a rare insight into the world of folk, R&B, rock, jazz, and blues, all through the eyes of an Asian-American. Artist Kevin So has laid down 32 tracks that primarily are about being a child, and what might seem to some to be a simpler life, but which can still be full of challenges, triumphs, and anguish. He also deals with explicitly Asian-American oriented issues, hashing out the cultural barriers he encounters and so forth. So explores all these angles throughout the music, with some songs utilizing a hip-hop beat, others relying solely on the baby grand piano. In the end, he ends up sounding like a cross between Stevie Wonder and Billy Joel. The production is definitely solid, and although there are a few cheesy photos of So in the CD booklet, things are a good mix of a lot of African-American music mixed with an Asian take on life. It makes for a unique, interesting, point of view on life and music. While some might say that much of this sound has been done before, it's a good mix, and the lyrics make for an exciting take on things. Leaving the Lights On is definitely one of those albums that needs to be heard by more people so that an artist like Kevin So can get some of the recognition he deserves.