Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings: The Album

Since the runaway success of 2016s Suicide Squad: The Album, the definition of a soundtrack has warped: no longer simply content with scoring the blockbuster flicks of the era, soundtrack albums have become products in their own right, commissioned works of art with tenuous links to the flicks from which they take their name. For the most part, this new breed lacks focus -- caught between hit-chasing (Kings Dead) and tributes to their respective films -- but with Shang-Chis soundtrack being handled by the crew at 88rising, things were bound to be different. Swerving far from the expected barrage of kick it like Jackie Chan struggle bars, 88rising built the album around the Asian-American stories of the films San Francisco setting -- as well as the familial themes at the heart of the movie itself. But instead of applying strict rule sets in the name of cohesion, 88rising trusted their collaborators to curate back-to-back thematic bangers -- and the results speak for themselves. The core here is, of course, in hip-hop: 88 veteran Rich Brian forms a versatile backbone from the cinematic Always Rising to the ignorant Foolish, while Higher Brothers Masiwei and newer signee Warren Hue offer blistering verses across their respective cuts. Early highlight Lazy Susan lives up to its title with a platter of fiery beats and verses, while Audrey Nuna and NIKIs Clocked Out teleports between scenes of gloomy brilliance. Though the labels roster originally focused on alternative rap talents, 88Risings second core sound -- the woozy pop fusions popularized by NIKI -- proves just as potent. Veteran singer/songwriter JJ Lin has the most obvious wow moment with the irresistible Lose Control, but newer prospects like DPR, keshi, and Shayiting EL soon state their case with slick tracks of their own. If Rich Brian forms the albums rap oversight, then NIKI proves his pop equivalent; she dominates the albums second half with the head-over-heels Every Summertime, moody Clocked Out!, and horn-blasting Swan Song. Yet the most unexpected highlight of all comes from Shang-Chi himself -- Hot Soup is Simu Lius touching tribute to his family, a blossoming ballad that weaves personal tales with vast, emotive statements. Its only right that such an exceptional Marvel film has an exceptional soundtrack to match. Shang-Chi is not only a strong companion to the film itself, but one of the first inspired by the movie albums to transcend its bizarre origin. ~ David Crone

マーベル新作映画「シャン・チー/テン・リングスの伝説」のサントラは、アンダーソン・パークによるエンディング・テーマなど劇中で使用された12曲とインスパイア曲6つを収めた一枚。キュレーションを担当した88risingからウォーレン・ヒューやニキら看板アクトが多く起用され、なかでもリッチ・ブライアンはDJスネイク×リック・ロスとの"Run It"や21サヴェージ曲への客演も含めて最多の5曲でラップを披露。他にも中華圏で人気のJJ・リンや韓国のDPR LIVE & IAN、さらにジェネイ・アイコやオードリー・ヌナらが参加し、アジア(系)の最新シーンの一端を反映した内容となっている。韓国のZion.Tと星野源のコラボ"Nomad"は、こちらがエンディング・テーマでも良かったのではと思えるスケールの大きい逸曲。
bounce (C)池谷瑛子