Mikeru On Chinese Music Today

F4's least idol member takes a break from Tai Chi to release his second solo album Getting Real. Arriving with little promotion or pop fanfare, Ken Chu's two-disc sophomore album is divided into "Now" and "Then" with the former featuring six new tracks and the latter collecting 16 songs from his previous solo album, the F4 albums, and soundtracks. Released back in 2005, Ken's first album On Ken's Time was a genuinely pleasant surprise with its easygoing mid-tempo guitar and pop numbers, and his latest effort follows in the same vein. Though Getting Real doesn't surpass its predecessor, it also doesn't disappoint. And with all his past singles making it onto Disc 2, this album is definitely a great way to get all of Ken's songs.