*****
Sao Tung Dawkjaan is for the most part disappointing, most of the tracks being uninspired and undistinctive. However while none of the songs are essential listening, there are a few which partially redeem the album.
Of the luk tung ballads, the opening pair of tracks are by far the most interesting. These are portrayals of rural life as experienced by a lovesick young woman (Sao tung dawkjaan) and a hardworking child (Paap chiwit); each has a happy ending with respectively the return of the lover and the child growing up to be a luk tung star. Both tracks have filmed stories on the VCD version, in contrast to the studio backdrops which stand in for fields on the videos of most of the other songs. Musically, Sao tung dawkjaan is a gently swaying ballad, while Paap chiwit has a bit more to it - the slightly threatening acompaniment emphasising the dark side of the country idyll.
The third track, Somchai 2007, is worth mentioning for its sheer grotesqueness. This is an infuriatingly catchy piece of dross, consisting mainly of tuk-tuks and name-checks of most of the country's towns. Hear it once and it'll be in your head all day.
Fine costumes in Sao baan pai jai waang.
The high points of the album are tracks five and six, Sao baan pai jai waang and Namta hia pro mia ai. These are both mor lam numbers, albeit with none of the breathless excitement which that normally implies. The former has a pleasant, if slightly plodding melody, while the latter is even less lively, but has the edge in elegance. The studio background is made up for by some very attractive costumes.
The only other song of any real note is track seven, Khawtot sawan. The song is uninspiring, but its lower than average register shows off the lower range of Jin's voice well.
Overall, then, this is probably one for the Jintara-completists only - like several other of her more recent discs. Less hardcore fans would do better to look elsewhere.
| Track number | Song title (Thai) | Song title (Romanised) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | สาวทุ่งดอกจาน | Sao tung dawkjaan |
| 2 | ภาพชีวิต | Paap chiwit |
| 3 | สมชาย 2007 | Somchai 2007 |
| 4 | ฮอยกอดตอดใจ | Hoi gawt tawt jai |
| 5 | สาวบ้านไผ่ใจว่าง | Sao baan pai jai waang |
| 6 | น้ำตาเหี่ยเพราะเมียอ้าย | Namta hia pro mia ai |
| 7 | ขอโทษสวรรค์ | Khawtot sawan |
| 8 | อ้ายคือดวงใจ | Ai khue duang jai |
| 9 | ผู้หญิงลืมยาก | Puying luem yaak |
| 10 | หลงบูชาน้ำตาอ้าย | Long bucha namta ai |