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Author Archives: Jenny Wu

Evan #1: Hard to Breath

17-Dec-07

Evan - Hard to BreathJenny Wu reviews her album of the year

T-Entertainment, March 2007
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It seems as though the recent kpop scene has been increasingly riddled with generic and bland tunes. However, once in a while, I’ll come across something that’s worthy of my time. For every cloud, there’s a silver lining. This is where Evan (Yoo Ho Suk, former Click B member) comes in. Evan’s debut solo album is perhaps one of the best pop albums I’ve come across so far this year - a refreshingly varied mix of R&B and modern jazz influenced pop songs. Although his vocals nowhere near as powerful as say, Wheesung or Hwanhee of Fly to the Sky, they’re deliciously soothing. At times, his voice reminds me a bit of Jo Sung Mo’s, only not as high in register. Furthermore, while Jo Sung Mo sings your usual string of uninteresting ballads, Evan’s music manages to keep me awake. This doesn’t surprise me given that the album was produced by Tony An (former jtL/H.O.T. member). I’ve always thought Tony had a good ear.

Let’s skip the intro and go straight into the main tracks. The second track, ‘This Song’ is an R&B slow jam sets the mood for the rest of the album combining soothing rythmic beats and gentle acoustic guitars with Evan’s sweet vocals. It’s pretty short track… and before you get a chance to catch your breath, ‘Namjado… Eojjeol Su Eopda’ (track #3) begins. It’s the standout track on this album - an achingly beautiful ballad worthy of repeat. Next, we have track #4, ‘Eternal Sunshine,’ a fun mid-tempo mix of guitars & pop beats that oozes personality. He even does a little falsetto thing toward the end. Track #5, ‘Sarangeun’ is a simple jazz influenced piece. With only a piano in the backdrop, it allows listeners concentrate on his smooth and mezmerizing vocals. #6 ‘Ban (Half)’ and #10 ‘Where Is Your Heart’ are urban flavored tracks reminiscent #2, ‘This Song,’ only these two posess a little more attitude and angst.

Evan

The next few songs #7 ‘Nal Wirohaji Annneun Bam,’ #8 ‘Wiro,’ and #9 ‘Overcome’ are light and relaxing, melting all your troubles away. I especially like ‘Overcome.’ His voice sounds almost other-worldly in this one. Very sexy. This soothing quality of Evan’s music pretty much defines most of the album. Things start to liven up with #11 ‘All About Your Love,’ which is perhaps the catchiest song an the album. You’ll find yourself singing or humming along. I know I did.

The album wraps itself up with the ballads #12 ‘Always In My Head’ and #13 ‘Uri Eojjeomyeon Manyage…’ . Evan possesses a gentle sincerity that a lot of ballad singers lack these days because they’re too busy trying to impress us with their ability to perform difficult vocal stunts. Evan’s vocals flow seamlessly with the music allowing listeners to take in the whole song rather than distracting them with vocal acrobatics.

If you’re yearning for some decent (or excellent, in this case) pop music, I suggest you give this album a listen. You’ll find yourself coming back for more because there’s enough variety to keep you from getting bored. I have great hopes for Evan’s future.

This review originally appeared in Jenny’s blog Gravity, and is reproduced with permission

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LKL Critics’ Choice 2007: Jenny Wu

05-Dec-07

2007 was not an outstanding year for Korean music to be brutally honest. I found myself liking this song here and that song there, but only a few albums as a whole have commanded my attention this past year. The following are my top 5 picks for best Korean albums of 2007. My criteria for inclusion on this top 5 list are as follows: listenability, consistency, and variety. Listenability = I enjoy listening to the album. Consistency = the album contains very few, if any filler tracks. Finally, variety = the first song does not sound exactly like the second song, the second song does not sound like the third song, and so forth. All of these criteria are highly subjective of course, but that’s what made writing this article fun. It’s purely opinion.

Evan - Hard to BreathMy choice for 2007 album of the year is former Click-B member, Evan’s (Yoo Ho Suk) debut solo album, ‘Hard to Breath.’ If you ignore the grammatically incorrect album title, this album comes pretty close to being flawless. Produced by former H.O.T/jtL legend, Tony An, it is a brilliant gem in a sea of dull, uninspired albums the Korean music industry has cranked out this year. It’s definitely the best pop album I’ve heard in a while. Evan’s vocals are soothing, sincere and never pretentious while delivering a refreshingly varied mix of R&B and modern jazz-influenced tunes. This album is simply a breath of fresh air.

Que Sera Sera OSTFilling in the #2 spot is the Que Sera Sera OST. This has to be one of the best Korean drama OSTs I’ve heard in a while. It features some of the best names in Korean music such as Alex and Horan of Clazziquai, Loveholic, and My Aunt Mary. Newcomer W & Whale’s contribution is especially not to be missed. Most of the songs on the album are moody, but ‘Wolgwang (Moonrise)’ is sleek, shiny, stylish, and exciting. No, it’s not a fancy sports car. It’s just a really good song. The one thing that ties the whole album together though is an unspoken air of sophistication.

Fly to the Sky 7th albumI don’t think you can call yourself a true fan of kpop if you haven’t heard of Fly to the Sky. Brian’s crystal clear vocals and Hwanhee’s rich powerhouse pipes are a winning combination. Ballads are a staple in Korean music and when it comes to their execution, Fly to the Sky is pretty much as good as it gets. That’s why Fly to the Sky’s seventh studio release gets my vote for the #3 spot. Since their baby-faced debut in 1999, the duo has grown tremendously and subtly reinvented their sound with each album release. Change has done them good. Be on the lookout for a couple of soulful blues-inspired tracks in addition to their signature R&B ballads on their latest album.

Rumble Fish - Open the SafeMy next pick is Rumble Fish’s third album, ‘Open the Safe.’ It’s pretty safe compared to the bolder and louder sound of their previous two albums. Nonetheless, it deserves a spot on this list for being such a solid well-rounded album. You’ll find a mix of rock ballads, upbeat rock tracks, big-band styled tunes, as well as jazz and bossa nova influenced tracks in ‘Open the Safe.’ Can you say versatile? In addition to variety, Rumble Fish also has Choi Jini’s commanding yet feminine vocals. I have yet to hear a ‘bad’ song from these guys.

DonawhaleRounding out the top five, we have Donawhale’s self-titled debut album which is a mix of alternative rock and soft pop with an ethereal feel. Their sound is light, dreamy, and slightly eccentric without ever being boring. Gentle female vocals that seem to echo from a distance add to the effect. Let Donawhale take you to another world. The band truly possesses a sound that they can call their own. This album may take a little time to appreciate; but it’s the perfect CD to spin after a long stressful day at school or work.

After 2006’s impressive string of good releases, 2007 was a bit of a slump for me when it came to new music. Thankfully, there were a few exceptions. I’m hoping for a better 2008.

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Ji-Eun #1: Rain

18-Nov-07

Ji-Eun #1: RainReview by Jenny Wu

(Yedang Entertainment, May 2007)

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YG Entertainment’s Kim Ji Eun has finally debuted. Her debut has been pushed forward for quite some time now, making this album all the more anticipated. As most die-hard YG fans already know, she gained fame through appearances on other artist’s albums (Jinusean, Taebin, Wheesung, and Lexy to name a few) stealing people’s hearts with her sweet and strong vocals.

First of all, there’s nothing atrociously bad on this album. However, there’s nothing to rave about either. I barely sat through the entire album on my first listen. Nothing commanded my attention. She has a great voice so I thought I’d give it another chance. I came to the same conclusion after listening to the whole album more than once - it’s tedious and uninspired.

Why a more impactful song wasn’t chosen as the opening track is a mystery to me. My heart sank quickly at the end of the first track. Most of the songs on this album are bland, forgettable R&B ballads, namely tracks #1, 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Wow. That’s a huge portion of the album. Yawn. Wherever you are, make sure you have a pillow and blanket with you just in case you fall asleep. The only ballad I somewhat enjoyed on this album was the title track #2 ‘Rain.’ Even this song gets old after a few listens though. This blandness doesn’t apply solely to the albums ballads but to the more upbeat songs as well. #4 ‘Seontaek’ is a mid-tempo track featuring Wheesung that starts off with promise with its subtle input of acoustic guitars but ends up as another repetitive piece of drivel. Wheesung’s little out-of-place rap doesn’t help. I’ve noticed that Wheesung usually appears on other artists’ albums as a rapper. I wish this weren’t so. He’s an amazing vocalist and he needs to show this off. It would have been nice if it were a duet instead. On track #5 ‘One Night Lover’ with Song Baek Kyung of 1TYM, Ji Eun trades her R&B diva status for that of a pop princesses.’ One word description? Flat. A lot of her songs sound like they came from a big pool of ready-made songs that weren’t made with a particular artist in mind. Track #6 ‘I’m Sorry’ and #12 ‘Geunyeowa Na Sai’ are slightly better because they have catchy choruses. Did they strike a chord with me? Again, the answer is no.

Ji-eun

I can’t help but feel disappointed with this album. I was hoping for something a little a more inspired, a little more creative, with a little more… oomph. What I got instead was stale, cookie-cutter, and ho hum. The problem lies not with her vocal abilities but with her songwriters and producers. Ji Eun clearly has potential. You can hear it in her voice… but great vocalists are a dime a dozen in the Korean music industry. What she needs to do is set herself apart from every other singer out there with a style she can call her own. I’m sorry for the lack of description in this review because there’s not much to describe. Let’s hope this gloomy weather passes quickly to make room for sunnier skies.

This review originally appeared in Jenny’s own blog, Gravity, and is reproduced with permission

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Donawhale debut album

31-Oct-07

DonawhaleReview by Jenny Wu

(CJ Music, May 2007)

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When I first laid my ears on this album, all I could think was, “what loveliness!”

Indie bands often fall into the trap of blandness when they take themselves too seriously. I have little patience when it comes to dull tunes. Thankfully, I found no such problem with Donawhale’s debut album. Their music is light, dreamy, and slightly eccentric without ever dipping over into the ‘boring’ category.

The album opens with ‘Close Your Eyes,’ putting me on an otherworldly high. The gentle female vocals seem to echo from a distance creating a dreamlike ambiance. The second track, ‘Hole’ starts off slowly but the song escalates and spreads in volume with it’s expertly controlled drumming. It’s a bit noisier with the heavy drumming and clashing cymbals, but like all their songs, it still maintains a dreamy lightness to it.

Another highlight of this album is track #4 ‘Echo.’ I can’t decide whether to crown ‘Close Your Eyes’ or ‘Echo’ as my favorite song of the album. It starts with caution, but once the second half of the song kicks in, it’s pure love. It’s makes me feel as though I’m being transported to a whole different world.

Those who are fans of the Korean pianist, Yiruma will undoubtedly enjoy the instrumental track #5 ‘Bioneun Bam.’ It’s simply amazing. The story behind the song is that rainy nights will eventually give way to clear morning skies. The romantic (and never flashy) style of this piece just screams ‘Yiruma.’ It would be all too easy to trick someone into thinking this was Yiruma piece if they didn’t know any better. My only complaint is that it feels more like an interlude than a full-blown track at 2 minutes and 21 seconds long.

Donawhale

I was introduced to Donawhale through the next song, ‘Spring Day’ which was first released on ‘Cracker,’ a Korean manhwa soundtrack featuring a huge line up Pastel (label) artists including Misty Blue, Swinging Popsicle (a recent favorite of mine), Bluedawn, and Tearliner, just to name a few. I’m so happy that I gave this album a try because honestly, ‘Spring Day’ did not catch my attention at all. It’s a nice piano lullaby, but that’s about it (see for yourself at Orienkorean’s YouTube channel).

I’m gonna make this post shorter by skipping to the good stuff. Track #9 ‘Akasia,’ like ‘Hole’ is a bit louder than the usual Donawhale song but it maintains a certain airiness that defines the band’s sound. There’s a lot of tinkering with synthesizers in ‘Akasia’ that makes me feel like I’m speeding through time and space. Their music is like a mixture of new age sounds with light alternative rock. A large majority of their songs are like that actually.

The album closes with Jelly Boy remix of ‘Echo.’ The remix doesn’t change the original melody too much. Instead, it blends some electronic elements within the original to create a new song. I’m surprised that I like this remix so much because I’ve tried Jelly Boy and decided that I’m not a big fan. His stuff is either a hit or a miss.

With such a solid debut, Donawhale holds a lot of promise. Give Donawhale a listen if you’re into soft pop or indie rock with an otherworldly touch. They’re not for everyone because their music will totally escape you at first listen if you don’t give it your full attention. This album may take time to appreciate, but with it’s calming effect, it’s the perfect CD to spin after a long stressful day at school or work.

This review originally appeared in Jenny’s own blog, Gravity, and is reproduced with permission

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Casker #3: Between

16-Sep-07

Casker: Between CD cover(Lupin Records, December 2006)

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Review by Jenny Wu

Casker consists of vocalist, Lee Yoong Jin, and producer/composer/arranger/DJ Lee Juno. While their previous albums are just as fantastic, I think their third is a lot better-rounded. There’s a heavier concentration on vocals in this album than their previous albums which concentrated more on beats and kept vocals at a minimum. I don’t know why though… because the Lee Yoong Jin is a wonderful vocalist. Depending on the song, her voice has the ability to morph from soft & sweet to sassy to other-worldly… but they’re always classy. You want great vocals? Check. You want groovy electronic beats? Check. You want low-key bossa nova style tunes? Check. It’s got a bit of everything. Not only is the album very well-rounded, it’s also a lot more accessible to the average k-pop listener in terms of sound than their previous two… which might explain why I fell in love with these guys only after this release. I guess my ears are more in tune with polished sounds rather than raw, abstract sounds.

Casker

No track on this album should be skipped in order to fully appreciate this album. That is why I’m going to cover every single track in this review.

The album starts of with ‘Nuevo Cancion,’ a short intro best described as a mixture of fresh rainfall, guitar strumming, and cat meowing. It sounds odd, but it sparked my interest… Suddenly I found myself immersed in the second track, ‘Inhyeong’ (인형) which can be summed with two words: ‘mellow siesta,’ the same words that appear in the description of their homepage. That’s exactly what this is. They make great use of the accordion in this song as well as throughout the rest of the album. Who knew accordions could sound so good?

After mellowness comes excitement. The third track, ‘Gamyeon’ (가면) is probably the catchiest and most techno-influenced track on the album. If techno music were beer, this song would be wine. Very smooth and slick beats. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks.

I mentioned earlier that Yoong Jin’s vocals are chameleon-like. Tracks #4, ‘Modeun Toyoil’ (ëª¨ë“ í† ìš”ì¼) and #6, Jeongjeongi (ì •ì „ê¸°) are prime examples. Slick and futuristic vocals in the previous track give way to soft and dreamy vocals to match the mood of these two bossa-nova inspired tracks.

Might I add that the person who created the tracklist is a genius? You always get something different with each track. Similarly styled songs are never placed back to back. In between all the dreaminess of #4 and #6 is the frenetic ‘Nabibuin’ (나비부일) (MV below). Lee Juno is at his best here with the mixing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unInOWZi9Nw

Of course, with the genius tracklisting, you can expect that after the madness of ‘Nabibuin’, comes cool calmness. Track #7, ‘Dal’ (달) which is engulfed in a very lounge-y, mellow atmosphere… yet it’s also slightly creepy with it’s lyrics, ‘I’m watching you…’ The slow and deliberate beats only add to the ominous feel of the whole song.

Next up are some party beats with #8 Night People - a very sassy yet sophistcated song. Track #9, ‘Nu’ features rapper Kjun. This is the closest you’ll come to hip hop on this album. Despite Kjun’s added vocals, this song is still very Casker-like in style with it’s eclectic mix of beats.

The album slows down once again with track #10, ‘Malhal Su Eomneun Iyagi’ (ë§í• ìˆ˜ 헚는 이야기) which is reminiscent of #7 minus the eeriness. The slow, slick beats continue with track #11, ‘Soul:Free’ which is sung entirely in English. Each track flows effortlessly into the next… and you begin to relax. Perhaps Yoong Jin and Juno’s goal is to hypnotize listeners into deep sleep? Track #12, ‘Huyu’ (í›„ìœ ) twinkles with soft, whispery vocals delicate sounds… it just might lull you into sleep with a stupid grin on your face if you’re not careful.

We started with rain, we’ll end with rain. Track #13, ‘Mangbuga’ (망부가) presents more interesting beats and wraps things with the subtle hum of fresh rainfall as the song fades out.

‘Between’ is just an incredible album. Clazziquai is the closest comparison I can come up with in describing Casker’s sound. But even then, I think they’re very different. They’re just too unique. People looking to try something different (but not too different) should check out Casker. I could lounge around all day listening to their stuff.

Links:

Originally posted in Jenny’s blog Gravity, and reproduced with permission.

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