(Manine Media, 2007) There’s something reassuring about a Lee Soo Young album. You try to explore different genres of music, some of which may be exciting and original, and others may be frankly rather tiresome. And then you come to Lee Soo Young and it’s like returning home. It’s a bit like comfort food. It … [Read More]
Category: Recorded music reviews (page 4)
Rollercoaster #5: Triangle
T-Entertainment, March 2006 Rollercoaster’s fifth album was released in 2006, after a gap of 2 years since the almost flawless fourth. Gone is the sense of rhythmic drive, of energy, of joie de vivre. Instead we have something a bit more laid back, less characterful. I had been warned that the fifth album was a … [Read More]
Alex: My Vintage Romance
Fluxus Music, June 2008 As a fan of Clazziquai, I wish I could be more enthusiastic about the first solo outing of one of its members, the male vocalist Alex. On the plus side, he has a mellow, well-controlled voice, very pleasant to listen to. And he has a reasonably distinguished line-up of guest stars. … [Read More]
Radio Pyongyang
Anna Lindgren explores some music from north of the DMZ Two years ago, I found myself browsing the homepage of Seattle-based label Sublime Frequencies. They offer some really interesting CDs and DVDs, but with my interest in most things related Korea the CD called “Radio Pyongyang: Commie Funk and Agit Pop from the Hermit Kingdom” … [Read More]
Album review: Bada #3 — Made in Sea
After her lively second album, Bada’s third is a big let-down. Gone are the catchy pop tunes which show off her vocal range and bring a smile to the face. Instead we are faced with a run-of-the-mill R&B and dance collection, which could have been put together by anyone. The voice is still unmistakably Bada’s … [Read More]
Two more 2007 album choices
As an appendix to the recommendations by the three critics who know Korean pop, rock and indie music much better than me, here are two further choices. I can’t help but sympathise with Jenny when she comments that 2007 was not an outstanding year. My own purchases of Korean music are somewhat random. When I’m … [Read More]
Evan #1: Hard to Breath
Jenny Wu reviews her album of the year T-Entertainment, March 2007 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 … [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2007: Saharial
Saharial, a moderator in the soompi forums and a self-confessed pop junkie, presents her selection of 2007 releases – and has some words of comfort for a disappointing release which didn’t make her list First up is the King of Ballads — Sung Si Kyung. This sixteen track 5th Album called The Ballads opens with … [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2007: Anna Lindgren
To me, 2006 was a pretty weak year, music-wise, and it wasn’t really till the very end of November that it began to shape up. That’s when – after a two month delay – adultchild finally released their debut album, B TL B TL. Filled with soft slow paced mellow music, cosy guitar play and … [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2007: Jenny Wu
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 … [Read More]
Yi Sung-yol #2: In exchange
Fluxus Records, May 2007. This was one of my gullible speculative purchases foisted on me by Mr Jay Kim at AM Records in Manhattan’s Koreatown. Bless him — he’s getting to know me too well. This one’s a cracker. Yi (이승열) has a gorgeous mellow voice — but with the occasional rough edge to make … [Read More]
Album review: Ji-Eun vol 1 – Rain
Review by Jenny Wu (Yedang Entertainment, May 2007) 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 … [Read More]
Jang Yoon Jung – first album
(Sony Music, October 2004) Jang Yoon Jung was the first of the younger generation stars to experiment with Trot. Brought out in late 2004, her first album was a hit with older and younger buyers alike, and encouraged other Trot revivalists to have a go. Those who came after were somehow less successful, let down … [Read More]
Clazziquai #3: Love child of the century
Clazziquai’s third album revisits much of the material from their previous efforts, but somehow fails to repeat the freshness. In an attempt to do something new, they have come up with a bigger, poppier sound, with the emphasis on a wall of synthesised support for their previously more transparent style. Take as an example of … [Read More]
Donawhale debut album
Review by Jenny Wu 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. … [Read More]
Clazziquai #2: Color your Soul
Clazziquai’s second main album has some of the same formulae as their first, the blend of lounge, electronica and Latin, but includes an additional influence: a slight funk element. There’s a slightly greater emphasis on the bass, and the horns in the background of some of the tracks – for example, #4, Cry out loud … [Read More]