This is the year that Korean music has really started to appear on iTunes, making it a lot more accessible. It’s also a year which has seen a continued emphasis on girl bands, with the Wonder Girls keeping a foothold in the US and Girls Generation and Kara slugging it out in Japan. Some of … [Read More]
Tag: Review of the year – music (page 2)
LKL Critics’ Choice 2010: Anna Lindgren
Another year is coming to an end, and in what has become an unfortunate trend I’ve found that I’ve listened to much less music than the year before. However judging from the limited number of releases that did reach my ears, I’d like to think that 2010 (and the three months preceding it) was a … [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2010: refresh_daemon
LKL is delighted to welcome guest contributor refresh_daemon presenting his top albums of 2010. Other contributors will be joining in soon. When Philip asked me to contribute to LKL’s yearly music round-up, I was actually quite excited about writing about my favorite new releases of 2010. Then I looked through the many albums that I’d … [Read More]
Wakesidevision’s top music of 2010
Chris Park at @wakesidevision reveals his top music of 2010 http://bit.ly/igkE6v #. The Korean albums in the top ten are: 프렌지 (Frenzy) – Nein Songs 한희정 (Han Heejeong) – 잔혹한 여행 태양 (Taeyang) – Solar/Solar International Yellow Monsters – Self-titled 리미 (Rimi) – Rap Messiah There’s a nice overview of 2010 in Korean music there … [Read More]
The London Korean Links Awards 2009
LKL’s fourth annual, unscientific and personal list of highlights from the London Korean Year, 2009. Film of the Year There were two hotly anticipated high-profile films this year: Bong Joon-ho’s Mother and Park Chan-wook’s Thirst. Both are obvious candidates for film of the year and delivered everything that one has come to expect from these … [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2009: Philip
The editor provides an eclectic choice of albums from this year. 2009 has been a bumper year for new, innovative music and some welcome re-releases of the back catalogue. And anyone interested in the Korean contemporary music scene needs to be very grateful to Anna over at Indieful ROK for the work she does in … [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2009: Saharial
This year can definitely be marked down as one for the less inspiring years for discovering new musical talent. Korea is packed full of vocally gifted teens all eager to make the break into stardom and this year saw various girl and boy bands pop up from nowhere as companies vied for more of … [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2009: Anna Lindgren
Anna Lindgren of Indieful RoK provides her pick of the best albums of 2009. Since finally giving up my life as a student to get out into the real world a couple of years ago my relation to new music has changed a lot. I see an interesting looking album or single, place an order … [Read More]
The London Korean Links Awards 2008
Here are the winners and losers of the third annual LKL Awards. Again, a personal and unscientific selection. Cultural event of the year (UK) There was a lot of competition for this particular award this year, but the winner is the Dano Festival in Trafalgar Square. The performance of Noridan was almost enough on its … [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2008: Philip
The last of a series in which regular and guest LKL contributors nominate their CD releases of the year. As Mark Russell notes in his 2008 roundup, we had some good reissues this year. This is great news, as it shows that the Korean music industry is showing some maturity. Why after all should fans … [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2008: Mark Russell
Mark Russell from Korea Pop Wars and Korea Gig Guide presents his pick of 2008’s CDs I think it is safe to say that 2008 was one of the best years for new music in Korea in quite some time. Maybe not for K-pop, which continues to take a beating (certainly financially, and I would … [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2008: Anna Lindgren
Anna Lindgren from Indieful ROK provides her list of the top albums of 2008 For last year’s critics’ choice Bluedawn’s goodbye album was one of my picks. Though it still saddens me that Bluedawn is no more, the two members are doing well enough on their own to make the departure less painful. Let’s start … [Read More]
A nomination for Artiste of the Year 2008
By Saharial I am sure, in fact I am positive, that my nomination this year will be met with accusations of bias and favouritism, but I am willing to weather that because I stand by my convictions. It also helps that KBS has also stated he has had a ‘personal renaissance’. My nomination this year … [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2008: Saharial
Saharial presents her choices of 2008’s finest albums What a difference a year makes… When I look back on my choice of 5 from last year, I can smile happily and know that wishes do come true when I listen to the third album ‘Live and Let Live’ from Shin Hyesung. Released at the end … [Read More]
The London Korean Links Awards 2007
Following the success of last year’s equivalent post here are the winners and losers of the second annual LKL Awards. Again, a personal and unscientific selection. Man of the Year Last year there was a clear winner: a man who had been in the press all year with little but positive coverage. This year started … [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]