Act-five for 2015

Prayers to all unfortunate events in year 2015 too.

I am slightly aware of the alteration in my music preferences this year - I have been reviewing last year end picks and revising this list, or maybe it's just me. 

bAnoffee - Body Suit

Somewhat a more delicate and faint version of Tei Shi - which means an easier listen with a smaller amount of emotional burdens. I listen to them both interchangeably to stay in that neutralised and zen state, it gets boring when things are too chilled yet suffocating when your head gets so unsettling. Body Suit is my favourite track for 2015 year end picks, I can't get enough of the lyrics and the cloying aura (in a real good way tbvh) in the song. 

f(x) - 4 walls (remixes)

f(x) is venerable as a whole, the voguish aesthetics from their diverse concepts so far is so eye pleasing, which escalates their music flavour too. 4 Walls itself is already thrilling and jolting enough yet the remixes highlight how much more versatile and far this track can move. The best from all is probably the slowed down (blue) version by Two Fitty, accenting the flow and remoulded the track itself. 

Justin Bieber - Sorry

Heh

Who would have known heh thank you Skrillex love you long time for this and to make things better, he released an acoustic version of the song as well https://youtu.be/K-WnExAWMtA?t=1m3s

Fickle Friends - Velvet

The composition between typical band rock and pop electronic from Fickle Friends is just right, nothing too intensified yet so overwhelming (and also circulating very closely on the trail of my preferences.) Though their earlier releases are more on the electronic side, yet Shake Her from the same EP is a nice fuse of pop aspects from now and the 80's pace pop rock.  

Yuna - Hotline Bling (cover)

I wasn't aware that HB was a Drake song before everything exploded in late 2015, and also until Yuna steered the bandwagon with this dreamy (and also the best) version of the whole cover outrage. This cover approaches grief in a more serious yet unrealistic way, the bridge is definitely the highlight of the song and it got what it should get in this amazing cover, yet it was so disregarded in Drake's version (:-\) 

Zysia - Lost//Home

A part of the (underage) local (Malaysian) electronic music initiative ~gang~ - HOAX Vision, Zysia released this lilt early this year and I've never skipped this song whenever it plays on my shuffled player. This languid reverie-like number comes with an addictive melody too, finding yourself humming to it after a few listens. 

Sam Bruno - Search Party (Bearcubs remix)

I'm not a fan of Paper Towns the movie but the soundtrack curation was solid with the inclusion of Kindness and also all time favourite, Haim. Sam Bruno's track is my personal favourite out of the soundtrack album, and this remix (reposted on her personal soundcloud account) accentuates the mood from the original with unpretentious finishing touches, since remixes tend to get sketchy as it proceeds. 

Nao - Bad Blood

All prepped and water tested with Mura Masa and Disclosure, Nao has two EPs already released during this mid year. Her self owned  sophisticated R&B presentation in full lovable urbanity and groove - Bad Blood wasn't as abject as the common one and this is definitely a click bait worthy song title, attention wasn't wasted at all.

Milk and Bone - Pressure

The synth and electronic pop duo nailed their EP, with an abrupt beguiling beginning of 'you're like good water pressure in a cold rainy summer' which lingers until the last second of the song. The recurring aura isn't stodgy, but hauntingly engaging, and their beach ambience in this track is apparent as well which is probably caused by their other track, Coconut Water.

Sandee Chen (ft Yoga Lin) - When Sorrow Being Downloaded Twice

This is basically dream team - the first song released by the male singer after discharging from his national service (congrats!) during mid-year, and composed/written by the multitalented Chen. The duo croons about how everyone exaggerates their emotions and expressing it on social media in this fast paced world, hence the 'download' keyword in the song title.

Coin - Time Machine

Alternative (or pop?) indie band with an optimistic album about love and dreams - basically what everyone is after for. I like the progression in their songs a lot besides being extremely 90's infused. Holy Ghost and Fingers Crossed are nice jams with the staple pop indie rock framework.

Years & Years - Real

The album is underwhelming in general, yet the pre-released tracks are impressively breathtaking. Unquestionably King caught my attention, and I was semi plagued by it (and possibly the music video killed me as well because Olly is extremely beautiful). Real was released by Kitsuné, the French fashion and music label way earlier before being curated into their debut album, and the sounds in this track slightly stand out in contrasting the rest, somewhat debonairly... chicer. 

Sundara Karma - Loveblood

The four piece band from Reading germinated with their lulling Indigo Puff, the second EP was playing it safe around pop rock to some certain extent yet EP I was amazing with Loveblood. Their songs are at the uplifting margins, which is comforting.  

Yumi Zouma - Catastrophe

I'm into dream pop for quite some time, something like Elephant, and Yumi Zouma is quite dominant in this genre, chill and sway worthy. Catastrophe is the national anthem while driving through a tunnel with orange lights, and Second Wave from the same EP comes next. I arrived home a day later for their show in Kuala Lumpur a few months back, it was a real shame for me. 

Yerin - Across The Universe

Being one half of a Korean pop girl group 15&, Yerin debuts her solo album with a more indie blues touch. Fully self produced with Cloud - indie band Bye Bye Badman's keyboardist and also indie band Cheeze's vocalist. This mellow and love sick colour fits her tenor so much better. This was something earlier where she covered the legendary song by Crush, yet it's still wonderful:
https://soundcloud.com/eyriej/cover-sometimes-yerin-baek

Aquilo - Never Seen You Get So Low

I am not an avid listener of the duo yet this song was my lifesaver and my remedy. This is basically a guide on how to love yourself with a lulling tune and vocals, giving an understanding and the emphatic vibes of 'been there, done that, let me console you'. It's something beyond a comforting cradle song. 









albums

Charlie Lim - Time/Space 

The second half of the year is absolutely blessed with this double sided release of 10 concrete tracks, including both intro and outro that stretched the stories like silent ripples. Inarguably the best in the genre he does, the music video for the (assumably) promotional number I Only Tell The Truth is hauntingly alluring, (quote from the singer himself) and nbd drowning casually. Analogising this with the debut EP where the mood setting entirely is raw (e.g.: Rust), the string of emotions in this series feels like unwrapping a present and not merely the realisation in discerning the contrast between folksy traditional guitar (Time) and contemporary electronica (Space). Nothing More Cruel ends with a plaintive and enticing recitation, very ingeniously written and extremely triggering (this is a disclaimer).

Melanie Martinez - Cry Baby

It was a love at first sight with the song title kind of relationship. A very good playlist to loop getting over heartbreaks, Martinez raising awareness for silly girls (and/or silly boys) to stay sane in the crudest way lyrically. From plastic surgery to murder plots, this playlist has it all in the most blatant way. Sippy Cup hits home for me always.

Julien Baker - Sprained Ankle

Wheezing lines after lines with the start of acoustic guitar sounds, the tracks leaving you literally breathless as Baker guides you up the recognisable stairs of apprehensive past relationship grief, then toss you off the cliff. Good News narrates the precise chronicles of all generalised heartbreaks, appealing not only because of the common heartache symptoms, but the escalation in her melancholy and serene vocals. She does this 'escalation' thing so well.

Han Hee Jung - Slow Dance

I didn't really listen to much Korean ones this year, been looping the old and anticipating for this, in which I am evidently contented. Slow Dance has a dreamy and enticing music video as depicted in the song itself, her sentimental folk numbers never fail to amaze perpetually. 

Braids - Deep In The Iris

While Cry Baby from Martinez weighs the importance of a silly girl's self esteem and self worth, Deep In The Iris narrates sexual pleasure explicitly like in Sore Eyes, and sliding in feminism subtly. Bunny Rose carols about having a dog and being alone, effortless guilt tripping has never been so euphonic.

Hippo Campus - The Halocline

British rock from an American band consisting of eye pleasing youths - what more can one asks for? A very well constructed and concrete debut album - an adequate amount of singalong/performance tracks, and the instruments sounds  complimented each other, very well whisked. Though not much to shout about yet too much to have it buried, extremely balanced and definitely orbiting along the boundaries of the genre they're doing intricately. It's undoubtedly an enjoyable listen.

Hyukoh - 22

22 has successfully continued the legacy from the band's debut EP, 20, and darting steadily. Signed with Korean pop sensation related label, HIGHGRND, the band took captive of the general audience besides the usual exclusive indie listeners. 공드리 (Gondry) has two versions: the EP version was a collaboration for a hip hop project, and the album version displays a more fitting heart-rending version as this number is to pay tribute to director Michel Gondry. However, the featuring of IU in this song takes the whole cake:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gjNKT5qAP0 

Curation i: Blue Jeans

I've been wearing blue jeans to school/work a lot recently, got this pair of high waisted in classic denim blue for less than $15 so it was alright and overused by now. I can't really wear low waisted now ever since I've ventured into the high waisted asylum, like a spoilt child.

Then I was like 'hey why not make themed curations and spin the yarn?' since I'm kind of getting down to the making themed playlist business, hurdling my inner sloth and accentuating good complacency (advanced new year resolution, hopefully). I'm working on the sequencing and bracketing the interval in terms of mood and flavour, but probably will just continue adding songs into playlist at random, with more effort. 

Curation i: Blue Jeans

Lana Del Rey - Blue Jeans

I've always depicted her as the grown up (graduated from high school) Lorde, in terms of the stories that they both tell.  The teen-to-adult transition (Lorde) in contrasting to sensuality and guiltiness (Lana), I've enjoyed Born To Die so much after my Pure Heroine phase, which I think I will definitely relapse.   

Mac DeMarco - Baby's Wearing Blue Jeans

Definitely the national anthem of all blue jeans days. Rock and Roll Night Club ranks the highest in my favourite Mac DeMarco days, I really dig the deliberate low pitched approach in this album which is rare (close to nonexistent) in all his releases after this.

SALES - Renee  

This pair fulfils all the minimalist good vibes demands - just lit a cigarette (or a few), and sit by a quiet roadside with their tracks rolling. Or minus the cigarettes, it'd still be a good day. The sudden intrusion of the synth beats around the first minute caught me off guard and it was too good to be true. 

Hippo Campus - South

There's always room for stunning lads in a band, and the progression in their songs are comfortable to dwell on. Their debut album has plenty of enjoyable examples of nice progression, and amazing bass too. 

Yoga Lin - The Hindu Times 

Originally from Oasis, I personally adore Lin's version of this track for his concert. A winner from a Chinese singing competition, most of his stuffs are very Brit rock infused as well, but of course in Mandarin, and Taiwanese accented. 

Fickle Friends - Could Be Wrong 

This 5-piece band has a very nice touch on the 80's with the contemporary presence shown in their new EP, Velvet. I extremely fancy genre like this, moderate rhythm and lovely flower-crowned optimism. 

The Jungle Giants - I Am What You Want Me To Be 

I skate to this song with my favourite pair of sports bra and white tee, then wiping blood on my jeans instead of my tee because its way more practical. 

Beach Fossils - Face It

I wasn't even aware that I'm into lo-fi actually, or probably anything that I could get a clear listen of the bass guitar. 

Bjork - Venus As a Boy 

When I grow up, I'm gonna be Bjork.    

Chelsea Cutler - Thunder Clatter (Wild Cub cover) 

This is a better version for a road trip, the guitar sings clearer. The simpler and cleaner take in this cover emphasised the melody and made the track more peachy and summer-ish. 

Oh No! Yoko - Buki Bag 

No idea how did I stumble upon them but PAU PAU was an angelic aid album, pulled me through my first year of my university life and all the late night assignments. I can't take really heavy punk rock, this is fitting for a less intense listen. 

Allday - Coffin

All's in - smooth flow, pleasing beat, brutal lyrics, and that septum ring. Alldeezy hits it. Angel in my phone she just said hAY HAYYYY

San Cisco - Wash It All Away

Put on black shades with a white tee, and of course the blue jeans, and get out of your house, and skate and maybe no to smoke or maybe yes, or probably yes. 

Slightly uncertain where this is going, I aspire to improvise in the next curation post with a more solid themed commentary.

Act-five for 2014

Prayers to all unfortunate events in year 2014. 

It's so surreal that the year is ending soon: Here comes the year's worth of songs that I remember listening to. The songs are neither in alphabetically order nor preferences, probably I'd make another post for Chinese music. 

피네 (Fine) - 수화

The trio's new number 서로의 도시 gets a little dreary after a few listens and it kinda dampened my excitement, I can't stop thinking about the similar sounds from The XX and them. But not this track, the perpetual beat that keeps the track on course is so compelling. This is nothing like anything, 수화 is certainly my favourite song of this year.

Roy Kim - 롱디 (Hold On)

Roy Kim's vocal expression is very nicely contoured with the encouragement stories of this mild-folk album. The heartrending melody of 'Home' is so well composed with his reposeful vocals. Other than this track, my other personal favourite is the fast tempo '날 사랑한다면'.

IU - 소격동

There was a 10 hours video version of this song and I'm not lying, I was at the 5th hour until some new song released. The ambience with IU's vocals suits the song much more. IU and cover songs go really well together, regardless being pre-debut or random covers. The individuality instills into the songs she covers, making her 6th as a remake album of songs from the 80's so pleasant.

Chelsea Jade - Assembly

Formerly known as Watercolours, and now promoting zestfully using her own name. Beacons might not be as indelible as the tracks in Portals (2013) especially her debut track 'Under', but this number discloses a very nice expansion for her staple dream/alternative pop.

Juuno - Floater

Though it's only one of the architects of Casker with an electronica solo, but still so alluring. I came across this magazine shoot footage with this track as background music, very nicely edited: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMPkG2AhCFk

Ryn Weaver - Stay Low

Undeniably she's getting what she deserves this year after so long with the release of Octahate, which basically blew everyone away. Instead of riding the wave, she took her time to release her 'Promises' EP and this is my favourite (after Octahate).

Lucia - 해야할 일

I attended her gig once when I was still at Seoul, she is a performer instead of only a singer. This is the new album that she announced about the release during the show. Though it doesn't really convey as much stories as the previous one, but her songs are always poignant.

Gaeko - 세상에 (ft. DJ Friz)

This is one crazy track. The perpetual beat presses the concentration and it returns involuntary at the verses after the chorus. With the scratch from Planet Shiver's DJ Friz in the end, and the half-hearted chorus drops with witty lyrics. This is phenomenal.

Lowslow (로우슬로우) - Tennessee

The band led by Kwak Jineon, the winner of Superstar K6 on the vox and vocal, pursuing a peculiar genre thousand miles out from his onscreen varieties. The progression of the strings in this post-rock track is so stably agile along with synth/keys, especially the guitar itself in the live performance version. Both studio and performance versions have their own grandstands, and all of them are pretty much differently performed. I'm waiting eagerly for the album to drop (hopefully there's even a plan for it). I've never had such finely assembled post-rock/ambient after Frenzy (프렌지).

Featherweights - Hundreds of Love Songs

Featherweights is a Swedish singer-songwriter duo, same titled debut album was released few months back this year. When Linnea Met Linus is another extremely cute song, as explained. The stories of this album are very straightforward, along with the lucidity of the acoustic sounds and the vocals commend this release a lot.

HA:TFELT - Nothing Lasts Forever

Coming out as a solo artist and being the second singer from a pop girl group, this was a great job highlighting her skills and also her preferences in music. The effect for the vocals of this track is exceptionally fitting and eccentric since it could be made into a really conventional ballad.

Crucial Star - Owl (ft. Donutman)

I didn't really listen to much hiphop this year, probably the last one which I took seriously was Beenzino but in came Crucial Star. With his usual featuring of Donutman, his forte of jazz-rap making this a really chilled track.

Elephant - Skyscraper

I love them so much. My first encounter with Elephant was at Taiwan 2 years back, and I bought the EP at first listen. I'd say they are the best in bedroom/dreamy pop. Their sounds now are richer and more complex, intensifying the whole dreamy tone.

하이포 (HIGH4) - 해요 말고 해 (ft. 김예림)

They might the be most underrated group in the Korean pop circle. This is the paragon of all sophisticated vocalists gather and Kim Yerim pinnacles the direction of the song, the rappers counteract the song nicely without overdoing. Their pre-debut collaboration with IU  - '봄 사랑 벚꽃 말고' were similarly done.

albums

청년들 - Lads On The Street

The band name itself tells so much about them, being a get-up-and-go kind of band. The bright and breezy tenor of the whole album along with their lazy vocal, easy lyrics, and next thing would be head bobbing to the songs. Their bassist is terrific and the limelight is definitely on him in their instrumental tracks, especially 'Stay Young #2'.

10cm - 3.0

Way beyond my expectations, since I was slightly frustrated by 2.0. 10cm always have witty lyrics, and the folk in them comes out better this time. I genuinely enjoyed each track but I'd like to highlight '여자는 왜 화를 내는 걸까' and '그리워라' for the progression and their staple witty lyrics.

Puer Kim - Purifier

Finally a follow up after her 이응 (Korean Vowels) album. I'm always having this perception of her being a washed-out Jungin, yet still so soothing and breezy. A very docile soul pop album within the coverage of both popular orthodox and unorthodox culture. Probably only '마녀 마쉬' is slightly overdone.

Life and Time - The Great Deep

The lineup of the band is already extremely impressive, having both Loro's and The KOXX members in it. Being that, they weren't a bit influenced by what they had been doing. The development of the tracks were so well sequenced and especially the drums was breathtaking. If they weren't marketing this with the members' resume probably it would be a better listen.

Like Likes - Laid Back Dreaming

This deep house EP from the duo takes the 2014 cake, gradually hitting the floor for being one of the compilations of a remix song for SHINee. The progression and sequencing of not only this EP, basically all their remixes are insane. A very engaging concatenation of their element.

Eddy Kim - 너 사용법 (The Manual)

It's quite unexpected for him being in top 6 of Superstar K4 to release an album, I'm glad his agency took him in. This is an exceedingly satisfying acoustic album. 'Darling' being a really sugared serenade was then added into this debut piece, completing the whole album. This is a very nice video of him singing to 'It's Over': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=METgLOuks9M

George Ezra - Wanted On Voyage

Sam Smith was on the run with Ezra released Wanted On Voyage since the latter was out a month after. A nice and cozy folk album with the songs growing on you after a few loops. My personal favourite is 'Stand By Your Gun'.

Happy new year! May 2015 be a better year for rehabilitation and readapt to changes.

The Pony - Pony (2009)

The Pony (더 포니)
Pony (2009)



1. 모든 게 다 사랑이라네
2. 목이 말라 죽겠어요 (Clean Ver.)
3. 당겨주오
4. 두 번째 넌 (feat. 노시현)
5. 소란들
6. 밤새 미친 사랑을 나눠요
7. 캐쉬백
8. 아름다운 계절
9. 왼편에서
10. 멋진 신세계
11. 나쁜 피
12. 목이 말라 죽겠어요 (Original Ver.)



(this is my second time writing this apparently I'm not smart enough to realise that blogger autosaves changes)

Comparing Little Apartment which was released by Pastel Music, this debut album was more promising. Though the latter was more polished and the tracks were more varied but it felt restricted, I enjoy the underdone character of this album so much more. But Little Apartment's teaser video was no joke.

I personally like speech-like singing, so 두 번째 넌 featuring 노시현 from Gavy NJ really highlights   Choi Sangmin's vocals which he shouldn't be under the spotlight for this. This song made me actually go through the others prudently and it's so surprising that Noh Sihyun's singing here is so cute since her conventional ballads are....conventional. The harmonisation between the two pitches and the docile music are really a good blend, very comfortable to listen to. Songs with female vocalists featuring are always so alluring.

The guitar that started off 소란들 was so amazing, the enthralment game is too strong. I expected too much after the bridge when the weak chorus came in, though the whole song actually made it up to that since the guitar was incredible. This song was the most promoted one out of all and comparing it to the title of Little Apartment - (which isn't 누구의 방 but) 안녕, this didn't feel as repetitive as the latter one. This is nosier but the restriction (or probably they were undergoing some musical-spiritual blockage) in 안녕 was blatant. While the song reaches the end, it gets kinda boring but the kickstarting with the guitar rings in my head. Probably it's a sign to join their cult, and the guitar is amazingly amazing.

Probably the best track of the album is 멋진 신세계, or maybe it's just me having a thing with long tracks. The instrumental part is so enticing, especially last minute of the track. Such an amazing exit with the same tune on the guitar repeats until the part where the humming goes off. Very compulsive and the best thing is, it continues with the last track - 나쁜 피. Having the last part attaching to the next track is the best thing a musician could ever do, the continuous conversation in French (?) overlapping with the whisper-like humming and a simple rhythm, a very nice closure as well for the album. They're so good in doing mild psychedelic rock, this track is sort of like a pre-release of the track for Little Apartment's teaser video.  I can't get over that video (hah). The filler tracks are under the same umbrella of what they have been doing and predictable, extensively indifferent yet assembling the band's genre. A very well structured debut album for post-punk.




Just earlier this year they've announced about a new number coming out soon with a name change, from The Pony to The Book Lovers when they don't even read books (as quoted from their soundcloud profile). Very tumblr-isque, very hipster. Starfuckers sticks with the genre thoroughly with what they had been doing from the last release but more refined, living up to their Noise Pop genre. While The Berlin is quite queer with the whole electronica going on, it was getting boring until the pause came and the flow of the track was whirled up since the beat was so-so. Good try but I'm not too fond of them being so experimental, not saying that change isn't good but I hope they'll remain and retain instead. Things don't stay when bands recast their own members though, hmm.










Something fresh right out of the oven, and to make it better, it's a local release (my homeland Malaysia). The creamy electronica with highly tropical influenced beat making me nodding from the start (they LITERALLY wrote music in the jungle lol), and my friend screaming at me asking where to download this track. After a few listens she was already humming to the easy lyrics in the chorus. Darren Ashley's releases surprise me all the time - band, electronic or whatever, can't wait for the EP to drop.

 

You know sometimes listening to the radio isn't a bad thing; I'm always missing out on Charlie Lim's gigs, whenever he's over somewhere else and/or in KL I'll definitely be in Singapore, and when I'm back at KL and he'll return to Singapore, what a joke. Weish and .gif are real gems I found and I was sooooooo glad that I could at least watch one gig, totally not to soothe my sore heart over Charlie, nope. 

Kim Sarang - U-Turn (2007)

Kim Sarang (김사랑)

U-Turn (2007)

1. U-Turn
2. 괜찮아
3. 히스테리
4. 위로
5. 하루살이
6. 2등
7. Yellow Planet
8. Mad Al
9. Mud Candy
10. 비오는 날 

This album is easily the best 'public ear' album that Kim Sarang released. I once stumbled across a production video of him producing this album, impressively it was an one-man band production: from creating the tracks to mixing them and then to have them published. The two that released prior to this album and the EPs that released after this one are slightly intense, hence the 'public ear' and ~first time rock genre listener-friendly~ category I've listed this album in, also, my favourite. Public-ear. 

The instrumental intermission tracks: U-Turn and Mad Al are really good transitions especially the latter. It merges with Mud Candy and the grainy outro was really nice. I love intermission tracks that reciprocate with the next track. The balladish-easy-rock tracks: 위로 and 괜찮아 are certainly where the 'public-ear' category comes in, to me. These tracks are the type where they will have you listen to it till the end though he's an unknown singer to you. Not too mediocre to pass but nothing too impressive. Most of the times these are the songs that keep you all up curious and then realising he has more in stores for you, Kim Sarang is one of those artists.

My favourites are the bolded ones. I really like 히스테리 the most where the verses are kept crisp and the chorus comes in right away. It's an intenser rock track compared with the title tracks, the screamo didn't feel too forceful (I am very sensitive with screamo, preferences) since he was building the song and it came in right in time, it was wonderful. The off-major whispering at the bridge introduction was so alluringly done, I have a soft spot with singing like that. Yeah I kinda like Psychedelic; and the lyrics kept going 'I want you' which is quite heart-wrenching. This track is definitely contentedly better than 위로 and 괜찮아, but not as much as 2등 - the typical filler track with loads of sample sound effects thrown here and there but the picture is nicely drawn.

When Mud Candy's first chorus hits in it was disappointing, but good save with the short pause and the addictive guitar and drum beat at the ending of the song for closure. 2nd favourite is the outro track: 비오는 날, the one and only single instrumented starting song in the album. Not just the soothing vocals but the polished, velvety, and tranquillising feeling that the song gives, well since it's called 'The Day When It Rains'. The outro of the track is pretty odd and it doesn't annoy, probably I've accustomed to it because I used to loop this track, I wonder which movie did he excerpt from.

Side note, ICU from his 2013 part one release was adorable (comment highly influenced by the music video where he was blonde and a cute zombie), which I didn't expect that adjective would be used on him (twice). He'll be having a concert too this year end! It's so nice to see him kinda rerouting his path and actively performing.






Anyway, I've been watching Superstar K6 here and there which initially rooting for 김필 (Kim Feel) but wow 곽진언(Gwak Jineon) catches with his 소격동 (Seo Taiji's 2014 release) cover. The change of genre fits in his staple vocal so much better, not that the original (IU) version isn't on par with this but in preference Gwak's version suits the lyrics so much. Must be the verse he arranged for the closure that heightens the song, the usage of it in the original version was only a breeze. The shift of point brings so much joy to me, cover songs are so fun to listen to.

I'm reflecting for my bad habit of not taking my non-favourites seriously.

I don't know who am I rooting for now but I kinda want the competition to go on longer so there's more explosions. My favourite now is the love song themed 10cm composition:

And then of course the Dear Cloud cover (I can't resist Dear Cloud):

Yeay for 2nd post after two years. 

izi - Modern life... and... with izi... (2005)

Izi (이지)
Vol. 1 Modern Life... and... with izi. (2005)

1. 먼 곳에서
2. 어두워
3. There she goes
4. 응급실(Original Version)
5. 사랑 하고 싶어서
6. Morning
7. 남자
8. 그 속에서
9. Wanna Be You
10. 이미그댄
11. Run to you
12. 응급실
13. 밤하늘 그리고 별

The songs sounded really familiar to me, especially 'There She Goes'. Probably I've ran through this album before and I wasn't aware of it. Just recently I found this in my hard disc.

Most of the songs especially Morning, have really positive tunes. My favorite tracks would be 사랑 하고 싶어서, 밤하늘 그리고 별 and 'There She Goes', this album is beyond lovely.

They aren't doing gigs around anymore and the band is missing in action currently. I've got nothing about them from the internet. Chanced upon someone saying that the band is still around, but they are busy with their own activities(?) so it's just like that now, even after a Japanese EP and another Korean EP. The last activity they had was 2007 and nothing came out in 2008 and until now, probably they won't be showing up anymore.

G-market is still selling it though, (link). Yesasia has it but their publisher isn't 'printing' any copies of this album anymore. I might be going to Seoul this coming October so probably I'll try my luck then.




On the other hand, Soran has just released their first full-length album, 'Natural' and their title song is 살빼지 마요 which means 'Do Not Loose Weight'. Of course, the song that features Kwon Jungyeol from 10cm, 미쳤나봐 (I Must Be Crazy) takes the cake. Soran had been featuring here and there so this full length is definitely a reward.

Yeay for a half hearted first post.