I've been posting a lot of mixtapes and English/indie music so I thought I'd do a rotation of Asian music this time. There's no real theme, but most are relatively recent releases.
Please comment if taking, I'd love to hear what you think of the songs. :)
- Haruhi
亞特蘭提斯 - F.I.R.
Mandarin | Pop-Rock
I've never been a huge fan of F.I.R. despite their popularity, but I really enjoyed their most recent album, Atlantis, which this track and the one below are from. I love the dramatic intro, which has strong traditional/folk Chinese influences which kind of pop in and out of the rest of the song, mixing with strong electric guitar riffs and strong but light female vocals. I love the bridge, which has a slower, hazier sound in contrast to the sharp definition of the rest of the verses.
淚光閃爍 - F.I.R.
Mandarin | Pop-Rock
A lovely mid-temo ballad. I love the tone of the electric guitar in the intro, and the light clarity of Faye's voice really works well. The verses flow into the chorus beautifully, and on a whole the song has a fantastic melody. While I loved the power and drama of 亞特蘭提斯, 淚光閃爍 really shows another side of F.I.R. and I think both songs are extremely memorable in their own ways.
아이 (Love) - f(x)
Korean | Pop/Dance
I've never really liked or disliked f(x), their music mostly struck me as mediocre and forgettable. But I skimmed through their latest album, and this track caught my attention. It's a mid-tempo pop track with a bubbly bass line, but it strikes me as being more sophisticated than their usual fare. The girls sound confident and it's a catchy, danceable song without being loaded with auto-tune or synths.
못된 것만 배워서 - B1A4
Korean | Pop
I have mixed feelings about this new boyband, but I like this song - it reminds me of older k-pop before electronica reigned supreme. It has some hip-hop influences but it's still pretty melodic, and their vocals work well together.
轉身之後 (Korean Version) - Bii
Korean | Pop/Ballad
Bii is a Korean singer who debuted in both Korea and Taiwan. His EP has both Korean and Chinese versions of songs. I first saw Bii on One Million Star (the Taiwanese equivalent of Don't Forget the Lyrics but with celebrities rather than ordinary contestants) and I really liked the delicate quality of his voice, which I think came out best live/a cappella but is really well shown in this ballad as well. I find that he seems to sound more at ease when singing in Korean which is why I chose the Korean version of this song. It's quite simple in composition but has a lovely melody that seems to float over the accompaniment, especially in the chorus and on higher notes.
曇花 - Khalil Fong
Mandarin | Rock
I love Khalil Fong. He is not only one of my favourite singers, but just one of my favourite musicians in general. Due to illness he couldn't sing for a while, and so he spent a lot of time playing the guitar - thus his latest album, titled 15 is filled with guitar. His sound and style has definitely changed, and I'm caught between missing his melodic, pop/jazz songs and really liking his newer, more rock-influenced songs. I think that his vocals were better shown in his older songs (not sure if that's just a result of his illness or not), but I'm growing to love his new style. 曇花 is a filled with gritty, tough electric guitar and texturized vocals, including a rap segment - the first I've heard from Khalil.
Gotta Make A Change - Khalil Fong
Mandarin | Pop-Rock
Did I mention that Khalil is fluent in English? This song starts with a solemn string intro before, surprisingly, gently breaking into a gorgeous funk/soul-influenced beat. Khalil's vocals are melting in the chorus, in contrast to the slight staccato to the verses. I don't know how to explain this song properly, so you'll just have to listen to it - but it's fantastic.
Long-D - Neon Bunny
Korean | Indie
I really like how this song is really pretty and soothing without being too laid-back or insubstantial. It's pop-rock but Neon Bunny's vocals are really light and floaty, and there's kind of a vague retro vibe to it, I think mainly from this one riff that appears in the backdrop.
Love Girl - C.N. Blue
Korean | Pop-Rock
I really liked C.N. Blue at first, then as they drifted closer to pop or stereotypical pop-rock and went to Japan I kind of lost interest in them. I like Love Girl because it embraces the sunny, pop-rock feel of their newer songs without feeling, as most songs of that sort do, as though you've heard it done before. It's energetic and bright.
직감 (Intuition) - C.N. Blue
Korean | Pop-Rock
Another song from C.N. Blue's first album that I like for entirely different reasons: it brings back the darker, more daring sound of their first songs like 외톨이야. I love the piano, especially when it drifts into low ranges. Catchy and infectious.
Labels: B1A4, Bii, C.N. Blue, F.I.R., f(x), Khalil Fong, Neon Bunny
Hi,
As you can see, we have a new layout! I'm going to be going on vacation for 10 days or so starting next Thursday, so I won't be updating during that time. However, we're almost at our 50th rotation and I'm already making some plans for that, it will probably be up sometime after I get back.
I'm a little discouraged by the number of comments lately, thank you to those who do take the time to comment (I notice it's usually the same people) but the ratio of comments to downloads isn't the most encouraging. I don't expect people to comment every single time they take something, but a 'thank you' every once in a while would be nice.
These are some albums I uploaded for an LiveJournal community that I'm a reviewer/uploader at, I thought I might as well share the links here. All are recommended.
Black Pearl - Gogossing
C.N. Blue - Bluelove
DIA - 울어도 울어도
Labels: Black Pearl, C.N. Blue, Dia, misc downloads, site
[songs] C.N. Blue, Choshinsei (Supernova), TRAX
Sunday, January 24, 2010 posted at 4:51 PM
Just a small update for you guys. =)
외톨이야 - C.N. Blue
Korean | Pop/Rock
I uploaded the song "Now or Never" by this band a while ago, and wasn't too impressed with it. They've now debuted in Korea, and there's also a Korean version of "Now or Never" included in their debut EP. However, the title song is 외톨이야, and it was this song that changed my mind about them. Now or Never struck me as bland and generic, but 외톨이야 was a refreshing change. It's catchy and filled with attitude - something that Now or Never was definitely lacking. However, the possibility that this song was plagiarized from Ynot's Bluebird (Parangsae) has been brought up. While there's been a lot of "plagiarism" claims brought up against Korean singers/bands lately, I feel that this one is actually pretty legitimate. The two songs sound almost identical at parts, to the point where upon hearing one section I wasn't sure which song it was actually from. The song was not composed by C.N. Blue so the charges aren't really against them. Either way, a refreshing rock song from a new band that may have some promise after all.
가슴이 차가운 남자 (Let You Go) - TRAX
Korean | Ballad
That's right, TRAX is back - however, with only two members. If I recall correctly, they'll also be releasing a mini-album soon. 가슴이 차가운 남자 is a lovely rock ballad. The vocals are deep and rich, and considering that rock ballads aren't that common in mainstream Korean music, it's a refreshing change.
Last Kiss - Choshinsei (Supernova)
Japanese | Pop
It seems like Korean boyband Choshinsei has been pretty busy in Japan, Last Kiss is the a-side to their latest single. It's a warm, sweet R&B-influenced track. At first I thought it was a bit generic, but its sincerity is starting to grow on me. Although I usually don't like rap segments, I actually really like the one in this song, especially how it leads back into the sung verses gradually.
愛唄 - Choshinsei (Supernova)
Japanese | Pop
The b-side to Last Kiss, 愛唄 is a catchy pop song that features an unidentified female vocalist. It's hopeful and has some rock influences, as seen in the percussion and guitar.
Labels: C.N. Blue, Cho Shin Sung, the TRAX
I hope you're all having a great new year so far. =) Just a few recent releases I wanted to share.
- Haruhi
Please remember to comment/leave a rating if taking!
두근두근 - HAM
두근두근 (Acoustic Version) - HAM
Korean | Pop
While I generally dislike girl groups, HAM (despite their unfortunate name) caught my attention with their debut T.T Dance. 두근두근 is a sweet, bubbly pop song. While compositionally it's pretty standard, their strong voices really add warmth and character. Vocally, HAM is definitely one of the stronger girl groups I've seen. While their style differs a lot from ballad-based groups (eg. early SeeYa, Black Pearl), their vocal ability really elevates otherwise lacklustre pop songs into something youthful and refreshing. The Acoustic Version is backed by acoustic guitar, other than that there isn't much difference. There's still a lot of percussion, bass and some synths, so it's not truly "acoustic" - I was hoping for something more genuine and stripped-down. I prefer the original.
Now or Never - C.N. Blue
English | Rock
This group is Korean but debuting in Japan, but from what I can tell this song is entirely in English. They've been described as a "2nd F.T. Island", while I can see the similarities, I feel like C.N. Blue is a little closer to genuine rock, although their music definitely does have a pop-rock feel. Their English is all right, with an accent that could be forgiven if this song was not so incredibly predictable. The lyrics are mundane and somewhat meaningless - while I understand that you probably can't expect too much from a Korean/Japanese group, composition-wise this song is also a huge bore. Their other songs don't sound much better either. Worth a try if you like F.T. Island, though.
少しずつ大切に - MISIA
Japanese | Ballad
MISIA is a female singer that I recently started listening to, I really like her strong, clear voice. Powerful ballads can easily get overly-dramatic, but this mid-tempo number remains light and sweet while still having a lot of emotional value. MISIA's seasoned vocals are simply beautiful, not to mention expressive.
逢いたくていま - MISIA
Japanese | Ballad
Another song by MISIA off the same album, this one is a pretty, piano-based ballad. It's delicate and warm, with touches of strings and a very classic feel. What I really appreciate about this song is that while it does feel timeless and classic, it's not outdated nor cookie-cutter. MISIA's unique voice and the richness of the accompaniment and arrangement really make it stand out. In other words, it's familiar, but certainly nor generic.
NOAH (Unplugged Version) - THE KIDDIE
Japanese | Rock
This is one of two songs (the other is just below) that came with their 2010 Official Calendar. I love acoustic/unplugged versions, so this song was a treat. It's a rock ballad with acoustic guitar and clean vocals that have a raw, unpolished feel, backed with harmonies. A refreshingly genuine song.
antenna (Unplugged Version) - THE KIDDIE
Japanese | Rock
I really love the fluid, soothing guitar in this song. antenna is relaxing and calm, a perfect song to unwind to. The build-up in the last minute or so of the song keeps things interesting.
罗马假日 - Anson Hu
Mandarin | Pop
I saved the best for last - I've had this song on replay for the past few days. Although Anson Hu is a pretty big name in the Chinese music industry, I have to say I'd never really given him much attention until I decided to try out his recently released album titled 失业情歌 (Music Life). While I have mixed feelings about some of the songs, a few really stood out to me - and this is one of them. 罗马假日 is simply gorgeous. The light guitar, rich bass, and delicate keyboard come together perfectly, held by one of the more interesting percussion parts I have recently heard. Anson Hu's vocals deliver with a quiet intensity, adding to the dark feel of the song. Not that it's a dark, depressing song - it's tinged with hope and nostalgia. The ethereal piano melodies lighten the song up, keeping it from being too overbearing or repetitive - in my opinion, it's one of the highlights and defining features. Highly recommended!
Labels: Anson Hu, C.N. Blue, HAM, MISIA, THE KIDDIE
