Full Moon (Live) – Namie Amuro
Japanese | Pop
The instruments remind me of the old school horror movies with the strings creating a dark and sinister atmosphere. The overall sound of the song reminds me of what it would sound like if you were visiting a haunted house on Halloween – a little creepy but still a lot of fun.

Still Doll – Kanon Wakeshima
Japanese | Pop
Dolls have always creeped me out and this song is creepy in its own way. I mean, the song has Kanon talking to a doll named Alice. The cello and other stringed instruments give this song a dark kind of feeling, kind of like if you were stuck in an abandoned house at night. And it contrasts nicely with Kanon’s voice.

Sakasama No Chou – Snow
Japanese | Pop
This is the opening to “Hell Girl” (Jigoku Shoujo). If you’re into creepy anime with interesting stories, then this might be something to check out tonight. The song has a nice mid-tempo beat and I like the addition of the record scratches (gives it a more contemporary feel) and how it contrasts with the more acoustic feel of the guitar.

Electric Heart – SHINee
Korean | Pop
We’ve now reached the treat side of the mix. The guitar kind of reminds me of Justin Timberlake’s Seniorita but updated for 2010 and with less of an R&B feel. The song isn’t overly memorable (I like “Your Name” and “Lucifer” better) but still a good song to listen to.

Wizard of Oz – Clazziquai Project
Korean | Pop
Okay. So I was trying to go with a bit of a theme… The electric heart of the Tin Man. Oddly enough, when I think of Halloween, it reminds me of the Wizard of Oz. The idea of being swept away to a weird place with weird people always seemed like something that could happen on Halloween. For some odd reason, this song got stuck in my head – especially the chorus.

Labels: Amuro Namie, Clazziquai, Contributor; Carmi, Kanon Wakeshima, Shinee, SNoW

Hi everyone! Sorry I missed the last post. I’ve been helping my brother move out so that he’s closer to his university (yay brother!). Hopefully this post makes up for it!


Fill This Night – Clazziquai
Korean | Electronic Pop / House
I don’t know why I had never thought to pick up any songs by these guys considering that they are/pretty (as far as I can tell anyway) popular. The song starts out with a slow to mid-tempo beat and more of a jazzy sound. As it progresses, however, it definitely picks up and you hear more of the electronic instruments – definitely reminiscent of nineties Jamiroquai. The vocals are mellow and subdued, perfectly suited for the song. The only thing I wish was different was that the slap base was a little more pronounced.

Baby Love – Humming Urban Stereo
Korean | Electronic Pop
This is the first song of theirs that I had actually ever heard. I do like the base in this song and the overall beat (more mid-tempo-ish). I do think that their vocals (especially the girl) could have been just a touch louder but it still has a good balance. It may be a little too sweet for some people but it’s still a good song to listen to.

Starlight Love – HybRefine
Korean | Electronic Pop
I actually “fell in love” with the instrumental version of this song but the vocal version is just as good. It’s a great upbeat song with more of a jazzy house sound but not as much as the first two songs (which are more on the fusion side).

Delete My Memories – 三浦大知 (Miura Daichi)
Japanese| Electronic Pop
I didn’t really like this song when it first came out and I’m still on the fence…I prefer his more pop/r&b sound but at least this song has a good beat. The electronic piano/organ-sounding thing (sorry, not sure what you should actually call it) got to be a bit much for me but that is what gave the song more of a techno sound. I like the quieter parts where it’s really just Daichi singing and the organ thing acts as more of an accent.

I was going to force having a second Japanese song because I think I’ve been a little heavy on the Korean music as of late…but this was a better song.

Stepping Out – Clazziquai
English | Electronic Pop
This sounds like a more traditional pop song, but it still definitely keeps its jazz house sound. The English is a bit off even though she sounds fine (the lyrics don’t make much sense to me even though English is my first language). It’s got a great beat and the girl’s voice is really nice – not too sweet – and really helps to bring balance to the song.

Labels: Clazziquai, Contributor; Carmi, Humming Urban Stereo, HybRefine, Miura Daichi

With the massive amount of music I have, I don't get a chance to listen to every song very carefully, or sometimes even at all. But occasionally, on shuffle or after reading a review or something, I'll realize songs in my library I didn't even know I had, often with no idea of how they got there. Sometimes my reaction is, Oh, god, this is awful, why did I ever download this? but sometimes, it's How did I miss this? This rotation is dedicated to songs that fit with the latter - songs that I had but never really listened to, and only discovered later on.

- Haruhi

PS. Sorry for the gradual decline in the quality of my comments. I'm not used to doing rotations this large anymore!

알고 있나요 (Duet Ver.) feat.제아 (of 브라운아이드걸스/Brown Eyed Girls) - Someday
Korean | Ballad
I have this whole self-titled album by Someday and never listened to it. I'm not sure why, because after skimming through the album, I really like their soothing style of music although it does get a big bland. This is a lovely duet which was used in Boys Over Flowers, probably why it sounds so familiar ... although I heard something about different versions, and I'm not sure if this is the one used in the drama. Okay, despite the fact that it was used in BoF (if you can't tell, I'm not a fan) it's such a sweet ballad, and not being a BEG fan I never knew JeA had such a nice, airy voice. The chorus-style harmonies are a nice touch as well. Something about it just stands out.

눈 내리는 소리 - Donawhale
Korean | Alt Rock
This is such a soothing, ethereally peaceful song. Soft, rich piano and light, delicate vocals. It does build a little, breaking up what would otherwise be monotony. Recommended.

All My Stars Aligned - St. Vincent
English | Indie Pop
I downloaded this as part of a mixtape or something, and never really paid much attention to it. However, the gorgeously layered piano intro which stays on as a motif throughout the song alone is worth listening to. St. Vincent, moniker for Annie Clark, has a rich voice that's not overpowering.

No.1 (남아공 월드컵 공식 주제가) - 2AM
Korean | Pop
I usually skip past songs for CFs and the like, so I nearly skipped on this song for the FIFA World Cup as well (despite being a huge soccer fan I'm not so much a fan of songs dedicated to it) but after hearing it on TV No.1 got stuck in my head. It's a light, catchy, sweet pop song that doesn't have too much of a cheerlead-y, "Go, team!" vibe that a lot of the other World Cup songs I heard had.

Eternal Mourning - Eternal Morning
Instrumental/English | Trip-hop
A collaboration between Tablo of Epik High and Pe2ny, this song comes from the album Soundtrack to a Lost Film which I love despite not always being in the mood for it. Eternal Mourning sets the mostly instrumental and slightly experimental tone of the album quite well and the unique beat and instrumentation makes it an interesting individual track as well. More proof that Tablo can do no wrong. This wasn't so much of a hidden treasure for me, personally, but I know a lot of people didn't notice this collaboration album despite being Epik High fans, or maybe deigned to skip it because the style is quite different.

One Night Stay / In My Room - Jinbo
Instrumental/English | Trip-hop
Following in the vein of the track above, this album was labeled as hip-hop and thinking it was mostly rap and attempts to copy the success of American hip-hop, I never listened to it. I heard a recommendation for it somewhere and decided to give it a listen, which proved my initial assumptions to be quite wrong. While the album as a whole (Afterwork) is a bit hit or miss with me, I really liked the beat of the song and the way the soft synths almost merge with it.

I Saw It On Your Keyboard - Hellogoodbye
English | Pop
Apart from Here In Your Arms, I'd never really listened to Hellogoodbye's music. However, this simple, bright pop-rock number caught my attention. It's cute and energetic.

나쁜 여자 (Boom Boom) - Super Junior
Korean | Pop
After hearing the title track, Bonamama which I really disliked, I really only gave this album a skim and didn't see anything that sparked my interest until this song came up on shuffle one day. I love the beat and slightly dark atmosphere, as well as the catchiness, although I'm not sure what the Twinkle twinkle little star line is all about.

Ordinary - Tim Be Told
English | Indie Pop
If you like David Choi, give this a try. It has the same sweet, acoustic feel and interesting lyrics as well.

우리의 밤은 당신의 낮보다 아름답다 - 알렉스(Alex),호란 (Horan),이승열 (Lee Seung Yeol),박기영 (Park KiYoung),웨일(Whale),혜원 (HyeWon),나무(Namu),어반 자카파(Urban Zakapa)
Korean | Acoustic Pop
This V.A. collaboration from the label Fluxus Voices didn't really catch my attention until I spotted a couple names I recognized - namely Alex and Horan, but also W&Whale and Urban Zakapa. I romanized the rest of the names myself so if there's any inaccuracies, please let me know and I'll correct them. This song is apparently a cover, but I don't think I've ever heard the original song. It's sweet, light, and summery. Alex's voice in particular stands out, probably just because it's most familiar to me. I was expecting something along the lines of SM Town's collabs which feature so many artists it's really almost incoherent, but this is very different - in a good way.

My Everything - Nia
Korean | Pop-Rock
After hearing Nia hailed as a female F.T. Island, I had mixed feelings: it would be nice to see a female group playing their own instruments and with a more rock-based sound, but then again: can you really call F.T. Island rock? For some reason I never really listened to this, their debut single, but I'm glad I finally did. While admittedly My Everything can only be considered soft rock, this rock ballad is lovely. The vocals are strong and clear and I love the guitars and light use of strings. Not your average girl group, that's for sure.

WoNdeR WomaN × the telephones - MiChi
Japanese | Pop-Rock
I can't say I've ever heard anything of the telephones', and MiChi's spelling just really irritates me - not to mention the overall mediocrity of her music. However, this song is much more alt-rock than MiChi's music, I'm guessing that's the telephones' influence. It's energetic and catchy, but MiChi sounds a bit strained.

コインランドリー - OGRE YOU ASSHOLE
Japanese | Alt Rock
I downloaded this on a compilation album and never really noticed it as an individual track until this band's intriguing name caught my attention. I love the high, clean guitar lines alternating with darker, grungier chords. It creates some interesting transitions.

가지마 - Wednesday
Korean | Ballad
This is actually a solo song by Chi Yeol, a member of the duo Wednesday. Chi Yeol released a solo album a couple years ago about when I was starting to get into k-pop and basically downloaded everything because I had no idea what I would like and what I wouldn't. The album was filled with gorgeous, unique ballads and sophisticated pop tracks - I would be uploading songs from it, but unfortunately it's not on the computer I usually work from. After his debut album, he completely disappeared. I nearly skipped past Wednesday, assuming they were another male duo trying to copy Fly to the Sky's success, but went back once realizing Chi Yeol was a member. 가지마 is a ballad that showcases his strong, rich vocals (and what a gorgeous vibrato) - if you're a fan of Tei, Eru, Park Hyo Shin, and other such ballad vocalists, you'll like him. Compositionally, it is a bit cookie-cutter, but I'm so glad to see him releasing music again that I'm willing to forgive that. And much like other ballad kings, his voice elevates the song to new levels.

Hey Elevator - Apples in Stereo
English | Indie pop
So I kind of skimmed through this album (Travellers in Space and Time) and didn't really think much of it, but this track - probably amongst their more popular - stood out to me on a second listen. The chorus is so catchy, paired with disco influences and feel-good piano chords.

Circus - Royal Pirates
English | Rock
I didn't think anyone could cover this song and make it sound good. Korean group Royal Pirates however, manages to do just that. I love the rock twist to this song, and their confident sound.

서시 (Seo Shi/Prologue) - Shin Sung Woo
Korean | Rock Ballad
I know nothing about this singer, but I recently found this rock ballad in my iTunes library. It starts out with just acoustic guitar and you think that's what the whole song will be, but suddenly a full rock ensemble gets swept in.

Bluepeo - Mister Symbol
Instrumental
Another song that mysteriously appeared in my iTunes. It came up on shuffle and the pretty piano intro and soft, ambient beat caught my attention. It reminds me a bit of Nujabes, Epik High/Eternal Morning, etc.

Romeo N Juliet (알렉스, 신애 듀엣 원곡) (우리결혼했어요 삽입곡) - Clazziquai
Korean | Electronica/Acid Jazz
Although I'm a big Clazziquai fan, I never really noticed this song in particular. It's charming and soothing, and Alex and Horan sound fantastic together. I love their unique harmonies as well as the bright rap portion and jazzy instrumental solos.

Labels: 2AM, Apples in Stereo, Chi Yeol, Clazziquai, Donawhale, Eternal Morning, Jinbo, MiChi, Mister Symbol, Royal Pirates, Shin Sung Woo, Someday, St. Vincent, Super Junior, Tim Be Told, Wednesday

I wanted to get a rotation up before I left, so I can go straight to the 50th rotation when I get back. This rotation is themed around electro-pop and synths. It's named after Owl City's song of the same name, featured below, because it seemed like a perfect fit for the dreamy, sweet quality that a lot of electro-pop has, although not all the songs here fit that description.

Nothing Better - The Postal Service
English | Electro-pop
A side project of Death Cab For Cutie singer Ben Gibbard's, Nothing Better is charming and light. The synths remind me a bit of Owl City, although the vocals aren't quite as distinctive - not that they don't have their own charm. The play between the female and male vocalists is touching, and lyrically, it's also quite strong.

Vanilla Twilight - Owl City
English | Electro-pop
I'm not a huge Owl City fan - their songs tend to blend together to me - but I do like a couple of their songs: The Saltwater Room, and Vanilla Twilight in particular. It's melodic and absolutely endearing. The lyrics are a bit sappy but sweet nonetheless. It's a cute song about missing someone, and the adept blend of synths mixed with brief touches of guitar and piano is lovely.

Cuddle Fuddle - Passion Pit
English | Electronic
This song takes a while to establish itself, but I love the unique edge to the vocals starting at around 1:10 as well as the vibrant synths added at that point. It's not a favourite of mine, but it has a delicate edge to it that I like.

Hey You - Pony Pony Run Run
English | Electronic/Power-pop
This song is so addictive. I can't get enough of it. The bassline and beat are awesome, and there's something about its laid-back guitar riffs and addictive hook that is so appealing. I love the bridge as well, where everything slows down a little and the synth backdrop becomes a little more dreamy. Definitely one of the highlights of this rotation.

Beat In Love - Clazziquai Project
English | Electronica
Although Clazziquai is a Korean group, the lyrics of this song are in English. It's charming, upbeat, and their English sounds great. I especially love Alex's verses, there's something about the warmth of his voice paired with the synths that is just perfect.

S.P.X - Humming Urban Stereo
Korean | Electronica
The more mature atmosphere of this song separates it from some of the others in this rotation. I always found this song to be one that required a certain mood, or else it comes across as a bit repetitive and directionless. It might not be the most accessible track, but come on, it's Humming Urban Stereo.

Pool Party (feat. 사파이어 & 윤지아) - House Rulez
Korean | Electronica
I don't really like the chipmunk-y intro of this song, but all is forgiven when the splashes of brass enter. Like the title suggests, it's a great summer track with a lot of energy.

47 - Casker
Korean | Electronic
I love this duo, and songs like 47 are why. From the rich, lush intro of synths, I was captured. They definitely set a more serious tone than what you've heard in the songs above, but it's a welcome change of pace. The slight dissonance in the rising line of synths only adds to the hauntingly beautiful atmosphere of this song. YoongJin's smooth, elegant vocals are far different from what you'd expect in an electronica song, but it fits the song perfectly. Highly recommended.

Twist In My Love - Instant Romantic Floor
Korean | Electro-pop
It's hard to classify Instant Romantic Floor - their music has touches of electronica, pop, house, and bossa nova. Twist In My Love has a couple surprises in store, particularly the very light use of synths and the more prominent use of strings - though not in a ballad-type setting, but rather something sweet and airy, words that could be used to describe the song as a whole.

Snowdrop - Fanny Fink
Korean | Soft Rock
This Pastel Music group is a real gem. A soft, feathery song with surprising depth. I love the rich percussion and the barely-there vocals. Okay, on second listen I don't think there's actually any synths in this song except for a few deft ones blended in with the piano.

Giant - Yozoh
Korean | Electro-pop
Although Yozoh plays with a lot of genres, mostly acoustic, Giant is a foray into electro-pop. Her feathery, light voice is a good match. A soothing, atmospheric track with an understated beauty.

I was Wrong - capsule
English | Electronica
How could we have an electronica rotation of any sort without Japanese electronica duo capsule? The percussive intro of this song is fantastic, paired with a few lush, full-bodied piano chords. The vocals are achingly clear - and the English flawless. There's even touches of strings. It's sophisticated and textured. I love it.

Preservative Woman - Aural Vampire
Japanese | Electronica/Industrial Rock
An upbeat, light-hearted track with synthesized vocals that surprisingly, I like. Unfortunately, the rest of the song isn't that appealing to me although it's worth a listen.

QUESTIONS - MEG
English | Electro-pop
I've never been a big fan of Japanese singer MEG and never really understood her popularity, but her journey mini-album did have a few gems, one of which is QUESTIONS. It's polished and charismatic. The light, simple vocal execution really works with the catchy beat and bass. On a side note, there's an awful lot of Korean/Japanese artists with all-English lyrics in this rotation.

Kids - MGMT
English | Electronic
The line of synths in this song is just so instantly recognizable. It puts a smile on my face whenever I hear it. Addictive and surprisingly delicate, I really like the slightly echoed, distant feel of the vocals contrasted with the clarity of the synths and beat.

Daylight - Matt & Kim
English | Electronica, Power-pop
A cute track from Brooklyn-based duo Matt & Kim. It's bubbly and multi-layered, although the vocals are a bit of an acquired taste.

Labels: Aural Vampire, capsule, Clazziquai, Fanny Fink, House Rulez, Humming Urban Stereo, Instant Romantic Floor, Matt + Kim, MEG, MGMT, Owl City, Passion Pit, Pony Pony Run Run, The Postal Service, Yozoh

I apologize again that this is taking so long, I've been really busy with school lately. In hindsight, I think it would have been better to upload the songs as I went along - I'll definitely remember that if I decide to do another number lottery in the future. Only one more batch remains, I can't promise how long it will take to be posted but I will definitely try my best to get it done as soon as possible. Thanks for being patient! =)

- Haruhi

EDIT: It seems that a few of the links (Shining Butterfly - BRIGHT & Koi Hitoyo - acid black cherry) weren't right, they've now been fixed.

Ayumi:

#1657. Shining Butterfly - BRIGHT
Japanese | Pop
A bubbly pop number by one of my favourite girl groups. Although I wouldn't consider it to be one of their very best songs, it's upbeat and fun.

#157. 式日 - ACIDMAN
Japanese | Alt. Rock
I really like this band, especially their vocalist's crisp, clean voice. A mid-tempo track with lots of bright guitar work.

#2345. Nalcha Byongyongson - Clazziquai
Korean | Pop/Electronica/Jazz
This is from their Color Your Soul album. It's a sweet, light song featuring Alex's cream vocals and Horan's light, airy voice.

#1000. Sands of time - Back-on
Japanese | Rock
I love this song. It's upbeat, and although definitely a rock song it has some electronica/rapcore influences too. These guys definitely deserve more recognition, try them out!

Allie:
#10894. 宝物 (Takaramono/Treasures) (Homemade demo vers.) - ROUND TABLE ft. Nino
Japanese | Pop/Acoustic
This version features only acoustic guitar and sweet, feminine vocals. Although I found the vocals a bit too childish and thin, it's an endearing song.

#1777. Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow - Bullet For My Valentine
English | Metal
Although I don't listen to heavy rock as much now, this song isn't actually too overpowering once you get past the screaming in the first verse and a little bit later on in the song.

#135. Koi Hitoyo - Acid Black Cherry
Japanese | Rock
I love this group, and Koi Hitoyo is a fantastic song. I love the intro, the percussion really pulls you in. It has an air of mystery to it, and I love the way the song builds up.

#2626. Shining - Crystal Kay
Japanese | Pop/R&B
A sweet, poppy song by Crystal Kay. I love the subtle harmonies and the bright atmosphere.

Labels: acid black cherry, ACIDMAN, BACK-ON, BRIGHT, Bullet For My Valentine, Clazziquai, Crystal Kay, number lottery, ROUND TABLE feat. Nino

I took this idea from an LJ community, basically it’s just ten of the songs that I really like & have constantly been listening to in the last few weeks. Most will probably be fairly recent releases. I excluded songs that I had already posted, which prevented the two Kimaguren songs I posted previously and St. Day from making the list.

I'm putting off the rock/pop rotation I mentioned earlier for another time. & sorry my comments aren't too great ... for some reason I never have a problem with commenting on smaller updates but when it comes to larger rotations I just get kind of tired and all my comments start to sound the same, haha.

Please remember to comment/leave a rating if taking, thanks.

#10. City of Sadness - Zhang Yuan
Mandarin | Ballad
A solo song by Top Combine’s main vocalist, Zhang Yuan. Although I’m not very familiar with the group, Zhang Yuan’s voice is lovely - strong, rich, and rounded. Despite the formulaic arrangement, I really liked the chorus and overall sad yet hopeful atmosphere of the song.

#9. 爱上 (Fall In Love With) - Xiao Yu
Mandarin | R&B/Pop
I really loved his sophomore album, Standing Here, and “Fall In Love With” is one of my favourite tracks. It’s a sweet, mid-tempo number. The piano accompaniment is warm and adds a nice depth to the song, but what I really love is Xiao Yu’s smooth, creamy vocals.

#8. 너라고 (It's You) - Super Junior
Korean | Pop
Upon first listen, I really didn’t think this song was anything special, but it’s really grown on me. The transition from the slower and more serious opening verses into the uptempo chorus is fantastic. The mood brightens at certain points in the song, becoming more hopeful and optimistic, and the accompaniment has strong electronica routes. It’s quite poppy like most of their material, but also more mature and sophisticated.

#7. 王妃 (Princess) - Jam Hsiao
Mandarin | Rock
I’m quite a fan of him, and was excited to see his new album. Princess is the title track. Jam Hsiao spans many genres, but my favourite of his would be rock, and Princess is not a disappointment. The song sounds slightly familiar, but is definitely unique. Jam Hsiao’s voice is slightly rough, suiting the atmosphere perfectly.

#6. 정신없이 예뻐 (Crazily Pretty) - DNT
Korean | Pop
I just love the chord progressions of this song, especially in the synths that dominate the opening. It’s an upbeat track that’s catchy and danceable, but doesn’t offer much beyond that. The vocals are decent (I believe they have a new member, too?) but not outstanding - personally, I would have liked to see a little more harmonizing. Nonetheless, a fresh, summery song.

#5. The Road - Clazziquai
English | Electronica
I love Clazziquai, and I was so excited to give their new album a listen (come to think of it, quite a few artists that I like have released albums/singles lately). “The Road” is one of my favourite tracks from Mucho MUSICA, it’s slow, ambient, and incredibly genuine. It’s one of the more downtempo tracks on the album, but extremely powerful, and something about its darker atmosphere really just caught on to me. The lyrics (and Alex’s voice) are gorgeous too, all in (perfectly understandable) English.

#4. Hello, I'm in Delaware - City and Colour
English | Acoustic
I used to really like this band, but it’s been a while since I listened to them. A soft, understated song. It’s really the lyrics that I love - So there goes my life/passing by with every exit sign .../No sleep tonight, I’ll keep on driving these dark highway lines. Although it doesn’t really have a clear “direction” and might be a little bland to some, I really liked it.

#3. 海岸中央通り - kimaguren
Japanese | Reggae/Pop/Rock
An island-flavoured song, a little more upbeat than the two I uploaded previously from their Sora x Shonen album. 海岸中央通り features fresh, breezy arrangement, smooth crisp vocals, and trumpet riffs.

#2. 你很好 (You're Very Good) - Xiao Yu
Mandarin | Pop/R&B
Opening with gorgeous harmonies against a chordal piano arrangement, You’re Very Good transitions into a smooth and rich R&B song. If you think about all the elements separately, there’s really nothing outstanding about it: a fairly standard R&B-style beat, boomy bass, splashes of piano - but everything just comes together perfectly. Xiao Yu’s voice is, as always, lovely - smooth and rich. It’s a catchy, memorable song.

#1. Africa - Karl Wolf ft. Culture
English | Pop/R&B
I’m not really sure what genre this song would be - it’s a remake, the original artist was Toto. I love it - the many-layered harmonies in the sung verses are simply gorgeous. The melody always gets stuck in my head. Although the rap verses don’t do much for me, they definitely add depth and colour to the song.

Labels: City and Colour, Clazziquai, DNT, Jam Hsiao, Karl Wolf, Kimaguren, Super Junior, Xiao Yu

This week’s rotation has no real theme, it’s just random songs that came up when I put my iTunes on shuffle. Sorry, I promise the next rotation will be better - I’m thinking of either an artist feature, since I haven’t done one in a while, or a summer theme. Please remember to comment or leave a rating. =)

1. Monochrome - kannivalism
Japanese | Rock
I love this band, and I’m really sad that they seem to have disbanded. Monochrome is a mid-tempo track with clear, refreshing vocals and a great guitar accompaniment. I wouldn’t say it’s one of my favourites by them, but a pleasing listen none-the-less.

2. Free Music - PDIS ft. Brown Eyed Girls
Korean | Hip-Pop
PDIS is a collaboration between Cho PD and Yoon Il Sang. They released a album a while back that I just recently discovered on my computer. Most of the songs are energetic and upbeat, so it’s perfect for the summer. I hesitate to call them pure hip-hop since most of their songs have at least one other genre incorporated. Free Music, for example, alternates between hopeful, gospel-style verses with rich harmonies and poppy rap verses sprinkled with melodic lines from the Brown Eyed Girls. Personally, I think the hook (“It’s free, free music”) could have been incorporated more - there’s a rather long portion where it’s just rapping that gets quite tedious, especially with the repetitive backdrop.

3. Pride - PDIS ft. Tiger JK and May Doni
Korean | Hip-Pop
Pride is a rock-influenced number, aggressive and gritty. It definitely fits its title. May Doni’s powerful, slightly rough voice suits the song perfectly.

4. Hanttae (Acoustic version) - Ye In ft. Noblesse
Korean | Acoustic Pop
A lovely acoustic guitar song, laid-back and breezy. It’s a relaxing but heartfelt track. Ye In’s airy, feminine voice compliments Noblesse’s rapping well.

5. Flea - Clazziquai Project
Korean/English | Electronica
I love this song. It’s a bit strange, what with all the synths and soft, minimal vocals, but overall it’s an extremely atmospheric and unique song. I love the bass and rhythm. I love the hook - “This flea is you and I, it’s a bad thing, but a little thing, but a little thing. A parasite that coexist, it’s a bad thing, but a little thing, but a little thing.” It’s extremely catchy.

6. 내 여자친구에게 (To my Girlfriend) - I the Tri top’s
Korean | Pop Ballad
This song samples Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”, which is a gorgeous song but so overplayed and overused, especially in K-pop. This sampling turned me off at first, but then I realized it’s only used sparsely - in the intro, in a short instrumental bridge, and in the background of just one of other verses near the end of the song leading into the outro. “To my Girlfriend” is a poppy, mid-tempo ballad with warm, sweet vocals and a general feel-good atmosphere. It’s not particularly unique, but it’s worth a listen.

7. Good Times - Crystal Kay
Japanese | Pop
I quite like Crystal Kay, especially her upbeat songs. An energetic track with a great beat that Crystal Kay’s pure, strong voice playfully leads. It’s a fun, poppy, light-hearted, summery song.

8. Rain Song - Furukawa Miki
Japanese | Ballad
I’m always for supporting indie artists, but I have to say I’m not a huge fan of Furukawa Miki. Rain Song is a slightly strange guitar and string-based ballad that definitely has a unique flavour. Miki’s voice sounds slightly muffled and at times faraway. But a lot of people really like her, so I guess it’s a personal opinion.

9. Marry Me Today - Jolin Tsai & David Tao
Mandarin | Pop
This song is hugely popular, but I’ve never liked it. The intro sounds outdated and the strings a little too screechy. The opening verses are all right- sweet and poppy, although I don’t really feel any connection between the two singers. The “rap” verse is also kind of ridiculous. They just go back and forth saying “D.T. in the house/Jo-lin in the house”, finishing with “Our love in the house”. It’s also quite repetitive.

10.말을 못하죠 - Rick
Korean | R&B
A smooth, poppy R&B track. It’s relaxing, down tempo and fairly generic - a pleasant listen, but nothing special.

11. Brokenhearted -Yi
Mandarin | Electronica/Pop
A synthy dark pop song. I absolutely love the bass, and the soft, delicate vocals suit the atmosphere of the song perfectly.

12. Insomnia - Wheesung
Korean | R&B
This is a cover of a Craig David song by the same name. I love it - slick, addictive melodies, meltingly smooth vocals. It stays quite close to the original, so I can’t decide which version I like more.

13. Shine - TVXQ
Japanese | Pop
I’m pretty sure everyone already has it (and the quality isn’t too great either, I think this was a rip from when the single just came out), but anyways - a cute, poppy song from Tohoshinki. It’s just pure, sugary boyband pop, but of course, extremely well-executed, with lovely harmonies and a great accompaniment that’s consistent without being repetitive.

14. Hot Ddeu Guh - 1TYM
Korean | Hip Hop
An aggressive, American-influenced song from 1TYM. I’m not much for the rapped verses, but the hook is addictive. Its repetitiveness is really what works for it.

Labels: 1TYM, Clazziquai, Crystal Kay, David Tao, Furukawa Miki, I the Tri top's, Jolin Tsai, kannivalism, Noblesse, PDIS, Rick, Tohoshinki, Wheesung, Ye In, Yi

Rotation 11 is slightly smaller than my previous two rotations, but I'm spending a little more time on comments. I was intending to find some images of the artists/albums too, but I decided not to this time.

The theme this week is remixes (this also includes different versions of songs), as well as a couple other songs I wanted to upload. I haven't uploaded the originals for most songs, but if you want, I can probably find them. Just leave me an e-mail or a comment somewhere, and I'll be happy to put it up for you. =)

Enjoy.

-Haruhi

REMIXES.

La La La (DG YG Remix) - Se7en
genre: Pop/Electronica
language: Korean
rating:
comments: I'm usually not a fan of electronica-type remixes of slow songs since I usually find that it takes away from their overall sound, but I have to say that Iike this mix. It's well done and puts a lot of emphasis on the bass, without losing the original essence of it. I actually really like the little eletronic-riff bridge. Probably one of the better remixes I've seen.

Yes Forever (Piano Version) - MISIA
genre: R&B/Ballad
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: I uploaded the original of this song in my last update (not the last rotation, but the update in between). This is the piano version of it, which is just as good. She has a wonderful voice, but I do have to admit that this song can get boring after a while. If you like ballads, definitely try her out.

Ashita wa kuru kara - Tohoshinki
Ashita wa kuru kara (A capella version) - Tohoshinki
genre: Pop/Ballad
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: Probably one of my favourite Tohoshinki ballads. I always like their a capella versions, too. It has a sweet but simple piano accompaniment, the same could be said for the melody. The chorus always gets stuck in my head. Their voices are soft but not lacking strength. The a capella version is good, but the piano accompaniment is just a little too loud, in my opinion. But their voices stand out a lot more in the chorus. The harmonizing is well done, their voices blend together nicely. I think I actually like Jae Joong's voice best in these two songs.

Together (Night Falls Mix) - Monkey Majik
genre: Pop
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: I uploaded this single a while ago, but without this remix. It's got a kind of bossa-nova/trance feel to it. It's not as good as the original and although it's well executed, it just doesn't suit the style of the song very well. But if you're fan of Monkey Majik, it's worth a listen.

Hit (Remix) - Cho Shin Sung
genre: Pop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: I'm usually not a huge boyband fan, but I like these guys. The beginning of this remix is kind of annoying with the guy saying "Run it" over and over, but it's a nice, upbeat track with some pretty dang nice bass beats. Their vocals are good and the first verse of this song reminds me a LOT of Super Junior. I actually thought this was a cover of one of their songs, since they have a song called "Hit" too, but ... it's not. I love the parts where you can hear the glass breaking. Try them out, they're not bad.

너는 어디에 (Remix) - Cho Shin Sung
genre: Pop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: Another upbeat Cho Shin Sung song, this song features smooth vocals and a surprisingly melodic chorus. While "Hit" reminded me of Super Junior, this song reminds me of Shinhwa, especially some of their older songs. The transition between the more aggressive verses and then the gentler chorus is well done.

Love mode feat. PE'Z and VERBAL (m-flo) (pzq mode) - Clazziquai
genre: Jazz
language: English
rating:
comments: Clazziquai, PE'Z, AND m-flo - just looking at the artists made me pretty sure this was going to be a good remix, and I wasn't disappointed. I love the drums. And of course, PE'Z is amazing, adding a lovely touch of jazz to this song. The vocals are very relaxing and the lyrics are all in English. It does get kind of repetitive, but I'm recommending this because PE'Z is just awesome.

Breakdown (Supreme Mix) - Epik High
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean/English
rating:
comments: Another one of my favourites from Epik High's fifth album, this mix of Breakdown features mostly English lyrics, though some of the rap verses are in Korean. While the accompaniment is pretty repetitive, this song never really gets boring to me. It's very upbeat. Recommended.

One (Planet Shiver Remix) - Epik High
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: I loved Epik High's One, but I didn't really like the remix as much. It doesn't keep many of the original elements of the song ... there's not even vocals for most of it, or they're not lyrics from the original song. However, it does go into the chorus of One, kind of - it's recognizable, at least. When "You are the one" is sung it's just beautiful, though. Everything kind of stops before it, and you're just waiting for it. Worth a listen.

Color Your Soul (Pinch Remix) - Clazziquai
genre: Eletronica
language: Korean
rating:
comments: Starts out with some nice piano chords, then leads into the first verse. It's very unique to Clazziquai's style, and I absolutely love it. Very relaxing.

Fly Remix (Hidden Track) - Epik High
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: Loving the drums. It's been a while since I listened to this song, this remix is pretty good ... it doesn't actually sound that much different except for the drums, which make it sound even more upbeat.

거짓말 (Lies) (Remix) - Big Bang
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: This is a slower remix of Lies, with a very simple but lovely piano melody starting it off. It's got more of an acoustic sound than the original mix, and showcases their voices wonderfully. I think it's a live rip, but it's a very good one. The beat does pick up after and it kind of slowly transitions into the original version of the song. Recommended.

MY PICKS.

Call Me (Appelez Moi) - Blaise Plant
genre: Pop
language: English & French
rating:
comments: I'm in love with this song. In case you didn't know, this is Blaise Plant of Monkey Majik. The lyrics are very sweet and sad at the same time.

Love is all that stands between us

The arrangement just blows me away. Love the drums & piano. Really I love just about everything about this song. Highly, highly recommended.

With U - Big Bang
genre: Hip-Hop/Pop
language: English
rating:
comments: Their English is getting pretty good. For the most part, it's understandable in this song. With U has got some pretty infectious beats, though it is pretty generic. The first time I listened to it I didn't really think it was that good, but it's starting to grow on me. This is from their upcoming mini-album in Japan.

マイネイチャー - 超飛行少年 (Super Flying Boy)
genre: Alt-rock
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: I thought this was ONE OK ROCK the first time I heard this song. The intro reminds me of Et cetera. Yeah, their style is pretty similar to ONE OK ROCK's. They're pretty good, try them out.

Labels: Big Bang, Blaise Plant, Cho Shin Sung, Clazziquai, Epik High, m-flo, MISIA, Monkey Majik, PE'Z, Se7en, Super Flying Boy, Tohoshinki

Full Moon (Live) – Namie Amuro
Japanese | Pop
The instruments remind me of the old school horror movies with the strings creating a dark and sinister atmosphere. The overall sound of the song reminds me of what it would sound like if you were visiting a haunted house on Halloween – a little creepy but still a lot of fun.

Still Doll – Kanon Wakeshima
Japanese | Pop
Dolls have always creeped me out and this song is creepy in its own way. I mean, the song has Kanon talking to a doll named Alice. The cello and other stringed instruments give this song a dark kind of feeling, kind of like if you were stuck in an abandoned house at night. And it contrasts nicely with Kanon’s voice.

Sakasama No Chou – Snow
Japanese | Pop
This is the opening to “Hell Girl” (Jigoku Shoujo). If you’re into creepy anime with interesting stories, then this might be something to check out tonight. The song has a nice mid-tempo beat and I like the addition of the record scratches (gives it a more contemporary feel) and how it contrasts with the more acoustic feel of the guitar.

Electric Heart – SHINee
Korean | Pop
We’ve now reached the treat side of the mix. The guitar kind of reminds me of Justin Timberlake’s Seniorita but updated for 2010 and with less of an R&B feel. The song isn’t overly memorable (I like “Your Name” and “Lucifer” better) but still a good song to listen to.

Wizard of Oz – Clazziquai Project
Korean | Pop
Okay. So I was trying to go with a bit of a theme… The electric heart of the Tin Man. Oddly enough, when I think of Halloween, it reminds me of the Wizard of Oz. The idea of being swept away to a weird place with weird people always seemed like something that could happen on Halloween. For some odd reason, this song got stuck in my head – especially the chorus.

Labels: Amuro Namie, Clazziquai, Contributor; Carmi, Kanon Wakeshima, Shinee, SNoW

Hi everyone! Sorry I missed the last post. I’ve been helping my brother move out so that he’s closer to his university (yay brother!). Hopefully this post makes up for it!


Fill This Night – Clazziquai
Korean | Electronic Pop / House
I don’t know why I had never thought to pick up any songs by these guys considering that they are/pretty (as far as I can tell anyway) popular. The song starts out with a slow to mid-tempo beat and more of a jazzy sound. As it progresses, however, it definitely picks up and you hear more of the electronic instruments – definitely reminiscent of nineties Jamiroquai. The vocals are mellow and subdued, perfectly suited for the song. The only thing I wish was different was that the slap base was a little more pronounced.

Baby Love – Humming Urban Stereo
Korean | Electronic Pop
This is the first song of theirs that I had actually ever heard. I do like the base in this song and the overall beat (more mid-tempo-ish). I do think that their vocals (especially the girl) could have been just a touch louder but it still has a good balance. It may be a little too sweet for some people but it’s still a good song to listen to.

Starlight Love – HybRefine
Korean | Electronic Pop
I actually “fell in love” with the instrumental version of this song but the vocal version is just as good. It’s a great upbeat song with more of a jazzy house sound but not as much as the first two songs (which are more on the fusion side).

Delete My Memories – 三浦大知 (Miura Daichi)
Japanese| Electronic Pop
I didn’t really like this song when it first came out and I’m still on the fence…I prefer his more pop/r&b sound but at least this song has a good beat. The electronic piano/organ-sounding thing (sorry, not sure what you should actually call it) got to be a bit much for me but that is what gave the song more of a techno sound. I like the quieter parts where it’s really just Daichi singing and the organ thing acts as more of an accent.

I was going to force having a second Japanese song because I think I’ve been a little heavy on the Korean music as of late…but this was a better song.

Stepping Out – Clazziquai
English | Electronic Pop
This sounds like a more traditional pop song, but it still definitely keeps its jazz house sound. The English is a bit off even though she sounds fine (the lyrics don’t make much sense to me even though English is my first language). It’s got a great beat and the girl’s voice is really nice – not too sweet – and really helps to bring balance to the song.

Labels: Clazziquai, Contributor; Carmi, Humming Urban Stereo, HybRefine, Miura Daichi

With the massive amount of music I have, I don't get a chance to listen to every song very carefully, or sometimes even at all. But occasionally, on shuffle or after reading a review or something, I'll realize songs in my library I didn't even know I had, often with no idea of how they got there. Sometimes my reaction is, Oh, god, this is awful, why did I ever download this? but sometimes, it's How did I miss this? This rotation is dedicated to songs that fit with the latter - songs that I had but never really listened to, and only discovered later on.

- Haruhi

PS. Sorry for the gradual decline in the quality of my comments. I'm not used to doing rotations this large anymore!

알고 있나요 (Duet Ver.) feat.제아 (of 브라운아이드걸스/Brown Eyed Girls) - Someday
Korean | Ballad
I have this whole self-titled album by Someday and never listened to it. I'm not sure why, because after skimming through the album, I really like their soothing style of music although it does get a big bland. This is a lovely duet which was used in Boys Over Flowers, probably why it sounds so familiar ... although I heard something about different versions, and I'm not sure if this is the one used in the drama. Okay, despite the fact that it was used in BoF (if you can't tell, I'm not a fan) it's such a sweet ballad, and not being a BEG fan I never knew JeA had such a nice, airy voice. The chorus-style harmonies are a nice touch as well. Something about it just stands out.

눈 내리는 소리 - Donawhale
Korean | Alt Rock
This is such a soothing, ethereally peaceful song. Soft, rich piano and light, delicate vocals. It does build a little, breaking up what would otherwise be monotony. Recommended.

All My Stars Aligned - St. Vincent
English | Indie Pop
I downloaded this as part of a mixtape or something, and never really paid much attention to it. However, the gorgeously layered piano intro which stays on as a motif throughout the song alone is worth listening to. St. Vincent, moniker for Annie Clark, has a rich voice that's not overpowering.

No.1 (남아공 월드컵 공식 주제가) - 2AM
Korean | Pop
I usually skip past songs for CFs and the like, so I nearly skipped on this song for the FIFA World Cup as well (despite being a huge soccer fan I'm not so much a fan of songs dedicated to it) but after hearing it on TV No.1 got stuck in my head. It's a light, catchy, sweet pop song that doesn't have too much of a cheerlead-y, "Go, team!" vibe that a lot of the other World Cup songs I heard had.

Eternal Mourning - Eternal Morning
Instrumental/English | Trip-hop
A collaboration between Tablo of Epik High and Pe2ny, this song comes from the album Soundtrack to a Lost Film which I love despite not always being in the mood for it. Eternal Mourning sets the mostly instrumental and slightly experimental tone of the album quite well and the unique beat and instrumentation makes it an interesting individual track as well. More proof that Tablo can do no wrong. This wasn't so much of a hidden treasure for me, personally, but I know a lot of people didn't notice this collaboration album despite being Epik High fans, or maybe deigned to skip it because the style is quite different.

One Night Stay / In My Room - Jinbo
Instrumental/English | Trip-hop
Following in the vein of the track above, this album was labeled as hip-hop and thinking it was mostly rap and attempts to copy the success of American hip-hop, I never listened to it. I heard a recommendation for it somewhere and decided to give it a listen, which proved my initial assumptions to be quite wrong. While the album as a whole (Afterwork) is a bit hit or miss with me, I really liked the beat of the song and the way the soft synths almost merge with it.

I Saw It On Your Keyboard - Hellogoodbye
English | Pop
Apart from Here In Your Arms, I'd never really listened to Hellogoodbye's music. However, this simple, bright pop-rock number caught my attention. It's cute and energetic.

나쁜 여자 (Boom Boom) - Super Junior
Korean | Pop
After hearing the title track, Bonamama which I really disliked, I really only gave this album a skim and didn't see anything that sparked my interest until this song came up on shuffle one day. I love the beat and slightly dark atmosphere, as well as the catchiness, although I'm not sure what the Twinkle twinkle little star line is all about.

Ordinary - Tim Be Told
English | Indie Pop
If you like David Choi, give this a try. It has the same sweet, acoustic feel and interesting lyrics as well.

우리의 밤은 당신의 낮보다 아름답다 - 알렉스(Alex),호란 (Horan),이승열 (Lee Seung Yeol),박기영 (Park KiYoung),웨일(Whale),혜원 (HyeWon),나무(Namu),어반 자카파(Urban Zakapa)
Korean | Acoustic Pop
This V.A. collaboration from the label Fluxus Voices didn't really catch my attention until I spotted a couple names I recognized - namely Alex and Horan, but also W&Whale and Urban Zakapa. I romanized the rest of the names myself so if there's any inaccuracies, please let me know and I'll correct them. This song is apparently a cover, but I don't think I've ever heard the original song. It's sweet, light, and summery. Alex's voice in particular stands out, probably just because it's most familiar to me. I was expecting something along the lines of SM Town's collabs which feature so many artists it's really almost incoherent, but this is very different - in a good way.

My Everything - Nia
Korean | Pop-Rock
After hearing Nia hailed as a female F.T. Island, I had mixed feelings: it would be nice to see a female group playing their own instruments and with a more rock-based sound, but then again: can you really call F.T. Island rock? For some reason I never really listened to this, their debut single, but I'm glad I finally did. While admittedly My Everything can only be considered soft rock, this rock ballad is lovely. The vocals are strong and clear and I love the guitars and light use of strings. Not your average girl group, that's for sure.

WoNdeR WomaN × the telephones - MiChi
Japanese | Pop-Rock
I can't say I've ever heard anything of the telephones', and MiChi's spelling just really irritates me - not to mention the overall mediocrity of her music. However, this song is much more alt-rock than MiChi's music, I'm guessing that's the telephones' influence. It's energetic and catchy, but MiChi sounds a bit strained.

コインランドリー - OGRE YOU ASSHOLE
Japanese | Alt Rock
I downloaded this on a compilation album and never really noticed it as an individual track until this band's intriguing name caught my attention. I love the high, clean guitar lines alternating with darker, grungier chords. It creates some interesting transitions.

가지마 - Wednesday
Korean | Ballad
This is actually a solo song by Chi Yeol, a member of the duo Wednesday. Chi Yeol released a solo album a couple years ago about when I was starting to get into k-pop and basically downloaded everything because I had no idea what I would like and what I wouldn't. The album was filled with gorgeous, unique ballads and sophisticated pop tracks - I would be uploading songs from it, but unfortunately it's not on the computer I usually work from. After his debut album, he completely disappeared. I nearly skipped past Wednesday, assuming they were another male duo trying to copy Fly to the Sky's success, but went back once realizing Chi Yeol was a member. 가지마 is a ballad that showcases his strong, rich vocals (and what a gorgeous vibrato) - if you're a fan of Tei, Eru, Park Hyo Shin, and other such ballad vocalists, you'll like him. Compositionally, it is a bit cookie-cutter, but I'm so glad to see him releasing music again that I'm willing to forgive that. And much like other ballad kings, his voice elevates the song to new levels.

Hey Elevator - Apples in Stereo
English | Indie pop
So I kind of skimmed through this album (Travellers in Space and Time) and didn't really think much of it, but this track - probably amongst their more popular - stood out to me on a second listen. The chorus is so catchy, paired with disco influences and feel-good piano chords.

Circus - Royal Pirates
English | Rock
I didn't think anyone could cover this song and make it sound good. Korean group Royal Pirates however, manages to do just that. I love the rock twist to this song, and their confident sound.

서시 (Seo Shi/Prologue) - Shin Sung Woo
Korean | Rock Ballad
I know nothing about this singer, but I recently found this rock ballad in my iTunes library. It starts out with just acoustic guitar and you think that's what the whole song will be, but suddenly a full rock ensemble gets swept in.

Bluepeo - Mister Symbol
Instrumental
Another song that mysteriously appeared in my iTunes. It came up on shuffle and the pretty piano intro and soft, ambient beat caught my attention. It reminds me a bit of Nujabes, Epik High/Eternal Morning, etc.

Romeo N Juliet (알렉스, 신애 듀엣 원곡) (우리결혼했어요 삽입곡) - Clazziquai
Korean | Electronica/Acid Jazz
Although I'm a big Clazziquai fan, I never really noticed this song in particular. It's charming and soothing, and Alex and Horan sound fantastic together. I love their unique harmonies as well as the bright rap portion and jazzy instrumental solos.

Labels: 2AM, Apples in Stereo, Chi Yeol, Clazziquai, Donawhale, Eternal Morning, Jinbo, MiChi, Mister Symbol, Royal Pirates, Shin Sung Woo, Someday, St. Vincent, Super Junior, Tim Be Told, Wednesday

I wanted to get a rotation up before I left, so I can go straight to the 50th rotation when I get back. This rotation is themed around electro-pop and synths. It's named after Owl City's song of the same name, featured below, because it seemed like a perfect fit for the dreamy, sweet quality that a lot of electro-pop has, although not all the songs here fit that description.

Nothing Better - The Postal Service
English | Electro-pop
A side project of Death Cab For Cutie singer Ben Gibbard's, Nothing Better is charming and light. The synths remind me a bit of Owl City, although the vocals aren't quite as distinctive - not that they don't have their own charm. The play between the female and male vocalists is touching, and lyrically, it's also quite strong.

Vanilla Twilight - Owl City
English | Electro-pop
I'm not a huge Owl City fan - their songs tend to blend together to me - but I do like a couple of their songs: The Saltwater Room, and Vanilla Twilight in particular. It's melodic and absolutely endearing. The lyrics are a bit sappy but sweet nonetheless. It's a cute song about missing someone, and the adept blend of synths mixed with brief touches of guitar and piano is lovely.

Cuddle Fuddle - Passion Pit
English | Electronic
This song takes a while to establish itself, but I love the unique edge to the vocals starting at around 1:10 as well as the vibrant synths added at that point. It's not a favourite of mine, but it has a delicate edge to it that I like.

Hey You - Pony Pony Run Run
English | Electronic/Power-pop
This song is so addictive. I can't get enough of it. The bassline and beat are awesome, and there's something about its laid-back guitar riffs and addictive hook that is so appealing. I love the bridge as well, where everything slows down a little and the synth backdrop becomes a little more dreamy. Definitely one of the highlights of this rotation.

Beat In Love - Clazziquai Project
English | Electronica
Although Clazziquai is a Korean group, the lyrics of this song are in English. It's charming, upbeat, and their English sounds great. I especially love Alex's verses, there's something about the warmth of his voice paired with the synths that is just perfect.

S.P.X - Humming Urban Stereo
Korean | Electronica
The more mature atmosphere of this song separates it from some of the others in this rotation. I always found this song to be one that required a certain mood, or else it comes across as a bit repetitive and directionless. It might not be the most accessible track, but come on, it's Humming Urban Stereo.

Pool Party (feat. 사파이어 & 윤지아) - House Rulez
Korean | Electronica
I don't really like the chipmunk-y intro of this song, but all is forgiven when the splashes of brass enter. Like the title suggests, it's a great summer track with a lot of energy.

47 - Casker
Korean | Electronic
I love this duo, and songs like 47 are why. From the rich, lush intro of synths, I was captured. They definitely set a more serious tone than what you've heard in the songs above, but it's a welcome change of pace. The slight dissonance in the rising line of synths only adds to the hauntingly beautiful atmosphere of this song. YoongJin's smooth, elegant vocals are far different from what you'd expect in an electronica song, but it fits the song perfectly. Highly recommended.

Twist In My Love - Instant Romantic Floor
Korean | Electro-pop
It's hard to classify Instant Romantic Floor - their music has touches of electronica, pop, house, and bossa nova. Twist In My Love has a couple surprises in store, particularly the very light use of synths and the more prominent use of strings - though not in a ballad-type setting, but rather something sweet and airy, words that could be used to describe the song as a whole.

Snowdrop - Fanny Fink
Korean | Soft Rock
This Pastel Music group is a real gem. A soft, feathery song with surprising depth. I love the rich percussion and the barely-there vocals. Okay, on second listen I don't think there's actually any synths in this song except for a few deft ones blended in with the piano.

Giant - Yozoh
Korean | Electro-pop
Although Yozoh plays with a lot of genres, mostly acoustic, Giant is a foray into electro-pop. Her feathery, light voice is a good match. A soothing, atmospheric track with an understated beauty.

I was Wrong - capsule
English | Electronica
How could we have an electronica rotation of any sort without Japanese electronica duo capsule? The percussive intro of this song is fantastic, paired with a few lush, full-bodied piano chords. The vocals are achingly clear - and the English flawless. There's even touches of strings. It's sophisticated and textured. I love it.

Preservative Woman - Aural Vampire
Japanese | Electronica/Industrial Rock
An upbeat, light-hearted track with synthesized vocals that surprisingly, I like. Unfortunately, the rest of the song isn't that appealing to me although it's worth a listen.

QUESTIONS - MEG
English | Electro-pop
I've never been a big fan of Japanese singer MEG and never really understood her popularity, but her journey mini-album did have a few gems, one of which is QUESTIONS. It's polished and charismatic. The light, simple vocal execution really works with the catchy beat and bass. On a side note, there's an awful lot of Korean/Japanese artists with all-English lyrics in this rotation.

Kids - MGMT
English | Electronic
The line of synths in this song is just so instantly recognizable. It puts a smile on my face whenever I hear it. Addictive and surprisingly delicate, I really like the slightly echoed, distant feel of the vocals contrasted with the clarity of the synths and beat.

Daylight - Matt & Kim
English | Electronica, Power-pop
A cute track from Brooklyn-based duo Matt & Kim. It's bubbly and multi-layered, although the vocals are a bit of an acquired taste.

Labels: Aural Vampire, capsule, Clazziquai, Fanny Fink, House Rulez, Humming Urban Stereo, Instant Romantic Floor, Matt + Kim, MEG, MGMT, Owl City, Passion Pit, Pony Pony Run Run, The Postal Service, Yozoh

I apologize again that this is taking so long, I've been really busy with school lately. In hindsight, I think it would have been better to upload the songs as I went along - I'll definitely remember that if I decide to do another number lottery in the future. Only one more batch remains, I can't promise how long it will take to be posted but I will definitely try my best to get it done as soon as possible. Thanks for being patient! =)

- Haruhi

EDIT: It seems that a few of the links (Shining Butterfly - BRIGHT & Koi Hitoyo - acid black cherry) weren't right, they've now been fixed.

Ayumi:

#1657. Shining Butterfly - BRIGHT
Japanese | Pop
A bubbly pop number by one of my favourite girl groups. Although I wouldn't consider it to be one of their very best songs, it's upbeat and fun.

#157. 式日 - ACIDMAN
Japanese | Alt. Rock
I really like this band, especially their vocalist's crisp, clean voice. A mid-tempo track with lots of bright guitar work.

#2345. Nalcha Byongyongson - Clazziquai
Korean | Pop/Electronica/Jazz
This is from their Color Your Soul album. It's a sweet, light song featuring Alex's cream vocals and Horan's light, airy voice.

#1000. Sands of time - Back-on
Japanese | Rock
I love this song. It's upbeat, and although definitely a rock song it has some electronica/rapcore influences too. These guys definitely deserve more recognition, try them out!

Allie:
#10894. 宝物 (Takaramono/Treasures) (Homemade demo vers.) - ROUND TABLE ft. Nino
Japanese | Pop/Acoustic
This version features only acoustic guitar and sweet, feminine vocals. Although I found the vocals a bit too childish and thin, it's an endearing song.

#1777. Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow - Bullet For My Valentine
English | Metal
Although I don't listen to heavy rock as much now, this song isn't actually too overpowering once you get past the screaming in the first verse and a little bit later on in the song.

#135. Koi Hitoyo - Acid Black Cherry
Japanese | Rock
I love this group, and Koi Hitoyo is a fantastic song. I love the intro, the percussion really pulls you in. It has an air of mystery to it, and I love the way the song builds up.

#2626. Shining - Crystal Kay
Japanese | Pop/R&B
A sweet, poppy song by Crystal Kay. I love the subtle harmonies and the bright atmosphere.

Labels: acid black cherry, ACIDMAN, BACK-ON, BRIGHT, Bullet For My Valentine, Clazziquai, Crystal Kay, number lottery, ROUND TABLE feat. Nino

I took this idea from an LJ community, basically it’s just ten of the songs that I really like & have constantly been listening to in the last few weeks. Most will probably be fairly recent releases. I excluded songs that I had already posted, which prevented the two Kimaguren songs I posted previously and St. Day from making the list.

I'm putting off the rock/pop rotation I mentioned earlier for another time. & sorry my comments aren't too great ... for some reason I never have a problem with commenting on smaller updates but when it comes to larger rotations I just get kind of tired and all my comments start to sound the same, haha.

Please remember to comment/leave a rating if taking, thanks.

#10. City of Sadness - Zhang Yuan
Mandarin | Ballad
A solo song by Top Combine’s main vocalist, Zhang Yuan. Although I’m not very familiar with the group, Zhang Yuan’s voice is lovely - strong, rich, and rounded. Despite the formulaic arrangement, I really liked the chorus and overall sad yet hopeful atmosphere of the song.

#9. 爱上 (Fall In Love With) - Xiao Yu
Mandarin | R&B/Pop
I really loved his sophomore album, Standing Here, and “Fall In Love With” is one of my favourite tracks. It’s a sweet, mid-tempo number. The piano accompaniment is warm and adds a nice depth to the song, but what I really love is Xiao Yu’s smooth, creamy vocals.

#8. 너라고 (It's You) - Super Junior
Korean | Pop
Upon first listen, I really didn’t think this song was anything special, but it’s really grown on me. The transition from the slower and more serious opening verses into the uptempo chorus is fantastic. The mood brightens at certain points in the song, becoming more hopeful and optimistic, and the accompaniment has strong electronica routes. It’s quite poppy like most of their material, but also more mature and sophisticated.

#7. 王妃 (Princess) - Jam Hsiao
Mandarin | Rock
I’m quite a fan of him, and was excited to see his new album. Princess is the title track. Jam Hsiao spans many genres, but my favourite of his would be rock, and Princess is not a disappointment. The song sounds slightly familiar, but is definitely unique. Jam Hsiao’s voice is slightly rough, suiting the atmosphere perfectly.

#6. 정신없이 예뻐 (Crazily Pretty) - DNT
Korean | Pop
I just love the chord progressions of this song, especially in the synths that dominate the opening. It’s an upbeat track that’s catchy and danceable, but doesn’t offer much beyond that. The vocals are decent (I believe they have a new member, too?) but not outstanding - personally, I would have liked to see a little more harmonizing. Nonetheless, a fresh, summery song.

#5. The Road - Clazziquai
English | Electronica
I love Clazziquai, and I was so excited to give their new album a listen (come to think of it, quite a few artists that I like have released albums/singles lately). “The Road” is one of my favourite tracks from Mucho MUSICA, it’s slow, ambient, and incredibly genuine. It’s one of the more downtempo tracks on the album, but extremely powerful, and something about its darker atmosphere really just caught on to me. The lyrics (and Alex’s voice) are gorgeous too, all in (perfectly understandable) English.

#4. Hello, I'm in Delaware - City and Colour
English | Acoustic
I used to really like this band, but it’s been a while since I listened to them. A soft, understated song. It’s really the lyrics that I love - So there goes my life/passing by with every exit sign .../No sleep tonight, I’ll keep on driving these dark highway lines. Although it doesn’t really have a clear “direction” and might be a little bland to some, I really liked it.

#3. 海岸中央通り - kimaguren
Japanese | Reggae/Pop/Rock
An island-flavoured song, a little more upbeat than the two I uploaded previously from their Sora x Shonen album. 海岸中央通り features fresh, breezy arrangement, smooth crisp vocals, and trumpet riffs.

#2. 你很好 (You're Very Good) - Xiao Yu
Mandarin | Pop/R&B
Opening with gorgeous harmonies against a chordal piano arrangement, You’re Very Good transitions into a smooth and rich R&B song. If you think about all the elements separately, there’s really nothing outstanding about it: a fairly standard R&B-style beat, boomy bass, splashes of piano - but everything just comes together perfectly. Xiao Yu’s voice is, as always, lovely - smooth and rich. It’s a catchy, memorable song.

#1. Africa - Karl Wolf ft. Culture
English | Pop/R&B
I’m not really sure what genre this song would be - it’s a remake, the original artist was Toto. I love it - the many-layered harmonies in the sung verses are simply gorgeous. The melody always gets stuck in my head. Although the rap verses don’t do much for me, they definitely add depth and colour to the song.

Labels: City and Colour, Clazziquai, DNT, Jam Hsiao, Karl Wolf, Kimaguren, Super Junior, Xiao Yu

This week’s rotation has no real theme, it’s just random songs that came up when I put my iTunes on shuffle. Sorry, I promise the next rotation will be better - I’m thinking of either an artist feature, since I haven’t done one in a while, or a summer theme. Please remember to comment or leave a rating. =)

1. Monochrome - kannivalism
Japanese | Rock
I love this band, and I’m really sad that they seem to have disbanded. Monochrome is a mid-tempo track with clear, refreshing vocals and a great guitar accompaniment. I wouldn’t say it’s one of my favourites by them, but a pleasing listen none-the-less.

2. Free Music - PDIS ft. Brown Eyed Girls
Korean | Hip-Pop
PDIS is a collaboration between Cho PD and Yoon Il Sang. They released a album a while back that I just recently discovered on my computer. Most of the songs are energetic and upbeat, so it’s perfect for the summer. I hesitate to call them pure hip-hop since most of their songs have at least one other genre incorporated. Free Music, for example, alternates between hopeful, gospel-style verses with rich harmonies and poppy rap verses sprinkled with melodic lines from the Brown Eyed Girls. Personally, I think the hook (“It’s free, free music”) could have been incorporated more - there’s a rather long portion where it’s just rapping that gets quite tedious, especially with the repetitive backdrop.

3. Pride - PDIS ft. Tiger JK and May Doni
Korean | Hip-Pop
Pride is a rock-influenced number, aggressive and gritty. It definitely fits its title. May Doni’s powerful, slightly rough voice suits the song perfectly.

4. Hanttae (Acoustic version) - Ye In ft. Noblesse
Korean | Acoustic Pop
A lovely acoustic guitar song, laid-back and breezy. It’s a relaxing but heartfelt track. Ye In’s airy, feminine voice compliments Noblesse’s rapping well.

5. Flea - Clazziquai Project
Korean/English | Electronica
I love this song. It’s a bit strange, what with all the synths and soft, minimal vocals, but overall it’s an extremely atmospheric and unique song. I love the bass and rhythm. I love the hook - “This flea is you and I, it’s a bad thing, but a little thing, but a little thing. A parasite that coexist, it’s a bad thing, but a little thing, but a little thing.” It’s extremely catchy.

6. 내 여자친구에게 (To my Girlfriend) - I the Tri top’s
Korean | Pop Ballad
This song samples Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”, which is a gorgeous song but so overplayed and overused, especially in K-pop. This sampling turned me off at first, but then I realized it’s only used sparsely - in the intro, in a short instrumental bridge, and in the background of just one of other verses near the end of the song leading into the outro. “To my Girlfriend” is a poppy, mid-tempo ballad with warm, sweet vocals and a general feel-good atmosphere. It’s not particularly unique, but it’s worth a listen.

7. Good Times - Crystal Kay
Japanese | Pop
I quite like Crystal Kay, especially her upbeat songs. An energetic track with a great beat that Crystal Kay’s pure, strong voice playfully leads. It’s a fun, poppy, light-hearted, summery song.

8. Rain Song - Furukawa Miki
Japanese | Ballad
I’m always for supporting indie artists, but I have to say I’m not a huge fan of Furukawa Miki. Rain Song is a slightly strange guitar and string-based ballad that definitely has a unique flavour. Miki’s voice sounds slightly muffled and at times faraway. But a lot of people really like her, so I guess it’s a personal opinion.

9. Marry Me Today - Jolin Tsai & David Tao
Mandarin | Pop
This song is hugely popular, but I’ve never liked it. The intro sounds outdated and the strings a little too screechy. The opening verses are all right- sweet and poppy, although I don’t really feel any connection between the two singers. The “rap” verse is also kind of ridiculous. They just go back and forth saying “D.T. in the house/Jo-lin in the house”, finishing with “Our love in the house”. It’s also quite repetitive.

10.말을 못하죠 - Rick
Korean | R&B
A smooth, poppy R&B track. It’s relaxing, down tempo and fairly generic - a pleasant listen, but nothing special.

11. Brokenhearted -Yi
Mandarin | Electronica/Pop
A synthy dark pop song. I absolutely love the bass, and the soft, delicate vocals suit the atmosphere of the song perfectly.

12. Insomnia - Wheesung
Korean | R&B
This is a cover of a Craig David song by the same name. I love it - slick, addictive melodies, meltingly smooth vocals. It stays quite close to the original, so I can’t decide which version I like more.

13. Shine - TVXQ
Japanese | Pop
I’m pretty sure everyone already has it (and the quality isn’t too great either, I think this was a rip from when the single just came out), but anyways - a cute, poppy song from Tohoshinki. It’s just pure, sugary boyband pop, but of course, extremely well-executed, with lovely harmonies and a great accompaniment that’s consistent without being repetitive.

14. Hot Ddeu Guh - 1TYM
Korean | Hip Hop
An aggressive, American-influenced song from 1TYM. I’m not much for the rapped verses, but the hook is addictive. Its repetitiveness is really what works for it.

Labels: 1TYM, Clazziquai, Crystal Kay, David Tao, Furukawa Miki, I the Tri top's, Jolin Tsai, kannivalism, Noblesse, PDIS, Rick, Tohoshinki, Wheesung, Ye In, Yi

Rotation 11 is slightly smaller than my previous two rotations, but I'm spending a little more time on comments. I was intending to find some images of the artists/albums too, but I decided not to this time.

The theme this week is remixes (this also includes different versions of songs), as well as a couple other songs I wanted to upload. I haven't uploaded the originals for most songs, but if you want, I can probably find them. Just leave me an e-mail or a comment somewhere, and I'll be happy to put it up for you. =)

Enjoy.

-Haruhi

REMIXES.

La La La (DG YG Remix) - Se7en
genre: Pop/Electronica
language: Korean
rating:
comments: I'm usually not a fan of electronica-type remixes of slow songs since I usually find that it takes away from their overall sound, but I have to say that Iike this mix. It's well done and puts a lot of emphasis on the bass, without losing the original essence of it. I actually really like the little eletronic-riff bridge. Probably one of the better remixes I've seen.

Yes Forever (Piano Version) - MISIA
genre: R&B/Ballad
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: I uploaded the original of this song in my last update (not the last rotation, but the update in between). This is the piano version of it, which is just as good. She has a wonderful voice, but I do have to admit that this song can get boring after a while. If you like ballads, definitely try her out.

Ashita wa kuru kara - Tohoshinki
Ashita wa kuru kara (A capella version) - Tohoshinki
genre: Pop/Ballad
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: Probably one of my favourite Tohoshinki ballads. I always like their a capella versions, too. It has a sweet but simple piano accompaniment, the same could be said for the melody. The chorus always gets stuck in my head. Their voices are soft but not lacking strength. The a capella version is good, but the piano accompaniment is just a little too loud, in my opinion. But their voices stand out a lot more in the chorus. The harmonizing is well done, their voices blend together nicely. I think I actually like Jae Joong's voice best in these two songs.

Together (Night Falls Mix) - Monkey Majik
genre: Pop
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: I uploaded this single a while ago, but without this remix. It's got a kind of bossa-nova/trance feel to it. It's not as good as the original and although it's well executed, it just doesn't suit the style of the song very well. But if you're fan of Monkey Majik, it's worth a listen.

Hit (Remix) - Cho Shin Sung
genre: Pop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: I'm usually not a huge boyband fan, but I like these guys. The beginning of this remix is kind of annoying with the guy saying "Run it" over and over, but it's a nice, upbeat track with some pretty dang nice bass beats. Their vocals are good and the first verse of this song reminds me a LOT of Super Junior. I actually thought this was a cover of one of their songs, since they have a song called "Hit" too, but ... it's not. I love the parts where you can hear the glass breaking. Try them out, they're not bad.

너는 어디에 (Remix) - Cho Shin Sung
genre: Pop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: Another upbeat Cho Shin Sung song, this song features smooth vocals and a surprisingly melodic chorus. While "Hit" reminded me of Super Junior, this song reminds me of Shinhwa, especially some of their older songs. The transition between the more aggressive verses and then the gentler chorus is well done.

Love mode feat. PE'Z and VERBAL (m-flo) (pzq mode) - Clazziquai
genre: Jazz
language: English
rating:
comments: Clazziquai, PE'Z, AND m-flo - just looking at the artists made me pretty sure this was going to be a good remix, and I wasn't disappointed. I love the drums. And of course, PE'Z is amazing, adding a lovely touch of jazz to this song. The vocals are very relaxing and the lyrics are all in English. It does get kind of repetitive, but I'm recommending this because PE'Z is just awesome.

Breakdown (Supreme Mix) - Epik High
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean/English
rating:
comments: Another one of my favourites from Epik High's fifth album, this mix of Breakdown features mostly English lyrics, though some of the rap verses are in Korean. While the accompaniment is pretty repetitive, this song never really gets boring to me. It's very upbeat. Recommended.

One (Planet Shiver Remix) - Epik High
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: I loved Epik High's One, but I didn't really like the remix as much. It doesn't keep many of the original elements of the song ... there's not even vocals for most of it, or they're not lyrics from the original song. However, it does go into the chorus of One, kind of - it's recognizable, at least. When "You are the one" is sung it's just beautiful, though. Everything kind of stops before it, and you're just waiting for it. Worth a listen.

Color Your Soul (Pinch Remix) - Clazziquai
genre: Eletronica
language: Korean
rating:
comments: Starts out with some nice piano chords, then leads into the first verse. It's very unique to Clazziquai's style, and I absolutely love it. Very relaxing.

Fly Remix (Hidden Track) - Epik High
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: Loving the drums. It's been a while since I listened to this song, this remix is pretty good ... it doesn't actually sound that much different except for the drums, which make it sound even more upbeat.

거짓말 (Lies) (Remix) - Big Bang
genre: Hip-Hop
language: Korean
rating:
comments: This is a slower remix of Lies, with a very simple but lovely piano melody starting it off. It's got more of an acoustic sound than the original mix, and showcases their voices wonderfully. I think it's a live rip, but it's a very good one. The beat does pick up after and it kind of slowly transitions into the original version of the song. Recommended.

MY PICKS.

Call Me (Appelez Moi) - Blaise Plant
genre: Pop
language: English & French
rating:
comments: I'm in love with this song. In case you didn't know, this is Blaise Plant of Monkey Majik. The lyrics are very sweet and sad at the same time.

Love is all that stands between us

The arrangement just blows me away. Love the drums & piano. Really I love just about everything about this song. Highly, highly recommended.

With U - Big Bang
genre: Hip-Hop/Pop
language: English
rating:
comments: Their English is getting pretty good. For the most part, it's understandable in this song. With U has got some pretty infectious beats, though it is pretty generic. The first time I listened to it I didn't really think it was that good, but it's starting to grow on me. This is from their upcoming mini-album in Japan.

マイネイチャー - 超飛行少年 (Super Flying Boy)
genre: Alt-rock
language: Japanese
rating:
comments: I thought this was ONE OK ROCK the first time I heard this song. The intro reminds me of Et cetera. Yeah, their style is pretty similar to ONE OK ROCK's. They're pretty good, try them out.

Labels: Big Bang, Blaise Plant, Cho Shin Sung, Clazziquai, Epik High, m-flo, MISIA, Monkey Majik, PE'Z, Se7en, Super Flying Boy, Tohoshinki

Welcome to Fashion Scans, an mp3 rotation that features Korean, Japanese, and Chinese music as well as the occasional English song. Fashion Scans was created in October 2007 and is run by Haruhi with contributions from Carmi.

Please send all affiliate requests to Haruhi. Carmi is currently open to requests.

Files are for sampling purposes only, I am not responsible if you keep them for longer than the 24-48 hours permitted. Please support the artists by purchasing their CDs.

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