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

sugar

01. Hey Soul Sister - Train
hey soul sister, i don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight

02. 愛愛愛 - Khalil Fong

03. Fly Me Away - Annie Little
won't you fly me away, take me away with you

04. Two Is Better Than One - Boys Like Girls
you came into my life and i thought
hey, you know, this could be something

05. By My Side - David Choi
all the fears you feel inside
and all the tears you cry
they're ending right here.

06. One Touch - Gabe Bondoc
one touch and i'm hooked and i am drowning
one look and i'm lost inside your eyes



// download.

Labels: Annie Little, Blaise Plant, Boys Like Girls, Britney Spears, David Choi, Florrie, gabe bondoc, Khalil Fong, La Roux, Maroon 5, mixtape, Train

until daybreak



overview. songs for the nights you lie in bed, unable to sleep. waiting for the darkness to subside and the dawn to break, because you know you'll be wide awake until then. english, mandarin, korean, japanese, instrumental. ballad, alt rock, indie.

tracklist.

♪ set the fire to the third bar _snow patrol ft. martha wainwright
their words, mostly noises
ghosts with just voices
your words in my memory
are like music to me

♪ down _jason walker
so why do i try,
i know i'm gonna fall down

♪ seeing you off the edges _eluvium

♪ we are mice _azure ray
it's all in the eyes
the reckless way we dream to die
our past is our future
the present lies
somewhere between our hearts and minds

♪ infection _chihiro onitsuka
in the night
i realize this infection

♪ space between _katie noonan & the captains
space between us blue as oceans
gold as sunshine, red as my blood

♪ nicest thing _kate nash
i wish that without me you'd be spending the rest of your nights awake
i wish that without me you couldn't eat
i wish i was the last thing on your mind before you went to sleep

♪ lonely lonely _feist
distance makes the heart grow weak
so that the mouth can barely speak
except to those who hide their needs

♪ still alright _pg. lost

♪ rocks _ben jelen
but now i'm doubting me, i know i shouldn't be but
i've been down, i've been down

♪ diary _kelly chen
loved until it hurt
hurt until i cried
cried until i was tired
the dilemmas in my heart
keep repeating

♪ winter song _sara bareilles ft. ingrid michaelson
is love alive?

♪ cry _kelly clarkson
i'm talking in circles
i'm lying, they know it
why won't this just all go away

♪ apres moi _regina spektor
i must go on standing
you can't break that which isn't yours
i must go on standing
i'm not my own, it's not my choice

♪ 카페인 _mot

♪ 愛我吧 _khalil fong
don't answer me,
don't answer me

♪ breaking my heart again _aqualung
need to know
i don't wanna know
already know
-
you're making me doubt
i thought i knew you
i don't even know myself

♪ teenage dream _the rescues
i can't sleep
let's run away and don't ever look back,
don't ever look back

♪ when my time comes _dawes
and now the only piece of advice that continues to help
is anyone making anything new only breaks something else

♪ moonlight punch romance _nell
i fell in love
with the silence of the night

bonus (not in zip).
♪ why _susie suh
why do i ask myself these questions?

download. [MF]

comments. this mix is a bit of an amalgam. i wanted to include songs that provided some sense of comfort, but that doesn't mean they're calming - sometimes, they're only comforting because you've found something that perfectly reflects your mood. at the same time, i didn't want this to be a mix to help you get to sleep. it's more of a mix for understanding that you won't, if that makes sense. near the end of the mix, there's a few brighter, more hopeful songs - perhaps better suited for when the light is beginning to filter in. standouts include the rescues' harmonic, yearning cover of katy perry's teenage dream, regina spektor's dramatic apres moi, katie noonan's silky, rich voice in space between, and chihiro onitsuka's haunting infection. whatever keeps you up at night - i hope this helps.

Labels: Chihiro Onitsuka, Dawes, eluvium, Feist, Jason Walker, Kelly Chen, Kelly Clarkson, Khalil Fong, mixtape, Mot, Nell, pg.lost, Regina Spektor, Sara Bareilles, Snow Patrol, Susie Suh, The Rescues

Another mixtape for you, this time jazz-themed. I've meant to a jazz-themed rotation for a long time, and decided to create a two-disc mixtape instead. The first disc consists of instrumental music, and the second, vocal. Further description/review is below.

This took a long time to compile and upload, so please comment if taking.

- Haruhi



Summary: A collection of jazz songs, ranging from classics from the likes of Duke Ellington to modern bands like PE'Z. This is a highly personal mixtape - by that, I mean that this is not in any way supposed to be a comprehensive sampler of jazz music, but rather songs that I personally like and think would make a good introduction to jazz and could be enjoyed by everyone, and not just serious jazz fans.

Tracklist:

Disc 1:

01. Akatsuki - PE'Z [PV]
02. Percolator - Spyro Gyra
03. ひんやりやんひ - PE'Z
04. Old Castle, by the river, in the middle of a forest - Hiromi
05. ハヤガケ - PE'Z
06. Secret Samba - Big Band Wolfenbuettel
07. 真夜中のアメーバ - PE'Z
08. Chronic - Metalwood
09. MY FOOLISH HEART ~crazy in mind~ - SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS [PV]
10. Such Sweet Thunder {Cleo} - Duke Ellington
11. So What - Miles Davis
12. Pescara - Metalwood
13. Hayburner - Count Basie Orchestra
14. STORM - SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS
15. Hale no sola sita ～LA YELLOW SAMBA～ - PE'Z
16. Fantastic Planet - SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS
17. A Flat Minor - Preferred Take - Duke Ellington
18. The Star-Crossed Lovers (aka Pretty Girl) - Stereo LP Master - Duke Ellington
19. Sweet and Lovely - Thelonious Monk

Disc 2:

01. Gallop - Pe'zmoku
02. In These Shoes - Arturo O'Farrill & Claudia Acuna
03. Tikiville - Joanna Wang
04. Beyond the Sea - Matt Belsante
05. Georgia on My Mind (Originally by Ray Charles) - Khalil Fong
06. (Mr. Paganini) You'll Have to Swing It (Parts 1 and 2) - Ella Fitzgerald
07. Charmed Life - Diana Krall

Download:
Disc 1: MF [137mb]
Disc 2: MF [33mb]

Notes:
- I'm not sure how the songs are arranged in the .zip file and in what order they will copy into your iTunes (I believe it may be alphabetically by file names), but the tracklist above is the tracklist I intended, for those of you who are picky about stuff like that.

- Like I mentioned when I posted my first mixtape here, I don't create/upload .zip files often. If there are any issues, please let me know.

Comments:
I'm not going to do an in-depth review, but some quick comments about this mixtape for anyone who's interested:

PE'Z is not featured four times on this mixtape without reason (five, if you count pe'zmoku, their collaboration with vocalist suzumoku). They are a modern Japanese group who I think, unfortunately, is on an "indefinite hiatus". I would consider them more fusion, they definitely have some rock influences. Their songs are so energetic and catchy; I especially love their piano solos and their pianist has also worked with Shiina Ringo and released some solo material as well. Definitely try them out - even if you don't like jazz.

If you like PE'Z, SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS is quite similar in style. They're also a modern Japanese band, and while between the two I still prefer PE'Z, they're amongst my favourites as well. They have the same energy and passion. I find SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS brass players to be stronger. Both amazing bands that, unfortunately, don't get a lot of recognition - I rarely see their music shared or mentioned, which is why I included a substantial number of songs from both these groups in this mixtape.

Percolotor by Spyro Gyra (man that's hard to type) is more of a funk chart, I played this in my school's jazz band last year and it was basically the favourite song of the whole group, so I just had to share it. It's catchy and and has some great solos in it. My favourite is probably the sax.

Hiromi is a jazz pianist, so Old Castle, by the river, in the middle of a forest (what's with these names?) is a fast-paced composition that, duh, is focused around piano. The fluidity of this song is quite impressive, and I especially love the part at around 5:25 where it slows down and becomes more chordal, really letting the tone of the piano shine rather than just the notes. Beautiful.

Metalwood is a Canadian fusion group, I love the way they blend rock and jazz. The growling bassline in Chronic is just fantastic. Although these guys are a fusion group, their jazz is a bit more intellectual than the two Japanese groups I mentioned above, IMO. However that certainly doesn't make their music inaccessible.

I don't think Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, or Diana Krall require any introduction. All jazz greats - I tried to pick songs that are pretty mainstream, but we're getting into "real" jazz here, and these songs are all quite a bit older as well, so they might be more of an acquired taste.

Joanna Wang's Latin-influenced Tikiville took a while to grow on me, but it did. I actually kind of hated it the first time I listened to it, but a few more listens have changed my mind. I've uploaded a lot by her in the past, so check the tag if you're interested. She's a young Taiwanese jazz singer, but IIRC she also spent some time in New York.

Matt Belsante's rendition of Beyond the Sea is sweet, and while I'm not really a huge fan of him, I really liked it. I've heard his voice compared to Michael Buble's, if that helps.

There had to be a jazz standard that pretty much everyone knows here, so we have Georgia on my Mind as sung by Khalil Fong ... I believe I've uploaded this in the past already, but oh well. Khalil Fong isn't a jazz singer at all, but I didn't want to upload a standard version of this classic.

More:
Here's some links to some straightforward biographies about some of these artists, in case you want to find out more about them.
Hiromi | PE'Z/pe'zmoku | SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS

Labels: Count Basie, Diana Krall, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Hiromi, Joanna Wang, Khalil Fong, Matt Belsante, Metalwood, Miles Davis, mixtape, PE'Z, SOIL+"PIMP" SESSIONS, Spyro Gyra, Thelonious Monk

I am planning to return to my regular rotation schedule in September. Here's a quick update for you guys in the meantime, a couple songs that I've been listening to a lot lately. Excluding songs I've already posted before - Khalil Fong's Wonderful Tonight and the rest of the Timeless album as well as A-Chord's Little Shepherd's Fantasy Journey & the SM Town Compilation - namely SHINee & DBSK's songs - have all been favourites of mine too.

Also, I've uploaded a new mini-album by The Brave Brothers.

Please leave a comment or rating if taking!

#5. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight - U2
English | Rock
Some of you might recognize this song, it was recently featured on a Blackberry commercial, (which I personally found to be very ineffective - Blackberry loves U2, so I should buy their phones?) and I decided to look it up. It's a mid-tempo rock song with a great arrangement - I love the dreamy synth-y keyboard chords between verses - but what I really love about this song is its lyrics - Every generation gets a chance to change the world/Divination that will listen to your boys and girls/Is the sweetest melody the one we haven't heard?/Is it true that perfect love drives out all fear?

#4. Feelin' You - BRIGHT
Japanese | R&B/Pop
BRIGHT is one of the few girl groups that I really love, and Feelin' You is no exception. It's an enthusiastic, bright mid-tempo track. Vocally, they sound great, and their trademark harmonies really bring the song up a notch. An active percussion and airy synths provide the base of the accompaniment. Although this song took a while to grow on me, it definitely has.

#3. We've All Grown Up (我们都成了大人) - A-Chord
Mandarin | Pop/Rock Ballad
The two songs of A-Chord's that I've shared before were all relatively upbeat, but We've All Grown Up takes a more serious tone. In other words, it's a ballad. It's piano-based and caught my interest because it sounds slightly muted, even when you turn the volume up. It adds to the sincere atmosphere of the song, and A-Chord's warm, yearning voice is filled with emotion. At first I thought it was a bit generic, but after a few listens, it's really convinced me of A-Chord's maturity and talent.

#2. Red Bean (红豆) (Original Singer: 王菲 - Faye Wang) - Khalil Fong
Mandarin | Ballad
The first time I heard this song, it was an extremely low-quality rip, and because it's a fairly soft song in the first place, I thought it was another bland ballad and discarded it. After re-listening to it (in much better quality) on the full album, I immediately changed my mind. I've actually heard the original of this song quite a few times, a lot of my friends like to sing it at karaoke - I realized this as soon as I heard the chorus. Although personally I find the rest of the song a bit bland - mid-tempo piano/strings ballad with a minimal percussion accompaniment in the case of Khalil's version, I don't remember much of the original version - I love the chorus, and it always stays with me. Although I hadn't heard this song for about an year until stumbling upon Khalil's remake, I recognized it as soon as I heard it (in good enough quality to actually discern the melody). A warm and genuine ballad that Khalil's careful remake does justice to.

#1. The Saltwater Room - Owl City
English | Electronica/Pop
I've heard a lot of good things about Owl City, but only recently began listening to them - the first song I heard was this, The Saltwater Room, and I definitely wasn't disappointed. It's a lovely song - soft and warm, with an acoustic guitar base and tentative, unique vocals. It's calm but engaging, and definitely prompted me to try and find more material from them.



Brave Brothers - Attitude
Korean | Hip-Hop/Pop
Release date: August 18 2009

o1. Interview (인터뷰)
o2. Brave Sound (브레이브사운드)
o3 Invisible (인비져블) (feat. Son Dam Bi, Star Wars)
o4 Bittersweet (비터스윗) (feat. M, HyunA, Mabus, Red Roc, Basick)
o5 Invisible (인비져블) (Inst.)

If I recall correctly, these guys were featured on a Son Dam Bi song before. Interview is a short, spoken/sung intro. Brave Sound is a short and straight-forward hip-hop song that didn't really catch my attention. Invisible, however, did. It's a fast-paced song based in hip-hop/electronica, but the gritty guitar work that pops up throughout the song also gives it some rock routes. It's a little too busy and overdone for my liking, but very catchy and addictive. Bittersweet was a track that I was looking forward to, seeing as it features M (Lee Min Woo). It's an R&B ballad. Upon hearing the opening verse I thought it was lovely, but it slowly lost my attention. I'm guessing it's HyunA rapping at around ~1:10, I have to say I'm not a fan. The sung portions by M are great (especially the hook - And love is sweet sweet/Bittersweet love), and on a whole Bittersweet is well-executed and carefully plotted. However, the rap portions were a bit too numerous and monotonous for my liking.

Labels: A-Chord, Brave Brothers, BRIGHT, Khalil Fong, Owl City, U2

Hi, I got back from my vacation yesterday night. I'm still pretty tired, so there's only a few songs for you guys, but they're all favourites of mine so hopefully you'll like them.

I'm having some issues with Mediafire right now, which is why I used box.net to upload these songs. I'm considering which of these three albums to upload in full, so if there's anything in particular that you liked & want the full album, just let me know. =)

- Haruhi



Wonderful Tonight (O.S. Eric Clapton) - Khalil Fong [listen to original @ YT]
Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You (O.S. George Benson) - Khalil Fong [listen to the original @ YT]
English | Pop/Soft Rock

I love Khalil Fong's new cover album, Timeless, where both these songs are from. For those of you who aren't familiar with Khalil, he's a phenomenal R&B/soul singer from Hong Kong [more@last.fm]. I've uploaded a few of his songs before, he's one of my favourite artists. I was so excited to see a new release from him, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. I've heard the original version of Wonderful Tonight, by Eric Clapton, a few times, although I'm not too familiar with it - one of those songs where you remember the main melody but not much else. Whether you're familiar with the original or not, Khalil Fong's cover definitely does it justice. The accompaniment is modernized, with the guitars less dreamy/twangy, and Khalil's voice is crisper and smoother than Clapton's - though just as warm and genuine. A soft, slow song thats beauty lies in its subtleties. Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You, originally by George Benson, is another song that, even if you don't think you've heard before, you probably have - it's very familiar, and Khalil's cover stays quite true to the original, although the original seems to be more piano-based, where Khalil's version incorporates guitar and percussion into the arrangement. It's really the difference in vocal styles that sets his cover apart - Khalil's voice doesn't have the sheer creamy, powerful richness of George Benson's, but his execution is clear and clean. Khalil's version is definitely more contemporary and seems a little more tightly put together, but the original by George Benson is gorgeous too.



阿飛的小蝴蝶 - Jam Hsiao (A-Fei's Little Butterfly)
Mandarin | Pop/Rock

I previously shared the title track, Princess, from this album, but this is really my favourite song from it. 阿飛的小蝴蝶 is a piano-based, mid-tempo soft rock track. Jam Hsiao's voice is sincere and strong, and I love the chorus. Recommended.



牧羊少年的奇幻之旅 - A-Chord (Little Shepherd's Fantasy Journey)
关于 - A-Chord (Related to)
Mandarin | Pop/Rock

I recently discovered A-Chord's debut album, titled Nothing But A Chord, and I love it. Although this is his first album, he's not a newcomer to the music scene, having composed songs for other artists and also acting in a few dramas. 牧羊少年的奇幻之旅 is the opening track, and it really hooked me. The warm, piano-based intro, leading into A-Chord's strong voice, is just gorgeous. Some verses are sung-spoken, almost rapped, and others are clear and melodic. It's very refreshing. 关于 picks up the tempo a bit. It's fun, confident, and breezy, but cuts no corners - the cool, Latin-influenced arrangement, coupled with A-Chord's crisp singing, makes for an innovative, fresh song.

Labels: A-Chord, Jam Hsiao, Khalil Fong

Happy Valentine's Day! =) I think the theme of this rotation is pretty self-explanatory. My comments this week are kind of dead, sorry.

Everyday Valentine - Winter Garden
language Korean
genre rock
rating
comments Like most Korean rock, this isn't really "heavy" rock. But I liked it - their vocalist has a mature, rich voice and the chorus is memorable.

Valentine STEP - Aira Mitsuki
language Japanese
genre pop
rating
comments A cute, poppy, happy song. The vocals are a little too chipmunk-y and synthesized for my taste, but I like the melody and summer-y acoustic guitar chords. Overall, a pretty good song.

Love will live forever - A-lin
language Mandarin
genre rock
rating
comments I really like her voice - strong, powerful, but not overwhelming. A fairly straightforward rock track - it's a bit generic in form and execution, but decent female rock in Mandarin is just so hard to find.

爱我 (Love Me) - Danson Tang
language Mandarin
genre pop
rating
comments I love the acoustic feel that this song starts off on. A rock-influenced song with a great acoustic guitar accompaniment and catchy melody. It feels dark in sections, then much lighter in others, providing a nice contrast.

So Fall In Love - DNT
language Korean
genre pop/dance
rating
comments Fun, light-hearted and bright. The little trumpet/brass riffs are a nice touch. I like the harmonizing.

Sea of Love - Fly to the Sky
language Korean
genre R&B/pop
rating
comments I love Fly to the Sky. This is one of their older releases, I believe it was the title track of their third album. As always, their voices are just in perfect contrast. It's a fairly simple track, but I love it.

Love Song - Khalil Fong
language Mandarin
genre R&B
rating
comments I've uploaded a couple songs by him before, this is a slightly older but very popular song of his. His voice is just so pretty, laid back but emotional at the same time. The accompaniment is stripped down except in the chorus, giving the song a bare, stark feel.

L O V E - JiSun
language Korean
genre soft rock
rating
comments Former vocalist of Loveholic, JiSun has recently released her solo album! While I was disappointed to see her leave the group, I also really liked this album. L O V E is hopeful and powerful.

We love you~世界は君を愛してる~ - Miyavi
language Japanese
genre rock
rating
comments Miyavi was the first Japanese artist I ever listened to. His voice is soft, almost a whisper, but intense. As expected, the guitar work is great. One of my favourite songs by him.

I Love You - 8eight ft. Jessica (SNSD)
language Korean
genre pop
rating
comments A fairly typical pop song. I love 8eight, their vocalists are quite good, which brings this song to another level. The chorus is really catchy - a fun, light-hearted listen.

Left My Hearts - Yiruma
language none
genre instrumental (piano)
rating
comments I love Yiruma. <3 This song is quite downtempo, I guess it suits the title. Although it seems fairly sad, there are notes of hope in it. Beautiful and expressive.

This Time - John Legend
language English
genre r&b
rating
comments I put R&B as the genre simply because that's John Legend's typical fare, but this song is far from his typical upbeat tracks - a gorgeous slow song. The lyrics are beautiful, as is the accompaniment. John Legend's voice is flawless - emotional and unique. Simply a beautiful song.

愛與希望 (Love and Hope) - JJ Lin
language Mandarin
genre pop/ballad
rating
comments I really like the piano in this song. JJ Lin's voice is lovely - soft and expressive, but still steady, suiting this ballad perfectly. Those two things, the rich, full piano accompaniment and JJ Lin's voice, really made this otherwise bland ballad stand out.

Longing for Romance - Joanna Wang
language English
genre jazz
rating
comments I've uploaded quite a lot of her songs - her entire debut album and one track from her second album. She's been hailed as "Taiwan's Norah Jones", if that gives you any insight as to her style and voice. This song isn't one of my favourites by her - it has a kind of weird, lurching feel to it that I can't explain. But definitely try her out.

Sarang sarang sarang - Park Hyo Shin
langauge Korean
genre pop
rating
comments Until this song, all the songs I'd heard from him were ballads. Not that that's a bad thing, because his ballads are gorgeous. I love his voice - deep and slightly husky. Who knew he would be just as good as upbeat tracks? This song has a faint rock/jazz vibe to it. I think it's actually a cover, but I don't know who the original was by. Recommended. <3

Labels: 8eight, A-Lin, Aira Mitsuki, Danson Tang, DNT, Fly to the Sky, Jisun, JJ Lin, Joanna Wang, John Legend, Khalil Fong, miyavi, Park Hyo Shin, Winter Garden, Yiruma

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

sugar

01. Hey Soul Sister - Train
hey soul sister, i don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight

02. 愛愛愛 - Khalil Fong

03. Fly Me Away - Annie Little
won't you fly me away, take me away with you

04. Two Is Better Than One - Boys Like Girls
you came into my life and i thought
hey, you know, this could be something

05. By My Side - David Choi
all the fears you feel inside
and all the tears you cry
they're ending right here.

06. One Touch - Gabe Bondoc
one touch and i'm hooked and i am drowning
one look and i'm lost inside your eyes



// download.

Labels: Annie Little, Blaise Plant, Boys Like Girls, Britney Spears, David Choi, Florrie, gabe bondoc, Khalil Fong, La Roux, Maroon 5, mixtape, Train

until daybreak



overview. songs for the nights you lie in bed, unable to sleep. waiting for the darkness to subside and the dawn to break, because you know you'll be wide awake until then. english, mandarin, korean, japanese, instrumental. ballad, alt rock, indie.

tracklist.

♪ set the fire to the third bar _snow patrol ft. martha wainwright
their words, mostly noises
ghosts with just voices
your words in my memory
are like music to me

♪ down _jason walker
so why do i try,
i know i'm gonna fall down

♪ seeing you off the edges _eluvium

♪ we are mice _azure ray
it's all in the eyes
the reckless way we dream to die
our past is our future
the present lies
somewhere between our hearts and minds

♪ infection _chihiro onitsuka
in the night
i realize this infection

♪ space between _katie noonan & the captains
space between us blue as oceans
gold as sunshine, red as my blood

♪ nicest thing _kate nash
i wish that without me you'd be spending the rest of your nights awake
i wish that without me you couldn't eat
i wish i was the last thing on your mind before you went to sleep

♪ lonely lonely _feist
distance makes the heart grow weak
so that the mouth can barely speak
except to those who hide their needs

♪ still alright _pg. lost

♪ rocks _ben jelen
but now i'm doubting me, i know i shouldn't be but
i've been down, i've been down

♪ diary _kelly chen
loved until it hurt
hurt until i cried
cried until i was tired
the dilemmas in my heart
keep repeating

♪ winter song _sara bareilles ft. ingrid michaelson
is love alive?

♪ cry _kelly clarkson
i'm talking in circles
i'm lying, they know it
why won't this just all go away

♪ apres moi _regina spektor
i must go on standing
you can't break that which isn't yours
i must go on standing
i'm not my own, it's not my choice

♪ 카페인 _mot

♪ 愛我吧 _khalil fong
don't answer me,
don't answer me

♪ breaking my heart again _aqualung
need to know
i don't wanna know
already know
-
you're making me doubt
i thought i knew you
i don't even know myself

♪ teenage dream _the rescues
i can't sleep
let's run away and don't ever look back,
don't ever look back

♪ when my time comes _dawes
and now the only piece of advice that continues to help
is anyone making anything new only breaks something else

♪ moonlight punch romance _nell
i fell in love
with the silence of the night

bonus (not in zip).
♪ why _susie suh
why do i ask myself these questions?

download. [MF]

comments. this mix is a bit of an amalgam. i wanted to include songs that provided some sense of comfort, but that doesn't mean they're calming - sometimes, they're only comforting because you've found something that perfectly reflects your mood. at the same time, i didn't want this to be a mix to help you get to sleep. it's more of a mix for understanding that you won't, if that makes sense. near the end of the mix, there's a few brighter, more hopeful songs - perhaps better suited for when the light is beginning to filter in. standouts include the rescues' harmonic, yearning cover of katy perry's teenage dream, regina spektor's dramatic apres moi, katie noonan's silky, rich voice in space between, and chihiro onitsuka's haunting infection. whatever keeps you up at night - i hope this helps.

Labels: Chihiro Onitsuka, Dawes, eluvium, Feist, Jason Walker, Kelly Chen, Kelly Clarkson, Khalil Fong, mixtape, Mot, Nell, pg.lost, Regina Spektor, Sara Bareilles, Snow Patrol, Susie Suh, The Rescues

Another mixtape for you, this time jazz-themed. I've meant to a jazz-themed rotation for a long time, and decided to create a two-disc mixtape instead. The first disc consists of instrumental music, and the second, vocal. Further description/review is below.

This took a long time to compile and upload, so please comment if taking.

- Haruhi



Summary: A collection of jazz songs, ranging from classics from the likes of Duke Ellington to modern bands like PE'Z. This is a highly personal mixtape - by that, I mean that this is not in any way supposed to be a comprehensive sampler of jazz music, but rather songs that I personally like and think would make a good introduction to jazz and could be enjoyed by everyone, and not just serious jazz fans.

Tracklist:

Disc 1:

01. Akatsuki - PE'Z [PV]
02. Percolator - Spyro Gyra
03. ひんやりやんひ - PE'Z
04. Old Castle, by the river, in the middle of a forest - Hiromi
05. ハヤガケ - PE'Z
06. Secret Samba - Big Band Wolfenbuettel
07. 真夜中のアメーバ - PE'Z
08. Chronic - Metalwood
09. MY FOOLISH HEART ~crazy in mind~ - SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS [PV]
10. Such Sweet Thunder {Cleo} - Duke Ellington
11. So What - Miles Davis
12. Pescara - Metalwood
13. Hayburner - Count Basie Orchestra
14. STORM - SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS
15. Hale no sola sita ～LA YELLOW SAMBA～ - PE'Z
16. Fantastic Planet - SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS
17. A Flat Minor - Preferred Take - Duke Ellington
18. The Star-Crossed Lovers (aka Pretty Girl) - Stereo LP Master - Duke Ellington
19. Sweet and Lovely - Thelonious Monk

Disc 2:

01. Gallop - Pe'zmoku
02. In These Shoes - Arturo O'Farrill & Claudia Acuna
03. Tikiville - Joanna Wang
04. Beyond the Sea - Matt Belsante
05. Georgia on My Mind (Originally by Ray Charles) - Khalil Fong
06. (Mr. Paganini) You'll Have to Swing It (Parts 1 and 2) - Ella Fitzgerald
07. Charmed Life - Diana Krall

Download:
Disc 1: MF [137mb]
Disc 2: MF [33mb]

Notes:
- I'm not sure how the songs are arranged in the .zip file and in what order they will copy into your iTunes (I believe it may be alphabetically by file names), but the tracklist above is the tracklist I intended, for those of you who are picky about stuff like that.

- Like I mentioned when I posted my first mixtape here, I don't create/upload .zip files often. If there are any issues, please let me know.

Comments:
I'm not going to do an in-depth review, but some quick comments about this mixtape for anyone who's interested:

PE'Z is not featured four times on this mixtape without reason (five, if you count pe'zmoku, their collaboration with vocalist suzumoku). They are a modern Japanese group who I think, unfortunately, is on an "indefinite hiatus". I would consider them more fusion, they definitely have some rock influences. Their songs are so energetic and catchy; I especially love their piano solos and their pianist has also worked with Shiina Ringo and released some solo material as well. Definitely try them out - even if you don't like jazz.

If you like PE'Z, SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS is quite similar in style. They're also a modern Japanese band, and while between the two I still prefer PE'Z, they're amongst my favourites as well. They have the same energy and passion. I find SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS brass players to be stronger. Both amazing bands that, unfortunately, don't get a lot of recognition - I rarely see their music shared or mentioned, which is why I included a substantial number of songs from both these groups in this mixtape.

Percolotor by Spyro Gyra (man that's hard to type) is more of a funk chart, I played this in my school's jazz band last year and it was basically the favourite song of the whole group, so I just had to share it. It's catchy and and has some great solos in it. My favourite is probably the sax.

Hiromi is a jazz pianist, so Old Castle, by the river, in the middle of a forest (what's with these names?) is a fast-paced composition that, duh, is focused around piano. The fluidity of this song is quite impressive, and I especially love the part at around 5:25 where it slows down and becomes more chordal, really letting the tone of the piano shine rather than just the notes. Beautiful.

Metalwood is a Canadian fusion group, I love the way they blend rock and jazz. The growling bassline in Chronic is just fantastic. Although these guys are a fusion group, their jazz is a bit more intellectual than the two Japanese groups I mentioned above, IMO. However that certainly doesn't make their music inaccessible.

I don't think Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, or Diana Krall require any introduction. All jazz greats - I tried to pick songs that are pretty mainstream, but we're getting into "real" jazz here, and these songs are all quite a bit older as well, so they might be more of an acquired taste.

Joanna Wang's Latin-influenced Tikiville took a while to grow on me, but it did. I actually kind of hated it the first time I listened to it, but a few more listens have changed my mind. I've uploaded a lot by her in the past, so check the tag if you're interested. She's a young Taiwanese jazz singer, but IIRC she also spent some time in New York.

Matt Belsante's rendition of Beyond the Sea is sweet, and while I'm not really a huge fan of him, I really liked it. I've heard his voice compared to Michael Buble's, if that helps.

There had to be a jazz standard that pretty much everyone knows here, so we have Georgia on my Mind as sung by Khalil Fong ... I believe I've uploaded this in the past already, but oh well. Khalil Fong isn't a jazz singer at all, but I didn't want to upload a standard version of this classic.

More:
Here's some links to some straightforward biographies about some of these artists, in case you want to find out more about them.
Hiromi | PE'Z/pe'zmoku | SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS

Labels: Count Basie, Diana Krall, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Hiromi, Joanna Wang, Khalil Fong, Matt Belsante, Metalwood, Miles Davis, mixtape, PE'Z, SOIL+"PIMP" SESSIONS, Spyro Gyra, Thelonious Monk

I am planning to return to my regular rotation schedule in September. Here's a quick update for you guys in the meantime, a couple songs that I've been listening to a lot lately. Excluding songs I've already posted before - Khalil Fong's Wonderful Tonight and the rest of the Timeless album as well as A-Chord's Little Shepherd's Fantasy Journey & the SM Town Compilation - namely SHINee & DBSK's songs - have all been favourites of mine too.

Also, I've uploaded a new mini-album by The Brave Brothers.

Please leave a comment or rating if taking!

#5. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight - U2
English | Rock
Some of you might recognize this song, it was recently featured on a Blackberry commercial, (which I personally found to be very ineffective - Blackberry loves U2, so I should buy their phones?) and I decided to look it up. It's a mid-tempo rock song with a great arrangement - I love the dreamy synth-y keyboard chords between verses - but what I really love about this song is its lyrics - Every generation gets a chance to change the world/Divination that will listen to your boys and girls/Is the sweetest melody the one we haven't heard?/Is it true that perfect love drives out all fear?

#4. Feelin' You - BRIGHT
Japanese | R&B/Pop
BRIGHT is one of the few girl groups that I really love, and Feelin' You is no exception. It's an enthusiastic, bright mid-tempo track. Vocally, they sound great, and their trademark harmonies really bring the song up a notch. An active percussion and airy synths provide the base of the accompaniment. Although this song took a while to grow on me, it definitely has.

#3. We've All Grown Up (我们都成了大人) - A-Chord
Mandarin | Pop/Rock Ballad
The two songs of A-Chord's that I've shared before were all relatively upbeat, but We've All Grown Up takes a more serious tone. In other words, it's a ballad. It's piano-based and caught my interest because it sounds slightly muted, even when you turn the volume up. It adds to the sincere atmosphere of the song, and A-Chord's warm, yearning voice is filled with emotion. At first I thought it was a bit generic, but after a few listens, it's really convinced me of A-Chord's maturity and talent.

#2. Red Bean (红豆) (Original Singer: 王菲 - Faye Wang) - Khalil Fong
Mandarin | Ballad
The first time I heard this song, it was an extremely low-quality rip, and because it's a fairly soft song in the first place, I thought it was another bland ballad and discarded it. After re-listening to it (in much better quality) on the full album, I immediately changed my mind. I've actually heard the original of this song quite a few times, a lot of my friends like to sing it at karaoke - I realized this as soon as I heard the chorus. Although personally I find the rest of the song a bit bland - mid-tempo piano/strings ballad with a minimal percussion accompaniment in the case of Khalil's version, I don't remember much of the original version - I love the chorus, and it always stays with me. Although I hadn't heard this song for about an year until stumbling upon Khalil's remake, I recognized it as soon as I heard it (in good enough quality to actually discern the melody). A warm and genuine ballad that Khalil's careful remake does justice to.

#1. The Saltwater Room - Owl City
English | Electronica/Pop
I've heard a lot of good things about Owl City, but only recently began listening to them - the first song I heard was this, The Saltwater Room, and I definitely wasn't disappointed. It's a lovely song - soft and warm, with an acoustic guitar base and tentative, unique vocals. It's calm but engaging, and definitely prompted me to try and find more material from them.



Brave Brothers - Attitude
Korean | Hip-Hop/Pop
Release date: August 18 2009

o1. Interview (인터뷰)
o2. Brave Sound (브레이브사운드)
o3 Invisible (인비져블) (feat. Son Dam Bi, Star Wars)
o4 Bittersweet (비터스윗) (feat. M, HyunA, Mabus, Red Roc, Basick)
o5 Invisible (인비져블) (Inst.)

If I recall correctly, these guys were featured on a Son Dam Bi song before. Interview is a short, spoken/sung intro. Brave Sound is a short and straight-forward hip-hop song that didn't really catch my attention. Invisible, however, did. It's a fast-paced song based in hip-hop/electronica, but the gritty guitar work that pops up throughout the song also gives it some rock routes. It's a little too busy and overdone for my liking, but very catchy and addictive. Bittersweet was a track that I was looking forward to, seeing as it features M (Lee Min Woo). It's an R&B ballad. Upon hearing the opening verse I thought it was lovely, but it slowly lost my attention. I'm guessing it's HyunA rapping at around ~1:10, I have to say I'm not a fan. The sung portions by M are great (especially the hook - And love is sweet sweet/Bittersweet love), and on a whole Bittersweet is well-executed and carefully plotted. However, the rap portions were a bit too numerous and monotonous for my liking.

Labels: A-Chord, Brave Brothers, BRIGHT, Khalil Fong, Owl City, U2

Hi, I got back from my vacation yesterday night. I'm still pretty tired, so there's only a few songs for you guys, but they're all favourites of mine so hopefully you'll like them.

I'm having some issues with Mediafire right now, which is why I used box.net to upload these songs. I'm considering which of these three albums to upload in full, so if there's anything in particular that you liked & want the full album, just let me know. =)

- Haruhi



Wonderful Tonight (O.S. Eric Clapton) - Khalil Fong [listen to original @ YT]
Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You (O.S. George Benson) - Khalil Fong [listen to the original @ YT]
English | Pop/Soft Rock

I love Khalil Fong's new cover album, Timeless, where both these songs are from. For those of you who aren't familiar with Khalil, he's a phenomenal R&B/soul singer from Hong Kong [more@last.fm]. I've uploaded a few of his songs before, he's one of my favourite artists. I was so excited to see a new release from him, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. I've heard the original version of Wonderful Tonight, by Eric Clapton, a few times, although I'm not too familiar with it - one of those songs where you remember the main melody but not much else. Whether you're familiar with the original or not, Khalil Fong's cover definitely does it justice. The accompaniment is modernized, with the guitars less dreamy/twangy, and Khalil's voice is crisper and smoother than Clapton's - though just as warm and genuine. A soft, slow song thats beauty lies in its subtleties. Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You, originally by George Benson, is another song that, even if you don't think you've heard before, you probably have - it's very familiar, and Khalil's cover stays quite true to the original, although the original seems to be more piano-based, where Khalil's version incorporates guitar and percussion into the arrangement. It's really the difference in vocal styles that sets his cover apart - Khalil's voice doesn't have the sheer creamy, powerful richness of George Benson's, but his execution is clear and clean. Khalil's version is definitely more contemporary and seems a little more tightly put together, but the original by George Benson is gorgeous too.



阿飛的小蝴蝶 - Jam Hsiao (A-Fei's Little Butterfly)
Mandarin | Pop/Rock

I previously shared the title track, Princess, from this album, but this is really my favourite song from it. 阿飛的小蝴蝶 is a piano-based, mid-tempo soft rock track. Jam Hsiao's voice is sincere and strong, and I love the chorus. Recommended.



牧羊少年的奇幻之旅 - A-Chord (Little Shepherd's Fantasy Journey)
关于 - A-Chord (Related to)
Mandarin | Pop/Rock

I recently discovered A-Chord's debut album, titled Nothing But A Chord, and I love it. Although this is his first album, he's not a newcomer to the music scene, having composed songs for other artists and also acting in a few dramas. 牧羊少年的奇幻之旅 is the opening track, and it really hooked me. The warm, piano-based intro, leading into A-Chord's strong voice, is just gorgeous. Some verses are sung-spoken, almost rapped, and others are clear and melodic. It's very refreshing. 关于 picks up the tempo a bit. It's fun, confident, and breezy, but cuts no corners - the cool, Latin-influenced arrangement, coupled with A-Chord's crisp singing, makes for an innovative, fresh song.

Labels: A-Chord, Jam Hsiao, Khalil Fong

Happy Valentine's Day! =) I think the theme of this rotation is pretty self-explanatory. My comments this week are kind of dead, sorry.

Everyday Valentine - Winter Garden
language Korean
genre rock
rating
comments Like most Korean rock, this isn't really "heavy" rock. But I liked it - their vocalist has a mature, rich voice and the chorus is memorable.

Valentine STEP - Aira Mitsuki
language Japanese
genre pop
rating
comments A cute, poppy, happy song. The vocals are a little too chipmunk-y and synthesized for my taste, but I like the melody and summer-y acoustic guitar chords. Overall, a pretty good song.

Love will live forever - A-lin
language Mandarin
genre rock
rating
comments I really like her voice - strong, powerful, but not overwhelming. A fairly straightforward rock track - it's a bit generic in form and execution, but decent female rock in Mandarin is just so hard to find.

爱我 (Love Me) - Danson Tang
language Mandarin
genre pop
rating
comments I love the acoustic feel that this song starts off on. A rock-influenced song with a great acoustic guitar accompaniment and catchy melody. It feels dark in sections, then much lighter in others, providing a nice contrast.

So Fall In Love - DNT
language Korean
genre pop/dance
rating
comments Fun, light-hearted and bright. The little trumpet/brass riffs are a nice touch. I like the harmonizing.

Sea of Love - Fly to the Sky
language Korean
genre R&B/pop
rating
comments I love Fly to the Sky. This is one of their older releases, I believe it was the title track of their third album. As always, their voices are just in perfect contrast. It's a fairly simple track, but I love it.

Love Song - Khalil Fong
language Mandarin
genre R&B
rating
comments I've uploaded a couple songs by him before, this is a slightly older but very popular song of his. His voice is just so pretty, laid back but emotional at the same time. The accompaniment is stripped down except in the chorus, giving the song a bare, stark feel.

L O V E - JiSun
language Korean
genre soft rock
rating
comments Former vocalist of Loveholic, JiSun has recently released her solo album! While I was disappointed to see her leave the group, I also really liked this album. L O V E is hopeful and powerful.

We love you~世界は君を愛してる~ - Miyavi
language Japanese
genre rock
rating
comments Miyavi was the first Japanese artist I ever listened to. His voice is soft, almost a whisper, but intense. As expected, the guitar work is great. One of my favourite songs by him.

I Love You - 8eight ft. Jessica (SNSD)
language Korean
genre pop
rating
comments A fairly typical pop song. I love 8eight, their vocalists are quite good, which brings this song to another level. The chorus is really catchy - a fun, light-hearted listen.

Left My Hearts - Yiruma
language none
genre instrumental (piano)
rating
comments I love Yiruma. <3 This song is quite downtempo, I guess it suits the title. Although it seems fairly sad, there are notes of hope in it. Beautiful and expressive.

This Time - John Legend
language English
genre r&b
rating
comments I put R&B as the genre simply because that's John Legend's typical fare, but this song is far from his typical upbeat tracks - a gorgeous slow song. The lyrics are beautiful, as is the accompaniment. John Legend's voice is flawless - emotional and unique. Simply a beautiful song.

愛與希望 (Love and Hope) - JJ Lin
language Mandarin
genre pop/ballad
rating
comments I really like the piano in this song. JJ Lin's voice is lovely - soft and expressive, but still steady, suiting this ballad perfectly. Those two things, the rich, full piano accompaniment and JJ Lin's voice, really made this otherwise bland ballad stand out.

Longing for Romance - Joanna Wang
language English
genre jazz
rating
comments I've uploaded quite a lot of her songs - her entire debut album and one track from her second album. She's been hailed as "Taiwan's Norah Jones", if that gives you any insight as to her style and voice. This song isn't one of my favourites by her - it has a kind of weird, lurching feel to it that I can't explain. But definitely try her out.

Sarang sarang sarang - Park Hyo Shin
langauge Korean
genre pop
rating
comments Until this song, all the songs I'd heard from him were ballads. Not that that's a bad thing, because his ballads are gorgeous. I love his voice - deep and slightly husky. Who knew he would be just as good as upbeat tracks? This song has a faint rock/jazz vibe to it. I think it's actually a cover, but I don't know who the original was by. Recommended. <3

Labels: 8eight, A-Lin, Aira Mitsuki, Danson Tang, DNT, Fly to the Sky, Jisun, JJ Lin, Joanna Wang, John Legend, Khalil Fong, miyavi, Park Hyo Shin, Winter Garden, Yiruma

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.

phase down | aqueous transmission | quietus | SnakeRoot | Dong Bang World | you start it | Ongoing Melody


If you would like to be affiliates, send me an e-mail at ungathering@hotmail.com.

link in: