CD Reviews, May 2003 (part 2)

o. "STAR vol.1" by GhettoBombs & Schizo

This single CD contains 8 tracks from GhettoBombs and 7 tracks from Schizo, which they are calling a split album.

GhettoBombs are PJ Maeng (guitar, vocal), "Suck" (bass, vocal), Gong (drums, vocal), and Mino (guitar, vocal). They are, I guess, a typical underground punk/ska rock band. Not bad, I guess. It's just that I got fed up with ska-types.

Schizo are Cha MyeongJun (drums), Heo JeHun (vocals), Ju SeongMin (guitars), HaYaSi (sampling, keyboards), and Yu MyeongHan (guitars). They have more "industrial" sound, but not that fast (I know very little about the genre). They have heavy metallic guitar grooves mixed with elements of electronica. I liked them.

o. "The Massive Crush" by Crash

Their 5th album. I don't think Mr. Ahhn's style has changed that much. Their music is still characterized by his vocal and very fast double bass drum beats. They are Ahhn HeungChan (vocal, bass, programming), Lim SangMuk (lead & rhythm guitars), Ha JaeYong (lead & rhythm guitars), and Jung YongWuk (drums & percussions).

o. "Butterfly Effect" by NaBiHyoGwa

I've always wondered about whatever happen to the lead vocal for Sinawe's 6th album. And this is what he was up to. This is more of a modern pop/rock band although Mr. Kim's vocal quality is still reminiscent of the hard rock past. They are Kim Vada (vocal), Jung Hanjong (bass), Seo Sangeun (guitars), and Sin In (drums).

I don't know about their cartoon character marketing thingy, but the music is pretty good, if not a bit raw.

o. "GgumGguNeun SeSang" by Jang Sa-Ik

His fourth album. This is something rare. I am wondering if they are even trying to make money. Mr. Jang's work is mostly based on actual poems by (fairly, I assume) well-known Korean poets. He then add a mixture of western folk music with tradition Korean folk music elements.

I highly doubt the current generation would be enthusiastic about this type of music, but I think of it as an extended form of traditional Korean folk music. Besides, it's not bad.

o. "PyeonJiHam" by Analozik

A hip-hop collection produced by Analozik. It is more of a groovy kind of, softer hip-hop. There is not much information on who this team is, though. The album has a nice feel to it, but still not much of attraction for me.

o. "Florist" by Loveholic

Someone told me that they were the next Roller Coaster. Not really. This is a three-member pop/rock band started by Kang Hyun Min (electric & nylon guitars), who used to be a member of IlGiYeBo. He recruited Lee Jae Hak (bass) and Jisun (vocal & percussions).

The music is not bad and Jisun definitely has some mesmerizing effects, but I don't think they can change my feeling toward Roller Coaster. :p