o. “Frankly” by Voy [보이]

This is their first album. Voy are Lee ByeongHun [이병훈], a.k.a., Vanilla Voy (vocal, piano, acoustic guitar), Lee CheolHui [이철희] (drums) and Lee DongJun [이동준] (bass). Almost all the songs were written by Lee ByeongHun.

Pretty plain old-style acoustic (?) pop. The CD case design is very well-done, though.

o. “Phantom Pain” by Sugardonut [슈가도넛]

This is their first. Sugardonut are Changs [창스] (vocal, guitar), CheolU [철우] (guitar), Kim Tak [김탁] (bass) and DiAl [디알] (DR?) (drums).

I don’t know what they did with the recording or the mixing (using recording devices that record in MP3, maybe?), but all the tracks contain plenty of MP3 aliasing artifacts. It is an CD album, but it’s like listening to very low-bitrate MP3s. This is NOT the noise they sometimes put in artificially for an “artistic” purpose. This IS “MP3″ aliasing noise when the quantizer does not have enough bits (I’ve developed audio codecs before, believe me). Very very V-E-R-Y annoying.

It’s very regrettable because their music itself isn’t too bad (although they do remind me of many other musicians, later Seotaiji for one).

o. “Purple Drop” by Humming Urban Stereo [허밍 어반 스테레오]

This is their second album. Humming Urban Stereo is a one-man project work by Lee Jeereen [이지린], a.k.a. Brown Bunny with many other guest musicians.

Jeereen is definitely talented, but I am not sure if this kind of music is to my taste. I liked “Scully Doesn’t Know” from the previous album but I don’t know about “Mulder Does Know”.

o. “JuSaekManChan [주색만찬]“ by GoGuRyeo Band [고구려밴드]

This is their first album. JuSaekManChan are Lee GilYeong [이길영] (vocal), Yang AnBok [양안복] (guitar), Seo MinSeok [서민석] (bass) and Jeon SeongJin [전성진] (drums). Lee GilYeong wrote all the music and the words.

Although the basic musical style is rock, for sure, but as the name of the band suggests, they are somewhat influenced by Korean tradition music/singing. Especially noticeable is the singer’s vocalization along with the lyrics.

Yeah, this has been attempted before, and I don’t think this band will sudden change the past trend as time soon. But they are interesting still. They tend to sound a bit “old”, though. Maybe some day, it will become “new” again.

o. “Pinch Your Soul” by Clazziquai Project [클래지콰이 프로젝트]

This is their remix album (damn, I did not read the description carefully). Clazziquai Project is a one-man band by Kim Sunghoon [김성훈], a.k.a. Clazziquai.

Damn, I should be more careful when picking up a CD. I really didn’t know it was a remix album. Most of the new orchestration seems to be trying to move away away from R&B to pop.

o. “I Worry, Too” by Yoonkee [윤키]

This is his first album, I guess. I understand the effort, but I am kind of curious how one “releases” demo-tape-quality album this widely with such an effort for album designs and stuff.

o. “triangle” by Rollercoaster [롤러코스터]

This is their fifth album. They are Cho WonSeon [조원선] (vocal, keyboards), Jinu [지누] (bass, programming) and Lee SangSun [이상순] (guitars).

They seem to have mellowed down a bit. I still like CHO WonSeon‘s voice or music writings in general, but their work is not that upbeat anymore. Both lyrically and musically, they (she?) sound “tired”, not having the usual “carefree” feel. Too bad.

o. “Moida Band” by Moida Band [모이다밴드]

First album. They are Lee In Kwan [이인관] (sax), Choi Hoon [최훈] (bass), Park Kyung Ho [박경호] (guitars), Kim Jong Ik [김종익] (keyboards) and An Byung Bum [안병범] (drums).

I can’t really define their style since I don’t think they are playing just one style. But I thought they have a potentially interesting mix of instruments. I have to say that their music is based on “smooth jazz” with a lot of other influence (pop, rap, etc.), basically whatever fits their musical composition, instrument-wise.

I think their live performance would sound much better.

o. “The Vane” by Mellowyear [멜로이어]

This is the first solo project album by Shin SeCheol [신세철] of Sweater [스웨터]. In some way, this is a similar effort by Lucid Fall [루시드폴], but I think Mr. Shin’s solo project has a much “brighter” atmosphere. I like it.

o. “bombom” by Deli Spice [델리스파이스]

Their 6th album. They are Sweetpea [스위트피] a.k.a. Kim MinGyu [김민규] (guitars, piano, vocal), Yun Junho [윤준호] (bass, keyboards, vocal) and Choi Jaehyuk [최재혁] (drums, percussions, chorus).

Nothing special, I felt.

o. “Colorful Express” by Peppertones [페퍼톤즈]

Their first album. I think the main conspirators are Noshel [노쉘] (bass, sound effects) and Sayo [사요] (guitar, sequencing). They have a guest vocal, Deb [뎁] / Kim MinGyeong [김민경] and several other guest musicians.

Their music can be characterized as Japanese anime-pop, very upbeat, dancy pop. Frankly, I thought in some parts, the vocal wasn’t really that strong. But overall, not bad.

o. “Merry Maker” by Earls [얼스]

Their first album. They are Al jamix / Shin SeungHun [신승훈] (vocal), Xavier / Im SeungBeom [임승범] (keyboards), JjabJabz / Wu GyeongJe [우경제] (guitar), Hyungbass / Kim HyeongBae [김형배] (bass) and Y.P.Groove / Choi GyeongMin [최경민] (drums).

I was kind of expecting a punk band from the cover design, but they are actually playing funk/groove. They have a pretty good guest brass part (Im GwangTaek [임광택] (trumpet), Lee HanJin [이한진] (trombone) and Cho JaeJin [조재진] (saxophone)).

Very well executed overall albeit sounding too 70s…

o. “Boys, Be Ambitious” by No Brain [노브레인]

Their 4th album. They are Lee SeongWu [이성우] / BulDaeGal [불대갈] (vocal), Jeong MinJun [정민준] / VOVO (guitar), Jeong JaeHwan [정재환] / Jany (bass) and Hwang HyeonSeong [황현성] / HyungGa [흉가] (drums).

Although they’ve been around for a while, I really think there are no other punk rock band in Korea that can come close (yet?). The very fact that they play very straight forward, upbeat, fast rock is what’s attractive about them (at least to me). No gimmick, no pretense of sophistication. Just plain, simple, fast rock. They know how to carry their energy over to my ears.

o. “Calligram” by Calligram [캘리그램]

Their first album. They are Lee Geun Jik [이근직] (guitar), Yoon Gae Hwan [윤계환] (bass), Kang Mi Young [강미영] (piano), Lim Eun Kyung [임은경] (accordion) and Shin Dong Jin [신동진] (drums).

Five piece Jazz ensemble. Because of the addition of the accordion, I guess, the overall sounds has that old (or classical if you will) “French”/”European” color. Pretty standard Jazz stuff, otherwise.

o. “RomanTopia” by Lee Sang Eun [이상은]

This is her twelfth album. I got the impression that the music has lighten up a bit. She’s still marching to her own beat, but following the current trend a bit (electronica) in orchestration. Still collaborating with Hajimu Takeda.

I thought it was okay.

o. “Color Your Soul” by Clazziquai Project

This is their second album. Clazziquai Project is a one-man project work by Kim Sunghoon [김성훈] with many guest (some recurring) musicians. Not sure why their full names aren’t listed.

Anyway, he is continuing his electronica-based R&B (+ some Latin beats). I think I am getting a bit more comfortable with his approach.

o. “CheongChunYeChan” [청춘예찬] by Jaurim [자우림]

This is a cover/tribute album (I really should be more careful about researching these things). Jaurim are Kim YunA [김윤아] (vocals, keyboard, piano), Lee SeonGyu [이선규] (guitars, programming, vocals), Kim JinMan [김진만] (bass, programming, vocals) and Gu TaeHun [구태훈] (drums, percussions, vocals).

Not recommended.

o. “Nah Youn Sun with Refractory” by Refractory with Nah Youn Sun [나윤선]

To me, this is actually an album by Refractory featuring Nah Youn Sun. Refractory are Jean François Blanco (programming, keyboards, guitar, base) and Louis Beaudoin (sax, arrangements).

Interesting, but I am still unsure whether this type of acid jazz (?) / electronica isn’t really my thing.

o. “Ma Non Tanto” by Lee Eun Mee [이은미]

This is her sixth album and the title translates to “but not so much”, usually a tempo notation in a musical score.

The album is a collection of mostly sentimental numbers. Too sentimental for me, actually. A change of pace for her, I am sure, but I don’t think I am into it much.

o. “Love Record” by Windy City [윈디시티]

This is their first album. Windy City are Kim BanJang [김반장] (drums, lead vocal, timbale), Yun GabYeol [윤갑열] (guitar, vocal), Kim TaeGuk [김태국] (bass, vocal), Cho MyeongJin [조명진] (keyboards, vocal) and Jeong SangGwon [정상권] (gonga, bongo, vocal, percussions).

Kim BanJang used to lead Asoto Union, but it seems this now became his main interests. The band plays, I guess, reggae / groovy / funk (or “world music”).

An interesting try. Maybe, I am getting old and I’ve been away from Korea too long, but to me, it sounds too alienated from Korea, temporarily and spatially. As much as I like having diversity in the Korean music scene, I don’t know how much his effort will connect with the Korean crowd compared to Asoto Union.

o. “ginagram” by Gina [지나]

This is her first album. Gina is also known as Seo HyeonA [서현아].

I think this could have been a collection of her graduation works at Berklee, mostly funk / light jazz, I think. Pretty solid, I thought.

o. “Old Fashioned” by Common Ground [커먼 그라운드]

This is their second album. Common Ground are G-Jey (vocal), Cho DaeYeon [조대연] (vocal), RBS (rap), Choi HuiCheol [최희철] (bass), JANE (guitar), Park SeungMin [박승민] (guitar), Hwang JeongGwan [황정관] (drums), Park MinU [박민우] (keyboards), Cho JaeBeom [조재범] (percussions), Eo YongSu [어용수] (trombone), Kim SeongMin [김성민] (trumpet), Kim JongU [김종우] (sax) and Seo DaeGwang [서대광] (trumpet).

I always found them interesting because this type of big funk band is quite unusual. The only thing is I really hate their faker English rappers. Overall, not a bad concept, but their albums are just okay. I am sure their live performance is much more enjoyable.

o. “everyday trouble” by HaePaRiSoNyeon [해파리소년]

This is his first album. Just a one-man electronica pop/rock “band”. A bit rough sounding (noise, I guess), but I kind of like most of his non-vocal numbers. I am not sure about his vocal, though. Even his female guest vocal doesn’t seem to be that appealing.

o. “Noomas” by Yoonchan Kwak [곽윤찬] with John Patitucci and Nasheet Waits

This is his third album. Pretty standard Jazz trio album. Solid, but nothing exceptional, I thought.

They are Lee Eon (vocals, etc.) and Z.EE. (guitars, etc.). This seems to their first album.

Their slow-paced (well, a couple of them were faster) music carries somewhat somber, dreamy ambiance. Musically, I like what they are doing although I am not sure if they did too much with the gritty feel using electronica techniques.

It’s just that often I got annoyed by the singer’s voice which I felt was trying too much (?) a la Rainy Sun (maybe not that much).

o. “First Aid Kit” by Sidérique

Seems to be the first solo project album by Sidérique with AK. Another heavily electronica-inspired pop album, I think.

Some parts of the first track reminded me a bit of Seotaiji in his vocalizing and melodies initially, but the rest seems different. Not that memorable, I thought. The style is so light that even his “heavier” effort (track #5) sounds quite light.

I guess this type of MIDI/drum-machine based solo projects are bound to appear more.

o. “OLaengPiOEui Byeol” by Huckleberry Finn

They are Lee GiYong (guitars, vocals), Lee SoYeong (vocals, guitars), Kim YunTae (drums), and Jang HyeokJo (bass). This is their third album.

I think they are continuing with the direction they went with the previous album with the new lead vocal. Less grunge, grunt. More like folk-rock.

I can’t say I really like their music. It’s not bad and the band seems to be quite solid, but I really couldn’t get excited about it.

On a side note, I thought Ms. Lee sounded sometimes amazingly like the former lead vocal, Ms. Nam.

o. “The Beginning of Fortune” by Fortune Cookie

They are Hong Boram (vocals) and Yoo Heejong (instruments). It seems to be their first album.

Another electronica-inspired pop album (well, mostly) that reminded somewhat of one of Lee YunJeong‘s old efforts, but much “cuter” (?). :p

Anyway, some of the tracks have pretty catchy tunes (e.g., Moonwalker almost like Roller Coaster). But the rest, I thought, was combination of sound fragments from other familiar sources.

Personally, I liked this one better than that of Sidérique. I guess I like female vocals. :p

o. “instant pig” by Clazziquai Project

This is a solo work by Kim Sunghoon with guests (main singers are Horan, Christina and Alex, no last names, whatever :p). It seems to be his first solo album.

I’d say electronica-inspired R&B (probably that’s where “-quai” derives from :p)…

Anyway, I thought it’s a pretty good compilation. I have not seen much, if any, good R&B efforts from Korea, so I was a bit cautious approaching this album. But some of more groove/funk/electronica-oriented tracks (e.g., “Stepping Out”) sound pretty good. But still, the rest, I am not too comfortable. :p

o. “Am I Blue?” by Nam Ye Ji.

This seems to be a rare attempt at producing a solo album for who wants to pass as a blues vocalist. I am not sure it worked that well. I am not saying that Ms. Nam can’t sing, but neither her vocal quality nor the arrangements inspired me in any way about the blues.

o. “SunGanEul MiDeoYo” by EonNiNe IBalGwan

They are Lee SeokWon (vocals, guitars), Lee NeungRyong (guitars), Jeong MuJin (bass, programming) and Jeon DaeSeong (drums). This is their fourth album.

I consider Lee SeokWon‘s voice the fingerprint of the band. That’s why although the music seems to have leaned more toward rock, the album belongs to the band.

And I think that’s the great thing. I thought the last couple of albums were a bit disappointing, but this one has enough of acoustic/sonic (not much of musical) changes that made it dynamic and interesting.

This is one of the bands that lead the Korean indie band movement. I hope this is the album that they can reborn.

o. “Just Pop” by My Aunt Mary

They are Jung Soon Yong (a.k.a. Thomas Cook) (guitars, vocals), Han Jin Young (bass, vocals) and Park Jung Jun (drums, vocals). This is their second album.

I actually was looking forward to their amazing first album. As the title suggest, this is more “pop”, which was a bit disappointing. They are pretty good, but almost all the tracks remind me of some other U.S. pop/rock band in one phrasing or another.

This is definitely good, but maybe, they will try more “Just My Aunt Mary” next time…

o. “Salon de Música” by Bulldog Mansion

They are Cho Jung-Bum (drums), Lee Han-Ju (bass), Seo Chang-Seok (guitars) and Lee Han-Choul (vocals).

I guess they are trying a bit of Latin American flavors in this second album, as the album title suggests. However, as with many of this type of “themed” efforts, I can’t help but feel how superficial their end results come out to be as far as the “theme” goes. For non-themed tracks, they are pretty good.

Anyway, it is a well-produced album as expected from Lee Han-Choul, but, to me, this type of artificial “lightness” is what prevents him from going to the next level. But what do I know…

o. “Details” by frou frou

They are Imogen Heap (vocals, instruments) and Guy Sigsworth (instruments).

I’ve first heard their first title song, “Let Go”, from the previews for the movie, “Garden State”. It was so catchy that I had to buy the album.

Well, the rest was not exactly what I expected, but they are still catchy ambient electronica pop…

o. “Super D” by Ben Folds

This is the last of the trio SPs. Then he went on to work on the album below with William Shatner and, probably, his next album.

I thought this one sounded sonically heavier and maybe a bit rougher than before. I think he might be going back to the roots of his garage/college band years. Not bad, I thought.

o. “Has Been” by William Shatner with Ben Folds

Previously, Mr. Shatner did some tracks for Mr. Folds on “Fear of Pop: Vol. 1″. I guess they liked it so much that they would try a whole album.

Mr. Shatner does not sing that much (maybe in one track). He wrote most of the words and recites them dramatically with the musical accompaniments.

Some of my friends look at me funny when they see “Captain Kirk” on the cover, but it is actually a pretty good collaboration work.