I got this awhile ago, but I have been busy. Anyway, this is one of the three EP albums he is releasing this year (?). All the album titles are related to photography (apparently, Ben recently got into it).

This has five new tracks, although I’ve heard that one or two were from his old demo tapes. I still love his music and piano playing. I still want to play like him and hope to, one day, play my own music on the piano, just like him. :p

His arrangements seem to have softened a bit. I listen to BFF‘s earlier albums quite often, and you can definitely tell the difference. Maybe it’s the time, or maybe it’s the make-ups (or the identities) of the collection of musicians participating (I miss Darren Jessee). But still it’s fun to listen to.

o. 1st album by Yukgaksu Band

I was looking for a rock “band” album, and this one caught my eyes. The name sounded familiar. It turns out that this is a band led by CHO Sung Hwan (BTW, whose name is the same as my father) who used to belong to a duet called Yukgaksu (they won some contest long time ago, I think).

Overall, their music is not too bad. Their music is based on rock (classic?), but their lyrics and attitude are light-hearted. Their title track, AJeoSsi 1st ver., is rather pretty good.

The only thing is that the most of the music was not written by the band members, but by JEONG HongCheol who produced the album (and the old duet’s only hit number which is also re-recorded on this one). I wonder why he is not in the band…

Anyway, they are CHO Sung Hwan (vocal), KWON Jun Taek (guitars), YUN Jin Young (drums), and PARK Jong Bae (bass).

o. “3rd PHASE” by PiA

Well, my memory is getting weak… I am sure I’ve heard many times, but I forgot that this is a band produced by Seotaiji. And they are continuing the genre that he was last seen.

The style, arrangement, and everything else seem to be done by the executive producer, as if nothing in this world has changed for the past 8 years or so… I am not saying they are bad musicians. It’s just that… futile (?)…

Anyway, they are YoHan (vocal), HeolLaeng (guitars), GiBeom (bass), SimJi (FX), and HyeSeung (drums).

o. “humming street” by sweater

This is their second album, although I completely missed their first. This is the closest I have seen to Roller Coaster as far as the music style. Compared to Roller Coaster, sweater seems a bit lacking in funk, though.

They are SHIN SeCheol (drums, percussions, programming, background vocals), YI ARip (vocals, background vocals), IM YeJin (synth, piano, programming, background vocals), and SHIN JiHyeon (bass, background vocals).

As you can see they are made up mostly with females. The only male in the group, Mr. Shin, has a name that reminds me of a certain Korean rock family. Maybe, he’s related…

I liked them quite a bit. They are not Roller Coaster. (BTW, is the lousy live performance on the live album the reason they don’t seem to be, mildly put, active these days?) I wouldn’t say one would fall for the whole album, but there seem to be enough tracks that will keep one entertained.

o. “Indie Power 2003″ by various artists

I believe this is the fifth volume. From the way the information sheet was designed, I’d say the budget for this project has been more limited than before. This series is a set of compilation albums that presents Korean underground musicians (mostly in the band form) with their re-interpretation of famous Korean pops.

I thought this project has been quite a success, but this year, I was a bit disappointed and is worried if this would be the last. One interesting thing about this year’s volume is a total lack of hip-hop. For the past two years, I found that there were a lot more hip-hop style bands included in the series. However, this year, it’s mostly hard-/thresh-metal or somewhat off-beat pop. No, rap at all.

I don’t know whether this was the goal of this project or whether hiphoppers weren’t interested in this project, but I just find it odd. Maybe hiphop (not “pop hiphop”) in Korea is no longer an underground genre. I don’t particularly care for hiphop all that much, but I do like the element of the genre infused to others…

1. Get Up by Electronic Gypsy
2. IReumEopNeun Sae by Down in a Hole
3. WoenSonJabI by Kyrie Eleison
4. BiWa DangSinEui IYaGi by Gaia
5. Tears by Holymarsh
6. BaBoBeoSeu by Hooky Club
7. SaRamDeulEun MoDu ByeonHaNa Bwa by Hazy
8. Yet ChinGuEGye by Biuret
9. Suddenly by Xman Club
10. Neon NamI ANiYa by Rock Zetz
11. ICheungESeo Bon GeoRi by Oathean
12. GeuDdaen GeuRaetJi by Ghettobombs
13. Nae MaEumE JuDanEul GgalGo by YiJeongWu Band

o. “sunny 16″ by Ben Folds

This is the second EP. It also has five new tracks with one short extra track, which made me wonder if both were supposed to be combined as one full album. BTW, I am eagerly waiting his next full album.

Most of the people on this album seem to be from the other one as well. Another pretty good album by BF and friends.

One “trend” I noticed is that the “indie” (or underground) bands are getting diversified in their genres. It used to be mostly rock/punk-rock, but these days you will see more hip-hop and/or electronica fusions in their styles. It’s probably now unfair to equate the indie music with the punk rock anymore (although still significant proportion of them are rock-based).

• Information
  • Year: 2002
  • Distributed by: Rock Records
• Tracks
  1. BbiGeokBbiGeok by Crow
  2. WuRiNeun by Slapdash
  3. BaeSinEui GyeJeol by Silent Eye
  4. Ddo DaReun JinSim by Rock Sinn
  5. Ggum (Low-level Format Edit) by Fractal
  6. DalPaengI by Prussian Blue
  7. GiBbeumI Doel GeosEul by BBF
  8. IlSangEuRoEui ChoDae by YNOT? (feat. Shin, HaeChul)
  9. GgungDdaRi SyaBaRa by Punch
  10. YeongWonHan ChinGu by Discotruck
  11. PungSeon by Gum
  12. Jal DwaesEo by Not 2B
  13. IlGobSaekGgal MuJiGae by Cuba
  14. HanBeonMan Deo by Maya (feat. G-Band)
  15. BbiGeokBbiGeok (Clean) by Crow