New unique artist chart from Indieful ROK's last.fm listener group:

Indieful ROK TOP10 - week 34, 2011

1. Jaurim (+6) [Peep Show trailer]
2. Nell (+2) [Thank You MV]
3. Clazziquai (-2) [Flower Children YT audio]
4. Casker (re) [꼭 이만큼만 MV]
5. Taru (-) [Miss You TV live]
6. Humming Urban Stereo (-) [Ayurbeda Swimming YT audio]
7. Leessang (new) [TV를 껐네... MV]
8. Donawhale (re) [Echo (Jelly Boy Remix) YT audio]
9. The Black Skirts (re) [날씨 TV live]
10. Han Hee Jung (-2) [러브레터 live]

Don't feel like the chart reflects your taste in music well enough? Join Indieful ROK's last.fm group and maybe next week it'll look a little better!

On September 7 rock band Pia will release fifth full length album Pentagram. The first single from the album, 소년, came late July and digital single B.E.C.K followed on August 18. Here they are performing album main track Yes You Are.

There is something I can't help but like about the most recent indie chart from Bugs as half of the TOP10 songs are new and the other half all keep their individual positions. Apart from some newcomers, Telepathy bassist Tete was the artist that saw most of his songs (re-)enter the chart, with Romantico making it all the way to no. 12. A clue as to why this is was given to me by Widhi as she pointed me towards this video with Superstar K3 contestants 투개월.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - August 27, 2011
1. 10cm - 안아줘요 [live]
2. GoGo Star - 쇼윈도 [MV]
3. Lucia with Epitone Project - 안녕, 안녕 [MV]
4. Chang Kiha & The Faces - 그렇고 그런 사이 [MV]
5. 10cm - 사랑은 은하수 다방에서 [Music Travel Lalala]
6. Acoustic Collab - 한여름 밤의 꿈
7. Hachi & Eri - 꽃들이 피웠네 [@ C Cloud]
8. The Moonshiners - Bye Bye Bye (분노의 테디 보이)
9. 10cm - 아메리카노 [recandplay.net]
10. The Koxx - 넌 남이 아냐 [Tribute90]

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
17. Nemesis - 엔딩 크레딧 (Ending Credit) [MV]
28. Acoustic Collabo - 사진
33. Goonamguayeoridingstella - 샤도우 댄스
51. Nemesis - Last Scene
55. Nemesis - 꿈을 꾸지 않았으면
56. GoGo Star - 블랙코미디
67. Y - 잘할게
72. Goonamguayeoridingstella - 건강하고 긴 삶 [@ Ssam]
74. Goonamguayeoridingstella - 귀여워
77. Autumn Vacation - 곳에 따라 비 [@ GMF2010]
91. GoGo Star - 조커앤디스코 [@ Queen]
95. The Theatre No.8 - 뚜루뚜 [live]
96. Tete - Instant

See the full top 100 list here.

Male/female duo Acoustic Collabo released first digital single, Love Is The Key, in November last year, followed it with Valentine Makes Sweet Love in January, and returned with third digital single 한여름 밤의 꿈 on August 26.

Indie pop/rock act Y launched a triology project under the name Y's Zone with the release of mini album Memories last year. On August 18 came part number two in the series - mini album Minimalism.

Humorist indie rock band released a 3 act album called 나는 앵무새 파리넬리다! on August 18. Act 3 includes 대항해시대 from the EP with the same name, but other than that songs seem all new. The CD version of the album is available both in a regular and a limited edition, the limited being 300 copies of CDs shipped with a signed 32 page song book. Check out the music video for 나는 앵무새 파리넬리다! here.

Today allkpop offered no less than two translated articles dealing with a bit of K-pop:


Hongdae label organization Seokyo Music Labels Association will file a class action style law suite to fight against bans on songs from their artists: Indie bands come together to file a class action suit against the MOGEF


Then there was this one, introducing distribution company Mirrorball Music that I think has surprised everybody with the fast growth since the start:
Meet the other “Big 3″ agencies in the Korean music industry

Some of the new releases coming out this week:

August 29:

Since the mini interview with Bobby Chung last year about his country music project Bobbyville I've been eagerly awaiting that digital single. Today the time has finally come and the title is 잡범. The track with the same name features Goonamguayeoridingstella vocalist Cho Woong and has Earip opening with a narration. Seems like there's more to come from Bobbyville in September.

August 30:

Heum pianist Kang Yu Hyun and her Ubare's Picnic released a self-titled album last year and now it is time for the jazz influenced acoustic band to release a single called 시계. To hear what Ubare's Picnic has sounded like before, indifan and tube4pd both offer some nice videos on their respective YouTube channels.

Following the 검은 바다가 부른다 single a couple of weeks ago The Moonshiners are now ready to unleash the complete second full length album, 푸른밤의 Beat!. Here's the music video for 검은 바다가 부른다 and to see the band in action here's album title track 푸른밤의 BEAT! and here's new album song 모텔 맨하탄.

September 1:

After a couple of lovely single modern rock band TheThe in its new form is ready to release a full length album, How Many Times - the seventh since the band first formed, then with Park Hye Kyung doing the vocals. The music video for 못믿을 사람 is available here and the music video for 사랑을 부르다 is available here. Check out the new music video for album main track 사랑하다 말걸 here. Hyang Music offers a chance to also hear brief samples of Day Something and Do You Like Something.

Four member pop band Clinch is just about to release its first self-titled album. The band was picked for SangSang Madang's 3rd Band Incubating and the album includes the same song, 잊혀질때까지. The album opens with a song called 안아줘요, which is not to be confused with the 10cm song currently high up on the charts. Here are some live performance more of other album songs: 들러리; Ringo I Love You; 천천히; 언제나 맑음; Bye by bye.

Also tying in to this week's review post is this new release of Ukulele Picnic's second full length album, 알로하, 기분 좋은 인사 from August 23. In addition to the album itself, those who buy this version will also get a special chord book with chords for all the songs - Hyang Music shows what the pages look like. Check out the title track music video here and see the music video for 바다 here.

More Yi Sung Yol. Following the release of his third full length album a couple of weeks ago, on August 17 part 4 of the soundtrack for KBS2 drama The Princess' Man (공주의 남자) for which Yi Sung Yol had recorded the song 눈물꽃.

Even more of Yi Sung Yol's voice could be heard on songs Across and In The End on the new Kayip album. IDM guy Kayip debuted with a self-titled EP in 2005 (with no less than four out of seven song titles in Swedish!) and worked together with Yoon Sang and superdrive in mo:tet a couple of years back. On August 25 he finally released his first solo full length album, Theory of Everything.

Some reviews from the week that just passed:


On August 11 Yi Sung Yol released his third full length album, Why We Fail. Containing both tracks previously released singles, 그들의 Blues and 라디라 the album holds ten songs more and is currently promoted with a music video for album main track 돌아오지 않아. See the music video for 그들의 Blues here and find the 라디라 music video teaser here. Hellokpop has a long review of the Album Review: Yi Sung-yol – Why We Fail

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The album sales chart from Hyang frequently offers mysteries I knew better how to solve. For instance this week I'm very curious to learn howcome electro funk piece 밀월여행 made it to the upper half of the chart four years after release.

Hyang Chart - 2nd week of August, 2011
1. Linus' Blanket - Show Me Love
2. The Black Skirts - Don't You Worry Baby (I'm Only Swimming
3. Gate Flowers - Gate Flowers
4. The Miracle of Han River - 한강의 기적
5. Schizo - Bomb! Bomb! Bomb!
6. Shin Yoon Chul - 신윤철
7. Chang Kiha & The Faces - 장기하와 얼굴들
8. Super Junior - Mr. Simple (Type A)
9. Huckleberry Finn - 까만 타이거
10. 2NE1 - 2nd Mini Album

The new k-indie oriented additions to the TOP100 list were the following:
28. Concrete Band - 첫번째, 춤
45. Soreguitan - 밀월여행
53. Super8bit - Boy 'N' Girl
58. Romantic Punch - It's Yummy
69. ReSka - 여~전히, 그리워 하네
70. Sai - 유기농펑크포크
88. Mate - Play OST

See the full top 100 list here.

Concrete Band self-released debut EP 첫번째, 춤 on August 13. Hyang Music has samples for all songs, which show a sound somewhere between early Zitten and Nell.

The "Reggae Ska Groove Makers" in ReSka released their first official EP, 여~전히, 그리워 하네, via boonga Boonga Record on August 12. Here they are performing EP track Re-member, and here's a performance of EP track Higher:

Album sales chart from Hyang Music for another vacation week. Looking at the chart movements it shows and gives support to the idea that to keep good chart rankings longer it's benefitial to make a release such that it gets the desired position just before the vacations begin.

Hyang Chart - 1st week of August, 2011
1. The Black Skirts - Don't You Worry Baby (I'm Only Swimming
2. Gate Flowers - Gate Flowers
3. Chang Kiha & The Faces - 장기하와 얼굴들
4. Shin Yoon Chul - 신윤철
5. Huckleberry Finn - 까만 타이거
6. Schizo - Bomb! Bomb! Bomb!
7. 2NE1 - 2nd Mini Album
8. Poe - Burnout
9. The Koxx - Access OK
10. Yellow Monsters - Riot!­

The new k-indie oriented additions to the TOP100 list were the following:
53. Purplue - C10F18
73. [Ten] Go - [Ten] Go

See the full top 100 list here.

The top 3 on Hyang Music's album sales chart remained the same for the 3rd and 4th weeks of July, but even in the middle of summer vacations there were some movements and newcomers elsewhere on the chart.

Hyang Chart - 4th week of July, 2011
1. The Black Skirts - Don't You Worry Baby (I'm Only Swimming)
2. Gate Flowers - Gate Flowers
3. Chang Kiha & The Faces - 장기하와 얼굴들
4. Shin Yoon Chul - 신윤철
5. Schizo - Bomb! Bomb! Bomb!
6. No Reply - Comma
7. The Koxx - Access OK
8. 2NE1 - 2nd Mini Album
9. Kim Kwang Min - Time Travel
10. Yellow Monsters - Riot!

The new k-indie oriented additions to the TOP100 list were the following:
16. Jeong Cha Sik - 황망한 사내
35. Big Baby Driver - Big Baby Driver
72. BS & Jo - 난 슬플 땐 기타를 쳐... 음악과 당신만이 날 위로할 수 있거든
75. Eastern Side Kick - Second EP album

See the full top 100 list here.

A bit of reading in case you are in need of such to keep you entertained over the weekend, this time with a chance to practice Korean listening skills:

Let's start by following up on the summer festival link roundup with another couple of festival related Apollo 18 links: Prior to the Beastie Rock Fest in Taiwan bassist Kim Dae-inn was interviewed by The China Post: Apollo 18 — Korea's indefinable band. Dating all the way back to Fuji Rock, here's a piece written after the acoustic show they made just before the radio premiere of new song Sonic Boom: Apollo 18: Acoustic Eclectic

Not only are we waiting to hear Sonic Boom once the new EP Gogol is released, but from A18's Gogol Sound we may also be getting an EP from National Pigeon Unity on the same label this fall. Shawn Despres of the Korea Gig Guide has made an interview with the duo: National Pigeon Unity Wrapping Up Their Cross-Country Tour

   [read more ...]

More July album sales at Hyang Music:

Hyang Chart - 3rd week of July, 2011
1. The Black Skirts - Don't You Worry Baby (I'm Only Swimming)
2. Gate Flowers - Gate Flowers
3. Chang Kiha & The Faces - 장기하와 얼굴들
4. No Reply - Comma
5. Kim Kwang Min - Time Travel
6. Huckleberry Finn - 까만 타이거
7. Yellow Monsters - Riot!
8. Shin Yoon Chul - 신윤철
9. deb - 백만불짜리여자
10. Manggakhwa - 나만 아는 이야기

The new k-indie oriented additions to the TOP100 list were the following:
14. The Miracle of Han River - 한강의 기적
41. Joa Band - 인생은 알 수가 없어
55. Samack Dolphin - 사막 돌고래
67. Joyumn - 흐르른다
70. J Rabbit - It's Spring
78. Hee Young - So Sudden
80. Every Single Day - Moment
90. Kim Min Kyu - Made In The Livingroom

See the full top 100 list here.

Singer/songwriter Kim Min Kyu (not to be confused with his namesakes sweetpea or the man behind Plastic People/Electric Muse) released his first album, Made In The Livingroom on July 21.

Lucia (aka Shim Kyu Sun) will release an album together with Epitone Project on September 7. 고양이 왈츠, 부디, and
꽃처럼 한 철만 사랑해 줄 건가요? from the three singles the two have previously released together will all be included, 고양이 왈츠 also in an acoustic version. 안녕, 안녕 from the album was made available online today, August 25. Check out the 안녕, 안녕 teaser here.

The second digital single from the upcoming compilation cafe: night & day was released today, August 25. Following 10cm's 안아줘요, Oh Ji Eun and Roller Coaster's Lee Sang Soon offers the bossa nova flavored track 또 왜 그래.

Following the release of 'Tribute90' Part.1 a week ago, today August 25 The Koxx celebrates 90s K-pop with a cover of E.O.S song 넌 남이 아냐. The then popular trio released three full length albums as well as a live album from 1993-1997, and it's where Kim Hyung Joong started out. Check out The Koxx's Music Bar Tribute 90 video here.

The very latest digital chart from Gaon is quite interesting with both see Leessang and 10cm both reaching the very top of the chart in spite of a new I Am A Singer release coming out. Also great to see the high presence of Jaurim on the chart with all but one song from the new album in the TOP200.

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - August 20, 2011
1. Leessang - TV를 껐네... (feat. Yoon Mirae, Kwon Jung Yeol of 10cm) [MV]
3. 10cm - 안아줘요
21. 센치한 하하 - 찹쌀떡
33. Jaurim - 뜨거운 안녕
42. Jaurim - Idol [MV]
45. Jaurim - EV1 [teaser]
64. Jaurim -고래사냥
83. 10cm - 사랑은 은하수 다방에서
95. Chang Kiha & The Faces - 그렇고 그런 사이 [MV]
106. 센치한 하하 - 죽을래 사귈래
132. Jaurim - Happy Day
136. Jaurim - Peep Show [teaser]
138. Hawaaii - 꽃
142. Jaurim - 꿈에
160. Baek Sae Eun - 그리 쉽게 이별을 말하지 말아요 [MV]
162. Standing Egg - 넌 이별 난 아직 (with Han So Hyun of 3rd Coast)
168. 10cm - 아메리카노 [recandplay.net]
170. Jaurim - 혼자가 아니야
177. Jaurim - 피터의 노래
181. Jaurim - Red Rain
184. Jaurim - from:me@iwaswrong.com to:you@aremy.net
192. Jaurim - 답답
194. Jaurim - snowdrop

As far as I'm concerned one of the most interesting albums from last week is Hawaaii's 티켓 두 장 주세요, released August 17. Hawaaii is a folk pop duo project between Earip, vocalist of Sweater, and gipsy&fish guitarist Lee Ho Seok. While performing at Club Auteur some weeks ago the two performed most of the songs from the album: 1. 어서와; 2. C'est la Vie; 3. 저 남자가 내꺼였으면; 4. 꽃; 5. 놀자병; 7. 엄마; 9. 색깔로 치면 핑크; 10. 파마해; 12. Je T'Aime.

Time has come to do a bit of catching up with the album sales charts from Hyang Music as well. Here's one from July:

Hyang Chart - 2nd week of July, 2011
1. The Black Skirts - Don't You Worry Baby (I'm Only Swimming)
2. Chang Kiha & The Faces - 장기하와 얼굴들
3. Yellow Monsters - Riot!
4. Huckleberry Finn - 까만 타이거
5. Shin Yoon Chul - 신윤철
6. Gate Flowers - Gate Flowers
7. deb - 백만불짜리여자
8. Dear Cloud - Bright Lights
9. Ash - Dream
10. Mongoose - Cosmic Dancer

The new k-indie oriented additions to the TOP100 list were the following:
41. The Black Skirts - 201 (special edition)
53. Guckkasten - Tagträume
74. Devil_E_So_Marko - 한 숨
77. Sister's Barbershop - 비둘기는 하늘의 쥐
84. Speakat - Sleep Tight
95. Guckkasten - Guckkasten (re-recording)
100. Lowdown 30 - Another Side of Jaira

See the full top 100 list here.

Devil_E_So_Marko debuted with the self-released EP 한 숨 on July 14. Hailing from Jeju-do DM offers a still lo-fi sound with half-whispering female vocals accompanied by an acoustic guitar. Hyang Music has samples to all four tracks.

Another week with the unique artists chart from our Indieful ROK's last.fm listener group. A lot of changes this time around with most of the entries making a return after a break on a couple of weeks or more:

Indieful ROK TOP10 - week 33, 2011

1. Clazziquai (-) [Novabossa TV live]
2. W&Whale (re) [Break It Down MV]
3. Winterplay (re) [You're In My Heart TV live]
4. Nell (-1) [Fisheye Lens TV live]
5. Taru (re) [Yesterday TV live]
6. Dear Cloud (re) [그때와 같은 공간, 같은 노래가 MV]
7. Jaurim (re) [Idol MV]
8. Han Hee Jung (re) [솜사탕이 손에 핀 아이 + 우습겠지만 믿어야 할 TV live]
9. My Aunt Mary (re) [원 live]
10. 10cm (re) [안아줘요 live]

Don't feel like the chart reflects your taste in music well enough? Join Indieful ROK's last.fm group and maybe next week it'll look a little better!

Many new albums and singles saw the light of the day last week. A number of them also made it onto the indie music chart from Bugs:

Bugs Indie TOP10 - August 20, 2011
1. 10cm - 안아줘요
2. Chang Kiha & The Faces - 그렇고 그런 사이 [MV]
3. 10cm - 사랑은 은하수 다방에서 [Music Travel Lalala]
4. Lucite Tokki - Summer [trailer]
5. Linus' Blanket - Show Me Love [MV]
6. The Moonshiners - Bye Bye Bye (분노의 테디 보이)
7. 10cm - 아메리카노 [recandplay.net]
8. The Black Skirts - Love Shine
9. 10cm - 죽겠네 (Album ver.) [Sketchbook]
10. 10cm - 그게 아니고 [@ EBS Space]

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
18. Super8bit - 잊혀진 그 사람 [@ Pentaport]
23. Romantic Punch - 야미볼 [live]
26. Rubber Duckie - 미운 오리 이야기 [MV]
44. Trampauline - Anthropology [recandplay.net]
72. Hlin - 연가시 (Acoustic ver.)
87. Monni - 망설이지 마요 [M Root]
89. Hlin - 연가시
97. Romantic Punch - Appointment [live]

See the full top 100 list here.

The release of the new album from The Moonshiners is coming closer, but before we get to hear the whole thing the band teases with two new songs with the release of digital single 검은 바다가 부른다 on August 17. Check out the music video for the title track here.

Pop punk band Super 8 Bit, with the three front women all former members of girl punk band Shorty Cat, released mini album Boy 'N' Girl on August 16. The group had gotten some attention from allkpop already before the release: New female punk rock trio ‘Super 8 Bit’ releases debut MV teaser, “Boy ‘n’ Girl”. Check out the Boy 'N' Girl teaser video on YouTube and listen to 태양의 문 on MySpace.

Pop/rock band Romantic Punch returned with mini album It's Yummy on August 16. In addition to the songs on the chart the band has also been performing 커튼을 닫아요, 에이미 and 치명적 치료 over the last year.

All girl pop/rock band Rubber Duckie released first full length album 미운 오리 이야기 on August 17. The three girls debuted with mini album I am a Single in February 2010 and followed with a digital single later the same year. Now they're back launching themselves as an "indie and idol" band. See the Rubber Duckie introduction video here.

A couple of weeks ago Violet Sweets offered some great news: Mintpaper Compilation vol. 4 is coming. Once again Mint Paper will offer a new themed compilation and following the previous Story of Cats/Dogs, Man and Woman... and Story, and last year's Life time has come for cafe: night & day.

The list of participating artists includes No Reply, Lala Sweet, Soran, One More Chance, Zitten, 10cm, Have A Tea, Mate's Jung Joon Il, and a bunch of interesting collaborations including singers like Yozoh, Oh Ji Eun, and EZ Hyoung. The first digital single from the project is a song called 안아줘요 from 10cm, released on August 16.

Speaking of 10cm,

   [read more ...]

With vacation time over so much new music came out last week, but before having a look at that here's what we have to expect from the current week:

August 23:

Disco rock band GoGo Star is back with second full length album Black Comedy. It includes 성난 인형극 from last year's single with the same name as well as eleven tracks more. Check out the music video for 쇼윈도 here.

It seems visual rock act Nemesis is about to come back with a third full length album, with the first part - EP Piano - released this week. As the title implies there's quite a bit of focus on the piano which, with all members being fans, is as important as it is to Muse EVE, or just Kim Se Heon, is featured on a song called 악플.


Jazz rock fusion band Mudskipper is just about to follow the 2009 debut bass album Mudskipper In Korea with new album Mudskipper in Korea part 2. Making it all the more interesting it includes special guest tracks from Free Venture and Sunmark. Learn more on Mudskipper through Arirang Radio's Musician Search.

Soul Park started out as a solo home recording project in 2008, but in 2009 Park Yong Hee was joined by W&Whale session player and Witches drummer Kwon Yeong Hoon. The duo participated on last year's 야간활동 compilation and very soon more from them can be heard on their first own release, A Stroll in The Park.

August 25:

Already four year's since the album debut Goonamguayeoridingstella is finally ready to bring the world its second full length effort, 우정모텔. Not having ceased performances however, the duo's original electronic/folk rock blend can be widely sampled through YouTube. Here are some songs included on the new album: 건강하고 긴 삶; 남쪽으로 간다; 본격적인 마음; 아침의 빛; 감기망상; 프라블럼.

Pop/rock band Sweet Revenge is back with a new mini album, Rule Breaker, and this time around the girls didn't have to release it themselves. The producer of the mini album, Kim Sung Soo, has previously worked with big names such as Lee Juck and Kim Dong Ryul as well as Mongoose and The Koxx whereas the mastering of it has been done by none other than Ted Jensen of New York's Sterling Sound - previously working with really big names such as Santana, Marilyn Manson, Metallica, and Norah Jones.

Two year's since the last full length album one of Korea's foremost punk bands, Rux, will release 3.5 new single 5000 Years of Hallucinations (also going by 더러운 양아치). Check out the music video for 아직 새로운 here


After years of delays, Busan "extreme music" band Gwamaegi will finally release the official debut album through GMC Records. Although a hardcorde band, the album title is This Is Not Hardcore and the members all claim influences from crust, grindcore, death metal, and punk. Here's a recent performance at Busan's Club Realize - a club owned by the band's vocalist.

Inspired by the symphonic metal of Europe, Ishtar is soon back with a new album, Conquest. See a recent performance of new album track All of Us here.

Working my way through the blog updates I've missed during the past couple of weeks, here's what I could find relating to reviews:


J Rabbit seem to be gaining more and more popularity nowadays. The reviewer at McRoth's Residence found seem charmed by the two girls as well: [Review] J. Rabbit – It’s Spring


No week is complete without new reviews posted over at wakesidevision.com. Here's some of the more recent items Chris Park has to offer:
- Achime – Hyperactivity Review
- Ash – Dream Review
- 디어 클라우드 (Dear Cloud) – Grey Review
- The Black Skirts (검정치마) – Don’t You Worry Baby (I’m Only Swimming) Review
- Thomas Cook – Journey Review


And finally Asoto Union, the forerunner of Windy City, got a brief track review for Think About 'Chu in a recent list from allkpop: The Mixtape: allkpop’s Top 10 Retro-Flavored Tracks