All things Korean pt 1.

I’m mildly obsessed with things coming out of Korea at the moment…mainly music and makeup, I can’t rate the clothes because they don’t fit me but the colour and the enthusiasm put into their products just rock my world.  I’d like to blame SBS PopAsia for this newfound addiction, without randomly finding it on SBS 2 one day, this would never have happened.

I first saw Lee Hi a couple of years ago and nearly died when that voice came out of that person, and at the age of 16.  From what I can ascertain (not being able to read Korean, or follow a Korean TV show), she won some sort of singing comp and this was her first release.

Then as is the custom with her music company, they hid her for a couple of years after she went number one, staged a comeback, and have since hidden her again.  But not before bringing her back for the same TV show, and doing the competition all over again.  I think.

This cover was particularly good.

Before sending her on hiatus, she formed a subgroup with two of the other contestants, translated as a ‘subunit’?! and made this particularly gorgeous videoclip.

Say what you will about the costume choices and blatant lifting of Western themes, the lady is talented.  It’s funny things you get interested in.  I should do a Japanese post one of these days because Perfume (a girl group) are great.

In other news, I did a great big Korean beauty order the other day which I’ll review in my next post…with brand names like Ultrahard and Mol Girl, you can’t really go wrong…right?

Album round-up

My studies have taken me through a vast array of music of late – anything to hang my concentration on when it drifts!  If you’re looking for something to listen to (or to avoid listening in some cases), here’s a list of what I’ve been through recently.

1. London Grammar – If You Wait.  Awesome album, 4.5/5 stars.  Soaring, emotive music and beautiful songwriting.  Think a less stadium version of Florence and the Machine.
2. He Will Have His Way – The Songs of Neil and Tim Finn (Various Artists).  Easy listening, good summer sounds, give it 3.75/5 stars.  I love intelligent covers and am a huge Like a Version fan (hit and miss as it may be!) and this is a well produced and thoughtful album.
3. Nine Inch Nails – Hesitation Marks.  I used to be (and still am to some degree) of NIN, Reznor is amazing live, but this album misses the mark (pun not intended). It’s almost like awesome sound production has become too easy NIN and it’s not held up by their lyrics at all.  Stick to Pretty Hate Machine, 2.5/5
4. Buddha Bar XV – I threw this on the other day in a moment of stress and it’s a good, relaxing album.  I’ve always found the Buddha Bar albums pretty hit and miss, this one is a hit for me, great for doing yoga to, drinking wine to, or just generally passing out in the sun. 4/5
5. Crucible – The Songs of Hunters and Collectors.  Another cover album!  I really like good covers!  I’m not fully through this but I think I like it even better than #2 so wont rate it just yet but it’s worth a listen.
6. Pretty Hate Machine – Nine Inch Nails.  Okay so it’s REALLY old but is hands down their best album ever.  This is where industrial electronic rock started (others may argue and yes I know there was an EP before it, but look at the year this was done and listen to the sound production and do what I do and die a thousand times.  I’ve been listening to it over and over for 18 years now and never get tired of it.  How many albums can you say that about?

What have you been listening to?  I’m always looking for new music to listen to for studying and would love to hear your recommendations.