SHINee Turns Into 'Sherlock' For Latest Album

After a hiatus of 2 years, the boys of SHINee are back! (Even the opening line for their title track says so!) Fangirls and fanboys alike have been clamouring for another addictive dance track after Ring Ding Dong and Lucifer, and they have finally come around to release a new album after a stint promoting in Japan.

Titled Sherlock, the album contains 7 songs which are in typical SHINee style. The title track Sherlock is a mash up of the second and third track on the album, Clue and Note. According to SM Entertainment, Sherlock was supposedly a ‘hybrid remix’, thus two songs being combined into one.

Ironically, Sherlock sounds better than Clue or Note on its own. The flow of the combined songs is as if it is one, and the person behind this hybrid remix deserves the credit for doing this.

Sherlock, as the title suggests, is all about investigation and mystery. Even the opening sounds of the track seems like it is taken off a mystery movie’s soundtrack.

Their music video for Sherlock, like all SM productions, are flawless and beautifully shot. The only part I didn’t really fancy was Taemin’s effeminate look in the music video (what’s up with the long hair?). Jessica from Girls’ Generation guest stars in this music video as... wait for it... a beautiful ghost! Be sure to check out the music video below and judge for yourself. Enjoy!

Alarm Clock and The Reason are some of the album fillers which are more R&B in style. Meanwhile, Stranger is more upbeat track and is reminiscent of Ring Ding Dong and Lucifer with its heavy bass.

Honestly ends the album on a rather mellow tone, compared to the hype and energy that starts the beat of the album. This track is an acoustic ballad that brings out the vocals of the members, as well as showing that they are capable of handling songs that are out of the K-pop track.

Overall, the album is worth the wait for the fans as SHINee managed to show their improvement over the years. But I think their concept for this album is a tad too hippy looking. Maybe they should come back as suave gentlemen in their next release and sweep me (and many other girls out there) off my feet. And probably sell more records along the way. Don’t you agree?

P/S: Click on the song title for Sherlock above in bold for the English translation. Credits go to www.popgasa.com

The author was introduced to SHINee when Jeon Mu, the host to Star Golden Bell Challenge (which series has since ended) did a really funny parody of Lucifer on the show.

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Kim Bo Kyung Asks 'What Are You Doing?' In Her Latest Single

South Korea's own Kelly Clarkson, Kim Bo Kyung, has released yet another digital single which has moved the hearts of many.

Titled What Are You Doing?, the song is a sad and mellow ballad which describes the pain from the insincerity of a lover who only gives false exclamations of love.

Listening to the song, you can picture the tough situation of wanting to break up with the insincere lover through Kim Bo Kyung's emotional delivery.

Here's the audio clip to the awesome track:



P/S: Click on the song title above in bold for the English translations and romanization of the lyrics. Credits go to http://kromanized.wordpress.com

The author was introduced to Kim Bo Kyung through her hit song Day by Day. Ever since then, her every single release is a must listen. She has never failed to disappoint, and is one great singer that you should check out!

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2AM Mesmerizes with 'F. Scott Fitzgerald's Way Of Love'

2AM is finally back after a year and a half's hiatus from the K-pop scene. With the anticipation levels high, listening to this mini album titled F. Scott Fitzgerald's Way Of Love (what a mouthful!) actually did deflate my great expectation of a great release.

Nevertheless, their new style of singing only ballads and not dance tracks is also great as it showcases their awesome voices and harmonization. In this album, they are going back to their roots of belting out ballads.

Fans of 2AM will definitely agree that Even If I Die, I Can't Let You Go and You Wouldn't Answer My Calls are their best ballads that has become their trademark songs.

In their latest album, they are sticking to the same formula that have been proven successful by making their title track I Wonder If You Hurt Like Me.

The song is a heartwrenching ballad that shows that 2AM can really sing. This is a tough song, even Seulong had trouble getting his pitch right on a variety show when they were supposed to perform the song for the audience.

The music video mainly focuses on Jinwoon, the 'new' actor in the group, who recently appeared in Dream High 2. Jinwoon in the music video is a person who just lost a loved one (whether through a break-up or death I am not sure) and is slowly losing memories of them together.

The best part that the video shows that memories can fade and the metaphor of someone breaking apart into pieces can happen. Do you think love can make a person hurt and break into a million pieces? Well, do watch the video below and judge for yourself!



Other songs on the album includes You Were Mine, Erase All Our Memories, One More Second, and How To Break Up Well, which revolves around the theme of heartbreak and are more sad sounding.

I personally loved the feel of How To Break Up Well, the intro is reminiscent of old music box tunes, and the slow melody climaxes to a part where Changmin takes over and kills the note. Definitely gave me the sad emotional feeling whenever I hear this track.

However, I Love You I Love You, the last track on the album, gives a more optimistic feel and is more uplifting, emanating the loving vibe.

2AM couldn't ask for a better way to attract more ballad-loving fans through this release, but I must admit that their mellow release is overshadowed by Big Bang's Alive which was an instant hit upon its release. A better timing for their next release, perhaps?

The author is a fan of 2AM since listening to the melancholic Even If I Die, I Can't Let You Go.

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John Park 'Knock'ing The Korean Charts

John Park, the Korean-American American Idol contestant who is best known in Korea as the second runner-up of Superstar K2, has finally released his debut album titled Knock.

After releasing his first single, I’m Your Man, Park went on a hiatus, compared to other Superstar K2 contestants such as Huh Gak who went on to release albums.

The singer admitted that he felt a lot of loneliness during the time he was working on the album and this somber mood influenced the final material in Knock. Producer Kim Dong Ryul worked hard with Park to ensure that the resulting sound was uniquely his.

Upon its release, John Park's Knock has been praised by Girls' Generation's Yoona, veteran Korean singer Lyn, and respected musician Jung Jae Hyung, who all tweeted about the quality of the songs on Knock.

Knock opens with the breathtaking lead single Falling, a musical collaboration with Andy Platts of British soul funk band, Mama’s Gun, with lyrics written by Park himself. In this song, Park’s emotions are raw, and it is a song heartbreak, which the lyrics describe of the sense of longing for a lover who has since left.

Falling is a warm lead single that captures John Park’s resonant voice and goes on to deliver it in this beautiful casket of guitars, airy nuances, and dreamy vocal layering. The music video is equally dreamy and airy, and shows Park falling in stages, only to pick himself up in the end. Do check out the music video to Falling below!

Other songs on the album prove that Park still has a bit of jazz in his song choice, as well as a John Mayer-ish influence on his singing style.

Knock sold 13,000 copies within the first day of its release and has topped the Hanteo chart, and has reached the top 10 of several digital music sites.

Overall, Knock is a fresh and immensely gratifying album from a rookie, putting him apart from other Superstar K2 contestants. Definitely one of the most unexpected and underrated release of the year!

The author fell in love with John Park's mesmerizing voice while watching him on American Idol years ago. Finally he has released an album!

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miss A Set To 'Touch' Hearts With 4th Project

miss A is back once again, this time with a sexier and mysterious image. Their 4^th project, titled Touch is set to impress with the top-class producers at helm.

The first track, Touch, is also the album’s title track. Written and produced by JYP, it opens with a spooky tune, which unravels to an addictive dance beat. The lyrics describe the feelings of a girl who meets a new love after getting hurt in the past.

My favourite part of the song has to be the chorus where the girls croon, “You touch my heart, baby... Touch, touch...” Although I didn’t really like at the first listen, after spinning it a few rounds, the song got stuck on in my mind and I can’t help humming the tune at all times.

The music video for Touch is also spooky, but it is nicely directed and the dance moves are super cool. Besides that, Fei can be seen wearing JYP’s Diamond Tears headphones in the video.

The girls are more matured and their sexy and mysterious air sets them apart from other idols as they seem to exude confidence without even seeming to try really hard. I loved the dance sequence which they did somewhere at the 3.05 mark in the video. Check it below!

The second track, Lips, is a dance track produced by Fuego who worked with Chris Brown and composed by Redd Stylez, Nikki Flores, and Billion Dollar Baby, who have worked with top artists like Usher.

Meanwhile, the third track, Rock n Rule, is a pop-electro club track that incorporates elements of dubstep in its bridge. The song will have you up and dancing with its easy listening and lively melody.

No Mercy, the fourth track off the album, fuses British rock with the sound of synthesizers, resulting in a sophisticated, yet lively vibe. It’s one of the songs off the album that I love for the ‘freshness’ of the tune, which sets it apart from other K-pop songs. The chorus got me addicted, “No mercy jeo meolli sarajyeo jullae, Neo eobsi deo meotjige sal su itge, No mercy… no mercy…”

The fifth track, Over U, is a dance track produced by Deepfrost and Billion Dollar Baby, and was dually composed by Ursula Yancy, who’s worked with artists like Rihanna and Noday, who’s collaborated with Girls’ Generation and TVXQ).

The last track is Touch (Newport Mix), an R&B version of the original title track. Those who prefer subtle song would prefer this version, and it lets the vocals of the members shine as it is less ‘cluttered’ compared to the original version.

Overall, I feel that miss A’s latest release did not disappoint though I might not have churned out a great dance hit. What is memorable about this release is the different and fresh sound of miss A that makes them stand out from other girl group idols. Looking forward to the next release already!

The author loves miss A's Bad Girl, Good Girl, Breathe, and Goodbye Baby. Do give them a listen if you haven't already!

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Rookie Ailee Debuts With Latest Single 'Heaven'

Ailee has been the most anticipated rookie to debut in the K-pop scene this year. With her appearance in KBS’ Dream High 2 and the release of her first single, things have been good so far for this new artiste.

Heaven, the title of her first single, is aptly named as her vocals have an ethereal feel to them and suits the track beautifully. The track has a soulful and R&B feel to it, and Ailee’s powerful vocals will definitely leave a lasting impression that leaves you wanting more.

Ailee’s charm lies in her interpretation of the song itself, she can be soft in certain parts, yet powerful and her vocals pack a punch in other parts. Not to mention, the chorus “Heaven, heaven, heaven, heaven...” is extremely catchy and you’ll sing along after one spin!

The music video is a story itself. If you try to understand further, the first man with Ailee is a loved one (father, brother, husband, boyfriend, etc.) who has since passed away and now keeps watch over her from heaven, I suppose. He is happy that she has found new love and that this person loves her too.

Below is the music video for Heaven. Do look out for B2ST’s Kikwang who has a cameo appearance. And yes, I do think that the first guy looks a lot like Jesus too! Enjoy!

I think that Ailee has potential to shine in the K-pop scene as she is not competing with the plentiful girl groups out there, but she has to show that she can maintain her current style and personality in order to stand out from other great female singers. That said, I am looking forward to her first album already!

The author is a huge fan of Dream High. With Dream High 2 coming up, the author has already made preparations to tune in to every episode of the drama series. Are you ready too?

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What Would My 3D World be with LG Optimus 3D?

During the recent Chinese New Year celebrations, I was in my grandparents’ home in Malacca when I suddenly noticed that almost everyone in the house (numbering around 30) owns a hand phone. Well, that’s almost everyone save for my grandmother and little cousin who is 3 years old, who have no use for owning a hand phone.

What makes it more peculiar is that everyone seems to own some form of smart phone these days. It’s either an iPhone, Blackberry or Samsung Galaxy model that is the current craze.

My trusty old Philips hand phone which has served me for almost 6 years stood like an ancient dinosaur in my eyes. Well, okay, it’s not that it’s big, but it’s so small and it’s a clam phone that I often get people commenting “What’s that?” when they see it. “Well, that’s my phone,” I’ll meekly answer always, citing responses such as “Really? You still have a phone this small?”

Oh, how I wished I owned a smart phone in every one of those occasions!

My dream phone would be one that is able to capture moments and replay them in the exact form which we experience it seeing through our human eyes, sort of like in 3D version, minus those huge ugly 3D glasses. (You see, I’m already wearing glasses and the thought of having to wear double glasses will freak everyone else including myself...)

And LG has just rolled out the exact model that answers my dream: LG Optimus 3D! Oh, I just can’t wait to get one for myself!

You see, there are just moments that you can’t relive again, even in pictures. If I go to a concert of my favourite star, I would want to keep a record of the event and replay it over and over again in 3D. Yeah, hey, I paid a fortune to see my idol live up close and at least give me a chance to have a keepsake in 3D form okay?

How great would it be to be able to view pictures of my favourite idols JYJ (pictured below) in 3D ? Ooh... that'll be super!

LG Optimus 3D is definitely the smart phone that I have been waiting for. It stands out from the rest of the crowd and best of all, it’s 3D!

To experience the awesomeness of LG Optimus 3D for yourself, here’s a short clip on the smart phone.

And to find out more about this incredible phone that is LG Optimus 3D, click this link to their official website for additional information!

The author is a huge fan of JYJ and hopes that a LG Optimus 3D will be in her hands, taking pictures and recording videos when they eventually do make a concert stop in Malaysia!

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BEG's Miryo releases new album Johoney

Brown Eyed Girl’s resident rapper Miryo has recently released her solo album titled Miryo a.k.a. Johoney. Pretty much as expected, she raps throughout the whole album.

The first track, Party Rock, is more of a clubbing track, complete with auto-tune, which I did not particularly dig. Featuring LeeSsang’s Gary and THE KOXX, this song is a great one to dance and party to.

DIRTY, the second track off the album, is a mid-tempo track with a catchy chorus where Miryo holds the song on her own, without any help from other artists. My favourite feature of this song has to be the strumming of the rock guitar in the background.

Check out the music video for Dirty which I found rather funny below. And boy, the people in this video are surely dirrrty….!

I Love You, I Love You is probably the best track off this album in my opinion as it proves rather easy listening although it has a mixture of rap and singing. Collaborating with Girl Generation’s Sunny on this wonderful song, Miryo proves that she pull off rapping in a slow song too. Sunny’s vocals also sound great here too, and maybe that has a major pull factor for me.

On a darker note, Revenger is a track that gives off a rather depressing vibe. Featuring Rude Paper, this song has auto-tune features and an annoying sound in the background. I didn’t find this track interesting and it is the least of my favourites.

The last track, Leggo, is a typical BEG track. Miryo rap is rather fast in this one, and together with fellow BEG member Narsha, they pull this song off greatly. I love Narsha’s part in this one, and somehow I can’t wait to see them perform this song live.

Leggo will be Miryo’s debut song on KBS Music Bank after they banned DIRTY due to the lyrics.

Overall, Miryo’s solo effort is applaudable, but somehow I wished she didn’t take a more pop approach in this album as it didn’t really suit her style. Something along the lines of I Love You, I Love You shall be great for her next release.

With Miryo’s solo release, all that is left is BEG member Jea’s solo release. Narsha and Gain both have released their own. Are you anticipating Jea’s solo album soon?

The author loves Brown Eyed Girl's Cleansing Cream and the message implied in the song. Do check it out!

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MBLAQ releases new album '100% Ver.'

MBLAQ (Music Boys Live in Absolute Quality) is back again with their latest album 100% Ver. Following their last release Mona Lisa, they have taken on another theme this time round. If Mona Lisa was Spanish influenced, 100% Ver. is a mixture of different genres.

The first track Run starts off like the soundtrack of a horror movie. The song is peppered with powerful beats pumping in the background, rapping, mixing and auto-tune. Best of all, the ad-libs gives off a villainous feel towards the song, and proves as a great start to the album.

It’s War, the second track off the album, is movie soundtrack material. The strings and piano notes in the background complement the song greatly and this is one song you have to understand the lyrics to understand the depth of the song.

The lyrics tell the story of how the narrator was forced to watch as his friend steals his girlfriend from him. The cinematography and storyline of the MV is amazing, exactly like a movie. Watch the music video for It’s War below. Enjoy!

The next track, Scribble, has a beautiful melody with hints of Italian influences. A soothing mid-tempo track, this song showcases their vocals and also proves that they can also sing songs that are out of their usual ‘intense’ setlist.

She’s Breathtaking somehow feels out of place in this album as it’s more of the usual songs from other boy idol groups. It’s has a bubblegum-pop feel towards it, but the MBLAQ boys still pulled it off quite well.

The last track, Hello My Ex, has a boy band ring towards it. It’s smooth and refreshing, and is reminiscence of the boy band era in the 90s.

Although I did not pay much attention to MBLAQ during their last album promotions, this time round I felt that their comeback is better and they have improved more than the last I’ve seen them. I admit that their latest album is great but I would love to see them roll out an album that has pretty much constant theme throughout in their next comeback.

Here’s to MBLAQ achieving more success in their next venture!

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T-ara Invites You To 'Funky Town'

From the girls of T-ara who brought us Bo Peep Bo Peep, their latest hit is their club-themed album Funky Town. Staying true to it’s name, the album is filled with funky tunes, with the biggest spotlight on the main track Lovey-Dovey.

The song starts off with a synthesized beat typical of a club hit, but the main attraction of the song is the catchy chorus when the girls sing ‘Lovey Dovey, oh oh oh oh, Lovey Dovey, oh oh oh oh’. Overall the hit has a great beat to it and gets you moving your body along.

The music video for Lovey-Dovey is a whole 20 minutes long video, so be prepared to sit down and watch the drama unfold! It is said to be the continuation of the story in Cry Cry’s music video, so below is the link to both music videos. Enjoy!

The album is filled with other previously released songs such as Cry Cry, Goodbye, OK, O My God, as well as We Were In Love which they collaborated on with Davichi.

Do give this album a spin if you are a huge fan of T-ara or funky music!

The author first got hooked on T-ara's music when she heard their hit song Bo Peep Bo Peep.

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