Indieful ROK

Randomness #1

2013-01-26T20:08:00.000+01:00

It's my first weekend home alone in a year and with no elaborate plans I'm using all the free time to do some much needed catching up. I just went through a month's worth of K-pop entertainment blogs and the most surprising headlines I found was that about an idol pop punk band - turns out it is four 20-something guys in a band called Never Mind that debuted with digital single Shooting Star.

I can't vouch for the lyrical contents, but I suppose they've done a decent enough job with the sound. They're from a very small company though: Korean-Thai entertainment company ToEast Entertainment, that from what I can tell until until last week had only released compilation New Life In Seoul with songs from Pastel Music artists in Thailand last year. Leader G.one seems quite sympathetic, too. It will be very interesting to see how they fare. Will the "idol" label make any difference?

Another thing I found from skimming headlines is that Yoon Jong Shin is working with Two Months and has been since September. Shinchireem with that cozy sound was one of the collaborations I enjoyed the most last year, so this is making me very curious for the return of Two Months.

My email backlog also reaches back into 2012 and is what I should take care of next. Except all I want to do is tell everybody about the awesomeness of Sasquatch. I may actually have to write another album review.

But before then I should also write another post about Korean bands coming to SXSW. So many more Korean bands this year than any year before, and it seems that's not just SXSW. Rumors have it a bunch of great live bands may be showing up in the UK for a few shows in a few months, and it looks like I'll be able to schedule a trip to Helsinki to see one of my own favorite bands end of May. Other things are in the works all over Europe, although little has been confirmed at this time. Details to come on the koreanindie news blog as soon as I have anything to share. Now: time to get to writing those other blog posts and emails.

Indieful ROK's 5th Anniversary

2013-01-11T00:14:00.000+01:00

It's the 10th of January 2013, and with that the 5 year anniversary of Indieful ROK has arrived. Now this blog - that for so many years was such a big part of my identity - has sadly become "that blog with the charts", and even that isn't true anymore as the very limited time I've had for blogging during autumn was all dedicated towards koreanindie.com. But, I can't let this day go to waste so I'm taking this as an opportunity to finally get one of those more personal posts I was hoping to put on this blog down.

As far as I'm concerned, 2012 was another great year. Like 2011 I didn't listen to at all as much music as I used to, but most of what I did hear was very good. For the first time since starting this blog I wrote album reviews: for No Respect For Beauty's Why Perish and Lang Lee's Yon Yonson - both great releases that would likely end up on my list of best album of the year, had I actually listened to enough albums to make one.

I found myself a few new favorite artists while I was at it. Lang Lee, whose "로쿠차 구다사이" became a favorite with me already years ago, proved to be one of the most interesting singer-songwriters in Korea today. Although I knew I'd become a fan the moment I found out about them, post-rock band Modsdive offered one of the year's best live experiences during the Band Incubating finals and with that cemented the position as one of this year's very best new bands.

But perhaps the most intriguing discovery I made in 2012 was that of Sasquatch. I first came across the name while checking out all the Ssamzie Hidden Master auditions and absolutely loved what I heard. After the debut album was released in November, I made "Mannequin" the Korean representative for the December edition of the Music Alliance Pact. Could be the best song I heard all year. It's a Hongdae band making music that sounds like 90's k-pop - combining two of my biggest passions!

Speaking of 90's k-pop, that's what the second half of 2012 centered around for me. Of course it all started with drama Reply 1997 which in spite of a couple of disappointing final episodes and some minor factual misses is still one of the best dramas I've ever seen. That's what I dreamed my life would be back when I was an obsessed H.O.T fan helplessly stuck on the other side of the planet. Inspired by the sudden interest in the 90's I even arranged a weekend to show some of my k-pop loving friends a total of 26 hours of gayo tapes with the very best of what Korea had to offer in pop music 1996-1998. Fantastic in so many more ways than I could've ever hoped for.

And now that we're on the subject of k-pop, I think I may have actually listened more to k-pop than any other kind of music this year much thanks to those k-pop loving friends of mine. One of my favorite music videos of the year is the 없기 version of Dalshabet's "있기 없기" - especially the part starting at 1:35 and the stick at 1:57. Another would be the video for Girl's Day's "Oh! My God". And as corny as it may be, I really enjoy both song and video for NRG member Cheon Myeong Hun's solo debut "Jungle" - a song penned by the two Untitle members.

This is already getting too long, so I should wrap it up. Thank you for reading this, even though it's been a long time since anything worthwhile was posted. Thank you for all of your support throughout the years. This blog would not still be here without you, and I hope that you've been able to find from koreanindie.com all that you used to seek from Indieful ROK. While activity here may be slow also during 2013, I've got some really exciting projects coming up elsewhere that I hope will be of interest also to you. Let's make it another fantastic year!

This was fun. Maybe I should get in the habit of writing this kind of posts after all....

Gaon Digital Sales Chart week 26, 2012

2012-07-05T23:36:00.000+02:00

There's a new total Korean digital chart from Gaon and it shows Busker Busker clinging to the top in spite of many competing new releases. Only two new songs from the indie realm entered the chart: Guckkasten's cover from the June finals of I Am A Singer 2 and the lead track off the new The KOXX EP.

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - June 30, 2012
1. Busker Busker - 정말로 사랑한다면 [MV]
3. Busker Busker - 그댈 마주하는건 힘들어 (그마힘)
7. Busker Busker - 소나기 (주르르루)
10. Busker Busker - 네온사인
16. Verbal Jint feat. Kwon Jung Yeol - 굿모닝 [teaser]
17. Busker Busker - 기다려주세요
42. 10cm - Only U
44. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
55. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다
61. Busker Busker - 첫사랑
70. Busker Busker - 꽃송이가
76. Big Baby Driver - You Are Everywhere
88. Busker Busker - 외로움 증폭장치 (브래드 드럼 한판 쉬기)
96. Guckkasten - 몽타주 (Montage) [MV]
97. Busker Busker - 이상형 [Teaser]
105. Big Baby Driver - Spring I Love You Best
117. Epitone Project - 새벽녘 [MV]
120. Guckkasten - 가장 무도회
124. Busker Busker - 전활 거네
138. Guckkasten -한잔의 추억
147. Broccoli, you too? - 앵콜요청금지
148. Busker Busker - 향수
151. Busker Busker - 골목길 어귀에서
164. The Koxx - 사랑춤 [MV]
178. Acoustic Collabo - 첫사랑의 멜로디 [MV]
179. Busker Busker - 봄바람
180. Guckkasten - 거울 [MV]
183. Park Jiyoon - I Do

Bugs Indie Music Chart week 26, 2012

2012-07-02T00:53:00.000+02:00

The Bugs indie chart for last week is out, and though there's nothing new in the top 10 there's more to be found lower down the chart. There's former Jaejoo Boys member Afternoon, traces of the Golden Hits Collection from Broccoli, you too?, the lead track off Princess Disease's debut, the joint efforts of Autumn Vacation and Kim Jae Hoon, the new single from Dear Cloud's Nine, and the song which Harry Big Button offered as their last Top Band 2 performance

Bugs Indie TOP10 - June 30, 2012
1. Busker Busker - 정말로 사랑한다면 [MV]
2. Busker Busker - 그댈 마주하는건 힘들어 (그마힘)
3. Busker Busker - 소나기 (주르르루)
4. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
5. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다 [TV live]
6. Busker Busker - 첫사랑 [live]
7. Epitone Project - 새벽녘 [MV]
8. Guckkasten - 몽타주 (Montage) [MV]
9. Guckkasten - 거울 [MV]
10. Epitone Project - 다음날 아침 (with Han Hee Jung)

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
24. Afternoon - 해변의 아침
26. Broccoli, you too? - 보편적인 노래 [MV]
55. Princess Disease - 알아요 몰라요 [YT audio sample]
60. Cho Tae Joon - 그런 표정 짓지 말아줘 [MV]
63. Afternoon - 어제와 다른 비가 내리는 창 밖을 보며
65. Afternoon - Coffee
67. Autumn Vacation & Kim Jae Hoon - 여배우
68. Autumn Vacation & Kim Jae Hoon - 한낮의 천문학
72. Autumn Vacation & Kim Jae Hoon - 가끔 미치도록 네가 안고 싶어질 때가 있어
80. Nine - 그댈 향한 멜로디
82. Nell - Slip Away
87. TJ-Kun - 설레임
90. Harry Big Button - Angry Face [studio live]

See the full top 100 list here.

Gaon Digital Sales Chart week 25, 2012

2012-06-28T21:10:00.001+02:00

On the latest total Korean digital chart from Gaon, Busker Busker and their new mini album can again be found in the top. There's also the new 10cm song, a bit of Big Baby Driver and a whole lot of Lena Park's new album, though I've only listed to song featuring eAeon below.

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - June 23, 2012
1. Busker Busker - 정말로 사랑한다면 [MV]
3. Busker Busker - 그댈 마주하는건 힘들어 (그마힘)
6. Busker Busker - 소나기 (주르르루)
8. Busker Busker - 네온사인
12. Busker Busker - 기다려주세요
14. Verbal Jint feat. Kwon Jung Yeol - 굿모닝 [teaser]
20. 10cm - Only U
46. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
58. Guckkasten - 몽타주 (Montage) [MV]
61. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다
63. Busker Busker - 첫사랑
74. Busker Busker - 꽃송이가
77. Epitone Project - 새벽녘 [MV]
83. Big Baby Driver - You Are Everywhere
93. Big Baby Driver - Spring I Love You Best
95. Busker Busker - 외로움 증폭장치 (브래드 드럼 한판 쉬기)
104. Busker Busker - 이상형 [Teaser]
106. Guckkasten -한잔의 추억
124. Busker Busker - 전활 거네
129. Shin Se Kyung - 넌 달콤했어 (feat. Sweden Laundry) [MV]
141. Lena Park - You Don`t know Me (with eAeon)
154. Standing Egg - Keep Going [MV]
155. Busker Busker - 골목길 어귀에서
158. Busker Busker - 향수
159. Guckkasten - 거울 [MV]
163. Park Jiyoon - I Do
180. Broccoli, you too? - 잔인한 사월 [MV]
183. Daylight - 그대 내 마음에
184. Broccoli, you too? - 앵콜요청금지
188. Busker Busker - 봄바람
192. Verbal Jint - 좋아보여 (feat. The Black Skirts) [MV]
199. Acoustic Collabo - 첫사랑의 멜로디 [MV]

Bugs Indie Music Chart week 25, 2012

2012-06-27T00:51:00.002+02:00

A day later than usual, but Bugs Music and a few other Korean sites for some reason could not be reached from Sweden yesterday and the beginning of today. Now it's back, so here's the latest indie chart from Bugs. Only two weeks away from the top spot, and now Busker Busker are back with a new mini album. However it seems as though Bugs are only listing the top three, or we would've probably found Guckkasten's new single another couple of positions lower.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - June 23, 2012
1. Busker Busker - 정말로 사랑한다면 [MV]
2. Busker Busker - 그댈 마주하는건 힘들어 (그마힘)
3. Busker Busker - 소나기 (주르르루)
4. Guckkasten - 몽타주 (Montage) [MV]
5. Epitone Project - 새벽녘 [MV]
6. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
7. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다 [TV live]
8. Guckkasten - 거울 [MV]
9. Busker Busker - 첫사랑 [live]
10. Rose Motel - 부비부비

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
23. Broccoli, you too? - 앵콜요청금지 [TV live]
33. Jaeju Boys - 마음의 지도
41. Broccoli, you too? - 청춘열차 [live]
43. Broccoli, you too? - 춤 [TV live]
52. Lucid Fall - 외로운 당신
53. Mellow Park - 행복하길 바래
64. Ubare's Picnic - If You Really Could
68. Soran - 가장 따뜻한 위로
79. Vanila City - 작은아이 (Live)
87. Thursday Morning Band - 보고싶어 [MV]

See the full top 100 list here.

Gaon Digital Sales Chart week 24, 2012

2012-06-21T23:31:00.000+02:00

Gaon has a new Korean digital chart out and I was very happy to see so many of the indie songs entering last week doing a bit of climbing.

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - June 16, 2012
5. Verbal Jint feat. Kwon Jung Yeol - 굿모닝 [teaser]
39. Epitone Project - 새벽녘 [MV]
43. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
57. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다
60. Busker Busker - 첫사랑
66. Guckkasten -한잔의 추억
74. Busker Busker - 꽃송이가
84. Broccoli, you too? - 잔인한 사월 [MV]
92. Busker Busker - 외로움 증폭장치 (브래드 드럼 한판 쉬기)
97. Shin Se Kyung - 넌 달콤했어 (feat. Sweden Laundry) [MV]
98. Busker Busker - 이상형 [Teaser]
103. Yozoh - 빈 하늘 바라보며 [MV]
105. Park Jiyoon - I Do
109. Guckkasten - 거울 [MV]
111. Busker Busker - 전활 거네
115. Epitone Project - 다음날 아침 (with Han Hee Jung)
119. Epitone Project - 이제, 여기에서
125. Epitone Project - 시차
126. Epitone Project - 믿을게
127. Epitone Project - 5122
129. Busker Busker - 골목길 어귀에서
134. Busker Busker - 향수
137. Epitone Project - 우리의 음악
141. Epitone Project - 떠나자
144. Epitone Project - 초보비행
150. Lee Won Suk - 러닝맨
152. Epitone Project - 미뉴에트
153. Epitone Project - 터미널
161. Standing Egg - Keep Going [MV]
165. Epitone Project - 국경을 넘는 기차
180. Mongoose - 보헤미안 걸프렌드 [MV
181. Busker Busker - 봄바람
184. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
186. Verbal Jint - 좋아보여 (feat. The Black Skirts) [MV]
193. 10cm - 애상 [MV]

Bugs Indie Music Chart week 24, 2012

2012-06-18T23:45:00.001+02:00

Even though they were eliminated during the second stage of Top Band 2, Fantastic Drugstore appeared to have gained enough popularity to make their debut EP noticed. Soo Kyoung's Red Chair too can be found among the newcomers on the latest indie chart from Bugs.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - June 16, 2012
1. Epitone Project - 새벽녘 [MV]
2. Guckkasten - 거울 [MV]
3. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
4. Broccoli, you too? - 잔인한 사월 [MV]
5. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다 [TV live]
6. Epitone Project - 다음날 아침 (duet with Han Hee Jung)
7. Busker Busker - 첫사랑 [live]
8. Epitone Project - 이제, 여기에서
9. Rose Motel - 부비부비
10. Guckkasten - 붉은 밭 [TV live]

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
11. Fantastic Drugstore - 아저씨 [teaser]
12. 10cm - Beautiful [live]
37. Red Chair - 아니 벌써
61. Copy Machine - Summer Magic
64. Mongoose - 그대여 (feat. Kim Jin Ah)
65. Mongoose - 일곱 시간차 연애
68. Fantastic Drugstore - 만나줄래 [live]
71. Magna Fall - Warp Five Boogie
75. Fantastic Drugstore - Bad Girl [live]

See the full top 100 list here.

Gaon Digital Sales Chart week 23, 2012

2012-06-14T18:18:00.000+02:00

The latest Korean digital chart from Gaon offered plenty of newcomers from the k-indie realm! Most can be recognized from the latest indie chart published by Bugs.

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - June 9, 2012
28. Verbal Jint feat. Kwon Jung Yeol - 굿모닝 [teaser]
36. Guckkasten -한잔의 추억
38. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
40. Epitone Project - 새벽녘 [MV]
47. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다
53. Busker Busker - 첫사랑
63. Park Jiyoon - I Do
65. Busker Busker - 꽃송이가
88. Busker Busker - 외로움 증폭장치 (브래드 드럼 한판 쉬기)
90. Busker Busker - 이상형 [Teaser]
93. Epitone Project - 다음날 아침 (with Han Hee Jung)
95. Epitone Project - 이제, 여기에서
99. Busker Busker - 전활 거네
103. Epitone Project - 믿을게
104. Epitone Project - 시차
107. Epitone Project - 5122
108. Busker Busker - 골목길 어귀에서
110. Broccoli, you too? - 잔인한 사월 [MV]
112. Epitone Project - 우리의 음악
114. Epitone Project - 떠나자
115. Busker Busker - 향수
117. Epitone Project - 초보비행
118. Yozoh - 빈 하늘 바라보며 [MV]
120. Guckkasten - 거울 [MV]
123. Epitone Project - 터미널
126. Epitone Project - 미뉴에트
131. Kim Ji Soo - Vintage Man [MV]
133. Epitone Project - 국경을 넘는 기차
162. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
168. Busker Busker - 봄바람
173. Guckkasten - 붉은 밭
187. 10cm - 애상 [MV]

Bugs Indie Music Chart week 23, 2012

2012-06-11T21:14:00.001+02:00

After ten weeks in the top, Busker Busker had to see themselves replaced by Epitone Project this week. Broccoli, you too? made another return to the top 10, but this time with a new song. Mongoose too has a new release out, and so does Cosmos Sound, and Electric Muse has a 5th Anniversary compilation that was also recognized by Bugs' indie chart. And then of course Guckkasten have made people curious after a stellar performance on I Am A Singer 2.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - June 9, 2012
1. Epitone Project - 새벽녘 [MV]
2. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
3. Epitone Project - 다음날 아침 (duet with Han Hee Jung)
4. Epitone Project - 이제, 여기에서
5. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다 [TV live]
6. Busker Busker - 첫사랑 [live]
7. Broccoli, you too? - 잔인한 사월 [MV]
8. Guckkasten - 거울 [MV] 9. Guckkasten - 붉은 밭 [TV live]
10. Daylight - 하나부터 열까지 [CF]

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
25. 4th Floor - Tonight [MV]
30. 9 and the Numbers - 실낙원 [TV live]
43. Thomas Cook - 홍대로 가는 택시 (inst)
52. Mongoose - Bohemian Girlfriend [MV]
71. Cosmos Sound - 낮잠 [live]
78. Atombook - Every Place Is Your Playground

See the full top 100 list here.

Gaon Digital Sales Chart week 22, 2012

2012-06-07T19:42:00.000+02:00

Not sure whether to keep counting Kim Ji Soo as indie or not (is he still with Pastel Music?) but at least including him on the list makes this extract of the Korean digital chart from Gaon look if only a little better.

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - June 2, 2012
23. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
34. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다
35. Busker Busker - 첫사랑
44. Busker Busker - 꽃송이가
65. Busker Busker - 외로움 증폭장치 (브래드 드럼 한판 쉬기)
68. Busker Busker - 이상형 [Teaser]
75. Busker Busker - 전활 거네
80. Busker Busker - 향수
81. Busker Busker - 골목길 어귀에서
101. Kim Ji Soo - Vintage Man [MV]
111. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
140. Busker Busker - 봄바람
156. 10cm - 애상 [MV]
174. Busker Busker - 골목길

Bugs Indie Music Chart week 22, 2012

2012-06-04T21:58:00.000+02:00

Ten weeks at the top for Busker Busker's 벚꽃 엔딩! Gate Flowers released their first full-length album last week and it seems to have become fairly popular.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - June 2, 2012
1. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
2. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다 [TV live]
3. Busker Busker - 첫사랑 [live]
4. Daylight - 하나부터 열까지 [CF]
5. Oksang Dalbit - 수고했어, 오늘도 [On Stage]
6. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
7. Gate Flowers - 잘자라
8. 10cm - 오늘밤은 어둠이 무서워요 [MV]
9. Urban Zakapa - Beautiful Day [MV]
10. Autumn Vacation - 취미는 사랑 (Album ver.) [TV live]

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
28. Exit no.4 - Amazing Lady [TV live]
31. Peppertones - Bikini [TV live]
32. Han Hee Jung - 미성년
34. Gate Flowers - 좋은 날
35. Gate Flowers - 물어
50. Afternoon - TV Show
55. Guten Birds - You In The Mirror [TV live]
65. 3rd Story - 고칠게 Pt.3
85. J Rabbit - Happy Things [friendz.net]

See the full top 100 list here.

Gaon Digital Sales Chart week 21, 2012

2012-05-31T19:59:00.001+02:00

Nothing new from the indie realm on the latest edition of the Korean digital chart from Gaon.

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - May 26, 2012
20. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
27. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다
29. Busker Busker - 첫사랑
36. Busker Busker - 꽃송이가
54. Busker Busker - 외로움 증폭장치 (브래드 드럼 한판 쉬기)
56. Busker Busker - 이상형 [Teaser]
68. Busker Busker - 전활 거네
79. Busker Busker - 향수
82. Busker Busker - 골목길 어귀에서
100. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
123. Busker Busker - 봄바람
153. 10cm - 애상 [MV]
165. Busker Busker - 골목길

Bugs Indie Music Chart week 21, 2012

2012-05-29T20:58:00.001+02:00

New indie chart from Bugs! The top track has been the same for nine weeks already.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - May 26, 2012
1. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
2. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다 [TV live]
3. Busker Busker - 첫사랑 [live]
4. Daylight - 하나부터 열까지 [CF]
5. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
6. Oksang Dalbit - 선물할게
7. Oksang Dalbit - 수고했어, 오늘도 [On Stage]
8. Oksang Dalbit - 보호해줘 [live]
9. Urban Zakapa - Beautiful Day [MV]
10. Broken Valentine - Shade

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
14. Speakout - 지금 간다고 [MV]
36. Orange Clockwork - 체온
46. Misty Eyed Girl - 떠올리다
56. Cuba - Control [live]
58. Romantic Melody Chobi - 내 반쪽 사과 [MV]
59. Monni - 기억의 시작 [live]
73. Summer of Thoughts - 안녕 [live]
84. Party Maker - Get It Down
100. New Jack - 어쩜 그리 [audio]

See the full top 100 list here.

Gaon Digital Sales Chart week 20, 2012

2012-05-24T21:17:00.001+02:00

Last week was pretty slow as far as Korean indie music releases go, and it is reflected also on the latest Korean digital chart from Gaon. A couple of more mainstream oriented entries did make anyway though.

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - May 19, 2012
17. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
21. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다
26. Busker Busker - 첫사랑
31. Busker Busker - 꽃송이가
45. Busker Busker - 외로움 증폭장치 (브래드 드럼 한판 쉬기)
50. Busker Busker - 이상형 [Teaser]
69. Busker Busker - 전활 거네
81. Busker Busker - 향수
83. Busker Busker - 골목길 어귀에서
93. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
110. Busker Busker - 봄바람
122. Park Jiyoon - 다 지워버리면 [MV]
138. Busker Busker - 골목길
142. 10cm - 애상 [MV]
170. Oksang Dalbit - 선물할게
200. Daylight - 하나부터 열까지

Bugs Indie Music Chart week 20, 2012

2012-05-21T23:31:00.002+02:00

Had a very nice, long weekend visiting no less than three European capitals (the one I'm living in excluded), but now it's time to get back to reality. Should really be headed for bed, but figured I'd get the latest Bugs Indie chart excerpt up first to prepare for news posts on Korean Indie tomorrow.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - May 19, 2012
1. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
2. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다 [TV live]
3. Busker Busker - 첫사랑 [live]
4. Daylight - 하나부터 열까지
5. Oksang Dalbit - 선물할게
6. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
7. Broken Valentine - Shade
8. Peppertones - 행운을 빌어요 [MV]
9. Urban Zakapa - Beautiful Day [MV]
10. Ju Yoon Ha - 푸른봄 靑春 (feat. Hee Kyung Na) [live]

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
43. Fromm - 사랑 아니었나
58. Daylight - 하나부터 열까지 (덴마크 드링킹 요구르트 CF ver.) [CF]
63. Lim Jung Woo - 기차가 떠난 달빛 아래서
67. Fantastic Drug Store - 아저씨 [live]
75. Common Ground - Sound of Nature [trailer]
80. J-Cheese - It's You [teaser]
82. RaonJaena - Cosmos Dog
84. Fellas - 단 하루도
86. Black Bag - Breathe In
89. Song of Luna - 지구송
92. Lim Jung Woo - 오월에 다시 내게로 돌아와줘요
96. Goonamguayeoridingstella - 도시생활 (Bicycle Version)
98. Harry Big Button - Fxxx You Very Much [live]

See the full top 100 list here.

Gaon Digital Sales Chart week 19, 2012

2012-05-17T10:59:00.001+02:00

The new Korean digital chart from Gaon is out, but there's nothing particularly exciting about this one.

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - May 12, 2012
9. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
19. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다
20. Busker Busker - 첫사랑
27. Busker Busker - 꽃송이가
38. Busker Busker - 외로움 증폭장치 (브래드 드럼 한판 쉬기)
43. Busker Busker - 이상형 [Teaser]
52. Busker Busker - 전활 거네
61. Busker Busker - 골목길 어귀에서
62. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
63. Busker Busker - 향수
81. Busker Busker - 봄바람
87. Oksang Dalbit - 선물할게
95. Busker Busker - 골목길
112. 10cm - 애상 [MV]
189. Busker Busker - 동경소녀
196. Oksang Dalbit - Bird (feat. Yoo Sae Yoon) [teaser]
198. Peppertones - 행운을 빌어요 [MV]

Bugs Indie Music Chart week 19, 2012

2012-05-14T20:00:00.000+02:00

The top 6 tracks remains the same as the week before on the latest indie chart from Bugs. Many new entries come from the second Greenplugged omnibus compilation, but there is also a bit of a Top Band theme with first season competitors Broken Valentine and Ravie Nuage releasing new whereas Rose Motel's old single became a hit when they appeared on Top Band 2

Bugs Indie TOP10 - May 12, 2012
1. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
2. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다 [TV live]
3. Busker Busker - 첫사랑 [live]
4. Oksang Dalbit - 선물할게
5. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
6. Peppertones - 행운을 빌어요 [MV]
7. Ju Yoon Ha - 푸른봄 靑春 (feat. Hee Kyung Na) [live]
8. Oksang Dalbit - Bird (feat. Yoo Sae Yoon)
9. Urban Zakapa - Beautiful Day [MV]
10. Broken Valentine - Shade

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
12. Rose Motel - 봉숙이 [live]
27. Rose Motel - 너 그러다 장가 못간다 [live]
31. Rose Motel - 나같네 [live]
52. Ravie Nuage - 뽐므에게 (feat. Lee Young Hoon) [live]
54. Peterpan Complex - Because Love... (feat. Lee Sang Mi)
60. Broken Valentine - This Time
61. Broken Valentine - Answer Me (Album ver.) [live]
84. Gogoboys - 봄이다
89. Copy Machine - 왁자지껄
92. AshGray - 기분 좋은 날
93. A Boy Next Door - 봄바람에 부른다
98. Linus' Blanket - Walk [studio live]
99. Lips Bite - 비가 내려 고마워

See the full top 100 list here.

Gaon Digital Sales Chart week 18, 2012

2012-05-10T20:16:00.002+02:00

Twenty indie songs left the Korean digital chart from Gaon this week. At least Oksang Dalbit got two songs from their new mini album on there.

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - May 5, 2012
6. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
11. Busker Busker - 첫사랑
12. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다
20. Busker Busker - 꽃송이가
28. Busker Busker - 외로움 증폭장치 (브래드 드럼 한판 쉬기)
29. Busker Busker - 이상형 [Teaser]
40. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
43. Busker Busker - 전활 거네
51. Busker Busker - 향수
53. Busker Busker - 골목길 어귀에서
68. Busker Busker - 봄바람
79. Oksang Dalbit - 선물할게
81. Busker Busker - 골목길
111. 10cm - 애상 [MV]
136. Peppertones - 행운을 빌어요 [MV]
143. Oksang Dalbit - Bird (feat. Yoo Sae Yoon) [teaser]
189. Busker Busker - 동경소녀
192. Nell - Cliff Parade

Bugs Indie Music Chart week 18, 2012

2012-05-07T00:29:00.001+02:00

New indie chart from Bugs but the only entries of new songs from new releases come from Oksang Dalbit and Manggakhwa. The top 3 still looks the same as last week.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - May 5, 2012
1. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
2. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다 [TV live]
3. Busker Busker - 첫사랑 [live]
4. Oksang Dalbit - 선물할게
5. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
6. Peppertones - 행운을 빌어요 [MV]
7. Oksang Dalbit - Bird (feat. Yoo Sae Yoon)
8. Urban Zakapa - Beautiful Day [MV]
9. Peppertones - 러브앤피스 [live]
10. Nine9 - 약속해 [MV]

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
13. Oksang Dalbit - 염소 4만원
37. Taru - Summer Day [live]
40. Earls - Shining Star [MV]
49. Peterpan Complex - 모닝콜 (feat. Fromm) [live]
51. Broccoli, you too? - 커뮤니케이션의 이해 [TV live]
63. Freaky - Happy Day [indie2go]
67. 1984 - 한동안 멍하니 [live]
70. Dusty Blue - 이젠 그녀를 놓아주세요 (remaster) [original version MV]
74. Delispice - 봄봄
92. Manggakhwa - 춤추는 삶 [live]

See the full top 100 list here.

Randomness #1

2012-05-06T23:48:00.002+02:00

For a full month now my blogging has focused almost exclusively on Top Band 2. With the exception of the first episode my coverage of the first season was limited to post drafts and notes scribbled on paper, so when Korean rock is real's Anna suggested an I Am A Singer style commentary series I was more than happy to be a part of it.

We started off covering all the 99 bands that made it through the first round of auditions and are currently halfway through the judges. I've been very excited about the first episode and watched it soon as I could, but it'll be Wednesday before we get that post live on Korean Indie. It's been something of a marathon, blogging daily for a month (though not always posting the result), and because of it I haven't been doing as much other blogging as I usually do.

Where am I getting with this? Though it was more work than I had expected to keep the whole Top Band thing going I've really appreciated the opportunity to write more freely about bands and music rather than trying not to get too subjective with the news stuff. So from now on I'll try to actually get these more personal, opinion style posts going here on Indieful ROK.

Today I'd like to talk a bit about I Am A Singer 2. It started just last weekend and I wasn't quite sure about the new format, but as it continued today things were looking a bit better. There's yet to be any performance as strong as what used to be offered when it was still just I Am A Singer, but I've already went from skeptical towards Baekdoosan to loving them because today they covered Crying Nut's "말달리자". I wasn't all that fond of the performance--they'd taken most of the punk out of it and it was my least favorite out of the six performances tonight--but I love that they picked it.

Making it even more worthwhile they had put Downhell vocalist Mark Choi in the chorus, which makes sense since they're sharing a label. Although I can't help but wonder if this will make Baekdoosan guitarist Kim Do Kyun a bit biased when judging Mark's other band Au Revoir Michelle on Top Band.

That'll be all for now. Truth be told I haven't really been getting into anything music related besides Top Band and I Am A Singer recently, so that's how much fun I am nowadays. Also it's gotten late and I still need to get some news blogging done, since in spite of all of the other things I'd like to do for koreanindie.com that's sort of my main responsibility. I want to do so much more with that by the way, but there is only so much one person can manage besides a full time job and everything else. Speaking of which, if you'd be interested in contributing to news.koreanindie.com please let me know and maybe we can work something out ^^

Gaon Digital Sales Chart week 17, 2012

2012-05-05T16:07:00.001+02:00

A couple of days with full evenings behind me, the weekly look at the Korean digital chart from Gaon had to wait till just now. Peppertones have joined Busker Busker and Nell as another band with most of their latest album on the chart.

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - April 28, 2012
3. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
6. Busker Busker - 첫사랑
7. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다
11. Busker Busker - 꽃송이가
17. Busker Busker - 외로움 증폭장치 (브래드 드럼 한판 쉬기)
18. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
19. Busker Busker - 이상형 [Teaser]
27. Busker Busker - 전활 거네
38. Busker Busker - 향수
39. Busker Busker - 골목길 어귀에서
48. Busker Busker - 봄바람
65. Busker Busker - 골목길
68. Peppertones - 행운을 빌어요 [MV
90. 10cm - 애상 [MV]
122. Peppertones - 러브앤피스
132. Peppertones - For All Dancers
135. Nell - Go
137. Peppertones - Robot
139. Nell - The Ending
142. Nell - Standing In The Rain
154. Nell - Cliff Parade
155. Peppertones - Bikini
159. Nell - In Days Gone By
161. Peppertones - 검은 산
164. Standing Egg - 햇살이 아파 (with SoFly of 3rd Coast) [MV]
165. Peppertones - Wish-List
166. Peppertones - 21세기의 어떤 날
168. Peppertones - 바이킹
172. Yozoh - 자꾸자꾸
179. J Rabbit - 알고있을까?
182. Busker Busker - 동경소녀
184. Peppertones - 아시안게임
186. Peppertones - Fine
187. Nell - Slip Away
192. Daybreak - Silly [MV]
198. Nell - Loosing Control

Bugs Indie Music Chart week 17, 2012

2012-04-30T19:30:00.000+02:00

Lots of new releases recently means lots of new songs on Bugs' indie chart. New albums from Peppertones and J Rabbit; singles from Pia, Broken Valentine and Dear Cloud's Nine9; and new mini albums from Yellow Monsters and Rocket Diary have all made a mark.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - April 28, 2012
1. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
2. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다 [TV live]
3. Busker Busker - 첫사랑 [live]
4. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
5. Peppertones - 행운을 빌어요 [MV]
6. Peppertones - 러브앤피스 [live]
7. Peppertones - Robot [live
8. Urban Zakapa - Beautiful Day [MV]
4. Nell - Cliff Parade [live]
5. Nell - Standing In The Rain [live]

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
13. J Rabbit - 웃으며 넘길래
14. J Rabbit - 알고있을까?
19. Pia - Yes You Are (Jayswing Filthy Remix)
23. J Rabbit - 잠이솔솔
25. Broken Valentine - Down [MV]
29. Nine9 - 약속해 [MV]
36. Yellow Monsters - K.O
39. Rocket Diary - 야화 [MV]
86. Yellow Monsters - Ice Cream Love
91. Yellow Monsters - Anger
95. Clinch - Bye By Bye
96. Canaria Salon - Daylight

See the full top 100 list here.

Gaon Digital Sales Chart week 16, 2012

2012-04-26T23:21:00.001+02:00

The latest Korean digital chart from Gaon was revealed today. We find Nell falling, but Busker Busker haven't been moving too much.

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - April 21, 2012
2. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
4. Busker Busker - 첫사랑
5. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다
7. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
8. Busker Busker - 꽃송이가
15. Busker Busker - 외로움 증폭장치 (브래드 드럼 한판 쉬기)
18. Busker Busker - 이상형 [Teaser]
23. Busker Busker - 전활 거네
27. Busker Busker - 골목길 어귀에서
29. Busker Busker - 향수
37. Busker Busker - 봄바람
44. Busker Busker - 골목길
75. Nell - Go
76. 10cm - 애상 [MV]
83. Nell - Standing In The Rain
84. Nell - The Ending
87. Nell - Cliff Parade
94. Nell - In Days Gone By
107. Daybreak - Silly [Silly]
108. Standing Egg - 햇살이 아파 (with SoFly of 3rd Coast) [MV]
113. Nell - Slip Away
118. Nell - Loosing Control
123. Nell - Beautiful Stranger
124. Yozoh - 자꾸자꾸
126. Nell - Hopeless Valentine
160. Busker Busker - 동경소녀
172. Busker Busker - 서울사람들
173. Busker Busker - 정류장
193. Busker Busker - 막걸리나

Bugs Indie Music Chart week 16, 2012

2012-04-23T19:59:00.001+02:00

Very minor changes in the top of the latest indie chart from Bugs with only songs #2 and #3 changing places. More action further down the chart, with Lucid Fall's old band suddenly showing up.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - April 21, 2012
1. Busker Busker - 벚꽃 엔딩 [MV]
2. Busker Busker - 여수 밤바다 [TV live]
3. Nell - 그리고, 남겨진 것들 [MV]
4. Busker Busker - 첫사랑 [live]
5. Nell - Cliff Parade [live]
6. Nell - Standing In The Rain [live]
7. Urban Zakapa - Beautiful Day [MV]
8. Urban Zakapa - 그댈 안은 목소리
9. Soran - 살빼지 마요 [MV]
10. Urban Zakapa Just The Two of Us

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
12. 5Who - 자꾸만
14. Casker - 잔혹한 여행
28. Fanny Fink - 곁에
31. Broccoli, you too? - 할머니
44. Ubare's Picnic - 소풍
51. Theater8 - 사람을 찾습니다 [MV]
60. Non - 군인
69. Casker - Hidden Track
86. Dickpunks - 원더랜드 바스켓 [TV live]
93. Misuni - 진달래

See the full top 100 list here.