Album ReviewsPussy Cat Dolls Doll Domination Universal The Pussy Cat Dolls have made a name for themselves by wearing skimpy clothes and singing catchy dance tunes like ``Don't Cha.'' Unfortunately for the Dolls, their sophomore album fails to come up with any memorable songs, save for the first single ``When I Grow Up'' and ``Out of This Club'' featuring R. Kelly. The Dolls also collaborated with hip-hop stars Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliot, Timbaland, but most of the album's 18 tracks just don't connect with listeners. If there's anything dominating about ``Doll Domination,'' it's the vocals of lead singer Nicole Scherzinger. A deluxe version includes solo songs by each of the five Dolls. - Cathy Rose A. Garcia Oct 14, 2008
Reunited Extreme to Perform in SeoulBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter American rock band Extreme reunited to release a new album this year, and are now embarking on a much-awaited world concert tour. Extreme will perform Dec. 13 at the Melon-AX, northern Seoul, as part of their ``Take Us Alive World Tour.'' The newly reunited band, composed of vocalist Gary Cherone, guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, bassist Pat Badger and drummer Kevin Figueiredo, is expected to rock fans once again. Extreme was one of the most popular rock bands in the early 1990s, thanks to the smash acoustic hits ``More Than Words'' and ``Hole Hearted.'' Extreme was formed in 1985 in Malden, Massachusetts. The band became popular in the Boston area, winning Outstanding Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Act at the Boston Music Awards in 1986 and 1987. They released a self-titled debut album in 1989, to moderate success. In 1990, Extreme released ``Extreme II: Pornograffiti,'' which went multi-platinum. The acoustic ballad ``More Than Words'' reached number one on the Billboard charts, and became a worldwide hit. While the band gained mainsOct 14, 2008
Rain Finally Unveiled in AsiaBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Korean pop sensation Rain has officially returned to Asian fans. The 26-year-old singer was not only back home, but better than ever. At his show, held at MBC Dreamcenter in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, fans from Japan, Taiwan, China and Korea who were exclusively invited waited patiently with their small fluorescent poles shaped in the letter ``R'' and pieces of that read ``Rainism,'' the title of the singer's new album. The lights finally dimmed and Rain appeared on stage dressed in a black suit, red tie, and a new hairstyle: short and burgundy. ``Rainism'' was the first song he presented to fans, along with his trademark superb dance moves. There was a change in style with a more sensual and sexy dance routine replacing his usual powerful and energetic movements. Rain continued with ``Love Story,'' where he stood standing on a circular platform that rose about 3 meters above the stage. ``Today's show is a bit different. (Showcases) were more like a concert and I realized I was being selfish. So this time, we'll talk more,'' he saiOct 12, 2008
Balladeer Shin Returns With New Style, AlbumBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The ``king of ballads'' singer/songwriter Shin Seung-hun is back with a new album, fresh look and stylish songs. At the singer's album showcase and press conference Monday, Shin seemed nervous yet excited to greet local reporters for the first time in two years. ``It's been a while, so I think I'll be doing a lot of talking (instead of singing) today,'' he said as he started the conference held at a jazz club, Perrier-Jouet, in Nonhyeon-dong, southern Seoul. Shin will release three project albums under the same title ``Three Waves of Unexpected Twists.'' ``This project will be the turning point in my career. I thought marriage would be the turning point, but I guess this will have to do,'' he said laughing. The first album of the three, dubbed ``Radio Wave'' is a tribute to the radio, he said, which allowed the singer to appreciate his fans when he first started out as a singer 18 years ago. ``I wanted to do music people can listen to, not watch. I tried not to lose the true meaning of music,'' said Shin. Famous for his deliOct 8, 2008
Jim Brickman Brings Romantic Music to SeoulBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Get in the mood for romance this November, as New Age pianist Jim Brickman brings his most romantic tunes to Seoul. Brickman is holding a concert ``Romanticism in November'' on Nov. 5 at the concert hall of the Yonsei Art & Cultural Center. This will be the American pianist and composer's first concert in Seoul since performing in 2003. On his Web site, Brickman said fans can expect ``a little of everything'' at his concerts. ``Beautiful piano music, love songs, stories, and even some laughs. No flashy special effects ― just pure music! It's a great escape for a couple of hours, to hold hands, relax and exhale,'' he said. His Seoul concert will also feature several holiday tunes such as ``Coming Home For Christmas,'' ``Deck The Halls,'' ``Bethlehem'' and ``Auld Lang Syne.'' Brickman will bring warmth to Christmas classics on the piano. Born in Cleveland, Brickman started playing the piano at the age of four. He studied at the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music. While he was in college, he started a company specializing iOct 7, 2008
Album ReviewOasis Dig Out Your Soul SonyBMG Throughout their career, British rock superstars Oasis have made no secret how much The Beatles has influenced their music. Their seventh album ``Dig Out Your Soul '' is no exception. Listening to songs like ``The Shock of Lightning,'' ``Soldier On'' and ``To Be Where There's Life,'' you can hear echoes of The Beatles, although Oasis tried to experiment a bit with the hypnotic ``(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady.'' Showing just how much Liam and Noel Gallagher have matured, ``Dig Out Your Soul'' is one of the strongest albums Oasis has released since the breakthrough album ``Definitely Maybe.'' - Cathy Rose A. GarciaOct 7, 2008
Album ReviewsNe-Yo Year of the Gentleman (Universal) Judging by the lyrics of his songs on his new album ``Year of the Gentleman,'' R&B star Ne-Yo is definitely a gentleman. As one of the top songwriters today, Ne-Yo knows how to write romantic and sensitive lyrics, and combine it with mellow beats, that will have women swooning. His first single ``Closer,'' produced by Stargate, is very catchy. The follow-up single ``Miss Independent'' is dedicated to all those women who are doing their own thing. Other standout tracks on the album are ``Mad,'' ``So You Can Cry'' and ``Nobody.'' Ne-Yo also included his version of ``Single,'' a song that he wrote for the New Kids on the Block. - Cathy Rose A. Garcia Sep 30, 2008
Jazz, Pop, Drum Festivals This WeekendBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Still haven't decided what to do during the three-day weekend holiday (Oct. 3-5)? How about checking out the jazz, pop and drum festivals happening around Korea this weekend? Jazz at Jarasum The 5th Jarasum International Jazz Festival kicks off Thursday in Jara island and Gapyeong city, Gyeonggi Province. Korea's premier international jazz festival is bigger than ever, with not just a main jazz stage but 10 additional venues such as jazz clubs, a gymnasium and Gapyeong Culture Center in downtown Gapyeong. The festival runs for four days through Oct.5. This year's line-up includes jazz stars such as guitarist John Scofield, electric bassist Victor Bailey, saxophonist Joe Lovano, drummer Jojo Mayer, Nnenna Freelon, the John Abercrombie Quartet and Omar Sosa Afreecanos Quartet. Other artists who will perform at the festival include Dave Samuels, Paquito D'Riviera, Andy Narell, Sadao Watanabe, Nils Petter Molvaer, Lars Danielson, Hah Youn-sun, Kenji Omae and Jean-Michel Pilc. Last year, the festival featured collaborations bSep 30, 2008
Sumi Jo Returns Home With Globetrotting AlbumBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter There's no place like home for internationally feted soprano Sumi Jo. The lyric coloratura singer has been traveling the world for over 20 years, and makes a ``homecoming'' through a new crossover, cross-border album of world folk music, ``Missing You.'' ``The most important thing in life is family, and I miss home the most when I travel,'' Jo told The Korea Times, sounding cheerful over the phone from her Italian residence. The 45-year-old lives with her three pet dogs, which she had to shush in rapid Italian during the conversation. ``For me, voyages and airports are marked by loneliness and homesickness, rather than excitement and fun. This album is like returning home,'' she said. The Grammy Award-winning artist comes back to Deutsche Grammophon, a label under which she recorded her opera debut ``Un Ballo in Maschera'' with maestro Herbert von Karajan in 1987. With 16 songs in 11 languages ranging from Nordic hymns and Mexican serenades to Yiddish tunes like ``Dona Dona,'' the project embodies Jo's past two decades of music making around thSep 30, 2008
Pianist Peter Jablonski to PerformBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Virtuoso pianist Peter Jablonski is back in Korea, and is giving recitals tonight in Seoul and Thursday in Busan. The Swedish musician has been touring the country quite regularly since a fortunate ``mishap'' in 1995. Maestro Chung Myung-whun and the Philharmonia Orchestra were running an hour late due to unusually heavy traffic, and the pianist voluntarily played solo for the audience and live radio broadcast. The incident shot him to stardom here, and he has since been invited back for sellout recitals and concerts. ``The Korean audience is very warm,'' the pianist told The Korea Times, Friday, smiling, though he was clearly jetlagged and fatigued after a performance with KBS Symphony the previous night. ``Koreans are a very responsive crowd and it's always a great pleasure to play here,'' he said. Born in Sweden, Jablonski made his name as a child drummer before devoting himself to the piano. After debuting with an orchestra at age 12, the pianist continued his studies in London where he is currently based. Maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy tookSep 30, 2008