Album ReviewsGareth Gates `Pictures of The Other Side' Universal British idol star Gareth Gates has returned with his first new release in four years. He is well known for his hit number "Listen To My Heart," from the previous album, ``Go Your Own Way,'' that was used in Korean TV commercials. The album shows his four-year struggle to shed his idol image gained with the support of Simon Cowell, the producer who turned him into a star in the 2002 season of Pop Idol, the British version of American Idol. Now he has written several songs along with veteran British singer/songwriter Judie Tzuke. The album includes the first single, ``Changes'' and ``New Kid in Town,'' a new style of song from his new image, which is tinged with rock `n' roll sounds. Chung Ah-young Sep 4, 2007
Linkin Park to Rock Up Fans This FallBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Grammy award-winning rock group Linkin Park will be performing in Seoul on Nov. 30. The band returns to Seoul for a one-night concert at Gymnastics Stadium, Olympic Park, as part of their ``Projekt Revolution'' world tour. The group was here in 2003. Linkin Park’s music combines metal with rap and rock genres. The band is composed of vocalist Chester Bennington, emcee Mike Shinoda, drummer Rob Bourdon, lead guitarist Brad Delson, bass guitarist Dave Farrell and DJ Joe Hahn. Shinoda, Delson and Bourdon, who were all high school friends, formed the group in 1996 in Agoura, California. After high school, they recruited other members Hahn and Farrell to join their band. Bennington joined in 1999 as the lead vocalist. Linkin Park released their debut album ``Hybrid Theory'' in 2000, selling close to 4.8 million records in one year. Tracks such as ``Crawling'' and ``One Step Closer'' received a lot of radio airplay, and brought mainstream success for Linkin Park. In 2001, the group won two Grammy awards for ``Hybrid Theory,'' beSep 4, 2007
Pop, Hip-Hop and Rock Concerts to Wrap Up SummerBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Music fans can look forward to a range of electronic, hip-hop and rock performances over the next few weeks. ``Seoul Tokyo Love Festa 2007'' on Oct. 5 will probably be on the must-see list of all K-pop and J-pop fans. Featuring Clazziquai and Japanese hip-hop stars Soul'dOut and m-flo, as well as Dynamic Duo, House Rulez and w&whale, the show promises to be an exciting mix of electronica, hip-hop and dance music. Clazziquai, made up of DJ Clazzi and vocalists Horan and Alex, are expected to perform hits from their latest album ``Love Child of the Century.'' Soul'dOut is a Japanese hip-hop group with members Diggy-Mo, Bro. Hi and Shinnosuke. The group has released several albums such as ``To All Tha Dreamers,'' ``Alive'' and ``Remixes & Outside.'' M-flo will return to Seoul for another performance at the ``Seoul Tokyo Love Festa 2007.'' Although they performed two weeks ago, one of their concerts was marred by a delay that caused fans to wait for nearly three hours. However, rapper Verbal and DJ Taku may have a chance to makAug 27, 2007
Mountains Full of Musical FeastBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The hills are alive with the sound of music at Pyeongchang, as the three-week long Great Mountains Music Festival & School (GMMFS) comes to a close Sunday. Since Aug. 3, musicians -- both renowned professionals and rising amateurs -- and classical music fans from around the world convened in YongPyong (Yongpyeong) Resort to celebrate musical colors and sound. After being cancelled last year due to the monsoon, the Great Mountains Festival recommenced for its fourth run, bustling with music lessons and lectures for students by day and resonating with concerts featuring world-class artists by night. The music festival and school drew 145 music students who had the chance to work with famed professionals, such as cello lessons with Aldo Parisot and Chung Myung-wha. Betty Zhou, a ninth-year student studying violin at the Julliard Pre-College in New York, participated in the festival for the first time this year. The 17-year-old took part in lessons with celebrated violinist Igor Ozim, who currently teaches at the Mozarteum University in SalzburgAug 24, 2007
Album ReviewsPrince `Planet Earth' SonyBMG Since legendary superstar Prince showed off the breathtaking Super Bowl half-time performance, which was the second most-watched broadcast ever, he returns with ``Planet Earth'' for his fans. The album features his longtime band members Wendy (guitar and mandolin), Lisa (keyboard), Sheila E (percussion) who worked on all-time hits ``Purple Rain'' and ``When Doves Cry,'' in 1980s. Several tracks such as ``Guitar'' and ``The One U Wanna C'' help redeem his iconic incomparable music from his peak era. The 10 tracks masterfully capture the attention and respect of music fans in general and satisfy his loyal fans that he is ready to once again reign supreme. -Chung Ah-young Korn ``Untitled'' EMI New metal band Korn's new album, which comes two years after ``See You on the Other Side" in 2005, has hit platinum. The eighth album is produced by Atticus Ross, who worked with Nine Inch Nails and Bad Religion. The album includes ``Evolution,'' its single, ``I Will Protect You'' and ``Kiss'' which reflect bleaker sounds of vocalist Aug 21, 2007
Trumpeter Hargrove to Perform in SeoulBy Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove, who masters in improvisational performance, and his band, will perform at LG Arts Center in southern Seoul on Sept. 3. Often dubbed a ``young lion'' in the world of jazz for the 21st century, Hargrove will entertain Korean jazz buffs with his quintet. He visited Korea along with jazz masters Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker and John Patitucci in 2003 for the performance titled ``Directions in Music 2003.'' But this time, he will perform with his own quintet consisting of Gerald Clayton, piano, Danton Boller, bass, Justin Robinson, alto saxophone and Montez Coleman, drums. The concert is part of the quintet's world tours to promote their latest release, ``Nothing Serious,'' which came out last year. The album is traditional jazz tinged with Latin music. Hargrove and his band will showcase improvisational and acoustic jazz live performances. Hargrove began playing cornet at the age of 9 and later was discovered by jazz master Wynton Marsalis during Marsalis' visit to his high school. After that, Hargrove Aug 20, 2007
M-flo Rocks Seoul Party Scene Despite DelayBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Japanese hip-hop superstars m-flo rocked the Seoul party scene with two sold-out concerts on Friday and Saturday, as part of the ``m-flo Tour 2007 Cosmicolor.'' This was the duo's first concert in Korea since their ``Beat Space Nine'' tour in 2005. The Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel's Kayagum Hall was packed with fans who were eager to see m-flo perform in Seoul. However, Saturday's concert was marred by a delay that caused fans to wait 2 hours and 45 minutes for m-flo's performance. At a press conference at the W Hotel on Saturday afternoon, m-flo's rapper Verbal and producer Taku Takahashi expressed excitement at performing before Korean fans once again. ``Korean fans are very enthusiastic. We're very pleased to see many Korean fans at our concerts, so we are always coming here. At our concert (on Friday), we saw some Japanese fans, and Korean fans clap their hands. We are pleased to see that Korean fans are welcoming Japanese fans. Through music, I think people can understand each other more deeply,'' Verbal said. When Aug 19, 2007
Music Flows at Great Mountains Music FestBy April Choi Contributing Writer Among the lush green hills of Pyeongchang, the Great Mountain festival transcends the sleepy ski resort village. It becomes vibrant in the summer with happily chattering music students everywhere and music floating from the windows. Idyllic, the festival, now in its fourth run, is conducted in Aspen music festival fashion. During the day, classes and lectures take place for the students that the public can also observe. At night, renowned performers take the stage. The catchphrase for this year's festival, ``Visionary,’’ was explored in various ways including experimental pieces by contemporary composers and the ``performance’’ of a multimedia artist. The majority of concerts are held in Nunmaul Hall, a small and cozy venue with seating for a few hundred. Makeshift black chairs are set up in rows, and can be a little uncomfortable after a while. The diverse audience is comprised of young couples, families with children, middle-aged and elderly folks along with the ubiquitous music students, a few who are lugging instruments. Foreigners are sAug 15, 2007
Album ReviewsInterpol ``Our Love to Admire'' EMI This is the much-anticipated follow-up album from Interpol, the New York-based indie rock band that received critical acclaim with their two previous albums. The voice of singer Paul Banks may sound similar to that of Joy Division's Ian Curtis, but Interpol strikes on quite a different sonic path with the '80s UK band. Not that they lack the trademark sentiments of gloom and depression. While mid-tempo groovy numbers such as the first single-cut ``The Heinrich Maneuver'' easily get inside one's head, it's slower numbers such as the opening number ``Pioneer to the Falls'' and ending ``The Lighthouse'' that truly shine with their atmospheric darkness. - Seo Dong-shin Aug 14, 2007
Oh Brothers Revives 50s Rockn RollBy Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Many an ambitious amateur musician dreams about making it big, breaking into the mainstream charts _ mostly on television networks _ to win a wide fan base. But not all would-be stars take that route. There are those who first earn the support of a small crowd and then reach the wider fields later. Oh! Brothers, a Korean rock'n' roll band, first started out busking. The five-member group, founded in 1998, went anywhere there were people ready to jam together. From subway stations to university festivals or the streets, you name it, the group went. But it was on the subways and streets that the band became famous for its performances in the late 1990s. Currently, the band consists of Choi Sung-soo, on vocals, Lee Sung-bae, on saxophone, Lee Sung-moon, bass, Ahn Tae-joon, drums, and Kim Jeoung-woong on guitar, who has newly joined the band for its fourth album. ``We first began performing on the streets because the streets were too dull and vapid. So we wanted to cheer people up on the street,'' Lee Sung-moon, the bassist, said in anAug 14, 2007