Ooh. Interesting.

This may only interest a handful of you out there who also happen to love Roller Coaster, but this is for us fans of the laid-back, acid-jazz/lounge/groovetronica group: the voice of the band, Jo Won-sun, is finally coming out with her own solo album 17 years after her debut.

I’d been wondering when they’d come out with another album, and since I effing LOVE their music — melodically intricate, groovy, mellow, diverse — I am more than happy to hear about this. And if you don’t know them but enjoy Clazziquai, Humming Urban Stereo, Casker, and/or Fortune Cookie, you should really give them a whirl.

I also realized most of my previously posted Roller Coaster song links are now dead, so I’ve reupped and reposted them here:

SONG (REPOSTS) OF THE DAY

Roller Coaster – “숨길 수 없어요” (Can’t Hide It) [ Download ]

More Roller Coaster songs >>

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I knew Love & Marriage would end on a happy note, and that nothing totally unexpected would come in the last hour. But I was still pleasantly surprised with how well the drama wrapped up its romance — even managing to pull out a bit of cleverness to keep the inevitable from being totally predictable.

I’ll be the first to admit that Love & Marriage isn’t a perfect drama, or even a particularly noteworthy one. But what it did, it did well: happy romance that endeared its characters to those of us who don’t necessarily like our dramas traumatic. Also, I always want to give extra points to dramas whose finales manage to satisfy AND add a little something extra to the series, rather than ending on a disappointing note — or even just an adequate (but unexciting) one.

SONG OF THE DAY

Love & Marriage OST – “Come to Me” by J [ Download ]

LOVE & MARRIAGE Episode 16 (Final) >>

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Episode 4 is SO ADORABLE it’s silly. No, really, I think I had a grin on my face all episode.

(I just hope this drama stays funny. Four solidly amusing episodes is a good start, but until a series is halfway through, I’m wary that it’ll downturn. Actually, I’m usually nervous that a good series will sour right up until it ends.)

What I think Love & Marriage does well is in the way it unfolds its plot, how it structures jokes to pay off more than once. The plot itself isn’t groundbreaking, but the show is filled with quirky, cute little moments that build on each other and keep the momentum moving throughout.

SONG OF THE DAY

Howl – “소년, 소녀를 만나다” (Boy meets girl) [ Download ]

LOVE & MARRIAGE Episode 4 >>

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I know this post is off-topic, but DongA.com brings us this lovely image of a newfangled device being called a “scissor bike.” I don’t know about you, but those are two words that, when put together, conjure up some pretty unfortunate images, but oddly it’s very apt (the bicycle folds upon itself for ease of carrying). I don’t bike much, but I’d actually get me one of these — more useful than a razor scooter, less bulky than an actual bike.

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Omg. Strongest Chil Woo is AWESOME (-ly bad). But still, awesome!

It is SO corny, and that makes it so, so good.

I never thought I’d say this, but one of its best assets right now is its terrible acting. I don’t know if they’re being bad on purpose, or if they’re just not naturally suited to the material, but in any case I’d like to tell them: Thank you. A show that is not meant to be good is best being very, very bad. It couldn’t’a happened without you.

SONG OF THE DAY

Hooligan – “상상웃음” (Imaginary laugh) [ Download ]

 
STRONGEST CHIL WOO Episode 4 >>

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