LINK EXCHANGES

Album SORRY SORRY (Repackaged)
Language: Korean
Genre: Pop, Dance
Comments: I haven't listened to Super Junior's 3rd album, but this is one of the bonus tracks in the repackaged one, and I must say I love it. It's catchy and groovy without being overdone - the boys' voices, coupled with the electro-synth vibe and pulsing beats are subdued, with a touch of sentimentality (and, idk, maturity) to it. It's way better than the title track, SORRY SORRY, which can get annoying. One of my favorite SuJu songs to date.

Download?

Album: Kingdom Hearts Piano Collection
Language: Instrumental
Genre: Piano
Comments: Kingdom Hearts is a widely popular videogame series, and Dearly Beloved is a widely popular title theme: one of the ones you don't forget, really, title and all. The concert paraphrase is like an entire orchestra piece translated in piano sounds. This particular version has a story to it; it begins with a slow, soft introduction that lasts only a few seconds before it fully blows up into running intensity. Somewhere near the middle it calms down to give room for melancholy and sentimentality and gradually works itself up a crescendo. The piece is too involved to be classified under "easy listening" and too heated to be pretty, but it's an interesting piano performance nonetheless and a definite must-have for people who enjoyed the Kingdom Hearts OST (or, at the minimum, like Dearly Beloved.

PS. I may have mislabelled the artist; Play Asia had Kiyono Yukiko listed, so I uhhh jumped to conclusions. If anyone can tell me who the pianist is, I'd really appreciate it.

Download?

Album: N/A
Language: English
Genre: Folk Pop-Rock
Comments: You probably already know this, but Kris Allen is this season's American Idol. This was one of his performances in Top 3 - a cover of Kanye West's Heartless with his own personal touch. Very well done; It definitely trumps Danny Gokey's own contestant's choice (You Are So Beautiful, which in spite of remarkable riffing, was pretty breathy and had a laughable (re)arrangement, IMO).

Download?

Album: N/A
Language: English
Genre: Acoustic, Pop
Comments: The thing is, Randy Jackson claims that Kris Allen's cover is better than The Fray's. I'm not sure I agree, and I'm fairly sure it doesn't matter because both versions are worth listening to. (I confess that my inner The Fray fangirl makes me a little biased.)

Download?

Album: Primary Flowers
Language: Japanese
Genre: Contemporary Classical
Comments: Kanon is one of them female singer-songwriters, notable for her classical/Gospel influence and fluid, ethereal voice. Kiseki ~Song of Love~ lifts the melody from Pachelbel's Canon in D Major, so what we get is something soothing, layered and uplifting, with the slightest touch of hip-hop to pace the music.

Download?

Album: Primary Flowers
Language: English
Genre: Contemporary Classical
Comments: Another familiar tune, as popularized by Elvis Presley. This one opens very dramatically, until the thirty-second mark which gives way for hip-hop elements, which are stronger than in Kiseki and interweave with a symphonic cathedral background. It sounds pretty experimental, but the layered vocals (especially towards the end) make it so worth it. Also, props to Kanon's English.

Download?

Album: Primary Flowers
Language: Japanese
Genre: Contemporary Classical
Comments: If the previous Kanon uploads are too much of a mish-mash for you, try this. It's steady and consistent; light pop, a lush orchestra, and Kanon's soft-spoken but soaring vocals. This is pretty much my favorite song in her Primary Flowers album.

Download?

Album: 第三回合
Language: Chinese (Mandarin)
Genre: Pop Ballad
Comments: Two years after the release of Keep Fighting!, TANK is back with his third album~ I love how his album titles stick to the same theme. XD If you're following the Chinese entertainment scene, you should be familiar with his songs in various idol dramas. While most of the tracks in 第三回合 are pop/rock (if you're into the genre and the language, I definitely recommend this album), 如果我變成回憶 is a heartfelt, heartbreaking ballad with a wistful piano prelude. You can hear the weight of his emotions through his voice and his music even without understanding the lyrics (which are about love, life, death and moving on, and allude to certain events in Tank's life; honestly, the first verses hit home and resonate so well with my personal paranoias.).

Download?

Album: 第三回合
Language: Chinese (Mandarin)
Genre: Soft Pop/Rock
Comments: 陽光美眉 begins with a conversation and the sound of ocean waves, and then some fun guitar-strumming. Very relaxing and lives up to the image of its title; I can hear the soft yellows in this, mm-hmm. Some light rock elements here, but generally mellow, summery pop.

Download?

Album: 第三回合
Language: Chinese (Mandarin)
Genre: Pop Rock
Comments: The first track in 第三回合; TANK kicks it off with a purposeful piano motif that grounds a hard rock edge; features some badass rapping and a powerful chorus. I approve.

Download?