Cocking Ear To Detect '75 (Top Singles And Albums Through The Third Quarter Of 2012)

[koganbot]

My attempts at affirmative action in support of vocal cords of the nonyoung, the non-Korean, and the nonfemale haven't netted me much beyond Neil Young, though I'll admit that those attempts were half-hearted. My exploration of the nonmainstream was even less-hearted and, not surprisingly, less successful — except that the never-predictable indie-rapper E.via reverted to a gem of a failed attempt to crack the mainstream (on this list at 26, though never higher than 100 on Gaon).

In the meantime, my respect for the power of human stupidity was reaffirmed by the viciousness and hysteria with which the Internet mob scapegoated T-ara, none of which has changed my limited understanding of the group. Over the last three years, T-ara have made the most consistently good music in earshot. I wonder if now, going forward, cuteness will feel like less of an option for them, and what the result might be. I was listening to Pere Ubu's "Heart Of Darkness" the other day and tried to imagine what it would sound like with Jiyeon singing; had the fantasy that people thirty-seven years ago who were like what I was like thirty-seven years ago might be able to speak across time and say something more helpful to Jiyeon than what the world around her is currently offering.

The vid for Dev's "Take Her From You" first appeared a year ago, but Chuck reports that her Wikip page lists the song as a 2012 digital single, and Rhapsody is treating it as a stand-alone single. I've never been able to parse its lyrics, since whom the "you" designates keeps shifting back and forth, along with the identity of the designator.

TOP SINGLES Through Third Quarter 2012:
1. T-ara "Lovey-Dovey"
2. Trouble Maker "Trouble Maker"
3. ChoColat "I Like It"
4. Dev "Take Her From You"
5. Dev "In My Trunk"
6. Cassie "King Of Hearts"
7. Wonder Girls "Like This"
8. T-ara "Day By Day"
9. Sistar "Alone"
10. Davichi & T-ara "We Were In Love"

Watch on YouTube

11. 2NE1 "Scream"
12. Flashe "Drop It"
13. After School "Rambling Girls"
14. 4minute "Volume Up"
15. Miss A "Touch"
16. ChoColat ft. Sung Hyo Ram "One More Day" (also called "Same Thing To Her")
17. Yoon Jong Shin ft. Kim Wan Sun "I Love You All Days"
18. Nicki Minaj ft. 2 Chainz "Beez In The Trap"
19. Chi Chi "Sexy Doll"
20. Miranda Lambert "Fastest Girl In Town"

Watch on YouTube

21. Nicki Minaj "Stupid Hoe"
22. Girl's Day "Oh! My God"
23. Rihanna ft. Chris Brown "Birthday Cake (Remix)"
24. Orange Caramel "My Sweet Devil"
25. Paulina Rubio "Boys Will Be Boys"
26. E.via ft. Lee Su Jung "I Know How To Play A Little"
27. Orange Caramel "Lipstick"
28. Kanye West, Jay-Z, Big Sean "Clique"
29. Diamond Rings "I'm Just Me"
30. Javiera Mena "Luz de Piedra de Luna"

Watch on YouTube

31. Sunny Hill "The Grasshopper Song"
32. T-ara "Sexy Love"
33. Wonder Girls "The DJ Is Mine"
34. T-ara "Round & Round"
35. The Cataracs ft. Dev "Sunrise"
36. Crystal Castles "Plague"
37. Clazzi ft. Koti & Jubi & MYK "Sexy Doll"
38. Lil Chuckee "Da Wop"
39. Bobby Brackins ft. Iamsu & Roach Gigz "Golden State"
40. After School "Flashback"

Watch on YouTube

41. Eden's Edge "Too Good To Be True"
42. Kara "Pandora"
43. A-Jax "Hot Game"
44. Jhene Aiko "3:16"
45. Tyga ft. Lil Wayne "Faded"
46. DJ Raff "Digital Rain (En El Desierto)"
47. Y.N.RichKids "Hot Cheetos And Takis"
48. Kendrick Lamar ft. Dr. Dre "The Recipe"
49. Super Junior "Sexy, Free & Single"
50. Usher "Climax"

Watch on YouTube

51. Knife Party "Bonfire"
52. Jess Mills "Pixelated People"
53. Da' Zoo "La La La (Hot Girls)"
54. Bella Thorne "TTYLXOX"
55. Blush "Up Up & Away"
56. Teedra Moses ft. Wale "Another LuvR"
57. B.o.B ft. André 3000 "Play The Guitar"
58. Kara "Speed Up"
59. Melanie Fiona "4 AM"
60. Yangpa ft. Lee Boram & Soyeon "I Know"

Watch on YouTube

61. Shinhwa "Venus"
62. Cloud Nothings "No Future/No Past"
63. Justin Bieber "Boyfriend"
64. Gangkiz "Honey Honey"
65. Kim Wan Sun/Clazzi "Can Only Feel"
66. Kang Mi Jin "MIA" (webrip)
67. Tyga "Rack City"
68. M.I.A. "Bad Girls"
69. Dawn Richard "Automatic"
70. Dawn Richard "Bombs"

Watch on YouTube

71. Chi Chi "Leon"
72. Tony & Smash "Get Your Swag On"
73. Groove Armada ft. Slarta John "Pull Up"
74. Ryu Hwayoung "Hwayoung Rap"
75. Psy "Gangnam Style"

TOP ALBUMS Through Third Quarter 2012:
1. T-ara Funky Town (repackage of Black Eyes) EP [Core Contents Media]
2. ChoColat I Like It, The First Mini Album EP [Paramount]
3. T-ara Mirage (repackage of Day By Day) EP [Core Contents Media]
4. E.via E.viagradation Part 1. (Black & Red) EP [Dline Art Media]
5. Miss A Touch EP [JYP Entertainment]
6. DJ Bedbugs Teenpop Lock And Drop Volume 2 [self-released]
7. 4minute Volume Up EP [Cube Entertainment]
8. Neil Young & Crazy Horse Americana [Reprise]

Watch on YouTube

9. After School Playgirlz [Avex]

Comments

[skyecaptain.livejournal.com]

Interestingly, considering I haven't figured out yet what to do with K-pop EPs, our K-pop full-length of the year is the same, and in roughly in the same position on the ballot. Not sure how "Americana" will fare on my Top Ten just yet, but it's one of three albums I've actually bought a physical copy of this year. (The other two were Norah Jones and Cat Power's uneven but excellent new alb "Sun," which will probably hit the second half of my Top Ten.)

Mine as of right now:

1. Farrah Abraham - My Teenage Dream Ended
2. Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror
3. School of Seven Bells - Ghostory
4. Norah Jones - Little Broken Hearts
5. Carly Rae Jepsen - Kiss
6. Cat Power - Sun
7. Dawn Richard - Armor On EP
8. Lana Del Rey - Born to Die
9. Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Americana
10. Jessie Ware - Devotion
11. After School - Playgirlz
12. Daughn Gibson - All Hell
13. Jimmy Cliff - Rebirth
14. P!nk - The Truth About Love
15. Ani DiFranco - Which Side Are You On?
16. Justin Bieber - Believe
17. Nicki Minaj - Roman Reloaded
18. Santigold - Master of My Make Believe
19. Kellie Pickler - 100 Proof

Currently promising listen: Kreayshawn - Somethin 'Bout Kreay

[skyecaptain.livejournal.com]

Frank, are you on Spotify? I've heard almost all of these albums on Spotify first. It's good because I've gotten warier/wearier about downloading lately -- it's so rarely worth the hassle to download, listen once, and then delete.

[koganbot]

For some reason I'm holding off on Spotify. I just don't think I'd ever use it. I'm nowhere near rational on the subject. Just think if something's not mine I'm never going to listen. One can stream albums on MySpace, for instance, but I never do.

Does Spotify let you bookmark in the middle of an album? Return to a particular song?

I've still got half an eye out for Pazz & Jop, which doesn't allow you to vote for EPs in their own category so I have to put them in albums. But also, in K-pop, the EP is the basic longform. Releases are events, and once the event is over, blockbuster style, the album or EP is for practical purposes off the table. No second, third, or fourth single, though the alb/EP can briefly live again as a repackage (equivalent to a belated deluxe edition in the U.S.), with a new single or two. Physical albums and EPs are for fans and collectors, I think; I'm told there's frequently elaborate packaging, multiple different packages depending on what you want to spend, though I've never held one in my hand.

"Singles" sometimes consist of three or four new tracks, in addition to the remixes and instrumentals. Several B or C sides made it on my list. For instance, Kim Wan Sun's "Can Only Feel" began life as a "featuring Kim Wan Sun" on the Clazzi LP, then appeared as track three on a Kim Wan Sun single. And Chi Chi's "Leon" is a B-side.

Speaking of Clazzi and Chi Chi, notice that there are two "Sexy Dolls" on my list. I'm planning a Chi Chi writeup, but you know me: I have many plans.

Spotify

[christophe andersen (from livejournal.com)]

Since breaking down last Winter and paying for Spotify to avoid the commercials, my music buying habits have completely changed. I think I have purchased only 10-12 albums this year and only 1 or 2 physical records. The best part is that it allows me access to the same music at home, work, or on the bus/train. I also am much more likely to give an unknown to me artist a listen since it is convenient and requires no expense on my part. I'm not sure about bookmarking in the middle of an album, however.

Re: Spotify

[christophe andersen (from livejournal.com)]

I also find sharing music amongst friends to be much easier with Spotify. I am not a big video fan, however, and prefer to discover new music separated from visuals. If you discover your music through videos first then Spotify might not be for you.

Re: Spotify

[koganbot]

I tend to be five years behind what everyone else is doing, but this is useful information. Thank you.

Dawn Richard

[koganbot]

Unfortunately, my cup's turning out to be half empty rather than half full on Dawn Richard. Two very good singles, both on my list; but even on those two, the comic exuberance that was jumping and twirling and twisting — spinning — shouting — all through Danity Kane is only occasionally let out on work-release, no more than several seconds at a time, heavily supervised. As for the rest, Dawn, like Western Europe, has bought into the austerity scam. Compare to E.via, who, when she goes artsy, manages to be as unpredictable and eccentric as ever, playing around in moods, skits, and interludes. And for Danity-style opéra bouffe, I'd send you to 4minute's "Volume Up" rather than to Dawn. Too bad, since Dawn's got an awesome voice. Wish a Shinsadong Tiger would take her by the hand and say, "Look, the world's got an excess of hard-style r&b toughies and their grimly 'sexual' dancing. Let's reintroduce you to the jugglers, lovers, and thieves."

Maybe the album, due in two weeks, will turn me around.

Re: Dawn Richard

[skyecaptain.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of in agreement about Dawn Richard -- diminishing returns, especially since I put her on an album b/w Sleigh Bells for the car and Emily can't stand it (i.e. is bored by it). First listen was exciting, but I haven't had much desire to listen to it and will probably continue to drop along with a few others. Only my top 4 are really solid at the moment.

From Chuck Eddy (Not Anonymous)

[(Anonymous)]

Hey Frank -- I actually sent you a package with a bunch of duplicate 2012 albums; assuming you own a CD player, maybe one or two of those will click for you. As for Pazz & Jop, I would not be totally surprised (given the latest music editor turnover at the Voice) if it doesn't happen this year; even if it does, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people decide not to vote, in solidarity with Maura. (Or maybe it will happen and nobody will boycott -- who knows -- just saying that I wouldn't be shocked.) P&J or no P&J, I still consider EPs albums for list purposes, too. But unlike you, singles is where I don't even know how to keep up, or keep track, anymore. I no longer try hard to hear everything I might possibly like, and rarely check to see if album tracks I like are singles; just seems impossible. And I don't *relisten* to singles like I do albums. So my singles list is pretty random and haphazard and probably very wrong, but here's where it stands:

1. Dev – In My Trunk
2. Kasey Musgraves – Merry Go Round
3. Dev – Take Her From You
4. Primitive Calculators – Cunt Life
5. Trouble Maker – Trouble Maker
6. Cassie – King Of Hearts
7. Psy – Gangnam Style
8. Plan B – Ill Manors
9. ZZ Top – I Gots To Get Paid
10. I:Cube – Lucifer En Discothéque
11. PPC - Fufuteller
12. D’Banj – Oliver Twist
13. 3 Inches Of Blood – Leather Lord
14. Freedom Hawk - -Indian Summer
15. Meat Loaf Muzik - Protect Yo Fetus
16. Lasertronik - Поехали! / Poehali! ( Let's Go )
17. Pistol Annies – Takin’ Pills
18. T-Ara – Lovey Dovey (Club Mix)
19. King Mob – Selene Selene
20. Axe Ripper (formerely Hash Blazer) – Losing Streak

REISSUES (The top couple of which could *conceivably* wind up on a theoretical Pazz & Jop album ballot, assuming I fill out one):

1. (Various) – Tension: Spanish Experimental Underground 1980-1985 (Munster)
2. Feedtime – The Aberrant Years (Sub Pop)
3. (Various) – Giant Single: Profile Records Rap Anthology (Profile/Legacy)
4. Coven – Worship New Gods (Shadow Kingdom)
5. Pagan Altar – The Time Lord (Shadow Kingdom)
6. Manilla Road – Invasion (Shadow Kingdom)
7. (Various) – Country Funk 1969-1975 (Light In The Attic)
8. Rat At Rat R – Ameri$ide: Rock & Roll Is Dead Long Live Rat At Rat R (Ektro)
9. Thin Lizzy – Thin Lizzy (Light In the Attic)
10. (Various) – Personal Space: Electronic Soul 1974-1984 (Chocolate Industries)

From Chuck Eddy (Not Anonymous)

[(Anonymous)]

Albums are much more calibrated, though I guarantee I'll decide before year's over that I'm vastly overrating some of these, since that's what always happens. I just don't know which ones yet. Also, I listen to way too much metal these days, thanks to my Rhapsody gig. Even stranger is how much I like so much of it.

1. Dev – The Night The Sun Came Up (Universal Republic)
2. Angel Witch – As Above, So Below (Rise Above)
3. Elfin Saddle – Devastates (Constellation)
4. 45 Grave – Pick Your Poison (Frontier)
5. Thunderkraft – Totentanz (Svarga)
6. Bushman’s Revenge – A Little Bit Of Big Bonanza (Rune Grammofon)
7. Jerrod Niemann – Free The Music (Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville)
8. Mekong Delta – Intersections (Steamhammer)
9. 3 Inches Of Blood – Long Live Heavy Metal (Century Media)
10. Bible Of The Devil – For The Love Of Thugs & Fools (Cruz Del Sur)
11. Tim Berne – Snakeoil (ECM)
12. Christian Mistress – Possession (Relapse)
13. Pharaoh – Bury The Light (Cruz Del Sur)
14. The Shrine - Primitive Blast (Tee Pee)
15. Thomas Rhett – Thomas Rhett EP (The Valory Music Co. EP)
16. Bullet – Full Pull (Nuclear Blast)
17. Kix Brooks – New To This Town (Arista Nashville)
18. Mark Stewart – The Politics Of Envy (Future Noise Music Inc.)
19. Amy Gore & Her Valentines – Amy Gore & Her Valentines (Space Lion)
20. Larman Clamor – Frogs (Small Stone)
21. Saint Vitus – Lillie: F-65 (Seson Of Mist)
22. Grand Magus – The Hunt (Nuclear Blast)
23. Royal Thunder – CVI (Relapse)
24. El Doom & The Born Electric – El Doom & The Born Electric (Rune Grammofon)
25. E.via – E.viagradation Part 1: Black and Red (Dline Art Media Korea EP)
26. Goat – World Music (Rocket)
27. Abrahma – Through The Dusty Paths Of Our Lives (Small Stone)
28. Èva Polgár and Sádor Vály – Mondrian Variations: Piano And Samplerworks (Ektro)
29. Black Music Disaster – Black Music Disaster (Thirsty Ear)
30. Azaelia Banks – 1991 (Interscope EP)
31. Timmy’s Organism – Raw Sewage ROQ (In The Red)
32. Mary Halvorson/Weasel Walter/Peter Evans – Mechanical Malfunction (Thirsty Ear)
33. The Sword – Apocryphon (Razor & Tie)
34. King Mob – Force 9 (King Mob)
35. Bhi Bhiman – Bhiman (Boocoo Music)
36. Altar Of Oblivion – Grand Gesture Of Defiance (Shadow Kingdom)
37. Hellwell – Beyond The Boundardies Of Sin (Shadow Kingdom)
38. Lord Fowl – Moon Queen (Small Stone)
39. Skånska Mord – Paths To Charon (Small Stone)
40. Darrell Scott – Long Way Home (Thirty Tigers/Full Light)

I don't like Merry Go Round more than Take Her From You

[koganbot]

...But I do like it.

In general, I've been letting country slide (headfirst, back into first, during a pickoff attempt) rather than listening to it, but here are ten country songs, with not a lot of thought to the order:

Miranda Lambert "Fastest Girl In Town"
Eden's Edge "Too Good To Be True"
Jason Aldean "Fly Over States"
Eric Church "Creepin'"
Kasey Musgraves "Merry Go Round"
Carrie Underwood "Blown Away"
Easton Corbin "Lovin' You Is Fun"
Toby Keith "Beers Ago"
Willie Nelson "Just Breathe"
Thomas Rhett "Something To Do With My Hands"

Chuck

[(Anonymous)]

My country singles list would be even more random and haphazard than my overall singles list, but I'd expect "Beers Ago" to make it. I need to relisten to those Lambert and Eden's Edge songs. Come December, I'll just make a Rhapsody playlist of all possibilities and figure out my Nashville Scene ballot from that. What'll be even weirder will be by country albums ballot, which as of now might well have three EPs on it (Thomas Rhett, Miss Willie Brown, Jake Owen.) And I haven't even listened to the Dierks Bentley EP that apparently just came out yet.

Chuck

[(Anonymous)]

Eh, Jake Owen EP pretty marginal, I guess. Lionel Richie album holding up better for me than I would've thought, though.

Re: I don't like Merry Go Round more than Take Her From You

[koganbot]

Kacey with a "c," according to Wikip.

90 BILLION DOLLARS INTO GREEN JOBS?!?

[joshlanghoff.livejournal.com]

Hopefully this will be a nice break from a depressing debate.

Albums (including reissues):
1. Wadada Leo Smith - Ten Freedom Summers (Cuneiform) (indie, jazz)
2. Various Artists - Giant Single: Profile Records Rap Anthology (Profile) (major, rap, reissue)
3. Skrillex - Bangarang (Owsla/Big Beat/Atlantic) (major, dance)
4. Nas - Life Is Good (Def Jam) (major, rap)
5. Ja Rule - PIL2 (MPire/700 Hit Season) (indie, rap)
6. Adrenaline Mob - Omerta (Elm City/EMI) (major, metal)
7. Thousand Foot Krutch - The End Is Where We Begin (TFK) (indie, CCM, metal)
8. Devin Gray - Dirigo Rataplan (Skirl) (indie, jazz)
9. El Doom & the Born Electric - El Doom & the Born Electric (Rune Grammofon) (indie, prog, metal)
10. The Very Best - MTMTMK (Moshi Moshi/Cooperative) (indie, dance, African)
11. PO PO - Dope Boy Magick (Mad Decent) (indie)
12. Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth (Interscope) (major, metal)
13. Batida - Batida (Soundway) (indie, dance, African)
14. Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror (Mom + Pop) (indie)
15. The Souljazz Orchestra - Solidarity (Strut) (indie)
16. System of Survival - Needle and Thread (BPitch Control) (indie, dance)
17. The Lacs - 190 Proof (Average Joes/Backroad) (indie, country, rap)
18. Various - The Karindula Sessions (Crammed Discs) (indie, African)
19. Wiley - Evolve Or Be Extinct (Big Dada) (indie, rap)
20. First Aid Kit - The Lion’s Roar (Wichita) (indie, country)
21. Damita - Anticipation (Tyscot) (indie, CCM)
22. Hillsong Kids Jr. - Crazy Noise! (Hillsong/Sparrow) (major, CCM, children’s)
23. Los Dareyes de la Sierra - Mis Favoritas (Sony Latin) (major, Latin, reissue)
24. Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord - No New Tunes (indie, jazz)
25. El Bebeto y su Banda Patria Chica - Ese Soy Yo (Disa) (major, Latin)
26. Flo Rida - Wild Ones (Atlantic) (major, rap, dance)
27. Various - WOW Gospel 2012 (Verity) (major, CCM)
28. Graffiti6 -- Colours (NW Free/Capitol) (major, dance)
29. The Fresh Beat Band - Music From the Hit TV Show (Viacom) (major?)
30. Henry Threadgill Zooid - Tomorrow Sunny/The Revelry, Spp (Pi) (indie, jazz)
31. Tim Berne - Snakeoil (ECM/Decca) (major, jazz)
32. Riz MC -- MICroscope (Tru Thoughts) (indie, rap)
33. Todd Terje - It’s the Arps (Smalltown Supersound EP) (indie, dance)
34. TEEN - In Limbo (Carpark) (indie)
35. Juanita y Los Feos - Pesadilla Adulta (Munster) (indie, Latin)
36. Soundtrack - Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap (Arista/Legacy) (major, rap, REISSUE)
37. Christian Mistress - Possession (Relapse) (indie, metal)
38. Michael W. Smith - Decades of Worship (Reunion) (major, CCM, reissue)
39. Counting Crows - Underwater Sunshine (or What We Did On Our Summer Vacation) (Cooking Vinyl) (indie, country)
40. Los Amos de Nuevo Leon - Bien Hyphy y Bien Alterados (Hyphy Music Inc./Cosver) (indie, Latin)

That last one has some insane tuba lines, often coupled with synth tuba, which creates some cool glissando effects. I'd be happy with this top 10 in a Pazz/Jop, not that I wouldn't welcome better stuff, so I'll try hunting down your all's pix.

20 Singles in some order:
“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” - Taylor Swift
“Mirando al Cielo” - Roberto Tapia
“One Thing” - One Direction
“Stupid Hoe” - Nicki Minaj
“Somebody That I Used to Know” - Gotye
“Call Me Maybe” - Carly Rae Jepsen
“What Makes You Beautiful” - One Direction
“I Belong In Your Arms” - Chairlift
“Wut” - Le1f
“Candy” - Robbie Williams
“Gangnam Style” - Psy
“Spring of Life” - Perfume
“Gossip” - Big Boi ft. UGK & Big K.R.I.T.
“Marriage Made in Hollywood” - Bonnie Raitt
“Pop That” - French Montana ft. Drake, Lil’ Wayne and Rick Ross
“Big Mouth” - Santigold
“Sin Respiracion” - Banda el Recodo
“Mamireru” - Kimura Kaela
“Springsteen” - Eric Church
“Survival” - Muse

If there's voting I'll probably end up voting for Taylor and Psy, which I get the sense are Taylor and K-pop for people who don't like Taylor and K-pop, but I do love them.

Random occasional commenter's ballot

[(Anonymous)]

This isn't totally fixed but I'm starting to approximate what my list will be like come January... I feel like the albums list will see a lot of additions and drops in a couple months, but the singles list is the total opposite... I've been waiting for more "Wow" singles to come out this year, but it's just not happening.

Albums

1. Capsule, Stereo Worxxx
2. T-ara, Jewelry Box (Frank: are you not counting this because it's essentially a glorified compilation? I feel like if SNSD's JPN album counts, this should too)
3. Loudon Wainwright III, Older Than My Old Man Now
4. Frank Ocean, Channel Orange
5. Todd Snider, Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables
6. Azealia Banks, 1991
7. Farrah Abraham, My Teenage Dream Has Ended
8. Alex Anwandter, Rebeldes
9. Pink, The Truth About Love
10. S/S/S, Beak & Claw

Singles

1. m-flo, "Alive"
2. T-ara, "Lovey-Dovey"
3. m-flo & 2NE1, "She's So (Outta Control)"
4. Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe"
5. Usher, "Climax"
6. Capsule, "Feelin' Alright"
7. Frank Ocean, "Pyramids"
8. BJ Tha Chicago Kid & Kendrick Lamar, "His Pain II"
9. Nine Muses, "Ticket"
10. G-Dragon, "That XX"

Re: Random occasional commenter's ballot

[koganbot]

Thanks for this list. I haven't heard "Alive" or "Feelin' Alright" or "His Pain II" yet, or most of the albs (haven't listened to a lot of Snider, but have been a long-time fan of "Alright Guy"). Only Capsule track I've heard in my life, as far as I know, is "Step On The Floor."

I have no set policy on compilations. And I haven't made up my mind whether or not to include Jewelry Box — would likely be number one if I did. My hesitance isn't really because it's a comp (though fwiw, eight of the twelve tracks on SNSD's 1st Japan Album were new originals, whereas only two of thirteen on Jewelry Box are), but because I prefer the Korean versions to the ones on Jewelry Box by an amount that ranges from "somewhat" to "quite a lot." Main exception being "Bo Peep Bo Peep," which holds its own and may even gain something in Japanese, as does one of the new ones, "T-aratic Magic Muse," which was probably done first in Japanese. Of course, overall I might just be opting for what sounds most familiar. Truth be told, I haven't actually listened to Jewelry Box a lot, as a unit. What I've taken to doing with T-ara is to put all their songs in the "play" window (minus an OST side project here or there) and then just hitting shuffle!

La La La

[koganbot]

Turns out that Da' Zoo's "La La La (Hot Girls)" is 2011; too bad, since in my heart Da' Zoo was vanquishing Snoop Lion and Kreayshawn in the La La La Wars.

So this'll lift Big Bang's "Blue" into my top 75, though RaNia's "Style" is poised to jump in (at higher than 75), after I give it a few more listens.

(Interesting story about "Style," since in effect it's a YG production, even though it's on another label: Yang Goon is the executive producer, and the track itself was written, arranged and produced by YG artist Tablo and long-time YG songwriter Choi Pil Kang; the latter's credits include work for Seungri and Big Bang and DJ DOC. Allkpop: "It has been revealed that this project has been done out of honor as RaNia's agency had once helped out Yang Hyun Suk* during his beginning stages of YG Entertainment, when he was on the verge of bankruptcy with the lackluster results with his first group Keep Six. RaNia's agency's CEO had reached out a helping hand at the time to Yang Hyun Suk by lending him a room at their agency." (Not sure which agency that would be; quite possibly Yedang Entertainment, but Wikip also lists DR Music and Irving Entertainment under "label.")

*A.k.a. Yang Goon.

Re: La La La

[askbask.livejournal.com]

I really like Style. I've read several articles about the release, but I'm still not sure how that helpful hand worked. I watched a video BTS where Mr. YG was stood in the background pointing at things and commenting. The video is nothing special at all and not reminiscent of YG's productions so I wonder what he was doing there. And I wonder how big the favor is. Did he agree to lend out talents, but at the high price expected of that agency? Or was it all for 'free'? Anyway the end result is very enjoyable. I've been waiting for Rania and Nine Muses to get some commercial success. This probably did quite a bit better than their previous releases but I don't think it's been a big hit exactly .

Re: La La La

[koganbot]

My guess is that the main helping hand was the lending out of talents. But some of RaNia's statements (whatever/whomever that means) as conveyed by allkpop.com imply that he gave them useful critiques and a lot of encouragement. [EDIT: Helping hand of YG to RaNia's agency, that is. The original helping hand more than a decade ago, to Yang Goon, may or may not have come with an assumed or explicit price. Or maybe Yang Goon simply felt the obligation on his own, or at least felt he'd like to return a favor someday, if the opportunity arose.]

Since I have utterly no idea as to whether there was any quid pro quo, I'm going to speculate, guess.

We could say that Yang Goon feels that Yedang (or whatever/whoever) is worth a favor, and this isn't just owing to support he'd received from Yedang (or whomever) way back when but also because he thinks they're a good organization and that there's an extent to which all the K-pop agencies are in this thing together, that general prosperity helps them all. And maybe he's been told that RaNia is at loose ends now that Teddy Riley's decamped, and maybe Brave Brothers is otherwise occupied. Or maybe he's always liked the RaNia concept (and maybe he's even met some of them and likes them as individuals) and was thinking, "You know, I have an idea of the sort of material that would work for them." And maybe he likes them baiting the censorship with their spread-leg ethos and thinks that if they succeed this could open things up (so to speak) for his artists; so, risk by proxy.

Those are alternate explanations that don't assume a specific price, though there might be.

Strangeness in RaNia's Wikip writeup: It says that all RaNia singles, including "Style," hit number one, which is certainly not true.

Re: La La La

[koganbot]

"Style" is currently number 40 on the Gaon chart (having risen from 73 a week earlier), and not even in the top 50 on Billboard's Korea K-Pop Hot 100.

Re: La La La

[koganbot]

The helpful guy who is now CEO of "RaNia's agency" may have been at some other agency when he lent room space to Yang Hyun Sunk. The Allkpop sentence isn't very clear, and I'm told that Allkpop's translations aren't always spot on.

[askbask.livejournal.com]

I can't get myself to do a 'serious' list more than once a year so this is provisional, brief and off the top of my head (and glancing at my log).

1. BoA - Only One
2. Momoiro Clover Z - Maiden War
3. Momoiro Clover Z - PUSH
4. Sistar - Alone
5. Perfume - Spending All My Time
6. T-ara - Lovey Dovey
7. Big Bang - Bad Boy
8. Sunny Hill - The Grasshopper Song
9. Cassie - King of Hearts
10. 4Minute - Volume Up
11. EXID - I Feel Good
12. INNA - Tu si EU
13. E.via - I Know How To Play
14. Nine Muses - News
15. Momoiro Clover - Bodacious Space Symphony 7th Movement 'Infinite Love'
16. Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
17. f(x) - Electric Shock
18. Alex Mica - Dalinda
19. INNA - Caliente
20. Seo In Young - Anymore

[askbask.livejournal.com]

I've liked all singles wiki tells me Inna has released in 2012, but probably name them all "good" and not one particular song exceptional. Since I've enjoyed all of them, though, I felt like she should be fairly high on the list. In the end I went with "Tu si EU" because it felt like the most substantial song, but I'm not sure "substantial" is what her best songs are. Could've been any of the other four singles. I like the romanian language in that song, though.

[askbask.livejournal.com]

"Tu si Eu" is of course the Romanian version of what's released in the west as "Crazy Sexy Wild".

Today I feel Wow is her best 2012 release http://youtu.be/9LK48dtjRl4

"Caliente" is not what I'd call a substantial song. It's Inna surfing on her sound* to pretty solid results. According to Wiki it's the first time she's composed her own song, but I guess Play&Win's production dominates more than the songwriting.

*This ability has allowed her to release surprisingly good albums.

My list

[christophe andersen (from livejournal.com)]

I'm certain I've forgotten some stuff and this is not in a strict order though what are near the top are my favorites, so far. As always, thanks for your post since there are many new things for me to hear on your list.

Albums/EP's/Korean-mini-whatevers:

Miryo – “Miryo AKA Johoney”
Sinead O'Connor - "How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?
Dinosaur Jr. - "I Bet on Sky"
Lightships - "Electric Cables"
T-ara – “Funky Town”
Japandroids – “Celebration Rock”
VCMG – “Ssss”
Sly & Robbie – “Blackwood Dub”
BigBang – “Alive”
Black Bananas – “Rad Times Xpress IV”
The Futureheads – “Rant”
Cat Power – “Sun”
T-ara – “Mirage”
E.Via – “E.viagradation Vol. 1”
Saint Etienne – “Words and Music By Saint Etienne”
Pink – “The Truth About Love”
Kellie Pickler – “100 Proof”
T-ara – “Mirage”
Trouble Maker – “Trouble Maker”

Singles:
T-ara – “Cry Cry”
T-ara – “Lovey Dovey”
Girl’s Day – “Oh! My God”
Gangkiz – “Super Love”
Saint Etienne – “Tonight”
Exo-K – “History”/”Mama”
Trouble Maker – “Trouble Maker”
Cassie – “King of Hearts”
Shakira – “Addicted to You”
BigBang – “Blue”
Dev – “In My Trunk”
Justin Bieber - "Boyfriend"
KARA – “Speed Up”
f(X) – “Electric Shock”
Stellar – “UFO”
A Pink – “I Got You”
Hello Venus – “Venus”
Shinhwa – “Venus”
Kylie Minogue – “Time Bomb”
VIXX – “Super Hero”

[trevitron.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if you'd heard this Thai pop song yet:



(Here's a link to download an mp3 of it.)

It sounds like something you might be interested in. I've been listening to it a lot lately. Unexpectedly catchy.

[koganbot]

It sounds and looks like they're going Disney, Bella Thorne in particular — except the melody around the "cry cry cry" part does seem South Asian to me, though I can't tell you why, much less if I'm right. Also, I get caught up in the sound physically, but not all that emotionally. Don't know if that's due to the style or just the song. Maybe what I mean is that for me it's more powerful than catchy, even though it seems to be signifying "Catchy" all over the place. Pretty interesting, at any rate, and I wouldn't mind hearing more. And the "cry cry cry" bit is the best part (which maybe is hitting me more emotionally the more I listen).

[koganbot]

Okay, now I'm totally hooked on this.

[koganbot]

Turns out that "Sunrise" is 2011. Maybe it was late enough in the year to be eligible for this list anyway (my cut-off date is usually December 1, unless something from earlier is peaking later). But it's not as if I have a shortage of other songs.