Whoa, I just realized I don't know any Thomases.

Unless I'm forgetting one, in which case I would be a terrible person. I actually don't know any Thomases, and my facebook can attest to that. Yes I checked.

Today, I have a special singer-songwriter to present. His name, is Thomas Cook. That's his stagename by the way.

Thomas Cook is in fact a part of a Korean band, called My Aunt Mary. I'll probably cover them soon as well.

But it seems that his solo project is as good as any band could go. As the singer-songwriter movement is not so noticed in Korea, Thomas Cook is one of those who put a unique taste to the Korean music scene. Check this one out. It's called, Youth. 

 
Gives a feel of 10cm I'd say. In some ways like acoustic Nell as well, as evident in this next one, called Path to home. 

And sometimes kind of like John Mayer. Like this one, called Forthrightly. (again, excuse my translation, it could be Honestly.)

Lastly, I'm going to throw one in that doesn't really remind me of any artist off the top of my head. This one is called, I'm nothing at all. 

All these different colors are only a fraction of the musical sound that Thomas Cook makes out of his voice and guitar.

If there was an artist that need to be heard, it would be Thomas Cook. His songs always have something to say, have a message and I can tell from his songs that he only says things that are need to be said. Just like how his latest album had a 10 year latency from the last one.

There's no ostentatious attitude neither pompousness. Nor does he have overly crafted melodies or exhaustively repeated lyrics. His music is all about honesty. Everything is truly him. I believe that when the music reflects the person, that's when a musician becomes integrated thoroughly with his music, and that's when a musician can be happy, solely with his music.

I don't think that music is just about pleasing other people's ears. It's also about finding your inner self, drawing out those deeply hidden truth by the sturdy rope that is music.

Thomas Cook, has found his inner self in my opinion. I sure hope I can do the same.

Taking in all that Holiday Goodness

Nothing like a good holiday cheer to really set up a nice day in my opinion. Add family and good music, you get the entire Big Mac combo. Now, good music. Was there a more debatable topic? The definition of good music, differs greatly by each person. However, this is where I present my opinion, so I'll give you my definition of good music.

To go straight into the point, Frank Sinatra would be an example of good music. It's smooth, it's relaxing, and it never goes sideways. With Frank Sinatra, not a song can go wrong and if one ever does, it's usually because the song itself is bad to begin with. Sinatra's voice is truly one of a kind. The sort of ringing depth that seems to emanate from the very base of his soul. Allow me to present exhibit A.

Every time Sinatra hits a good note, I feel like he's shaking me by my shoulders and saying, "hey buddy, this is it. This is the spot." His voice is so powerful and spirited, I feel it has a corporeal existence just by itself. That as soon as his voice escapes the speakers it materializes in front of my eyes and turns into something that I can not only simply hear, but feel. Feel it tickle my ears literally, and make me smile as soon as it touches by skin.

Mr. Sinatra's philosophy on love certainly is as great and rare to be found today as his voice is. Allow him to lecture you on love on this next song.

and this next song.

And there are many more like that. The lyrics to every song, sometimes plain, sometimes filled with metaphors, are always honest and coming from a speaker of truth who have seen life's ways.

I got introduced to Mr. Sinatra through an old friend of mine whom I've kept in touch with for a long time. At first, I listened to it because I thought it was good study music, and it certainly is. It's soothing, it's melodious, and it's not too blindly stimulating.

Then slowly I realized that swing music is surprisingly enjoyable. It was certainly the sort of thing I would listen to on a lazy sunday afternoon. Besides Sinatra however, I haven't really found other swing musicians, but I'm still satisfied. I have about four hundred of his songs to cycle through. So give a listen, and see if you like them. I can assure you, that you really aren't going to find songs like this anywhere, all due to at least one fact: Sinatra's voice. Enjoy!

Sanding out the roughness of my mind with some good tunes.

Here we are ladies and gents! Holidays have arrived and the great cheer is in full effect. Finally, my head can now rest, and there isn't a better way to do it than to read a fine book with some smooth melody playing in my ears. A Murakami Haruki sure is a safe bet for a fine book, and for some smooth melody none other than Uyama Hiroto comes quicker to my mind.

Mr. Hiroto is a Japanese DJ and hip hop music producer whose style reflects a heavy influence from jazz. If there was a genre that would define his style in one word, it'd be Nu Jazz. Now I don't know anything about Nu Jazz, yet, so I'll stop my commentary on the genre right here before I say something hysterically illogical. On with Uyama Hiroto.

I don't listen to hip hop. At all. But this one's a definite keeper even for me. Hiroto's melodies, flying freely above, have a distinct form and style to them that you can only glean by listening to them. Here's 81 Summer. 

and Stratus 

Unlike many so called DJs and hip hop producers, the ingredients that Hiroto puts into his music are all critical elements that make up the overall sound. Nothing goes to waste. Hiroto structures his songs so that if even the most unnoticeable section of the song is missing, it would bring down the balance of
the music.

However, what really draws me to this artist like a moth to flames is his jazz influence, evidently expressed in this song, Waltz for Life Will Born. 

The best of all is that Uyama Hiroto's ability to fuse various styles together into a unique piece of music is just uncanny. Like this next one, Ribbon in the Sea. 

This sort of music I really enjoy listening to, because you can't categorize something like this. This piece can stand by its own, and not called as something definitive so easily. I like that. A song that has character, a personality. It's really hard to find something like that these days, but Uyama Hiroto has gifted us generously with his own cache of rare genius.

Before going back to my reading and relaxing time, I'd like to say that it's good to be back on the blog. Sorry if you guys missed me, I just couldn't muster the time to do it. You'll certainly see me more frequently now, so stay tuned! I'll be back tomorrow. On that note, I shall leave you with a couple more of my Uyama Hiroto favorites.

There needs to be something more in this world, and I can't find the answer

We live in a terrible, but a beautiful world. It's a good place, inherently, but we've twisted it. It is not a deed of a single person, but an atrocity committed by all of us. A debt we owe that we'll never pay. A poisoning that has stopped more than just hearts.

I feel there's something missing. In me, in you, in all of us. We run around trying to find that last one puzzle piece, only to collect more of what we have, take things that don't fit, and break others.

Today's artist is The Album Leaf. The Album Leaf is a solo project founded by Jimmy Lavalle in 1998. Hailing from San Diego, Mr. Lavalle is known for his soothing, ambient style. These couple next songs are Over the Pond, and Window.

 

 

Some may call it a wave of depression coming over, but I appreciate this style. It's the sort of sound that brings one back to the beginning. To that place where they began. The place where we could be refreshed, and renewed. The next song, Twenty Two Fourteen, surely does it for me. 

 

The Album Leaf's style could be distinguished as post-rock, but I think it's much more than any other post-rock project that I've ever been in touch with. Sometimes, once in a while, we need that something that will make us see, what we are doing wrong. Listening to the Album Leaf, I saw my past, my mistakes, my faults, my wrongdoings that I've committed, and poured them out, in front of Mr. Lavalle's music. I hope it can do the same for all those who pass by this humble place. 

I apologize for my long hiatus, and coming back in so long with a depressing post such as this, but I wanted to let you know that sometimes, when life's sufferings get too hard to bear, music may be the only solution. It was mine, and let it be yours if you please. I'll leave you with some more of The Album Leaf's goodness. Good night everyone.

Studying until daybreak.

Not quite, but close to it. I'm probably studying until late night. My take on all-nighters, is that they never work in a profitable way. Sleep is lost, and that sleep is eventually made up. So there's no actual gain in hours of studying, because all the sleep debt acculmulates to a point where the sleep repoman leads you to the bed in a tight grip of insatiable slumber. Then you curse out loud after waking up from a thirteen hour sleep. I've done it, my friends have done it.

So I'd rather wake up at daybreak, rather than study until daybreak. It's just better that way. It really is. Therefore I should be studying right now in order to sleep at a normal hour. However, I'm searching for music through youtube, again. Although this one's pretty good. If you haven't guessed the name yet, here it is, Daybreak.

Now this is the kind of song I'd listen to at daybreak after waking up from a comfortable night's sleep. A morning song. A song to ensure a refreshing day. On that note, here's another feel-good song from Daybreak. It's called, It's great. (although the definition can shift based on context.)



How can so much positive emotion exist in one song? Beats me, but ask these guys, since they seem to be hoarding all the galaxy's optimism.

Bands like these, are simply direly needed in this morbid world that keeps on cutting out items from the list of postivity, and offers only a bleak vision of the future. Daybreak's music however, is more than enough to bring that spectacular daybreak to anyone's night.

Daybreak formed in 2005, and debuted with their first album in 2007. Since then, they've had quite a number of album releases. Quite prolific for a band that hasn't been around for that long.

One aspect of this band I really enjoy is their utilization of instrumentals. Since explaining won't suffice. Just listen, to this next song.

As you can hear, there is a variety of instruments that make up the band's sound. The wind section especially gives off that live-music-at-a-jazz-bar feeling. However, I'd say their sound is more towards the alternative rock sound rather than jazz. Like this next song, called Popcorn.



Before I die of excess happiness from listening to this band, I'm going to say the truth however. It's just too, bright sometimes. It's like, it's always daytime. At times, there's no emotional tension or melodic dissonance to nicely toss up the musical salad at all in these songs, so the band sort of comes off as very unicolored and commonplace, since there are a lot of bands that make songs like them. There's needs to be more variety in their sounds, otherwise they'll only attract people who are into these songs. These next couple songs will demonstrate my point.



And then they do have more moody songs, like these ones.



But it's too, typical. There are thousands of songs like this out there, and therefore songs like this often automatically lose any sort of meaning to whoever's listening, because they have lyrics and melodies that have been tried and tried exhaustively . So what they need to do, is do more songs like from their first album. Like these ones.



The second one is actually a cover of a classic Korean song from back before the 90s, but the gist is that they all have a color of their own. That's what Daybreak needs to do more, and it's not just for Daybreak, it's for every band out there. The reason I'm blabbing on about this, is that from listening to their music, I still have no clear picture of Daybreak's "sound" that is unique to only them. There will be people who disagree with me but from all these songs, I see no clear style. There is a style of course, but it's not so definite. If I'm getting too confusing, go back and check out Nell.

Of course, I might be just talking crazy, but I believe that every band should discover its own color, and stick to it, at the same time being flexible.

A band is like a person. Only when the band projects its uniqueness into full blossom, it truly shines.

But what the hell, I'm being too anal. It's great music anyhow. Great enough that I could probably listent to it until daybreak. On that note, I'm going to hit the sack. Peace!

10cm of laziness

It's a great time, to be struck by the lazy bug. Lately I've been extremely sluggish. Perfect timing really, I mean finals are just around the corner, no big deal. In other words, I'm freaking out.

So to calm my raging soul, I've brought another band from back in my days of struggles and boggles. They are 10cm. 

10cm, is an indie band from Korea, comprising of two guys, Kwon Jung Yeol on main vocal and percussion and Yoon Cheol Jong on vocal, guitar, and when the need arises, tambourine. The name of the band derives from the fact that they have a 10cm height difference between them.

Officially they debuted in 2010, but in fact they were around for a bit longer, in the time when they were aspiring musicians from the wild jungle of the Korean underground music scene. I remember when they were just a couple guys with guitar and djembe in hands, shooting videos on the streets of their songs. There are quite a few of them. This was the first one I ever saw. It's called, Tonight I'm afraid of the dark. 

Also, this other one is the famed Americano. 

Although they did record studio versions after their major label debut, I love this version much better. It's full of that raw spirit one can only call, music. It's unprocessed, uncut, and most of all, fresh. Well it's been a long time since then, and 10cm's presence has now pervaded the Korean music industry, along with various television programs as well. Now I'm not going to gripe about 10cm getting some credibility and spreading its name out. However, artists do have that tendency most of the time, to lose sight of their original frame of mind when recognition and popularity suddenly swamp them. Luckily, it seems that 10cm is going strong with their musical heart beating steadfast and strong. Check this song out, Love Starts at a Milky Way Cafe. 

And this one, I'm Dying. 

It's not that he's actually dying. It's an expression for saying that one's being driven crazily annoyed by something.


Anyways, overall, I really like these guys. In the short time between their major debut and present time, they've truly become something out of the ordinary. Not only have they spread their sweet chocolate mousse of musical goodness like wildfire, but they have generated tremendous interest in the indie music scene, making 10cm the oasis of musical ingenuity in the great desert of big money music industry that has been dominated by k-pop, which in most of the time, is equally arid of any sort of finesse or creativity.

Their sounds, their lyrics contain that musical innocence, shaped by adventurism and innovation that used to be the gold standard during the early 90s and the 80s. The vocal's voice, unspoiled by any modern studio trickery, raw and heartfelt, adds to the young spirited brilliance of pure artistry.  

I love listening to these guys, and moreover, covering these guys, because when I strum their melody, I feel that it's different, that it's unique. When that rare chord, often not found in today's Korean music industry, rings through my hand, my ears, my body, I feel joy. I feel comfort, because I become aware of what sort of gem I've found for myself, that it's truly one of a kind.

I'll leave some more for your own perusal, but keep an eye on these guys. They are bound to make history, and their songs, will be remembered for many years after.

Monkeying around in my magical music swimming pool

Along with rediscovering Nell yesterday, I'm going to bring back another band I've been a fan of back in the day. Actually I only knew this one song until today.

Hailing from Japan, I give you, Monkey Majik. 

Wait, it's a Japanese band. So what are these two non-Japanese dudes doing in there? Answer is that they are Canadians who went over to Japan and started a band.

Just to clear any sort of riddling puzzles that might arise later on, a brief history lesson on Monkey Majik. Maynard Plant, fresh out of Queen's University, decides to go over to Japan to work as an Assistant Language Teacher. There he starts the band in 2000 with some friends; Thomas Pritchard, Chad Ivany, and Misao Urushizaka. Pritchard and Ivany quits, and in order to fill the gap Maynard invites his brother Blaise over, and Dick, another Japanese friend. Eventually Misao quits around their second indie album, and Tax is called over to fill the spot. That makes it two Canadians and two Japanese making the band.

Due to the hybrid nature of the band, they've been cross-promoted in Canada and Japan, as well as having been chosen as “Goodwill Ambassadors” for the 80th anniversary of Japanese-Canadian Relations. Their lyrics are often composed of English and Japanese. 

The song above, Fly, was their first hit single on their major debut, climbing as high as the 19th position on the Oricon charts. Here's another hit single that came after Fly: Around the World. 

This song went as high as the 4th position on the Oricon charts. With this song, you could say that Monkey Majik began to go around the world. 

Monkey Majik's style is most definitely pop-rock. Allow me to demonstrate. 

By the way, Negai means wish. 


So in my mind, Monkey Majik doesn't earn a lot of points for musical color, because sometimes it's too damn typical. Not that I'm trying to devalue their music in anyway. I do like their songs, but when I listen to them, I don't feel that vibe that tells me I'm tuned on to Monkey Majik's frequency, until that segment comes where Maynard begins to sing in Japanese.


But then again, it's a Japanese-Canadian band that your average day-to-day guys formed and succeeded with through six studio albums. For instance, Tax, the drummer, was a dental technician whose drum experience until joining the band was playing in junior high for two years. Just by that fact, this band instantly grabbed my heart, because here's a really extraordinary story. Average Joes who came together purely by the spirit of music and succeeded without money in their minds. For example, their first independent album was self-funded, and even until then they considered the band a hobby. 


Forget about those big idol bands being pumped out by major labels and sculptured pop stars. This here, Monkey Majik, is a true musical odyssey. This is how it should be done. There's no other way for it to be done. You start from the bottom, with nothing but music in hand, and doing it for nothing but music. 

Just for that I give them great respect, and that makes me like the band even more, along with their music.  

I just hope that Monkey Majik keeps there pop-rock nature and doesn't try to go into the current trends of dance-pop, like how Maroon 5 sold their souls to cash in on the mainstream scene. Not that they will do that. Japanese artists are pretty stern when it comes to keeping their musical characteristic in my opinion. 

So while I'm on that subject, I'll admit that I'm really getting interested in the Japanese music scene nowadays. There are many artists in Japan that would be considered rare gems in North America. Too many artists, so little time.

Here's some more Monkey Majik to keep you entertained until next time. 

 

While I was digging through my itunes.

With the finals season, that same breed of brutal monotony that pervades my universe every now and then has surfaced into existence. So in order to combat such droning boredom from taking over my spirit, I was searching through my digital library of music, and came across a band that I discovered a long time ago.

Their music pulled me through hard times, tough situations, and my recurring episodes of depression. Whenever I listen to their music I feel a relief, a sort of cleansing. So much is my love for them, that I've played them quite frequently at shows.

Their name, is Nell. 

This first song is called, Time to walk on memories. 

This one is from their fourth major record label album. Although this song has been criticized as lacking that "Nell sound," due to its more electronic nature, I do like that they were able to incorporate the style of popular trends into their music and make it their own.

So, what's Nell's sound? Well, let me demonstrate with, music.

Got the picture? Now try to compare these with these others.

The two above are also songs from the fourth album. Evidently, it's in a way much more than what Nell have been before. Here they've integrated electronic, and orchestral sounds into their musical composition. Normally I'm not much of a fan of electronic rock unless it's done right. In this case, I tip my hat to Nell, and here's one of the principle reasons why I adore their music: they keep their color despite going through so many trends and influences.

Nell is another one of those feel- good bands. A way out for troubled times, a relief for a harrowing day. When getting by gets tough to bear, I crawl back to Nell, and surely enough, I feel comforted.

However, what really draws me to Nell, is their lyrical poeticism. No word is ever wasted when it comes to their songs. Everything means something. To those who can't understand Korean, I assure you; this band is reason enough to start learning.

Along with their lyrical mastery that have been inseminated in their music, often in Nell you'll find melodies and rhythms you've never heard before, and in today's music scene, with songs that are not unlike from each other being pumped out like water from a drinking fountain - for mostly money making reasons - Nell's sound can be considered a musical triumph in today's profit oriented music industry in Korea.

This next music video, actually is a criticism of today's music industry from Nell. The song starts around 19 seconds in.

Did you get the message? This one I can particularly relate to, because it demonstrates the point that I want to make to everyone. Music is the artform of ears. If you need to see it to enjoy it, that's not music. There has to be a shift, from today's horridly pervasive "music of the eyes" to "music of the ears". There has to be a more active proliferation and support of bands like Nell.

They briefly put a halt to the band in 2008 in order to complete military duties, but fortunately, in 2010 they came back. They haven't come up with a new album yet, but if they do release it, I would go to Korea, just to buy their record.

I'll leave you with some more from their 4th major album and their EP from 2008.

My neighbors are annoyed, and it's time for me to Move it!

Apparently I live in an apartment with walls composed of paper-mache. My neighbors can't stand my guitar playing or singing, or playing starcraft at three in the morning. So naturally, I've decided to move. Although I'm not in need of another source of physical exertion in my life, I'm quite excited about the move. I'm going to be living with my friends, at a new place, with new routines. Most of all, I can finally play all I want without having to watch for others!

Therefore, speaking of new, here's a fresh one for you guys. Movits! A swedish, swing jazz hip hop music group. They debuted in 2008 with Appelknyckarjazz, first spreading their name in America by featuring in the famed comedy show, The Colbert Report. The name Movits! is an allusion to Fader Movitz, a character in the Epistles of Fredman by Swedish 18th-century poet and composer Carl Michael Bellman. Usually I'm not a big fan of hip-hop, but this band's style is certainly distinct from any other hip-hop group out there. This first song, Fel del Av Gården will attest to that.

I'm a fan of swing-jazz, but I just didn't know it could blend so well with hip-hop. These guys however, did it, creating a whole new style that Movits! can call their own. This next one is Ta På Dig Dansskorna.

Along with the fact that Movits! captures the swing-jazz feeling and that they don't resort to electronic beats and sounds, what really pulls me to this band is the saxophone. That crisp smoothness that frolic over the music and tickle the eardrum, has to be one of the defining traits of Movits!. I would go as far as saying that without the saxophone, the band might as well lost half their sound. 

Other great instrumentals present in Movits! are the accordion, and the strings. Try to catch them this time with this next song called, Har du Soul?

And in this one called Det vete fan. 

The first time I encountered their music, was indeed back in 2008, when I used to be an avid fan of the Colbert Report. So partly, I have Mr. Stephen Colbert to thank for introducing me to the musical innovation that is Movits!

I have no idea what the lyrics are saying, nor am I planning to learn Swedish anytime in the near future, but I'd rather have it stay that way, because the lyrics, whatever they may be, go perfectly with the songs, and I can't imagine the songs being better when sung in English.

In conclusion, keep an eye out for these guys, because let's be honest. When in the next century, are we going to find a band as unique as this one? Surely, Movits! will become a genre of its own. So there you have it folks. You ready to move it to Movits!? On that note I present you my favorite, Äppelknyckarjazz.

Since I can't make a sentence with this next one, presenting: DEPAPEPE

If you haven't noticed, I like guitar sounds. In fact I play guitar quite a bit. So in my tiny shell of a universe, if a piece has a guitar, it's probably a sort of good music Now what's better than just a guitar? Come on now, it's too obvious. Two guitars.

That's exactly what is going on with this next guitar duo I'm going to present. DEPAPEPE. They are a Japanese acoustic guitar duo, composed of Miura Takuya and Tokuoka Yoshinari, who debuted in 2002. The name is a combination of the stage names of these two guys who form the duo, Takuya as Depa, and Yoshinari as Pepe. Also, Yoshinari's previous band name was Derupepe.

Before I say anything further, here's Summer Parade, to remind us of that sweet sensation of sun's rays wrapping out body in its undying hearth.

Now that you feel a bit warmed up, I'm going to throw you another one that will remind you of winter.  This one is called, Snow dance.

So here we are now, starting off with two season of that sweet guitar magic brought to you by Depapepe. One thing you would've noticed whether or not you're a keen listener, is that Depapepe's songs are always upbeat. They never have a downcast mood in their pieces. Melancholy, sadness,  I'm going to exhibit this characteristic by presenting you, more songs, starting with Ready go!! 

then moving onto Quarrel 

 and then ending with this one, called One.

By this time you probably understood the crux of my thesis. Most of Depapepe's songs are on a major key. That being said, a lot of their songs are rapt with buoyancy, and optimism. It's a defining character of Depapepe. You just can't have a bad day with their music, because when you listen to them, you're practically getting a warranty that states you will feel uplifted and happy. Listen to this next one and please try to tell me that it didn't make you feel better. Do try because you will likely fail, because the song is literally called, Morning smile. 

And speaking of mornings, try this one as well. It's a personal favorite of mine called Start.

All the mornings I've started off with putting this on in the background turned out fantastic, although rest of the day I would feel dismal due to Depapepe withdrawal until I get my next dose.

These days, it's hard to find cheer in anything I do, or experience. However, if there was one streak of line that shines on the derelict realm of misfortune that is my life, a large part of it would be Depapepe's music. To those who are looking for a little positivity in their life, I strongly recommend this group, because I know they've brought many smiles at least to myself, and I'm sure you'll find that much needed pat in the back that says "Cheer up! Live life!" in Depapepe as well.

As I'm signing out, I give you some more songs; Sky! Sky! Sky!, Wake up! and Flow

Greetings to a dreadful snowed-in urban life.

Well it turns out it's going to be a White Christmas after all. What I've dreaded for so long, has finally come, and is ever so accumulating. To get to the point, it's snowing, a lot.

Usually a Montreal winter is harsh and brutal, with its cold white blanket always carpeted over every nook and cranny of the city. Every step you take is a stumble, and every blow of wind against your face is like swiping sandpaper across your visage. The crux of it all is that I hate Montreal winters, not because of its cold, but because of its snow. In fact I don't mind the coldness. Being a heavy sweater I rather enjoy the chilly days. However when snow is included in the agenda, it's a different story.

So I would stay in today, and curl up on the couch with a good book. Unfortunately, there's this exam. It's tomorrow.

But! If I was staying in, and poring myself over a book, then I'd have this on the background.


I introduce, Urban Zakapa.


This first one's called, The Leaving, and the Left

These guys seem to have built up quite a reputation in and out of Korea since their debut in 2009. At first I thought they were a big band consisting of around eight or nine people. Turns out there's only three, but boy if that's all that takes them to make a sound like this, by all means I hope that they stay wherever they are.

Urban Zakapa's songs are very homely to me. If sound waves had a more solid material presence in our world, Urban Zakapa's sound would come, like a warm blanket. Take this song, Cafe Latte, for example.

And this one, called Let me be the one. 

And also this one, called Awkward Romance. This one's actually from their first album. 

 
All in all, Urban Zakapa truly has a sound that many would certainly call, different. Their melodies, although many of them jazz-oriented, have a ring to them that you can't really label. However you surely can't label Urban Zakapa in anyway. It isn't just indie; it's beyond that. Their uniqueness, only ears can do it justice.

With their heart-tickling vocals and musical flow perfect to rest your worries and burdens on, Urban Zakapa is bound to move many people to their rhythm. Try them. A day with Urban Zakapa and you are sure to have a relaxing day.

On that note, here's Crush, and Butterfly.

Warming a cold windy day in the city.

Today was one of those colder days of Montreal. One that pokes its head out and hollers the advent of Winter. So it was a perfect day to just stay in, and look through some good music.

Unfortunately I had 5 hours of class today.

Therefore, at the end of long day here I am sitting, clicking on some youtube videos, and man have I found something absolutely unique today!

I present to you Windy City. 

Since I could go about blabbering all day on how distinct this band is and still leave you all with no idea what I'm talking about, here's a song, and it's a love song, but not just a love song. A Silky Silky Love Song. 

If you have snapped out of the magical unicorn journey this song took you through, then let me tell a bit of history regarding this band.

Back in 2001, Chief Kim (that's his stage name) forms the funk band Asoto Union. Below is a song by Asoto Union called Think about 'chu

Asoto Union then goes on performing on the streets, and other underground venues, spreading their name out until 2005 when they disband after their first album for a reason that I'm not aware of.

Then Chief Kim along with the guitarist from Asoto Union, establishes another band, a raggae/soul band, and names it Windy City. Ever since their formation in 2005, Windy City's greatest known quality has been, and hopefully will be, their pure novelty. Windy City has been a pioneer in experimenting with new genres in the Korean music scene, starting with raggae, and even salsa as this song below, called El nino prodigo will show.

And of course, they haven't forgotten their soul funk origins, as these next two songs, Love supreme, and Love in understanding, will demonstrate.

Until now, I honestly thought the Korean music scene wasn't so multi-dimensional, but this band just proved me wrong and brought a whole new level of variety to my repertoire of Korean music. Perhaps Windy City is a one of a kind, and perhaps there's only one band like this in the entire country, although that truly is a dismal notion and would mean that the entire Korean music industry needs a facelift, but one thing's for sure. This band is keeping its sound distinctive and going strong with it. They will never sway under the mainstream influence, as they've shown this past decade, no matter how much neglect and shun they may face, because they truly can call themselves musicians, down to every last cell in their body. 

Another melancholy day goes by and it's yet another that day I feel like this world's out to get me, but at the end of it all I can find that grain of happiness that can keep me going, because I know I'm fortunate enough to have found such soulful music to meet my ears, and I certainly hope you find something in this music too that will keep you coming back to the wondrous universe of rhythm and tune that is Windy City. At that note I'll leave you with a couple more: This Crazy World, and Space Travel.

 

P.S. Chief Kim totally is the Korean Bob Marley.

Another boy in need of coffee

Tonight has been very lazy. In other words I haven't gotten a single thing done. Now being productive is a student's duty, and I have successfully foregone that duty in order to play two games of Call of Duty. If only my duty could be that duty.

So once again, late nighter it is, and every one of those comes with caffeine and occasionally, taurine. I'm not feeling like pumping myself full of energy drinks, so coffee was the choice.

Speaking of coffee, here's the next K-indie artist, Coffeeboy. 

As a solo artist who turned up in the indie scene fairly recently, Coffeeboy really knows how to bring peace of mind to a listener. Delivering mood and melody just right for sitting back lazily in a chair and listening to, he truly is one of those rare artists with honest-to-heart sound that tells a good story through his music.

This first one is called, Will I be able to get married? 

If you understand the lyrics, you'll know this song is one to forthrightly relate to, or at least when we near thirty. For those who do not understand Korean, it tells of a man and a woman, both wanting to get married, both looking around and contemplating their "desperate" circumstances, such as that all their friends are now getting married, and wondering if they'll be able to find love again.

Personally, I really love songs like this one. Primarily because it's easier to cover, but also because it's difficult to find songs with only a guitar and voice that actually touches that right place in my psyche of music and make me utter unconsciously, that's it. 

This other one contains a more richer, and ethereal sound to it. It's, You in me. Once again, translation might not be exact.

This next one, which I particularly sympathize with, is called A Pimple. 

Now I'm sure there's a deeper metaphor to this song, but no. I'm going to take this on a literal level, because I exactly know how it feels to battle acne and pimples. My lord in heaven, don't get me started on acne or else you'll never hear the end of it. That is why this song, jerks tears out of my eyes. I hate pimples!

Anyways, regardless of whether you are worried about getting married, or frustrated with pimples, Coffeeboy is one to keep an eye on, because if one can make such a beautiful song about a pimple, then that's it. Jokes aside however, what I've said about the pimple song exactly points out Coffeeboy's unique quality: his ability to take common topics and move people with his own lyrics and easy-going yet calmly passionate melodies.

This last one is called Scars become Stars. Hope you enjoy it.