Jpop: Suchmos

Japanese Suchmos make me think of Jamoriquai, which is a good sign, and they have a really nice jazzy/pop/indie feel to them.

• Suchmos - Stay Tune
• Suchmos - Mint
• Suchmos - Fallin
• Suchmos - YMM
• Suchmos ft Ryo Nuno - Girl

Kpop: Kiha & The Faces (장기하와 얼굴들)

Jang Kiha and his band has made their own kind of retro sounding jazzy/funky/whatever music but with the new "The Smell's Gone" they really lifted themselves a step further with more passion, more catchiness and more fun. It's great and just so cool.

• Kiha & The Faces - The Smell's Gone (빠지기는 빠지더라)
• Kiha & The Faces - Blah (Kieuk/ㅋ)
• Kiha & The Faces - Blah (live. Must see!)
• Kiha & The Faces - The Most Beautiful Song (가장 아름다운 노래)
• Kiha & The Faces - Cheap Coffee (싸구려 커피, from 2008)

Jpop: Asako Toki - C’est La Vie

From Asako Toki's new album "Bittersweet" comes this soulful piece, with a video with her, a pair of drag queens, a young girl, and lots of nostalgia.

• Asako Toki - C’est La Vie ~Onna wa Ai ni Isogashii~ (セ・ラ・ヴィ ～女は愛に忙しい～)

Kpop: ATT

The jazzy and sultry song from new kpop group ATT is interesting for its sound and they way it is executed voice-vice, with the girls singing in a way that is just slightly off in a interesting way, but notable is also that the song actually was used by another kpop group, ZZBest, in January but then sold to ATT's company to be used by the group instead. If I compare the two versions I actually think ATT has improved on the concept.

• ATT - Temptation (템테이션)
• ZZBest - Temptation

Jpop: Ringo Shiina - God, nor Buddha (神様、仏様)

Possibly the woman with most swagger and raspy coolness in Japan, Ringo Shiina, has collaborated several times before with the jazz sextet Soil & “Pimp” Sessions, but this time around it is in a video that is a complete wet dream for anyone interested in (modern) Japanese pop culture, or indeed pop art in general. It is four minutes of eyegasm and it doesn't matter that I personally wouldn't listen to her songs audio only because her charisma is such a high level that her performances excuses her musical idiosyncrasies. This is pure music video perfection.
PS She co-released the equally interesting "No Verão, as Noites (長く短い祭)" which sadly is ultimately spoiled by the wholly unnecessary and excessive (I would almost say vulgar) use of auto-tune. DS

• Ringo Shiina - God, nor Buddha (神様、仏様)
• Ringo Shiina - No Verão, as Noites (長く短い祭)

Kpop: Mamamoo and eSNa - Aah Oop & Piano Man

Mamamoo has found a kind of sweet spot in kpop where pop meets jazz/retro looks. I'm actually a bit sad sometimes when I see them as they somehow has taken the place of Ladies Code (not meant in a bad way in regards to anyone) in my mind. No shadow should fall on Mamamoo who just continues their very good taste in collaborations in the new "Aah Oop!". Or rather, eSNa has invited them to sing the song she composed herself, but it still fits very well the niche Mamamoo has created for themselves. That tends to attract other talents and create dynamics for even better music. The song Piano Man is a great piece also that I didn't have time to review back in November. Damn, they are good.

• Mamamoo - Piano Man
• Mamamoo and eSNa - Aah Oop! (아훕!)