[Album review] Pet Shop Boys stay danceable and electric on ‘Super’

　Pet Shop Boys　“Super”　(x2 Records)　Pet Shop Boys take another drink from the fountain of youth on “Super,” offering more dance than pop 13 studio albums and more than 30 years after “West End Girls.”　Written in Berlin and recorded in Los Angeles, “Super” is the second installment of a probable trilogy with triple Grammy-winning producer Stuart Price, and the duo delves into the nightclub scene with their usual aplomb. 　Neil Tennant is a keen observer with sharp storytelling skills, allowing him

April 8, 2016

[Album review] The Last Shadow Puppets still anchored in ’60s, ’70s

The Last Shadow Puppets　“Everything You’ve Come To Expect” 　(Domino)　Alex Turner and Miles Kane have let eight years go by since the debut of their Last Shadow Puppets project, but “Everything You’ve Come To Expect” again reflects their devotion to late ’60s-early ’70s sounds even as the lyrics and themes are decidedly of today.　Turner, of Artic Monkeys fame, and bosom buddy Kane again rely on producer-drummer James Ford and skilled arranger Owen Pallett while adding Zach Dawes on bass and recor

April 8, 2016

[Herald interview] Andrea Bocelli talks Seoul concert, new album

Andrea Bocelli, the internationally acclaimed blind Italian classical crossover tenor, is gearing up for a solo concert in Seoul next month -- his first in Korea in six years. 　“I am excited and happy to come back. The love your people have shown me is hard to forget,” said Bocelli in an e-mail interview with The Korea Herald. 　Best known for his repertoire of classic operatic arias and classical-inspired contemporary pieces, the 57-year-old Grammy nominee last year released his 15th solo album,

April 7, 2016

Mother-of-pearl art goes modern

Artist Jeong Hyun-sook is presenting her modern interpretation of traditional mother-of-pearl art from April 11-29 at the Korea Economic Daily gallery.　The solo exhibition presents 23 works of the “Before and After” series that the artist has been working on for a decade. The series reinterprets the traditional mother-of-pearl art through contemporary works of art featuring geometric patterns and circles. “Before and After” by Jeong Hyun-sook (Courtesy of the artist)　Jeong, trained in Western-st

April 7, 2016

Singer Lee Seung-chul to perform at U.N. conference in Gyeongju

Singer Lee Seung-chul has been appointed the promotional ambassador for the 66th U.N. DPI/NGO Conference, the world’s largest event for nongovernmental organizations.　“Lee Seung-chul has been selected due to the sincerity he has showed through his consistent charity work,” an organizer of the conference said at the ceremony for his appointment on Thursday morning at the Korea Press Center in Seoul.　Lee gave funds to build schools in the Central African country Chad from 2010 to 2015, visiting th

April 7, 2016

'Produce 101' winners release ‘Crush’

I.O.I, the final 11-member girl group from Mnet’s recently concluded music competition show “Produce 101,” dropped their first single, “Crush,” Tuesday.　“Crush,” written by Ryan Jhun, was performed by 22 competitors of the audition show for the final match that aired April 1. This time, the song was recorded by the 11 winners who will debut as I.O.I, said CJ E&M.　The song features a melody that is easy to sing along to and powerful choreography that matches the group’s concept.  A screen capture

April 6, 2016

JYP ‘Still Alive'

Singer and producer Park Jin-young is out to prove his relevancy. He will be releasing a digital single “Still Alive” on April 10, JYP Entertainment announced Tuesday.　“Still Alive,” which was written by Park, reflects the singer’s perpetual enthusiasm with its uplifting rhythm and melody, added the agency.　The singer also released a teaser video on YouTube on Tuesday.A screen capture of singer and producer Park Jin-young‘s “Still Alive” teaser video (JYP Entertainment)　In the video, the singer

April 6, 2016

Suede, Two Door Cinema Club to play at Pentaport Rock Fest

Rock bands Suede and Two Door Cinema Club will be performing at this year’s Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, announced the festival’s organizer Yescomm Entertainment in a second lineup list released Wednesday.      　English alternative band Suede released its seventh album “Nothing Thoughts” earlier this year, while Irish indie rock band Two Door Cinema, whose second album “Beacon” in 2012 topped the Irish Albums Chart, has gained international popularity for its electro pop rock.  British rock

April 6, 2016

Member Gong Minzy to leave 2NE1

Member Gong Minzy will be leaving four-member K-pop group 2NE1, while the other three members will return as 2NE1 this summer with a new song, YG Entertainment said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.　“We held one-on-one talks with each member in light of 2NE1’s contract expiring on May 5. During the talks, we expressed our wish to renew their contracts and revitalize 2NE1 as a team,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, Gong Minzy is no longer willing to continue with us.　Former K-pop gir

April 5, 2016

CNBLUE welcomes ‘Blueming’ season

K-pop rock band CNBLUE released its sixth mini album “Blueming” on Monday.　“Welcoming the blooming season, the new album includes tracks that are uplifting and that make people feel the start of something new,” the group’s leader and main vocalist Jung Yong-hwa said Monday at an interview.　The lead song “You’re So Fine,” a spring-themed song written by Jung, is pop rock featuring a punk beat and the lifting sound of brass. K-pop rock band CN Blue (FNC Entertainment)　“Our songs used to depict sad

April 5, 2016

Despair of Koreans in 20s, 30s behind whimsical images

Artist Kim Hyun-jung captures the state of mind of 20- and 30-something Koreans, portraying feelings of envy triggered by social media posts and despair of today’s young generation in their everyday life.  　“I try to engage in social networking sites and see how they work these days. I like listening to other people’s stories and watching the news. By doing so, I believe I can portray the most accurate picture of today’s young generation,” said Kim, 29, in an interview in Insa-dong on Monday. He

April 5, 2016

Swift thanks 'boyfriend Adam'

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- For the second year in a row, the iHeartRadio Awards became the iHeartTaylorSwift show.　Not only did Swift claim three prizes, including album of the year, but her bestie and her boyfriend took home trophies, too.　Swift, who swept the awards last year, won the first and last prize Sunday night -- female artist and album of the year. In between, she claimed best tour honors for her star-studded "1989 World Tour," thanking boyfriend Calvin Harris (real name: Adam Wiles) from th

April 5, 2016

'Kinky Boots,' 'Hangmen,' 'Gypsy' win at UK's Olivier Awards

LONDON (AP) -- The high-stepping Broadway hit "Kinky Boots" was named best new musical at London's Olivier theater awards on Sunday, while Martin McDonagh’s killer comedy "Hangmen" won the prize for best new play.　The ceremony at London's Royal Opera House opened with Imelda Staunton belting out the "Gypsy" number "Everything’s Coming Up Roses" -- and the words proved prophetic. Staunton was named best actress in a musical for playing showbiz matriarch Mama Rose, while "Gypsy" took four trophies

April 4, 2016

10cm’s latest song tops charts

Male indie duo 10cm’s new song “What the Spring??” topped music charts including MelOn, Mnet, Olleh Music, Bugs Music on Saturday.　“What the Spring??,” released on April 1, depicts single men complaining about couples enjoying the spring season. Unlike other songs about spring, 10cm’s piece speaks for the singles, not for couples, with the chorus “Flowers all fall down at last just like you two fall apart soon. Screw all up.” 　The duo’s new song garnered great attention with its April Fools’ Day

April 3, 2016

JYJ Junsu to release album in May

K-pop boy band JYJ’s Kim Jun-su will release his fourth studio album in May, the singer’s agency C-JeS Entertainment announced Friday.　Kim will kick off the Asia Tour in June, starting in Seoul. The tour will see the singer perform in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Kobe in Japan, the agency added. Kim Jun-su performs his song for KBS drama series “Descendants of the Sun” at a concert on Saturday. (C-JeS Entertainment)　Kim unveiled the video announcing his May comeback during the finale of his spring tour at

April 3, 2016