NS Yoon-G brings back sexy on ‘Yasisi’

NS Yoon-G
“Yasisi”
(LOEN Entertainment)

Solo female K-pop singer NS Yoon-G has returned to the local music scene with the new EP “Yasisi” and a lead single with the same title that is shamelessly sexy.

“Yasisi,” which roughly translates to “sexually alluring,” speaks for itself. The music video features NS Yoon-G dancing seductively while dressed in revealing clothes. She teases and smiles at the men, who are startled by her presence.

The lyrics are also quite flirtatious and sexual: “Sexy, I’m already prepared to cross that forbidden line / Baby, touch like that, touch like that a little closer / This sensual feeling, I can’t stop / Your eyes turn me on.”

“It turns me on, turns me on, turns me on,” she sings in the chorus.

All the sexiness aside, the tune itself is catchy, embellished by retro hip-hop beats and Latin guitar and piano sounds. The brass that breaks into the main melody is particularly strong alongside NS Yoon-G’s steady vocals.

The rest of the album is filled with collaborative tracks that feature the producer duo Double Kick. “If I Love You” is a slower composition about painful yearning for a past love, with a soulful rap by Double Kick. “Crazy I” features a strong, mellow duet between Yoon-G and the producer duo.

(jiyoung.sohn@heraldcorp.com)


Lea Michele is so-so on debut album

Lea Michele
“Louder”
(Columbia Records)


On some of the songs from her debut album, Lea Michele is convincing. On others, it’s like she is acting.

The “Glee” star, known for her big voice, provides the pipes on “Louder,” but some songs sound empty and don’t show much emotion or personality from the 27-year-old talent.

The dance-flavored title track is typical and forgettable, as is “Don’t Let Go.” “Empty Handed,” co-written by singer Christina Perri, comes off like an unimpressive Coldplay cover, while other songs echo Kelly Clarkson, but lack the energy that Clarkson’s learned to build on her songs.

Michele, who has appeared on Broadway in “Spring Awakening” and other shows, gets it right on the piercing “Burn With You,” where she sings: “I don’t wanna go to heaven if you’re going to hell / I will burn with you.” She also shines on the slow piano tune “Battlefield,” one of four tracks co-written by the exceptional Sia Furler (Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” Beyonce’s “Pretty Hurts”).

But, all in all, “Louder” is jagged. The songs don’t play well together, and the collection sounds more like a demo, instead of a Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated singer-actress’ debut album. That may be due partially to the group of producers and songwriters, which include Stargate, Benny Blanco, John Shanks, The Messengers, Anne Preven, Christopher Braide and more.

The track is somewhat chilling and worth a listen, but while the rest of “Louder” features a big voice, most of the time Michele isn’t saying much. (AP)

Hold Steady’s latest packs plenty of punch

The Hold Steady
“Teeth Dreams”
(Razor & Tie)



The Hold Steady is a garage band at heart, but it’s a two-car garage in a nice neighborhood, and there might be a Mercedes inside.

Singer Craig Finn and his mates have always come across like upper-middle-class products who are usually the oldest, smartest guys at the party -- and thus the ones who tell the most interesting stories. “Teeth Dreams,” the Brooklyn band’s sixth album, is filled with Finn’s characteristically compelling characters, mostly female, as he sings about bad company, simple minds, night moves, life in the fast lane, dancing the night away and Pink Floyd. Rock doesn’t come much more classic.

To help keep the ’70s alive, the Hold Steady doubles down on the guitars, and recent addition Steve Selvidge teams up with band co-founder Tad Kubler to frame the songs with dense, shimmering sound. It’s often pretty, and it always packs plenty of punch. Horns? Strings? There’s no need when you’re a garage band. (AP)