Dolly Parton“Pure and Simple”(Dolly/Sony Music Nashville)In the ebbs and flows of her nearly lifelong career, Dolly Parton is at high tide again.The 70-year-old is on her biggest American tour in 25 years and last year’s movie “Coat of Many Colors” drew the biggest TV audience for an original movie in five years. So it only makes sense that the new album “Pure and Simple” (Dolly/Sony Music Nashville) is getting the biggest rollout for an album of hers in decades.“Pure and Simple” refers both to

Lisa Hannigan“At Swim”(ATO)What is most striking about Lisa Hannigan is her control.It’s an unexpected skill considering how the Irish singer first gained attention as part of the band that brought Damien Rice’s raw, unpredictable emotional folk to life. And, for fans of a certain age, there are times when Hannigan’s lower range sounds just like a young Sinead O’Connor, which sets up a wait for the Sinead-ish banshee shrieks that never come.Instead of wild emotion, Hannigan offers gorgeous, well

NCT Dream, the third subunit of Neo Culture Technology, unveiled both Korean and Chinese versions of the music video for its debut single “Chewing Gum” on Aug. 24.Within less than a day of the release, the group’s official YouTube videos received a total of over 1 million views.The latest group from entertainment agency S.M. Entertainment, NCT Dream consists of seven boys -- Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Hae-chan, Jae-min, Chenle, and Ji-sung -- between the ages of 14 and 17. Boasting a youthful and playf

During their four-year career, K-pop girl group Spica has spent more time off stage than in the spotlight. 　Now the group has returned with a new single album, “Secret Time,” unveiled Thursday at noon. 　Spica’s first release in more than a year, the album consists of two rhythm-and-blues-inspired tracks, “One Way” and the title song “Secret Time.” 　Written by lead vocalist Kim Bo-a, “Secret Time” was produced by Swedish producers Pontus Frisk, Graciela Chin A Loi, and Andreas Oberg.Although this

The complete lineup of the second event in the Wonderland in Jeju music festival series was revealed this week.The upcoming festival is scheduled to feature rock band YB, hip-hop duo Dynamic Duo, singer-songwriter Dean, rapper Beenzino, along with 10 more groups. 　Founded last month, the series brings together both prominent and up-and-coming musicians across various genres, including hip-hop, electronic dance music, rock, and more.  “Our goal is to create a cultural festival that embodies the s

Korean-American musician John Park is scheduled to hold his first solo concert in October. 　“I hope this concert will be an opportunity for me to show the audience different sides of me,” said Park in a statement released by his management agency Music Farm earlier this week. 　After making his first television appearance on the ninth season of the popular American music competition show “American Idol” in 2010, he was crowned the runner-up in Mnet’s similar program “Superstar K2” later in the ye

Rhythm and blues duo Homme is gearing up for a comeback with the new digital single “Dilemma,” according to the group’s management agency Big Hit Entertainment on Tuesday. 　Initially debuting as a project group with the hit single “I was Able to Eat Well” in 2010, the duo consists of 2AM member Lee Chang-min and Lee Hyun, a former member of the defunct group 8Eight.　 Homme’s upcoming track is a soft ballad intended to provide solace to those suffering from a heartbreak, said Big Hit Entertainmen

Singing audition program returns with elaborate new rules, strict judging

Talent management agency FNC Entertainment announced its first male dance group Sensational First 9, or SF9, on its official social media channels on Monday at midnight. 　The nine members are Young-bin, In-seong, Jae-yoon, Da-won, Ro-woon, Zu-ho, Tae-yang, Hwi-young and Cha-ni. They all made their first public appearance earlier this year as the Neoz dance team on Mnet’s survival reality show “d.o.b : Dance or Band,” which features participants competing for a chance to join FNC Entertainment. 　

From light and poppy lyrics about young love to hard beats inspired by electronic dance music, the latest releases from K-pop girl groups are lighting up the charts at home and abroad.　Earlier this month, Korean entertainment megahouse YG Entertainment finally lifted the veil on its first girl group in seven years, Black Pink.The four-member act’s worldwide hit tracks “Whisper” and “Boombayah” from their first single album “Square One” dominated major local music charts, and the the accompanying

Spectacle-filled show attended by 65,000 fans cements boy band’s K-pop icon status

Lotte Concert Hall opens with reunion, world premiere