Dean　"130 Mood: TRBL"　(Joombas and Universal Music)　Dean is receiving the coveted attention of international artists such as Anderson Paak and Jeff Bernat and local hip-hop big names including Dynamic Duo, Zico and Crush, and there seems to be a legitimate reason behind the singer-songwriter’s emergence. Though his sound represents the height of trendiness, it is still deliciously brooding, full of soul. The largely electronic R&B sounds featured on this first LP are sleek and sophisticatedly la

The beauty of “Bad Girl,” a two-track mini album by Brown Eyed Girls‘ leader JeA, lies in the contrasting lyrics of the two rhythm and blues tracks."Bad Girl,” the first track of the singer’s second solo album portrays a woman estranged from her boyfriend after cheating on him with another man, while the second track, “Island of Tears,” depicts how wretched a woman feels while missing her ex-boyfriend.The acoustic number “Bad Girl” impressed the 34-year-old JeA with not only the uniquely sentime

Streaming and downloading may be the most popular ways of listening to music these days, but for fans of physical albums, two upcoming events offer a chance to purchase LPs, CDs and DVDs at reduced prices. 　Universal Music is holding special events at Garosu-gil and Sangsu-dong in Seoul, where visitors can browse and buy at discount prices a vast array of albums spanning classical music to pop music. Promotional image of Deutsche Grammophon Yard Sale, which will be held at the Garosugil ODE Pop-

Hallyu king Kim Jun-su of JYJ has jumped on the “Descendants of the Sun” craze bandwagon with the release of his newest single, “How Can I Love You,” as part of the drama series’ latest “Part 10” sound track.　The romantic ballad single, which appeared in the penultimate episode of the smash-hit KBS TV drama Wednesday night, was released Thursday and quickly snagged the No. 1 spot on all of the country’s major music sites, including Melon, Naver and Mnet.   Kim Jun-su of JYJ (C-JeS Entertainment)

Korean hip-hop trio Epik High will be performing at popular American festival Coachella Valley Music and Arts.　In an interview with the group released Tuesday, Billboard reported, “Epik High plans to make history at Coachella as the first major South Korean act playing (at) the music festival.”　“It is definitely a venue that we always dreamed of performing at,” the group’s rapper Tablo said in the interview. He also urged festivalgoers to come check out their stage, promising to make it worthwhi

LONDON (AP) -- Adele had the world’s best-selling album last year, a global smash that helped music revenues record their first significant growth since the dawn of the digital age two decades ago.　Figures released Tuesday by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry show that the British singer’s chart-topping “25” sold 17.4 million copies -- five times more than runners-up Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, whose albums “X” and “1989” both sold 3.5 million copies. 　The year’s best-se

Singer-songwriter’s ‘I Am Sam’ lays bare sincere, budding artist

Park Jin-young, singer and CEO of JYP Entertainment, released “Still Alive,” a digital single Sunday.　The single includes “Still Alive” and “Fire” -- which has garnered attention with its music video starring American comedian and talk show host Conan O’Brien.　“Fire,” which is set to be released Wednesday, is an uplifting ’80s funky rock tune. Korean-American singer and actor Steven Yeun (left) and American comedian and talk show host Conan O’Brien star in JYP’s “Fire” music video (JYP Entertain

R&B singer U Sung-eun and rapper Kisum released their collaboration song “Jealousy” on Monday.　Singer U won second prize on season one of Mnet music competition show “Voice of Korea,” which aired in 2012. She made her debut with “Be OK” in 2013. Since then, she has gained recognition through TV drama sound tracks and digital singles.  Stills from U Sung-eun and Kisum’s “Jealousy” music video (The Music Works)　The new song “Jealousy” features an uplifting hip-hop beat. 　The music video for the so

Ronnie Spector 　“English Heart” 　(429 Records) 　In 1964, Ronnie Spector toured Britain with the Ronettes just weeks before the Beatles arrived in America. “English Heart” is her tribute to that British Invasion, in turn influenced by her band and former husband Phil Spector‘s “Wall of Sound.”　While Spector is often cited for the power of her pipes, these 11 songs are styled more around subtlety and insinuation.　Producer Scott Jacoby has wisely favored the feel of the 1960s originals over the sou

　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

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