2NE1's new album sweeps charts

K-pop group 2NE1 released its long-anticipated second full-length album Thursday, nabbing the top spot on numerous music charts in a matter of hours.

Soon after its release on online music services at midnight, "Comeback Home," the main track on the album "Crush," topped real-time charts of 10 services, including Melon, Mnet, Olleh Music, Naver Music, Daum Music and Bugs.

Another major piece, "Gotta Be You," came next on those charts while most of the remaining tracks also placed high.

"Crush" has 10 songs, all of which are new except for one that is the Korean language version of a song previously released in Japan. Among them, three were written and composed by the band leader CL.

The four-member band is set to present the new songs for the first time at concerts in Seoul on March 1-2. The first concert will be broadcast live through the domestic portal service Naver, according to the group's management agency, YG Entertainment.

2NE1 is expected to compete fiercely with Girls' Generation over music charts and TV music ranking programs for the time being as the two popular groups with many fans at home and abroad released new albums in the same week.

Girls' Generation managed by S.M. Entertainment had been at No. 1 on those music charts since the release of its fourth mini-album "Mr. Mr." on Monday. (Yonhap)