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Rockin’ Monday

Egads, I’m running behind! This is why I was wary about watching a third show… If I were doing two, I’d only be one recap behind, but now I’m THREE! Add to that two new episodes of Flowers (today and tomorrow), and on top of that, I just realized Yoon Eun Hye‘s new drama Coffee Prince Store #1 premieres today. Aieee.

I may be behind but I promise I’ll get to everything… eventually… Here, have a few songs while you wait. Music cures everything.

Rocket Diary

I mentioned before that Korean music is kinda going through diversification, and one example of that is its burgeoning rock scene. There are nowhere near as many rock genres as we’ve got in the Western world (indie, prog-rock, alternative, contemporary adult, grunge, punk, post-punk, emo, screamo, folk, etc…), but given that “Korean music” used to mostly mean mainstream pop or folk-style trot, it’s made great strides.

If Korea had a punk rock scene — or punk rawk (definitely more skater-punk than The Clash) — or a Warped Tour, Rocket Diary would be among the first there. They somewhat remind of bands like Saves the Day or Something Corporate, with a little Fall Out Boy thrown in. I mean the comparison in a good way, despite disliking Fall Out Boy kinda on principle.

Rocket Diary – “Heart Messenger”
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Rocket Diary – “She Makes Me Cry”
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You may remember female-fronted rock band Pearl’s Day from that one distinct track they had on the Dal Ja’s Spring soundtrack…

Pearl’s Day – “보듬이”
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Pearl’s Day – “Dear My Rainbow”
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LOL. You are hilarious, do you know that? I feel like sitting in my doctor's waiting room, while sipping my cup of coffee and errr... the receptionist sure has some interesting taste in music.

Take your time, I'm sure everyone agrees ^ ^

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So please tell me you will be blogging Coffee Prince, please let that be a yes I will hear!!!!!

Thanks for the music to tide us over^___^

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Bamidele, i'm not sure yet -- Flowers ends this week so maybe i can do it. I'll have to see the second ep before deciding... but I did see the first ep just now and enjoyed it. Will post later if I can get to it!

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Why don't you like FOB on principle????

I'm liking the Rocket group, indie and rock is simply the best!!!

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Sorry for spamming, I just saw that you replied hella fast, okay hopefully the second ep will convince you, by the way from your writing you seem like you'd be a cool person to hang out with in real life!!!

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lol, i'm just a music snob. i feel that music should sound better live than recorded. (and of course that means the in-person "live" performance had damn well better be live.) Kpop has always been my guilty pleasure (or my secret shame) but these days I'm happy that I don't have to be snobby about it because a lot of korean music is so good. (a lot of it still sucks.) so i'm a lot more picky about my american/western music consumption... and FOB... i thought they were pretty decent until i saw them on SNL, and omg, i was so embarrassed for them -- at first i thought the two guitarists were playing two different songs because that's how off they were. but i have to admit i liked "dance dance" and "xo."

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Hehe, that response cracked me up, I never have seem them live, but I met them in person and got some photos. I will say I despise Pete with a passion, I'm sure some people would kill me for saying that, but to each his own. It is funny cause I'm Nigerian, and I listen to way more Asian music, Korean is my favorite, then Japanese, than Nigerian music. My mom is like why don't you just move their and get adopted by a Korean family. Hehe, once you get into the dramas the music catches your attention too.

Have you heard of Humming Urban Stereo?
I just started listening to Rumble Fish, reminds me of a more hardcore Clazziquai in a way.
It is hard to find Korean underground bands, I don't like the kpop too much, cause it most likely has no substance.

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i just wanna say thank you for introducing me to Rocket Diary because they are like AMAZING i see them as a korean "all american rejects" (oddly enough) even though i cant understand the lyrics but i enjoy their music! thanks for the summaries tooo!

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Thanks so much for introducing us to these new bands :)

I totally agree with your assessment on Asian music in general. Most of it is all pop-ish type music (of course the same could probably be said of Western music).

There seems to be a lack of original singer/songwriters nowadays, which is a shame.

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I'm liking Rocket Diary, their songs are really catchy, especially "She makes me cry". I wonder if they have the album in-store. Might drop by the korean shope tomorrow. Hehhee.. ^__^ Thanks for the music. You raaawwwkkk Java!!

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hi! i LUBLUB ur taste in music... i just realized how much i dont like kpop anymore... it so the same. my soft spot are the ballads though. ^^ i was wondering where do u get your underground music? i cant seem to find it anywhere. >_

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hey javabeans! i really really love your caps of all these dramas and the music you post :] i was just wondering if you had a chance to watch the rest of War of Money with Park Shin Yang?? It's really good and maybe you would like it? I remember reading a review you wrote on the first one or two episodes... and i kind of agree it did show how incredibly important money is to people and how desperate it makes people, but PSY is just too good. his acting skills are simply undeniable! and it just gets so much better! plus the grandpa from Thank You! is in there.. (which was also a very sweet drama). You seem pretty overwhelmed with all the dramas right now, but i was just wondering if you had seen it or not. If not, definitely try to when you have some free time yes? :D

Thanks again for all the work you put into keeping the rest of the world posted. You go way above and beyond!

^^v

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OMG. I heard of Rocket Diary 6 months ago AND I TOTALLY FELL in LOVE with them. =)
they sound so different and unique. THANKS for letting it out and letting people know. XD
I really like 20 Instant Life. it's kool. XD

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Javabeans,

Your music selections opens my ears to a more broaden world of K-Pop music (It's also being my guilty pleasure - I kept the volume in minimum when I played it at work) now my Play list are more diverse not just those K-pop boy/girl band .. Rocket Diary is one of my new favorite too Thanks for introducing it to us! now I can crank my volume louder (And come out from my K-pop loving music closet!)

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Java!!!! Rocket Diary how could you say "She Makes you Cry" is the best song!!!
Im dissapointed in you :( ALL OF THEIR SONGS ARE AWESOME! Hahah.... They are way
better than Fall Out Boy also.... like x 100000 :D They kinda bring in a twist of Rock and Alternative which is what i love! Thnx thnx thnx for showing me them! Keep it up Java!

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haha.. rocket diary kind of reminds me of the japanese band orange range... i have no clue why. i think it's only for "she makes you cry" beucase that song reminds me of orange range's "hana". Their styles are really different and orange range raps while this is more singing, but ionno. :)

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I'm a Filipino, our country is experiencing the hit of the "Korean Wave". From kdramas (which are addictive!), food, fashion, and even people (there are koreans everywhere here^_^). Now I'm also liking korean songs! Though I can't understand a thing (he he he, except for sarangheyo and kumawa), but i like their melodies. I especially like songs from "Loveholic" and "My Melody". Now I'm hearing more songs from different kbands and artists because of the kdramas. I hope you will post more of their songs here :-) Your site is awesome! Two thumbs-up for you!

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Pearl's Day sounds somewhat like a Japanese group for some reasons ^.^
but thx for the intro to these bands cause they're really really really good!!! Indie rock bands are usually very awesome XD

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