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Stellar lineup set to rock Korean music scene

South Korean singers, from idol groups to veteran singer-songwriters, are set to liven up the music scene here with a slew of new albums set for release before the end of the year.

Indie band Busker Busker made a comeback with its much-anticipated second album Wednesday. All nine tracks swept the major music charts on the day of release.

The group was unearthed by an audition program and enjoyed great success with its first album, filled with unique acoustic sounds and an analog aesthetic.

Rap sensation Psy, who surprised the world with megahits “Gangnam Style” and “Gentleman,” is poised to return to the music scene with new album set for this fall.

YG Entertainment, Psy’s agency, raised fans’ expectations, saying: “Many top world class artists participated in the new album.”

Singer and actress IU has become a fixture on the charts with an array of hits. She will release her third album “Modern Times” on Oct. 3. The 20-year-old singer distinguished herself from other pop stars by bringing older generation musicians, such as Choi Baek-ho and Yang Hee-eun, to feature for the album.

The competition among idol stars is expected to heat up throughout the autumn as well.

With mini-album “Number 9,” girl group T-ara is out for a chance to bounce back from a bullying scandal, which has brought it much controversy and criticism. The group has been ranked fairly high on the local music charts with hooks and the new title song reportedly has a catchy melody.

Block B, another idol band with a tough year, comes back to the stage on Oct. 2. The boy band has ended a year of legal battles over an exclusive contract with its former agency and unveiled “Be the Light,” one of the tracks, prior to the release of its third EP album, on Monday. The song is composed and written by the team’s leader Zico and it instantly topped some music charts on the day.    

Hallyu star and member of JYJ, Kim Jae-Joong, will release his first full album as a solo artist at the end of October. About 200,000 copies of his first solo EP, released in January, were sold, showing the power of his wide fan support across the Asia. The album will be a pop rock effort, according to his agency.

Masters of sentimental ballads which are suited for the fall and winter season also joined the lineup.

Shin Seung-hun, nicknamed “the prince of ballads.” returns with EP “Great Wave” in October. The 45-year-old veteran signer highlighted diversity and new approaches to music through the album, according to Shin’s agency Dorothy Company.

Fans of the project group Toy have waited six years for new songs after its sixth album “Thank you” in 2007. You Hee-yeol who leads the group is said to be working with various guest vocalists as usual. The musician has not yet elaborated on details, but it is only known that the album will be released within this year.

Solo artist Lee Juck showed glimpse of the making process for his fifth album, which planned for release in November via Twitter. Lee gained popularity since his debut in 1995 in the duo Panic.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)