The J and K-Pop Thread

[Shinano]

I was browsing this subforum today, and realized that a thread for these genres didn't exist yet, so I thought I could get the ball rolling. And don't worry, I came with plenty to recommend for you. I'll recommend one or two songs from each that should give you an idea of what their sound is. But some will need more than one, since style can vary pretty drastically, even from track to track.
Upbeat/Traditional Pop sound:
&Team: FIREWORK, We on Fire (Korean ver.).
Generations From EXILE TRIBE
INI (Could fall into either this or the next category): OURS, HANA 花.
BE:FIRST (Similar to INI in terms of being hard to categorize): Be Free, Rondo.
Fantastics From EXILE TRIBE: SUNFLOWER.
Ayumi Hamasaki: Just her first album. I don't have a standout recommendation.
More bass (But still Pop):
Psychic Fever From EXILE TRIBE: Hotline, Snow Candy.
The Jet Boy Bangerz From EXILE TRIBE: Jettin', Banger.
Le Sserafim: Blue Flame, EASY.
aespa: Savage, YEPPI YEPPI. (Production isn't very good on most of their stuff IMO. Just thought I'd add that as a warning).
Hiroto (INI): ROLLER COASTER, CRUISING.
Hip-Hop:
Doberman Infinity: Tomorrow Never Dies, Citylights. (They have so much variety, it can give you whiplash track to track).
Ma55ive The Rampage: Universe, Empire Code.
CB (Crazyboy): Pure Water, Everyday Bday.
Other:
Babymetal: おねだり大作戦, KxAxWxAxIxI.
So that's just a few artists/groups and recommendations from each. But I HIGHLY encourage you to listen to the albums/EPs, since these are just the tracks I thought summed up the respective group/artist the best (And also are some of my favorites). I can't wait to see everyone who comments with their favorites and recommendations, as there's so much I haven't even touched yet.

 

[Curvature]

 

[Shinano]

I was going to listen to her stuff after I finished Ayumi Hamasaki's catalog. IIRC, she had a special edition blank Minidiscs as well. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[hardisj]

Ha! I thought I was the only one who was listening to this in the "audiophile" world.

My daughter has been listening to K-pop for about 2 years now. At first I couldn't stand it. Now I listen to it on my own; in the car, walking the dog and at the gym.

Here are a couple of my favorites:

 

[Shinano]

Ha! I thought I was the only one who was listening to this in the "audiophile" world.

My daughter has been listening to K-pop for about 2 years now. At first I couldn't stand it. Now I listen to it on my own; in the car, walking the dog and at the gym.

Here are a couple of my favorites:

You'd probably like INI and BE:FIRST then (If you're not already listening to them). They're similar in production and style. I have to admit I stick more to J-Pop than K-Pop, but I have been venturing out a bit more

 

[Mort]

CHUNG HA, Yves,VIVIZ, ARTMS, TWICE are favs.

 

[Mort]

Ado is the queen. Was at Lolla this year.

 

[DanielT]

This one was a charmer. Spiced with a touch of funk and Latin jazz. It’s got a pretty good groove:

Yoru ni Kakeru (Racing into the Night) by YOASOBI

 

[JeffS7444]

It used to be easier for me to get exposure to jpop via Sony's Tofu Records, but it seems that label has been defunct since 2007. I still listen to The Brilliant Green from time to time. Also got a Crunchyroll subscription (Sony, again) but to date have not encountered music there that I felt compelled to explore further.

Orchestral: Joe Hisaishi's A Symphonic Celebration. I like this one lots.

 

[Hugo9000]

Mariya Takeuchi - Plastic Love

An old hit from the 1980s that was resurrected decades later, resulting in a later 'official music video' (although the singer does not appear in the video).

 

[Shinano]

I recently have been listening to The World EP.Fin Will by ATEEZ, because funnily enough, I found a CD copy at the thrift store! That was a fun surprise to see, and I've been really liking it! My favorite tracks on it are WE KNOW, Emergency, Silver Light, MATZ, and It's You. I logged in here today and was met by all these recommendations, which was nice after the thread went dead for a few days. I'll have to give some of these a listen!

 

[amirm]

She has a good voice but needs to fire the videographer who told her to sit in a yellow chair and squirm in, or in front of it....

 

[Labhound]

HALCALI "Tandum" has a paraody of the yellow chair

 

[egellings]

J-K flip flop (an electronic circuit).

 

[badtimeticket]

Let me give some Japanese recs. I'll give the disclaimer this is not really the idol group J-pop.

Zutomayo - an experimental rock group which is really defined by its anonymous singer/songwriter/leader Acane. They have heavy funk and early American music influences and hard basslines. Acane listens to a wide variety of music and it shows. They often use complex instrumentation (they often perform with a ~15-20 piece band including strings/brass along with usual guitar/drums/bass/keybaord), and they often include more out-there instruments (shamisen, erhu, biwa) and some experimental instruments (tesla coil, electric fan harp, tv drums) made by Electronicos Fantasticos. It's worth checking out their live concert videos as well, some of the best live peformers out there (I'd recommend Darken Live on YouTube first).

Songs to check out:
Byoushinwo Kamu - first music video released, this song put them on the map. The music video instantly blew up for some reason. Before this, Acane was busking on the streets. Less experimental, but still great bass here.
Study me - Most funky song from the middle era. One of the hardest bass solos, verified by Davie504.
TAIDADA - incredibly popular song from the newer era
Darken - A less experimental song. The live version on YouTube is awesome.
Kan Saete Kuyashiiwa - Great song, but I'm mentioning it really because it was on the Weeknd's playlist and social proof y'know.

Yorushika - the singer and guitarist/composer are again both anonymous. Very great guitar and the singer has a great voice. Earlier stuff (Itte) is more upbeat rock, and later stuff is more jazzy.

Songs to check out:
Itte / Say It - popular song from the older upbeat-rock era that put them on the map.
Sunny - popular song from the newer era with a more jazz feel. A favorite of Porter Robinson apparently.
Bubble - newer song that I like.

Shiina Ringo (she also leads the band Tokyo Jihen/Tokyo Incidents) - Probably the most iconic and influential female J-pop singer IMO.

Songs to check out:
Marunouchi Sadistic - One of the most influential songs in J-pop. The chord progression appears in a lot of other songs.
Crime and Punishment - Another awesome song with her just wailing.

 

[keithm55]

Several of my grad students really like KPOP dance, especially Kim Jisoo (from the group Blackpink), so I hear this all the time. Here are two student favorites:

 

[Elgrosso]

Nice, I tried last year but without success (https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/korean-hip-hop.63965/#post-2397470)
Probably your broader approach will attract more people

 

[EERecordist]

Azikazin Magic World is an art, music, and game development collective.

Their synth-driven work resembles a poppy minimal techno. They use something like Antares Autotune processed vocals. The genius website has translations to English, but like a lot of pop, the lyrics don't exactly translate. Their female synth player performs as Lionclad.

Their music videos use game animation backgrounds developed by their collective.

https://www.youtube.com/azikazinmagicworld

Some closed caption lyrics in English:

I don't really follow J/K-Pop but the algorithm found me.

I have friends in the ad industry. Starting several years ago, beatboxing became popular in Southern China. There is also a new dance music trend in China adding traditional instruments under the term Gufeng / Guzheng EDM.