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www.groovekorea.com / March 2014 54 Edited by Elaine Ramirez (elaine@groovekorea.com) MuSIC & ARTS g L e n c h e c K Glen Check fits a similar mold to Idiotape: dark disco pop fully exercising an ‘80s throw- back vibe. In short, they’re cool, but with sub- stance. The band’s sophomore album “Haute Couture” was the recipient of 2012’s prize for Best Dance & Electronic Album at the Korean Music Awards. Both June-one Kim (on vocals and guitar) and Hyuk-jun Kang (on bass and synth) grew up outside of Korea, and their New Wave influences are worn with pride. c R y I n g n u T Crying Nut, unlike No Brain, has a genuine- ly raw sound that could only have come from developing inside Korea. Crying Nut sounds messy in a great, dodging-morning-piles-of- sick kind of way. It’s a shambling modulation toward a tonic that’s underscored by the drilled technicality of Korean musicianship — just bloody good fun. Epitomizing the punk aesthet- ic, yet with a unique, Korean twist, Crying Nut is the oblivion-seeking soju shot at 5 a.m. be- fore passing out in a Hongdae dumpster. n o b R a I n Much inspired by the three-chord punk bands of the late ‘90s, No Brain is pure pop punk. Active since 1997, they first appeared on Jap- anese indie punk label compilations, and later on a Nirvana tribute album that also featured Crying Nut (another featured artist at SXSW 2014). No Brain’s sound has a marketable edge that nevertheless refuses to interfere with the strong pop hooks that drive the band’s songs. The past 20 years have seen No Brain take a slight step back from their punk roots, now dressing impeccably and performing in music video shoots with much higher produc- tion values. At the same time, however, they’ve maintained their independent spirit by still play- ing small venues across the country. y e L L o w m o n S T e R S Somewhere between Crying Nut and No Brain sit Yellow Monsters — a great band name, naturally — with their down-to-earth pop-punk aesthetic unashamedly placing hooks, high production values and multiple-levels of chorus at the front and center. Yellow Monsters have been around for less time than the two afore- mentioned pop-punk staples, yet their sound carries weight and smacks of staying power. Here’s hoping the Warped Tour takes note. g L e n c h e c K n o b R a I n c R y I n g n u T
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