Looking for (yet another) girl group? If so, search your CD store for SZ (StreetZin). This trio is hoping to break into the S.E.S. market with their debut album. The first single is the title track, Nuguya (Who Are You) [MP3] a fast-paced dance song. The other track available now is Birthday Kiss [RealAudio], which is more of an R&B tune. To get a better idea of their sound, you can also listen to two sample tracks: Sh1x1x1xt [MP3] (dance) and Eraser = Born To Kill [MP3] (and more dance).

For a much different listening experience, grab the new CD by Roller Coaster. This is their second album, and everything on it tells me it owes something to a jazz tradition. Nuhehgeh Bohnehneun Norae (Sending a Song to You) [RealAudio] is the jazziest tune I've heard on the pop charts this year and Himeul Naeyoh, Mister Kim [RealAudio] is of a very similar style. Both songs stand out from the typical list of summer releases.

Park Ji Yoon has compiled a collection of her greatest hits into a summer album called Best. Included in this selection is Steal Away [RealAudio] from her second album Blue Angel, a song that makes a nice complement to the Roller Coaster album. Also from Park Ji Yoon 2 is Sojunhan Sarang [RealAudio]. Also included is Gabuhryeh1x (Go Away1x) [RealAudio], the biggest hit from her third CD The Age Ain't Nothing But A Number.

And H.O.T. fans will be happy to purchase the Age of Peace original soundtrack. This movie will probably be huge just because teenaged girls will flock to the theaters just to get a glimpse of their favorite H.O.T. member. The soundtrack for this movie is completely techno. The title song, Age of Peace [MP3] (sample), is purely instrumental, but others feature the group singing. Probably the best is OP.T (OPeration Takeover) [MP3] but The Best [MP3] is okay, too. Overall, the album is uneven, simply because it's a soundtrack and few soundtracks play as an album very well. But hey, if you buy the CD, you'll get a free pair of 3-D glasses--such a deal1x

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