In general, I like god's music. And if reports in the news are true, Danny, Kyesang, Hoyoung, Joon and Taewoo are into helping out at the local charities. Nice boys they may be, but I thought their current number one hit, Guhjitmal (Lie) [RealAudio], was a little lethargic, even for a ballad. However, the video [ASX] for the song is nice, and I just have to admit, Danny is a good-looking kid.

I've given Yoo Seung Jun (Steve) some lukewarm reviews in the past, punctuated by praise for isolated musical moments. His fifth album, Summit/Revival, strikes me in much the same way. The album as a whole is just okay, with a couple of songs that will probably hit the charts. One of those songs is Chatgilbarae [RealAudio], which is ranked at number two on SBS Inki Gayo. This song has a good flow and should see some success as a single release.

Diva's new single Up & Down [RealAudio] opens with the same slightly exotic Indian sitar sound that characterized Chakra's big hit Han this summer. Unlike the case with Han, however, this "eastern" sound really doesn't define this dance-type tune. The opening isn't an organic part of the whole, but rather just a flirtation with a theme.

All I can say is that Lim Chang Jung is a workaholic and he's making me feel lazy. www.Love 7th is his seventh album, and the content is pretty solid. The ballad single Nal Dalmeun Nuh [RealAudio] climbed right up the charts, and is fairly indicative of the rest of the CD. I'm not sure I like the new hairstyle, but I'll cut him some slack since he seems to be paying attention to the quality of his music.

I like the Euro flavor of Um Jung Hwa's new hit, Escape [RealAudio]. Um Jung Hwa is sticking to where she's found success--the dance tune. What I like about the music from the new album, Queen of Charisma, is that it doesn't suffer from that stale synthesized beat you find in S.E.S., Fin.K.L. or other top pop groups. The electric sound is there, but doesn't dissipate the energy of the tune.

Koyotae has picked up a new member (Cha Seung Min has left the group) for it's third album, but I really can't tell when I listen to their top ten hit, Passion [MP3]. Their style doesn't seemed to have changed much--if you liked Koyotae 2 techno, you'll like Koyatae 3 techno.

One of my favorite pop singers is actually a rock singer, Seo Moon Tak. I tell you, I get so tired of the repetitive style of contemporary pop music, and I always am so relieved to come across singers like Seo Moon Tak that break the monotony. Happily, SBS Inki Gayo ranks her single Saseul (Chain) [RealAudio] quite high this month. This single shows off the energy of Seo Moon Tak's music.

Another group I really like is Country Kko Kko. Lately I've been listening almost exclusively to their Christmas album, but they also have a single, Oh, My Julia [RealAudio], on the pop charts. I give Country Kko Kko good marks because they seem to sing what they want instead of buying into the "let's all be H.O.T." movement. They amuse me when they dance around on the stage, and they definitely show creativity.

For a pretty ballad, look for If You Ask Me [RealAudio] by the group Glass Case. This sounds like something you might hear from Jo Sung Mo, so if you're a ballad fan, you might want to find this one. Another groovy song to listen for is called I Just Like It [RealAudio], by Sketch Trip. Sketch Trip has a really natural, almost unplugged, sound. Both Sketch Trip and Glass Case are new discoveries for me, but I'm hoping they'll continue producing.

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