SS501 Rebirth!

Thanks to a friend who sent me a blurb today, I found out that SS501 is coming out with a new mini-album. I know, I'm such a bad fan.  I didn't even know about this ahead of time.  Anyways, this is the first time that everybody will be back together recording, after Kim Hyun Joong's working on Boys Over Flowers and various other members were also having different projects.  Titled Rebirth, this new mini-album was highly anticipated and has been well received when it first hit the stores today.  The special edition of the album (with a poster, etc) is out in Korea today, October 20th, while the regular edition will be released October 22nd. The album follows as thus:

01. WASTELAND
02. Love Like This (네게로)
03. 하루만(Only One Day)
04. Obsess (중동...)
05. 완.두.콩.

DSP worked hard to make this a successful album, bringing in famous songwriters as well as the amazing producer Steven Lee, known for winning 15 Japan Golden Disc awards.  He has also produced many top artists in both Korea and Japan, including DBSK, Bi-Rain, and Super Junior.  Ken Lewis, who has worked with Usher and Kanye West was also brought in to mix the songs.  With so much talent brought on board, it's no wonder than the album has been a huge hit so far.

SS501 has had some good luck as well.  Their main song, Love Like This, was apparently a hot item wanted by many other artists.  Thankfully, SS501 was able to successfully bid for the song and use it to bring us another great album.  I don't know if this occurred to anybody else but the opening of Love Like This really reminds me of Justin Bieber's song One Time.  The fact that SS501 can change styles so dramatically, especially from the Triple-S heavy electronic beat filled UR Man, really shows SS501's skill across the board.

Although I have loved the the mini-albums SS501 have brought us, I am dying for another real full album.  How much longer must our fans wait?  I hope that all of the members and the team stayy healthy, especially in the midst of news of exhaustion.  I know that I am anticipating another great album.

While I know that the album has only been out for a few hours, I must say that I was rather disappointed that I could not find the complete album out online yet.  I want to listen to it now!  However, watch for an update as I will make sure to post it right here, on Asian Media Ramblings.




Cover Art for SS501's Mini-Album Rebirth

Love Like this


Album Previews (Out of Order)

Von Dutch Madness

Today, my friend, (insert name), was wearing a Von Dutch T-shirt.  What is with this Von Dutch craziness?  According to her, I am entirely overreacting but this is an extremely puzzling situation.  I have always thought of Von Dutch as this old brand that is fading out of the spotlight.  As a young child, I had some recollection of the brand but thought that it was an older 90s tradition.  However, as I watch videos of my favorite Korean artists online, I am noticing this surging Von Dutch fad.  Super Junior, SS501, and many, many more are all sporting the looks-like-squirted-out-mustard-shaped-lettered logo, may it be on T-shirts or even plain caps, though they look very svelte atop the heads of our beloved idols.  Not only in Korea, this brand is also surging in the US.  While I have yet to see a wide donning of Von Dutch apparel, Lindsay Lohan has recently (depends on how you define "recently") become one of the promoters of the brand.

What is Von Dutch?  This question has been buzzing around my cranium ever since this new sighting this morning.  I decided to look it up but my Wikipedia search proved to be largely unfruitful, only naming Kenny Howard as the inspiration.  More importantly, why is it catching on in Korea?  How can such simple apparel be such a standout hit?  Anybody with any news, please share!