[NEW RELEASES] IM CHANG-JUNG

IM CHANG-JUNG,“Ordinary Song ... Ordinary Melody”,Label: Loen Entertainment, Genre: Ballad

Even those who are not fans of veteran singer Im Chang-jung will remember the deep emotional resonance of his 2003 classic “A Shot of Soju.” After a five-year hiatus, the singer is back with a full-length, 15-track album, with a variety of tracks to appeal to Im’s longtime fans and newcomers alike.

The album’s lead track “Ordinary Song” revolves around typical post-breakup sentiments, but when sang through Im’s placid voice, the song becomes a distinctive story on its own. Im starts by just muttering the words without any emotion, backed by a plain acoustic guitar. But as the chorus nears, he sings “You can’t cry no matter how sad you are. Let’s just let it go like everybody else does,” and we hear his mournful, desperate voice and rising, explosive strings. It’s not original, but it is successful.

However, such mid-tempo songs are not all there is. The seventh track “You Happiness” partners Im with talented vocalist The Ray to sing a cheerful and upbeat dance song. Techno-trot singer Yi Pak-sa also adds a note of the unusual to Im’s latest album.

By Jin Eun-soo, contributing writer