There are three ads, each blasting a different genre (hip-hop, opera, & rock) of music into a dude’s ear.

I’ve heard some pretty good things about Samsung MP3 players but since I already have an iPod, where can I pick up a pair of those headphones?

via Ads of the World

Show Notes:

Featured Artists
BUGA KINGZ – “友酒 Like?”, Wikipedia Page
Loptimist – “Hidden Agenda” (feat. Braille), Official MySpace
Verbal Jint – “1219 Epiphany”, Official MySpace
Jerry.K – “Free Yourself”, Official MySpace

Other Stuff
Man it was hard to pick just four songs for this. Maybe that’s why it took so long =P

[audio:http://sparkplugged.net/podcasts/pod7.mp3]

This kid’s music is stunning. The songs he plays in his videos are long and complex and his fingerstyle of play on some pieces make things even more amazing. No need to say much more…just watch:

“More than Words”:

Pirates of the Caribbean Theme:

“California Dreaming”:

Check out Sungha Jung’s YouTube page. There’s over 125 clips of him rocking out. His videos on MySpace

There are a lot of other prodigies out there worth mentioning. This kid’s style is just one of the coolest.

via Guitar Flame, “Sungha Jung, no larger than his guitar”

A drama screencap. Some guy’s humorous caption read: “This is what love is like in Korea.”

Some StarCraft impressions on GAG-Concert:

There’s not much else to say, other than…now I really want to go back to Korea!! :) If you check out the YouTube clip’s related videos, there are some other hilarious StarCraft impressions.

Morning Again by the indie pop-punk rockers was released in late September and features two tracks: “Always Summer in Hollywood” and “Home”. It’s a great release for the a.m., thoughtful and energizing.

The APOP (April Party of Pop) is the quintet of JOS (vocals), Chulwoo (guitar), Jimmy (guitar), jung hyun (bass), and hwang young (drums). The band is signed with the Korean hardcore label GMC Records which represents bands like VASSLINE and SAMCHUNG as well as few Japanese hardcore bands.

Prior to Morning Again, The APOP released their debut She Is Gone But Her Ghost Still Haunts Me in February 2008.

Here’s a trailer for the new single from GMC Records:

Check out full-length versions of “Always Summer in Hollywood” and “Home” among other tracks on The APOP’s Official MySpace.

Watch the MV for “Tonight Tonight” by The APOP

via Indieful ROK, THE place for good Korean indie rock.

I feel let down and insulted because No Brain collaborated with a pop group. Actually, in ordinary circumstances I wouldn’t care (No Brain is after all a popular band themselves), but it’s much worse. No Brain collaborated with Big Bang (ë¹…ë±…)!…in “Oh My Friend” by the said tools.

Big Bang & No Brain pretending to be cool

It’s the epitome of fake, manufactured pop that pretends to be “hip-hop” and reveals the low depths the music industry (*cough YG) has sunken to in our hyper-consumerist culture.

I can’t stand Big Bang. But while I pride myself on ignoring the things which I loathe, when I see a group I (kind of) like, associating with the object of my enmity, I can’t look the other way. Rather I must observe, cringe, be insulted, and wash my foul mouth out with soap.

Big Bang is awful. And now, No Brain has joined the club. It’s unfortunate that they’ve chosen to go this way.

Sure I understand the whole “being ‘featured’ gets the featured artist publicity”, but how low have these bunch of “rockers” (probably) in their thirties gone to resort to courting the screaming pre-to-teenage girl vote? The ones who won’t respect you for your musical ability or talent and only fixate on the shallow traits on the surface of your existence.

Time go back through No Brain’s library, and question everything they’ve ever done.

I’m a pour some liqour on the curb for No Brain. It sucks for any band to lose fans, and No Brain has just lost me.

If you must, here’s a link to “Oh My Friend” by Big Bang featuring No Brain. (Remember, people actually think this is rap =P)

The up-and-coming rapper released his debut album this summer. An 18-track mixtape, I Just Wanna Rhyme kicks with tight beats, quick rhymes, and provocative lyrics. Though his lyrics are primarily in Korean, English interjects does interject. I Just Wanna Rhyme features collaborations with Dok2, Beatbox DG, Jerry K, Lady Jane, Rocky L, Basik, and more.

Many prominent rappers have featured Simon Dominic on their releases. Simon Dominic has collaborated with Dynamic Duo, Outsider, Loptimist, and The Quiett just to name a few. (My introduction to him came with his appearence on “Hyper Soar” by Outsider from his album Soliloquist)

Simon Dominic was born in 1984 and his from Busan. His real name is Jeong Gi Seok.

There are no Simon Dominic MVs but here’s a “Rap Medley” performed by him. The boy’s got mad flow:

Info about I Just Wanna Rhyme by Simon Dominic on Hiphop Playa (Korean)

To check out the title track, go here.

Friends of the Earth Korea sponsored a provocative mural of “Dark Smoke”. It’s an ominous work of public art that’s message clearly emerges through the billowing smoke: “You’re gonna reap what you sow.”

View the full-size image

The caption reads:

In order to communicate the message that the polluted air by human finally returns to human, we did a wall painting on the outside of a building with 3.8 x 2.5m by using water paints.

via Ads of the World

RoboBuilder is an incredibly cool creation from Korea. I guess you could say that it takes the concept of LEGO Mindstorms to a whole new level. RoboBuilder is a fully-assemblable kit that allows creators to build their own robot and program it.

Thanks to interchangeable modules, creators can make bots of any shape and size. There are three standard designs that come stock though: HUNO, DINO, and DOGY. As the names suggest, HUNO is a humonoid robot, DINO like a dinosaur, and DOGY a dog.

The RoboBuilder kits come in black and clear designs. The latter comes packed with programmable LEDs inside.

On top of creating and programming the little bots, users can share designs and downloadable programming creations online.

Watch some RoboBuilder robots in action:

RoboBuilder kits currently run for 450,000 to 660,000 won ($430 to $630 USD).

Available at FunShop
RoboBuilder official site (English)

(via Technabob)