[REVIEW] K-POP Now! The Korean Music Revolution by Mark James Russell

Are you a K-POP fan? Do you listen to artists like PSY, Wonder Girls, Super Junior, 2NE1, 2PM, Big Bang, EXO, SISTAR, and more? Well, thanks to Tuttle Publishing, HypnoticAsia had the chance to review Mark James Russell’s latest release.

Russell’s latest book is entitled K-POP Now! The Korean Music Revolution and introduces some of South Korea’s hottest idols and how K-POP originated. This new book was released on April 29, 2014 and HypnoticAsia had the opportunity to give away three (3) copies to some lucky readers.

First, let me tell you a little about the author, Mark James Russell. He has been living in South Korea since 1996 and has covered Korean pop culture for New York Times, Billboard and even Newsweek. In 2008, the author unleashed his book Pop Goes Korea which explained how “Korea became a pop culture powerhouse.” Now in 2014, Russell releases another book about K-POP that includes profiles of current K-POP idols, Korea’s hangouts and hotspots, as well as, interviews with Kevin of ZE:A, Brian of Fly to the Sky and even Eat Your Kimchi.

Russell takes fans on a full tour through K-POP history from how it began to where it came from. He mentions many entertainment agencies (SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment) and how they came to be some of the largest music companies in, not only Korea, but the world. The newly released book is full of high quality photos of everyone’s favorite idols, so even if you aren’t big on reading, getting this book can still serve as an awesome photo book.

The publication has a total of six (6) chapters plus an introduction. It’s a book that I believe many passionate K-POP fans will come to love and enjoy because we can see that Russell is also a fan through this book as well.

It begins with an introduction chapter.  The State of K-POP tells his experience with K-POP as he has lived in the country learning the culture and music since 1996. This chapter explains how Russell traveled the world and how K-POP has that distinctive sound that can be heard anywhere. He even tells the story of walking into a café and hearing a song that sounded familiar only to realize it was K-POP even though he wasn’t in Korea anymore but in Barcelona. He compares the music from then to now as he states the K-POP legends like g.o.d, FinKL, S.E.S, Shinhwa to artists such as, Super Junior, Big Bang, 2NE1, SNSD and more. This introduction chapter also reveals his thoughts on PSY’s unexpected success with “Gangnam Style” and how he feels America is finally getting the picture of what K-POP can be.

After the introduction is over, we are brought to a new spread and chapter; this time entitled The Land Of K-POP. This is chapter one and it’s short with only a few spreads but through those short descriptions and large images, Russell takes readers on a tour of Korea’s hottest hotspots and hangouts in Seoul, Korea: the hottest clubs, shopping areas, cafes and even entertainment buildings which are homes to artists like 4Minute, miss A,  Beast, 2AM, EXO, SHINee and f(x). I feel like chapter one (1) is perfect for anyone traveling to Korea within the next few years as it can serve as your tour guide.

After those few pages in the first chapter are complete, we are taken into the second chapter of book which is titled What Is K-POP?  If you are a K-POP fan living in America like myself then you know many people will ask the question “What Is K-POP?” as they see you wearing a hat, a t-shirt or maybe even standing in line for a K-POP concert. You’re only reply may also just be “Korean Pop…” but Russell explains what K-POP really is and why we feel so attached to the amazing beats and music the K-POP idols released for us. This chapter covers the struggles that artists have to go through as trainees before they get where they are today. Their hard work and perseverance is really important and Russell makes sure readers get the picture when he reveals how many idols train from when they are just 11 years old. In this second chapter, Russell even writes the accomplishments of the “Big 3” entertainment companies known as SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and YG Entertainment and how they have their own distinct sound. This tells us that SM Entertainment has a sound of its own that the company likes to call “SM pop,” YG Entertainment made a name for itself through hip-hip with artists like Big Bang and 2NE1 and “JYP Entertainment has a more R&B flavor which is strongly influenced by JY Park.”

Chapter two ends with special interviews with Eat Your Kimchi’s Simon and Martina Stawski, Kevin Kim of K-POP boy group ZE:A, as well as, Brian Joo of legendary R&B duo Fly to the Sky.

The next three chapters serve as what he thinks are the top 15 boy groups, the top 13 girl groups and the top 6 solo artists of what define K-POP today.  The chapter mentions each group profiles with some of their important history and awards.

Now, at chapter six (6) K-POP’s Future is Russell’s view of which artists have the potential to make it big in the tough Korean music industry including VIXX, History, Boys Republic, 15&, Lee Hi, Wonder Boyz, Akdong Musician, Crayon Pop, and Roy Kim. And as promised, a short page of tips on what to do when traveling to Korea is added at the end.

LIKES:

• He really knows what he is talking about when it comes to the history of K-POP.
• Russell mentions the importance of past artists and how they play an important part in K-POP today.

DISLIKES:

• Russell revealed some of the trouble idols groups went through such as 2PM and Wonder Girls, though he never mentioned what went on with groups TVXQ and Super Junior. It felt like JYJ never existed in TVXQ for instance and Kibum and Hangeng were never a part of Super Junior. I feel that if you are to give the full history of each K-POP group, then it should be said for all groups.

I give this book a 7 out of 10 due to the dislikes I’ve mentioned but it’s a good read, especially for fans who are passionate about K-POP.

Also, remember this review is based on my reading and understanding of the book but to others it may be different. Buy the book HERE and let us know in a comment below what you thought about it!