2NE1 - Ugly

2NE1 is very soon, coming out with their new mini album - Ugly. They recently came out with "Hate you", and before that it was "I am the best" in June.
The album Ugly, is coming out the 28 of July. So its not much time left, until we can hear all of it.

I can't wait... They always deliver something good now, don't they.
I like the sound of the new songs, a lot of electro sound in there.

The album's track-list, will consist of -
1. I am the best
2. UGLY
3. Lonely
4. Hate you
5. Don't Cry (Park Bom)
6. Don't stop the music

So... "Lonely", I already love. And "Don't cry" is beautiful. I can understand why they top the chart with these songs.

Then we have the more upbeat song-

2NE1 - I am the Best (2011)

And the most recent one, a bit calmer -

2NE1 - Hate you (2011)

I really want to hear UGLY now! Well, six days left.

[Update] ~

2NE1 - Ugly (2011)

Jang Jae In

I said that I liked odd sounds/songs, in an earlier entry - right? Like a tad off... weird tunes or weird performance. I find a lot of charm in that stuff. And a lot of personality. So, its not weird in a bad way... it's positive weird... pro-weird?

The point is, I like when it is different. Gives a lot of characteristic feeling to it.

And, Jang Jae In is a person that brings out, just that - in her latest song.
The first time I saw it, on M countdown, I got caught up by it right away. But I think this also is a song, that you either hate or love.

The song I'm talking about
Jang Jae In - 장난감 병정들 (Toy soldier) (2011)

Jang Jae In was in the show Superstar K, which is a South Korean show on M.net ,where they audition to get in. After that - they compete every week with a new song. The Judges and audience voting, decade who's getting eliminated.
Jang Jae In came in third place, in the second season. (Superstar K2).

She also did a really great song, featuring Kim Ji Soo, which I like.

Jang Jae In - 그대는 철이 없네 (Feat. Kim Ji Soo) (2011)

I really, really like her voice.

Bonen no Xamdou/Xamd: Lost Memories (tv)

Xamd: Lost Memories/Bonen no Xamdou (2009)
We are in a future state, where war is reality and quite ordinary. Check-ups is made frequently, even when you go on and of the school bus.
Akiyuki is a regular guy with normal problems and a life like anyone elses. He lives on the island "Sentan Island" which lay separate and cut from the war, between the north government and the south free zone.

He lives there, alone with his mother. Since his father is never home, as he is the towns doctor. But despite that, Akiyuki keeps a strong relationship with his father.
The quiet life as they know it takes a rough turn one day, when Akiyuki and his friends steps on the school bus like they always do.

Thanks to faith and the kindness that Akiyuki gives to another person, everything and everyone is put into danger. And nothing is like it use to be, anymore...
A weird explosion tears the entire bus apart, with ray of light which is streaming everywhere - without logic. Akiyuki can't do anything else, then throw himself on the ground for cover.
He doesn't even have the time to react, until these light beams go right through his arm. Without any insight and understanding for whats happening, he becomes something called Xamd.
He gets through town, without any control of him self. He brakes everything in his way, with his new body. A kind of war brakes out on the island.

All of a sudden a woman stands in front of the boy who ones was Akiyuki, and stops him. While he struggles to main conscious inside the Xamd body, she utters the words - "Come with me, and live. Or stay and die."
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Mecha, Romance, Sci-fi
Episodes: 26

Characters:
Akiyuki Takehara - The male protagonist, who it's mainly about. He gets involved in something he never could have expected. From start a very usual, enthusiastic high school student with good friends. But thanks to the change around him, he also have to change inside. He have to develop and grow up quickly from his ways.
He have an amazing character development, and is easy to feel sympathy with.

Nakiami - The female protagonist. She is strong and outward, but more sensitive than what it looks like. She reminds me about Princess Nausicaä with the love for all living things.
She helps Akiyuki when he is an Xamd, since she knows a lot about them.

Haru Nishimura - Well, you can say that she is the second female protagonist, in the background.
She is Akiyuki's friend and one of them who is always on his side. She takes enrollment in the military, just so she can find him again.
Overall I find her kind of exaggerating sometimes, but it might level up in the end.

Furuichi Teraoka - Akiyuki's second childhood friend. He is one of those necessary characters for the storyline. But I would not mind if he had disappeared, in the beginning. A person who is suppose to be all smart, but ends up being utterly stupid when it counts.
He takes enrollment at the same time as Haru, which have all kind of different reasons.

Then we have Akiyukis mother Fusa and his father Ryuuzou. Haru's littlesyster, Midori also takes a part. And the people on the airship as well, where Akiyuki lives most part of the series. Everyone plays a pretty big role in the anime, even if it's just for a moment.

Thoughts:
In whole, I loved this anime. The story takes a hold of you and make you engaged in whats happening. And also make you feel what they feel. I sat like on needles and wondered what was going to happen in the next episode.
I can admit, it was a few episodes in the middle which became a little bit dull. But that was needed to get the build-up. The series builds up a good start to get the anticipations up. And then when it levels out, all of the sudden you think it moves on a little bit to slow, when you're use to the fast pace in the beginning.
Well, do not despair. Because this anime is worth the while in every way.

This is also the kind of anime that you have to think about. Seeing it over a night, when you are going to school/job the next day, will not work. Because then you will sit like a questionmark in the end. It is probably needed to see it twice... It took me a while to put all the pieces, you get through the animes course, together - until I could figure it all out.

Music:
OP; Boom boom Satellites - Back on my feet.  
I remember, I got caught the first moment I heard it. The nice video for the opening, also did contribute for that reaction.
ED; Kylee - Just Breathe  and Over U. I think it suits the ending a lot. And I like Kylee's voice.

Animation:
This anime is well-made and expensive, and it shows. They invested a lot on the animation and it really made worth of it. The transformation between Akiyuki and his Xamd-form was overtaking the first time. I thought it was truly gorgeous.
The detail work is amazing, and they think about most of the things trough-out the series. The nature and background visions is beautiful, and the characters gets their own charm.

Rating: 98/100
Director: Masayuki Miyaji
Producer: Bones

MBLAQ

About a week ago, MBLAQ came out with a new album named "Mona Lisa". I have been listening, and it sure is catchy as always. The main song Mona Lisa grows with time, but I liked one of the other songs better. "One" became my favorite within a few seconds.

MBLAQ is a South Korean boy band with five members. They debuted in 2009 and it was Rain who got them together under his label J.Tune Clamp. Their name stands for Music Boys Live in Absolute Quality.

Seung Ho (Yang Seung Ho) is the leader and the lead vocalist. Born in 1987.

G.O (Jung Byung Hee) is the main vocalist. Born in 1987.
Joon (Lee Chang Seon) is a vocalist and main dancer. Born in 1988.
Thunder/Cheon Dung (Park Sang Hyun) is a rapper, vocalist and lead dancer. (He is the younger brother of 2NE1's Sandra Park). Born in 1990.

Mir (Bang Chul-yong) is the main rapper and sub-vocalist, and also the youngest member. Born in 1991. (And the cutest one too... Yes, I had to. He resembles Lee Hong Ki)

MBLAQ - Mona Lisa

(The only one with a MV out yet)

MBLAQ - One

(My favorite right now)

You have the rest of the songs, of the album in the youtubelink --^

And a calm, "older" tune -
MBLAQ - Tonight (2011)

And for the sake of MV's...(and because Joon is really cute)

MBLAQ - Oh Yeah (Just BLAQ album 2009)

Mawaru Penguin Drum - Etsuko Yakushimaru

And yet again, I fell for an opening song. 
This time, "Mawaru Penguin drum's" OP made by Etsuko Yakushimaru and Metropolitan Orchestra.

I have this thing of liking music that is a tad off... or just plain weird? But not in a bad way, at least not in my opinion.
Well, I really like Etsuko Yakushimaru's sound. She have done music for other anime series, like "Arakawa under the bridge" and "Denpa onna to seishun otoko". I have seen neither, but still.

I think "Etsuko" is a little bit like "Ali Project" or "Chara" - either you love the sound or you hate it.

Anyways, Mawaru Penguin drum is about two brothers, who have a sister with poor health. They live alone, together. And they really do have good chemistry, it's sweet.

It actually brings out a lot of heavy subjects, like death. But it is still kind of hilarious and gives you this "wtf" moments. Especially the penguins.

The director of this anime, is Kunihiko Ikuhara who did the Utena and Sailor Moon series. And I have to say, that this transformation - In Mawaru Penguin drum, is spectacular... and dazzling.

The background art in the anime, is really something special you should notice. It's really great and precise.  

I'm not really sure what I think of the anime yet, but I just HAVE to look at it. And there are some hints here and there, that I like to resolve.

The opening song by Etsuko Yakushimaru - Noruniru (TV size)

And a bonus, with the transformation ~
Mawaru Penguin Drum - Rock over Japan.

Seme or Uke!

I did a test today, if I was a uke or a seme.
Yeah, that's what I amuse myself with, a night like this.

I got Seme. (Chibiseme)
Actually, it was freakingly true... Well, the personality anyways. I got kind of scared there, for a while.

My friend did the test also, and while I got ChibiSeme she got FlamingUke. The one uke who fits best with the seme I got... ofc! We are meant to be. *blink*

Chibi Seme:

Mischievous, loyal, and intelligent, the Chibi Seme always seems to have a quiet energy whispering around them, suggesting that there is much more to them then what there first appears to be. Laid-back, and not one to call a lot of attention to themselves, they tend to guard their creative, forceful, (and somewhat manipulative) inner self behind an easygoing and playful exterior shell, which makes it impossible for most to truly know them. It takes a special Uke personality to see into the Chibi Seme's deep hidden self and release their sensual side, but once the Chibi Seme has let in that one special person, they will be forever loyal, loving, and protective.

A Chibi Seme will never be completely happy with just the ordinary. Setting themselves somewhat apart from the rest of the world, they need someone like-minded to keep them challenged intellectually and spiritually - a partner to inspire their dark naughty adventures and give them the motivation to take control.

Japanese Element: Wind

Chinese Zodiac: Dog

Color: Camouflage

Fruit: Kiwi

Dessert: Cheesecake

Theme Song: MH by Kra

You can get the test at www.semeuke.com, if you like to know yourself.