Smile, You

Over the last five years, I’ve had a growing fascination with Japanese TV doramas and these past few months have seen me branch out into the world of Korean dorama. I have to say that the first one I’ve discovered, “Smile, You” outstrips all others by far. It is a funny, touching tale of a girl standing at the crossroads of a life made hard after her family goes broke. Seemingly devoid of prospects, she finds love in an unlikely source and begins anew. To quote Sidney from “I Love You, Man,” it’s just delightful.

The Radio Dept. – Clinging to a Scheme

The long-awaited new record from The Radio Dept. has finally arrived and it was well worth the wait. “Clinging to a Scheme” is the band’s first full-length record since 2006’s “Pet Grief,” and like that record, Scheme finds itself without a throwaway track. The moody wall of feedback guitars create a blanket that perfectly wraps around the dream-like vocals of Johan Duncanson. Standout tracks include the single, “Heaven’s on Fire” and “The Video Dept.,” however each track really is a stand-out on this fabulous piece of pop genius.