Movie/Drama OSTs.

the best thing about watching movies/dramas is when there's a fantastic OST that's backing up the plot- it makes the whole deal so much sweeter, regardless of how lacklustre the storyline or how unconvincing the acting of the amateur cast-

i don't need to talk about how much i love SKINS already- all 4 seasons of it. it will always have this special place in my heart, for that youth in me, for that rebel that i wanted but couldn't be-

and it will remain that way, even with the changing of the new cast with season 5....

though it'd be a little sad to part with the cast of season 3 and 4; yes i love effy/kaya scodelario and i think she's the most perfect thing on this earth.

but you (probably) know all that, if you follow my blog-

i just can't tell you how endearing the skins OST is.

and this song was just practically playing on loop for months on end whenever i had earphones stuck into my ears. when i heard 'Everything she wants' by WHAM! in the season 4 finale i was so bowled over i had to find it online straight away. Never mind it was recorded even before i was born. And the little dance routine by Karen, Cook and JJ in tribute of Freddie's birthday was so cute/heartbreaking all at the same time.

i still remember the goosebumps i had while i watched hana and alice- an offbeat indie film about two friends and a boy, which, despite the plot i couldn't related to-

the soundtrack by shunji iwai was incredibly beautiful, gentle, and moving-

even till this day i remember the music that was playing in the background as Alice was dancing ohsogracefully across the studio floor in her makeshift balletshoes-

My Name is Kim sasson is another gem which had a fantastic OST that did as well as the drama VCD/DVD box set itself. Of course given it's well-thought plot, pretty decent acting and loads of eye candy (Hyun bin, Daniel henney, Jung Ryu Won), it's a no-brainer that the drama'd be a hit, but the OST was a standalone winner

Understandably, Clazziquai, who sang the theme song for the show, shot to fame much thanks to the show's popularity. But im not owing Clazziquai's success to the show solely- they're incredibly talented and the electronic/acid jazz/house genre has been
blossoming but still kept mostly underground. The show's popularity throughout Asia and even in non-asian regions gave the band/genre a much needed push.



recently i watched BANDAGE. it's been sitting for a while in my laptop and i kind of just pushed it aside due to the stereotypical-sounding plotline but somehow someway or another while trying to burn time today i gave it a go- and it wasn't too bad actually, for a coming of age movie of sorts, if that was what it was trying to be. It's basically about a girl who's introduced by her schoolmate to this rock/pop? band called LANDS and how the lead singer (played by akanishi jin) becomes fond and starts to involve her in the band. I really am fond of Akanishi Jin, though not so much his character in BANDAGE.

The single by LANDS, not even a real band, outsold all other albums at the Japanese Oricon charts and debutted at no. 1 for both the singles and album charts. Pretty impressive if you ask me... but i'm not really a fan of mainstream/pop/rock-ish music, so i wasn't really moved. But-

heyhey- it's supposed to be a movie about a rock (or at least rock-ish) band, so imagine my shock when i heard this playing in a scene in the movie when the female lead goes into a CD shop (to my delight it's included in the OST which i sought out immediately after finishing the movie). Fishmans is an influential dub music band that was formed in 1987! hell yeah the year i was born!



lastly, given Coffee Prince is about one of the most successful and well-known kdramas ever, i'd recommend it as it has a whopping large and fantastic OST consisting of loads of indie bands and hidden gems, as well as oldies (english songs included)

Casker, who sings 'Mocha', featured in the drama's OST, is one of the best underground electronica bands in the scene in Korea at the moment, though relatively unknown outside of Korea. I'd say they're as talented if not better than all those overplayed popmachine-churned-out boy bands and girl groups doing synchronized dance moves like Beast or Girl's Generation.

if you ever need offbeat/indie song recommendations you'd know where to find it.
just come to me, i'd be more than glad.