"Joker" released Wednesday by Dal Shabet blends retro-sounding horns with Britney Spears-style crooning, Katy Perry-esque piercing high notes and a slamming drum loop.
Released on March 10 by Korean metal band Vassline, "Red Raven Conspiracy" achieves a near-constant state of musical seismic activity, shaking up the listener with frequent shifts and starts.
When the different elements of a song jump out at the listener in a way that is nearly impossible to ignore, as they do in "Eighteen," the latest single from CLC, it's certainly a good start.
On his 2012 track "Nike Shoes," South Korean rapper Beenzino is clearly channeling the Native Tongues vibe, with some help from longtime collaborators Dynamic Duo.
Girl's Day singer Minah's earnest performance on "I Am A Woman Too," released on March 16, has enough emotion poured into it to hit you right in the chest, whether you understand her words or not.
The leadoff single from EXO's "Exodus" album, released on March 28, "Call Me Baby" is a hooky track combining elements of retro boy band pop with cutting edge production.
While Mamamoo and eSNa's "AAH OOP!" has clear shades of Amy Winehouse, there is also a rhythm and attitude to the track reminiscent of some of the jazzier material by South Korea's own dance divas.
On their 2007 album-closing cut "Bird," Korean melodic death metal band Dark Ambition show that stretching out has its benefits.
On their 2009 single "Eternal Kids," Korean street punk band Rux explored a sound that, while familiar to some, represented something much more significant to a whole generation of young music fans.
"I Caught Ya" from the album "Colors," released on Monday by miss A, has hard rocking guitar riffs, an inventive mixture of sequenced and live drums and a sound that's steeped in the blues.
As the highlight of both discs, EXO-K's "Exodus," has the sleek, modern sound EXO is known for without being robotic.
Using a relatively generic minor piano progression, Zzapa carves out a groove that is unique and downright funky on "Till The Night Is Over," from the EP "Time For Love," released in January.
"I Still Believe," released back in July by Korean punk rock band The Geeks, proves that straightforward ideas need not come in tired, old packaging.