Girls' Generation's First Japan Album Ranked 18th on SPIN Magazine's Top Pop Albums of 2011

It’s that time when music magazines start ranking their favorite albums of the past year, and the American publication “SPIN” magazine has released their top 20 pop albums of 2011.

“SPIN” selected Girls’ Generation’s First Japan Album as the 18th best pop album of the year. As “SPIN” writer Charles Aaron says, “This nine-member, all-girl K-Pop drill team fully exploits South Korea’s 800-pound neighboring market with a Japanese-language album (plus English choruses!). And though it may be a translation trainwreck, these chipper, reality-show vets behave with real zeal — eagerly beaming, winking, chattering, emoting when it’s called for — over terrifyingly sophisticated dance tracks (echoes of Latin Freestyle, Italo disco, every Backstreet/Britney scrap from 1999), plus a dutifully aching ballad or two. The peak is “Run Devil Run,” a white swan/black swan kiss-off with a chorus so confidently sassy it could stop a North Korean missile in mid-air.”

Girls’ Generation’s first full length album in Japan was a huge success, going double platinum, and along with their sold out arena tour, cemented Girls’ Generation as one of the more popular artists in Japan. The album was well received by critics, who praised the new direction Girls’ Generation took with an electronic, dance heavy style.

“MR. TAXI”, the lead single off the album, was incredibly popular with its catchy chorus and addictive choreography. The dance version of the music video is already approaching 40 million views on YouTube.

A repackage of the album, including remixes and a new song, will be released on December 28th. Pre-orders can be placed on YesAsia for the Limited First Press and Normal editions.

Jessica's Casting in 'Violent Romance' Confirmed

Girls’ Generation’s Jessica’s appearance in the KBS2 TV Wednesday and Thursday drama, “Violent Romance”, has been confirmed.

On December 23rd, the drama’s staff confirmed through a telephone call with TV Daily that, “Jessica has been cast for the role of Lee Dongwook’s former lover, Kang Jonghee. She will be appearing in approximately eight episodes.”

Jessica will be playing the role of Kang Jonghee in the drama, who is Lee Dongwook’s unforgettable first love. “Violent Romance” is scheduled to begin airing on January 4th.

SNSD performed The Boys on Music Station!

Check out SNSD's performance for the Japanese version of The Boys on Music Station!

Jessica, Go Ara, & Song Hye Kyo rank on ’100 Most Beautiful Faces’

Online Entertainment review site, TC Candler recently posted their annual ‘100 Most Beautiful Faces‘ of 2011.

This was the 22nd annual independent critic list since 1990.  TC Candler is known for listing the names of 100 faces on a global scale as it factors in many cultures, lifestyles, professions, and degrees of fame to compose the list.  TC Candler does its best to recognize the modern ideal of beauty and uses millions of suggestions received each year in order to judge the top 100 faces.  It’s not just about the popularity, but also grace, elegance, class, etc that embodies a beautiful face.

These lists have been viewed by over 25million people and over 20 countries were presented in the 2011 list.  Check out TC Candler’s description of SNSD Jessica, Go Ara, and Song Hye Kyo who came at 45th, 12th, and 5th, respectively.

45. Jessica Jung

She is better known simply by her first name, Jessica. She is Korean-American singer, dancer, actress and model. The new addition to our list is a member of the fantastic South Korean nine-member girl group, Girls’ Generation, where she is one of the main vocalists.

12. Go Ara

Here is a lovely South Korean actress and model who deserves a worldwide following. The 21-year old enters the list at #12 and will assuredly be a fixture for a very long time.

5. Song Hye Kyo

The South Korean actress and model makes her second appearance, rising 13 spots from last year’s debut. She is already one of the legendary beauties of the world and we think she deserves to be celebrated as such by the entire world. Too often, it seems that Western audiences don’t get to enjoy Asian cinema and celebrity as much as they should. Look for her in the upcoming 2012 film, “The Grandmasters” with Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi.

SNSD’s Jessica confirmed for KBS’s ‘Wild Romance’

Earlier this week, it was reported that SNSD‘s Jessica was offered a role in KBS‘s upcoming drama, ‘Wild Romance‘.

On December 23rd, the production company for the drama confirmed Jessica’s drama debut by stating,“Jessica will be playing the role of ‘Kang Jong Hee’, Lee Dong Wook‘s first love. She’ll be appearing in about eight episodes of the drama.”

Scheduled to begin broadcasting on January 4th, Jessica will be an ex-girlfriend that reappears in Lee Dong Wook’s life, claiming that she can’t seem to forget him. The drama itself is about a love story between a judo-athlete-turned-bodyguard woman, who comes to work for a baseball player through a twist of fate.

Jessica has had acting experience through her musical, “Legally Blonde“, so fans are anticipating how she’ll fare as fellow member and actress, YoonA, is also currently starring in ‘Love Rain‘.

2NE1 & SNSD rank on SPIN Magazine’s ’20 Best Pop Albums of 2011′

American music magazine ‘SPIN‘ have released their annual ranking of the best pop albums of 2011.

Adroitly titled, ‘SPIN’s 20 Best Pop Albums of 2011‘, the magazine considers pop albums from all over the world for spots in their top. This year, 2NE1‘s 2nd mini album and SNSD‘s ‘Girls’ Generation’ album have placed 6th and 18th, respectively.

This is what the writers of SPIN had to say:

18. Girls’ Generation

‘Girls’ Generation‘

This nine-member, all-girl K-Pop drill team fully exploits South Korea’s 800-pound neighboring market with a Japanese-language album (plus English choruses!). And though it may be a translation trainwreck, these chipper, reality-show vets behave with real zeal — eagerly beaming, winking, chattering, emoting when it’s called for — over terrifyingly sophisticated dance tracks (echoes of Latin Freestyle, Italo disco, every Backstreet/Britney scrap from 1999), plus a dutifully aching ballad or two. The peak is “Run Devil Run,” a white swan/black swan kiss-off with a chorus so confidently sassy it could stop a North Korean missile in mid-air. (CHARLES AARON)

6. 2NE1

2nd Mini Album The TLC of K-Pop dropped this stopgap, six-song EP compilation in July, and for pure (purely impure?) sonics, it might be the year’s most boldly thrilling recorded statement. A collision of electro-house, hip-hop, and pop-rock guitar, with yet another undeniable hook cropping up every 15 seconds, it is the primary work of producers Teddy Park (formerly of Korean-American rap group 1TYM) and Kush. But this all-female foursome clearly own their persona more than most K-Poppers, particularly on the spicy, playalistic “I Am the Best” and the body-image throwdown, “Ugly.” There’s even a solo turn by the group’s vocal powerhouse Park Bom, who considers the cosmos over a springy sprint to a piano-plinking chorus. (C.A.)

Congratulations to 2NE1 and SNSD!

Netizens acknowledge SNSD’s Hyoyeon as a fashionista

SNSD‘s Hyoyeon is garnering attention for her casual look.

The above photo surfaced on an online community site with the caption, “Hyoyeon, the SNSD member who most enjoys wearing casual attire.”

It also read, “Hyoyeon was upset over her stage outfits being less glamourous than the other girls’, but its okay because she’s the best dressed when it comes to casual clothing.”

In one of the photos, Hyoyeon is seen wearing a pink shirt displaying her loveable charm while in another, she rocked a simple yet sexy off-the-shoulder shirt with a pair of shades, displaying her chic appeal.

Netizens who saw the photos remarked, “She stands out more when she’s off stage“, “I want to adopt her fashion sense“, “She knows what fashion works for her“, and “She gets prettier by the day“.

In related news, Hyoyeon along with the other SNSD members are promoting their follow up track, “Mr. Taxi“.