Pop Cult – May 3rd, 2012 (Feat. Dawn Richard, Guchon, and 4Minute)

Weekly column featuring knee-jerk reactions (the best kind) to pop culture happenings all over the world.

G L A M O R O U S

Dawn Richard – BOMBS : B

Ciara has long been the thinking man’s R&B diva of choice, being sampled and remixed by cutting edge producers here, there, and everywhere to great effect. But while Georgia’s Peach fringe popularity might be cresting, one girl can only do so much. Enter Dawn Richard, formerly of P Diddy’s reality show-cum-trainwreck Danity Kane (as well as his much more listenable Diddy-Dirty Money project). She’s got the moves, the swagger, and the production credits to make it into producer’s pockets in no time.

“BOMBS” is the first single off of her latest release Armor Up, a seemingly unconventional choice for a first impression with it’s slow burn formula. But it serves as a good tutorial for the album, which thrives on surprise and build up. “BOMBS” doesn’t really deliver until the third act, and that’s ok. Like Diddy says, this is for the people that wanna take their time.

Guchon – Ne3 : A-

Guchon is an internet producer from Japan. He draws things like crazy Doraemon monsters and Rastafarian black mages. He’s also some sort of cut and paste savant. This track is from about six months ago, but sounds like it came from 2000 years in the future. “Ne3” Brilliantly deconstructs Fergie’s “Glamorous,” breeds it with some twisted afrobeat/dancehall tricks and shovels it all out onto the pavement. It sounds like a broken chorus of anime children performing at a Jamaican club. I don’t know whether to dagger or to para para.

It’s also realllllly long. I feel like my ears have run a marathon after the track finishes. But for some reason, I hit replay all the same.

4Minute – Dream Racer : B+

4Minute (the K-Pop group that includes the often scrutinized yet irresistible Kim Hyuna) returns with a new mini album, Volume Up. But while the titular track remains the album’s smash hit, for me it’s the B-side that should be getting the most play. Maybe because it’s trying to be everything at once and alllllmost succeeding. Maybe because it sounds like a cross between 2NE1’s “I Am The Best,”  Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy,” and “Party in the USA.” Or maybe it’s because I just want to gettin’ gettin’ gettin’ on.

Also interesting is that it’s produced and written by Korean Indie Dance-Pop band The Koxx. I guess indie does exist in Korea! But now they’re writing songs for the biggest of the big. Which is just fine with me.