For the first time in four months the Hyang Music site finally loaded for me! It’s running a bit slow, but at least I could find the most recent album sales chart:

Hyang Chart – 1st week of January, 2011
1. Jieun and The Wolves – 오지은과 늑대들
2. Broccoli, you too? – 졸업
3. IU – Real
4. Guckkasten – Tagträume
5. Michael Jackson – Michael
6. 10cm – The First EP
7. Autumn Vacation – 가을방학
8. GD & TOP – High High
9. Girl’s Generation – The 1st Asia Tour – Into The New World
10. Bye Bye Sea – City Complex

The new k-indie oriented additions to the TOP100 list were the following:
12. Joyumn – 흐르른다
41. ∀xceed – Guns & Gypsophila
62. One Punch / Lazy Afternoon – 사람의 마음 / 어느 가을 밤
73. Song of Luna – 그댈 향해 노래하는 새
78. The Koxx – Enter
80. The Finnn – Beatles over Zeppelin
81. Crash – The Paragon of Animals
83. Epitone Project – 유실물 보관소
90. Hanumpa – 독감 (獨感)

See the full top 100 list here.

Oh Ji Eun and her wolves released their first self-titled album on December 16. It includes album versions of both songs from last summer’s digital single 미리듣기. The official site offers a sample for album opening track 넌 나의 귀여운! and a couple of Daum videos

On December 7 Guckkasten returned with new EP Tagträume. 5 tracks strong, in addition to the title track includes both an original and an acoustic version of song 붉은 밭 and original and electronic version of song 매니큐어, that has got an MV. wassereis has translated all song descriptions.

Fluxus band ByeByeSea released its first full length album, City Complex, on November 16. It includes both 별 빛이 내린다, main track from the preceding mini album, and a “reprise” of 내 맘이 말을 해. There is now a music video for the latter.

Male singer/songwriter Joyumn debuted on Ruby Salon with his first full length album on the very first day of this year, January 1. He plays acoustic guitar and harmonica and from the sound of 그림자 he’s got a bit of a Mot sound going.

Melodic death metal band Axceed self-released an album called Guns & Gypsophila on January 6. It has been mixed and mastered by Terrormight vocalist Lee Ju Hui. The official YouTube channel offers an album preview and plenty of samples more.

In October last year Beatball Records launched a digital singles series starting with a three track single from One Punch called 사람의 마음 on October 14. It was soon followed by a two track single called 어느 가을 밤 from Lazy Afternoon. On December 27 both singles were released on CD.

Female fronted ballad rock band Song of Luna debuted with an EP on December 28. My initial impression that their sound should appeal to fans of Dear Cloud was further strengthened coming across this song featuring Nine9. Much more Song of Luna on ravitworld’s YouTube channel.