The title track off Seo Taiji and Boys first album is Nan Alahyo [MP3], and even now, it's a pretty tasty song. If you're comparing it straight across the board with American pop, it does sound a bit like early 1980s fluff, but the vocals are solid and it has a good beat.

Hwansangsogeh Geudae [MP3] really reminds me of music from the early MTV era but you can also hear that Seo Taiji is thinking a lot about what makes rap work in Korean. It's true of the entire first album that the daring of Seo Taiji's music comes from the vocals, not the instrumentation.

A pretty, yet understated ballad on the debut CD is Eejehnun [MP3]. In style, this ballad isn't really related to the style promoted by singers like Jo Sung Mo. Rather, this is a restrained rock ballad.

Despite the name, Rock'n Roll Dance [MP3] is not very close to rock and roll in the pure Elvis Presley sense of the phrase, nor is it actual rock music. This is still pop music, despite the rock guitars here and there. The guitar solos are nice, but they don't have any of the harsh edges you might identify with rock.

The rock flair of Hayohga [MP3], the title song off Seo Taiji and Boys second album, builds on the style the group displayed with their debut. Overall, the instrumentation of this album is superior to that on the first album. The guitar is just kicking in this song, and the rhythm guitar player isn't any slouch, either. Luckily, the vocals didn't suffer with the new focus on the back up tracks.

The beat of Joogeumui Neup' [MP3] always gets my feet going. The rhythm is tight, and the bass does a good job of pushing it forward. The sparseness of the vocals helps the listener focus on the instruments.

Soosiah [MP3] opening yelp is reminiscent of Homer Simpson. This is as close to techno that Seo Taiji gets, and it's not the group's best sound. Once the song moves past the techno section, though, it's fantastic. Why don't pop groups today try this kind of experimentation?

From the third Seo Taiji album, look into Barhaereul Ggoomggoomyuh [MP3]. The opening is slightly folk, but in total it's a rock song that demonstrates why Seo Taiji is such an idol in Korean pop. Totally beautiful is Ahyeedeulehnooneuro [MP3], a sweet ballad with creative harmony. And really fun is Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde [MP3]. This hard-driving rock song has a clever name and a fantastic guitar.

From the fourth Seo Taiji and Boys album, everyone should recognize Pilseung [MP3]. This funky tune ensured that this album would be a success with its use of familiar American rap sounds combined with a rock beat. Personally, I liked Come Back Home [MP3], a song which really captured the LA music style going on at about the same time.

Taiji Boys [MP3] is not their best, but it is only appropriate that this great group had one self-worshiping song. Much more appealing was Good Bye [MP3], a soft little R&B song (those "sha la la la las" are so cute). However, the song that really demonstrates the value of Seo Taiji in Korean pop history is Free Style [MP3]. Without Seo Taiji and Boys' early forays into rap--freestyle, rhythm, etc.--groups like Drunken Tiger, 1tym, Honey Family and YG Family would probably have never developed.

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