The Two Koreas @ NXNE 2008

BACKGROUND/COMPOSITION: The Two Koreas are like the cool kid in school that nobody dares to speak out against, lest it come back to nip them in the bud. Featuring a seasonal assortment of Toronto’s top music critics and other assorted journalists, The Two Koreas sound exactly how you would expect a band full of music geeks to sound.

Grade: 73

Comment: The Two Koreas’ reference points are fairly clear (i.e. Joy Division, The Fall, Can), but luckily most of those bands fall within the sphere of interest of anyone writing about music in the first place. Truth be told, the Koreas’ music is far less grating than it used to be and they managed to parlay some considerable magnetism within their short showcase timeslot.

Achievement of Rock 'n' Roll Expectations
80-100: Exceeds skill and knowledge expectations, i.e. rocked us so hard we peed our pants.
70-79: Achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock 'n' roll standard.
60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock 'n' roll standard.
50-59: Demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way.
00-50: Has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.

Learning Skills: E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really

Oral And Visual Communication
Eye Contact: G
Pronunciation: G
Stage Presence: G
Stage Banter: G
Image: G
Appearance: G
Use Of Stage: G

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step: 
Less bark with an equal amount of bite, vocalist Stuart Berman did a nice job of abandoning the Mark E. Smith style of shout-singing, and opted instead for a cleaner, more transparent form of delivery. While the vocals might’ve been streamlined, the remaining Koreas ensured everything else was kept nice and dissonant.

Musical Analysis
Level Of Participation: G
Problem Solving: G
Teamwork: G
Work Habits: G
Organization: G
Audience Participation: S
Sound: G
Composition: G
Songs: G

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Believe it or not, The Two Koreas’ marathon song lengths actually play out better live, where you can appreciate the dynamics appropriated between members and the sheer exuberance of turning a five minute song into an eight minute song. Not naming any names here, obviously.

Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
Charisma: G
Problem Solving: G
Teamwork: G
Sexiness: G
Haircut: G
Indie Rock Footwear: G
Nods To Disposable Fashion: S
Cool Equipment: G
Level Of Inebriation: E
Actual Ability: G

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step: 
Considering the El Mo was pretty packed by the time they hit the stage, The Two Koreas merit mention for not pandering to the crowd and in lieu, keeping as nasty as they want to be. Even when Berman took to the audience floor, it never seemed calculated — it just kinda happened that way.