Kiha & The Faces(장기하와 얼굴들) is the second studio album by South Korean rock band Kiha & The Faces. The album was released on June 9, 2011, through BGBG Records. Through this album, Kiha & The Faces won Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song, Album of the Year, and Musician of the Year at the 2012 Korean Music Awards.
Background After the success of their debut album Living the Carefree Life(별일 없이 산다) released in 2009, Kiha & The Faces said in an interview with YTN that their second album which was released in two and a half years, also focused on reconstructing the feeling of the 60s and 70s, just like the first album. The band released two music videos before the album's release: I Watched TV (TV를 봤네) and A Sort of Relationship (그렇고 그런 사이), and Chang Kiha directed the video.
From November 24 to 29, 2009, the band produced and performed a drama concert titled Have Things Really Been Uneventful?. Following the final performance in Jeju, the band concluded promotions for their first album and began preparations for their second studio album.윤성정 (2009년 9월 3일). “'새 단장한 드라마센터' 480석 액자형 무대로”. 《세계일보》. 2017년 1월 1일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함
In a 2009 interview, Kiha stated that the band had performed "over 100 times," and expressed his intention to take time for himself in 2010.박영웅 (2011년 1월 12일). “장기하, 日활동 성황 마무리..올 상반기 컴백”. 《스타뉴스》. 2017년 4월 21일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함 According to reports, he took a break during the first half of that year before resuming work on the new album.박영웅 (2011년 6월 30일). “장기하 "미미 탈퇴는 자연스러운 수순"(인터뷰)”. 《머니투데이》. 2017년 4월 7일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함.
On March 1, 2010, Kiha, representing the band, attended the Korean's People Music Awards, where the song "The Moon Is Rising, Let’s Go(달이 차오른다, 가자)" won in the independent music category. He stated that the band was currently preparing their second album while other members were engaged in separate activities, adding confidence that they would "return soon with great music."이은지 (2010년 3월 1일). “'싸이월드' 탐음마니아, 장기하 "죽이는 노래로 보답"”. 《티브이데일리》. 2017년 3월 12일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 5일에 확인함
In October 2010, Kiha posted a message on the fan club website apologizing for the delay in the album's release, stating that the final result would likely be released the following year. He also announced the departure of members of Mimi Sisters and explained that the band had been reorganized with the addition of keyboardist Lee Jong-min of Kingston Rudieska and guitarist Hasegawa Yohei of Kim Chang-wan Band.박영웅 (2010년 10월 9일). “장기하 "현재 2집 작업중..11월 日콘서트 개최"”. 《스타뉴스》. 2017년 4월 21일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함
In January 2011, member Jung Joong-Yeop mentioned in an interview that the new album was expected to be released around April that year.이가온 (2011년 1월 5일). “인디 10│⑬ 오지은과 늑대들 "솔로 앨범이 일기장이었다면, 이번엔 소설"”. 《텐아시아》. 2017년 3월 4일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함 Around the same period, Kiha declined an invitation from producer Kim Tae-ho to participate in the "West Coast Highway Song Festival(서해안 고속도로 가요제)" project, reportedly stating that he did not want the success of the album to be attributed to the television program Infinite Challenge. In another interview, he added that the release schedule overlapped with the new album and he was concerned that the second album might be overshadowed.강보라 (2011년 9월 14일). “자유인 장기하, 신나는 공연을 꿈꾸다”. 《엘르》. 2017년 4월 21일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2016년 11월 18일에 확인함
Recording
Recording began in earnest in late November 2010 after preliminary work had been completed, with more than half of the songs already composed and arranged following prior preparations for performances in Japan.박영웅 (2011년 5월 30일). “장기하, 컴백전 음감회 개최..더블 타이틀곡 활동”. 《스타뉴스》. 2017년 4월 21일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함
Production was handled by Kiha and Yohei, while all members participated in arranging the tracks.“장기하와 얼굴들”. 《붕가붕가레코드》. 2016년 10월 3일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함 Recording and mixing were carried out by engineer Koh Hyun-jung at Seoul Studio and Dream Factory, respectively.이명주 (2011년 6월 10일). “장기하, '싸구려 커피' 넘을까”. 《OSEN》. 2016년 10월 3일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2016년 10월 30일에 확인함. The mixing process was conducted with all band members present.이은정 (2011년 6월 12일). “장기하와얼굴들 "복고 자양분의 동시대 음악"”. 《연합뉴스》. 2017년 4월 21일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2016년 10월 31일에 확인함 Mastering was completed by Choi Hoon of Sonic Korea, while Na Zaeum-soo, who had worked as recording and mixing engineer on the first album, served as sound supervisor.유지성. “얼굴을 봤네”. 《GQ》. 2016년 12월 3일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함
Unlike their debut album Cheap Coffee, the band aimed for a more live-oriented sound by recording the music as a full-band performance rather than recording instruments separately and mixing them afterward.이로사 (2011년 6월 28일). “장기하 "내 노래가 ‘최양락 말투’ 같다고 하면 기분 좋아"”. 《경향신문》. 2017년 4월 21일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함 The album title Chang Kiha and the Faces was chosen to signify a "new beginning as a band."박수진 (2011년 7월 18일). “재미있게 사는 방법? 가끔은 과감히 지르세요!”. 《한겨레》. 2017년 4월 21일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함
Kiha later stated that the revenue from the first album was considered an investment from fans, which allowed the band to upgrade their equipment, rent better studios, and hire more experienced engineers. He emphasized that while the production was improved, the album was not excessively expensive, describing it as a "moderate level of investment."하세가와 2015, 66,67쪽
Keyboardist Lee Jong-min performed on tracks such as "TV를 봤네," “보고 싶은 사람도 없는데," and "뭘 그렇게 놀래," using a variety of instruments including piano, organ, Moog, Mellotron, and Clavinet. On "뭘 그렇게 놀래," he used a Clavinet processed through a guitar wah pedal.“장기하가 선택한 '장기하가 신작을 만들며 많이 들은 노래들'”. 《네이버 뮤직》. 2017년 4월 21일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함
Kiha and Joong-yeop stated that they paid greater attention to sound detail, believing that "details create quality." They used imported amplifiers from the United States and guitars such as Gibson and Fender models. While the audience might not consciously recognize such technical details, they believed these elements contributed to the overall impression of "good music." Much of this process was guided by Hasegawa Yohei’s expertise.최지은 (2011년 9월 7일). “리쌍│리쌍 "돈은 음악이랑 막창으로 벌고, 문화적인 활동들을 하고 싶다"”. 《텐아시아》. 2017년 4월 21일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함
In "그렇고 그런 사이," a vintage 1960s Japanese keyboard called Ace Tone was used, an instrument Hasegawa personally preferred for its "cheap keyboard sound." Although initial tests confirmed its suitability, it malfunctioned during recording. While most members preferred using a Hammond organ available in the studio, Hasegawa and Kiha insisted on using the Ace Tone. Hasegawa eventually repaired it temporarily with cotton swabs, and the track was successfully recorded in a single take.한여울 (2011년 4월 25일). “장기하와 얼굴들 "2집은 사이키델릭 느낌이 날 것"”. 《텐아시아》. 2017년 3월 12일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함
Music and lyrics All tracks on Chang Kiha and the Faces were written by Kiha. According to Lee Min-gi, the title track was selected through the following process: "Chang Kiha brought in the song, and when we first heard it, we thought it was really interesting. … At some point, both I and the other members found ourselves singing along to the chorus, and Hasegawa Yohei, who had been observing all of this, said, ‘So, this has to be the title track.’"
Kiha stated that he created "I Saw TV" with the intention of "trying to do something like Lou Reed." He also named "I Have No One I Want to See" as his favorite track on the album, adding that it was the last song completed for the record. "Let’s Meet Now" was produced in collaboration with Leessang. "It’s Not Like They Said Anything About Me" was written, according to Kiha, as an expression of inferiority triggered by praise from those around him.
Drummer Kim Hyun-ho noted that "compared to the demo version, the final album version of this song is the one that changed the most," and therefore the band leaves considerable room for improvisation during live performances. The members described the album's music as "absorbing the nutrients of retro while remaining distinctly 2000s in character."
A representative from the band's label, BGBG Records, stated that "unlike the first album, the second will include additional keyboard sounds, giving it a more psychedelic feel overall." During an interview with Wave while on hiatus, Kiha also said that the second album would "probably be more of a ‘straight rock’ record rather than folk rock."“장기하 | 달이 다시 차오르기를 기다리는 소년과의 한여름 낮의 대화”. 《웨이브》. 2010년 7월 8일. 2016년 11월 25일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함 The label's CEO, Ko Geon-hyeok, similarly described the work as being developed into "psychedelic rock."위근우(글), 장경진(편집) (2011년 3월 2일). “인디 10│⑭ 곰사장 "우리의 관심은 대중음악 안에서 대중음악이 아닌 걸 하는 것"”. 《텐아시아》. 2017년 12월 20일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2016년 12월 17일에 확인함
When asked whether the influence of earlier Korean rock acts such as Sanulrim and Songolmae had become more prominent, Kiha responded that it was difficult to attribute the influence solely to those artists, stating that while he deeply respects them, he was also influenced by a wide range of foreign music. He added that he selected sounds based on what best suited each song during the writing process.
GQ editor Yoo Ji-seong noted that folk elements had decreased, stating that "the proportion of synthesizers has increased compared to guitars, and guitar parts also make heavy use of fuzz effects." According to Yonhap News reporter Lee Eun-jeong, while the first album was strongly acoustic folk rock, this release leans toward analog-feeling plugged-in band music. She further described the second album as an extension of the retro-and-originality balance found in signature songs such as "Cheap Coffee" and "Nothing Special," but with a broader and more refined sonic range. She added that within a single track like "I Have No One I Want to See," the chorus reflects 1960s–70s British and American music styles while the intro evokes the 1970s; "Deep Night Phonebook" incorporates 1980s–90s influences in its chorus; and "So-So Relationship" is arranged in an 1980s style, yet each track retains a strong sense of contemporaneity.
Music critic Kang Heon described the album as "a low-alcohol liquor fermented in the barrel of contemporary South Korean youth’s ordinariness, made from the remaining material after removing seriousness from Kim Min-gi, anger from Jung Tae-chun, literary lyricism from Sanulrim, experimental aesthetics from Shin Jung-hyeon and the Yup Juns, and exaggeration from Hwang Shin-hye Band."강헌 (2011년 6월 21일). “음악평론가 강헌의 대중음악 산책 <12> 김범수의 앨범 vs 장기하와 얼굴들의 2집”. 《김범수》 (국제신문). 2016년 10월 31일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2016년 10월 31일에 확인함
Wave critic Choi Min-woo wrote that "the album’s temporal and spatial axis largely revolves around 1960s and 1970s Korean rock," noting that this also shares visual and stylistic affinities with the debut album of Mimi Sisters.“장기하와 얼굴들|장기하와 얼굴들 (2011)”. 《웨이브》. 2011년 6월 9일. 2016년 11월 18일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함.
Music videos Kiha directed the music videos for the album tracks "I Saw TV" and "So-So Relationship" himself. The two videos were released on June 2 and 9, 2011, respectively.이은지 (2011년 6월 2일). “장기하, 2집 뮤직비디오 통해 감독 데뷔”. 《마이데일리》. 2017년 4월 21일에 원본 문서에서 보존된 문서. 2017년 4월 6일에 확인함 Regarding the decision to release "I Saw TV" first, Kiha explained that if both videos were released simultaneously, the more provocative track "So-So Relationship" might overshadow it.