K-pop artists crossing into J-rock really working or not?

There seems to be a big boom in Kpop artists once again trying to cross over into the world of J-pop. Music and image wise it would smart to assume it is much easier for a K-pop artist to transfer over to another type of pop. Despite this there is a few artist who despite being pop artists in their homeland decide to take on a totally different image and genre when entering Japan's music scene. Sometimes changing a genre works sometimes it doesn't. The two artists recently entering the Jrock sphere are actor/singer Jang Geun Suk and and Duo M&D. Below are their PVs ( promotional videos,what music videos are called in Japan) and my reviews of the music and the video.

Jang Geun Suk- Let me Cry

When I first heard that Jang Geun Suk would be entering the Japanese music market as a rock artist I was happily shocked. Then I began to wonder how would this sound really? Would it sound like rock or pop with some guitars added into the background? Would the video fit the mold of this genre? I finally received the answer to my first question when I heard the audio of Let me cry, the harpsichord in the very beginning threw me off but my doubts were quickly quieted once the guitar riff started.

   No it was not pop music with a few guitars added in. The music was mostly devoid of synth which is really good in my book and I'm sure in the books of jrock fans. While it may not be "hard core" (which it surely isn't) I believe this a great attempt at breaking into the Jrock sphere. Jang Geun Suk's  slightly deep voice blended very well with guitars without being drowned out.In a small way he reminds me of Japanese rock artist Hyde ( check him out on youtube).
The music video was done very well  its grungy disjointed feel gave off the feeling of the young man (or woman?) in the song.

 M&D (Heecul and Jangmo)- Shut ur mouth

When I first heard about the duo M&D composed of Heechul from Super Junior and The Traxx Jungmo I was not as enthused as I was about Jang Geun Suk. I first raised my eyebrow at Heechul singing rock music. Second like with Jang Geun Suk I was concerned about the music, would it really be rock? Then I remembered it was a duo and Heechul's partner would be Jungmo from The Trax!! He has Xmas (his name from the trax) on his side!! Maybe this will be a real rock song! Sadly my hopes were dashed when I heard the audio for their song Shut ur mouth. In the first seconds I knew what I was in for.. the first thing you here is very loud synth accompanied by a guitar strike to reassure you that its a "Rock" song. However nothing can reassure me that this a rock song. Even though the melody of the song is  very catchy, Heechul's voice is extremely auto tuned in the chorus a major bad in my book for a rock song. Sadly with the exception of Jungmo's guitar break. This turned out to be a synth filled pop song with some guitars added in.
   Despite being let down by the song its self I hoped the video maybe would give them more of a rock image. Maybe they would wear some edgy clothes and Jungmo would wear his awesome Xmas eyeliner again (not really ) and rock out on his guitar . Only to be let down again the video is in a way acting out what is going on in the song a guy pretty much telling his girl to get lost. Heechul gets up picks up a camera and tries to leave his girl behind and while trolling the hallways bumps into different musical celebs. While not high budget I must admit it was kinda funny but I don't think it does the song justice. In my opinion its not a  real rock song to enter the jrock world they should call it a  techno pop song.

So I think you can see which songs I am going to say would work (Let me cry) and which one wouldn't (shut ur mouth).  In the grand scheme of things it doesnt matter as long as the fans love the songs.

Just for fun here's what Xmas used to look like in the Trax (too bad you can't really see his eyeliner)



wasn't he cool!