Download This: Mike Park

Like an Elvis Costello-Billy Bragg mashup, Mike Park is a musician who doesn’t skirt political issues and who also writes addictive guitar pop melodies. His latest album, North Hangook Falling, is full of tracks about war (“Keeping This Seat Warm”), the plight of the North Koreans (title track), and not falling into Asian stereotypes (“Asian Prodigy”). What I love most about the album is that a portion of the proceeds from its sale will be donated to the Plea for Peace foundation — how great is that?