Music.
I am bored so...Review time!!! The songs marked with an '<3' are my personal favorites. I am not sure if anybody will read these, but I personally like writing this stuff because I really think about the different songs and can really make myself a picture of the releases. So bare with me, spamming your f-list~
FT Island - Cross and Change (Vol 3.)
01 빙빙빙 (Bing Bing Bing) <3
I like the beginning. The drums and breaks are great. The refrain is a little...uhm...'Bing Bing Bing Bang Bang Bang'? But the song is rockish and I really like that. I also like that it isn't only Hongki but also...I guess the new member?...singing that makes the song more interesting. Overall I love that fact that the song isn't monotone at all~
02 바래 (I Hope) <3
This song is a little more popish, the beat in the background. I once again like that the other members have some parts to sing, the little guitar 'solo' is nice, too. Overall the song doesn't stick out too much and is...a normal FT Island song, I think. Easy to listen to. But somehow...the more you listen to it, the more you get drawn to it. (At least that's what I think)
03 미우나 고우나 (Hateful and Graceful)
A slower song, the beginning is kinda nice again (what instrument would that be? I can't think of it atm. a harmonica?). First only piano, with an acoustic guitar and violins joining in. Id' say it's a typical FT Island 'rock'-ballad for Hongki to show off his voice. Even if he can do better than this...Personally I don't like it too much, it's missing something...unique I guess. Good background music?
04 천사와 나무꾼 (The Angel and the Woodman)
First of all lol? The Angel and the Woodman? Need to take a look at those lyrics~
This song gives off a different vibe in the beginning, it starts with an acoustic guitar and percussion-instruments. Then it switches into the typical FT Island feel for the chorus. And then there is an organ in there as well, which makes this song really light and another 'easy to listen to'-song. Even Hongki's 'heavy' voice doesn't change that.
05 소년 소녀를 만나다 (Boy Meets Girl)
rock-ballad. I love that it shows that there are other people in FT Island that can sing well, even if they can't beat Hongki. (and what would Hongki do if some other band-member were better than him? Stand there on stage...and...what? ANYWAYS~)
Other than that it's a normal FT Island song, I think.
06 결혼해줘 (Marry Me) <3
I really like this song. It is more popish again, with a really nice beat and a...disco feel, because of some slight keyboard/synthetic stuff in the background. I think it's weird that such a song is a 'Marry Me' song, but hey, it's a more upbeat and happy way to ask somebody.
This song is one of my favorites so far, I think.
07 꼭은 아니더라도 (Although it's not a Must)
This is a real piano-violins ballad. Hongki's voice is perfect for these kind of...emotional songs. I do like the fact that he can express sadness and pain just with his voice, and this song is like that. You think he's been stabbed and will start crying soon or something and that is kinda amazing, I think. It still sounds like a typical FT Island ballad, but it is really nice.
08 첫눈에 알아 (I Knew from First Sight) <3
Hearing the first seconds, I think of Jack Johnson, of laid-back music, and that is what this song is. It is happy, but not giggly, and I think that it's because not Hongki but the others (yes I will learn the names at some point -.-'') sing the verses, there voices are 'lighter' and Hongki only sings the chorus. Another important part plays the guitar, which sounds...typically Hawaiian or something.
Another Fave from me of this album.
09 보내주기 (Letting Someone Go)
A slower, calmer Pop song, and I think it is a little lame. I don't even know what to write. hm.
10 못난이 (Ugly Person) <3
How could I not like a song with such a title~ XDDD
This song has the 'rap' I was missing in this album. Once again it has a nice beat, is easy to listen to but the ending is a little...abrupt?
11 남의 속도 모르고 (You Don't Know How I Feel)
Another sad heartbreaking rock-ballad, with a piano in the background to start of. But the rhythm is nice, the whole song is not too monotone. Still it's missing something that makes you go 'woah this is like. wow.' Because I still think Hongki can do even better.
The guitar solo is nice
12 바래 (Ver.2) (I Hope Ver.2)
So I think they changed the beat in the chorus a little bit? So it is slightly more Upbeat. I don't think there is a HUGE change compared to the original version, but it's nice.
Opinion Overall:
It's a solid FT Island album. Even if it says 'Cross & Change' I don't think they changed that much and they didn't cross that much either. But I still think it is good. Especially because when all the other groups go into that synthetic and electro-kind of music, FT Island stays true to their instruments, that's great.
They DID try a few new little things, like adding other instruments, which makes this album less monotone and I like that. I wish that the album was overall a little bit more upbeat, even if Hongki's strong and unique voice shows off best in the ballads. (as said me is not a fan of ballads ^^'') But the more upbeat songs are great and this album is a nice mix of more rockish songs, rock-ballads and some rapish (? XD) songs, mixed with Pop. The fact that the others have more sing/rap parts is really nice, too, as nice as Hongki's voice is, it's nice to have somebody else sing in between.
Rating: 4 points out of 5
Infinity Challenge Olympic Duet Song Festival
01 Let's dance (feat. Tiger JK, T 윤미래) - Yoo Jae Suk
HAVE I MENTIONED THAT I LOVE MC YOO???
This song is...awesome. XD Upbeat, Rapping, nice Chorus. Okay it's a typical hip hop song but hey, I sure like it. It lifts up your mood. After looking at the lyrics...those are funny ^_^ I am just Saying...LET'S DANCE! *dances*
02 Senorita (feat. 이정현 Lee Jung Hyun) - Shinhwa Junjin
Latin Lover, baby. I am thinking of Ricky Martin here, but that's not a bad thing~ XD I mean it starts with 'Santa Maria Maria' XD
The rap is nice. The 'Meow' and 'Hi' stuff in the background is a little annoying, I think, but overall a nice song to dance to.
03 바베큐 (B.B.Q) (feat. Epik High) - Jung Hyung Don
I didn't find the lyrics yet..but hey a song called BBQ!
mother father. lol. Hyung Don's rapping mixed with Epik High is great. I am just saying CHILLAX.
It is not as upbeat as the other songs so far but is very enjoyable and nice to listen to. It has that Epik High feeling and Hyung Don adds his own charm to it.
04 더위먹은 갈매기 (The Heat Gull) (feat. No Brain) - No Hong Chul
I mean...No Brain and Hong Chul fit together perfectly. I mean their voices are somewhat similar. This is more rockish. I have this 'Out of School'-Image listening to it. There doesn't seem to be too much text, or is it just me? XD
05 냉면 (Cool Noodles) (feat. SNSD Jessica) - Park Myung Soo
Doesn't Park Myung Soo always make songs like this? XD I think it's this...'I try to be cool, evil or cute but I can't decide on what so I mix all of it into one song.' XD I actually like Park Myung Soo's voice though, because it is different than others and pretty deep. Jessica annoys me though. The song itself is a little weird I guess. I like the verses the most.
06 영계백숙 (Spring Chicken Soup) (feat. After School) - Jung Joon Ha
This one is a little monotone. And I don't hear that much After School? Not that that makes the song worse, I just thought the others did have more of the 'feat.' artists in their songs. And it would be making the song less monotone I think...Upbeat and easy listen...but kinda...easy to forget as well...
07 난 멋있어 (I Look Nice) (feat. YB) - Gil
I like this. It's the type of rockish/punkish music that's popular over here atm I think. Even if there doesn't seem to be too much text either XD and lol at the ending that's kinda...could you call that reggae-ish? cool.
Overall Opinion:
It IS nice for the summer, it's funny and I like it. I haven't watched infinity Challenge so I can't say how much each of the comedian put his self into the songs, the lyrics and stuff but I think the result is nice and overall, even as comedians, they can make some nice hits. I have to look at the lyrics, I bet they are very much hilarious, looking at the titles~
Rating: 3 points out of 5
Clazziquai - Mucho Punk (Korean Version)
01 초콜릿 트러플 <3
Alex sweet and soothing voice, I missed it. A calm but not boring song, and, as I often think with Clazziquai, a great song to hear in the background sitting in a cafe or something. Because you could talk to somebody but would also have fun listening to it.
and Chocolate truffles. I want some. XD
I like the whistling.
02 Kiss Kiss Kiss
I like the beat, but the high voice isn't my piece of cake. The lyrics...hm. somehow they bother me. IDEK XD and the repeating 'Kiss' a 100 times part annoys me. I feel like not wanting to hear the word 'Kiss' after this song...
Btw, do I get it right, that they used this song as a preview and advertisement for the new album but there isn't an actual MV, or rather the actual MV, with the same setting is Love Again? Just checking if I get this right...
03 Love Again <3
the beat is great. I like the switched between Alex and the female voice. The refrain is really catchy.
The MV is kinda lame I think. but hey, pretty Alex, pretty Horan~
04 사랑끝에 <3
This may sound old but the beat is great. XD The mix of Korean and English is really nice, with Horan basically singing the Korean stuff and Alex singing the English stuff.
Once again the chorus is catchy, I love the 'walk away'-bridge, or whatever you want to call it, and how the song is calm in between and then gets more upbeat again. The mix of normal piano and synthetic keyboard is nice.
05 Tell Yourself <3
I like how the text is sung kinda...abrupt. I don't have to mention the beat, do I? The synthetic sounds are great.
06 Back in Time
Even if this is a little monotone I don't think it is boring. Depending on the mood I think it can be freaking annoying but atm I love it.
The different synthetic sounds make it a little bit more interesting. This song does seem long to me though (It kinda is but hey~)
07 Lazy Sunday Morning <3
Hey, a change, an acoustic guitar! The English is just cute and so it the song. This must be an awesome song for a live-acoustic session. I can imagine Alex and Horan sitting there with a guy with a guitar in the middle. Calm but very cheerful. I like that there only is finger-snapping for the rhythm.
08 Take a Walk
A calm-piano song, mixed with some synthetic sounds. Horan's clear voice is beautiful, the lyrics are somehow sad but also hopeful, I think. (As far as I can tell from the English) It does remind me a little of Vienna Teng.
09 The Road
I think this song misses something. The beat is nice and all but somehow...the little extra push is missing. It's a little monotone I think.
10 Spinning the World <3
I love the Intro. The bass drum. And again, the abruptness of the singing.
11 라푼젤
I love this song with percussion instruments and acoustic guitars, Alex soft voice, joined by Horan in the Chorus. This awesome to relax to.
12 Wizard of OZ
The 'We live in Oz' is catchy and this nice to listen to. I like it. I have not much to say to this, sorry XD
Overall Opinion:
It mixes different genres and I love it. The Upbeat songs are unique in their own ways, the calm songs are not boring.
I don't know what to say, it's Clazziquai Awesomeness, nice voices, good lyrics, great beats and rhythms
Rating: 4.5 points out of 5
THERE. I give up!
2NE1 - The First Mini Album
01 Fire
Too damn catchy. I like that it's upbeat, nothing cutsy or 'look how cute I am', rap and not too much synthetic stuff. The refrain sticks in your head, the 'fire'-bridge thing makes the song more interesting with it's...indian (?) feel.
You can guess the female Big Bang from it, but with it's own style to it and that's good.
02 I don't Care <3
Actually this song made me get this mini-album. Because I got addicted to this. It's less upbeat and slower than 'Fire', but the Refrain is just as catchy. You can say that 2NE1 does sound a little like Rihanna but I think that isn't bad.
The rap part is kinda adorable, the way it's trying to be bad ass but rather...IDK cute. XD
03 In the Club <3
Again the Refrain is catchy but the song doesn't really get to me. It's a little monotone, compared to their other songs.
It's calmer than both 'Fire' and 'I don't care'. hm.
04 Let's Go Party
The Intro with the different languages is interesting. I like the beat, but for a song called 'Let's go Party', it's too slow, I think, and not Upbeat enough. Again I think it's a little monotone
05 Pretty Boy
This is more like 'Fire', it has more power, I think. It's not as catchy though. The rap is hot, in my opinion. It could need a little bit more spice. And in between it sounds like a cheerleader song.
06 Stay Together <3
The mix of rap and singing is good. It's a good song but not that catchy and a pretty normal. the raps in it are really nice, yes.
07 Lollipop (feat. Big Bang)
I am ignoring this because it annoys me. (I won't admit that it could grow on me) I think, a collaboration with Big Bang is nice but...singing about 'Lollipops'? Don't try to make something 'cute' into something hot or sexy because it doesn't work.
Next time, Big Bang, have something better ready for your dongsaengs~
Overall Opinion:
For their first single it's not that bad but there is room for improvement. Overall I have to say that 2NE1 is the girlgroup that I am interested in the most from the bunch of girlgroups that debuted these last weeks. Their dances and performances are usually not that bad. And as said before, I like that they don't try to be overly cute or anything. And hey, no ballads~! XD yay~
Rating: 3 points out of 5
So to finish this overly long post I worked on all afternoon...
Super Junior - Sorry Sorry (Japanese Version)
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I am sorry but that doesn't work at all for me XD The Japanese itself isn't that great but now the song misses that repetitiveness in the Refrain and. No. Really. No. Don't do that guys.
Who wants to make a bet that there will be a Chinese version of Sorry Sorry and Neorago on the new SJM album?
I beg them to stop translating songs back and forth (the Korean ver. of the SJM album? WTF????) and make their own great Chinese songs. Please. That's all~
Sorry for this long pretty useless spam. But I had a fun, music filled afternoon XD
And actually I am anticipating the new Brown Eyed Girls Single, it sounds pretty nice...