(late) album review: SHINee - the SHINee world
SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG JAEMINNIE DDD8 BUT IT'S UP NOW, SEE? 8DDD;;
ALBUM REVIEW
SHINee - The SHINee World (Version B) (Yes, this is the version I own)
01. The SHINee World (Doo-Bop)
02. Love's Way
03. Love Like Oxygen
04. ROMANTIC
05. One For Me
06. Graze
07. Last Gift (In My Room - Prelude)
08. Best Place
09. Hyeya (Y Si Fuera Ella)
10. Four Seasons
11. In My Room (Unplugged Remix)
12. Noona Neomu Yeppeo (Replay)
Opening the album is the explosive, Engrish-filled, hip-hop track The SHINee World (Doo Bop). It's very aggresive, and the strong vocals of the boys are layered over distorted sounds and a hard beat. Having the members introduce themselves at the end was a somewhat amusing touch. "My name is Mean-ho!" By the way, am I the only one who keeps hearing "I wanna get you in this body" at about 2:11-2:13? I checked the lyrics and it's supposed to be "I wanna get you in this party". Faulty English pronunciation can really make people hear things...
Following the title track is the slower, more mellow Love's Way. The song showcases the group's vocal ability as well as their excellent harmonization skills. There's a lot of synth in the background that I thought added a interesting vibe to the song, but the one thing I don't like is how affected Jonghyun's adlibs are near the end. He has a lovely tone to his voice, and it doesn't need messing with.
Love Like Oxygen is a cover of Martin Hoberg Hedegaard's Show The World. With a vaguely Michael Jackson resemblance, the song is refreshing and different from what you normally hear from the pop scene. The short rap and ending "sanso gateun neo" sections are very catchy, and though the song is only a short 3 minutes, it's the best on the album -- at least for me. really short gangsta!Taemin rap ftw
ROMANTIC starts a run of mid-tempo tracks, and as the lead ballad on the album, it's a bit disappointing. I like the way this started out with a short rap intro from Minho, but the rest of the song isn't too exciting until the bridge. It's a calming song, but a very typical R&B ballad. Jonghyun has a beautiful falsetto, though. I do die a little on the inside when Taemin does his "otoke" bits in the verses. hi, bias
Continuing the mid-tempo run is One For Me. It's very laid-back and I quite like the chorus and Taemin's solo line in the bridge, because he sounds so CUTE, but I always get images of the boys hyperventilating whenever they get to the "ha, ha, ha" parts for some reason. But I digress. Anyway, the song is enjoyable, but it's one of the less memorable ones (seriously, I can never remember how it goes) and one of the weaker tracks on the album.
Starting with the phrase "you gave me a heartbreak", Graze is just as laid-back as the previous track, but with an added Spanish flavor that gives some much-needed spice to the album. The song is filled with gorgeous harmonization (even Minho's bridge rap is harmonized, guys) and soft, pleasant vocals. Bonus points to Key for the (nearly) flawless English rap.
Last Gift (In My Room - Prelude) begins with a melancholy piano intro, growing into a pleasant, but somewhat boring ballad. The several key changes show off Jonghyun's and Onew's voices, but the song doesn't quite go anywhere. The "prelude" in the title also seems to designate this song a "filler" status.
Best Place is light-hearted with a rather oddly timed beat that gives it a unique sound on the album. It does sound very Americanized, and I could hear something like this on the Western charts, which in this case is not a bad thing at all. I'm also mildly in love with the "LOVE, KISS, TEAR" rap bits near the end because Taemin sounds cool rapping them an entire octave above Minho.
Digressing here, but they always sound like they're saying "best of place", even though the lyric booklet says "best place". I dunno if the pronunciation is because of the accent or if the lyric booklet is getting it wrong, but whatever. IT'S STILL A GOOD SONG.
The other cover on this album is also a heartbreaking solo track by Jonghyun, called Hyeya (Y Si Fuera Ella). Jonghyun's soft, raspy voice is carried by strings, later being added to by guitars. I do feel sometimes that the instrumentation overpowers Jonghyun just a bit, because he took on a softer tone for the song to give it a more sentimental sound. An acoustic version of this song with just a guitar or piano and minimal strings (by that I mean one violin, and maybe with a cello at most) would be really interesting.
Four Seasons is the last new track on the album. It begins with a distinctive beat and electronica sounds. This atmosphere is never fully continued, however, and because of that the song falls a little flat. I know I'm in the minority for not really liking the track, but I know I'd have enjoyed it more if they just kept that strong beat and urban, electronica vibe going throughout the entire song.
Of course, since the prelude is on the album, it's only fitting that In My Room (Unplugged Remix) is here, too. The original track was on SHINee's first mini-album: an R&B ballad with solo acoustic guitar in the background; this unplugged remix takes the song in a piano-and-strings-ballad direction. I personally liked the original better because the guitar gave a different sound to what would have otherwise been your simple, standard R&B ballad, and the piano and strings in the remix highlight this and make it a rather weak track.
Insanely unrelatedly, the "'Cause you're still in my room" line gives me dirty thoughts. XD Also, I kept hearing "'Cause you were my son, don't move" in place of what is apparently "'Cause you were my sun, the moon". SHINee, your Engrish makes me smile.
Ending the album with a bang is the song that started everything: the infamous Noona Neomu Yeppeo (Replay) because we all know you noonas want Taemin singing this to you while you despair over how pedophilic you're being over the poor, mushroom-headed kid. It's infectious, it's catchy, and is the perfect ending track to the boys' debut album. I do recommend the boom track over this for a different feel: the instrumentation is more along the lines of The SHINee World (Doo-Bop), and there's a madly cool bridge instrumental. Here, have a live :D
(obviously better HQ, though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvQoNPuumGc&fmt=18)
HAHA CRIS, THIS IS THE LIVE FOR THE JONGHYUN-REPLACEMENT REHEARSAL GRINNING BOUNCING MUSHROOM-HAIRED-TAEMIN VID YOU WERE WATCHING ON REPEAT FOR DAYS
SORRY, BACK ON TRACK NOW
The SHINee World is full of its highs and lows -- there are some outstanding tracks and also your weaker ones. The biggest flaw in this album is the utter lack of upbeat tracks -- you've got the title song, and the singles; the rest are mid-tempo. However, I do believe that the reason for all the ballads in the album was to showcase the boys' strong vocals and flawless harmonization, and this is evident in many of the non-upbeat tracks. Overall, a solid effort from SM's newest boy band that leaves you wondering how much they'll improve and how much better their second album will be.
RATING
4 stars
SORRY FOR BURNING YOUR EYES. Here, have a cookie if you read through all that. Actually, you can have a cookie anyway. *gives* /weird egh the things album reviewing can do to my brain. I don't even know why this became so tedious
akjfgasrgfkrgawk YES I can finally effing quit listening to this album 28572387520 times straight. Onto Exodus for the first time in a while~ lol I like how most critics gave this a 3/5 (or B) but user ratings have it almost 5/5. I think I gave this a 4/5, originally. and OMG, this review cracks me up, I love it to death: http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3685
FUCK, I HAVEN'T STARTED HW YET. I need to do laundry tomorrow :(
ALBUM REVIEW
SHINee - The SHINee World (Version B) (Yes, this is the version I own)
01. The SHINee World (Doo-Bop)
02. Love's Way
03. Love Like Oxygen
04. ROMANTIC
05. One For Me
06. Graze
07. Last Gift (In My Room - Prelude)
08. Best Place
09. Hyeya (Y Si Fuera Ella)
10. Four Seasons
11. In My Room (Unplugged Remix)
12. Noona Neomu Yeppeo (Replay)
Opening the album is the explosive, Engrish-filled, hip-hop track The SHINee World (Doo Bop). It's very aggresive, and the strong vocals of the boys are layered over distorted sounds and a hard beat. Having the members introduce themselves at the end was a somewhat amusing touch. "My name is Mean-ho!" By the way, am I the only one who keeps hearing "I wanna get you in this body" at about 2:11-2:13? I checked the lyrics and it's supposed to be "I wanna get you in this party". Faulty English pronunciation can really make people hear things...
Following the title track is the slower, more mellow Love's Way. The song showcases the group's vocal ability as well as their excellent harmonization skills. There's a lot of synth in the background that I thought added a interesting vibe to the song, but the one thing I don't like is how affected Jonghyun's adlibs are near the end. He has a lovely tone to his voice, and it doesn't need messing with.
Love Like Oxygen is a cover of Martin Hoberg Hedegaard's Show The World. With a vaguely Michael Jackson resemblance, the song is refreshing and different from what you normally hear from the pop scene. The short rap and ending "sanso gateun neo" sections are very catchy, and though the song is only a short 3 minutes, it's the best on the album -- at least for me. really short gangsta!Taemin rap ftw
ROMANTIC starts a run of mid-tempo tracks, and as the lead ballad on the album, it's a bit disappointing. I like the way this started out with a short rap intro from Minho, but the rest of the song isn't too exciting until the bridge. It's a calming song, but a very typical R&B ballad. Jonghyun has a beautiful falsetto, though. I do die a little on the inside when Taemin does his "otoke" bits in the verses. hi, bias
Continuing the mid-tempo run is One For Me. It's very laid-back and I quite like the chorus and Taemin's solo line in the bridge, because he sounds so CUTE, but I always get images of the boys hyperventilating whenever they get to the "ha, ha, ha" parts for some reason. But I digress. Anyway, the song is enjoyable, but it's one of the less memorable ones (seriously, I can never remember how it goes) and one of the weaker tracks on the album.
Starting with the phrase "you gave me a heartbreak", Graze is just as laid-back as the previous track, but with an added Spanish flavor that gives some much-needed spice to the album. The song is filled with gorgeous harmonization (even Minho's bridge rap is harmonized, guys) and soft, pleasant vocals. Bonus points to Key for the (nearly) flawless English rap.
Last Gift (In My Room - Prelude) begins with a melancholy piano intro, growing into a pleasant, but somewhat boring ballad. The several key changes show off Jonghyun's and Onew's voices, but the song doesn't quite go anywhere. The "prelude" in the title also seems to designate this song a "filler" status.
Best Place is light-hearted with a rather oddly timed beat that gives it a unique sound on the album. It does sound very Americanized, and I could hear something like this on the Western charts, which in this case is not a bad thing at all. I'm also mildly in love with the "LOVE, KISS, TEAR" rap bits near the end because Taemin sounds cool rapping them an entire octave above Minho.
Digressing here, but they always sound like they're saying "best of place", even though the lyric booklet says "best place". I dunno if the pronunciation is because of the accent or if the lyric booklet is getting it wrong, but whatever. IT'S STILL A GOOD SONG.
The other cover on this album is also a heartbreaking solo track by Jonghyun, called Hyeya (Y Si Fuera Ella). Jonghyun's soft, raspy voice is carried by strings, later being added to by guitars. I do feel sometimes that the instrumentation overpowers Jonghyun just a bit, because he took on a softer tone for the song to give it a more sentimental sound. An acoustic version of this song with just a guitar or piano and minimal strings (by that I mean one violin, and maybe with a cello at most) would be really interesting.
Four Seasons is the last new track on the album. It begins with a distinctive beat and electronica sounds. This atmosphere is never fully continued, however, and because of that the song falls a little flat. I know I'm in the minority for not really liking the track, but I know I'd have enjoyed it more if they just kept that strong beat and urban, electronica vibe going throughout the entire song.
Of course, since the prelude is on the album, it's only fitting that In My Room (Unplugged Remix) is here, too. The original track was on SHINee's first mini-album: an R&B ballad with solo acoustic guitar in the background; this unplugged remix takes the song in a piano-and-strings-ballad direction. I personally liked the original better because the guitar gave a different sound to what would have otherwise been your simple, standard R&B ballad, and the piano and strings in the remix highlight this and make it a rather weak track.
Insanely unrelatedly, the "'Cause you're still in my room" line gives me dirty thoughts. XD Also, I kept hearing "'Cause you were my son, don't move" in place of what is apparently "'Cause you were my sun, the moon". SHINee, your Engrish makes me smile.
Ending the album with a bang is the song that started everything: the infamous Noona Neomu Yeppeo (Replay) because we all know you noonas want Taemin singing this to you while you despair over how pedophilic you're being over the poor, mushroom-headed kid. It's infectious, it's catchy, and is the perfect ending track to the boys' debut album. I do recommend the boom track over this for a different feel: the instrumentation is more along the lines of The SHINee World (Doo-Bop), and there's a madly cool bridge instrumental. Here, have a live :D
Click to view(obviously better HQ, though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvQoNPuumGc&fmt=18)
HAHA CRIS, THIS IS THE LIVE FOR THE JONGHYUN-REPLACEMENT REHEARSAL GRINNING BOUNCING MUSHROOM-HAIRED-TAEMIN VID YOU WERE WATCHING ON REPEAT FOR DAYS
SORRY, BACK ON TRACK NOW
The SHINee World is full of its highs and lows -- there are some outstanding tracks and also your weaker ones. The biggest flaw in this album is the utter lack of upbeat tracks -- you've got the title song, and the singles; the rest are mid-tempo. However, I do believe that the reason for all the ballads in the album was to showcase the boys' strong vocals and flawless harmonization, and this is evident in many of the non-upbeat tracks. Overall, a solid effort from SM's newest boy band that leaves you wondering how much they'll improve and how much better their second album will be.
RATING
4 stars
SORRY FOR BURNING YOUR EYES. Here, have a cookie if you read through all that. Actually, you can have a cookie anyway. *gives* /weird egh the things album reviewing can do to my brain. I don't even know why this became so tedious
akjfgasrgfkrgawk YES I can finally effing quit listening to this album 28572387520 times straight. Onto Exodus for the first time in a while~ lol I like how most critics gave this a 3/5 (or B) but user ratings have it almost 5/5. I think I gave this a 4/5, originally. and OMG, this review cracks me up, I love it to death: http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3685
FUCK, I HAVEN'T STARTED HW YET. I need to do laundry tomorrow :(