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Yoonki

January 2022

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Jan. 31st, 2022 05:45 pm

pentagon "IN:VITE U - the 12th mini album" first listen

yoonki: (Default)
It's that time of year again; a silly little first listen/review of a new release~

New rules this time: I listened through each song on the album in order, write my thoughts on the song but this time without the time constraint of just the runtime of said song, then I'll rank my top 3 tracks just from this first listen (not including the title track if i can help it ) and then wrap up with my final thoughts on the album as a whole.

Let's: Get Into It!
____________________________________
 
 
Feelin' Like - Okay, so admittedly this isn't the first time I'm listening to this song, but that doesn't make it any less of an absolute banger. Usually I'm of the opinion that a title track not composed/written by a group that usually composes/writes their own stuff will be bad, but "Feelin' Like" is one of those songs that flips that assumption on its head. It's definitely something darker and more mature in sound and feel than "DO or NOT" from the last album, but it's nothing as heavy as "Dr. BEBE" is. It's hard for me to put into words what the arrangement is like other than that it perfectly encapsulates the idea of this want/love that takes over your mind. The steady bassline that grooves, the crescendo in pre chorus that ends in a gasp-like pause like a held breath. The chorus simply being "You got me feelin' like-" without any resolve to the phrase, because it's impossible to put whatever this overwhelming feeling is into words. The way that all breaks down into Yuto and Wooseok's verse in the pre bridge, from the beat breaking down to just percussion and the vocals going from the floating airy thing to heavy and staccato. The hook and pre chorus are so good, so addictive, there's no way after even just a single listen you're not singing "I want you, I want you, I want you, I want you"  to yourself. Not be be biased but my favourite part of the song is the bridge; Hongseok and Yanan's falsettos leading into Jinho's crisp tenor? Maybe the best thing to ever happen to me personally.

한탕 [One Chance] (One Shot) - The spoken intro to this immediately made me think of the musical "Chicago", which is very fun. Actually, this whole song feels a lot like a song you'd find in a musical. It must have something to do with the use of piano mixed with simple percussion. There is something so incredibly fun and theatrical in the way that the verses and pre-chorus are these energetic, guitar riff driven moments that are cut by the slow, almost seductive way that the chorus is arranged. They utilise Yuto's voice so well in this! The deepness of it cuts so well through everything, and fits so perfectly into the theme of the song; this sort of cloying voice of anxiety and fear before you take a chance on something.

The Game- Oh, Wooseok, oh you've created Art! Mixing opera, not in just the vocal arrangements but in the use of Italian in the intro and the little nods to the classics in the lyrics, mixed with the sort of dancey, almost hip-hop beat? That's maybe this coolest thing I've ever heard! Speaking of the lyrics, they are on another level entirely! My favourite part maybe is the end of the pre-chorus; I'm in love with the contrast of the bouncy "Let's keep it up or give it up" against the harmonies on "우린 Galileo Figaro", on top of that being the coolest way to say something cheesy like "shoot for the stars". The opening operatic moment, which Jinho absolutely kills, is not only a very niche reference to a very famous aria (like fully had to google it to find that out) but it's also the perfect intro to a song that dissects the feeling working and slogging through life. Instead of a bright song that motivates you in tough times, or a somber piece that helps you lament, "The Game" is something more like a fight song. Something to allow you to do both, to feel upset that life isn't what you wanted or planned but to keep fighting. Keep running "like a devil". Keep working and pushing through like Rocinante. Make the game of life as fun as you possibly can.  "Lascia ch'io, sorte, sospiri la libertà" - "Let me weep for my fate, yet sigh for freedom."

Call My Name - First of all, love how Funky this is. There is just something so easy about this song, everything about flows and fits together so easily. As compared to the other songs so far, I don't have much to say about "Call My Name"; that doesn't mean that I don't love this track as much as the others. I usually don't have much to say about Hyunggu's songs, which I think is really a testament to good the song is. It's just a great song! Nothing more to say about it!

관람차 [Ferris Wheel] (Sparkling Night) - Love the instrumental and vocal arrangement; it's very reminiscent of 1980s pop ballads with the use of syth and heavy bass and muted drum beats. My favourite kind of songs are sad songs written to be upbeat, and that's exactly what "Sparkling Night" is. A lovesick, reminiscent ballad about wanting to recapture that feeling of first love you've suddenly found yourself or your partner falling out of. My favourite parts are the comparison of that feeling to being trapped on a Ferris Wheel, the motion sickness that comes with looping over and over, and the use of "my person" instead of anything gender specific. I love also love when rappers get to sing, and Wooseok's verse in this is so Very Important to me; he sounds so forlorn and heartfelt, and his harmonies with Yuto are something that are just so special.

BAD - Again, I love sad songs, and "BAD" is going to be one of my favourites I think. There is just something so sweet about an acoustic ballad about how you don't feel good enough for the person you're with.  Also, Yanan bridge!! My two favourite things put together!! The soft, earnest quality of his voice just suits this song so well, it's just a treat. It was really such a good, soft ending to the album.
 
 
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Top Three Tracks
1) 관람차 
2) The Game
3) Feelin' Like

Honourable Mention: BAD

There is something really sweet and simply about "BAD" that I like, but there is so much going on with "관람차", "The Game" and "Feelin' Like" in such fun and interesting ways.
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Final Thoughts 

"IN:VITE U" was just such a fun and well rounded album. I loved the theatrical feel of it, as well as the 80's influence on a lot of the tracks. I never made a post about Key's album, but a lot of my favourite tracks from this album reminded me of that album which I loved so much. 

Wooseok's writing on this was impeccable! He's just so incredibly smart and talented, and it shows in just how good this album turned out. Hyungu too; he's really grown as a songwriter. I

Pentagon knocks it out of the park once again! Love to see it!!


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Mar. 15th, 2021 06:31 pm

pentagon "love or take - the 11th mini album" first listen

yoonki: (Default)
I am once again making one of these on here instead of doing it on the tl~~

Same rules as always: listen through each song on the album in order, write my thoughts on the song within the length of the song's runtime, rank my top 3 tracks  just from this first listen (not including the title track) and then wrap up with my final thoughts on the album as a whole.

Let's Get Into It!!
____________________________________

 
 
 
10초 전 (10s and) - Love the way that this starts off the album! Love the use of the countdown as a motive, it's used so well; you really get the sense of anticipation that you feel right before you see the person love. I mentioned in my SHINee review how much I love songs that sound like video game bgm or osts, and "10s and" perfectly fits into the type of song that makes my brain go "!!!!!". The beat is very much reminiscent of a dating sim menu screen or even the main ost, which is perfect for the shoujo manga concept of this comeback. I think Pentagon always does an amazing job of writing songs that touch on these sort of melancholic/bittersweet moments of love, and  "10s and" is a perfect example of that. It perfectly captures the longing and anxiety of love, that feeling of "If I can just make it 10 more secs then everything will be fine".

DO or NOT - Gosh what a great title track! Pentagon really hit it out of the park again!! The song and the M/V have a classic rom-com vibe that come across perfectly in the lyrics. The guitar riffs and drums really capture that feeling of young love, and that sort of frustration that comes with not knowing the other person's feelings. It's about longing, about knowing what lies in your heart but not someone else's, and telling yourself you don't care about the outcome, you just want an answer! It's fun and upbeat, and perfectly Pentagon!

1+1 - When the audio snippets came out, I said that this would be one of my favourite tracks, and I was right. The R&B inspired beat and overall feel of the song is so good; it works to create this great groove that you sort of melt into when listening. On top of that, the lyrics and arrangement are fantastic. Finding your "One" and wanting to be that person's "One" in return, so that together you're the sum of that "1+1", it's ingenious lyrical storytelling is what it is! My favourite part has to be the chorus; the repetition of the last word of each line, which is fun by itself since each word is close to/ sounds like the word "one", that's then broken up by the flowing confession of the following line of the last line, that kind of arrangement is one of my favourites to listen to. 

Baby I Love You - Ooh this song....Hyunggu's cursed little number. I know at this point (7:40pm as I'm typing this part of the review up) we've all read the lyrics and know the story behind the song, but to throw my own two cents in: I think that the cliches that Hyunggu and Wooseok added to appeal to Noona fans are very sweet, and genuinely work with the classic vibe that the song. I think it was an excellent choice to make this the b-side for promotions; the choreography feels very theatrical, more like a musical number instead of a bg choreo, just like the choreo for "DO or NOT" and they both work together to create these mirrored types of love: young, frustrated longing and calm, content affection.

That's Me - This song is so Incredibly Fun! The way that "that's me" and "Gatsby" are used as lyrical parallels, how they're interchangeable both in sound and in meaning, is yet another moment of genius lyrical writing! It's my favourite part of the song, even with how funky and cool the arrangement of the song is! Again, I talked about this when I reviewed SHINee's latest album but I love a song that has electronic elements to it, and "That's Me" really delivers on that feeling, especially with the vocal effect during the hook.
노래해 (Sing-a-song) - This is the perfect song to finish up the album on. In the same way that "10s and" felt like the opening menu to a dating sim, "Sing-a-song" feels like the ending song to a shoujo anime. The lyrics telling you to relax and seize the day, since today is different than the last and that means it the perfect day to do what makes you happy. It perfectly bookends the feeling of the album on a hopeful, happy note.

소년감성 (Boy in time) - For the last two albums, members that are enlisted/not active have had solo bonus tracks added to the end of the album. Personally, I listen to and think of them as letters, and in this case I think that kind of comparison fits perfectly. Hui's vocals are as strong and warm as always, with that sort of sad quality that goes so perfectly with a ballad like this. In the same way that we're looking back and remembering moments we shared with Hui to comfort us while he's away, Hui is doing the same with his own youth. The last line being a simple "goodbye" is perfect.
 

_______________________
 

Top Three Tracks
1) 1+1
2) 10초 전
3) That's Me

Honourable Mention: Baby I Love You

"Baby I Love You" is exactly my style of fun cute, retro inspired bop,
but the lyrics, arrangement, and the concept "1+1", "10초 전" "That's Me"
hit in such a different profound way.

____________________

Final Thoughts 

"LOVE or TAKE" is one of the best put together albums that has been released so far this year.  Pentagon returns to their young, fun sound in a way that I personally have been missing for a few comebacks. This is the Pentagon I fell for when I first started listening to them during "Naughty Boy" promotions.

I feel like I don't have a lot to say, simply because I enjoyed every moment of the album. Nothing more can be said when each song not only fits into the concept of a comeback, but also stands on its own as a great song.

Overall, Pentagon has released yet another excellent album, and I can't wait to see what they do next!
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Feb. 22nd, 2021 11:03 am

SHINee "Don't Call Me - The 7th Album" First Listen

yoonki: (Default)
Usually when I first listen to an album I make a thread about it on twitter, but since I have this account it would make more sense to just organise my thoughts here!

I'm going to be following the same "rules" I set myself when I make first listen threads: listen through each song on the album in order, write my thoughts on the song within the length of the song's runtime, rank my top 3 tracks  just from this first listen and then wrap up with my final thoughts on the album as a whole.

That's a lot of perhaps over-explaining, so let's just get into it!!

___________________________________


 
Don't Call Me - What a title track to comeback with after such a long hiatus!! There's a sense of something like a recaptured tragedy to the song to match the concept of a break up song. Instead of getting the perspective of someone constantly calling an ex to rekindle a lost relationship, we get the other side, and get to see an angrier, perhaps even more grounded side of the equation. In this track, SHINee does away with the yearning of a lost love and makes it clear that this is the end, which is something we don't see much of, if at all in break up songs. The song and arrangement fits so perfectly well with the current SM sound and the current, heavily hip hop influenced titles that most 3rd and 4th gen boy groups are releasing now. The best thing about "Don't Call Me" is that while it fits into the new sound of the industry, it still stands out as something distinctly SHINee. Key's adlibs are as cool and as familiar as ever, paired with Minho's whispered lines (a la "Odd Eye") and distinctive tone, Taemin's working double time to capture the cold feeling of the lyrics with the little bit of rapping he does alongside his sung lines, and Onew's voice coming in to perfectly accent and bring everything together, especially with his isolated line in the bridge, all come together to make yet another perfect SHINee title track. 


Heart Attack - If the title track was SHINee's version of the current sound of kpop, then "Heart Attack" is a track that sits comfortably in what makes SHINee SHINee. The switch up from the from the slow jam intro into the retro inspired groove of the rest of the song is something distinctly SHINee, and for me felt very reminiscent of the concept for "1of1" and some of the tracks on "The Story of Light". Onew and Key really shine in this track, their voices feel the most at home in fun, funky drive of the arrangement. 

Marry You - I'm counting this track as a pre-release since it was performed during their comeback special. Obviously with the studio release you get a better sense of what it actually sounds like, and once again SHINee does not disappoint. During the comeback special, the track felt heavily influenced by caribbean reggae, maybe even soca (the latter I'm more familiar with since it's the music from where my family is from), just by going off the rhythm of Key and Minho's rapping. With the studio version, you're able really hear that relaxed yet heavy bass beat the drives the song. After listening through, I would say that SHINee perfectly understands what makes up a song of this genre; they aren't just using the concept to sound different or stand out like a lot of other artist do when they borrow different genres. There is an understanding and sort of respect that comes with the entire arrangement, from the bassline and hi-hat hits to the vocals, that, as someone who is intimately familiar with this genre, I really appreciate. The stars of this track are absolutely Minho and Key, with their mastery of the very distinct flow and rhythm that comes with doing a song in this style. Taemin and Onew's bright vocals, particularly their crisp, rolling falsetto on the bridge, contrasts the others so well, creating yet another perfectly balanced track. SHINee confirmed that this was a continuation of the story that "Replay" and "I Want You" create so it would be interesting to listen to all three in order. 


CØDE - Maybe this is just me speaking as a Locket, but there's just something about Key speaking at the start of a track that does something for me! I'm a big fan of songs that have an almost video game ost feel to them, and "CØDE" definitely hits that spot for me. It's another track that definitely fits into the new SM sound, it in fact reminds me a lot of NCT's "Superhuman"  but there's a more refined sound to it. (Not to say "Supernhuman" is lacking in anyway, just that there's something crisper and cleaner about "CØDE" to me) Taemin. maybe because of his time in SuperM, sounds so comfortable on this track. Onew's falsetto and tenor in this song is truly a gift. It contrasts with the staccato of the EDM influenced beat in a way that I think fits perfectly, and is what I enjoy the most about tracks like this!


I Really Want You - The guitar riff in the intro of this song is something so special! The track is fun and bright, incredibly indicative of SHINee's sound at its core in my opinion. There is a joy that comes with the yearning that the lyrics convey, a happiness to confess your feelings and to make your heart understood by the person who holds your affections. The almost seductive tone of Taemin's lines stick out the most for me in this track. They're fun and teasing more than anything, especially as they bleed into the brighter rhythm of the chorus. "I Really Want You" is simply just a fun song! 

Kiss Kiss - In the same way that I love electronic tracks, I adore slow jam tracks. "Kiss Kiss" is everything I love; a clean, classic bassline, accompanied by a great guitar riff and amazing vocal arrangement to round off another retro inspired track. Everything works together to create a fun, seductive track, but for me the vocal arrangement is what I love the most about this song. The arrangement of the hook is so good, the languid flow of the vocals fits the concept of the song perfectly. Minho and Key's pre chorus has to be my favourite part of this track. There's an almost gentle quality to this part of the song that really vibes, and sets up the chorus perfectly. Onew's adlibs in the final hook really drive home the desire the song is trying to convey. Putting in the sound of lips kissing at the end of the chorus and hook is ingenious and something so SHINee of them to do! It's insane how after being around this long that they're able to continue to be so inventive with their arrangements. Or maybe it's because they've been around this long that they're so good at it. Either way very grateful. 

Body Rhythm - Another caribbean inspired song, what a surprise! If "Marry You" understood the rhythm and musicality of this genre, then "Body Rhythm" understands the flow and vocal arrangement. The beat/backing track is much more, for lack of a better word, cliche or common, like what you'd think of if you heard any soca track but that doesn't in anyway take away from the quality of the song. The most important parts of this genre are the bass and the lyrical flow, and SHINee do a great job of capturing that in the chorus and hook, while putting their own spin on it. I think Key and MInho more so than Onew and Taemin, but only because they're rapping and playing with the distinct rhythm/flow of the genre more. Minho's verse in the second chorus makes me Furious in the way he perfectly gets the distinct way that soca singer ride the beat. He is the star of this song for me! Taemin and Onew shine the most in the hook and the bridge, where they capture the relaxed feel of the usual vocals you hear with this style. 

Attention - This is the perfect track for me; a perfect mix of the slow jam and the electronic influenced beat that I mentioned before. The staccato, bass heavy beat paired with a flowing vocal arrangement is what I really gravitate towards. The contrast in the  rhythm/arrangement between the chorus and hook, and the verses is my favourite part of any  song like this, and SHINee really delivers here. My favourite part of any song is usually the bridge, and this one may be my favourite on the entire album. The way Onew's voice matches with the change in beat and bleeds into his adlibs on the final pre-chrous is something I want to have played on repeat. 

Kind - SHINee tend to have the final songs on their albums be slower tracks with a more ballad feeling (if not just a full ballad) and "Kind" is no exception. The bit of autotune on the vocals gives the track an almost haunting quality. "Kind" feels like a liminal space, something that exists outside of time, and in the terms of this albums, something that fits outside of this album. There's a healing, calming feeling to the song, the perfect ending to the album. Like a farewell at the end of a long day.

___________________________________

Top Three Tracks 
 1) Attention
 2) Kiss Kiss
 3) Kind

Honourable Mention: Heart Attack 

"Heart Attack" is so perfectly SHINee and hits all the fun Shawol parts of my brain but
there is just something about the groove of "Attention",
the feel of "Kiss Kiss",
and the mood of "Kind" that is unbeatable for me.

___________________________________

Final Thoughts

"Don't Call Me" is such an incredibly solid album, not like we would expect anything else from SHINee at this point in their career. 

They completely understand what makes them SHINee, what works best for their voices and are able to continuously play to their strengths. Not a single track, even with the new genres that they explore, is lacking or feels out of place in the discography of SHINee as a whole. 

I will say that I was surprised hearing "Marry You" and "Body Rhythm" since those tracks heavily borrow from caribbean music, but in my opinion it feels like SHINee understood what makes that genre sound the way it does, what those kind of sounds are about and how to best utilise those elements in a way that works with their sound. I think that they were more successful in "Marry You" but neither song sounds gimmicky like a lot of other kpop tracks that do the same.

Overall, "Don't Call Me" perfectly reintroduces SHINee to this generation of kpop and once again solidifies their place at the top as the Princes of Kpop.
 

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