Girls’ Generation – Oh!

Oh! is Girls’ Generation’s 2nd album and it was released on January 28, 2010.

♠Tracklisting♠

1. Oh!♠♠♠
2. Show! Show! Show!♠
3. Sweet Talking Baby
4. Forever
5. Be Happy
6. Boys & Girls (feat. Key of SHINee)
7. Talk To Me
8. ☆★☆♠♠
9. Stick Wit U
10. Day by Day
11. Gee♠♠♠♠♠
12. Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)♠♠♠♠

It’s safe to say that I had high expectations for SNSD’s second full studio album but then I remembered that this is K-Pop we’re talking about. I expected the fantastic title track but lukewarm if not horrible album tracks that sounded like filler material. Fortunately, I wasn’t COMPLETELY correct.

I wanna start with the way the tracks are structured. All the “promoted” tracks are split evenly between the beginning and ending of the album while the new tracks are bunched in the middle. Since there is little to no flow between the tracks, I imagine it was organized like this just to simply get an order without any real thought put into it. This is unfortunately something that happens a lot in K-Pop albums and something that really bothers me.

Now we’ll get into the new tracks. First is Oh!, the albums promo track. As many SNSD fans, I was excited to hear it for the first time since it is in a way a successor to both Gee and Tell Me Your Wish (Genie). To my pleasure, it did meet up with its previous hits. I consider Oh! to draw influences from the two previous tracks; it has that poppy and hook-heavy structure from Gee while also being influenced by the synth use and overall sass found in Genie. It’s followed by Show! Show! Show! which is on the same train as Genie but has a more disco sound with deep synth and a repetitive chorus. While I admit that it took a while for it to grow on me, it is undeniably sexy and danceable.

So now for the eight middle tracks. I won’t say that they are all horrible, but I wouldn’t label any of them amazing either, that is except for ☆★☆, a ballad! Now what differentiates this ballad from others is that while it also has spectacular vocals, it has something the others didn’t, emotion. Both vocally and in the melody. It’s really a powerful song with strings and piano that climaxes at the “star star star” line. Fortunately it’s not the only new track I enjoy. Both Talk To Me with its lovely tropical lounge sound and Day by Day which has a heavier use of the acoustic guitar and a carefree yet laid back atmosphere managed to catch my attention.

However, that’s where my love for the album goes. Everything else is pretty bad. The biggest offender would be Boys & Girls, a track featuring SHINee’s Key. Not only is Key’s part in the song totally tacked on and awkward, but the song is just so uninspired and sloppy. Stick Wit U also fails for me since it’s your typical cute SNSD song but with unnecessarily obnoxious synth and a familiar melody. At least it’s short at only 2:46.

Be Happy is a step in the right direction but ultimately gets overshadowed by the much more interesting Genie and Show! Show! Show!, both songs that share its dance sound. You didn’t think they’d forget to add the generic ballad right? That’s what Forever is for, although I must admit that they made some progress with the addition of a chorus and a climax near the end of the song.

With this album, I’ve learned something about SNSD. First, their title tracks will forever and always be awesome, this we have proof. Their ballads with this release have definitely gotten better, though only 1/2 would I listen to in the future. Now for the eight new tracks, I enjoyed the two, slower lounge tracks since SNSD pulled them off very well. As for the upbeat, pop tracks, I’ll give them a pass since they sound very generic and like the dozen tracks they’ve done in the past like that. While Oh! is an iffy album, I thought that a better track ordering and one or two generic pop tracks removed would have made me enjoy it more.

♠Overall Rating♠

Guardians 4 – Omakase♪Guardian

Omakase♪Guardian is Guardians 4’s debut single and it was released on May 27, 2009. It reached #18 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and has sold 10,563 copies.

♠Tracklisting♠

1. Omakase♪Guardian♠
2. Omakase♪Guardian (Shugo Chara Egg! Version)
3. Summer Has Come!
4. Omakase♪Guardian (Instrumental)
5. Summer Has Come! (Instrumental)

Upon the announcement of this new group, I was curious to know what type of music Tsunku would match them up with. The first seconds of Omakase♪Guardian tell you that this is an “anime group”, which is a correct way to classify them. Fortunately, their debut song is actually a very fun, peppy pop track which although has that typical anime sound is contrasted by the group’s interesting and well balanced vocals. The Shugo Chara Egg! Version is exactly the same but with the vocals of(now 3/4 of S/mileage)the stated group. Of course, it isn’t as interesting and a lot safer than their more experienced members.

Summer Has Come! is even more of that anime sound mixed along with the H!P b-side stereotype. Surprisingly, it’s pulled off pretty well, even though it sounds very similar to any other anime song out there. I can’t say much about this song without repeating what I said about the a-side but it’s worth a least one listen.

So while this single was filled with anime sounds left and right, it still is pretty enjoyable, even if both tracks are both very kiddy. Of course, it’s not like Shugo Chara is some PG-13 anime either.

♠Overall Rating♠

Girls’ Generation – Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)

Tell Me Your Wish (Genie) is Girls’ Generation’s 2nd mini-album and it was released on July 2, 2009.

♠Tracklisting♠

1. Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)♠♠♠
2. Etude
3. Girlfriend♠♠
4. Boyfriend♠
5. My Child
6. One Year Later / Jessica & Onew

Following in the foot steps of their previous hit Gee, SNSD takes a new approach this time with Tell Me Your Wish (Genie), an undeniably catchy dance track with heavy beats and some very fierce synth. The whole concept of the song is a lot sexier than they’ve ever previously done and they pull it off as well as their cuter pop tracks. It’s really hard for me to choose a favorite between this and Gee but it’s safe to say that this song is easily on the same level of awesomeness.

Immediately after that first track, I toned down my expectations which was a good call with Etude being up next. While I do think that the girls sound best with a pop sound, this track’s arrangement and melody are just poor and force the girls to resort to some annoying vocal styles. Sure it may be cute with its bubbly synth and wide array  of instruments but it’s still a forgettable song.

I get an 80’s vibe from Girlfriend and while I’m not a fan of that music, this song’s structure is a lot more interesting than the previous pop songs they’ve done since it isn’t just bubbly pop but instead uses vintage and feminine synth along with a calmer atmosphere. I actually enjoy how simple the song is.

Boyfriend would be the only other dance-pop song after the title track. The intro is promising with its heavy and sexy synth and the repeated English vocals, not to mention that siren but ultimately the rest of the song doesn’t meet up to those expectations since it just sounds like a dirtier version of their pop tracks with some additional chanting sequences. There’s only so much that a nice hook can do for a song.

Of course the mini-album had to include ballads. The first is My Child which is as unremarkable as I was expecting it to be. It’s kind of a lullaby but not sleep inducing. You got your K-Pop ballad formula down perfectly, generic beats, strings and good vocals. I’m still waiting for a SNSD ballad that I can enjoy.

Last up is a duet with Jessica and Onew, One Year Later. Unfortunately, it’s even more boring than the previous ballad and that they used the most minimal of instruments just makes it all the worse. No even the duo’s obviously powerful vocals can make me enjoy this track.

As an overall package, Tell Me Your Wish (Genie) was weak. Sure, it did have that spectacular title track and maybe two tracks that I might listen to once in a while but everything else was just filler material. I think the problem is getting a ballad to keep me interested without wanting me to go back to Genie or Gee.

♠Overall Rating♠

[...V•O•T•E...] Week XXXV

Week of 1/31 – 2/7 (18 votes)

It’s Sunday again! It’s been about 5 or so days since Kuu’s 8th original album has been released and I’m sure MANY of you out there got your hands on it. But the question is, how does it fare against her previous albums? Is it a TOTAL FLOP(as I had predicted, but only sales-wise) or is it her best effort yet?

Your verdict on UNIVERSE?

1. Me like! Better than TRICK actually… – 8 votes
2. It’s ok. It’s a little too safe for me. I prefer the variety in TRICK instead. / HER BEST ALBUM YET!!!111ONE!1 – 3 votes each
3. lulz, whutz univerze? – 2 votes
4. Suxz. Feel asleep halfway through Step Into My World. / CAN’T SAY. STILL L00PING No Way<#3333##3 – 1 vote each

I definitely fit in with the majority here. I do like the album and think it is more stable and overall stronger than TRICK but it isn’t anything AMAZING to me. I don’t know how I’d judge it compared to her various previous albums but it certainly isn’t on the bottom, no matter how iffy the singles were.

I guess things are half & half in general but the response seems positive overall. Hopefully with these horrid sales she’s having(looks like Kimura Kaela might rob her of the #1 spot), she’ll take a break and bring us better music in the future.

Girls’ Generation – Gee

Gee is Girls’ Generation’s 1st mini-album and it was released on January 7, 2009.

♠Tracklisting♠

1. Gee♠♠
2. Way to Go!♠
3. Dear. Mom
4. Destiny
5. Let’s Talk About Love

When it comes to Girls’ Generation’s first mini-album, there isn’t much to look out for other than Gee, the song that caused an explosive sensation. It’s not like it shouldn’t have either, the song is ADDICTIVE. There is no other pure pop song with refreshing synth and explosive vocals as this. Plus, that “gee gee gee gee gee” hook is to die for. Any K-Pop fan has listened to this song at least once. Unfortunately, all other songs on mini aren’t quite up to par to this song(of course, 80% of ANY other K-Pop song isn’t).

Way to Go! would probably be the only other song that I would listen to casually. I think it’s that rock sound that draws me into it since the song is very energetic and happy. The girls sound superb as well and display a lot of their personality in their vocals. This track shows that they can mold their voices into various styles of music.

I dread the Korean ballad. Dear. Mom is one of those. I’ll be honest and say that K-Pop ballads bore me to hell, no matter how great the vocals are(which they usually are). Unless it has some great instrumental and a melody that keeps me interested, than I’ll give it a pass. Unfortunately, this song posses neither and thus bores me. At least the vocals are soothing.

The verses in Destiny are just a mess but at least it gets slightly better as the song draws on, although I can’t help but label this song as a messy and awkward synthy song that tries to sound dark and sleek.

Let’s Talk About Love is a better approach to a sound much more familiar to them and gives off a small 80’s vibe with the retro synth and classic beat line it has but the girl’s vocals give it a modern sound. The safer and more relaxed pop sound works well with the girls and shouldn’t be overlooked, even if it is pretty simple.

So while this album did fall for the K-Pop formula that every album song will be worse than the title track, only two of the tracks totally flopped in my book while the other two deserve their casual listen once in a while. Of course, nothing will ever touch the musical god that is Gee so I shouldn’t compare too much here.

♠Overall Rating♠

S/mileage – Suki-chan

Suki-chan is S/mileage’s 3rd indies single and it was released on November 23, 2009.

♠Tracklisting♠

1. Suki-chan
2. Suki-chan (Instrumental)

Unlike their two previous efforts, Suki-chan is something I could see a major H!P group like C-ute releasing, but really only as a b-side. I guess what gives it that “major but b-side” sound must be those electric guitar solos between the singing that Tsunku loves so very much. The song is still cutesy and bubbly but doesn’t over do, fortunately and the girls showcase more personality in their vocals since most of the song is solos. Let’s not forget to mention the awesome “suki-chan” chanting bit near the end. Chanting almost always wins in H!P songs.

♠Overall Rating♠

S/mileage – Asu wa Date na no ni, Ima Sugu Koe ga Kikitai

Asu wa Date na no ni, Ima Sugu Koe ga Kikitai is S/mileage’s 2nd indies single and it was released on September 23, 2009.

♠Tracklisting♠

1. Asu wa Date na no ni, Ima Sugu Koe ga Kikitai
2. Asu wa Date na no ni, Ima Sugu Koe ga Kikitai (Instrumental)

While their debut single had a cute touch to it, Asu wa Date na no ni, Ima Sugu Koe ga Kikitai takes it to the next level, though not in quality but in that it’s just your typical H!P synthy pop. That’s probably why I dislike this song. aMa no Jaku wasn’t anything mature from them but this track is just too kiddie for me to like. It’s not like I automatically dislike any kiddie H!P song but the arrangement and instrumental here is just that annoying and uninspired. If anything, the girls sound tolerable but don’t add much to the song.

I suppose Tsunku is still trying to capture the right sound for S/mileage and I hope he doesn’t stick with this. Of course, I’d kill for S/mileage to(further in their career) to try variety in their music(like C-ute has) and maybe one day pull off something fierce like Namida no Iro. Until then we shall deal with cute pop such as this.

♠Overall Rating♠