After reviewing their latest single, Why So Serious?, on my previous post, now it's time for me to review SHINee latest album, Why So Serious? - The Misconceptions of Me!!! As a part of their two chaptered album (see here again for more explanation and for my review of their first chapter album), this album has been said to set a darker tone than their first chapter album, Dream Girl - The Misconceptions of You. So, to know if they nailed it or if we get trolled again, just read this post until the end ;)
"Who's that knocking on my door?" opened the first track from this album, Nightmare. It was intriguing, yet creepy. Then, it followed by the hook part of this song, "Come and dream a dream, Girl", which I am sure will stuck on your mind. This song had an electronic and club beat type of sound. If you remember Dynamite from their first chapter album, Nightmare pretty much resembled it from the sexy vibe of this song to SHINee's way of singing this song. As for the lyrics, SHINee fell madly in love with a vampire this time and they got bitten by her. Overall, Nightmare was a great opening song because it set a tone for this whole album, which is dark, sexy, and full of fantasies lyrics.
Contrary with Nightmare that full of electronic sound, Why So Serious? came with a strong rock sound with guitar and drum. Check out my review about this title track along with the music video here.
Next up, there is SHINe (Medusa I) as the third track. Loving the dramatic music of this song!!! It's like I am in the middle of action film along with broken glass sound. The transition from the strong beat to the bridge with electronic music and then, going back to strong beat again was sooooo interesting. Apparently, Teddy Riley composed this song which explained why this song reminded me of Michael Jackson's type of song.
Unfortunately, the great music of this song had to be ruin with non sensical lyrics such as, "Yeah You're Shining In The East, Yeah You're Shining In The West". Okay, how is that supposed to mean? Anyway, the whole lyrics was about love that cannot be united. At first, I guessed SHINee was a vampire because they cannot see the light from the girl who is shining. But, I thought it seems that the girl is Medusa, referring to the title, and SHINee cannot be with her since she is dangerous.
The fourth track, 오르골 (Orgel) is the most interesting song from this album since the music of this song was like coming from music box (Music box means Orgel in Korean) and it kept repeating on and on again. This song is hypnotizing and has fantasy feels on it especially the Bingeul Bingeul part. Trust me, listening to it for a long time sometimes makes you dizzy. This also supported by how SHINee sang this song especially Jonghyun. And surprisingly, I super love Minho's rap in this song!!! Finally, he can make use of his whispering voices through this song. It sounds alluring, yet spooky at the same time.
Orgel also has an interesting lyrics. In my opinion, this song is about a possessive guy who treated his girlfriend like a music box. As we all know, music box can be played whenever we feel like we want to play it and for the boy, it means that he can control his girlfriend whenever he feel like he wants it. Beside that, this boy does not like whenever people look at his girlfriend because his girlfriend only belong to him. Music box also represents the girlfriend world itself. It is small and packed just like how the girlfriend feels trapped by her boyfriend in a small world. Applause for Kim Jonghyun in making this beautiful lyrics!!!
The fifth track, Dangerous (Medusa II), make us feel like we are on a jetplane in a films with it's opening and the part before the refrain. This song has futuristic beat with synthesizer sound, which reminds me with the first track, Nightmare. Dangerous (Medusa II) also another Teddy Riley creation on this album (no wonder, it sounds like Michael Jackson's song again). Beside Teddy Riley as the composer, Jonghyun wrote the lyrics for this song. This song has such a great lyrics about SHINee who get curious with dangerous girl, which I think is Medusa. I really love this lyrics, "The more magnificent you are, the more thorns you have"!!! But, unfortunately, it has too many "danger" words throughout the song eventhough at the same time, it also ear catchy.
Dangerous (Medusa II) also has a great harmonization vocals, as expected from SHINee, on the refrain part. I also love Taemin, Onew, Jonghyun's part before Minho's rap!! And once again, I love Minho part on this song. His low voice suited this song perfectly.
Dangerous (Medusa II) followed with Like A Fire that has similar vibe with it although Like A Fire goes with slower tempo. In this song, SHINee is back with guitar sound just like what we found on their first chapter album. Like the previous song, this song also a type of song that will make you spin your head along with the beat while sing along to it. Like A Fire tells a story about how SHINee crazy in love with a girl and they described their love like a fire. Don't forget to check out the beautiful ad-libs by Jonghyun and Onew towards the end of this song!
The seventh track, Excuse Me Miss, also one of the most interesting track in this album beside Orgel. Why? It's because this time, SHINee played with R&B music throughout this song. Listening to it will reminds you with Destiny's Child song with strong beat accompanied by piano and strings. This song is fresh and pleasant to listen, thanks to the music and their voices which blend perfectly with the music. And surprisingly, Minho's rap improves again at the end of this song!! Whooaaa...I like how Minho continued to improve on this album!!!
Excuse Me Miss is about falling in love with a girl. If you like Girls, Girls, Girls from their previous album, you will also love this song because of the similar theme and vibe. Although the theme of this song is actually the most not connected one in the whole album, but the sexy vibe from this song still makes it connected with the album.
After cooling down with Like A Fire and Excuse Me Miss, SHINee back again with their upbeat song called Evil. This song opened with heartbeat sound which was interesting since the song is about these boys are dead and later on, they being taken away with an evil, but they tried to fight with it. The beat of this song reminds me with Hilary Duff - Stranger along with its strong percussion and guitar sound. Meanwhile, the string sound added dramatic effects of this song.
Instead of Why So Serious?, I think Evil would be sooo much better as their title track. It's powerful, sexy, dramatic, and spooky at the same time. They could add dramatic choreography for this song that would be epic. Beside that, the fact that Key started the first verse also quite surprising since he rarely did this I guess.
Finally, we come to the last track of this album, the only one ballad track, 떠나지 못해 (Sleepless Night). For those of you who feel familiar with this song, yes, SHINee already sang this during their Music Spoiler event and Showcase on February. But, what they sing during the event is little bit different from their album version. For their album version, they added more piano sound to make it more dramatic and made the string sound stronger. Beside that, their voices also sound smoother.
There is popular term, which said, "Save the best for the last", and this pretty much resembled the album. Personally, I think Sleepless Night is the best track from the album. You may call me biased about ballad songs, but this song is not only a basic and typical ballad that people often found in other albums. The music is simple, but beautiful and dramatic. And most importantly, I love how these five boys sang this song whole heartedly. Jonghyun and Onew were SOOOOOO GOOD especially during the high notes. Key's voice was heartbreaking meanwhile Taemin's voice surprisingly strong. Those long notes...Oh My God!!!! Another surprise came from Minho who was great especially at the ending part.
When I first heard this studio version, I got chills and you may called me too much, but actually, my tears were on the verge of my eyes :") This happened when I did not know what this song means, but I know it's about painfulness and sorrow, judging from the way they sing this song. And yes, I was right because this song is about how these boys cannot leave his love. Wheew...so sad :( If you are curious who is the man behind this heartbreaking lyrics, it's no other than....surprisesurprisesurprise...TVXQ Changmin!!!!! OMG...Changmin where did you hide your talent all this time???
Oh...one last note is you know this is a good track when you do not care about Minho's awkward rap throughout the song hahahahahaha. Anyway, Sleepless Night is a perfect ending for this album.
Why So Serious? - The Misconceptions of Me breaks my assumption about this album since the first time I listen to the medley teaser and the whole album, I still cannot feel it. But, the more I listen to it, the more I love this album. I love how this album is the opposite of their previous album which are noisy, bright, have rich sounds, and full of upbeat songs. This album comes with more down tempo song, simple sounds, and (Thank God, we are not trolled) darker tone. The darker tone also being emphasized with the main theme of this album, fantasy and love that cannot be united. Unfortunately, Why So Serious? - The Misconceptions of Me also one of few albums that has the title track as their worst song. Ugh...I still cannot feel Why So Serious?, sorry guys :(
Overall, I love how this album completed their previous album with different music and theme. And lastly, how come I forget to mention how sexy this album is ;)
My Favorite Tracks : SHINe, Orgel, Dangerous, Excuse Me Miss, Sleepless Night
Best to be Listen At : When you are about to go to sleep and when you are driving in a car
Rate : 4/5
Key also rapped in Orgel
ReplyDeleteOoooo okay.....pardon me, I still find it hard to differentiate Key and Minho's rap :)
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