[MUSIC ALBUM REVIEW] Girls' Generation - Lion Heart (2015)

After releasing Party, Girls’ Generation is back with their fifth Korean album, Lion Heart. This is a special album for them because it’s the first time they have two songs as their title track. Beside that, this album is also a test for them to see if they could maintain their top position after Jessica’s departure last year. Let’s see the review of their newest album below……………………………

Lion Heart brings back the old school sound of Girls’ Generation. It has a smooth flow and simple hook part which will remind us with their past releases such as Gee or Hoot. But at the same time, they offer something fresh, the retro sound. Funky bass and drum line, finger snaps, and vocal harmonization dominated this song. It’s quite a surprise because Girls’ Generation rarely sings this type of genre.

Lion Heart shows more mature side of Girls’ Generation in terms of concept. In the music video, they put bold make up and wear glamorous dresses. It fits their age while also fits the retro concept. Their choreography becomes bolder too with the leg-spreading dance although it did not fit the song and their dress; making it looks awkward. However, we can still find the youthful vibe of Girls’ Generation in the music video. It has colorful visual and funny storyline about the lion guy who is bad, but irresistible.

If we want to see the fierce and strong Girls’ Generation, You Think is the right choice. It has strong hip-hop beat combined with powerful vocal and rap. The girls styling in the music video is also different from Lion Heart. They sported darker look from make up to clothes. They look gorgeous, which makes the music video more appealing despite lack of variation in terms of setting and shot.

You Think has a great potential to be a girl power anthem since it talked about the girls anger about a man who backstabbed them. Unfortunately, this song lacks of something. The music sounds unpolished because it only relies on the strong hip-hop beat. They should add more sound such as guitar riff or synthesizer for variation and as a punch to the song. On another note, the vocal is too much and it disrupts the enjoyment of listening to this song. There are too many unnecessary high notes like the “You’re not” part. The rap part is a miss this time and they should stop making the girls’ rap because it always hit or miss.

You can find Party review here!

We cool it up a bit on the fourth track, One Afternoon. Just like the title, this sounds like a song to accompany your coffee time at the café in one afternoon. The acoustic guitar sound gives out the chill vibe throughout the song. The girls sound lovely in this song. In fact, their voice and harmonization is what makes the song special.

This song fits their vocal color, so it makes each of them shine on their own. Seohyun as well as Yuri continues to impress me and Tiffany sounds great if she sings on her range. Moreover, all of them do a good job in conveying the song lyrics. Behind their sweet voice, we can feel their longing and sadness since the song talked about how they miss a guy and wish they could fix their relationship. There is a bittersweet feeling on it.

Show Girls, the Korean version of their Japanese single, shows woman confidence on its lyrics, which is a good thing for a role model group like Girls Generation.  This song makes us feel like we are in a cabaret. It starts with flirty vocal along with piano and bass sound on the verses. Then as the trumpet and drum comes in, the song tempo gets faster. Unfortunately, this strong build up does not followed by the chorus. The chorus is quite a letdown because there is too much sound going on, but at the same time, too little vocal.

Fire Alarm leans more into 80s electronic sound with the domination of funky bass line and synthesizer. It grabs your attention since the first listen with its catchy “Danger” lyrics. The lyrics are the important part of this song because it carries the song dynamic.

This song starts with loud vocal and electronic music as a warning for the girls to get closer with the guy. Then, the vocal gets softer during the verses where the girls are being cautious with everyone since they still want to pursue the guy. The bass line during this part also adds the mysterious aspect. The music gets more up beat at the chorus and the girls begin to ask each other whether they should avoid him or not. We may not know the ending, but this song provides a fun journey of their love story.

There is a high influence of 90s R&B song through the synthesizer and strong beat in Talk Talk. This sound keeps going throughout the song, so the girls should play out on their vocal to avoid the song becomes repetitive. Talk Talk shows the improvement of Girls’ Generation vocal and their ability to put longing emotions based on the song theme. Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun are good as always while Yoona and Hyoyeon get memorable parts that fit their voice. But the stars of this song are Sunny, who is indeed the hidden gem of the group along with Sooyoung and Yuri, who both belt more challenging notes from their usual line.

Green Light is a fun song. This song describes a relationship just like traffic light. If you give me a green light, I will start the engine and come for you. The cute song lyrics accompanied by the girls’ playful voice. The electric guitar and electronic instruments sound also add fun aspect to the song. However, the song has its own problem. It is more suitable for f(x) discography. The electronic music, their way of singing, and the fast rap part screams f(x) for me.

Beside Party, Paradise is a song that fits current summer theme. Listening to this song will make us want to go on a trip with our boyfriend.  The electric guitar sound will lift up our spirit. Meanwhile, the synthesizer sound gives the dreamy vibe just like the song lyrics about how being with our lover makes us feel like we are in paradise. Both of these sounds also keep the continuity of the retro theme. This song also gives spotlight to Yoona and Hyoyeon. Their soft and low voice matches the song, especially during the bridge part.

Check is another old school R&B influenced track with strong beat and bass line. If Talk Talk goes into vulnerable and slower route, this song is the opposite. It’s a medium tempo dance song with sassy lyrics. It is about the girls’ warning to the guy because they will slowly captivate him. This type of lyrics is refreshing in this album. Finally, we see the change where the girls are the dangerous one instead of the boys.

The sass in Check will not work without the girls’ vocal. The girls pull out enough confidence on their vocal (and performance) for this song. The strong and decent vocalists complement each other, resulting good dynamic for the song. The stronger vocalists, TaeTiSeo, shine more because they could display powerful vocal. However, Yoona sweet “Lipstick High Heels Hairstyle” line will definitely steal our attention.

The opening of Signs reminds us with a spy movie. The guitar, synthesizer, and bass sound gives out the mysterious vibe. This is related with the song lyrics since they are desperately looking for their guy. For the verses, the girls’ sing/talk their lines, which is why the dance line (Sooyoung, Hyoyeon, Yoona, and Yuri) gets more part compare to the vocal line. Unfortunately, this mysterious build up does not followed by the chorus. It falls flat because they go into softer voice instead of picking it up. Also, Signs is another track that feel like a f(x) song because of the singing/talking part and the electronic music.

When we first listen to Bump It, we will think that this is a powerful ballad song to close the album. But hold on, the music suddenly changes into hip-hop beat and the girls begin to rap. As we arrive in the chorus part, it’s full of strong vocal and sweet piano melody. What an intense, yet unique song.

Bump It is how I Got A Boy should be. Both songs treat the sudden change of sound as way of telling the story about how they like the boy. However, Bump It works because each part does not sound disjointed with each other, something that I Got A Boy lack of.

Lion Heart is a solid album from Girls’ Generation. It shows a combination of old and new sound of Girls Generation. Each track is pleasant listening, but not many of them stand out among the others since the girls decide to play it safe. As for Jessica absence, other members show huge vocal improvement to fill her absence, especially Sunny and Yuri who get more lines compare to the previous albums. But Jessica’s distinct voice is the one that brings character to Girls’ Generation songs. It differentiates their songs with other groups’ song and TaeTiSeo songs. Speaking of TaeTiSeo, the girls need to work more to differentiate the group and the sub-unit because there are some songs in this album that could fit TaeTiSeo album. Overall, a nice effort from Girls’ Generation!

Favorite Songs   : Lion Heart, One Afternoon, Fire Alarm, Talk Talk, Check, Bump It

Rating                      : 3/5

Categories: Album, Choi Sooyoung, Girls Generation, Hyoyeon, Kpop, Lion Heart, Seohyun, Sunny, Taeyeon, Tiffany, Yoona, Yuri