Hellooooo everyoneeeeeee!!!!!!
Haaaaa, it's been a long time since I write in this blog. I am sorry I have to neglect this blog for too long because I have been busy with assignments, works, and also student's organizations. Once again, sorry guys :(
Anyway, today I will write a review about one of 2012 most shining rookies, EXO!!!!! Well, most of you will probably think that it was very 2000 and late for me to write about this now since they already released their album on June 3rd, 2013, which is like almost a month ago. But, I still think I have to share my thoughts about this album in this blog :)
EXO is finally coming back as 12, not 6 and 6, just like how they separated these boys into two units, K (Korean) and M (Mandarin) for their previous mini album, MAMA (2012). Moreover, they also return with their full length album titled XOXO, with Kiss edition for the Korean version and Hug edition for the Mandarin version (yes, the album is still separated into two). By this comeback, it seems that SM Entertainment tried to make up our longing for them since they have not had a comeback after their first debut album in April 2012, which is considered as a long period of time for rookies like them (if you compared to another 2012 shining rookie, B.A.P, who already released four single and mini albums in 2012 and one mini album in 2013).
Without wasting much time, let's take a look EXO's latest efforts through ten songs in their first full album.....................
Chinese Version here
XOXO album opened with Wolf, the title track. This song reminds me so much with their lovely noonas, Girls' Generation, latest single, I Got A Boy, with "several songs" that being combined into one (yes,along with the rapping/fast-talking part and high notes battle) and makes the listeners' feel uncomfortable to listen at first. While I Got A Boy comes out as a success (although many people still criticized this song), Wolf unfortunately has to fail miserably just like what happened to their senior, SHINee, latest single, Why So Serious?. Sorry to say, but this song is messy in a bad way, which also means, horrible. And sadly, the cheap music video does not help either. Furthermore, the fact that there are three versions of this song that being played consecutively also seemed to worsen the condition. Oh God...I swear listening to those made me dizzy.
Eventhough Wolf seems like the biggest disaster, there are still good points from it, which would be their epic performance with sleek choreography. Also, I like how Wolf able to showcase some of the members' talents. For example, Chen and Baekhyun high notes and Tao rap in the Mandarin version that were impressive.
Fortunately, the second track, Baby Don't Cry (The Mermaid's Tears), does not come as terrible as Wolf. Instead, it comes out as a beautiful song with heartbreaking lyrics and gorgeous piano sound. I love how they make references with The Little Mermaid story in this song. The vocals are also awesome and sorry to say M boys, but this time, I preferred the K version because I really can feel Baekhyun, D.O., Suho emotions in this song. It's like I can feel their sadness eventhough I don't know the meaning of this song at first.
The other things that make me prefer the K version are the way D.O sings his line, "When you smile, sun shines", which I really love and basically, the best part of this song, and Chanyeol rap that surprisingly fit this song unlike Tao and Kris rap that do not really goes along with this song at some part. Those two things are surprises for me because I did not expect there would be part like that in this song judging from the short version on the teaser and showcase performance. Yes...I somehow already predicted how the full song will sounds and I thought that they already revealed the best part of this song from the short version. But, we know how my prediction were wrong and it turned out that Baby Don't Cry exceed my expectations ;)
The third track, Black Pearl, also provides a nice surprise for me like how Baby Don't Cry did. To be honest, I was pessimistic with this track at first since I did not really like the music from the teaser and I cannot imagine if there would be a song that has a music like this. But, once again, Black Pearl easily turns my perceptions into the opposite. Black Pearl is one of the strongest track from this song with it's freakin' rich music (I can't believe I said it to the same music that I used to hate) that matched the song theme and lyrics, which is fantasy theme and about EXO searched for the mysterious girl, the beautiful black pearl. I also love the boys way of singing like they seems to answer each other lines and how equally good both of the versions are. And let's not forget the amazing fast rap part by Chanyeol and Tao that unfortunately, do not being followed by Kai, Sehun, and Kris rap part because theirs do not really match with the song.
With this impressive debut album, I am anticipated, but also worried about EXO's albums in the future since it would be a pity if SM Entertainment decided to stop having good songs for them because they know EXO already success, no matter how generic their songs would be (ehmmm...does this sound familiar, guys?). But, from now on, let's keep our positive minds because I somehow believe that SM Entertainment would do the best for them :)
My Favorite Tracks : Everything (minus Baby & Wolf)
Best to be Listen at : At bedroom when you are thinking about your crush, at car when you are on the way to school or somewhere with your friends, at the gym or bedroom whenever you need something to pump your spirit, at wherever when you feel like reminiscence about your high school time
Rating : 4/5
Eventhough Wolf seems like the biggest disaster, there are still good points from it, which would be their epic performance with sleek choreography. Also, I like how Wolf able to showcase some of the members' talents. For example, Chen and Baekhyun high notes and Tao rap in the Mandarin version that were impressive.
Chinese Version here
Fortunately, the second track, Baby Don't Cry (The Mermaid's Tears), does not come as terrible as Wolf. Instead, it comes out as a beautiful song with heartbreaking lyrics and gorgeous piano sound. I love how they make references with The Little Mermaid story in this song. The vocals are also awesome and sorry to say M boys, but this time, I preferred the K version because I really can feel Baekhyun, D.O., Suho emotions in this song. It's like I can feel their sadness eventhough I don't know the meaning of this song at first.
The other things that make me prefer the K version are the way D.O sings his line, "When you smile, sun shines", which I really love and basically, the best part of this song, and Chanyeol rap that surprisingly fit this song unlike Tao and Kris rap that do not really goes along with this song at some part. Those two things are surprises for me because I did not expect there would be part like that in this song judging from the short version on the teaser and showcase performance. Yes...I somehow already predicted how the full song will sounds and I thought that they already revealed the best part of this song from the short version. But, we know how my prediction were wrong and it turned out that Baby Don't Cry exceed my expectations ;)
Chinese Version here
Chinese Version here
The fourth track, Don't Go, somehow reminds me with Angel, one of their songs from MAMA album, with its dreamy vibe, only Don't Go comes out stronger than Angel. This song is also one of my favorite tracks from this album. The main thing that I really love from this song is how the fast beat and the boys' ways of singing matched the whole theme of this song, which is how they are curious with a girl called a butterfly girl and urgently tell her to not going away. This also help make this song flows soooo nicely and becomes pleasant listening. Beside that, the dreamy vibe of this song matched with the fantasy theme on this song and the whole concept of this album, high school, that resembled something light and youthful.
The other thing that I love from Don't Go would be how K and M versions each have their own strong points from this song that made this song equally good for both of them. K wins the harmonization part while M wins at the individual vocal parts, where all of the members sing really nice in this song, including (surprise surprise) Kris and Tao.
Chinese Version here
The fifth track, Let Out The Beast, do what Wolf failed to do, which is showcasing both of the rappers and singers talent without sounds all over the place. Because of this, I think this should be their title track. They do not have to worry if this song showed different image that they are trying to portray with Wolf because the whole concept of both of these two songs are the same, strong, rebel, and beastly. Even they can get plus point from Let Out The Beast since this song also provide a sexy vibe too, which surely makes fangirls' heart flutters. Both K and M versions are awesome eventhough Kris' too much growl in this song made me cringe and laugh (Dear Kris, you already sexy and cool without that). At last, I almost forget to mention how sick the beat of this song is.
Chinese Version here
We are now already listen to almost half of this album and no.....I did not change the album into One Direction's!! Maybe you mixed up the sixth track, 3.6.5, into One Direction song because it does sound like one with its upbeat full band sound and catchy hook at the chorus. Since it similar with One Direction song, you may think that 3.6.5 is very cheesy, but no, it is not. In fact, 3.6.5 comes out as a breath of the fresh air for me after listening to five strong tracks from the beginning. It's fun, light, youthful, cheerful, and full of spirit, which is very suitable with the high school concept on this album. Beside that, I highly recommend all of you to listen to this song every morning when you are preparing for school or when you are on the way to school since it can motivates you with its beat and lyrics. 3.6.5 also becomes one of the song where all of K and M members' (yes, 12 of them!!!!) sound good with Kris becomes the one who wins my heart this time, thanks to his surprisingly ear-pleasant voice :)
Chinese Version here
On the seventh track, Heart Attack, EXO tries to play with R&B and Hip Hop sound (which somehow reminds me with SHINee) and I have to admit I like their courage. Love the beat of this song and the refrain part which was catchy and memorable. Heart Attack also become another song where the EXO boys way of singing sounds like they answer each other line and it makes the song flows smoothly. I like it and I am not complaining about that. But, since this song has repetitive beat, there is a high chance for this song to make us feel bored or sleepy and sadly, I am the one who experienced it now.
Chinese Version here
The eighth track, Peter Pan, brings back the old memories about the innocent, sweet, and pure first love with its dreamy music and lyrics that surely can makes you go aaawww, even smile or giggle by yourself. I really love this song, in fact, this song is my most favorite song throughout this album despite my skepticism towards this song at first (remember to not judge a song by its short snippet guys because trust me, I have been fooled third time on this album). Why this song becomes my most favorite song through this album? Well, it is because I love the simplicity of this song (meaning that you do not have to go for bombastic music sounds), the dreamy vibe of this song, the way the boys sing this song that sounds like they tell us a story (although the rap parts still sound awkward at some place), the catchy "ooooo oooooo ooooo" part, and lastly, the fact that this song suit the high school concept perfectly.
And most importantly, I love how this song rings a bell in every girl's heart about their own prince charming that appeared on their first love. Cheesy? Surely, it does, but hey, doesn't first love always cheesy? Doesn't every girl wish to have a prince charming, no matter how old they are now? And doesn't every girl wish to be called more beautiful than Cinderella? Well, you know the answer ;)
Overall, I have to say that XOXO album worth our wait after not seeing EXO making a comeback for more than one year. It's a beautiful and solid album with every track flows dynamically (from fast to slow to fast, etc.) in order to make the album not become boring or trapped into the similar type of songs. I love how most of the song from this album resembled the high school concept that they tried to portray in this comeback from light, fun, pure, dreamy vibe through songs like Don't Go or Peter Pan to the rebel side in Let Out The Beast and heartbroken in Baby Don't Cry. The minus point from this album would be the horrible title track and the rap part at some songs that need to be practice more (yes, I am looking at you, Kris, Kai, Sehun).And most importantly, I love how this song rings a bell in every girl's heart about their own prince charming that appeared on their first love. Cheesy? Surely, it does, but hey, doesn't first love always cheesy? Doesn't every girl wish to have a prince charming, no matter how old they are now? And doesn't every girl wish to be called more beautiful than Cinderella? Well, you know the answer ;)
Chinese Version here
The ninth song, Baby, unfortunately has to be my least favorite song in this album. It does has a memorable refrain part and I love how each member sing in this song, but sorry to say, the rest of the song is mediocre. It seems that all of the good formula from this album already being spent since the beginning and Baby only got the rest. Sorry Baby, you are still a good song, but you cannot compete with the other songs :(
Chinese Version here
The tenth track, My Lady, opened with an engaging opening line (Once again, D.O nailed it again, sorry EXO-M boys) with guitar, bass, and finger tips sounds that automatically brings you to the chilling atmosphere of a lounge or cafe. The song flows nicely and pleasant listening until comes the refrain part, the chinguga anya part, which was meh. Then, what about the rest of the song? Sadly, it does not help picking the song up either. This is such a let down for me because I have been anticipating this song since the first teaser and I swear this song actually has sooooo much potential. Oh God, if they can make it right, I swear this would be a fantastic song, but unfortunately, it is already too late.
With this impressive debut album, I am anticipated, but also worried about EXO's albums in the future since it would be a pity if SM Entertainment decided to stop having good songs for them because they know EXO already success, no matter how generic their songs would be (ehmmm...does this sound familiar, guys?). But, from now on, let's keep our positive minds because I somehow believe that SM Entertainment would do the best for them :)
My Favorite Tracks : Everything (minus Baby & Wolf)
Best to be Listen at : At bedroom when you are thinking about your crush, at car when you are on the way to school or somewhere with your friends, at the gym or bedroom whenever you need something to pump your spirit, at wherever when you feel like reminiscence about your high school time
Rating : 4/5
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