Okay, finally.
Overall
The album isn't bad, it isn't great either. I like more songs than I don't. I am a little displeased that they decided to put the 3 solo(-ish) songs on the album instead of putting 3 new tracks--they did have over a year. I've listened to the album quite a few times all the way through and honestly the only song I skip is Dara's "Kiss" (which you guys know I never liked to begin with). I can forgive the autotune on some of the tracks, but it is overused on a group of girls who can actually sing quite well.
Anyway, last year when we were reviewing things for TOK I came up with a grading scale for music releases, so I put the new album through it. Every song is graded on a scale of 1-5, then the total is averaged.
01. Can't Nobody 3/5
Decent track, nothing that great--listenable. The only parts that really pop to me are Minzy's prechorus (I'm so bad, bad) and the outro (Rock, just take it to the top).
02. Go Away 4/5
The production on this track is actually less impressive to me than Can't Nobody, but the overall feel of the song is just better. CL's autotune is disappointing--why just her? But I love her swearing (you guys know I love them swearing in English). The song has that fun build to it. This should be the lead of the 3 promotions.
03. Bakssucheo 4/5
I didn't like the song at first, but it's grown on me. To me, this song is very like mini-album 2NE1...despite it not being really anything like their mini. I might be biased since CL basically has 3 verses on the track, but I really like the entire song. The chorus really pops for me. And I don't mind the autotune so much on this track since it really fits with the overall feel. Of the three promotions, I think the girls are working the hardest on this song.
04. Nan Bappa 3/5
Of all the songs on the album, this one seems to be the most forgettable for me (except for the intro and Ne-Yo guitar line sample). I don't have much to say cus I feel this song is very generic K-pop. The song doesn't really do anything until the chorus, which is so different from the rest of the song that it's kind of unsettling.
05. Apa (Slow) 5/5
Great track. I'm happy they let the girls' vocals really shine on at least one track. It's hard to just throw a ballad into a dance pop album and not have it feel tacked on. And while this actually may just be tacked on, it's such a great song that it's fine by me. I'm looking for this to be their next promotion: set up with a live band, the girls dressed very chic, sitting at the front of the stage. It'll work so well.
06. Sarangeun Ayaya 5/5
This is the track on the album that could've easily been on the mini-album, yet doesn't feel out of place here. I really enjoy the arrangement of this track, with the soft piano line and the heavy percussion in the back with the strings--it feels really nice. And the girls sound great here.
07. You & I 3/5
Bom's solo song could have been swapped for another mid-tempo track. It's not bad, I though it was alright when it came out (a refreshing save from Dara's solo), but it feels generic to me.
08. Please Don't Go 5/5
I was on the fence about this song when it first came out, but I love it now. It's fun and playful and the chorus reminds me so much of a HALCALI song (which is probably what helped it win me over).
09. Kiss 2/5
While it's not disaster of a song, it is the worst on the album for me. I never got into it and I'm not sure why. It just doesn't work well for me and feels so far below what I expect of 2NE1.
10. Nal Ttara Haebwayo 4/5
I defended this song a lot when it came out and I still do. It's simple in lyrics, but the production sets it off for me. A lot of people complained about the autotune, but for me it fit really well with the whole feel of the song.
11. I Don't Care (Reggae Mix) 5/5
Still pretty much the best thing the girls have ever done. There's just nothing else to really say.
12. Can't Nobody (English ver.) 3/5
It's the same song, but in English, so the score doesn't change. I do like hearing the English, and the girls' English is great, so it's not distracting or anything. But it's inclusion is just a gimmick really, and it could've been replaced with a better, new song.
Final Thoughts
So after everything, the album gets a 3.83/5 which comes to a 77% or a C+. It's passing, and I do enjoy the album, but it could've been a lot better.
Topic: (Group) 2NE1 (투애니 원) (Read 333809 times)