Archive for the ‘ Music ’ Category
I’m sorry. I’m blown away by the hotness. Can’t use complete sentences.
Putting it simply: new boyband. Called X-Cross. Duo of MODELS. HAAAAAWT MODELS.
I need to oogle at the shirtless scenes again:
For models-turned-idols they’re alarmingly un-suck-ish 😀 Jess likes the blonde. Though the other guy looks pretty hot from the side. Guess Jess should find out what their names are.
I swear, it’s like someone took CSJH The Grace and gave them SNSD/4minute/B.E.G.’s clothes and dances O.o While I don’t really approve of their choice in wardrobe (half of it looks pulled out of HyunA’s “Change” >.<), and the fusion of the words “magic” and “music” sounds really annoying, the song kinda grows on you after a while…
(Before I go on about INFINITE, I’d just like to point out the brand new, shiny “Polls” page I just added- check that out sometime XD)
2 posts ago I linked to a 1-minute teaser for an upcoming boyband called “INFINITE.” Well, they just released their first album, “First Invasion,” and this is what I have to say about it:
Jess’ verdict: I can’t deny that these guys have something, but it really feels like a “been there, done that” kind of something and it doesn’t sound like they’ve gotten any more than 2, maybe 3 years of training. While I wouldn’t discourage you from tuning into their first EP, don’t expect something that’ll blow your socks off.
Jess recommends: Fixed Star – this is the only ballad on the album, and I must admit, it sounds like INFINITE’s getting their DBSK on; their individual and combined vocals are well complimented (complicated? FAIL XD) by the instrumentals and really shine in this song.
I’d like to check if they’ve got any music videos out yet but my internet died while I was typing this… *hovers mouse over “publish” button*
GAH, why the frack can’t I embed these frickin’ videos? >:/ Ahah, figured the youtube tag out XD
I must say, this is one of the few girls groups that doesn’t suck live at their debut. Even though the title of their first single “Push Push” kinda sounds like it’s got some ridiculous innuendo going on, and they seem a little superficial at first (let’s admit it, every girl group kind of does), you have to admit there is talent present:
I’m kind of curious where this group’s gonna go… I mean, they’re not anything unique yet, but they do have potential.
There is one little detail that’s really annoying me, and this goes for all songs from Brave Entertainment: STOP PUTTING THE FREAKING “BRAVE SOUND” IN SONGS. You’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times. Shameless self-promotion, anyone? -.-
While I’m on a K-pop-y note, I just saw a teaser for this upcoming 7-member boyband called “Infinite.” Kind of unfortunate that their teaser video doesn’t show any discernible talent yet (but dude, there’s a SEGWAY!), I’m still vaguely interested, they sound sort of ZE:A-ish… let’s just hope they don’t debut with a Mazeltov-esque mess XD
I don’t know why I didn’t look this song up live earlier… somehow it’s so much more touching than the studio version…
*I POSTED THIS BEFORE I FINISHED IT BECAUSE I GOT BORED*
I dunno, I was listening to some good ol’ Arashi (Tokei Jikake no Umbrella ;)) and I suddenly felt myself wondering:
Really, what parts can be combined to make a good vocal group?
So, I’ve decided to look at a few groups in an attempt to figure out what minimum 5 parts can be factored into an equation to determine the general goodness of vocal groups. The groups I’ll be examining are: Arashi, B2ST, f(x) (pre-NU ABO, I can’t discern any vocal talent out of any of the newer stuff anyways), DBSK, MBlaq, SHINee, SNSD, Wondergirls, 2NE1 and 4minute. Anyone who wants to disregard my opinion because I’m only looking at Asian groups, shut up and go away… Just kidding~ *hugs* I love you too, I just don’t care much for English groups anymore XD
I’ll split the elements and trends I find into “factors,” since obviously not all bands will contain all these “factors” or may contain a person that could be a mix of “factors.”
Let’s face it, in most vocal groups, the leader ends up being good at freaking EVERYTHING. Now, obviously being good at singing is the main criteria here, but the leader is often also good at: dancing, rapping, being beautiful (if that counts XD), or all of the above.
Examples:
This is a commonly recurring factor among K-pop groups today since companies are demonstrating a trend of spewing out groups with only 2, 3 years of training as a group, and as a result there’s often really good and really bad people. Sometimes they’ll just pick the eldest of the group to be the leader and not ask any questions (*COUGH* 4minute *COUGH*), sometimes they’ll be smart and hold some kind of friendly competition among the members, but regardless, there is almost always a singer that will be at par or beyond the leader’s singing ability.
Examples:
It’s nice having rappers in a group to keep things interesting. That, and usually some kind of epic rap can be found at the climax of nearly every pop song in existence. This person’s usually got some decent vocal skills to boot too.
Examples:
Sometimes I wonder what talent scouts/producers/directors/whoever the heck puts people in a band were thinking when they put these kinds of people in a band. Then I remember it’s because they look good on promotional posters, in commercial appearances, or something else. Often this person’s talent will be slightly above that of an average person, but really nothing spectacular. A lot of the time, they can’t even perform well. Other times, it’s just some really young person that everyone goes “OMG THEY MUST BE SOOO GUD IF THEIR IN A BAND” over (which really annoys the heck out of me, frankly). I’d just like to point out right here that so far I’ve been having a lot of trouble finding this factor in a boy band.
Examples:
This is the one in the band that can get away with screaming into the mic, but somehow managing to keep that screaming in tune and musical. And I don’t mean a little scream like “YAOH” and move on, I mean like an epic, long scream like Max’s “YEAAAAAAAAH” in Mirotic. This person is usually male too, guys screaming in that distinctly manly way is something that for some reason doesn’t always work for us gals x.x
Examples:
I dunno, I’ve noticed there tends to be someone with this distinct breath-y sound in some groups. I actually kind of like that sound to be perfectly honest, it’s so… well, distinct, compared to everyone else XD
Examples:
I was just listening to “Jiggy” by F.Cuz and “Bad Girl” by B2ST when a thought struck me.
Not enough Korean boy bands are going with the cute, up-beat style anymore. (Well, if there are, I certainly am deaf/blind XD)
Both F.Cuz and B2ST had absolutely adorable singles and outfits in their debut – F.Cuz with their crazy colours, while B2ST had a more mature, monotone look but their sound still made me want to get up and dance. Their music was catchy and a little repetitive, but the good kind of repetitive, so it’s not like you’d regret getting the song stuck in your head or something, because the songs were enjoyable.
Now I’m not really saying that they suck or anything now (well, actually, I don’t really like B2ST’s Shock of the New Era, but that’s beside the point), it’s just that the the cuteness from the beginning was just so much more enjoyable. I like wanting to get up and dance. While SHOCK and No One are pretty okay, they’re just not Jiggy and Bad Girl, y’know? I mean, look how cute F.Cuz was: (that guy in the middle isn’t from F.Cuz, not really sure who he is to be honest XD)
And now:
While I do admit the darker, more mature look is pretty damn smexy, there’s just not as much personality to it since everyone’s doing it.
Example A – SHINee:
Example B – U-Kiss:
Example C – MBlaq:
Example D – Shinhwa (yes, I know they’re disbanded, but still, this was the look during their 7th and 8th albums so this counts!):
So, yeah, that’s sorta my spiel for today. I want more cutesy boy bands. The end.
PS: I’m calling this sub-section “Opinions” because “Reviews” makes it sound like I’m trying to sell my opinion like fact. I really don’t mind people thinking I’m wrong, considering I (surprisingly) can be XD
Earworm (eer-wurm): noun – a song that has some ridiculous catchy tune that somehow stays stuck in your head for more than 24 hours.
I thought starting off this post with that definition would be kind of appropriate, since in the last 7 days there have been a few songs that I absolutely cannot get out of my head and feel like sharing with the world. Maybe I should turn this into a weekly “What I’ve been listening to” thing for the heck of it. Anyways, the top earworms of my week and why:
1) Try to Follow Me (2NE1): there’s something about the blatant synthesizing of the chorus’ vocals and that backing synth track that I just can’t chase out of my head.
2) Abracadabra (Brown-Eyed Girls): so… repetitive… so… simple… yet so catchy *.*
3) Stand Up People (CSJH The Grace): God, these women have freaking awesome, powerful vocals. The chorus of this song really is unforgettable, even if I can’t understand a word of it.
4) BANG! (After School): I’m not really sure if this song is incredibly catchy or incredibly annoying… or annoyingly catchingly incredible. The rap’s pretty dang awesome too.
5) Won’t Be Long (EXILE): I actually hadn’t ever heard of EXILE until after reading another blog, but the energy radiating from this song and group is so addicting 😀
6) Love Yourself (KAT-TUN): Heard this sometime in late February and thought it was just the cutest thing ever… opinion still hasn’t changed 😉
7) Mirotic (DBSK): It took a while for this to grow on me… now I can’t go 24 hours without listening to it XD
Weeeell, that’s my little spiel for the day, expect more to come if I don’t feel lazy.
*EDIT* Haha, there is more 😉
8) U (Super Junior): I dunno. Something about the acoustic guitar coupled with the other synth stuff sounds kinda funky.
Jess' Centre of Randomness 