Wally In K-Life

So I am finally getting around to doing an album review. I know I know, the album came out like forever ago (3 days ago!) so you guys probably don’t need this, but I thought I’d share my thoughts with all of you anyways!

To start, I’ll say that when I first saw the image of the skull with the stars inside, I thought, “wow, this image is super dope.” I really liked it. But, I also thought, “I really hope this isn’t the actual album cover” because I thought it was a little bit too, I don’t know, just G.D. style, not Big Bang style. And to tell the truth, i still kind of think that that image doesn’t fit the music. Some of the songs are pretty depressing and all, but the skull image is too hard for this particular album’s music. I was really afraid that they would go all G.D.’s 어쩌란말이냐? on this album and I’d hate it. Luckily, they didn’t.

Regarding the rest of the packaging, it’s kind of mediocre. I love the cd itself. The color is lovely, and I really do love the idea of the stars and constellations (which you see inside the skull image). I like that the album just took the star map theme and used it. But, as far as the album jacket is concerned, these are my problems:

1. WHY DO YOU GLUE THE DAMN PHOTOBOOK IN???? They’ve been doing this recently, with the Taeyang Concert DVD, GD&TOP album, 2ne1 album, etc, but I effing hate it. It makes it hard to see the pictures well, I can’t take pictures of the pictures well (I know that’s ridiculous, but I want them). Plus, I feel really awful bending the book so severely at the “spine”. It ruins everything. If I could send just one message to YG entertainment it would be, “take away all of taeyang’s shirts and don’t ever let him wear a shirt again.” But then if YG let me give him another message, I’d say, “stop gluing the photobook inside. I want to explore the photobook and I can’t when you glue it in like this.”

2. The photobook/album insert thing is too short. I can’t be certain, but even the GD/TOP album has more pictures than this one. I’ve waited so darn long and you are making me sad by not putting more pictures in. We’ve waited over 2 years, and we get maybe 3 pictures of each, plus maybe 5 pictures of the group? COME ON.

3. There are no prizes for registering your YG Family Card now. LAME. What happened to the prizes???? I will never win, but the possibility is the best thing EVER.

Anyways, that’s all on the packaging. Oh, except that I got the Taeyang version of the Family CARD!!!!!!!!! Happy!

I will also say that when i bought my cd at Soundwave at Shinsegae Department Store, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a photo of the boys, which is just omg so awesome. I know they didn’t have them everywhere, so I’m super amped I got one! ^^

Now, about the songs.

1. Intro (Thank You & You): oh my god. sexy. I love the way GD says thank you and YOU with a cool inflection on the you. Seungri’s line is also super smooth. Super auto-tuned, but I don’t even care because I want to just make out with all of their voices.

2. Hands Up: I love that Daesung gets the first line. I always feel like he has the best voice in the group, but always gets jipped the most. Also, I’m kind of sick of GD’s auto-tuned Heartbreaker voice. It’s not bad, I just miss hearing him with his real voice. I really like the beat of this song. Also, I read this on a youtube comment after the songs came out, but I totally agree: TOP’s first line is so Lil Wayne like and I’m totally okay with that. In fact, I love it. I do think this song is nice, but it’s not really really new since the Japanese version was already out (even though it is altered…) I like the hey-ho hey-ho part. With GD kind of as the hype man.

3. Tonight: The start of this song is great, with the clapping and the rising instrumental. Just really gets you pumped. I like the way TOP says Big BANG. Finally GD rapping with an un-altered voice (let me blow your mind is so WONDERFUL sounding). TOP’s tempo reminds me of Lies a little but in a good way. The chorus/bridge is perfect. I want to be at a club just bouncing to this. I really really like this song. They did an excellent job in production. The pause and re-rise with the guitar and Taeyang and Daesung singing rocks. The video is also great. It’s unfortunate that they didn’t have it totally finished and lovely at the Big Show. Good Night-tuh. TOP I love you (but not more than my friend at WordsRunDry)

4. Somebody to Love: The other Japanese re-release. This song has a nice electronic instrumental without the super electronic vocals, which is nice. Taeyang sounds so polished in this song. Tik tik tok. Oh YES TAEYANG. Taeyang shines in this one, I think. And that makes me happy, as I am totally YB biased. And the When I say Somebody, then you say, to to love part is so AWESOME! Oh Young Bae. I love you (more than anyone could possibly ever love you, so there…)

5. What is Right: When I first heard this song, I thought, “meh, this is definitely my least favorite.” It’s still my least favorite, but it has definitely gone up in my esteem. The performance of this at Big Show was not particularly memorable (maybe my bias against it was still strong enough. Also, I distinctly remember the tightness of the crowd and heat really getting to me during their performances of this set). The chorus is super catchy though. Also, after translating the lyrics at my site: reallykpop, I have a better appreciation for it. Seungri’s verse is also very nice.

6. Cafe: I LOVE THIS SONG. It seems like everyone else in the VIP world does too. But how can’t you. With such a sexy beginning with TOP’s super deep voice and then switch to GD’s first use of his super high voice. LOVE IT. It’s super depressing though. Lyrics are translated at my lyrics site too, in case you haven’t seen it yet. ^^

The album on the whole is really good. I would say the music itself (like if I just got the digital album) would be a 4.5 stars out of 5 (points deducted for What is Right being not quite as good as the other songs, and for two of the six tracks being Japanese re-releases which is okay, but not as good as completely new stuff)

The album packaging and stuff would get a 3 out of 5 stars. I was pretty disappointed with it. When you compare it to, say, the 2ne1 album, it’s pretty average. It’s certainly not bad, it’s just not that great.

That being said, it’s the only thing I’ve listened to for three days! ^^