HEADLINES
+ What? What? Two artists show up on the red carpet wearing the same dress. "Shadow" is on trend.
+ Gothy, smoldering, horror inspired music videos bring the pain.
+ YG takes it for the WIN!
+ Fans blinded by SHINee blitz
+ Vixx gets briefly romantical after Jekyll and Hyde incident, but then the lady gets revenge on Voodoo.
+ East Coast Hip Hop beats infuse kpop with urban gravitas!
THE SKINNY
f(x) - "Shadow"
featuring Munchkins and stalkers!
A fantastic album that is sonically all f(x) electricity and SM sophistication. Mature without resorting to a lot of skin, f(x) is aging well, and blessed with a fierce individuality that no one else can touch. This album is sxixxors' top pop of the year. See also: "Step" (kismet of pop and euro-tech house that never loses the dance floor logic), "Rum Pum Pum", and "Airplanes".
A fantastic album that is sonically all f(x) electricity and SM sophistication. Mature without resorting to a lot of skin, f(x) is aging well, and blessed with a fierce individuality that no one else can touch. This album is sxixxors' top pop of the year. See also: "Step" (kismet of pop and euro-tech house that never loses the dance floor logic), "Rum Pum Pum", and "Airplanes".
Beast - "Shadow"
"Give me the light light light
You are my my my sunrise"
B.A.P - "Hurricane"
"The Loof ees on Fire!"
Vixx - "Hyde"
"Just Follow!"
The producers were not afraid of letting the boys sound cheap vocally to express the theatrical narrative in Hyde. Couple with fantastical themes, bipolar contrasts, feverish climaxes, and Ravi's comic slur, the overall effect is a charm unique to only Vixx - that of light fleeing the darkness. All in all, it was a salutary year for fans, with huge singles and a satisfying first album.
Listen up to:
"On & On" (truly fantastic harmonic minor/major elevator to the stars. "I need therapy..."), "Voodoo Doll" (throbbing Vixx penny dreadfull in the footsteps of "Hyde"), "Only U" (east coast beats under mid tempo r&b and Santana-esque riffs), "Beautiful Killer"(check out the phrasing of "final fantasy" in the chorus)
2Ne1 - Missing you
"I know I've been there before..."
G-Dragon - "Window"
"Look into my eyes. Let it Rain., Let it Rain."
Coup d'Etat felt like a compilation of powerhouse singles rather than an album, but those singles were BIG and the b-sides weren't shy either. Some of those East/West collabos were unnecessary, but "Niliria" felt like a gift. See also: "Black", "GO"
Mr. Mr. - "Do You Feel Me"
"Touch me more..."
Coup d'Etat felt like a compilation of powerhouse singles rather than an album, but those singles were BIG and the b-sides weren't shy either. Some of those East/West collabos were unnecessary, but "Niliria" felt like a gift. See also: "Black", "GO"
Mr. Mr. - "Do You Feel Me"
"Touch me more..."
Aftershock bass, zappy synth, weepy mentasm in a contrasting blazer of suave moodiness.
Mentions
BtoB - "Thriller"
Exo - "Growl"
Odd Eye - "Too Busy Imitating"
WTF?? w/Rozen Maiden
IN REVIEW
Shinee - "Evil", "Beautiful"
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