U-KISS – DORADORA April 25, 2012

Track Listing

1. DORADORA
2. 4U (For You)
3. Sarangi Meomchul Ttae
4. AMAZING
5. TICK TOCK (OUT OF TIME)
6. DORADORA (Instrumental)

1. DORADORA

As the leading song for the mini, U-KISS opens with DORADORA doesn’t carry the light like “NEVERLAND” or other leading songs have which isn’t a safe thing to say because anything else is kind of meh (even their K-pop ballads).  It’s not bad but compared to recent boybands releasing this year, this is pretty underwhelming and doesn’t show the true colors of U-KISS very well.  At least the members sound pleasant enough…it’s just not great.

2. 4U (For You)

If the Koreans wanted something that sounds a little like the poppy stuff from “A Shared Dream”, this is the closest you’ll get with this song which is pretty funny to hear.  The rappers do sound odd in this setting (especially Dongho) but this song is more for the singers who currently escape my mind as to who’s leading.  The synthed up arrangement is nice but it lacks energy for me which I didn’t mention was also missing in “DORADORA” for the most part.

3. Sarangi Meomchul Ttae

Of course one of the songs had to be a ballad right?  I mean we had “0330″ and “A Shared Dream” previous (at least as far as I went back) so of course I had hopes that it wasn’t going to bland but once again it seems this ballad is a lot of Kevin, Hoon, and Soohyun.  I’m sure some of the other members got a line or two but it also bored me to death XD.  This might make people swoon, it’s just personal preference that I’m just not into it much.

4. AMAZING

AJ actually penned the next song and honestly is the only saving grace this mini-album has pretty much.  It’s definitely in the realm of U-KISS’ more danceable tracks and they sound really good…though I get Block B vibes in the song but I’m sure that’ll pass.  Of course Kevin and Soohyun lead the chorus, but it’s so catchy and the hooks are all over the place here ^_^.  This should’ve been promoting the mini…not “DORADORA”.

5. TICK TOCK (OUT OF TIME)

If the title looks familiar, then it should because it’s a Korean version of “Tick Tack”, the group’s Japanese debut track.  I was kind of excited at first becuase I was gonna hear awesomeness being done in Korean.  Sadly what I wasn’t expecting was that most of the song’s lyrics have been replaced (including most of the English stuff!).  I mean the original in the chorus was like ~Tonight, I shall be singing for you through the night, Tonight, I shall be turning on the broken light~…….BUT NOW IT’S ALL LIKE ~Tonight, we’re gonna party like we’re out of time, Tonight, we’ll live it up under the city lights~…Honestly, it just doesn’t work and the whole identity of the song is lost to this predictable K-pop mess of just “having fun”…I was SORELY disappointed in them for even agreeing to change the English lyrics out…like WTF.

 

 

WOW, U-KISS continuing to disappoint me here.  Besides AMAZING, DORADORA was just unacceptable for me.  The leading song feels so bland when compared to their previous stuff like “Shut Up!” and “Man Man Ha Ni” and even “NEVERLAND”.  The rest of the mini was just as bland and forgetful (even though the vocals are nice still so they get points on that) but the worst was TICK TOCK….just shouldn’t have happened…WHY U-KISS WHY MUST U DISAPPOINT!!!!!

U-KISS – A Shared Dream March 4, 2012

Track Listing

1. Tick Tack
2. Forbidden Love
3. Show Me Your Love
4. We Set off!
5. A Shared Dream
6. The Sound of Magic
7. Orion
8. Eeny, Meney, Miny, Moe
9. Man Man Ha Ni -Japanese ver.-
10. Bingeul Bingeul -Japanese ver.-
11. Shut Up!! -Japanese ver.-
12. Believe
13. Tick Tack -MARCAN Mix- (First Press Bonus Track)

1. Tick Tack

Haha so I guess they group decided to kick things off with the two A-sides representing their debut album.  Starting with the actual debut single, Tick Tack is still just as badass as it was back in 2011.  I love the whole theme round clocks and having part of the ticking in the beginning.  I love Soohyun and Kevin’s lines in the song since they belt it out quite nicely plus the rapping from Dongho (and a little from Eli) and we get this epic song from them.  Pretty amazing song from a K-pop (and it’s an original song too).

2. Forbidden Love

Which leads to the other A-side released in the era, Forbidden Love.  I did find it absurd that they released this single simultaneously so it really didn’t give us time to get used to it and all that.  I still do think it doesn’t succeed on surpassing “Tick Tack” in any way but I still think it’s pretty good for a second release.  There’s a few surprises though like the odd dubstep breakdown and the love of the high notes towards the end.  I just found this song intriguing but not badass.

3. Show Me Your Love

Starting with the long list of new songs, Show Me Your Love kind of goes away from their aggressive dance track and into something a little poppier.  I do like hearing Kevin and Soohyun singing lines for sure and it seems to follow the same path. After a while I start feeling that it sounds a bit lazy and the rapping parts are kind of out of focus with the song as well.  I mean it’s alright but definitely not as good as the A-sides.

4. We Set off!

Oh hey, something that actually caught my interest in first listen.  The beat I think is at the same tempo as “Tick Tack” but the song is a bit lighter sounding and while that might not be good, I do kind of like the song.  I’m actually liking the rapping parts from Dongho for sure and he stood out next to Kevin.  To me it’s like 2PM’s “Unmei” where it’s really good but underneath the A-sides.

5. A Shared Dream

I was lulzing when I saw that the PV for A Shared Dream was put up just a day after “Forbidden Love” (then again simultaneous release is the reasoning behind it).  Quite frankly, I was pleasantly surprised that the song is actually a ballad from them.  Actually it’s a bit cheesy of one too (have you seen the PV for this?).  It’s nice and all but it’s way into the books of a natural J-pop ballad and I’m kind of bored.  The rapping from Dongho and Eli was just unusual and lacked something about it.  I don’t know it just wasn’t promotional material IMHO.  Even with Kevin, Soohyun, and Hoon taking lead roles.  >.<

6. The Sound of Magic

I needed something to pick me up after “A Shared Dream” and The Sound of Magic does a good job in doing that because I was really intrigued by the opening since I think I hear many of the guys sing something (I’m not sure all of them had a line though).  Once the chorus kicks up, it’s kind of bright like “Show Me Your Love” and I’m a little surprised that the change from verse to chorus was that big of a jump.  I will say though that this song is much better too.  Once again, not as strong as the A-sides but good on the album.

7. Orion

The next song Orion, sounds just like your typical K-pop based R&B track that has Japanese lyrics which is a bit of a disappointed.  Nothing in the really impresses me much here and the movement is kind of a bit too laidback for me.  I can’t even remember the melody very well and the vocals (while good) are also kind of going to the background as well.  I’m just pretty vacant towards this song.

8. Eeny, Meney, Miny, Moe

This song has so much potential to be amazing but it kind of falls short because of the tried formula in the song.  Despite the rappers doing pretty good with what they have, the rest of the song feels lazy and almost forgetful at times.  They also seem to try to replicate “Forbidden Love” with its very laid back dubstep breakdown.  It’s just lame here.

9. Man Man Ha Ni -Japanese ver.-

The next three songs are oddly enough Japanese translations of three of their older Korean songs like before Hoon and A.J. replaced Xander and Kibum.  So of course along with the translation, the new vocalists took over the old ones.  Starting with Man Man Ha Ni from their “ContiUkiss” mini-album, goodness god could they have screwed it up any further.  I love the original song (despite not being my first U-KISS song).  The good things is basically Dongho’s lines are still pretty damn good and the arrangement was spruced up as well.  What’s bad?  THE REST OF THE DAMN SONG!!!  I mean Kevin’s lines weren’t bad which a surprise but when it came to Soohyun’s parts, his vocals have deepened a lot since the original so hearing him trying to sing the chorus is a tragedy in itself and sounds awkward.  At least they kept the ~you make me pissed off~ line XD.  Just no, this song should not have been touched. 

10. Bingeul Bingeul -Japanese ver.-

Off of their first Korean album, they redid Bingeul Bingeul and this worried me a lot more because this song was the first U-KISS track I ever heard.  I’m wondering why they chose to clear up the arrangement and add more to it or change things (very small changes though).  While the original was in love with auto-tune, the Japanese follow suit so I can see why it stayed.  Once again Soohyun really destroys the song for me because he’s so off pitch from the original that it’s just hard not to ignore.  It also lost a lot of attitude from the original and it felt like the boys were just singing it and not adding their emotions to it.  It’s not as tragic as “Man Man Ha Ni” but it’s not very well done either.

11. Shut Up!! -Japanese ver.-

The third of the Japanese remakes is actually recent (well considering).  It’s from their 4th mini-album, “BREAK TIME”.  I’m not a big fan of the original unlike the other two so coming into this, I wasn’t very thrilled especially with how the previous two tracks turned out.  HOWEVER, I actually didn’t think they did too bad with this song since Soohyun’s problem isn’t prevelant here and the song sounds better in Japanese than Korean.  Odd…>.>

12. Believe

Closing the album out, Believe kind of throws a wall to the album coming off of those three energetic tracks into this.  It’s like they slammed “A Shared Dream” and “Orion” together and came up with this track.  I mean vocally, it doesn’t do anything wrong and Kevin is quite the singer.  Though once again in shares the awkward rapping parts…fair way to close the album though ^_^.

13. Tick Tack -MARCAN Mix-

I’m not sure what to think of the remix of Tick Tack (of course one of those extra bits thrown in the album).  It has a lot of the same stuff found in the original, but they also took out a lot and gave us a rather watered down version of the song unfortunately.  I don’t think any part really works with this remix and just felt like it was thrown together at the last second to be honest

Tracks Recommended

• Tick Tack
• Shut Up!! -Japanese ver.-
• Forbidden Love
• The Sound of Magic
• We Set off!

Song of Avoidance

• Man Man Ha Ni -Japanese ver.-

Honestly, I came into this album expecting to be rather impressed by U-KISS but what I got was something that was just lukewarm.  I mean Tick Tack was an amazing debut A-side from them and Forbidden Love while not as strong continued to show the group’s positives.  Then came the album songs and none of them could stand up to either A-sides which is unfortunate.  Then came the Japanese versions of the Korean songs and honestly two of the three sounded atrocious.  Though I’m curious to why they chose to do three songs that were before Hoon and A.J.’s addition and not anything from “Bran New KISS” & “NEVERLAND”.  Sadly, this album is not very good and the good tracks is seriously the A-sides and Shut Up!! LOL…

U-KISS – Forbidden Love February 29, 2012

Track Listing

1. Forbidden Love
2. Redial
3. Every Day -Japanese Version- (First Press CD only)
4. Forbidden Love (Instrumental)
5. Redial (Instrumental)

1. Forbidden Love

Ahhh the second A-side from the up and coming K-pop group!  I knew this song wasn’t going to be as impressive or as awesome as “Tick Tack” was but this was a pretty good follow-up since it does carry their K-pop feel once again.  I’m happy to hear a little bit more from Kevin this time around which is good but there’s a lot of Soohyun as well.  Though I question their inclusion of a dubstep breakdown, I guess they’re just following the times and the dance was nice to it but without that…that part seemed rather dull.  Still a good track and a good second A-side.

2. Redial

Though the B-side sounds really cool in the beginning but then it kind of turns into this chilled out R&B song that really screams boy band!  I’m hearing a lot of other members taking a bigger approach and I love that.  It’s nice to hear but I also feel that it did well for them melodically because they do sound really nice together. 

 

 

*will review the Japanese version of Every Day once it leaks*  As U-KISS’s final single for the “A Shared Dream” era, I thought this single wasn’t up to snuff against “Tick Tack” but that’s ok since this single was still pretty good.  While I don’t know why they chose to release the single the same day their album drops, I’m pretty sure it won’t sell as much.  Forbidden Love is isn’t bad it continues to show how good they are as dancers/vocalists.  Redial was nice to and showed more of their vocal capabilities.  Once again, disappointed this single came out the same day as the album but they’ll miss out on Redial and Every Day so who knows lol

U-KISS – Tick Tack December 24, 2011

Track Listing

1. Tick Tack
2. Coincedence
3. 0330 -Piano & Chorus ver.- (CD only First Press)
4. Tick Tack (Instrumental)
5. Coincedence (Instrumental)

1. Tick Tack

I really loved this song (even though the title is a bit wonky since it litereal sense it should be *Tick Tock*…damn them and phonetical reasons).  Besides that odd move, the song is J-pop WIN for U-KISS.  I will admit that it was expected that Soohyun and Dongho would literally be leading it but that’s ok given the dark and edgy dance style this song gives.  I will admit the first half is way better than the second half, but that’s mainly because of the rapping parts and placement of various ideas.  Still it’s one of my favorite and there’s just so many hooks in the song like the ~tick tock~ and the whole chorus for that matter.

2. Coincedence

I was curious about their B-side since it’s also an original composition and not merely a self-cover language translation.  To me, it doesn’t have the punch that “Tick Tack” has which is made clear for its B-side status but I wouldn’t say it’s a disappointing song because I can hear even more of the other members take longer roles.  It’s also filled with hooks like ~come this way, come this way, come this way~.  I say it’s a fulfilling B-side but clearly not to be made better than the leading track.

3. 0330 -Piano & Chorus ver.-

Funny enough that we still get a Japanese version of a previously released Korean song in 0330 (a song from “Bran New KISS” but is taking off from the Japanese version found on the JPN release of the mini-album).  Also this is a new version, only having piano and the boys singing.  After two dance songs, this is a sudden stop but I will say they sound good doing their oooos and ahhhhs.  Kind of simple but pleasant.

 

 

U-KISS was actually a group I somewhat followerd prior to their Japanese debut and I have loved the hell out of “Bengeul Bengeul” from their first album.  However, since then they lost two members but replaced them with 2.  Tick Tack is definitely ranked up there along 2PM’s “Take off” with best A-side debut in Japan.  It’s fierce and just vocally impressive and has a pretty interesting style including clock ticking in the arrangement ^^.  Coincedence was alright but I only remember certain things about it but it’s still a pretty good song otherwise.  The new version 0f 0330 is simple and sweet but what is it with boy bands wanting to do piano and chorus versions of their songs?