A-STYLE | MEDIA MATTERS
  • News & Updates
  • For Patrons!
  • Editorials
  • Reviews
    • My Grading Scale
    • Top Lists
  • Behind the Scenes
    • About
    • FAQ
  • Fan-Works

HIGH4 - Baby Boy (MV Review)

6/5/2015

0 Comments

 

Too Cute to Handel!

           Not only is the MV awesome enough to have made me let it jump the queue of other MVs I should be reviewing, it's made itself so important that I can't even keep it in this section. I've bumped it over to the Editorial section because it's too perfect to restrict to a short review. Kpop has done things were 'cute' and 'gangsta' overlap, there's been other examples of aegyo mixing with straight-up awesome, but nothing else I've ever seen does it quite like this; nor nearly this well. Most other versions of an attitude that resemble this one use aegyo to straightforwardly mix in a dose of adorable, but this release takes that a leap forward by avoiding straight-aegyo, for the most part, and using a more sophisticated weave of more traditional imagery to convey the idea that the object of the narrator's affection is a singular point of exception in his world. Every single detail in the visuals plays off the notions in the lyrics, leading to an achingly cute final product that takes its message more seriously than I would have ever guessed just by glancing at the colorful screencaps.
           It also has something very important in common with Beyonce (but we'll get to that later).

          The only complaints I have at all are the fact that the whiny sound at the beginning goes on just a bit too long and the video has no specifically active story. It's basically a pastoral, no forward motion, but a beautiful depiction of a static piece of scenery. I LOVE it, but sadly, it can't get a perfect score.

I Give It a 9.5/10: DIVINE!!

0 Comments

EXO - Love Me Right (MV Review)

6/5/2015

0 Comments

 

Underwhelming, as Usual...

          EXO has only ever once really impressed me with a release, but I definitely enjoy how they routinely make catchy tracks in Chinese, it's easily the best thing about them. This MV's been getting a lot of flack from the international community for the mismatched sporting gear, the artsy-weird aesthetics gone wild, and the fact that nothing at all in the MV feels even remotely relevant... At least when SM's box comes into play there's no expectation for anything to happen outside of that box. This seemed like it was trying for symbolism or a story and just never quite got there... It's visually appealing, but it's definitely not very good in the wider scheme of things.
         The track itself is lovely, nothing ground breaking, but it's catchy and genuinely great to listen to. The Chinese version is my favorite and it's generally just a good song that's not great, but was never expected to be. I like the follow-up less than I like Call Me Baby because even with the main promo's weird choreo, the track was just a bit more interesting and at least I could tell what was supposed to be happening in the video. There's not actually a single moment in watching this video that I have any ability to confidently explain what's going on or even to guess how the image matters in relation to any other image. And considering the fact that I have a COLLEGE DEGREE in Media Analysis... that's unsettling... and kind of annoying, to be honest.

I Give It a 5/10: Pretty Good.

Picture
0 Comments

Seventeen - Adore U (MV Review)

6/4/2015

0 Comments

 

Not what I was Expecting...

          This MV represents an interesting string of contradictions for me, starting with the fact that the band is called 17 and the membership is actually IN the teens, but only 13...it makes it pretty obvious that there WERE 17 and whatever happened to the other four... I dunno. I just don't think it sets the right tone for a debut. I enjoy the release, and genuinely like it, but there's very little I actually like about it and so much I would change were I in charge. It looks really cheap, but it does have a refreshing simplicity. Most of the imagery is random and unconnected, but it's not jarring enough to be a problem. I enjoyed the little angel-face-oval depictions of the members whose voice was being heard, but it was distracting and I spent much more time watching it than the main video. The styling is gorgeous and clean, but not at all what I was expecting, so it kind of blind-sided me and the first few times I watched the MV, it was with a vague distaste of well, that's different. The song is catchy as hell, but it feels really imbalanced... despite the fact that technically speaking, the lines are fairly well-divided between the members, I only remember like four of them... and only some of the members got their names on screen (and they're really strange stage-names to boot...). As a debut there's no distinctive punch to it, and the fact the the members are all vaguely mushed together into a generalized glob of gorgeousness means that, even though most of the members have delightfully bold and unique flavors of charisma, over all the group is just kinda blah. But still, the song is catchy as hell and fabulously well-produced (which makes the fact that Woozi was so thoroughly involved even more fantastic), and all of the members are intriguing characters. They're definitely a group to watch, but I wish this release had come out in a way that really made that fact undeniable. As it stands, they're a very strong group, with a very weak, but enjoyable debut.
Picture

I Give it a 6/10: Good Job.

0 Comments

Urban Zakapa - Get (MV Review)

6/3/2015

0 Comments

 

Refreshingly Simple & Sweet!

           This video and the track that goes with it are both charmingly straightforward and delightfully sincere. Chicks and power tools are always a fabulous combination, especially when they're put in a real world context and given to a girl in work clothes whose actually doing work. And watching art-installations being built are always epic backdrops for tracks. Especially, a track like this one. Rhythmically, it's light, energetic, and almost buzzingly busy, but the relaxed and focused vibe in the lyrics keeps things calm and centered. It's like having few cups of coffee and then getting down to work. All of which melds well with the video and with the lyrical story off insisting that you be nice to yourself and stop holding yourself back. If you wanna get, go get. It's the chorus and it's a great life lesson.
            There's nothing spectacular or ground breaking, but it's the perfect summer-casual BGM.

I Give it a 7/10: Me Gusta.

Picture
0 Comments

Jay Park - Mommae (MV Review)

6/2/2015

0 Comments

 

Well Hot DAMN...

           At first I wrote this off because the MV was... well kinda gross, quite frankly. I'm still not the biggest fan of the ridiculous objectification, gawking, desire to be possessive of the female body, thing, but there's other elements that I decidedly enjoy, and the fact that the track is just unbelievably kickin' means I've watched this MV like a thousand times at this point and it's therefore more or less criminal for me to avoid reviewing it. I don't have too much to say on the matter, just that it's a shame the MV's so... over the top. In some ways that's what makes it almost excusable, there's an element of parody here. There's also the advocating for safe-sex aspect, and the fact that it represents women of multiple skin-types as all equally sexy. All in all the MV is not my favorite but the track is incredible. Honestly, the feature rap section is just a bit too long for my tastes, but still it gives the rest balance and an enjoyably dynamic contrast. The undertow of epic synth energy pulls the whole track forward and the light bounce of the lyrics moves over it with a sassy slide of confidence that steps well into arrogance but somehow stays appealing. It's spatialized perfectly and the bounce of beats between the ears makes the whole thing even more ecstatically energized. The transitions are smooth and the timings flawlessly poignant. It's pretty dang epic.

I Give it an 8/10: Fabulous!

Picture
0 Comments

CLC - Like (MV Review)

6/2/2015

0 Comments

 

Well, it's Cute, but It's not my Fave...

           Stalkery, obsessive behavior is no better when it's framed with Aegyo than it is when framed by dark broodiness. It's still creepy as hell, and the fact that they not only stalk him, and invade his home, but also rifle through is underwear drawer is just plain stalker-creep of them. It's not cute, no matter how many plastic toys or foam-plushie kitty noses go into it... That said, I do still like this MV, though not entirely for it's own merit. It reminds me strongly of Kara's Wanna MV, which has a very similar concept, though I like the track for Wanna much better. Kara's MV is one I found perfectly acceptable when I watched it, but that's because in 2009 I was 16, and stalking the person I had a crush on seemed perfectly reasonable to my hormone-addled brain. Which it isn't. At all. And as a significantly more sane 22yr old, I'm appalled that I ever empathized with the idea... So I'm kinda ewwed out by this, worrying over how many teenagers are going to see it as an acceptable response to attraction...
           Aside from that I do love the styling in this, the whole comic-book pizzazz with sequins vibe is absolutely fabulous and I deeply enjoy all the street fashion that was worked in as well. In terms of the track, I actually find it annoyingly cutesy, considering how wonderfully they managed to avoid falling into that trap with their debut. This track does have it's appeal, it is well made and well balanced and it moves over a delightfully energetic beat with a strength that normally evades straight-up aegyo tracks. For an aegyo-focused song, there's no skimping or shirking, so it's actually a really good track. I just don't like it (There's absolutely no relation between how good a song is and how much I like it, they often correlate, but there's no legit connection). It's a solid comeback and it does good things for the Aegyo genre as a whole, so I'm quite pleased by the release and CLC is a band to watch!

I Give It A 7/10: Me Gusta.

Picture
0 Comments
    If you have Questions about my Terminology, Bias Bands, or any other FAQ click HERE.

    Categories

    All
    100%
    1 The K (Loen Ent)
    2ne1
    2pm
    4 Minute
    9muses
    A6P
    AA (Double A)
    Academic
    A Ent Korea
    After School
    Ailee
    A-Jax
    Alice Nine
    AlphaBAT
    Amber
    Amie Kaufman
    AMUSE Inc
    Ann Pachett
    AoA (Ace Of Angels)
    AOMG
    Apink
    Art History
    * Artist Review *
    A-Sketch Ent
    Attack
    Audience: Adult
    Audience: New Adult
    Audience: Young Adult
    Audience: Young Reader
    B1a4
    B2m Ent
    Bangtan Boys
    B.A.P
    Bastarz
    Beast
    Believe Records
    Ben
    Benedict Carey
    Bestie
    B.I.G
    Big Bang
    Big Hit Ent
    Bigstar
    Block B
    BoA
    * Book Review *
    Boyfriend
    Boys Republic
    Brandnewmusic Korea
    Bravesound
    Brown Eyed Girls
    BTL (Beyond The Limit)
    Bugs! Korea
    Bumkey
    C2k Ent
    Can Ent
    C Clown
    C-Clown
    Chrome Ent
    CJ E&M
    CJes
    C-Jes Ent
    Cl
    CLC
    Collabodadi
    Core Contents Media
    *Cover Review*
    Crayon Pop
    CT Ent
    Cube Ent
    Cultural Studies
    Danal Ent
    Debut
    Diaura
    Donghae
    DS Ent
    Dsp Ent
    Dynamic Duo
    Equal Rep: LGBTQ+
    Equal Rep: Varied Gender Presentations
    ESNa
    Eunhyuk
    EXID
    Exo
    F.cuz
    Fiestar
    Fluxus Music
    Flying Dog Ent
    Fnc Ent
    Ft Island
    F(x)
    GaIn
    Galaxy Inc
    G Dragon
    G-Dragon
    General
    Genre: Cultural Studies
    Genre: Dark Fantasy
    Genre: Dystopia
    Genre: Epic Fantasy
    Genre: Fantasy
    Genre: Historical Fiction
    Genre: Literary Fiction
    Genre: Mythology
    Genre: Physics
    Genre: Plain Fiction
    Genre: Realistic Fiction
    Genre: Revisionary History
    Genre: Romance
    Genre: Science
    Genre: SciFi
    Genre: Space Opera
    Genre: Speculative Fiction
    GH Entertainment
    Giriboy
    Girls Day
    Girls Generation (SNSD)
    G.NA
    Gng Productions
    * Graphic Novel / Manga Review *
    Grisha Verse
    H2 Ent
    Happy Tribe Ent
    Henry
    Heo Youngsaeng
    High4
    History
    Hotshot
    House & Home Goods
    Imagine Dragons
    Infinite
    Information
    Instant Records
    Iu
    James Kakalios
    Jang HyunSeung
    Jay Park
    Jellyfish Ent
    Jennifer Armentrout
    Jimin N J.Don
    JinYoung Park (JYP)
    JMS Ent
    Js Ent
    JTM Ent
    J Tune Camp
    Jun HyoSung
    Jyj
    Jyp Ent
    Kahi
    Kang Seungyoon
    Kara
    Key East Ent
    Kim Hyungjun
    Kim Hyunjoong
    Kim Jaejoong
    KO Sound
    Kota
    KT Music
    K.Will
    Lc9
    Led Apple
    Lee Junghyun
    Leigh Bardugo
    Lim Kim
    Lindsey Stirling
    Lion Mascot (สิงโต นำโชค)
    Lunafly
    Madtown
    Mamamoo
    Marie Lu
    Marie Rutkoski
    Mblaq
    Meagan Spooner
    M.I.B
    Minah
    Miss A
    MMO Ent
    Mnet
    Monsta X
    Moonshine
    * Movie / Drama / TV Show Review *
    M.Pire
    Mr. Mr.
    Music K Ent
    * Music Review *
    My First Story
    Myname
    Mystic89 Music
    Nano
    Naomi Novik
    N.A.P Ent
    Neal Stephenson
    Nega Network
    N.Flying
    Nh Media
    Nine Muses
    Non Fiction
    Non-Fiction
    N-Sonic
    NS Yoon G
    NS Yoon-G
    NU'EST
    Odd Eye
    Oh Yeri
    Okdal
    One OK Rock
    Park BoRam
    Pentatonix
    Personal
    Phantom
    Pledis Ent
    Pocket Girls
    Pony Canyon Ent
    Prepix
    * Product Review *
    Psc Ent
    Queen B'z
    Rainbow
    Red Velvet
    Rex. D
    Rise Records
    Romeo
    ~Rookie Debut~
    Sabaa Tahir
    San-E
    Sarah J Maas
    Sean Carroll
    Secret
    Seo InGuk
    Series: Keeper Of The Lost Cities
    Series: Science Comics
    Seungri
    Seven Seasons Ent
    Seventeen
    Shannon Messenger
    Shinee
    SidusHQ
    Simtong Ent
    Sistar
    Skarf
    Sleeping With Sirens
    Sm Ent
    Sony Music & Ent
    Soulights
    Speed
    Spica
    S-Plus Ent
    Ss501
    Stardom Ent
    Star Empire Ent
    Starkim Ent
    Starship Ent
    Star Wars
    Stellar
    Sugarbowl
    SuJu D&E
    Sunmi
    Sunny Hill
    Super Junior
    Swings
    Taeyang
    Tahiti
    T-ARA
    Tasty
    The Ark
    *Theater & Stage Drama Review*
    The Benjamin Ent
    The British Royal Family
    The VIBE Ent
    Timothy Zahn
    Tiny G
    Tnc Ent
    Togeworl
    Top Class Ent
    Top Media
    Topp Dogg
    Toxic
    Ts Ent
    Tvn
    Tvxq
    U-Kiss
    Ulala Session
    UNIQ
    Universal Music
    UP10TION
    Urban Zakapa
    Various Artists
    Vibe: Aeronauts & Punk Diaspora
    * Video Review *
    Vixx
    WA Ent
    Warner Ent
    Wonder Boyz
    Wonder Girls
    Woolim Ent
    Xiah / Junsu
    Xiran Jay Zhao
    Year End Review
    Yedang Ent
    Yg Ent
    Ymc Ent
    YNB Ent.
    YNM Company
    Yuehua Ent
    ZE:A[제국의아이들]
    Z.Hera
    Zico

    Email Me!

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    July 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    May 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    My Tumblr

    RSS Feed

    The name, layout, opinions, analysis, and original media displayed on the Music Matters® website belongs to A-style® and are the intellectual property of Alexandra Swords. 2013©
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.