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

MYNAME - Just Tell Me (MV Review)

5/14/2015

0 Comments

 

HOT DAMN! This MV is AMAZING.

        With their fantastic So Too Very Much release in February, and their March activities in Japan, I wasn't expecting anything new from these guys for a while yet. I've been pleasantly surprised by their Korean return and the release in question is itself absolutely fantastic. In direct contract to So Too Very Much, the focus of Just Tell Me is one the smoothe melodic vocals rather than on the rap sections. It makes the two releases balance well together. Also practically polar opposite is the styling theme. From the industrial daydream bright of STVM, this release explores the dark and sultry underworld of the hiphop clubbing scene. It makes the two MVs balance out and excuses the fact that this particular style set is being wrung out to flood the market this summer... In the past two weeks alone I count at least 5 boy group releases with the same theme. Any yet, nothing about this release is even remotely ordinary. It's SO epic that I've put most of my review over on the Editorials page. It's a massive post, but I could have easily gone on for another 10 pages. Check out the analysis HERE.
         Seriously, this is one of the best tracks released this year and it's certainly the most impressive thing that MYNAME's ever produced. There are rhythmic elements in this that are analogous to what makes Uptown Funk zing, there are melodic elements that use the same tactics as NyanCat to generate an unbelievably energetic earworm, and it employs harmonic elements comparable to what makes WannaBe the 'catchiest song ever'. It even as RickRolling levels of hilariously and intentionally misleading surface elements. 
         Beyond that, the lyrical story, and the visual exploration of that story, goes above and beyond anything that I would have expected from this release. It's really quite the incredible feat and I'm THRILLED about it.

I Give this Release a 10/10: Perfect Beyond Words!!

0 Comments

MYNAME - Too Very So Much (MV Review)

2/14/2015

0 Comments

 

Fun & Funky Fresh.

           This has been a fantastic week for Korean music, especially in the Hiphop sector. This is a fun and funky track with a quirky MV with a vibe every bit as playful as the track. I love how not only is MYNAME given a collective brain inside JunQ's fainting fit, but that brain looks like an old WWII command center. I'm not sure why but I find it amusing, and I love the aesthetic.The set aesthetic goes well with the garage-type 'hiphip' vibe styling, and with general kpop and korean street fashion. The transitions between the sets are fluid and well done, going into the brain and introducing the pink-light sections through the laboratory scene. All of the craziness is made to make sense by being put in the context of a fainting spell. The plot is thin, but cute, and quite relatable in some ways being that daydreaming produces some crazy results and seeing someone gorgeous on the street is what daydreams are made of.

           Additionally, the track is epic fun. In a similar way to how Amber's hilarious rap track is kept light and fun, the short staccato rhythm of the vaguely-brass-like instrumental decoration keeps things funky and amusing while the rap glides smoothly over the beat. The light vocals in the chorus balance out the low tones of the rap, and the higher the notes, the slower the syllables passing through it. The deep-voiced rap is rapid-fire, keeping the energy up through speed, and the high-notes have their own energy that comes with the tension of how far above the beat they are and how much effort goes into hitting them. 
         The Choreography is just as fun and funky as the track and the rest of the visuals. It's hilarious and bouncy and seems like it'll be a hoot to learn for a cover. The dance version MV is almost even better done than the story version, because even though it lacks a story, the timings of the transitions between sets are just plain perfect, epically situated, even the changes of the lighting elements are perfectly timed suit the transitions in the track. This release is easily my favorite from MYNAME, from across the board of their entire career so far. The fact that there's a pretty severe imbalance of screen-time is a bit concerning, but still, this is an MV that I am very pleased to have out.

I Give It a 9/10: Blissful!!

0 Comments

MYNAME - Day by Day (MV Review)

11/15/2013

0 Comments

 

Well that was an interesting experiment...

        Genre-wise, I think that this was a pretty interesting expansion for MYNAME. It's not particularly my favorite release of theirs, but it's pretty well done. It's a balanced track that sits nicely on the ears. The use of autotune was rather confusing to me, since it's mostly been layered onto the rap sections, which really don't need autotune, but still the song is very nice to listen to as BGM while doing work.
        As for the video, it's really interesting, all the camera tricks and feats of editing . . . beautifully done, but at the same time it really feels excessive . . . more like someone's showing off new software than making a dramatic video. I liked the rapping-at-one's-self bit and some of the elegant transitions, but it really did get to be more distracting than anything else after a while. Still, it's quite a respectable release.

I Give it A 4/10: Meh, Not Bad.

0 Comments

MyNAME - Baby, I'm Sorry (MV Review)

7/6/2013

0 Comments

 

A Beautiful Story, Beautifully Done.

The story is well developed, dramatic, deep and heartbreaking. It delves into the psychology of being broke and depended on, of being jealous and overshadowed, of suddenly being valued and rewarded and then ultimately betrayed on so many sides. I really do enjoy the story and it showcases the band's acting talent.

The one thing it doesn't do well is show off the song. There's more than a minute and a half of story set up before the song even starts and once it does, it frequently cuts out for story development. It plays well to dramatic effect, but since MYNAME is a band that needs to be recognized from its music, not just it's acting ability . . . that's not actually a very good thing. The song definitely is just BGM to the story, and there's nothing punchy or special or particularly unique about the song to say otherwise. Even on its own, the song feels like it was meant for BGM.

I give it a 6/10: Good Job.

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.