Tense Album Review

For starters I am loving this album cover it's pretty creative and simple at the same time. Well this album has been released as a part of their 10 year anniversary as TVXQ...but...not as the 5 they started off with. But I won't go into that, it's too sad. I'm just gonna say Keep the Faith.

TEN (10 Years): YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. It's that sexy sultry r&b I always love from them but it's really subtle and serves as a great opener. The lyrics pretty much sum up their 10 years they've been together by naming the titles of their lead singles and saying thank you. Love it!!

Something: This is the title song off the album which was released early last week so everyone should've heard it by now. It's jazzy swing and it's the first time they've attempted this genre and they've pulled it off. It's refreshing to hear something different from what's currently being played on the radio. It immediately sets them apart...apart from them being TVXQ haha. It's catchy and fun and through time it will stick in your head since the song doesn't have extremely memorable moments apart from the instrumental itself. But, it's still a good song! The choreo def makes this song.

YUNHOOOOOO gah he's so sexy...unf. ANYWAYS, I lived for the choreo, video is pretty cool great concept, not here for all the white women though. It's getting annoying kpop. We need some diversity. There's nothing wrong with having white women in your video, nothing wrong with that, but there's more to the world than only them. Rain had an abundance and I'm not just saying that because I'm black...it's just THERE ARE BLACK PEOPLE KOREA USE THEM. Or Hispanics, Mexicans, use EVERYONE. Not that hard.

Your Man: This reminds me of something from a Japanese drama! It has that happy, lift your spirits type feel! I do like the use of the horns, we're still continuing with that jazz feel we had in the previous song. The song is decent but it didn't really do much for me. 

Moonlight Fantasy: I really liked the beginning of the song, I thought it was going to be a ballad haha, but then it became upbeat. I enjoy the chorus alot!! It's really fun and again we have subtle, underhanded jazz moments so I'm glad that theme is recurring. 

Beside: Ahhh I love this instrumentallll!! It's good r&b and I'm always here for TVXQ r&b. Love this song, as soon as it started, it just hits you in the r&b/soul heart haha. I love it! 

Double Trouble: This instrumental is very strong and grooving and HoMin portray it great, I just wish there was more to the composition. I didn't like the way it was arranged but there are some really good moments. Especially during the hook and Changmin's long high notes. Good song and I wish I was here for it but I can't like it all the way. Love the instrumental.

Off-Road: I love how dramatic it sounds at first then it goes into this mid-tempo r&b/pop ballad. I love this song. At first I was skeptical, but nah I'm here for it. I love the instrumental!

Smoky Heart: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU. THAT DAMN R&BBBBB. WHOOOO. LAWD TAKE ME NOW. They need to stop with this baby-making music I'm WOOO. Love it. Dead and gone.

Love Again: They've gotta chill with the baby making r&b.

Steppin: Jesus. Love it too. This is that old school r&b with Uncle Junebug on that mean bass and yo cousin on the electronic piano. HERE FOR IT.

Rise: A beautiful ballad!!

Always With You: Japanese drama ending!! Great way to close the album!!

Overall: I liked this album more than their previous one because it wasn't all over the place. However, I feel like they should've just made a greatest hits album and included 3 or 4 new songs and call it day. I feel like they just put this together because it's been 10 years and they haven't made a comeback in a year, might as well package it all together. But that being sad, it's a great album. I would've gave them my coins if it was straight r&b. Seriously. I'm still waiting on that day but we'll get there. The r&b done here is impeccable, 'Something' is great and the upbeat Soundtrack songs are good to, they do that alot so if you're a fan of that you'll love this.

Rating: 8.9/10

Rain Effect Album Review

RAIN IS BACKKKK! After serving in the military for 2 years, boiling in controversy, Rain is back with his 6th album! 

Rain Effect: This is an intro, obviously and it's the intro used for the 30sexy song. I like it, the whole r&b, old Justin Timberlake/Timbaland vibe but with a Rain touch to it, unlike Seungri's complete imitation (no shade). I like it!

30 Sexy: This is one of the main title songs he'll be promoting with. I like how he says "I'm thirty sexy.." but the way he's pronouncing it could possibly be "I'm dirty sexy' and it's meant to be on purpose haha. Because he doesn't explain the meaning of being 30 sexy, and he knows English very well. He knows what he's doing. I'm here for it Rain. Here.for.it. HAHAHAHA. It's pop, like I said the pop r&b mix Justin Timberlake does but it still has the kpop flavor to it. I like it! It's very catchy, I do think the falsettos are a bit tooo much, almost overbearing, but I still love the song. Since he's Rain it'll be a hit, but since he's under so much controversy in Korea who knows what's happened to his image...

LOVE the video, love the choreo as usual. It's a very simple video but very sexy! Love the boot hahahaha!

LA Song: I love the instrumental sooo much but he didn't do the song justice with the lyrics and composition. That chorus is horrible simply because it sounds like he's straining himself. Plus there's not much to the song, but it's so funky and I love the bass and it's SOOO MUCH FUN TO DANCE TOOOOOO. So I like what he tried to do, but since it's soooo catchy and repetitive you can't help but enjoy the song. Love it.

*sigh* This video hahah. I really do want to express my appreciation for Rain ALWAYS having diversity in whatever he does. From his backup dancers, to music videos, thank you for being one of the few Koreans who care for their international fans and like to include people from all over the world in the music video (side eye YG and SM). I don't understand what this video was about, I don't like the fetish part where he gave the black girl the big booty and busts, but like I said at least we ARE IN THE VIDEO AND NOT BEING APPROPRIATED for once.

Where Are You Going Oppa ft Hyuna of 4Minute: I can't take this song or rather just their voices. Actually I don't like it at all. The song is all over the place, the annoying nagging, please, return to sender. I don't wanna hear this ever again. 

Marilyn Monroe: Thank you for thissssssssss, after the tragedy that was the previous song, I needed something to soothe my ears again. It's very calm and soothing but it's still mid-tempo r&b. Great song!!

Baby: YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Baby making r&b THANK YOU RAIN THANNKKKKKKKKKKKKKK YOUUUUUUUU. Great song. All you need to know! That high note just YASSSSSSs LAWD THANK YOU FOR JI HOON THANK YOU.

Superman: Rain has the power to make really good songs, and then he also creates really bad songs. This is one of them lol. I don't know if this song is a joke or not, but it's pretty bad and amateurish hahaha. If you wanna laugh, go ahead and jam to this but I suggest you skip it.

Dear Mama Don't Cry: The way this song is, you would think it's a love song but if you read the lyrics it's for his mother who died when he was young. It's a veryyy sad song, but why does he have it so sexy??? Hahahaha jeez. 

Overall: This was a good album, but it wasn't his best. I feel like he produced this within a month, gave us some good songs and threw in some bad songs just to fill up the album and meet the deadline. I wouldn't say I'm disappointed but he just didn't live up to his previous works. I feel like his mindset was I'm Rain my fans will buy this regardless of its quality. As much as we don't like to admit it, JYP really does make some good songs and Rain was at his best when he was under JYP. Apart from that, I do like some of the songs, just not every song. The album was just meh. Randomly thrown together.

Rating:  6/10