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Welcome back HOT.
They are out again for their fans of hundreds and thousands. HOT has
been on the news all over online and even on CNN representing Korean
music with their sidekicks SES and Shin Hwa. HOT is the top guy group
in Korea. They have been marketing music, cd-roms, accessories, perfumes,
and even pieces of clothing with their individual names written all
over them! They have released another album which I predict will be
on top selling charts and on top music charts. This group has caused
the boy bands of Korea to expand in the music industry and more competition
to appear among guy groups, for example Sechs Kies, Tae Sa Ja, and GOD.
Lately, HOT has been changing themselves and pushing limits in Korea,
which cause serious discussions and many critiques to go negative. They
are very much different from what they started with. They will always
be big, but from views and forums and other sources, once true fans
have put their attention to other groups and has lost the mind they
had on HOT. HOT will always catch your eye, but the eyes won't stay
on them for long. Their music is another story though. They do have
the talent in production, creation, writing, and composing. Individually,
the members have been doing their own parts for the group and for others
in the studio. For example Kangta has been creating songs for Lee Ji
Hoon. HOT's own sound has been juggled around with though. They changed
their style of music magic from their first, second, and third albums.
Are we not tired of that same high pitch that Hye Sung from Shin Hwa,
Hwan Hee from Fly to the Sky, and Kangta do? The same basses and other
sound effects are noticable in all their albums, past and present and
even in other artists such as BoA. Let's see what this fifth release
titled OUTSIDE CASTLE is like from what I described.
I
had to hear this album throughly once again to have an opened mind. They
are talented indeed with music production, just that they need to keep
from making their image and style to the people from being too (OBU) over.
I also learned that if you have negative thoughts from the beginning of
the song to the end, you won't be able to judge it correctly. Don't let
copied sound effects or images get in the wayof actually listenting to the
music. I learned a big lesson, everyone!
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OUTSIDE
CASTLE:
(Their fifth album debut song, created by Moon Hee Jun) One
minute and thirty five seconds of long instrumental intro, but very nice
to listen to. The strings sound very strong. Heavy breathing rap with a
whisper at the end (Jang Hyuck on Hey Girl), Moon Hee Jun's high pitch
vocal, computerized shout rap, Kangta's usual high sound. TRACK RATING: 9/10
DELIGHT: (Kangta's creation) The melody and strings sound just like
the track before. Is it a continued version? Lots of repeated words and
fast speaking or singing. This song sounds something off of the third
album. TRACK RATING: 9/10
WE CAN DO IT: (Kangta) An uplifting track with more hiphop feeling.
It's like "BEET" or "HENG BOK" from their past albums
but not too bouncy. It's like the first smile you get after having a
serious feeling from the first two tracks. TRACK RATING: 10/10
MY MOTHER: (Jang Woo Hyuck's creation) A saxophone song for you
feeling about Mom? View: City lights at night. Turn the bass up high and
think of your daily stress and also about your Um Mu Nee[mom]. Kangta even
has a new high sound for the end of the third verse..TRACK RATING: 10/10
PRAY FOR YOU: (Kangta) Guitar ballad. It's nothing new. One of
those songs, fans raise litted candles to. Your body rocks back and forth
eventually. View: Color of White TRACK RATING: 10/10
WISH OF A BLUE BIRD: (Moon Hee Jun) The audience.fan screaming
sound is really annoying. There is this little SES sound effect right
before the chorus, a saxophone making the mood in the background, and a
little "Heng Bok" song feeling. Then in the middle, there is a
little kid choir singing...which makes this track seem like a special
concert performance. Not to pleasing. TRACK RATING: 7/10
TIME WILL TELL: (Lee Jae Won and Moon Hee Jun creation) Jae Won and
Woo Hyuck's raps are very good to listen to. Good sound effects that blend
in. Pump up the bass and go for a night drive. TRACK RATING: 9.75/10
ONE LAST LOVE: (Tony creation) Too many background vocals that
bother the main melody. This song should be faster. It's kinda slow for
the style. Some sound effects sound like its been taken from a game
system. You get bothered by these thoughts but its not bad to listen to
TRACK RATING: 8/10
GOODBYE FOR THE LAST: (Jang Woo Hyuck) Piano, Bass, Record Scratch,
Orchestra, synthesizer, sound programming,..all seem to jumble. FLy to the
Sky, SES computerized sound. The organization of this song is like ..
chorus, rap, Kangta, chorus, rap, Kangta, chorus. On and on. Um, can i
rewind back to a previous track? TRACK RATING: 7/10
A SONG FOR LADY: (Moon Hee Jun) Ladies, Ladies! Hear this and
you'll want your boyfriends to dedicate this song to you. It has a
beautiful background and it is teary and romantic. Promises, love, missing
when not around, apology, tears. Lovable, lovable. TRACK RATING : 10/10
ILLUSION:(Kangta) This track has been banned from MBC and radio
stations. It was said to lead kids into drugs, but ummm hello? It is the
opposite, but it is still banned because of the fear of mixing up the
message to the wrong way. This track sounds like Delight. TRACK RATING: 6/10
for being like Delight and little annoying with the strained voice by
either Moon Hee Jun or Tony Ahn.
NATURAL BORN KILLER: (Tony) Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, and you all!
Here is the Korean version. Laugh at it or like it , I don't care. It's
mad music. Make you wonder what goes on in a killer's mind. Headbang this?
I just don't see Kangta or Jae Won jumping up and down. Hmmm...nope. This
song has been banned for the wrong reason, too. Nice guitar, drums and
sound effects though. The raps are good. Strings in the background try to
make it seem a little sympathetic. TRACK RATING: 9/10
ABANDONED CHILDREN: (Lee Jae Won) This is one "feel"
song. View: HOT raps to the people while showing thousands of orphans
behind them looking sad. I see such a sad music video! Makes you think
when you see another abandoned child. TRACK RATING: 10/10
ALWAYS MY LOVE: (Kangta) Reminds me of Yangpa's ballads. It's a
piano ballad. Can I please hear either Yangpa sing this or go listen to
PRAY FOR YOU? Its not bad, but you would prefer something else, though.
TRACK RATING: 7/10
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