Thoughts on FANTASTIC GIRLS album (this isn't a review... Yet! :p)

[addictdesu]

So after changing my LJ layout into a KARA-fied one, I finally get to post again dear journal! This is a semi-review of their latest Japanese album FANTASTIC GIRLS, a release that seriously shocked me because I didn't know about another Japanese release just this Wednesday when I thought they should be releasing a Korean material by this time (and they did! Aug. 21 with Runaway, and on September 2, FULL BLOOM!) This is what you call active. KARA's making my brain explode, they have so many things in store, new material, appearances here and there! Serve 'em right. ♥ But as much as I'm happy, I'm also worried and bothered that they (the management, producers, etc.) seem to be hurrying these releases--I mean, new releases almost every week? This is too much activity! *pants* But I guess, KARA can pull it off. As shown in the album I'll be talking about in this post, FANTASTIC GIRLS.


^ FANTASTIC GIRLS, Limited Edition C. Actually the songs are in LE-A but I love this jacket the most, so this is what I included :p

In here there's the a-side Bye Bye Happy Days! *with its B-side My Boy*, a-side Thank You Summer Love *and its B-side HANABI*, which were the two Japanese singles released earlier this year. These song has sentimental value to me because I think 2013 is the year my love for KARA bloomed. (not to mention I'm one year in the Kamilia fandom, yay!)

Bye Bye Happy Days! and Thank You Summer Love doesn't really have differences in style and execution except that BBHD! is a spring song while TYSL is a summer track. Nonetheless, these songs are the typical JPop KARA, which I usually don't appreciate at first hear, but still gives me a fair share of LSS. They're catchy, and KARA's style is catchy in itself!

My Boy is one of those 'Japanized' Korean songs that... Sorry, but the song's regretting. I love the Korean version of My Boy--Date (My Boy), and when I heard the Japanese one it was a huge turn-off for me. Sad. :( So I didn't dare listening to it ever since. But because it's included in the album I thought I should give this a hear one more time and guess what? It isn't that bad after all! Especially when you're digging in the lyrics, the Japanese words and all, it still regains it adorableness. But of course the Korean version is still the winner.

HANABI... A very very good song, a medium ballad which brings out some gentle versatility in KARA. I mean, they seldom sing ballad, and seldom a ballad fits them... So they don't sing slow songs and if ever they will sing one it is because ballad is a must even for idols! But HANABI is a beautiful exception, this one's made in KARA for heaven; orz I mean, made in heaven for KARA. This may not be very beautiful for your standards, but as a Kamilia who knows that KARA is far from a being vocal prowess, *peace* I say this is a great song for them.

Burn! Burn! Heartbeat does sound like a JPop track too. It resembles Give Me Give Me, a danceable one with the typical strong rhythms and electronic sounds. But there's some key-changing (just a little bit!) that makes me enjoy it more, appreciating the melodic line.

Rescue Me is a disco song! Rescue rescue me~~ ♪ It's catchy, easy to follow (as it's slower than the previous song). Also good. Best to listen to when you're having a good time or just feel like moving, moving, moving~

POP STAR reminds me of American dance tunes, as the rhythm is similar to some famous American songs nowadays. This is okay for KARA; it's nice to know that they can do styles like this. (I'll edit my 'review' for this song some other time... Because I'm trying to recall the American songs it resemble. Hehee~)

Promise is my favorite so far. It has a flair of mystery to it, maybe because of the sfx. The intro is a sort of slow hip-hop/RnB that one won't notice right away 'coz KARA's vocals doesn't sound like that at all. But even with the contrasts, the song is beautiful! The song's range also fits KARA's range, which is a plus. And I love the snapping effect at the start and at the song's conclusion.

Endless Night - This is a cute bubbly song that reminds me so much of weeeek. I mean, listen to the lyrics! One you would love to play while cooking or doing a light chore, get the point? ^_^

Ichiban ni Watashi wo Dakishimete is a real ballad, more ballad than HANABI. This is the typical ballad, like an OST of a drama. Don't underestimate its typicality though; the flowing melody and KARA's dramatic gentle voices can move you to tears. And while I consider it 'typical', the song has actually many complicated parts. One of their finest ballads, I think. I might rank this song my 2nd favorite in the album after a few more plays. ♥

Done. This isn't a review...Yet. xD This is a short commentary that I hope would help you, random listener :)
If you want to download the album go to these links → MF || MEGA