The S#arp is Back
Good news--the S#arp is back with their third album, The Four Letter Word Love. You might remember that the group changed when for S#arp 2 they added Sori to the group. Since then, Sori has decided to focus on her music studies at Kyung Hee University, leaving Suh Ji Young, Lee Ji Hye, Chris and Suk Hyun to form a quartet. The group made their come back on SBS Inki-Gayo earlier this month and are now waiting for their singles to top the charts.
The album Intro [MP3] isn't as dumb as some can be, but it doesn't tell you much about the album. It's pretty jazzy (in a Henry Mancini sort of way), which is odd given the bulk of the tracks on the CD are dance music.
The lead single for the S#arp is the second track, Jaldwaetsuh1x1x1x (That's What You Get1x1x1x) [MP3], which is a pretty good dance/rap song. The opening sounds almost exactly like the recent Baby Vox single Get Up [RealAudio], but maybe it was an accident. I like Chris' rapping, and the melody is pleasing. Also, the synthesized drum beat is fairly lively and doesn't get too monotonous too quickly.
Track three, Sign [MP3], is more appealing--it's not quite as bright and brassy sounding. Eventually the song breaks into a rhythm and tone similar to Jaldwaetsuh1x1x1x [RealAudio], but the first half is the best part of the song.
The second single release by the S#arp will probably be track four, Moreuni? (You Don't Know?) [RealAudio]. This is a dance tune along the lines of Jaldwaetsuh1x1x1x only slightly softer in tone. The lyrical passage immediately preceding the chorus is the neatest part of this snappy song.
Liar [MP3] is a nice ballad that provides some variety on this CD. Although dance CDs make good background music for those Friday night parties, it's hard to sit through an entire CD of dance music when you're trying to unwind. So, it's always pleasant to hear a good ballad in the middle of all the energetic pop that dominates the Korean music scene these days.
Track six, Doobuhnjjae Yoohok (The Second Tempation) [MP3], is also a good non-dance song. It reminds me a lot of Wild, Wild West by Wil Smith. It sounds like Wild, Wild West in rhythm, plus the rapping has a plethora of "w" sounds to enforce the association. This track is followed up by a slightly techno dance piece, Gajimah [MP3], which is mostly forgettable except for the opening passages.
It seemed, by the title, that the song Dancing Queen [MP3] on the CD cover was an ABBA remake, but is not. This is a high-pitched song that won't do much for a headache. On the other hand, the next track on the album, Geuraedo Dwuilkka? (Do Things Work Out That Way?) [MP3] is very sweet. After, a couple quick listens it just seemed to be quintessential k-pop. Track ten, Janinhan Ibyul (Brutal Goodbye) [MP3] also helped make up for a disco disappointment.
The oddly named Honey.com [MP3] has a good vocal line and rates as one of the better songs on the CD simply because it's kind of strange. The rapping is rapid-fire and smooth. This track is followed up by another cool song, How? [MP3]. This cut has the good combination of solid vocals, tight raps, and groovy sounds. In the same style is Ohae (Misunderstanding) [MP3]. For the most part, this is a good song, but at a certain point, the rap line self-destructs (it sounds like Chris is having a nervous breakdown).
Believe it or not, the Outro [MP3] is an interesting bit of music, jazzy and tropical. Too bad they couldn't expand it into a real song.
If you're a S#arp fan, this album would be a good purchase. It was a little uneven, but had enough good songs to make it worth the money. I find that their dance music, which is what they're known for, isn't all that memorable. It's the tracks that come between their probable hits that I enjoy.
By Denise Ahn
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