I yah1x is the new CD by H.O.T. This fourth CD is fairly long and consists of thirteen music tracks and eleven "talk" tracks. I'm not wild about the tough, dark and angry pose the group members have adopted, but I support their search for a new style of music. If you're expecting more music like their first hit Candy [MP3], you'll be disappointed. Otherwise, it's a pretty solid effort.

The CD opens with Tooji (Get It Up) [RealAudio]. This song, heavy with guitar played by Groovie K., displays H.O.T.'s new penchant for rock music. To be truly rock, they would need to depend less on the synthesizer, but this is definitely a move in that direction. The rhythm of Tooji is driven by scratching and there are some nice vocal interludes in this piece, wedged in between the rap and the guitar.

The title cut is Ah I Yah (I Yah1x) [RealAudio], a song which fits into the recently created "classical hiphop" genre. It contains samplings of Mozart's Symphony No.25 in G minor and Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, and has the same heavy-handed guitar sound as Tooji. This song is about the deadly fire at a children's summer camp in Seoul over the summer.

The Way That You Like Me [RealAudio] is a peaceful R&B ballad and is quite different in tone and content from I Yah1x. It mostly seems to be a plea from a man to his girlfriend, requesting her to demonstrate her devotion to him via a night of pleasure.

HeeJun wrote 8.15 (Jae 2 Yaedoklibeul Wihaesuh...) [RealAudio], named for the day the CD was scheduled to be released, blends hip-hop with an R&B feel. H.O.T. seems to be making a nationalistic statement with this fourth CD. Both this song and Korean Pride [RealAudio], written by Tony, focus on the pride of the nation. Korean Pride is a song that I thought might have potential as social commentary until I listened to the introductory passage. As a rap tune, it's solid, but I predict that it will be banned. Attentive listeners will figure out why.

Nayaenuh (My Girl) [RealAudio], written by Kangta, reminds me a bit of a Janet Jackson song. It's lighter than the earlier tracks on the CD, and sounds closer to past releases by H.O.T. than the rest of the CD. Choogbok (Celebrate) [RealAudio], a quiet ballad, is also written by Kangta. He also penned Hwanhi (It's Been Raining Since You Left Me...) [RealAudio]. This song especially should please all the young girls currently swooning over his looks.

Jang WooHyuk's Do or Die [RealAudio] is slightly more raucous than Kangta's contributions to the CD. I haven't heard the official word, but chances are this will be banned from Korean television and radio for profanity.

Heejun's Younghun (Soul) [RealAudio] leans toward the techno side of things. The lyrics are sensitive and sweet, about a man's final goodbye to his love. Sometimes H.O.T. tends to shout instead of sing or rap, and this song is evidence of that.

Lee Jaewon wrote Pu Ha Ha [MP3]. This is probably the most original sounding song on the CD. I thought the lyrics were pretty funny and it's nice to hear a bass line for a change. Dashi Shijakhae (Forever Song) [RealAudio] was also composed by Jaewon. I think his talent is overlooked in the arguments about which member of the group is cutest.

Kangta wrote four songs on H.O.T. four. The last one is the closing track, Gomawu Miahnhae (Together, Forever) [MP3]. It sounds similar to Bit [MP3] from H.O.T. 3 but is essentially lighter. I don't know if he intended this to be a love song or a thank you note his fans--the lyrics work both ways.