Album Review: Verivery - Series 'O' Round II: Hole
After about a year of wandering without a proper sound or cohesion, Verivery returned last month with one of their best singles and albums yet. It features 4 tracks (with a fifth only available for CD purchasers), each of which is solid. Thus, I decided it is time for an album review.
Trigger
The album opens with its one-and-only single Trigger. As a rarity in modern-day K-Pop, Trigger is the best song on its accompanying album. The song is bare-bones funk, with practically nothing but pure, forward-moving, funk.
Acting as a spiritual successor to MIRAE's strong debut with electronic funk exclusively leading, Trigger stuns its chorus, with a faltering melody and vocal performance to complement the unrelenting instrumental. With the song never relenting, it culminates in an incredible finale, with several strong high notes.
Rating: 9/10
Underdog
While Trigger acted as a modern, dark, and electronic funk track, Underdog plays off a more retro funk groove. The verses sound like a modern reworking of an 80s melody and instrumental. Popping around with instrumental flourishes expected of this style.
The chorus, on the other hand, opts for an electronic sing-talk structure. While initially disappointing, it leads to a full-throttle call-and-response, providing the song with just the right level of diversity for it to thrive. Not all modern add-ons work, but the producers deserve points for their willingness to experiment.
Rating: 8.5/10
Prom
Trigger and Underdog thrived on underlying grit, but as its title would suggest, Prom is significantly more laid-back. Its thriving funk house melody sounds like a less-ambitious crossover between JO1's Born to be Wild and old-school city pop.
Prom never uses its lack of ambition as an excuse for a lazy structure, instead pulling out something new every second for fun. The chorus is especially strong.
Rating: 8.75/10
Heart Attack
After a slow taper down for the last two tracks, Heart Attack explodes back with energetic electronic dance-funk. The song's basic structure functions as a stronger version of MIRAE's recent b-side New Days.
As with many other songs on Hole, the bridge stands as Heart Attack weak point. However, it does little to diminish the strength of the song's ever-attacking chorus.
Rating: 8.75/10
Overall Score: 8.75/10
For once, an album with a proper score! Maybe my low expectations helped, but Verivery's latest mini-album has proven an exceptionally thrilling ride, with no duds amongst its 4 tracks. It sticks conceptually to an electronic funk groove. While it does not have as strong of a story or concept as YooA's phenomenal EP from last year, this release is certainly among the upper-half of modern K-Pop mini-albums.
I really, really need to review this album. I haven't heard a bit of any of the b-sides, but I am excited to do so today. I have high expectations.
ReplyDeleteJust read your review. Too bad you did not like Underdog, but so glad you loved Heart Attack!
DeleteUnderdog could have been better tbh. I was disappointed because it was lurching all over the place. The chorus is majestic and the vision is there. The musical direction was lopsided and the production well, I'm not really so sure. Still, I think the whole thing is like the "title and the b-side is better but the album is bad".
DeleteOh now I understand the hidden distaste I had with Underdog.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rijf0WA4OWQ
In 3:59 of the interview, Hoyoung said that it took VERIVERY a week to record the song. I mean in classical western production, that is completely fine, but in a K-Pop production I think the producers overshot their chances quite often. Which lead to the song underperforming and lurching. NOW I UNDERSTAND!
Hmm, that is an interesting point. That also might explain the vocal processing.
Delete