[Album Review] T-ara - Absolute
My review of this album. That’s not the cover btw, its the design I made for allkpop. The many readers probably won’t appreciate my review because many of them are stupid 10 year olds still hung up on DBSK who think they know everything, but I enjoyed rambling my mouth about how much I love Tiara anyway.
The computer speech intro, hypnotic repetitive dance hooks, breakdown during the chorus, wailing synths on heavy reverb, and sidechained vocals… it’s obvious DJ/producer Benny Benassi was a huge influence to this track. Tiara gets on the track to make this song not only something you can dance to, but to sing along to as well. Not necessarily a failed attempt to imitate Benassi’s style, but the track seems to be in a rush to get you to the next track. I would say the track is decent enough for a nightclub but not interesting enough to casually listen to. I’d much rather be listening to Like the First Time. Grade: B
처음처럼 is a very polished and fresh kpop production (unique to other competing kpop songs) which references classic 80s pop acts like the Human League and Depeche Mode unlike most kpop songs that tend to use recycled and overused basslines and riffs. Like the First Time is closely related to UK smash hit “In For the Kill” by La Roux . Unlike La Roux, Tiara manages to preserve a classic kpop vocal melody, a more conservative (mainstream) sound and an kpop obligatory rap. Grade: A+
Another one of many europop charged dance numbers on Absolute. This track has got a typical four to the floor dance rhythm with cheeky, playful synths pulsating in harmony to their seductive voices cooing to have you to do their bidding. The song almost sounds like Korea’s take on The Saturdays. Grade: B+
The track kicks off with a modified version of Donna Summer’s famous “I Feel Love” bassline to get you geared up for this disco flavored kpop dance number. If Koyote was still prominent in the music scene today, Tic Tic Toc would be the lovechild of the song that Koyote would be singing and Lee Jung Hyun’s “Vogue Girl.” Grade: B-
The vocals open up with a reference of the chorus an 80’s French classic “Ella Elle La” (a recent cover by French pop star Kate Ryan - fast forward to 0:46 in the video) This song seems to be the song that Kara has always wanted to record - cute jpop-esque yet preserving an echo of their former mature sound. Grade: B
This song as well as their debut single Lies are recognized at this group’s established sound. You won’t hear chorus’ like these anywhere else but Korea! Grade: B
Sounds like they stuck this in the album to show versatility. Well it worked, but the song suffers from having verses that upstage the chorus. Sounds like a 3rd rate Because of You. Grade: C
Recycled TTL (Lol, sorry lilchoiboy18). It’s obvious the producer just opened his music project file for TTL and swapped a few layers here and there and got a songwriter to write new lyrics to the beat Grade: C
Lies was a good song. I would have preferred the original, quite honestly. This version lacks the spark the original had. Grade: D
Usually I’m against sticking ballads at the end of albums because its the thing to do, but it reflects the group’s strengths. Besides its always interesting to hear new members of a group sing the parts of a previous member, especially in studio form! Grade: B
Overall Grade
It’s evident that the album had a well balanced roster of songwriters and producers; the tracks were surprisingly diverse, yet at the same time cohesive - a trait extremely rare in kpop albums. While the album deviates from the current kpop sound thats popular today, the album is successful in delivering a unique sound with its classical vocal melodies against European dancepop rhythms. I rarely speak highly of kpop albums simply because Korea’s market is based on singles rather than albums. In the end, the “kpop album” seems to have lost meaning before the “mini-album” (correctly term EP) took over the market. I rank this one as an A because its the first kpop album in a while thats an overall solid release (and packaging - see video below). The songs had a consistent sound, the order of the tracklisting was well thought out, and the funky European image the girls brought forth on the album set the girls apart from the herd girl groups in Korea. The album gets an A for being an album done right, not for a collection of outstanding songs.
Grade: A-
Article also on allkpop.
