Gary
Mr.Gae
Tracklisting:
1. "ZOTTO MOLA" (XX??)
2. "Shower Later" (?? ?? ??) ft. Crush
3. "Drunken Night Tune" (? ?? ?? ?) ft. Jung In
4. "MR.GAE" ft. Juvie Train, Kye Bum Joo
5. "ZOTTO MOLA" (Instrumental)
6. "MR.GAE" (Instrumental)
Kang Gary came back with a bang in 2014, having released his solo mini-album titled 'Mr. Gae' on the 16th. Shedding the child-like, playful image of insouciance that stuck ever since he became a permanent member on Running Man, Gary returns as a more mature, dare I say sexed-up gentleman. Just watch the video to 'Shower Later' and you will know what I mean.
But first, before we delve into the juicy details of Gary's new solo album, I would like to briefly introduce myself. My name is Jennifer and I am a nascent writer here at allkpop. I am currently a full-time student studying finance which frankly, induces me into a comatose state every time I try to study it. What helps me get through the dreariness of school is actually music and for some reason I have been into Korean hip hop of late. Anyhow, enough of my blabbering. You are probably keener on reading about Gary and his sexy new album so here we go.
It seems Gary experimented as much as he could with his solo album containing a mere four tracks (six including instrumentals). The lack of songs was a little disappointing for me as a listener since I wanted to hear what else Gary's creative mind has to offer. But all this is not to say that the album did not pack a punch. There is indeed a colorful array of sounds on the album, ranging from gangster rap to contemporary R&B to even dub step. Yes, you read right—dub step.
The first track 'Zotto Mola' starts out with an eerie-sounding wailing in the background which took a couple of listens for me to get used to. I would not consider the song to contain easy sounds to swallow for the mainstream masses, but with the release of a promotional video and of course Gary's relatable, candid lyrics, it climbed the charts.
The next song 'Shower Later' is my favorite as I love anything with a
smooth, soulful feel to it. Top that off with featuring artist Crush's groovier vocals and you have the recipe
for perfection (or it could just be my Crush bias talking). The video for this
song also deserves a worthy mention as it created quite a stir in
Korea. After watching the music video for 'Shower Later' I understood perfectly
why it had a much higher view count than compared to 'Zotto Mola', which was released on
the same date. I will admit I became a little uncomfortable at the abundance of
glistening cleavage.
'Drunken Night Tune', the third piece on 'Mr. Gae' sounds much like what could be placed on a regular LeeSsang album. A very familiar voice is heard alongside Gary's rap: Jung In—who features multiple times for LeeSsang that she might as well be a third member—belts out the bridge. The lyrics depict a man tortured; even though he has gained everything he could possibly want in life (money, fame and girls) he is still riddled by the crippling uncertainty of the future. His solution? Drown his doubts in alcohol.
The fourth and final non-instrumental track 'Mr.Gae', is a work I was honestly not expecting from Gary. The song is heavier hip hop encompassing a denser bass sound, entirely deviating from the harmonic, mellower tunes attributed to LeeSsang. Even Gary's style of rap changed, switching from laid-back to hitting my eardrums with a modern precision and rapidity.
Personally, I am a fan of the so-called 'gangster'-sounding rap songs and I am glad Gary took the opportunity to step out of his comfort zone and stray from the norm. The only complaint however, is the random string of dub step laced in near the end and that part sort of caught me off guard in an unpleasant way. But other than the odd placement of dub step, I wholeheartedly recommend this album to everyone. If you are like me, then you might have your fingers crossed for Gary's full-length LP to drop soon.
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