RAINBOW - 'INNOCENT'

The seven girls of Rainbow are planning to shine again after more than a year and half out of the spotlight. Known for hits such as "To Me," "Mach," and "Sunshine," they're back again with their third mini-album 'Innocent.' The teasers so far show a darker image than what we're used to. Gone are the colorful sundresses and cute songs. So, how does the album stack up amid all this change?

The album kicks off with "Bad Boys Cry," beginning with the spoken word parts that are slowly becoming more common in K-Pop. The tune is mid-tempo spice with rather powerful vocals from Jaekyung and as-always skillful raps from Woori. In tragic romance style, the song is about leaving a cruel man.



Next up is "Black Swan." Full of space age synths and belts, this song is a definite departure from their previous output. The melody is fairly dark as befits any song titled "Black Swan." The lyrics are pretty easy to figure out: she feels alone and doesn't want to be discarded like a black swan. I really enjoyed this one, and it's one of the few times I felt the title track was a strong enough tune to promote with.

"Mr. Lee" is a smooth homage to the fictional crush variously named Mr. Wu, Mr. Lee, Mr. Chu, etc. Airy vocals and a funky tune combine for some delicious ear candy. No real surprises here, but that doesn't lower the quality any. It's sweet-sounding and danceable all at the same time.



"Pierrot" is a throwback to their classic sound, an upbeat song with stuttering synths, high-tempo beats and catchy nonsense hooks like "ttureureu ttu tteutteu" -- all things you'd expect from a Rainbow tune, always a fun listen. The cheery tone of this track is amusing since Pierrot is always the heartbroken clown, the one who never gets the girl, though, according to the lyrics, I don't think he's that unlucky this time around.  

The next song, "Privacy," also sounds a lot like Rainbow. It uses the same airy vocals as "Mr. Lee" and the more conventional singing of "Pierrot" to make a pretty song. It's a little uneven during the break as a male voice breaks in and they change up the tune a bit. It's a little jarring, I'll admit, and not to my liking. Thankfully, the break is short.  



"A Little More" is a breathy ballad. It's also a bit naughtier than the other songs on the album, talking about the traditional nocturnal activities we hear about in k-pop songs nowadays (i.e., not cowtipping). It's a beautiful song, nonetheless; schmaltz-free, and a great closer.   

The press around this album was talking about a new sound, which is present in about half tracks on this disc. The other two tracks are pure Rainbow. Even "A Little More" sounds like what I know as Rainbow, except the lyrics are a bit more risque. But I like the change. I was dubious going in because change is risky --  for example, a revamped Hello Venus is hit and miss right now. But there seem to be no minimized contributions, no members stuck in there at the last minute as an afterthought, and it still sounds like them while retaining a more mature sound. Gorgeous, spunky, and perfected, this album pops. Welcome to the new Rainbow. It's like they never left. :)

Recommended tracks: "Black Swan," "Bad Boys Cry," "Mr. Lee"

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