[Album and MV Review] FIESTAR - 'Black Label'

AKP STAFF

FIESTAR - ALBUM AND MV REVIEW

Tracklist:

1. You're Pitiful
2. Hello
3. Turn Off The Lights
4. Cold
5. Today
6. So Tight

FIESTAR is coming back, dropping their first mini-album, 'Black Label,' over two years after their debut. After a handful of singles, we finally get "One More" thing to enjoy. The teasers show us a chic and classy new look for the girls, and I was curious about how it all sounded.

The album kicks off with "You're Pitiful," which is anything but. A worthy lead single, the song pops. Written by veteran songwriter Shinsadong Tiger, the track is buoyed by an acoustic guitar, a sonar-like synth-line, and impressive vocal work by the girls. There's not entirely a standout vocalist here, but all the girls are used incredibly well, and the backing vocals make this song pretty as well as funky. In the lyrics, a gal is criticizing her ex who wants to make a comeback, figuring out how "pitiful" he's become.

In a turnabout attitude, the girls miss their man in the mid-tempo "Hello." Rapper Yezi tears a page from Junhyung's playbook and makes her raps more sincere and less fierce. It works because it blends well with the song. Hyemi tears it up here and gives an emotional vocal performance as earnest as the lyrics themselves. Cao Lu's sweet voice takes the bridge and makes it her own.

"Turn Off The Lights" is a naughty, funky number that is at least as good as "You're Pitiful," if not better. I'm loving the acoustic guitar influence in these songs. Yezi's raps are insistent and aggressive here, commanding your attention. Sassy horns and honeyed backing vocals give this song some awesome contrasts. I shouldn't have to tell you what the lyrics are about. Suffice it to say, sleep is not on the agenda.

"Cold" is really a warm track despite the name. Linzy and Hyemi are pretty much the vocalists here with Cao Lu providing a smooth, silky feel to this song. The lyrics are not entirely what I expected, likening her lover to disappearing snow.

"Today" is a pretty little ballad that features Jei more than usual -- and I'm getting the sense she's underutilized as her honey voice does the track a world of good. As usual, Linzy and Hyemi handle the main vox, and they don't soar until the last part, having an almost restrained feel. It works well, and they really unleash their vocal power at the end along with Yezi's rapping -- all this gives the song some punch. Whatever else you can say about it, the end result is beautiful.

The disc ends with "So Tight," a dance number that uses vocals as one of the opening and closing instrument, a sequence of "du du dus" that gives the track a different, fresh feel. The girls definitely kill it with both smooth and belted vocals. The lyrics again defy expectations, the girls asking for some breathing room because the love is "so tight."

I have to say I like this comeback. It feels more mature, more deliberate than FIESTAR's previous efforts. I think the guitar and tempo may have something to do with this. And while change can be a painful thing, it feels more organic here, like the producers were respectful of their previous material. It has much less saccharine, dialing back the sugar for more substance. This album shows a softer side of the girls that makes this album an easy listen.

Recommended tracks: So Tight, Turn Off The Lights, You're Pitiful.

MV REVIEW

And this is what I mean when I say I want something more. This MV has a story to it, one that goes well with the point of the song. The guy is consumed by regret, missing his girl and drinking to forget, only to shatter the bottle in frustration and cry over a picture of the happy couple. He tries calling her, but the phone's unplugged.

Truthfully, I don't understand what's up with all the food since most of it just made me hungry. :)

I like the dancing, though. While it wasn't amazing, it did look like it might take some effort, and the chairs with the boyfriends in them were a nice touch. Also, the video took the focus away from the sexiness, which was an interesting choice. Yes, you got to see their legs a few times, but there was nothing too in your face about it.

And the video did have an interesting ending, the girls being covered by jackets and the men back-hugging them. Was this a "welcome back" back hug or was it a "please don't go" back hug? I think it's left up to us to decide, which makes the MV even more compelling.

The stylistic choices in this MV helped it a lot. The environments and outfits change a couple times, and the melancholy scenes with the ex definitely conveyed a sense of loneliness and desperation.

Ultimately, it was fun to watch. It stands as one of the better videos this year. Colorful when needed, and muted colors when appropriate. Plus a great song to go with it. What's not to like?