DONGHAE AND EUNHYUK - THE BEAT GOES ON

Track List:

1. The Beat Goes On
2. Growing Pains
3. Sweater & Jeans
4. Breaking Up
5. Lights, Camera, Action!
6. Can You Feel It?
7. Mother

SuJu subunit Donghae and Eunhyuk (Super Junior D&E) have finally released their first physical album in Korea following their Japanese activities. The duo was first formed in 2012 and are here to charm and amaze fans once again with 'The Beat Goes On.'

The disc starts off with "The Beat Goes On" which, to be frank, is a mess. It's the kind of song that I usually favor -- stop and start melody, synth-heavy, very f(x) like. But it didn't work here and sounded almost mocking, annoying me more than anything.



If the first track was a problem, then "Growing Pains" was the cure. A classy guitar riff with definite winks at folk. The boys' voices blend into a gale-force blast during the chorus, and Eunhyuk kills the rap part.  Written and composed by Donghae, the lyrics depict a man whose memories of him and his love are fading. I can fully understand why they used this as the first single.   

The disc eases into "Sweater & Jeans," a sweet track like the last, but even more low-tempo. The boys liken their lover to a "vintage sweater and jeans / fitted to my body" in this laid-back groove. It's a stripped-down, simple melody without even a rap part, and the song is better for it; not only highlighting the duo's vocals but also the improvised croons and the steady piano.


 
"Breaking Up" starts up with a string section, but soon enough breaks into a discofied tune. It's a silky, danceable song, but sounds a bit happy for the subject matter. The lyrics suggest a breakup, but also that they aren't ready to let go. No matter, this tune pops.

"Lights, Camera, Action!" is another synth-laden dance tune that has some things in common with the first track, but this time they've got it right.  From the delectable autotunes (they use these in an interesting way) and the bouncy synth line to the repeated exhortations to "let me see your hands up," this is a killer song.  



"Can You Feel It?" is a study in contrasts. Here they split the difference between a more traditional sung chorus and bridge, space-age synth bleeps and frantic rapped main verses. There's even a sinuous dance break that inserts itself more than once. The song works well with hooky, repetitive lyrics and the mindless refrain "Can you feel it? Can you feel it?"

They slow it way down with "Mother," a pretty ballad marked by heartfelt lyrics sung over lulling "thank yous" and "love yous."  A smooth piece written by Donghae, the lyrics thank their mother for being there for them and say that they will be there for her as she ages. It's a nice, fluffy tune and very warmly presented.



This album is almost consistently high-quality despite the rocky start. It's chock-full of slick, body-moving tracks, as well as slower, more relaxed pieces that are refreshingly free of mawkishness. The boys voices combine well, and Eunhyuk's raps helped keep the tracks moving. The EP manages to grab disco, dance, and R&B and package them together well. The songs glide effortlessly into your ears and stay there. 

Welcome back to South Korea, boys. Donghae and Eunhyuk fighting!

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