Track List:
1. Heart Attack
2. Luv Me
3. Come To Me
4. One Thing
5. Really Really
6. Chocolate
AOA hit the big-time in 2014 under the aegis of Brave Brothers, with a string of chart-toppers including "Mini Skirt," "Short Hair" and "Like a Cat." Now they're back, just in time for summer with their new album "Heart Attack!"
"Heart Attack" starts out with the hook -- the chorus. It is a good song, just not an amazing one. It took a bit to grow on me. It's exciting enough, but I found it rather un-subtle and a little basic. Thankfully, it's not about cardiac arrest:
"My heart keeps pounding, I don't know
It's like a heart attack, what do I do?
I keep wanting to be in your arms, baby"
The next track, "Luv Me," sounds a lot like they're having fun with it. A distinctly different tune than the first, it's light, fun, poppy, with easy hooks and a catchy tune. The only thing I would have added was a rap. Ji Min's part was a singing one. Three guesses as to what the song is about. Ready, set...
"Come To Me" starts out with an aura of mystery. The vocals make good on that promise, and the harmonies inside the main verses work well. I like the fact that the chorus is somewhat buried and meshes well with the main song. I think a more obvious chorus would have detracted from the whole thing and made it sound disjointed. It's top-notch as it is.
"One Thing" is an interesting tune, starting out ethereal and ballad-y before Ji Min's raps act as the gateway to a kickin' disco dance track. This is probably the single I would have promoted rather than "Heart Attack." I love the layers in this song, particularly in the first minute. It's particularly amusing as the words are well-suited for a ballad; the girls are singing about how they need more time before their lover leaves.
The fifth track is "Really Really," a mid-tempo ode to how the girls really, really need their man. It's a slower song than most on the album, almost a ballad, except more interesting, complete with raps, sweet vocals, and a sort of a pitter-patter synth riff.
"Chocolate" is the smooth finisher to the disc. It's smooth, but what's funny is it reuses some lyrics from other albums, notably "Like A Cat," although I think I heard some others in there, too. It's pretty, though, despite the recycling, and "sweet like chocolate."
This is a good album overall. It really requires more than a single listen to figure out, as there some elements they've hidden and others are more blatant. At times it grabs you by the collar and pulls you onto the dance floor, and other times it chills next to you. It's pretty and fun, a sweet summer release.
Recommended tracks: "One Thing," "Luv Me," "Come To Me."
MV REVIEW
There is a plot to this thing. It's not as humorous as their previous offerings, but still fun:
The girls are on a high school lacrosse team and getting their butts kicked by the opposing team. The fans are mad, so the girls must be on their home turf. In class, ChoA spots the hot guy she saw on the lacrosse field, and they pass notes. But, to her dismay, the whole class has eyes on the new transfer student, Seolhyun. Including her crush! How infuriating! On the field, the girls are practicing, making sure their skills and equipment are up to snuff, and Seolhyun becomes an ally instead of a rival. In slo-mo, they don new, more colorful uniforms, and dominate once they get into an actual game. The moral of this story is that fan service in slow motion will make you better at sports. ;)
I think we're going to see a whole lot more sports themes as the summer wears on. We saw one with EXO, so now it's AOA's turn. I wouldn't be surprised if the next MV we see has a sporty theme to it, as well. I'm not sure what it is about the season, considering there are indoor sports that can be played as well, during the fall, winter, and spring months, but hey, what do I know?
I'll say this for AOA, they put out fun-to-watch MVs. The girls are pretty, the dancing is on point, and yes, the obligatory barely there outfits seem omnipresent, even in the classroom scenes. But for all that, the scene is brightly-colored, and the facial expressions are awesome. I'm cheering for this MV to do well, but I think I'll skip wearing the outfit.
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