LOVELYZ - 'LOVELYZ8'

Track List:

1. Welcome to the Lovelyz8
2. Ah-Choo
3. Shooting Star
4. Hug Me
5. How To Become a Pretty Woman
6. Sweet and Sour
7. Rapunzel



Woollim's rookie girl group Lovelyz is back with 'Lovelyz8', a reference to the fact they are an octet again. Member Seo Ji Soo had to bow out of their debut promotions thanks to malicious rumors that shook her mental state. All eight girls are together again and have dropped a new album for the fans. Welcome back, Jisoo!

"Welcome to the Lovelyz8" is the intro track. I'm not sure what Coach & Sendo were aiming for, but it didn't work, whatever it was. While it's not an awkward rap or something equally as silly, it's an electronic mess that did little other than give me a headache.



The title track, "Ah-Choo," is pretty much what we've come to expect from Lovelyz. It's a slick production with angelic voices and synth washes and a head-nodding chorus, together with the characteristic belts and the band's charm that go into the recipe for a great song. I'm not sure why they sneeze every time they see the boy, that would indicate an allergy. ;)

"Shooting Star" is the pre-release track, a soft, sweet, soft pop song. It's slower than the previous tune and has a gentle, soothing quality. It does no less to showcase their cute voices, though. The song is about a breakup.



"Hug Me" picks up the pace, which is way more my speed. It increases in tempo quickly and becomes a proper dance track. It's a sweet love song sung in that way-high octave Lovelyz specializes in. Innocent lyrics talk of little more than holding hands. 

The disco-inspired "How To Become a Pretty Woman" splits the difference between head-nodding dance and soft vocals. It works well, though. The tempo doesn't let you forget that it's mainly a dance track. And "I'm pretty pretty pretty pretty" is a great hook.  



"Sweet and Sour" reminded me a lot of an A Pink song. It starts out as a soft popper, picks up during the chorus, and has those skillful instrumental descents into the main verses from the chorus. An extremely well put together tune, and the girls sing their hearts out here. The title refers to the sauce, comparing that to their love and how their "heart melts."

The final track, "Rapunzel," didn't feel as if it belonged on this album. It's a great, body-moving track with mature overtones. And the girls kill it here.  Despite singing "Rapunzel," there wasn't really anything in the lyrics about the fairytale.  Though, the amusing pronunciation of the title was enough to make me snicker a bit.



The mini-album format seems to work for this band. I didn't get the sense of any filler. I enjoyed the songs here better than most of their others, and the album is soothing and great fun at the same time. I like some of the layered synth effects that weren't quite music, yet found their way into the songs. It's an experimental format that sets them apart. As the days grow colder, this is an awesome album to keep warm with.   

MV REVIEW

The girls of Lovelyz are prankster schoolgirls in their new MV "Ah Choo."

It's a game of hide-and-go-seek, and the girls hide behind curtains, inside picture frames, pretending to be plants or walls, etc. Interspersed with these adorable girls dancing, it's nice and innocent, and a perfect complement to the song. Amusingly, one of the girls almost gives away her hiding spot when she sneezes (just in time for the chorus).



The outfits are standard schoolgirl outfits, sans blazers, but the color scheme and cut are different from the wardrobe used in "Candy Jelly Love." The uniforms definitely fit the "cute" image they're trying to project.

They dance pretty well, for what we see of the dancing. They whirl and lift their legs skillfully, all in time with the music and each other. It's nicely done, and each time I see them, they bring the moves. 


And now, the Vulcan mind meld. "My thoughts to your thoughts..."

The MV is a feel-good piece. You've got cute girls doing cute things, all throughout the video. It's not meant to be serious in any way and should serve at least bring a grin to your face as the girls go all-out in their quest not to be found.  A good video to go with a good comeback.

SEE ALSO: Lovelyz reveal book of memories in 'November' 10th anniversary single MV