TOPP DOGG - THE BEAT

Track List:
1. Runaway
2. The Beat
3. O.A.S.I.S
4. All eyez on me
5. Emotion
6. Sweetheart (Sangdo Solo)

After six albums (including one repackage), Topp Dogg are back to show you 'The Beat.' Six new tracks for your listening pleasure, and one of those tracks is a solo track by member Sangdo. 'The Beat' is their first EP without members Kidoh and Gohn, who recently left the group.

Backed by blazing guitars, the boys of Topp Dogg get right in your face with "Runaway." Rap and hard rock combine in a thrill-laden marriage, complete with melodic bridges and chorus and sick delivery. The lyrics are a bit different from what you might expect. There are references to "hiding my real figure," "you and I are different beasts," "run in time with your heartbeat," and "Beauty and the Beast," among others. Just in time for Halloween - are they talking about a werewolf?



Next up is their title track "The Beat," which, despite the name, is more melodious than "Runaway." We've got pounding drums and guitars, a xylophone, and vague desert vocals in under the thundering vocals. I love the "Day1, Day 2, Day 3" structure, and the pounding melody had me chanting "No Mercy" right along with them. The message is about going for what you want and "be a dream chaser."

"O.A.S.I.S," a funky track, has an amusing English fail in the beginning: "TD boys," their pronunciation straddles the line between hilarious and naughty. The song itself is a testament to how they can switch gears and make a song like this, reminiscent of Steely Dan�with extended smooth croons and horns. The song itself is about a girl who is their oasis and "moistens the heart."



The fourth track, "All eyez on me," is a guitar-driven rap tune. It's got the noise and the sass to be a kickin' tune, and that's exactly what it is. One of the things I like about good hip-hop outfits is the attitude, and they bring that to the fore in the song. "Let's dance everybody let's dance, we'll kick back the rest" is an awesome hook.

"Emotion" is a body-moving funk tune. It's well-crooned, and quite danceable, but the the rap is a little jarring. Thankfully, it's short, and doesn't entirely ruin the piece. Emotion is a bit of a throwback, though with a bit of a modern sensibility to it as well. The song is about falling in love, and the depth of their "emotion."



"Sweetheart," the Sangdo solo, starts out as a ballad, but ends up being a sweet, mellow, finger-snapping piece of soul. Smooth as tiger fur, it's a great song because it shows that the boys are not just limited to rowdy rock and roll or funk but they can also croon with the best of them. �

It's a pity more people don't listen to them. Translations are sparse, which might turn off international fans, and their MVs could be better. My advice to the company would be to push the boys more and broaden the appeal. They're really not that different from some of the Numetal out in the 90's, and their versatility should be a strength. Their ability to cross genres should be advertised heavily to widen the fan base. I'm giving the album a solid thumbs up.

MV REVIEW

Check out Topp Dogg turning things up in "The Beat!"

This is an upbeat video where dayglo and neon become the norm. Here they alternate between three locations: an undisclosed location outside, around a downed airplane of some sort (looks too small to be manned), and inside a room -- a small room. If they're throwing a party, it looks like they're the only ones attending, though that many people in one place might violate fire codes.

The dancing is a bit loose here with mostly members doing their own thing. There's a few stabs at synchronization, but there are very few dancing scenes -- just enough to let us know that they can dance.�

"The freedom of the dead?"

The outfits are actually fairly cool. They're not ostentatious or even particularly colorful except in a couple instances, which might work against them. If I saw them walking down the street, I might not give them a second glance. And of course, there's the requisite gold chains and bandanas.

I like it. It's not particularly amazing, and it seems like they're doing one thing -- partying. Which is fine. I would think, however, that after that many albums they'd do more than what seems a lot like an intro video. Shake things up a bit. It's fun to watch a party (and even more fun to dance at one), but maybe have a party gone wrong for humorous effect. Or something. At least it was halfway fun to watch.

So, to sum up kind of a "meh" video, but a pretty decent album overall.

SEE ALSO: Dancer/choreographer Monika Shin announces her marriage and pregnancy